Chapter 3: He was so late
I should have known not to trust Eric, he was late as it is. I couldn't describe how much I loathed this day and the company around me. I scanned through the people who were conversing in my parents huge back
kyard. My father was hysterically laughing at something Mr. Johnston, Laura's father had said. My mother was right beside me and I had questions for her."You really just had to invite him.." I let out a sardonic laugh, my dear mother raised her head to look at me as if I had grown two heads. She had her brunette hair in a nice bob. It suited her like a hand in glove. My mother was very beautiful and didn't look a day over forty.
"Robbie is still family, Leona." She gave me a small smile before her eyes went over to where he stood with Brenda. She was holding the bag with the babies needs and etc. I pictured her falling in the swimming pool in my head but as much as I wanted to hate her, I could never. Brenda Williams was a nice person. She didn't deserve any tantrums, I had thrown at her. Like the red wine I purposely spilled on her white dress at her very own baby shower, she invited me so what? I went there and ruined it.
She saw me from afar and waved with a smile, I gave her a firm nod before looking away. She stole my boyfriend and now she was stealing my family. Eric wasn't a Harlot, I wasn't a Harlot, Brenda was the bloody harlot. I thought, thinking about the way Eric would have said it.
Why was his smallest traits rubbing on me already... weird!
"It was very unnecessary for them to bring that thing with them." I corked an eyebrow at the little bundle of so called joy that Robbie proudly held as he talked to my uncles and cousins. He was so happy, happy for nothing. That was a bastard child, ofcourse they planned to get married soon but the fact remained that they had sex before marriage and a baby out of wedlock.
Did I have sex with Robbie? Well-
"Leona, don't be rude; it's a baby boy called Robert junior."
"How original." I pursed my lips into a thin line as I caught Robbie's eyes on me. I immediately composed my lips from a sneer to a rather cheerful smile.
"Lee, I won't allow you to insult an innocent child besides when are you giving your father and I, a bundle of joy?"
"My boyfriend is actually on his way." I rolled my eyes, chugging a bottle of sparkling water open.
"Oh, yes! I'm very excited. Laura had a lot to say about him." My mom smiled cheerfully.
"She did?" I said as if it was more of a question.
"Ofcourse, I asked her if you had a boyfriend and she told me about Eric from England. He seems like a funny young man, I know that's not the type you usually go for."
"Eric... is quite funny, when he wants to be." I stringed some incoherent words together after almost dying of nerve wreckism, yes I just created my very own word because there was no other word that could describe how immensely impossible it was for me to lie to my parents.
"He must be different then.." She said as I searched through the crowd for that dumbass.
"You seem irritated?" My mother asked."Not at all, it's Robbie-" I lied. I felt very horrible lying to them, more over... I hated being the sneaky girl from every teenage teen flick. That went out the window at midnight just to have funny
"Leona, what happened has happened and holding grudges won't benefit you but it will only make you a bitter person. I'm sure you're well aware that bitterness keeps your farther away from God's presence and progressive manifestations in your life." My mother preached as I had expected, I simply nodded not trying to argue with her.
"I know he wronged you but it's time to move on my child." My mom added when I didn't respond.
"It's very easy to say." I'm clenched my teeth. Suddenly my father came over to where we were standing, a smile on his face. His dark brown hair now with bits of grey, his mustache still intact for as long as I remember, he wasn't Dr Winters without his mustache. He never shaved it, he took absolute pride in maintaining it. He gave my mother a kiss on the cheek then kissed my temple as well, a habit he had grown accustomed to ever since I was a little girl. Unfortunately I had grown taller but he still managed to kiss my temple with his 5'11 height.
"I'm so happy to see you, snowflakes." He said making me smile. He always called me snowflakes, i thought as I grew older it would die out but it never did.
"Rodney, Leona is a grown woman now." My mom said.
"She will always be our little girl." He retorted."I was just telling her that she should let it all go, it has been over a year." My mother spilled, ofcourse my parents acted like best friends, they never let anything slide without telling each other and laughing about it. I really thought Robbie and I would have this one day but he blew it. He blew my whole story, my whole plan. I would graduate at twenty-two, I was supposed to be married by twenty-five, my first child by twenty-seven nevermind the rest of the plans because he ruined it all.
