DISCOVERY
Maria stared straight ahead with not a single glance to her sides with her hands holding tightly to the steering wheel. Not like this was the first time she was driving, but at that moment, she got the zeal to focus on driving and just getting to Athina’s place.
The Sunday sun had subsided and now the evening atmosphere was setting in. She could enjoy the breeze that was pushing through into her car. She could have opted for the AC but she wanted to enjoy the free nature instead.
A little part of her mind drifted off to Genevieve and their chat. She was more than delighted in her great achievement and having her on her side was more than what she could have asked for.
Incessantly, she had thought her remark about her painting was going to do more harm to her than it could have possibly done to Genevieve herself.
She was a little too honest and the thought of what could have happened otherwise if she didn’t take if all as a stepping stone for her gallery daunted her. A dirge, it would be. She shrugged at the thought.
A few minutes later, she got to Athina’s place. She turned back to the passenger seat to pick the fruits Athina had later called for her to bring along. She couldn’t quite understand some dire cravings of pregnant women in which Athina was not an exclusion.
She got out of her car and walked a little briskly to the door as she pushed it open without hesitation.
“I promise I had prepared to come earlier,” she said immediately as she walked in and saw Athina walking to the kitchen.
She treaded gently behind her as her steps needs to match that of her pregnant friend. That alone was stressful for her.
“You come a little late to my place every time, it’s not a new thing anymore,” Athina retorted with a mild smile evident on her face.
She could not detect if the statement complemented by the smile was a product of sarcasm or pure words of intention.
“Your smile is so suspicious,” Maria said as she laid the fruits on the kitchen counter.
“Not as suspicious as your dressing. You look fucking good,” Athina complimented but immediately gasped at her use of word.
“Language! I don’t want my little cutie learning unpleasant stuff,” Maria said as she rubbed Athina’s growing belly.
“Yeah, yeah. Godmother,” she scoffed.
“Where have you been though?” she asked her as she took an apple from the fruits Maria had brought earlier.
Maria rested her back against the counter before she spoke.
“Having brunch with Genevieve,”
“Hold on! Same Genevieve?” she stopped her bite on the apple and stared widely at Maria like she had just misheard her.
“Yeah, same Genevieve,” Maria answered not sure what the word ‘same’ meant in the context.
“Reid told me what happened. I must say I wasn’t expecting any form of friendship afterwards,”
“I really can’t mention how it happened but she is not exactly what she’s painted to be. I mean, she isn’t at all pompous but elegant,”
“I don’t get what you mean by that but if I heard right, you insulted her painting. That’s not much of good quality towards Genevieve and her gallery,” her full focus was now on her.
“I didn’t give any insulting gesture. It was all about criticism and she doesn’t seem to be affected by it, to be honest.”
Thinking about how Genevieve had handled the whole situation was something she definitely needed to learn from. She had thought her criticism was going to land her a public destruction of reputation but ironically, it had helped Genevieve in a way.
“How did she get to know where you live though?”
She stared at Athina for a while as she had not thought or questioned how she knew where she lived.
“Uhm, I guess Reid told her,” she answered.
“Probably not,” she retorted. “They are quite close but I doubt if they go on about privacy and all,” she added.
Maria notices how Athina is closed off when it comes to talking about Reid’s personal life and family. It makes her curious and determined to pry. She wasn’t exactly the type to impede with anything of the sort but she was determined to pry in this.
Colton walked into the kitchen and walked straight to his wife without even noticing Maria’s presence.
He held her waist and turned her back against the cabinets as he gently claimed her lips.
“Easy, young man. We’ve got a company,” Athina hit his shoulder playfully as she withdrew from the kiss.
“Oh, Maria. The painting mistress or does it sound better to say, the painting critic?” he teased as he looked over at her with a grin plastered on his face.
“That doesn’t seem like a befitting title,” Maria declined playfully as well.
“Genevieve’s counterpart? Does that sound better?” he said again but with a raised eyebrow, earning laughter from the two women.
“Trust me, the whole thing wasn’t as intense as whatever way Reid must have put it,”
“But the fact still remains that you didn’t recognise an icon. She could have painted you instantly and asked for your sculpture to be made,” Colton remarked.
Exhaustedly, Athina looked back and forth between the two. It doesn’t always go down differently when the two meet. It always follows the path of teasing and arguing as it was at the moment.
“I noticed the signature on the paintings but I didn’t get to ask for the name. I had actually thought of some kind of older woman, not the stunning red-head I was greeted with,” Maria argued.
“Yeah, she’s stunning!” Athina confirmed with a nod. “But could we at least eat now? I’m feeding two humans, remember? It isn’t as easy as it might seem.”
With shock and disbelief, Maria asked. “You’re with twins? I thought it was one,”
Athina facepalmed while Colton laughed.
“I’m feeding myself and the baby.”
“Haha,” she said with chagrin obvious in her tone.
They all went to the dining room with Colton holding Athina’s hand. Maria walked behind them gently as she followed their pace.
She had commended severally that their love life is beautiful. She wouldn’t cease to do the same at the moment and as well wouldn’t mind having something of such but on second thought, she shifted the thoughts off her mind.
It regards a great dedication to attain this height and break through barriers. A lot of commitment needed to be put into it too. The thought of it wasn’t something she was at all ready for.
She walked to the kitchen pantry to get the cutleries and as she made the collection, she saw a magazine and on the front page which doesn’t only indicate it was a year old, but also displays Reid’s sexy image as the cover.
She got interested and flipped through the pages which filled her nostrils with mild dust.
She read through the first page which explains his achievements as a fast-rising successful businessman at a young age. He is also an animal lover and activist who owns a ranch.
She found that so impressive and couldn’t hold back the smile that formed on her face as she read on. She was surprised to learn more about him. Something she probably wouldn’t have been chanced to know.
She was certain about the fact that if she didn’t read about him, she would not get to know anything about him. So, she took her time to read through the pages.
As she got surprised, stunned, amazed and impressed by everything she read, she was more rattled by her decision to trust him.
“Maria. We could use our hands if you could just tell us the cutleries had grown wings,” she heard Colton yell from the dining room.
“Could you speak with less sarcasm for once?” she said as she got to the table.
“I was just worried that the cutleries could have flown away, you know,” he teased further with a big grin.
“Whatever,” she retorted.
The dinner was already served but Maria could not help but think about the fact that Reid was not present at the table.
“I’m surprised Reid isn’t here,” she finally let out with less enthusiasm.
“He should be here soon. He’s actually running late because he’s at the church,” Athina answered before stuffing her mouth with her meal.
“Church?” Maria exclaimed a little louder than she had intended to sound.
“He goes to the church?” she asked again and Athina nodded.
She had thought about her next words and they were about to slip out her lips when the door opened and like prince charming, Reid walked in.
He took his steps with all masculinity as if he was a runway model and was delighted and proud of his footsteps and he walked to the dinning room.
She stared at him as he took a seat beside her.