NO PERFECT MARRIAGE

NO PERFECT MARRIAGE EPISODE FOUR

I pushed Dom off and found my way inside. I hated him for what he did and now I didn't know what Cedric had in mind about me, he didn't put up a fight, he didn't ask questions he just left and knowing Dom so well, he would have thrown the first punch just to make the situation worse...

I was nervous, I paced around the house not sure if I needed to call Cedric and explain myself or just let him calm down and reach out himself, I mean if he really did love me then he would right?. I loved Cedric so much that I didn't want to see his feelings get hurt and besides, he was the one serious guy i had met in a long time. he saw me, he claimed me snd he was ready to have me in his life with everything I thought was wrong with my life.

I took off my shoes and dropped them on the shoe rack and curled myself up on the couch. I couldn't help but think of what the surprise was going to be and I couldn't imagine what his mother and the entire family would think of me after that incident. Of all the things Dom could claim he had to say he left his boxers I mean what was on Cedric's mind after showering me with praises?..

I got my phone and despite saying I was not going to call Cedric I couldn't hold it. I dialed his number and made the call but he hung up immediately I started to talk.

I tried a second and a third time and when he didn't pick, I knew he didn't want to talk to me. i had never felt so much pain in my heart like thar day. i regretted having known Don and i regretted inviting him into my home.

Minutes after failing to reach Cedric I decided that I was not going to kill myself now that Dom had messed up my day. I decided to treat myself to some good food and wine then maybe figure out what to do if Cedric didn't try to reach out...

I dragged myself off the couch and then headed to the kitchen I got a call from my mother who never called unless she needed money from me.. she never called to find out how I am doing..she never called to know my plans or even tell me anything about Cedric since we left home because I expected her to tell me why she had decide d to embarrass me the one time i expected her to be a mum.

Me: hello mother.

i said not even sure that i wanted to exchange greetings with her. i wanted to jump straight into knowing why i couldn't depend on her.

Mum: how are you?.

Me: I'm fine. why are you calling me after everything you did to embarrass me infront of my guest?

Mum: watch that tone young girl I'm your mother. listen, I need some money to pay the workers. You know I've grown so old and I cannot do alot of work. I need help around here.

Me: mum, it's been barely a day since I left home and my boyfriend left you fifteen thousand what did you do with that money?..

Mum: so I should give you an account of what I did with the money that did not come from your pocket eeeh?.

she sounded upset.

Me: did you deserve to be given that money mum, aren't you grateful that a stranger came to your house and left you that amount of money?.

Mum: thank you very much, madam supervisor. I didn't ask for that money so don't expect me to beat drums and dance to your tune. My husband took you to school and now that he is no more, it's your responsibility to take care of all my needs and without complaining.

Me: wow, so dad taking me to school was a favor according to you? it's not the end month yet. I don't have money.

Mum: that man is driving a very big car he cannot miss another fifteen thousand to send me... I will not die of hunger while you enjoy life in the city.

I hanged up on my mother because she was wrecking my nerves and I could not believe that she would be that greedy and insensitive at the same time. Before Cedric left the money, she would call yes but would not make such demands crazy demands and when i told her i didn't have money,she understood. This was a man I was not yet married to and the courage my mother had to even call me and make demands after the bad reception she had given us shocked me more...

I started preparing the meal not fully interested because my mood had gotten from bad to worse. Sometimes I sat back and wondered if my mother was my real mother because how she treated me and the things she said to me made me see her differently. A witch she was and at some point, you will know why I thought she was...

I turned on the music and listened to sad songs because I wanted to cry and lift the pain I was feeling inside. Why was my life like this, why was it that every time my life started to shape up something came and made everything worse?..

My food was almost ready in half an hour and while cleaning up the kitchen, I saw a call from Ivy and my heart started to beat so fast. She must have heard from Cedric what happened and maybe the whole family now saw me as some slut.. I thought of ignoring Ivy's call but on second thought I said why not. I hadn't done anything wrong so what was I even running away from? of Ivy and the whole family wanted to judge me for what Dom gad done then it was on them not me.

I turned down the volume to the music and received her call and judging from how excited she was, I could tell that she didn't know anything...

Ivy: hey my girl, what are you doing tonight?..

Me: nothing much, just cleaning and cooking and maybe sleeping later on

Ivy: oh, I thought you could be free we hang out.

Me: I could spare some time for you.. what time are you available?.

Ivy: right now.. are you down?

Me: uuum! yeah, sure.. send me your location and I'll be there.

Ivy: right away dear, I'm looking forward to us having an awesome girl time..

Ivy ended the call and turned to Cedric who was standing right there listening to the conversation between her and Stella.

Ivy: she is alone otherwise she wouldn't have agreed to meet up now. You are being paranoid my friend.

Cedric: am I, how did he not miss her door if he has not been going there for his boxers every other time and what type of a man forgets his boxers at a woman's place anyway?

Ivy: the stupid type i guess, hey, that's the trick right there, what if it was a scheme to get you this worked up and create doubt in your mind? You said it yourself that Stella was one of her kind. you love and adore her.

Cedric: that's before I saw her in a different light.

Ivy: did you catch her with the man in a compromising position?..

Cedric: no.

Ivy: that guy got exactly what he wanted from you...a reaction. he wanted to puss you off and clearly he has. I know his type. If you follow up closely you will realize he's just some bitter ex who won't let go. Don't lose a good woman over petty issues like that.

