.
Nick
*********************************
I was so relieved when I finally figured what my Princess had up her sleeves. An outing. Its what we needed, only God knows how much I love her right now for thinking about it. In all the rush to make a perfect picnic, Sally and I had time to ourselves without the nagging fear of what if something goes wrong while Dana is out and about. She came back in one piece. Sally likes it more when she feels like we're sneaking around while at it. She is as naughty as a teenage girl and I can't help falling for her "teenage boyfriend" act. She's just irresistible once she starts with the look. We took pleasure in the fact that our Princess turned out to be a responsible grownup. She took us to her favourite spot in the openlush green woods surrounding the beautiful Mystic lake. I can never really understand her bond with nature but she looks almost Angelic when she's in the prime of its surroundings so we let her have at least that peace and serenity. I can't say for sure that we've moved past the awkward stage but we've at least re-established the easygoing atmosphere in our home. Dana will want to know the nitty gritty details about her origins of which none of us really had an solid idea who she really was and I know that talking to Sally will only cultivate an emotional breakdown when she starts feeling like someone wants to take our Princess away from us but what other choice do I have. This was the perfect moment to try and make sense of what to tell Dana as she is sleeping. I gave Sally a gentle squeeze in the shoulder and she faced me
"Are you alright?" I enquired to find out if she can talk
Sally : I'm alright, just a little dehydrated - she was deep in thought, that much I could tell
"okay let me get you a glass of water" I said that getting down from our marital four-poster king sized bed. I chanced a glance and found her checking me out. This woman is gonna be the death of me! I headed downstairs but then I noticed Dana's door slightly agape so I knew she passed out deep in thought for her to forget her "privacy"
*sigh*
All this must be taking a toll on her soul too, I went to close the door for her. Dana is the kind of person who likes to preach about personal space and privacy. Only then did I realise just how exhausted or distracted she must've been because she was sprawled on top of her bed, shivering ontop of her covers. I woke her up and tucked her in. I could tell she was lost in one of her strange dreams so I just switched off the light on my way out. The stairs creaked beneath my bare feet which just reminded me how far we've come until this point in life. I took bottled mineral water and made my way back to our room where my wife lay awake waiting for her water. She saw me come in and adjusted the pillow supporting her spine.
Sally : what took you so long. Her face marred by a frown that is becoming quite a regular expression on her beautiful face. "I passed by Dana's room. Can you believe she left her door open and just slept without getting beneath her bed covers" I shared my amusement with a half-hearted smile.
Sally : that's so not Princess. Are you sure you talking about my Princess? The sucker for personal and privacy whatsonot! she teased
"Your Princess?? God no! That's MY Princess . . . We can wake her up and ask her if you will it . . . I said when I saw her furrow her eyebrows as if in denial so I gave her a cocky smile before handing her the water she wanted. "Here, drink up" She took the bottle of water, uncapped it, took a few sips and placed it next to the bedpost lamp ontop of the drawer attached on the Victoria style headboard. The tension within her embedded on her face.
"Come here" I embraced her in my arms and waited for her body to relax. I made her sit between my legs so that her shoulders are directly proportioned with my chest. I opened the top drawer and took out the Tropical Passions flavoured massage oil we bought last month when we went to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary at the Lotus Hotel. I opened the lid and let the scent of lavender, sweet almond, sweet orange & Ylang-Ylang assault my nostrils in a bust of flavours. I felt her body relax an inch and I just instinctively knew she is smiling. I pressed it to release the sticky liquid pour in a single line, I rubbed my hands together and pressed both my palms on her shoulders. She gasped to adjust to the cold sensation and I started moving my palms up, down, left & right. I drew invisible patterns with my fingers on her back and and involuntary sigh escaped her lips. I know she loves it when I do her like that.
"Thank you" she whispered but I hward it perfectly loud and clear.
"You're my wife Sally. Its my job to care for you . . . " I let the sentence linger in the air a little longer before I felt her brace herself knowing the direction of what I was about to say next.
"You know she will start asking questions, right? We have to be ready" I said so to test her readiness and willingness to broach the suject as it's a touchy one, especially for her
Sally : we don't have all the right answers Nick. What do we tell her? That a crazy women on the street just gave her to me? Wont that sound hypocritical? like I am trying to demoralize . . . her
It's safe to say my dear wife finds it physically painful to place the woman as Dana's maternal mother judging by the sudden comical pained expression on her face.
Nick : you never really told me the whole story love . . . And neither does she know it. Aren't you judging the outcome a bit harsh and unfair?
*And there it was again, the tensing of her spine and I knew both her eyes were streaming tears*
Sally : I was seated under the shelter waiting for the bus on South lane after you made me walk to the bus station. A woman dressed in barely nothing crossed the road barefoot carrying what turned out to be my Princess in rags. The baby looked to be in no better condition than what her mother was. Both ragged and tired. They looked like people who have been running for quite a long time. She walked straight to me in tears and kneeled as if she is tired of walking to say the least or even standing. Not gentle at all. "It must be you" she paused, " it has to be you" she said again as if a lightbulb was somehow supposed to come to life in my head but for the life of me, I didnt know the ragged woman. I was perplexed because I felt like she was accusing me of something . . . Like I was the course of her apparent suffering "No No . . . please not now" she screamed. I was frantic now because now I was sure that the woman was in danger, or was the danger but I didn't want to wait and prov the latter to be true so I rumaged my hangbag for my phone and she grabbed both my hands with one of hers. Like she could see I wanted to call the police.