He just ruined it!"Leona!" My aunt Debra Interrupted. My aunt Debra was your definition of a forty something year old who didn't want to grow up. She being my father's younger sister, she had never been married... I didn't think it was a choice. She had a pet shop down town and loads more pets in her home. She dressed very inappropriately, always got drunk at events and loved men younger than her. My only thought as a child was, Lord May I not end up like that. Rumor around the family say that she got married in Vegas but the man left her the very same week. He just wanted to use her to get citizenship. It was actually really sad but I'm sure she has been inlove once or twice in her life? Right..
"This young man says you invited him over-" she smirked at me. I looked behind her, my eyes immediately locked with Eric.
He was here.My aunt Debra was very judgemental but the way she smiled at Eric made me question how he had her already kissing his feet.
My father immediately cleared his throat. "Eric Michelson." He let out a hand, my father gave a disapproving look.My heart skipped a beat.
Shit!
"We're a family of huggers, son!" My father said with a broad smile. I immediately let out a relieved smile."You can call me Rod and that's my wife Helen-" My father said after squeezing the life out of my so called boyfriend."Nice to meet finally meet you, I'm sorry for being late and coming unannounced, I thought I would surprise Leona. She wasn't aware that I had booked a flight from Manchester just to see her." Eric smoothly lied shocking me by how he did it so easily with no conscience.
"Leona! Won't you greet your boyfriend? Is this how you welcome him." My mother pushed for me to hug Eric.
"But-""Go hug that man, he must be jet lagged.." my aunt Debra added. For the first time, I hugged Eric Michelson and let me tell you this bring in his arms felt like heaven. He held me so close like I was the only person who mattered at that moment. His hands low around my waist firmly holding me against his rigid chest. His cologne intoxicating, he gave me a pearly white smile and my skin shivered. By the time I pulled away, I realized my parents were now talking to their other guests and my aunt Debra stared very weirdly at us.
"Alright there there Leo.." Eric said as if he was talking to a dog gently pulling away. "Do you fall for guys so easily or you just haven't been laid in a long time?" Eric whispered and honestly that was a slap on the cheek. I stomped onto his right foot making him groan in pain, I immediately checked the coast then realized everyone was minding their own business. He just always had to ruin everything, I felt stupid, I couldn't help it. He was handsome and smelt good. That is the most attractive thing or maybe I had fetish for men who smelt good.
Eric Michelson was a cunning lad.Everyone eventually left as it was almost sunset but to my surprise Robbie and his little family still stuck around. I didn't want him here, I didn't want his little family here as well and that thing- Let's just say Robbie knew me well, we had practically grown up together with my bestfriend Laura. He could always tell when I wasn't being myself and today I wasn't. We were best of friends before we started a relationship. Even though Eric played his part well... my dad seemed to love him but my mom was still very cautious of him. "Aren't you leaving? the baby must be tired." I faked a laugh at Brenda. I didn't know if she knew that I didn't like her but at the looks of it... if she knew she certainly played pretend well. "He isn't much of a trouble maker really.. he sleeps most of the time." Brenda gave me what looked like a genuine smile. "Do you want to hold him?"I panicked."No, it's alright." I quickly went to grab plates setting them on the table. Making myself busy avoiding.
