Rafael’s mother sat in a car in front of South City Airport, awaiting a guest who was returning to the country.
The door opened, and a beautiful, slender woman with straight hair stepped into the car with her shades on. The lady pulled off the shades and smiled at Mrs Beatrice, who couldn’t hide her joy.
“Mother!” She greeted, “I have missed you!”
Beatrice was overtaken by joy at the sight of the woman before her. “Clarence child, you look prettier than ever. Living abroad sure looks good on you.”
“Oh, mother. There’s no place like home. I have been counting the seconds till I had to come back to South City. I missed you, Rafael and everyone here.”
Mrs Beatrice engulfed her in a hug. “You are such a good child, Clarence. I can’t wait for Rafael to see you finally. But first, you need to see your grandfather. Good thing I am headed over there.”
Clarence Whitlock was Rafael’s childhood friend and the Ambrose family’s family friend. She was once rumoured to be Rafael’s arranged bride who ended up marrying her sister. Her unrequited love for Rafael was clear to everyone but her late elder sister and Rafael.
After the death of her sister years ago, she flew out of the country, unable to stand seeing Rafael so broken and out of character no matter how hard she tried to help him recover from the loss of her sister.
“Oh Mother, you know he doesn’t want to see me,” Clarence said with a smile. “I’ve never had a good relationship with father. I don’t think he would want to see me.”
Mrs Beatrice knew Clarence had a poor relationship with her father since her sister’s death. She sought after her with hopes that what she had in mind would end the rift between them, and remedy her situation with Rafael.
“That’s why I am here. I have a proposal for you.” Beatrice said with a smile. “If things are going to work, I need you to be on good terms with your grandfather. Do you think you can do that for me?”
Clarence thought for a few seconds. “Depends on what’s in it for me.”
Beatrice smiled at the young lady. She always knew she would be the best person to carry out her plans. Clarence was so goal-oriented and Beatrice believed if she could point her in the right direction, June would be out of her son’s life in no time.
“What do you think about becoming my next daughter-in-law?”
Beatrice smiled inwardly when Clarence’s eyes widened. Things were about to take another turn and she couldn’t wait to see her plans materialise.
Meanwhile, Rafael and June were seated in Carson’s office. Rafael had requested a full body check to alleviate his wife’s worry. Carson went through the results without giving anything away.
“What does it say? Is there a problem?” June couldn’t help herself, these days it seemed like everything was out against her.
She had grown so pessimistic as a result of the things she faced.
Rafael held her hand, and squeezed tightly in reassurance, “Tell us, Carson. Speak and put my wife out of her misery.” He said with a smile that Carson mirrored.
“Rafael is as strong as a horse,” Carson said and June felt relieved. “I think he needs to take some time off work. Take off the stress.”
He wrote some things on a piece of paper. “Here you go. Head to the pharmacist and get these supplements. Take them as directed and get proper rest. He should be alright in three days.”
June took the paper before Rafael could move. She looked through the drugs and got on her feet. “Since we are already here, I should get them quickly.” She turned to Rafael, “Would you be fine, baby?”
Carson felt like a load of dog shit was shoved down his throat. His friend who noticed his discomfort played into it. “Of course, Wifey. I’ll be waiting right here. Don’t stay too long.”
June pressed a kiss on his forehead. “I won’t be long.”
With that, she left the office, leaving the two to themselves. As soon as she left, the atmosphere took a different turn. Rafael stared his friend in the eye and said. “You can tell the truth. What’s wrong?”
Carson shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “How long have you felt the stomach ache?”
“I can’t tell. It’s usually on and off. I don’t have all day. What is going on?”
Rafael watched his friend heave a sigh. He couldn’t understand what was so bad he lied to his wife and found it difficult to disclose. With the prolonged silence, he was losing patience.
“Spill-”
“We found traces of cancer,” Carson said in one breath.
Rafael smiled. “What?”
“The results show that there might be traces of cancer in your body. Further tests are being carried out and if I’m not mistaken, I should be getting the final results soon.”
A message dinged in Carson’s phone and he picked it up. “It’s here.” He muttered under his breath. “We are looking at first-stage pancreatic cancer.”
All traces of a smile were wiped away from Rafael’s face as he stared at his friend.
“There is still time. We can fight this-”
“Shush.” Rafael placed a finger on his lips and heard the footsteps of someone in the hallway. “We will discuss this later. My wife must not hear a word of this.”
Carson nodded and the door pushed open. June stepped into the office and found the atmosphere a bit tight. She threw a suspicious brow at Rafael who smiled and beckoned on her with a single finger.
“Come here,”
June couldn’t help the wings that fluttered in her stomach when Rafael looked at her like she was his world. She made to sit on her chair but Rafael dragged her to his lap instead.
“Much better.” He sighed contentedly and placed his head on the small of her neck.
June blushed furiously. “I got the prescription.” She said to Carson who watched her with a funny smile.
“I think we are done here,” Carson said with a smile. “He’ll be alright.”
June was glad to hear that her husband was fine. At the moment, Rafael and Luis were about the only things right in her world. Evelyn had yet to recover her memory and June was faced with the responsibility to help with her smooth recovery.
According to the doctors, her mother could recover her memory with the right trigger. However, there was a risk involved as she could easily become brain-dead if she received a shock she couldn’t handle.
June was left in the cold with everything and tried to show up daily for her mother and herself. She worked through the mixed feelings of hatred and love she nursed for her mother and finally came to a place where she was learning to heal from the emotional wounds.
“Let’s go,” Rafael said and she snapped out of her thoughts.
Together, they left the hospital and headed home. Rafael held June’s hand throughout the journey. An act that warmed June’s heart. Soon enough, they got home. With the sudden visit to the hospital, they were free for the remainder of the day.
“Luis should be in class,” June said after a look at the time. “We have the next few hours to ourselves.”
Rafael snuggled closer to her. “I want you but it seems you might be too tired to have me.”
A scandalous look printed on June’s face. “Who says I am too tired?”
Rafael corked his brow and she felt embarrassed. “I was just-”
“Since we are on the same page,” Rafael stood up, “Shall we?”
“Luis is-” June’s words were stopped when he helped her up and dragged her flush against him.
“It’s been so long.” The words were spoken with so much need and hunger. June melted in his arms.
With the recent events, the couple found it hard to act out their intrusive desires as they navigated the emotionally taxing period. Their romance was long overdue and June was willing to submit to her husband.
Their lips connected like magnets and the next moment, the couple were on each other’s throats, kissing like their life depended on it. Unable to hold themselves, they took to the couch, never breaking their kiss as they groped each other.
Meanwhile, a black Prado jeep revved into the compound. Beatrice stepped out with a smile, ready to take back what belonged to her. Behind her was Clarence, dressed in a beautiful evening short dress, with her hair and make-up done to perfection.
“Madame.” A security man greeted me with his head bowed.
“Where is my son?” Beatrice asked, looking around for traces of him.
They had been to his office and were told he wasn’t in. Beatrice’s anger peaked at the thought of her son slacking at work because of that barren woman. She wouldn’t stand for it.
“Mr Ambrose-”
“Is that Rafael’s car?” Clarence spotted Rafael’s car parked behind the house from a distance.
When Beatrice found her son’s car parked behind the house, she beckoned on Clarence and they went inside.