Cedric: you think she is a good woman?

Ivy: I know she is a good woman. I actually like her more than I ever did Patricia. where did she go anyway?

Cedric smiled and rested his back on the couch...

Cedric: Patricia went overseas for her studies. her father felt like i was a destruction in her life. he warned me to stay away several times and when he realized i couldn't, he took her to the US. we never kept in touch after that.

Ivy: if you ask me, i would say good riddance.

thet both smiled.

Cedric: about Stella, I should have listened to her side of the story...

Ivy: yes you should. You still can...

Cedric: she probably hates me by now.

Ivy: she's afraid of what you are thinking right now...

Cedric: what do I do?..

Ivy: go talk to her... I'm supposed to meet her at the joint, the same place you guys took us the other time but I'm sure she could use your company...I will reschedule with her...

Cedric got up and hugged Ivy and picked up his keys...

Cedric: you are not only beautiful but you got brains too. My brother has to marry you and if I find him in the company of some other girl, I'm breaking his leg...

Ivy: say that louder so that he can hear...

Cedric: wish me luck...

Ivy: you don't need luck.. go get your girl...

Tamima, Stella's mother after the conversation she had with her, got so upset that she could not wait to do something about it so she tied her wrapper on her waist, headscarf on her head and wore her black rubber shoes, and left in a hurry after allocation of work to his worker. Tamima had a house help who came like three days in the week to do the cleaning and cooking and at the end of the month was paid by Stella, the same Stella she had been fighting and calling names.

She went to some home of a well known medicine man or a witch doctor, nobody knew what he really was because he healed the sick but at the same time ended the lives of those who proved to be a nuisance or a hindrance to other people's lives.. she had been visiting him way before Stella's father died. He treated him on several occasions but cancer could not obey even the herbs...

She knocked and when he told her to remove the shoes she did and got in and sat on a small wooden stool.

"What do I do for you today?" Joram asked mixing up his herbs but still giving her a listening ear.

Tamima: that girl is now getting out of my hands.. she has found a wealthy man and from the look of things he has money but I want a share of his money too. but from the look of things. my daughter is so selfish, she wouldn't let me be a part of what she just found.

Joram laughed and stopped whatever he was doing...

Joram: isn't it a good thing that she has found a rich man, what else do you want? it's obvious if he marries her you will be well taken care of.

Tamima: you don't understand. My daughter, will enjoy that money alone and send me peanuts. My husband put me in a high class life...I have to maintain that...

Joram: so what do you want me to do?

Tamima: it's simple.. make her barren so that when she gets married to that man, she won't give me excuses for her having responsibilities. I want to be her only responsibility.

He looked up at her quite surprised...

Joram: your daughter has a good heart, I can see her from here, why do you want to cause chaos in her marriage?

Tamima: that one will not survive in any marriage. She is my daughter and I know her. I'm only making it easier for her. If she is smart, she will milk that man dry and build herself a mansion because no man will marry her...

Joram: okay.

He got up and got some powder that was in one of the bottles and poured it on a piece of paper and folded it then handed it to her.

Joram: keep this until the next time you see her husband to be... put that powder in your hand and run it together and say what you want and before greeting anyone else, greet him first.. do you understand?

Tamima: yes Joram... I understand you do well.

Joram: drop what you brought in that basket and go without looking back.

She did exactly as she had been instructed.

I had to stop my cooking and meet up with Ivy as she had requested. I got to the joint half an hour after speaking to ivy and when I called her, she said she was on her way. She asked me to make an order and she would be there as soon as she could...

I signaled the waiter and ordered a drink as I waited for her. I could have ordered the food but I thought it would be a good idea if we ate together...

I went through my phone, checking out the trending issues as I waited for my drink and while at it, heard someone pull a chair beside me when I looked up, it was Cedric, my heart literally sank and I stared at him blankly not sure how he knew where I was.

Cedric: hey beautiful, can I join you?

He asked pulling a chair and I nodded still not sure how to react.

Cedric: it's okay, I'm not here to pick a fight.

Me: This must be Ivy's idea...

Cedric: yeah.. she's a genius isn't she?..

Me: yeah.. about earlier... What you heard back there were lies... Dom is a part of my past and he was just trying to start up trouble. I love you so much.

Cedric: I know that...

Me: you do?..

Cedric: yeah, and Dom is not the reason why I'm here.

Me: why are you here?

Cedric: to stare into those beautiful eyes and apologize for walking out on you and our date. I shouldn't have.

Me: I would have reacted the same way if I got to your place and some girl came asking for her stuff...

He took my hands and kissed them and a warm smile escaped his lips. His eyes and his gaze gave me butterflies and for the first time I knew someone was really in love with me

Cedric: so are we going to make any orders?

I nodded and smiled blushing off as he called the waiter.

He gently cupped my hands in his and rubbed them to keep me warm.

Cedric: you are beautiful.

Me: thank you...

Cedric: your smile and the way you look at me turns me on instantly. I've never fallen this deep for someone.

Me: stop it, babe..you are flattering me...

Cedric: is it working?..

Me: yes.. just a little bit...

Cedric: well, maybe by the time I'm done treating you for the night, I could get a kiss.

Babe, I trust you... I know you will never hurt my feelings and I'm in this a hundred percent...