Palm lines 2 - Episode 4

 

Ade's POV

I had to rush over to Salvage Realtor to deliver Mr. Savage's food. I walked in yelling, "Your delivery is here" I announced and Mrs Erika smiled at me.  Mr. David eyes were still glued to the  document he was going through.
"You should work on your delivery motto, you sound like a gigolo or a porn star" he commented laughing at his own joke and Mrs Erika joined in. 
"Mam if I were you, I'll be worried. I think your husband's been watching gay porn" I answered and he threw a ball at me and I dodged it laughing. 
 Mr Savage then raised his head staring at me, he then had a mixed expressions on his face. 
They both had that look . Frankly it scared me.
"What?" I asked but he kept on giving me that suspicious look mixed with that look when he doesn't want to tell me something but he does anyway. 
"Why are you both looking at me like I have poop on my face?" "And why did you always use that phrase whenever we give you strange looks?" Mr David asked and I shrugged.
"Cause I feel like there's poop on my face"
"You don't have poop on your face but you sure have lipstick on your lips" he answered and I scoffed. 
He was definitely trying to pull my legs. 
"Nice try, you think I'll fall for it?" I asked then I picked up my phone looking at my reflection to see a little pink lipstick stain on my lip. Definitely from Shirley!
How come I didn't notice?
I cleaned it off feeling embarrassed that they both saw it

