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2024-10-29 19:42:56There were five pictures inside the envelope. The first featured him on his knees, presenting the engagement ring to her.
On the second picture, he had slipped the ring onto her finger. The third showed him kissing her engaged hand. The fourth was when he had her locked in his arms, his lips to her ear, whispering those dark words that had almost paralyzed her. And the last was when they waved at the people in the restaurant.
The moment she had returned home, Inara had watched her family pass the pictures between them. They were pleased and happy about the feedback the photos presented.
“I certainly approve.” Amara said. “He’s a gentleman and seems very confident.”
You have no idea,
Inara thought and returned Amara’s smile with a forced one of hers.“I am happy for you, baby sis.” Amara said excitedly, hugging her.
“Thanks love.” Inara said, returning her hug.
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Dark Love 14
Inara and her choir colleagues rose to the applause of the congregation, ready to present their piece for the evening Church Service.She loved the choir because it was where she could momentarily forget problems and just participate in being part of the music.Today was a free day before Lemuel’s family would meet hers the next day and nervous as she was about that, she had decided to forget about her present problems.She adjusted her robe, straightening it presentably and stepping up to the microphone as the keyboardist began playing the keys to the hymnI’ll Stand By Until The Morning (Fierce and Wild The Storm is Raging). When he cued her in, she sang;Fierce and wild the storm is ragingRound a helpless bark,On to doom ’tis swiftly driving,O’er the waters dark!The rest of the choir joined her at the chorus:Joy, behold the Savior,Joy, the message
Dark Love 15
Lemuel was reading a business email in his office when Suzy barged her way inside with a newspaper in hand.She flagged before him, a page that reported his recent engagement with a picture of him proposing.The CEO, Men’s Aura is Set to Tie The Knot it read. Then she started a tirade of complaints while he just listened to her, watching her complain.“Am I not good enough for you? I thought we were an item. Now she comes into the picture from nowhere. Gosh. I just can’t believe this. How did this happen? Just look at her. She doesn’t even look as good as I do.”Suzy stopped talking, her breath heaving with anger. Lemuel rose from his seat and approached her, seeing that she had stopped expressing herself, at least voc
Dark Love 16
In the cool of the day around 6:00 pm, Inara peeked from her room window as two SUVs, black and white, pulled up before her home. Then a red one, the one she was familiar with, pulled up last. It made her heart beat faster, knowing that it was him in there. And she couldn’t help but touch the ring that he had slipped onto her finger. It clung to her skin, constantly reminding her of him.Her family had already pre
Dark Love 17
You’ll be fine.” her mother said and she allowed her mother’s encouraging words guide her towards the dinning, glad she was leading her by the hand.The table was large and accommodated her family on one side but accommodated Lemuel’s on the other side. The last empty seat was directly opposite him.“This is my daughter Inara.” her father said proudly as they reached the room and her mother released her hand.“I like her too.” Wisdom announced, causing laughter again.“I like you too.” Inara said to him and he just laughed.“You’ve picked a lovely bride son.” Lemuel’s mother said. “She’s adorable.”“I agree.” his father said.“Thank you mum, dad.” Lemuel responded and when she looked at him, he was smirking at her. “I feel blessed.” he added.Inara quickly looked away and noticed Tirzah wavin
Dark Love 18
Inara’s dad informed her the next morning that Lemuel had insisted on funding the wedding arrangements and had already wired some good money in. Inara went to her room and texted;Thank you for the fund.Few moments later, he responded with;Good Manners.Afterwards, she received a call from a strange number and picked it up.“Hello.”“This is Cassy Blake.”Inara was shocked. Cassy was her bully in junior high. Cassy and two other snobbish girls called Eve and Amy had always made her life a living hell. They had often called her a fatty and messed with her lunch box until Zee who had come in as a new student, stepped in and made them back off. It was how she and Zee had become friends. She wondered why Cassy would be calling her.“Hi Cassy.” She said, not sure what to expect.Cassy laughed in her familiar high-pitched voice that had Inara putting the phone some distance away from her ear. It sounded like sirens wailing up close. Then she returned the phone to her ear as soon as the lau
Dark Love 19
Inara reached the hotel a few minutes after 6:00 pm and was greeted by the girls at the reception.They were dressed in pink tee-shirts with the wordsInara Anthony- Bride to becrested on the back. Inara was overwhelmed by their kindness."This is yours." Cassy said, presenting her with a similar tee-shirt in white."Wow, this is unexpected. I am moved." said Inara and wore it over her sleeveless blouse."It's our pleasure." said Amy."Let's take you to the room we booked." Eve said excitedly.They led her away from the reception, then walked her along the hotel lobby to a room where on the door, a colorful banner was hung.The banner bore boldly, her engagement picture where Lemuel was kissing her hand. On it, a fancy digital writing proclaimedCongratulations! Inara Anthony."You guys did all these for me?" Inara couldn’t believe it still. The girls had really troubled her in t
Dark Love 20
Zee had managed to get Inara to stop crying during the drive and they reached Inara's home at about 8:30 pm.Inara took off the bridal shower tee-shirt and dumped it on the floor of the truck, hating it with every fiber of her being.“I’ll trash it for you.” said Zee.