Woman : please don't call the police. I didn't have time to register the fact that she knew something I didnt voice oit loud but maybe the panic on my face gave me away. She dragged both my hands from the handbag and thrust the baby in my arms
"You need help" I said trying to reason with her but also in an atrempt to calm my errant nerves.
Women : I am Sandra tell her that and that I love her with all my heart. She is and forever will be my Princess.
She looked like she still wanted to say more but just didn't
"Take care of her" She gave me a smile that didnt reach up to her eyes and turned around. I was still trying to digest what she was saying when she walked straight to the road and out of nowhere came a truck that took her last breath from her body and she smiled. A full blown smile that lpoked like that of someone who knew and had accepted her fate. The driver ran away and in my daze I saw 5 women dressed in white linen. They circled her body and the older one looked at me and said " Dana" and then they vanished. I thought all of it was a dream. That non of it was real. Maybe it was because it all felt surreal except for the one reality in my hands . . . A baby
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At this point my wife was sobbing loudly and uncontrollably. I had no words to comfort her and whatever conversation I had planned to prepare us for when Dana comes looking for answers just eviscerated like water bubbles in a sunny sky. I felt weak like a superhero from a comic book after encountering numerous villains. My wife is such a survivor. I'm not sure I wouldn't be recovering from a psych ward had I gone through all that she went through in less than an hour. To top it all, a baby. Okay maybe that's what sustained her because it was our everyday prayer and we finally had her on extraordinary circumstances. She is our extraordinary Princess.
I took my exhausted wife in my arms and cuddled her from behind. We will find a way to solve this mystery just not tonight so we fell asleep.
.
Dana
******************************************
Its safe to say nothing in my life makes perfect sense right now. Ever since Monday I've been trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together but try as I might, I just can't. I can bet on my last breath that my two superheroes in this house are out of their depths but that doesn't mean they get an easy pass. I still want to know all that they can tell me to detail. Something has to give here or I will just be another name to the long list of people who get admitted to psych wards each year.
"You are here , at last"
"You are home"
What did she mean. I took out one of my old drawing books and wrote the woman's words. They might shed some light to one event in the near future but for now I decided to wake up, go to the bathroom to take a quick but leisurely bathe and make my full hygiene process. I lotioned my body and started rain-sacking my wardrobe for something relaxed and outdoorsy so I decided on a Nike sports track, black pants, a black skin bra laced by three definitive blue stripped lines and a matching top. I smiled seeing my grey kicks and yup I was geared to take on the universe as a whole. Its no surprise that I'm not a make up person so I juc give you what you see. I made my way downstairs and nearly tripped on my toes when I heard giggles coming from the kitchen . . . they sort of reminded me of my vision with Sasha yesterday.
" Eew" I said as I regained my balance and I got a big loud "H Y P O C R I T E" from my consciousness as if I didnt already know, LOL. Both Mr & Mrs Simons looked at me. I just laughed because of the formality in my head. Guess what, they just laughed because they knew I was laughing at my own stupidity.
Mom : don't tell me you came all the way from your room to just gawk at us . . . Have no one had the sympathy to tell you that it's rude to stare?
Oh, we being cocky? ha!
"Don't tell me you two were bored before I came down" I retorted right back
I alternated a death stare from mom to dad and dad just raised his hands as if he's innocent.
Dad : yes Dana I'm innocent . . . I mean, I said absolutely nothing. Its your mother!
And you guessed right. I wasn't the only one giving daddy a death stare now. He also earned one from mom too. We all just laughed it off. You could have sworn daddy was the victim when he pulled that pout-melting smile and that's exactly what did mom and I over. We had breakfast and I decided it was the right time to ask for Daddy's car again . . .
Me : Daddy
Dad : yes Princess
Me : my favourite daddy universe wide
*Now I had two pair of eyes looking at me*
Mom : uh oh . . . danger alerts. I pouted before saying "can I use your car again my handsome daddy" I made my cutest puppy face
Dad : if I didn't knew better I'd say . . . OMW are you seeing someone Dana Chanelle Princess Simons!!
"Daddy!!"
"Nick!!"
Mom and I said in unison but unfortunately for the wrong reasons because mom continued to say "she's a very matured adult husband and very much capable of making those decisions"
Great, just g r e a t! we laughed again
"No daddy I'm not seeing anyone and mom thank you for the vote of confidence but I just want to go to the pharmacy where Mrs Simons work" I vindicated myself since it looks like im on my own on this.
Dad : are you feeling sick?
"No dad . . . I just need ±60 minutes away from this mad house if I intend to have my sanity intact by the end of today. No offense but you two have the wildest of imaginations"
I smiled when I got a mockingly horrified expression which I knew was fake, mxm these two!
