On Monday Morning. At Denise’s Apartment
Denise and Olivia were sitting on a cane chair and at the courtyard. Their cups of tea were on the center table. The gentle breeze was blowing Olivia’s long hair. She was out of pain and stress because her miscarriage cramping and bleeding had ceased. She was beautifully dressed with a pair of black jeggins and a long floral top covered with a winter jacket. She brushed her long gold hair which had been in a ponytail into tight waves, and it looked gorgeous.
Furthermore, she had a mild makeup on her face, which made her look different from the woman who had been under the same roof with him for two days. Denise, who had set out to avoid any form of intimacy, could not help to compliment her while touching her hair.
“You look so beautiful today, Angel.”
Olivia was bashful instantly and replied, “Thank you, for the compliment, Denise.”
Denise gave her a romantic look and requested, “Now that you are all right, I think we can talk.”
She smiled softly and responded, “It is all right by me.”
“So tell me about yourself.”
She took a deep breath and asked, “Mmm! Where do I start from?”
Denise smiled softly and teased her, “Start from when you were born.”
Olivia laughed weakly and teased back, “No, I will start from when I was in the womb.”
Denise was beginning to enjoy her company. He laughed heartily and said, “Better. At least I will be privileged to know what goes on there.”
They Laughed happily. Then Olivia asked, “Tell me, what do you think goes on there?”
‘I’m about to hear that from you.”
Then, Olivia began to talk, “There is no point telling you my name, since you have given me one.”
“You are right. Do you love the name?”
“Yes. I love it. I’m from Thanet – Northeastern Kent. My parents are Missionary and currently serving in Egypt. I am the second daughter and the third child of a family of four.”
She paused and looked at Denise who seemed absent-minded, but he was listening attentively.
Then, he asked, “What was a girl from Thanet – Northeastern Kent, doing here in Dover three days ago under the cold?”
Olivia swallowed hard and continued, “I was on my way to see my school mother but I can’t tell how I found myself here. The only thing I can remember was that I was endeavoring to book for a cab but could not because I was stressed up.”
She paused as they looked at each other for a while and Denise inquired before sipping his tea, “Is there anything you still want me to know about you?”
Now, Olivia waa withdrawn and her countenance changed but Denise encouraged her to talk, “I thought we are already friends. You are my Angel. Let me share your burden with you. Right?”
She nodded and he continued, “You are aware that problem shared is problem half solved.”
Olivia, who got some encouragement from his comment. She took a deep breath and continued, “I had…”
She stuttered when she could not refer to Louis as a past tense.
Denise watched her with an encouraging smile and she continued, “I had a boyfriend whom I loved so much and he had proposed to marry me. When I discovered that I was pregnant, he urged me to abort it but I refused, and he called off the relationship.”
She paused and looked at Denise’s reaction but he was calm. Then, she continued, “I was so scared of my parents’ reaction, so I decided to come to Dover to look for my school mother.”
“And abort the pregnancy?” Denise asked with a harsh voice.
Olivia who was scared corrected him immediately, “No. Rather to put up with her and have the baby. I cannot abort my precious baby.”
Denise was bitter andinsensitive and broke the news that she feared most, “But you had a miscarriage.”
“Ooh!” she exclaimed.
She held her stomach and began to sob, dejectedly while Denise was lost in thought and not mindful of her. She felt unwanted, got up and walked to the house. She picked up her luggage and was about to leave.
Denise, who came back to his senses as the door opened mumbled, ” Where is she going?”
He ran to her and stopped her by holding her luggage. Then, he explained apologetically, “Angel dear, it is not what you are thinking. I apologize, if I hurt you. I was only feeling for you. I can’t imagine that a man in his right senses could do this to such a beautiful Angel like you.”
He never minded the fact that his staff members could be watching and drew her closer to his chest.
He held her tight for some seconds before he assured her, “At least you have me now. I will make it up to you if you permit me. I love you, Angel.”
When he wanted to release her, she held him tighter and would not let go of him. Meanwhile, she continued sobbing.
Denise allowed her to feel the warmth of his embrace, rubbed her back and comforted, “Stop crying. You have been through a lot.”
After a while, she raised her head, looked at his face and assured, “I love you too, Denise, and I promise to be your Angel.”
(Sobs)
“It is all right. Thank you for accepting my love. Don’t cry again,” he whispered to her.
They disengaged and took the luggage back to the house. When they settled down in the parlor and Denise noticed that she was calm, he asked her, “What are your plans about marriage, Angel?”
Angel composed herself and explained, “I had wished to get married at once because of the pregnancy. Now that I miscarried the baby, I will take my time.”
Denise had maintained some distances from her and was not contented with her response, inquired more, “What do you mean by take your time?”
Olivia searched his countenance to see if he did not really get her explanation. She continued when she could not get any clue from his face.
“I will return to Seven Oaks and continue with my plans to set up my Information and Communication Technology firm.”
To Denise, returning to Seven Oaks may be precarious to their relationship. He had searched for a mate for long and would not allow the bird at hand that was worth more than thousands in the bush to slip off his hand. He relaxed his principle that was against premarital sex and moved closer to her swiftly. Not only that, he drew her closer and made her to rest her head on his thighs before they shared a deep and affectionate kiss.
Afterward, he asked her, “Do you believe that I can make you to forget your past?”
She looked at him passionately with tears in her eyes and nodded in the affirmation.
Then, he continued, “Then, I won’t allow you to take your time nor return to Seven Oaks. I want to marry you at once. Just say yes.”
Olivia allowed her tears to flow freely. This time, they were tears of joy. She sat up, crossed her left hands across his neck and kissed him longer than the first and consented.
“Despite my past, you still love me. I say yes, to your proposal.”
“Your past does not define who you are. Your present and your feature are the most important. I love you no matter your past.”
“I love you too.”
“Thank you for that. I will take you to my Mom this evening. You will come back after our wedding.”
She showed disappointment, but Denise allayed her fears by asking, “Do you have a problem with that?”
“I will miss you.”
“It won’t be long. Just thirty days from today.”
Olivia smiled and kissed him again, and Denise raised a point, “Permit my unplanned proposal without an engagement ring. I will make it up to you.”
“It is okay.”