A woman's dilemma - Episode 45

 

Francesca:

The wind carries the sound of jingling bells to my ears before I see him. My heart starts that pitter patter thing it has been doing for the past week since I saw my bloodied dress. I lost this man's baby but he has shown me nothing but devotion ever since.
"Frances!" He calls even from afar as he rides the bicycle over to stop in front of the small clinic's front steps. He gives me that smile which I'm beginning to know is reserved just for me . I've seen him with his patient. Even with his sister, Simi. This isn't how he smiles at all others.
"Thought I'll find you here." He throws his long leg across the bicycle as he levels his eyes on me. I don't know why but I bow my head slightly in shyness.
"Come on, don't hide those beautiful eyes from me." He says softly and I lift my head up with a smile.
"That's much better. So what are you doing out here. It's a bit cold." He says and I sigh.
"You've been busy inside. The cool wind calms me. Thought I should do some thinking." His face falls for a split second at this and I feel I've offended him by implying that he's neglecting me.
"I'm not saying I feel neglected. Far from the truth actually

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-woman-s-dilemma

. I mean..."
"Got anything yet?" He interrupts me and I stop with a frown.
"Got what?"
"You said you've been thinking out here in the cold. Any of your memories come to you yet?" He watches me intensely as I bite down on my lips.
"Nothing. I just keep thinking about a name. Ola. Does that mean anything to me? Do you know who that is?" I ask him.
"Ola. Umm-- not really. I don't think there was any Ola in our life."
"You sure? I feel like I should know him." I insist.
"Him? You're certain it's a guy? Could be a girl y'know." I bite down on my lips and shrug. I don't like the shadow covering his features on this subject. If this Ola is important, Gideon will tell me. I feel like I should trust him with my life. He did save me after all.
"You know what. I'm sure you're right. I don't want to argue with you." I say after a few seconds of uncomfortable silence. I see Gideon's shoulders slump. He balances the bicycle against the pillar and comes to sit on the step beside the wheelchair I'm sitting on.
"You're right. I don't ever want us to quarrel." He takes my hand and brings it up to brush his lips against my knuckles. I inhale at the butterflies dancing around in my stomach. Feelings which feel completely alien to me. Probably because of my amnesia.
"I don't want that either." I let our eyes lock on each other's for a heated moment. I can see his glance straying to my lips before coming back to settle on my eyes.
"Come on. I have something prepared." Without warning, his hand goes under my knees while the other support my back as he picks me up from the wheelchair and I squeal.
"What are you doing?!" I let my hands go around his neck and press my head into his shirt, inhaling his scent. Yum!
"Did you just sniff me?" He comes to a sudden stop and my head flies up to meet his amused eyes. I blush beet red.
"I wasn't." I try to focus my eyes on the spot beside his head but he's having none of that. He brings his head down and closes the distance between our face. Now I can't see anything but his beautiful face.
"I'm pretty sure you just did." He smirks and I scoff.
"Where are you taking me?" I stray from the embarrassing subject and he gives me a knowing look. Thankfully, he doesn't push it.
"I took the evening off. I need a date with my woman." He says with a wink. And yes, the butterflies transition from dancing around in my stomach to having a stampede. My heart beat spikes up as well.
"Permission good ma'am?" He wriggle his brows at me and I smile.
"Of course."
"Well hold on tight." He says as he holds me with one hand while he maneuvers the bicycle to a standing position.
"We're going in that?" I ask and he nods.
"Think of it as your carriage."
"Won't we break our necks on that thing?" I eye the thing dubiously. Was that what we'll usually do? Before my accident?
"Trust me to bring you back in one piece." He gently places me on the bicycle with both my legs on one side before he positions himself behind me. I'm completely flustered by the heat coming from him as he pushes my body to rest against him.
"Ready?" He whispers into my ear, completely sending a thrill through me. I can't speak with the feelings around my throat so I just nod.