Flickering my eyes open, my vision was still blurry. A blanket was pulled over my body, my hair- my hair was in my face. I never put my hair down even though whenever I did. I received so many compliments. There was an empty space beside me, it was a single bed; what did I expect? I smiled at the thought of yesterday... Eric was actually being nice to me. I stood up yawning like an animal, thank God he wasn't here to witness that. Why do you care so much? My subconscious mocked. This was going to far, I needed to stop. I thought to myself. I had a beautiful dream that Eric had been playing with my hair. He softly ran his fingers through it. It was a good feeling I thought to myself.Looking for a hair tie around, I immediately found one on my desk. I had a stack of those because my hair was always in a ponytail. It suited me best. My eyes then flickered to a diary looking journal that laid there. I didn't waste time opening it. I immediately cringed. - By twenty-five I should be m
Hey sugar tits. x I received a text and immediately knew who it was. Only one person called me sugar tits because he would always say he loved how perfect and perky they were. I didn't know if I should be happy that Robbie was finally giving me attention. I was also trying my level best not to have... thoughts about Eric even though, he was right next to me. Fuck guys!"Should I take any brand of milk?" Eric brought me out of my thoughts. We were running my parents errands, after having dropped off his luggage back home. We had to go to Walmart to buy a few things. "My dad is a little picky actually-" like replied. "Let's take the dairy farmers brand." I said immediately going back to my phone. This was something I had always wanted... Robbie's attention. "You better not be talking to that arsehole." Eric clicked his tongue pushing the trolley past me. Someone clearly wasn't in the mood. "And if I am?" I sassed away. "Then you're an imbecile and guess what? He will just continu
"You got a freaking tattoo wow Lee, I never thought I'd live to see that day.." Laura let out an exaggerated reaction. Everyone in Starbucks kept giving us looks. I was a bit embarrassed but I was used to it. Laura was sweet, just a tad bit loud. "Yeah with Eric.." I muttered my hand laid on my chin and a comfortable stance. "I figured, he was the only force that could have triggered this." She smiled widely, she seemed happier than I was. "Yeah... he really is something." I smiled."Are you-" she gasped. "In-love with Ricky?" "What?!" I gave her a scowl. "No no no.." She wiggled her eyes brows at me and I ended up laughing. She let it slide this time as she changed the subject. "Well tell me what you have been busy with?" I took a sip of my cappuccino, it was absolutely delight. My mind immediately drifted to Eric, I wondered what was he doing right now? It was getting harder and harder to be away from him. I didn't want to be this attached but I couldn't help it not with his c
Dinner was awkward.Well at least for me not knowing what plans Eric had for us tonight. At the back of my mind, I had to tell myself... he couldn't have been joking. He always loves getting a reaction out of me. I was excited and nervous. Eric blended in with my family fast, he wasn't even a guest anymore judging by the way he talked and joked with my father about everything. This time he offered to do the dishes with my mother and I told them I was going to shower for a bit, I clearly didn't miss the wink he gave me. My father had to leave for his night shift at the hospital. He was a busy man, you could say but he always made time for his family. He was and is very passionate about his job and that I admired about him. On my way up the stairs, I heard my mom and Eric giggling when she said she wanted to show him my childhood photos. I groaned, could this get anymore embarrassing- I had a nice warm bath, where I shaved my legs and my gem. I wasn't expecting anything but I just wa
Knock knock knock Knock knock Knock! "Eric dear, it is Sunday and we better prepare for church. I just need to wake up my heavy sleeping daughter." I heard my mom's voice echo from the passage. At first I thought I was dreaming until it dawned onto to me how much shit I was in. I quickly woke Eric up, I was sleeping on his chest. He was sleeping soundly but it was the wrong time to day dream. "Mrs. Winters, I will be right down." Eric yelled staying stagnant in bed pulling me close to his chest. He didn't seem to be in knock mode like I was. "I'd like to wake Leona up myself, there is something I'd like to tell her." He added. I giggled, he then kissed my forehead pulling me close. "Oh alright dear. Make it snappy alright. Church is starts at eight and ends at twelve. Be sure to wear appropriately, I want to introduce you to our close relatives." I felt like telling her, alright mom now is the time you walk away and continue with your day. "Eric?" She called again. "Yes, Mrs-