Dark Love 21
Inara would have liked more time to try and calm herself but remembering her last episode with him on timing, she hurried to her parent’s room and knocked on the door.“Dad, mum, Lemuel is taking me out.”She hoped they couldn’t hear the tremor she was fighting to keep from her voice.“Enjoy your courtship.” Her mum said.“Chastely.” her dad added.“I love you.” she said and hurried to the room Amara used as a studio. The door was open and her sister was engrossed at her canvas, replicating the picture of a lavender garden in sunset.“Nice work. Lemuel is taking me out.”“Thanks. Great. Have fun.” Amara said without turning. She was always concentrated when she worked.“Thanks.” Inara said and paused as her phone buzzed again with Lemuel’s call. She picked it up and brought it up to her ear.“Hello.”“What are you wearing?”“Jeans and tee-shirt.”“I want you in a dress. Two minutes.”The call went off and Inara hastened back to her bedroom and changed into a simple straight knee-length
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Dark Love Epilogue
One Year, Six Months Later The day was bright and sunny with a clear blue sky that was almost surreal. Heaven’s Vine had a full congregation witnessing the wedding ceremony between Nana and Feedwell. Reverend Anthony was officiating the ceremony at the altar where the love stricken couple stood, facing each other before him. In the congregation, Lemuel was seated beside Inara, her hand in his. He was wearing a navy colored suit while she was wearing a long peach colored dress. She looked radiant and a bit plump like a nursing mother. “I still can’t believe that I’m supporting those two.” He said, smiling. “They clearly broke the domestic rule.” Inara chuckled. “Because you love them.” She said. “They captured your heart.” “Just like you captured mine.” He said caressing her hand with a finger. She blushed. “Definitely, sir.” “Hmn. That’s true. They are very efficient and I will miss them.” “Why? They made it clear they weren’t leaving.” “I know but I’m sure it’s out of loyalty
Dark Love 79
The room was a six-by-six with soft ashen vinyl walls and low, level ceilings. A hospital bed fitted with leather restraints took up most of the floor space. High up on one wall was a solitary window. It had the translucent look of old Plexiglas and steel posts kept it barred.Detective Kyle was talking to a nurse who was already leaving them. She gave Lemuel a glance and walked away with a sullen face.The detective walked up to Lemuel.“This is Suzy’s room. She had a crazy moment an hour ago, kicking and screaming but has been stabilized. You’ll see her right about now.’’“Okay, I’m ready.”“Your conversation will be recorded and monitored by the Psychiatrist in charge of this place and other officers.”“I understand.”Shortly after, Lemuel was in a small room with the detective, a technical sergeant mounting a recording equipment and a male Psychiatrist in a white doctor’s coat who was in his sixties.Before them was a transparent glass that clearly showed a blank room fitted in the
Dark Love 78
“I should be aware of something like this.” Lemuel said furiously through gritted teeth. He didn’t want Inara knowing that something like that was going on. She hadn’t fully recovered from the trauma and the last thing he wanted was for her to know about what Milo had just told him.“The police detective thought it better not to tell you so that you can concentrate on taking care of your wife.”“That is not their call to make.”
Dark Love 77
The hospital sat on a headland overlooking the lake, enveloped in acres of emerald green trefoil that rolled and toppled into the city mist. It was a paragon of modest architecture, auburn-colored bungalows thrown unevenly around a two-story administration building, the compound veined with pebble pathways and flower beds, partly shaded by the spreading branches of shore live oak.Blade points of grey tile roof intruded upon a cerulean sky so untainted it bordered on the imaginary. At the intersection of land and sky, a single twisted city pine clawed at the sky. Beneath its swaying trunk, patches of yellow and blue lupine flowed like paint drips down a slanting green canvas.
Dark Love 76
Milo moved the seat-belt around Vann and belted her in. She was starting to panic, her eyes rounding with fright.“Hang on.” he said as he belted himself in.“Is the Officer following us a bad man?” Vann asked nervously.“Relax.” Lemuel said, “Even If he probably is, I’m sure he has orders from your beloved daughter not to harm a hair on your precious head.”
Dark Love 75
“What’s your name?” Lemuel asked the woman as he rose to his feet.“Vann.”“Get up. You’re coming with us.” he told her and the agent pulled her up to her feet quite roughly.“I’ll come willingly.” Vann stated. “There’s no need to be heavy handed with me.”“Desperate times.” Lemuel said and led the way t
Dark Love 74
“Is there somewhere you think she might be?” Lemuel pressed. “I really need to see her.”The woman shook her head and remained silent.“I’ve been trying her phone number but it isn’t connecting. Has she changed it like, does she have another one?”Lemuel pressed again.The woman hesitated and he suspected that she was not willing to divulge information about that. It w
Dark Love 73
The City’s bustling landscape receded as Lemuel rolled off one of the main express roads that gave way to a single lane road on which he drove for a few minutes until an arrow with a sign that said pal estate directed him northward.The estate was low cost and situated on a property line marked by a large flowering tree that shadowed low wooden gates. The gates were open, meant for décor rather than security.Lemuel parked across from the third apartment, which he knew, was Suzy’s and the agent parked behind him. Alighting from their vehicles, they both squinted at the harshness of the sun’s glare.Lemuel wondered where Inara was. Was she in a shelter or burning in the heat of the sun? Was she alive or dead? God forbid! He thought. She must be
Dark Love 72
The sun was out in its full glory, casting its shimmering rays across the horizon, scorching the earth and raising temperatures all around.In the woods, it was worse because there was no shelter but most of the wildlife didn’t mind and still carried themselves about. Birds flew, called and sang, perching atop branches of trees and surrounding hills while crickets chirped amidst varying sounds from different unseen creatures that filled the air as they wandered and basked at home in their habitat.Inara was not faring well. The forest wasn’t her element and under the heat of the sun, she was strapped to a dying tree with scan