****

Gideon:

I see this as my chance to win her heart. I know this isn't exactly the best idea but I can't help but be selfish for the first time in my life. I have to be selfish to keep her with me because that's the only way to keep her safe. I ride up the rocky shores of the riverside and come to a stop at a comfortable spot. I put my feet down to keep the bicycle in place.
"Wow." I hear Frances gasp and my chest swells with being able to please her.
"Like it?" I ask her. Her head pushes back to be able to look up at me and I have the immense urge to kiss her. I look away from her lips instead. I don't want to force her into anything. I might be keeping her here with me with lies but I want anything that happens between us to be from her heart. Not obligation.
"That's a silly question, wouldn't you agree?" She smirks at me and I see a glimpse of the fiery girl I fell in love with years ago. I remember her asking me the same thing back then during one of our study class. Infact she always says that anytime I ask her something about the lesson. She was a stubborn student, this one.
"Those words feels familiar. Somewhat." She frowns a little and I smile down at her.
"You always used to ask me that." I tell her.
"Really? Does that mean I'm starting to remember?" She looks so happy at the thought. I hold the bicycle in place as I get down.
"Don't force it. You'll get there." I heave her up into my arms and let the bicycle slump against a big rock. I maneuver the basket I packed with one hand and carry it along with us.
"I know. I just can't wait to remember everything. All our dates. Our kisses. Was it good?" Her questions makes me stop.
"I bet it is." I mutter.
"What?" She asks.
"This should be a good spot." I place her on a small rock before pulling a big blanket from the basket. The water won't reach us out here so I lay it on a large rock. A throw pillow joins the made up spot before I arrange the few fruits I could get on short notice and the bottle of non alcoholic wine.
"You really thought about all this huh?" Frances says from her perch on the rock and I nod with a goofy smile. I've not really done this for any woman before but Simi said it'll be a nice get away for Francesca.
"I want to relieve the stress of your memory loss." I say softly to her.
"It's beautiful. I don't know if I've been on a picnic before but this is amazing. Have we been on a picnic before?" She asks and I shrug. Does the class excursion to the community brewery count as picnic?
"Here. Let me help you." I carry her effortlessly and place her on the blanket.
"Are you cold?" I ask and she shakes her head.
"I don't like you carrying me around. I don't want to stress you." She says as she takes a small bite of a really red strawberry. I watch her chew slowly.
"It's no bother. Y'know I also brought you here for some therapy. You've been doing great lately at the clinic but we can get some training while we have our picnic." I say as an idea hits me. It's something I saw on a movie once.
"What do you have in mind?" She throws the last bit of the strawberry into her mouth and chews quickly this time. A bit of the juice spills on her lips. I use the pad of my thumb to brush it off before I take both her hands.
"Gently now. Try to stand." I take her weight in my arms as I pull her up but let her rest against my chest.
"Does that hurt?" I ask, looking at her legs. She was immobile for too long while in coma and her brain has forgotten how to use her legs. She's been trying for the past week though. I'm amazed by her progress actually.
"I feel okay." She says without strain and I nod.
"Now I want you to put both your feet on mine." I instruct. When she eyes me dubiously, I smile at her.
"Just do it."
"Okay." Her shaky legs lift up a little to stand on mine. She wavers a little but I catch her in my arms.
"Steady now. Hold on to me. Like we're dancing." She doesn't argue this time and let her hands slip up to hook around my neck. Her head goes up to find my eyes.
"Good.

Read " To Hate Emmanuel Johnsons " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I'm going to move now." I say softly. When she nods, I take a step backwards then another. Her body plastered to mine is doing things to my heart that wouldn't be good for me if she leaves me.
"You okay?" She nods and I take several steps back with her feet on mine. It's like she's walking forward with me leading her.
"This feels...intimate." she sounds breathless and I notice her heart beating erratically against my own.
"You know what will complete this? Music." She answers before I can ask and I nod. That's a pretty decent idea. I release on hand from around her waist and use it to retrieve my phone from my pocket.
"Any song in mind?" I ask her without thinking and to my surprise, she answers without a beat and her reply slams air out of my lungs.
"Anne Marie's 2002." She says before frowning like she doesn't know where that came from. She looks up at me and I give her a reassuring smile.
"We did play that song in my car almost a year ago. Just before your accident." I tell her. A lump forming in my throat. I feel like all this could just come crashing down at my feet too soon with the way her brain remembers a few random things without prompting.
"Well play it then!" She sounds excited and I don't want to be the one to spoil a this. My fingers click the right keys and the tunes of Anne Marie's 2002 lead both our feets in a slow dance at the riverside.