BABY FOR MY HONEY

PRIORITY

CHAPTER 8

Late in the afternoon, Trisha stepped inside my office. This time she was in a good mood.

“Well, well, well. What’s good?” I looked at her while she strutted like walking on a catwalk, swaying her hips from side to side.

“I know–I look good,” She giggled while she sat on the chair in front of my desk.

I bobbed my head, “You are. Good for you. Have you fixed your knots with Edmond?”

“Of course not. But–you are right, he’s the best. I won’t die while working with him for a few months,” Trisha murmured. She was pouting her lips after she spoke.

Trisha’s lips were like those of a celebrity with awesome lips. Trisha's images come out nicely because of her lips and her expressive eyes, not discounting her hour-glass body--a real beauty, no question about it.

“So, what gravitated you to my office?”

Trisha was fun to be with when she was not feeling so full of herself. She had to learn how to deal with all kinds of people, especially those she worked with. At twenty or almost 21 in a matter of months, she needed to grow up. But–who am I to judge her in the first place? I was twenty-two when I committed mistakes that kept me awake most nights.

“I just want to inform you of the progress of my photoshoot and rehearsals for the fashion show.” Trisha, let me know. She was used to exchanging words with me at the end of the day whenever her schedule permits.

“Sounds good. Anything more? I need to prepare for my 5:30,” I mentioned as I got my bag. I‘d be meeting Herena at the coffee shop in the lobby as she requested, which was fine with me.

“5:30–You are always off by 6. How come you have 5:30 today?” Trisha asked, confused, she knew my routine, and sometimes we spent dinner together.

“Oh–I’m not reporting for work next week, Thursday and Friday. I need to stretch my days to accommodate the never-ending appointments.” I informed her.

“I see–” she was aware that every month I have a day off, but she didn’t know why and how I spent those days.

“Okay, if you still need me for anything, walk with me to the lift?” I proposed.

“Sure, sure–” she clutched her hands on mine again. She was used to doing this, and her love handle might be “touch.” She’d been so clingy.

“Divina, I’m off to meet Herena.”

“Yes, miss,” she nodded."Goodbye!" I simply smiled back at her.

While Trisha and I walked towards the lift, “You know what–” Trisha whispered excitedly.

“Hmm,” I hummed and waited for her to say something. I noted her need to tell me something earlier, the reason why I proposed to her to walk me to the lift.

“I met someone a couple of months ago. Oh, you will not believe who he is,” She mumbled. I could feel her eagerness but making it difficult for others to overhear.

“Surname?” I asked interestedly.

“I will reveal that some other time. He is not easy to deal with, but OD– I like him a lot. We communicated a couple of times, but once he’s here again, I will invite him to dinner,” her interest in pursuing the man was evident in her words.

“Oh, Trisha, remember no complicated relationships, alright? Don’t forget what happened the last time,” I reminded her.

Trisha could be silly and crazy when in a relationship, and when it turned lemon, she was the one who suffered the most, and her work was constantly affected.

“Oh no, I don’t think it will be complicated this time. He’s more mature than I am and very wealthy,” she shared enthusiastically.

“Really– but be careful, men are always interested in one thing,” I looked down at her south.

Trisha met men in the industry with wealth and power, and with her beauty, men couldn’t keep their eyes and hands off her. With a liberated outlook on life, she enjoyed the attention and the fun that goes with it, but–she had to be more careful. She has got more to lose than the men she dated.

“I don’t mind banging this one,” she squealed with delight.

“As I said, be careful, alright? Goodness! Why do you fall so quickly? ” I snickered, both pleased and worried about her impetuousness at the same time. The minds of young people nowadays were more aggressive and uncautious, and I could hardly keep up with present times.

Trisha laughed, “I will keep this one if he ever dares to make a move.”

I gathered she got her eye on the man. She was so infatuated, but–who wouldn’t like her? Young, attractive, and she could be a doll when she wanted to. Men would find it hard to resist her.

“Fine!” the door of the elevator finally opened, “See you tomorrow.”

“See you, Sairah.” she kissed me and waved until the elevator door closed.

Young minds. I remembered the time when I was also impetuous.

Who could champion me? I was married at 21. Without my parents to witness the wedding, and marrying the man during a cruise? Those were the days I wished I could rewind. I would probably ask Devlin to wait a little longer, give me time to mature, before I marry him.

I sighed heavily. I had been so crazy and impulsive.

