Afterward, they drove to the nearby registry and gave the notice to register their marriage, which would last for twenty-eight days. They returned home for lunch.
At the lunch table, Olivia asked nervously, “Will your Mom and Dad feel offended by my past?”
Denise, who was about to bite his chicken, stopped abruptly, dropped it back onto his plate, and assured her, “She would not. You were only a victim. What if you were her daughter? As for my dad, he died seven years ago.”
“Oh! Take heart.”
“It is okay.”
“So, I’m not going to have a father-in-law?”
Denise chuckled and assured her, “You will not notice his absence.”
“It is okay. What time are we going to meet her?”
“This evening.”
“You should be at work by then.”
“No. I’m off work today. By the way, you were holding a phone the day I picked you up on the road.”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“I have not set my eyes on it since I recovered. Did you see it when you picked me up?”
“I can’t remember. We will get a new one. You need to be mobile.”
“Thank you, dear.”
Monday Evening – The Bailey Native Home
Freya lived with her family in another part of Dover and paid her Mom a visit at the Bailey Native Home. She was a professional nurse and walked at the Government Hospital. She cherished her two children, Freya and Denise, so much, likewise their cousins, Julie and Louis, whom she brought up after their mother’s death. Freya, who was so familiar with the house, walked into the parlor from the Kitchen holding a cup of tea, which she served her mother before she sat down.
“Thank you for the tea, Freya,” Nichole thanked her as she sipped her tea.
“Don’t mention. Mom.”
“Yes, Freya,” she answered.
“You have not said anything.”
Nichole dropped the teacup on the saucer beside her and inquired, “I have not said anything about what, please?”
“About what we discussed.”
“We have discussed many things, Freya. Which of them are you talking about?
“I’m talking about Denise and Angel his wife-to-be. When do you think the marriage process should begin? I suggest that we hurry things before her pregnancy becomes obvious.”
“You mean the girl is already pregnant?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“What nonsense! Call Denise for me. How can he do such a shameful thing? I don’t think she is from a good home.”
Freya smiled broadly and advised her, “Mom, you cannot conclude until you see her. I don’t blame Denise if he could not resist her.”
Then, she picked up her handset to make a call, but she stopped in her tracks as she heard a ring from the doorbell. They fixed their attention on the door while Nichole instructed the janitor “See who is at the door, please.”
“Okay, Mrs. Bailey,” he answered and walked to see the visitor.
Before the janitor could get to the door, Denise opened it and walked in with Olivia.
Instantly, Freya exclaimed, “Wow! Mom. See who we have here. Talk of the Angel…”
“And she appeared,” Denise completed the sentence.
Freya walked up to them, hugged Olivia, and offered her a seat.
“I can see that you are better now. Please take a seat.”
“Thank you, Ma’am,” she appreciated her.
Denise walked up to his mother, who could not take her eyes away from Olivia,, and hugged her.
“Hello, Mom,” he greeted her afterward.
“Hello, Denise. Who is this pretty girl you came with?”
Denise released her and turned to Olivia, who was already sitting on the couch, and requested, “Angel, come and give Mom a hug.”
Angel got up and walked to Nichole. She gave her a passionate hug before she released her and said, “Welcome to my home. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Bailey,” Olivia appreciated her and walked back to her seat while Denise sat beside his mother.
He examined the tea on the table while Nichole kept admiring Olivia. At that point, her countenance changed, and she gave an approving look at Denise.
“How is work, Denise? You have not bothered to see me since this week. You must have been very busy, I guess.”
They laughed at her euphemistic use of ‘very busy’ in her joke. Freya dropped her cup of tea and asked, “Mom, which week are you talking about? Is it the one that began yesterday?”
Denise laughed as well and defended, “Mom, when you talk like this, you sound as if the week had gone far. Today is just Monday.”
“I see,” she accepted.
“Mom, meet my fiancee. Her name is Olivia McGregor, but just address her as Angel because of me.”
“Your sister had told me about her.”
She turned to Angel and said, “You are welcome, Daughter. You look truly like an Angel.”
Olivia replied bashfully, dropped the honorific, and addressed her informally, “Thank you, Mom.”
Denise, who was happy with his mother’s opinion about his fiancee, said, “Mom, I actually wanted her to stay with you while we carry on with the marriage processes. We were at the registry today”.
Freya and Mrs. Bailey accepted his opinion immediately, “That will be very nice.”
Afterward, the janitor got her stuff out of the car while Denise helped her to settle into her new room.
Then, Denise announced, “Angel, I will be on my way. I will keep in touch.”
Angel felt empty immediately, and Denise noticed it. Likewise, she offered, “Let me walk you to the car.”
Denise understood what she was up to, laughed aloud, and asked, “Why? I can leave by myself.”
Olivia rested her head on his chest and held him tight for the comfort and safety that she mostly desired. With her 5′ inches height, Denise, who was 5’10 (1. 78 m), could rest his chin on her head to give her the warmth she desired.
Finally, she spoke, “I’m missing you already.”
“I know. I feel the same way.”
She released him and looked at his alluring face. They maintained eye contact for a few seconds before she spoke, “I love you, Denise.”
Denise bit her beautiful lips and replied, “I love you too. I will be on my way. OK?”
“It is all right. Be careful.”
“Thank you, dear. I will.”
They walked back to the parlor to discover that Mrs. Bailey and Freya were in the courtyard waiting for them. They walked Denise to the car and watched him leave.
“Be careful, Denise.”
“I will Mom. Bye.”
“Goodbye, Denise.”
“Thank you, Big sister.”
He waved at Olivia, who was looking at him like a deprived baby, before he drove off.