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/palm-lines-2

. "So you've been making deliveries with that on your lips?" He asked and I rolled my eyes, Mrs. Erika laughed.
"Don't even remind me! No wonder those guys were looking at me strangely."
"I see you weren't only delivering food, you were delivering your lips too" he added and I scoffed again. 
"Do you want some?" I asked and he shook his head. 
"Please have some respect for my wife" he answered and I laughed. He had a way of making me laugh.
 "Is that what you guys do? Make out when I'm not around" Mrs Erika teased and I pointed at Mr Savage. 
"He's been the one watching gay porn, he pulls the move every single time" I blamed and we all laughed over it.
"How's work Ade?" Mrs Erika changed the topic.
 "it's going great" I answered and she collected the customer bag opening the food. 
"Smells good as always" she picked up a spoon and began eating. This was followed by silence. 
"I know it's none of my business Ade but, if I may ask, who were you..." Mr Savage stalled, then he clear his throat.
"Not like it's our business oh" Mrs Erika added, I noticed her interest too then I sighed. 
"Shirley kissed me"
"Who's Shirley?" Miss Erika asked, "The girl who frequently visits him, the one I told you about"
"Oh the one that has been asking you out?" Mrs Erika guessed right and I gawked in shock at how unsecretive he was about my private life.
"I went out to make deliveries and she realized I wasn't happy so she offered that I come into her house and I did."
"Women are deceptive, they can sense when a guy is at the weakest and most vulnerable moment. She did and she definitely acted on it"
"Well ... while I was talking about...." I stalled again.
"Sha..Sharon" I stammered, "I was emotional and all...." I paused cleaning a tear that was already making its way down to my cheek bone.
"That was when she kissed me"
"And?" He asked, "Nothing happened. Nothing happened, her friend walked in and that was it. I left" I answered now mopping my tears, now with a handkerchief.
"These tears won't stop pouring" I complained out of shame.
"It's okay to cry when you feel hurt. Only real men cry, you can ask David" Mrs Erika answered and I smiled. 
"She said that same thing, Shirley"
"Why do I feel like you're opening up for her to come in? Not like I'm against it or anything" Mrs Erika asked, I noticed she had started eating.
"Why shouldn't I? I stupidly waited for Sharon for years only for her to tell me she grew up and I've been the idiot"
"She said that?" He asked, "Not exactly"
"I'm sorry" Mr Savage apologized and I took the chance to snap at him. 
"You both could have said something, you could have given me a clue but no, you had to make me look stupid in front of her fiance" 
"First of all, we didn't know. I swear, I didn't even know about her fiance. She didn't even tell me she had a boyfriend, much more that she was engaged. I was just as shocked as you were when I found out" he paused. 
"Besides you weren't stupid for waiting, real men do stupid things for love" Mrs Erika replied and sat on the chair.
"Did she , dis she really call you an idiot?" Mr Savage asked and I sighed. 
"Calling me an idiot would have been better" I paused. "I think it will be better if I just act how she said it or out it her words" I paused, "We were apart, I had to grow to realize we're worlds apart and there was nothing to hold on to. I had to move on, what we had were just... They were just infatuations and childish feelings, I grew up and I moved on" I paused and Mr Savage broke into pretense tears. 
"I'm being serious here" I snapped.
"I thought we were acting, any man would have reacted this way after such a blow"
"I didn't react that way"
"You said you cried"
"That was after I got home. That's not the point Sir."
"I forgave her for not calling back or picking up my calls or returning my mails but I can't forgive her for this, no way! I'm so angry. He even had the nerves to kiss her right in my presence, I've never been so angry in my entire life. What does she see in him that isn't in me?"
"The height is different" Mr Savage pointed out then he cleared his throat.  "He's taller than you are, he has that model look like those model on Uk runways and he has blue eyes"  Mrs Erika added.
"Blue eyes" Mr. David agreed, "Unlike yours. Your eyes on the other hand are not just black, they're Nigerian black. Besides you have those, weight lifter body"  he continued and Mrs Erika laughed hitting him on the arm.
Then she cleared her throat, putting on a serious face.  "I'm sorry dear. On a serious note, we're just as disappointed as you are"
"I don't even recognize her anymore." Mr David added,  "She's still Sharon, I'm just trying to understand her from the feminine perspective. Maybe she was just doing what she felt was right but you can still talk to her. I'm pretty sure, somewhere deep down she's still pretty much in love with you"
"She's engaged Ma, I'm sorry I can't compete with that"
"Only losers give up on love" Mrs Erika concluded and I rolled my eyes. "If I had given up on Erika, it could have been a different story today" Mr Savage held Mrs. Erika's hands.
"Don't give up Ade, don't give up easily" she advised and I nodded.
****
Shirley stopped by at Crown prime just when was preparing to close up. "We're closed for the day" Arether announced, "Not even for a fan?" She asked and I waved at Erether. 
"It's okay"
"Good night Boss" she exclaimed leaving and I smiled at her. "I told you I'll stop by" she said and I chuckled. 
"Not in the night, I didn't think you'll come by this time" I answered and she smiled. "I'm sorry, I had a photoshoot and it took longer than I anticipated."
"How was it?" I asked and she chuckled softly. "It was fine, I'm just a bit stressed out and very hungry. I haven't even gone home yet. I wanted to have something cooked by you, your meals are my latest addiction." she answered and I smiled. 
"It's 11:20"
"I'll die if I don't eat, do you want that?" She asked and I shook my head. "If I stay here, you might have to pass the night here and the bed in that room is not that comfortable"
"I'll go home after eating"
"It's late already. A lady shouldn't be driving alone by this time, I'll make you dinner but you're spending the night here" I requested and she shook her head.
"No, I won't want to... Forget it, I'll just go"
"It's okay Shirley, it's totally okay, I'll make you dinner but you'll have to spend the night" I suggested and she sighed. 
She seemed troubled. 
"I'm sorry about the stress though"
"It's fine." I answered then I went into the kitchen to prepare a classic spaghetti and sauce for her to eat. 
Afterwards I led her to the room where I usually sleep in when I have overnight jobs to do. "The bed isn't really comfortable" I complained again.
"It's fine" she answered and I turned to leave. 
"Where are you going to?" She asked, "To sleep"
"Where?"
"Don't worry about me"
"The bed is big enough Ade, we can share. I promise I won't bite" she answered and I laughed. 
"I wanted you to be comfortable"
"We can share" she repeated.
 I had no choice but to sleep on the same bed with her. I felt uncomfortable because of my onion breathe and her mouth also had onion breathe. 
"Ignore my onion breathe" I said to her and she chuckled. 
"My mouth smells like onions too, so it's nothing" she answered looking into my eyes. 
"You're an excellent chef" she commented and I laughed. "Thanks" I answered and she sighed. 
"Where were we?" She asked and I squinted my eyes not really sure what she meant by the question. 
Suddenly she pressed her lips against mine. I didn’t pull away, instead, I gently kissed her back. Shirley ran my hands through my her fingers into my top, her long nails ran across my chest and I sat up. "I'm sorry" she apologized.
"No Shirley"
"I'm not sorry for pulling the kiss stunt, I'm sorry for doing it so early just when you're vulnerable. It's like taking advantage of you"
"It's okay Shirley, I'm sorry for pulling back. I'm just not over Sharon" 
"Take your time Ade, I'll be here waiting for you, with my heart ever opened for you to come in cause I'm in love with you and I'll forever be in love with you."
"I don't think I'm the right person to be in love with"
"Let me decide for myself"
"Thank you" I found myself saying, 
"You're welcome. Ade you're an amazing man and if she doesn't realize it soon, it's her loss" she repeated again kissing me softly on the lips. 
"Good night Ade" she smiled laying in bed and I watched her. 