"Oh my word, Leona is that you... lost all the baby fat huh?" Addie came to give me a hug, I felt so awkward. She just loved teasing me but I had grown accustomed to it. In a way she was the older sister I never had. Her hair was back to blonde and she wore a nice... appropriate dress. It was all a shocker.She looked like a totally different person. "Hi, Mrs Kurt Cobain." I teased her back. "Oh please, don't make Jeremy here jealous." She said giving her fiancé a quick smile. It was cute. The man who stood beside her, had brown hair and a bit of beard. I never understood this trend of thinking men with beard were sexy. I just didn't find it appealing.. "I would literally walk you down the isle and give you to Kurt Cobain, freaking legend." He said in a deep Texas accent. I now understood why they understood each other. Addie had a huge obsession with Nirvana and Kurt Cobain even though he had passed away way back. She just loved him so much. On her eighteenth birthday Laura and I
"Search for him on Facebook!" Laura suggested, I had already done that on my own before. I shrugged deciding let me just give it one more try. No results. "Okay, maybe he has a middle name or instead of Eric Michelson try Rickey Michelson. He clearly loves that name more." She said taking a large bite off her apple then jumping on her bed where I sat with her MacBook. I didn't want to spend anytime with Eric so I told him, I had plans and yes I did have plans. To hang out at Laura and Sam's cute apartment until dawn, like the good old days. Was it weird that I was just leaving him alone with my parents? Well my dad was at the hospital all the time and my mom had held a book club every Monday and Wednesday's. He has a car so he probably went to pick up some ladies like he had said earlier. It kind of bothered me."No results again, but there are other Rickeys just not that Rickey. He did say he wasn't interested in social media and all." I shrugged."And you believe him?" Laura aske
Happily ever after? Maybe not.Life is about challenges, life is about getting better, life is about constant conflicts to create a stronger bond. Life will not stay perfect but for a moment it can... not for a lifetime. There will come huddles after huddles but what makes it better is having the people you love by your side. Love is being able to put aside and forget your issues because they become irrelevant when you're with a certain person. Leona and Eric weren't perfect either. They tried their best to give their daughter a perfect family. Over the past years, there were moments when they had the worst arguments that would make Eric drive off out of anger leaving Leona worried sick until he returned or when Eric had to sleep on the couch. There were moment when Leona would get jealous of how close Eric was to his female co-workers. Moments when they would be so angry that they felt they were done and it wasn't working but after the anger cooled off they always reconciled with so
He was absolutely breathtaking. Not in the physical view but him being a father. It attracted her so much more than before. It built up sexual frustration, for so long she wondered if he would ever split her into two again. His voice was raspy and it made the folds in between her legs water with need. Even knowing she had a boyfriend, she still craved for Eric. She craved for everything he had to offer. He was always able to help her reach some sort of heaven. "Sweetheart, it's time to sleep." Eric told his daughter dismissively switching off the television in front of her. "No no no peaze daddy!" Ara whined. Leona watched Eric calm their daughter down, as soon as he explained that she would be visiting her grandparents. She was way too happy, she forgot about Masha and the bear. Leona felt her breasts swell with so much need under her silk gown, when they had intensely made eye contact. Eric had always been a breath of fresh air to take in but there was just so much more about him
On that faithful night, knowing tomorrow would be his first day. Eric was a nervous-wreck. His girlfriend was sleeping in their bed, snoozing to the sound of peacefulness, snuggled in the comfy blankets while he was sitting on the bathroom floor in his boxers still on what was now a forty-three minutes phone call with the mother of his child. There were so many titles he could call her but only 'mother of my child' seemed fitting. Not baby mama or ex-girlfriend. "What if they don't like me?" Eric asked. He had avoided finally getting into a classroom right after doing his undergraduate he continued into his postgrad with the fear of actually having to be in a classroom. He furthered his studies because he feared, actually having to apply the skills he had acquired."Why wouldn't they like you? If you were my middle school teacher, I would have written a fan fiction about you." Leona snickered trying to lighten up the mood. "Oh yeah?" "Definitely!" Leona smiled even though he couldn
Crawling, walking, running, jumping with both feet. Jumping tantrums in many shops when her parents wouldn't buy her what she wanted. Pulling and carrying toys... misplacing them and making the house a mess. Crying for the toys she misplaced. Climbing on furniture, almost giving her mother a heart attack afraid she would fall. Throwing and kicking a ball towards her dad or grandpa or Uncle Sam. Walking up the stairs while holding the rail. Daddy teaching her how to brush her teeth and hair. Mommy doesn't have to help her pull up her pants anymore. She claims to be a big girl. Turning on the faucet and leaving the bathroom a mess. How did she even reach there? Holding up utensils and crayons with her fingers instead of a fist. Repeating every word she hears. 'Fuck you, Sam!' Araceli repeating what her aunt had said while on the phone. 'Fudge-you-same'. "No no bad word Ara." She would simple giggle at her pregnant aunt scolding her. Recently she had started using words like 'why daddy
