Feedwell opened the door, allowing Nana to enter with a tray containing Inara’s lunch.Lemuel arranged one of the bedside table at the foot of the bed to allow her place the tray on it. Then they both thanked Feedwell and Nana who acknowledged their appreciation and left, giving them privacy.Lemuel leaned into Inara and deeply inhaled her scent deliberately, making her catch her breath. It always made her entire body hot with sexual excitement when he inhaled her like that and her cheeks flushed crimson.Her meal consisted of One hard-boiled egg, a cup of cottage cheese, five saltine crackers and a cup of coffee.“I’ll leave you to eat while I go get mine downstairs. I let Feedwell add the optional cup of coffee because you have been quite good.”Inara wished he would eat there with her. She had gotten used to eating around him. But at the same time, she thought it was better he left, since she’ll be having her meal standing up. She hated that she could not sit down. She always did.“
Having reached home, Inara was back to being grounded in the bedroom. For the rest of the day, all she did was sleep, wake up and watch movies. Then later, her dinner was brought up to her by Feedwell.She wondered if the other people in the house knew why she was spending all her time in the bedroom. It was so humiliating. Seated at the dressing table, she looked at the dinner Feedwell was placing before her and thoughtwell, it couldhave been worse.Her dinner consisted of two hot dogs, with no bun. The
In the morning, Inara woke up to Lemuel’s absence. She was used to waking up and not finding him. Her mind went back to last night and she recalled with pleasure how he had taken care of her. She was aware that he had left the music playing on her phone. But now, the room was silent.She sat up and saw her phone by the bedside table beside the bed lamp. She was sure that he had stopped the music and placed it there.Inara took a moment to appreciate the fact that she was feeling better and that he had found her when he did or she would have come down with cold. Another thing that lifted her spirits was that her punishment would be over by the end of the day.Inara got off the bed and heartily performed her morning ablutions on time to receive her breakfast, consisting of a one-ounce slice of cheddar cheese, five saltine crackers, a small apple and a cup of coffee. Feedwell had informed her that Lemuel had approved the optional coffee and she was happy to h
Lemuel was seated beside Inara, holding her close as she leaned into him at the deck of his Princess 72 Motor Yacht. They were both staring out into the large expanse of the lake with nothing but a meandering forest on each side of the water for miles.As the driver from the control room far at the front of the yacht, cruised the engine skillfully through the waters, they sat there on the seats at the tail of the yacht, enjoying the cool breeze and the sight of nature.Inara was feeling genuinely happy at the heightened sense of freedom especially after going through the grounding. This was serious relief and she planned not to get herself into any bad situation like that again.To her, Lemuel would have been a perfect guy without his temper. He had told her that day in the Di
Lemuel led her through the yacht’s living room, which was fitted with two long sets of white settees. The settees had several cushions in white and different shades of grey strewn across them and there was a matching white center table with a medium length wooden strip wrapped over the middle of it like a ribbon.They moved passed the dining table decorated with a bow of beautiful green and white flower neatly arranged atop the center. The dining table stood surrounded with four white chairs forming an L shape around one end while a white settee formed an L shape, surrounding the other end with about three embroidered grey cushions strewn over the settee.They ventured around inside and finally, he led her into the Master Cabin which stood bigger in comparison with the other cabins. It was a Master stater
Right on time, a beautiful Island came into view before the yacht. It was sprawled proudly before their steadily approaching powerboat, magnificent, with several sea vessels resting at its docks.Lemuel was standing behind Inara at the front of the boat, close to the pointy edge, his hand, around her waist.“The Island looks incredibly peaceful.” she said to him.“It is a little vacation Island, favoured for its tranquility. Isn’t that cool for a honeymoon?”
After their confession, Lemuel’s anger had slowly disappeared and he joined her on the bed, just holding her close until they both fell asleep.The following day, he was back in high spirits. She woke up early to find him dressed in a fitness outfit.“Rise and shine, Sweetheart, would you like to go cycling with me?”“Sure, good morning.” she responded and made herself ready while he drank coffee. He had made her a cup so she drank it as soon as she was prepared, cladding herself in a fitness wear and following him outside where they mounted their bicycles and rode out to the jungle trail he had earlier shown her.They rode for about forty minutes on the oblique path. It was a serene and beautiful trail in the woods with wild trees, grasses, rocks and hills greeting them. Crickets were chirping with birds calling and flying, the cool air hitting their faces as they pedaled along.Occasionally, he would turn slightly to check on her and throw her a smile, which she would return happily.
Lemuel and Inara spent the next four days doing fun activities; watching movies, swimming, cycling, boat riding, rowing, fishing, swimming, hiking, going on drives through the Island, shopping souvenirs, taking pictures and making love.On the evening of the fifth day, they were set to go to an open microphone event in the town. They were already at the car when she grabbed the car keys and started running towards the garden.“Action Nara.” he said but she turned and showed him her crossed fingers, which meant that she did not have to stop.
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
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
“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.”
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.
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.”
“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
“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
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
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