Sharon's POV
Mom walked in tiredly from work. "Good afternoon Principal Erika" I greeted and she laughed. "Good afternoon dear" she chuckled. 
"You look really tired. I made lunch"
"I'm hungry, I already had something. Thanks"
"You're welcome mom" I answered and she walked away. Suddenly she turned back letting out a hiss and a low groan. 
"I spoke to Ade today" she added and I rolled my eyes. 
"Mom"
"I can't believe you told him to grow up"
"I didn't put it that way"
"But you meant it that way shea?"
"Mom..."
"Sharon  is it fair? You shouldn't have said that to him, that was wrong and unfair. You were supposed to wait for him" "Wait for him? Mom the last time I came to Nigeria, I begged him to move on. We made a pact to date other people to mingle till I come back permanently"
"Was it because you already met your prince charming already"
"No! Mom, I didn't want him to suffer"
"How?"
"Sex mom! I didn't want to feel like I'm the one holding him back. I moved on, he was supposed to move on not wait for me, that wasn't part of the plan"
"If I remember vividly, that was not the plan, the plan was Ade and Sharon forever and he stuck to it. You on the other hand didn't" "Why does it sound like you're blaming me?" I asked and mom scoffed. 
"I'm not blaming you Sharon; I think you should apologize to Ade" "Mom" I called out,  "You should also invite your fiance for dinner tonight. I'll like to talk to him" "But it's too late"
"However way you're going to do it Sharon, do it!"

****
Mom made jollof rice for dinner and Eba and Ogbono soup for Dad. Mom's scornful gaze didn't leave Felix for a moment. It made me feel uncomfortable. "Ghana jollof rice and Nigerian jollof rice?" Tasha tried to start up a topic, "Which do you think is best Mr. Savage?" She asked and Dad laughed.
"Don't even drag me into that age-long argument." He answered and Tasha chuckled. "But it's only convenient to pick a side" 
"Well I think the dish is okay" Felix answered, "Okay?" Mom answered and I held his hands. 
"I think what he meant was"
"I heard him clearly Sharon, can you do better?"
"I don't cook, I employ chefs for that and I'm on certain diets, I don't eat things like this"
"Things like this?" Mom asked and I turned to Felix who was completely lost. He had no idea mom was drilling him and he has definitely failed.
I felt like telling him to shut the hell up!
"You know I cooked lunch but no one ate it" I changed topic and I saw Dad stare in interest.
"So how does this modeling thing work?" Mom asked Interrupted and Felix cleared his throat. 
"I cat walk on runways or I take photoshoot for magazines" "So that's a job now" mom laughed mockingly.
"Actually, modeling is becoming one if the highest paid jobs in America" Tasha answered. 
"That question was directed to Felix, he doesn't need a spokesperson. I always see all male models as homosexuals"  Mom added and Felix laughed.
 "I'm not gay; I'm very much in love with your daughter." 
"Really? Where did you meet with her?" I asked and he smiled. "At her art gallery" Felix answered.
"Felix was God-sent! He was the help I needed and afterwards, I realized if there's anyone I should spend my life with, it's should be him. He asked me out and I agreed" I answered and Tasha nodded.
"Are you two having sex?" Dad asked and I closed my eyes in shame. 
 Dad asked and I kept quiet. 
Why in the world would he ask that. "How does that go with the discussion on ground?" 
"It's a question Sharon, you either answer yes, or no"
"Yes" I paused, "We are" I answered and I cleared my throat. "I do hope you're both using contraceptive" he added and I shut my eyes now officially scared for life.