My appointment did not last long, done in thirty minutes, but Pam called, so after my meeting, I proceeded to our favorite Italian dining place. I rarely eat dinner, only when Devlin was here or when my friends asked me to dine with them. Usually, a glass of juice made of fresh fruit with cucumber or carrots was enough for me.

Pam was already sitting in a corner when I arrived. She waved as soon as I entered the door.

“Hi there–” we kissed, and I settled on a chair while we waited for Annie.

“You are early this time,” Pam murmured.

I was usually late whenever we saw each other. Well, I got more responsibilities.

“My meeting wrapped up earlier than expected,” I replied. “Will Greg come later?”

Pam had been married to an amazing man two years after Devlin and I married. They have two kids now, with features like Greg. Pam was always complaining about how her children didn’t look like her.

“Nope–he’s in charge of the kids. The nanny is on a day off. Don’t worry about him. He can manage perfectly without me. By the way, he sent his regards,” Pam conveyed while munching a potato strip.

“Kiss him for me,” I responded, then I looked at the menu for something light to eat. My stomach was no longer used to heavy meals during dinner, and I settled on my favorite, “Panzanella,” the combination of vegetables, cheese, and bread was a complete meal.

I asked the waiter to give me bottled water to go with my order.

“Geez! Is that all you’ll have?” Pam complained. “That's just a starter for me.”

“Oh, there’s Annie,” I waved so she would see us.

I deliberately didn’t mind her comment about my food because later I knew they would ask me to taste their orders, and before the dinner ended, I’d be mad full.

“You came early? Why didn’t you inform me? We should have come here together.” Annie nudged, brushing her elbow on mine.

“I thought Primo would give you a ride?” I responded briefly. Primo and Annie had been married for a year with no child yet.

“Yeah, he did. But–the rest of the night is mad fun for us, girls,” she raised her hand for a three-way high five. Pam and I raised our palms to meet hers.

Unlike when we were all single, we drank and celebrated almost every night. We all came from the same college but different courses, and we have been friends since then.

“So, what are we celebrating?” I asked—no knowledge of why we were here tonight.

“Your love life,” the two duet, yelling out the exact words.

“Ahem–Ahem,” I coughed when a piece of tomato barred my throat. “Right, it is your favorite topic, I noted.”

‘I heard you are going to LA next week,” Pam brought the subject forward.

Of course, it was Annie who told her. That was our topic this morning.

I nodded my head; I had no intention of hiding anything from them in the first place.

“So–Will you finally end this cat and mouse game you were mad fond of doing? Go and end it once and for all,” Pam expressed.

“Touche,” Annie acknowledged her clever point made by Pam at my expense.

“Yo, ladies, listen–” I cleared my throat once again, “It depends on the situation." I sighed. "I hate to admit it, but–it was harder to read Devlin lately.”

“What do you mean?”

What I uttered piqued their interest.

“Well–he was neither livid nor calm; he was expressionless most of the time. But–we don’t argue, we both give way, unlike before that his words were full of contempt. Now he has mellowed a bit,” I revealed. It was harder to handle a person who did not show his emotions. Well, except when we were doing the deed, of course.

My friends and I didn’t talk much about Devlin; they respected my silence and privacy. But I guess now; I couldn’t escape the two. That was the reason for this get-together, and it was only fair to tell them some truths which may help me figure out the moves I must take moving forward.

“Okay–” Pam and Annie’s eyes crossed my face, “By any chance, have you ever felt that he was simply giving in to your demands out of pity?”

I was speechless for a short period of time. Hearing Pam’s question pierced a part of my heart. I nodded my head to confirm. It was the truth, and I felt that most of the time.

“Ooh, girl–” they both came to me and hugged me tightly. “That’s mad tight,” Pam whispered.

“We are here, girl. Always here for you, don't you ever forget that,” Annie murmured.

I didn’t know why, despite their show of support, I did not cry. My chest was heavy, but I didn’t shed a tear in front of the two people I trusted the most. So unlike before that, the mere mention of Devlin brought tears to my eyes.

Was I slowly accepting that soon– no matter how I held on to this uncertain relationship with Devlin, I would be able to let him go?

But– it couldn’t be.

DJ’s welfare had always been my priority. I endured this out-of-character setup with Devlin because I had been wishing to fix us.

The situation was still easier to handle now because DJ had yet to look for a father figure, but when he started to associate with friends in school the next year, he would compare himself with other children. And he would ask why he didn’t have a papa or daddy like them.

My friends and family were right; I needed to sort out my relationship with Devlin at the soonest time possible.