They stood stagnant in their position for what seemed like the longest time when it had only been merely been a few minutes. Eric felt patient, he knew it wouldn't be that easy but at least he was trying. Leona let out a sigh and stared back at him with her eyes just waiting to burst the dam of tears. She looked so vulnerable. "I can't—" she sniveled when a tear fell. "I don't want this anymore. It's not going to work. We always try and you always promise that it will but as soon as something comes up. You push me away and the only person you want is Debby. It hurts because whenever I feel down and sad... the only person I want is you but you don't want me. You don't love me. If you did you wouldn't have said what you said the last time we talked." She paused. Eric could feel the physical ache in his chest. A part of him didn't know if he should let her be from here on or if he continued pursuing her that would be some sort of harassment. "You told me that you wanted a new start and
Feeling left out.Eric stood in his corner. It was seven in the evening, Leona had merely woken up a few hours ago but her room was filled with flowers and gifts. It wasn't just Leona's parents who had came to see her. It was her whole family, her aunts, uncles and so on. Eric watched how Leona little nephews and nieces crowded her near the bed. She didn't seem to mind. Every time she smiled, he felt jittery in and out. So jittery, he was forced to lowly clear his throat. She wasn't smiling at him though. Eric was concerned, with how many people were coming in and out of Leona's room. If he wasn't mistaken, he had seen almost half of the church fellowship in the hallways. Happiness radiated all across the room. It made Eric realize that Leona was such a good person so much that everyone loved her. No one had anything horrible to say about her... if there was it would have to be Robbie. He wanted to stay in his place and not invade her space like everyone was. "Araceli is awake now, I
13:56 There was a sharp smell of disinfect invading her nostrils, a metallic tang from stainless steel in the open air. The room silent with void except for the beeping sound that indicated she is alive. Her eyes flew wide open, her lashes like a curtain blinding her vision. Confusion passed through her mind... 'Where am I?' Out of instinct her hand immediately reached for her stomach. Her other other reached for her stomach yet again feeling nothing over the hospital gown. Her brain started to register what was happening when she saw the blue color scheme surrounding the room. Shutting her eyes she remembered bleeding... on her way—"My baby!" She said hoarsely, her throat dry. She sat up straight from the bed. Her joints cracking into place after not having moved for over a month. She did not know that, infact everything in her mind had happened yesterday. She was about to get out of bed when a nurse came in and gasped. "Oh my Leona..." She rushed, making Leona stay back in bed.
"She has this thing right?" Eric chuckled lightly thinking about it. "Where she burps out milk and most of the time it's always on my shirt. I haven't showered in two days. She is going home today so I might have to book a hotel or something.." "Ew Ricky, she is extra sensitive and you might give her infections with your filth, for fucksake go shower and maybe shave... it's weird seeing you with stubble." Debby replied referring to the pictures Eric had sent. The focus was supposed to be on Araceli not him. He rolled his eyes at her response but admitted to the fact that he could really use a shower."Damnit Debby! I cant leave her sight knowing Robbie works here.." he added. "Yeah... he seems so spiteful. Leona told me what he said on her last appointment." That I should have been at. Eric thought cautiously. It bothered him that if she passes, that would mean they left everything off on a very bad note and absolutely nothing could change that. He would have to live with that guil
- I am by no means forcing Christianity on anyone. I think we all knew what we were getting into when the story read 'Christian boyfriend'. I'm not the most religious person but I'm just glad I get to show people of God's works even in the most distinct way, where ever I can. It's also okay to skip if it offends or makes you feel uncomfortable. Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion :D —Faith. Putting faith in God would mean we believe that even though things look tangled up, God is able to untangle them. When tragic things happen, putting faith in God means we believe, no matter how bad things look, that God will work them together for good. (Romans 8:28) When God says he will work all things for good, there is no exception. Too often, we look at what we are experiencing and can not fathom how it will work out, but that's exactly when we need to place that situation into his capable hands. God is not stunned by our struggles or trials. We get a call from the doctor with res