Dead Flower

Chapter 26

When I returned from the garden, I came with a goal in mind. I needed to spend some alone time with Gregorio, away from the Black House and away from anyone else. It needed to be just the two of us and I had been thinking of different things to do. He didn’t seem to be the kind of person who would want to do something spontaneous and adventurous like a picnic which is what I wanted to do. 

I excitedly spun around in front of the full length mirror that showed my reflection from all angles and I enjoyed the smooth and sultry flow of the silk dress on my body. I was wearing a pastel lime green sleeveless satin floral print dress that had a slit along my left thigh and I paired the dress with a pair of pastel green Versace heels. My hair was in a high bun but a few curls framed my face and I did look really beautiful. I didn’t have a flower tucked behind my ear because the Marigold that I had placed behind my ear did not go with this outfit. 

I smiled at the mirror one final time before I exited the outrageously large dressing room and made my way downstairs. The dress allowed me to do a little run towards the front door because I knew that Gregorio was going to be home at any moment. He had told me this morning that he would be home before sunset and I was glad that he was coming home sooner than he usually does. I wanted to greet him at the door and I was going to ask for some alone time with him. 

I ran down long hallways and spiral staircases to get to Gregorio at the front door. I was glad that the dress was light and allowed me to move like I was able to at the moment. I wasn’t doing a sprint because I was in heels so I did something along the lines of a fast jog. I finally made it to the bottom stair and I was facing the doors that led to the driveway and when I did, Gregorio walked into my eye view. 

I couldn’t help the smile that graced my features even though I was out of breath, “you’re home,” I announced with a bashful smile and a happy tone as I walked towards him. He didn’t say anything, just paused in his steps and extended his hand for me to accept and I gladly done so, “do you like what I have on?” was the first thing that I asked him as I took a step back and did a short twirl so that he could see the dress, “it’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I asked him as I looked back up at him. 

I met his black eyes that never gave anything away yet I kept hoping that someday, they would show just an inkling of emotion. “you’re dressed for dinner,” was what he said and I laughed lightly because he was right. I was usually wearing my pyjamas for dinner yet here I was, dressed in something beautiful and something that made me feel beautiful. 

“Well,” I began with a cheeky smile as I placed my other small hand into his big one that swallowed mine whole, “it’s not really dinner that I’m dressed for,” I paused, looking into his eyes, hoping that he would say yes, “I was hoping we could spend some time together…away from the house and away from people.”

He didn’t say anything, I only felt his left hand easily let go of mine and I saw his hand come towards my face. I flinched because I thought he was going to hurt me but all he did was take a curl in between his thick fingers as he looked down at it as though it were the most fascinating thing he had ever seen. 

I pouted dramatically, “haven’t they ever told you to never touch a black woman’s hair?” I said teasingly and I saw the corner of his lips twitch a bit before he attempted to tuck the curl behind my ear but it was too short and it bounced back. It went back to framing my face but I didn’t mind it because I was used to it. It was irritating, but I was used to it. 

“What would you like to do?” he asked me as he took my left hand back into his and a million butterflies soared in my stomach and the permanent happy grin on my face felt like it would never leave. 

I shyly looked down, “something really casual. I just want to go for a drive around the town,” I figured that I didn’t need to overthink things and I could just do what would feel natural and would allow us to have a conversation. I wouldn’t like to do something that would end up have me droning on about different issues instead of what was at hand. A drive would be most effective and it would allow me to see places of Balerno I haven’t seen before because I plan on making Gregorio drive me around until I’m familiar with every corner.