They giggled and I took the car keys and and dad's personal bank account card and went out but not before I heard dad's concerned " I wonder why women are so allergic to using their own bank accounts, even after feigning indipendence" and he let out a dramatic sigh. Mom laughed out loud and I had a permant amused smile on my face. "Women will always be women daddy" I muttered alone in the car before I started the car and I was out in a blur. I approached the pharmacy and saw Drè step in. I'm guessing he just opened it. I parked in the parking area in front of the pharmacy and killed the engine. I went inside and he smiled when he saw me standing in front of the clear sliding door of the first oiter entrance so he buzzed me in.
Drè : the Princess in flesh . . . to what do I owe this visit
Me : can't a girl visit her mom's colleague? - I smiled back
Drè : I guess there is no harm there. Good morning miss Simons.
Me : and what's with the formality Mr Peters?
Drè :its been returned so we even - he chuckled lightly- wassup Diana
Me : call me that one more timeand I'll kick your ass Dracula
Drè : what did you just call me Dee??- He made a threatening face but the smile underlying the threat gave him away
Me : do you plan on acting on my words my favourite Vampire Prince?
Drè : oh poor Mr & Mrs Simons, I had no other choice but to kill your Princess for she has committed a grave sin
* he mimicked a Russian accent and started chasing after me*
Me : okay! okay! You're Drè of the Peters clan of Southern hills . . . Hail Oh Drè!
*We were in stitches*
That was until we heard a loud banging on the front door so we turned in time to see none other than the beautiful Sasha. I swallowed hard and decided to head towards the door. Although we were just 12 minutes from opening seeing as its still 8h18am and the pharmacy opens at 8h30.
Sasha : Its you again . . .
I couldn't tell whether that's a good or a bad thing from the lack of expression in her face so I said the only sensible thing in my head
Me : good morning Sasha
Sasha : morning Princess Dee
*OH NO*
As if on que Drè just busted out laughing. Okay, I know I just met Sasha yesterday but now you see , she has earned my death stare. She joined Drè in laughing at me and I already had a perfect plot forming in my head for revenge . . . mxm
"I'm gonna kill you all" I whispered under my breath "just wait and see"
Sasha : so, you work here?
Me : uhm . . . not really, its my family's pharmacy. What are you doing here?
Sasha : interesting, you know why? Its because I saw your car parked in the driveway and I got curious
Drè : will you ever introduce me Dana?
Me : oh uhm . . . this is Sasha, my uhm . . .
Sasha : Dana's friend
Me : yes and Sasha this is Drè, my mom's assistant
Drè : nice to meet you Sasha
Sasha : Likewise. Since I'm here now I guess I'll have to make it count. Please give me a sachet of paracetamol.
Drè : coming right up. He went to take the sachet while processing the transaction and printed out the slip since Sasha used her platinum card to swipe. He gave her the tablets and her receit.
Sasha : thank you, let me leave you to it then
Me : wait . . . let me also head out with you Sasha before daddy goes all Dr Steven Strange on me
*they chuckled*
Drè : thanks for checking up on me Dee
Me : see ya 'round
*we headed out and Sasha grabbed my left hand . . . I felt like dancing in outer space-strange- I know but that's how I felt as we headed to the parking lot*
Sasha : are you rushing off to somewhere?
Me : uhm . . . not really. Why?
Sasha : come with me, I want to show you something.
Hah! I'm not gonna think twice about that so we got into our respective cars and she led the way to an old park that looked more of an outdoorsy community gymnasium with all the pinks, the yellows and the greens. We parked the cars in the park's grassy parking lot, killed the engines and stepped out to the cool breeze. Sasha got off first and waited for me. I got to where she was standing near her car and she took my hand again
Sasha : I hope your boyfriend won't mind
Me : yeah
Sasha : was that him? Drè?
Me : I'm guessing you want nothing but the truth? - she quirked one eyebrow and I smiled
"Yesterday I was just buying picnic stuff for me,my mom & dad. There is no boyfriend whatsoever. I was just playing along to avoid explaining myself to you. No offense but you were just a stranger to me" I confessed
Sasha : I understand . . . so are we less strangers than we were yesterday?
Me : you could say so . . .
Sasha : this is where I normally come to think. It used to be a gym of sorts but as you can see, it was deserted so its normally unoccupied. I'm not sure why I'm telling you this or took you here but I felt . . . almost entitled
Me : strange . . . I had a dying wish to bump to you again
Sasha : I thought I wanted to be your friend because I just broke up with my boyfriend 3 weeks ago but . . . I want more than that from you Dana . . . its crazy I know and I've never wanted a girl this way before but I just can't help it
Me : oh wow . . . uhm . . . okay. I really have no idea what to say Sasha but you not crazy . . . we not crazy
Sasha : you feel it too? You used to it?
Me : No I've never been in a relationship before and yes I feel it too.
Sasha : the future is never promised hun. I'm not sure about so many things in my life right now but I'm sure of you. I want you. I want us
Me : Sasha . . . there's a lot of this shit you don't know . . .
Sasha : shhhh - she placed the middle finger in my mouth and replaced it with her lips and I was lost
I want this too!!