****
I woke up in the middle of the night as a result of a nightmare I had.  It began with what seemed like my wedding until my husband's face turned into that of a monster.
I turned back to see Ade mocking at me, he was with another woman who happened to be dressed on a wedding gown.
I said a silent prayer then I tried to sleep but I couldn't even when I forced myself to. I felt thirsty so I went into the kitchen to get water to drink. 
I found Dad in the kitchen, I guess I wasn't the only one awake.
"Good morning Dad" I greeted and he groaned. "Are you okay?" I asked and he nodded. 
"I couldn't sleep, I was having running stomach. I just came out to drink water, you?" He asked and I sat on a stool pouring myself a glass of water.
"I had a nightmare" I answered and he raised his brow in interest. 
"Wanna share?" He asked and I nodded drinking from the glass. Then I sighed. 
"It was on my wedding with Felix" I began and Dad rolled his eyes. 
"Felix turned into a monster" 
"Did he hurt you?" 
"No, he just turned into a monster"
"That isn't a nightmare; that's a dream i wish can come true" Dad answered and I laughed. 
"Why do you guys hate Felix that much?" I asked and Dad laughed. 
"Don't get me wrong Sharon; I don't hate that young man, I've met a lot of hypocrites and that man is full of it" "Felix is a good man. Maybe this is a case of wrong conclusion like Uncle or Mr Feso, I'm confused, I don't even know what to call him" I laughed and he joined it.
"The man has grey hair now, feel free to call him Grandpa" he answered and I continued laughing. "I missed you" I hugged him and he tapped me softly on my back.
"Sharon, what ever you do I just want you to be very careful with your Felix" "I know" I answered pulling away. 
"I can't even believe you're having sex"
"When did you lose your virginity?" He asked and I opened my mouth in awe. 
"Dad! I'm so not having this discussion with you" "I'm supposed to be your father, the one you confide in" 
"That's why I have mom and she's been talking to me.

Read " Hotel Palava " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. Advising me, dad I'm not getting pregnant anytime soon" "Please don't, as much as I'll love to be a Grandpa" he scratched his face, "I don't think that Felix guy would do"
"Dad!" I  yelled in a warning tone, "Have you spoken to Ade?" He asked and I shook my head. "I don't know where to start"
"Why not start with an apology"
"But"
"But nothing, take it from this wise man and it's not because I like him and treat him as a son; you were wrong in so many ways. Sharon if you don't want to open your eyes to your own wrongs, let me be your eye-opener; you left and you visited frequently and you guys started dating officially"
"Officially?" I asked, "You think I didn't know you two were dating all those years? What about when you two started having sex?" Dad asked and I chuckled feeling a bit embarrassed.
"You knew?"
"I'm not stupid" 
"But you just asked... Mom told you?" 
"I found contraceptives in your bag and then I went to your mom and then I found out she knew already. Something that we've done and won award in, you think you could fool me?" He asked and I smiled. 
"All of the sudden, you decided not to come back and you refused picking and returning his call. You  blocked him everywhere, you made him feel bad; but he waited for you. Ade counted days and when you finally come back you told him to grow up" he scoffed and I felt tears building up. 
"I thought I was hurting him, I thought it would be better for him, I thought I was holding him back from seeing and experiencing life. I even gave him the go ahead to date other girls"
"He still waited for you" Dad answered and my tears dropped on the table counter then i sniffled.
"I wasn't being selfish, I was thinking of him" 
"Don't tell me Sharon, anyone looking at you will think you're proud. Heck I still think you're my daughter's doppleganger and you left the real Sharon in America"
"Dad I'm still the same Sharon, I only made decisions"
"Well I don't think so. The Sharon I know, the Sharon that changed from being rebellious; my sweet Sharon is all but proud. You not meeting Ade to speak to him only makes you look proud"
"I didn't mean to hurt him"
"Ade should be in the better position to hear your explanation, that reply would have been better than you telling him you grew up and he should move on" he added. 
"Good night princess" he kissed me on the forehead like old times before walking out of the kitchen. 
He was right; I needed to talk to Ade.