Fire And Desire

4: Acceptance

4: Acceptance

Reina Reigns

                    There was so much tranquility just by watching the rain. I stood by the window watching it pour down angrily from the heavens; it was early October, which meant that the weather could be quite bipolar.

I pressed my Samsung to my ear as I listen to my little sister Melody Reigns go on about the things she needed for school.

“Miss Jackson gave me a list of two books I need for Language Arts class and also I need to get my Brownies uniform.”

“You didn’t tell me you join the club are you sure you can manage it with your studies?”

“It is not a big deal, Rein. I can do it.”

“Alright Mellow Yellow, as long as you keep up those grades. I will send mom some money for you to get them, okay?”

Melody groans from the other line. She hated the nickname I had given to her. I could tell she was resisting the urge to tell me not to call her that because she knew if she did she would be doing it in vain. I would call her by that nickname so many times just for the fun of it.

“Thanks, Rein love you. Mom wants to talk to you.”

Before I could say a word, mom’s voice could be heard. “How are you doing my sugarplum?”

“I’m fine mom, how are you?”

“You don’t sound fine to me. Rein, you know I can always tell when something is bothering you.”

I smile while watching the raindrops slide down the glass window. My mother, Delilah Rochester, is a kind woman whose main priority is getting to know her children and caring for us. She was more of a friend to me and Melody than a mom.

“Everything is fine mom, trust me.” My mom’s plate was already full and I would not dare stress her out by telling her that I lost my job and there was a possibility that I could land my ass in jail, sometimes soon.

Mom was not as healthy as she was before. Even though she is only forty-six, she had to be living on different pills every day.

Even if she knew I was lying, she did not push it, which is something I love about her. She knew that when I am ready to express myself, then I will.

“Okay love, I will be here whenever you are ready. When are you coming to visit?” Mom asks, changing the subject.

“I am not sure mom. I will see if I can get sometime off, but I don’t think I will be back until December.”

I would love to go home, not only because I missed mom and my sister, but because I was craving some of her delicious food. I knew my way in the kitchen, but nothing could beat a mother's cooking.

“That is still far away, but I guess we’ll have to live with it.”

Her words made me smile while remembering the last time I saw them.

“I’ll see what I can do, mom. I’ll try to make it home earlier,” I told her.

A while after the conversation was over, I grab the blue card from the coffee table and type in the number. Why I had been hesitant to do so bewildered me.

“Hello?” A soft voice says into the phone after the third ring.

I cringe as I read the time on the clock. The time reads 8:33pm. This was a bad time to call, but I was even more desperate now after listening to the needs of my family and mostly my ten-years-old sister. “Hi. I’m sorry for calling at such an hour—it’s Reina. I don’t know if you rem-"

“Sure I remember,” Gemma says sounding more awake. “When you did not reach out I thought you had gotten a better job.”

“Yeah, about that I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier; I was tied up in other matters.” How could I tell her I had been delaying because I actually want to work in a hotel, especially when this job can pay my bills and help myself and family?

“That I can understand. You are interested I presume.”

“Yes,” I say. I found it more appropriate to contact Gemma instead of her boyfriend, even though he was the one hiring. I did not want to risk my chance of getting this job by contacting her boyfriend so late. As a woman I know the reason her number was also written on it and I bet she only had selective amount of people she would give it to. I guess that made me lucky.

Before I had the chance to get another word out Gemma continued, “Unfortunately, his schedule is busy.”

I frowned. I guess that’s what happens when you delay things.

“I have an idea, we are attending this formal function tomorrow evening. I'm not sure about the details; someone invited Drew, why don’t you be our plus one?”

Pulling at the loose thread that hangs from the red ribbon that tied my hair together, I thought about her kind gesture. I wasn't interested in attending a formal, even though I need this job. “No I can’t, I would never dare to intrude."

“Don’t be silly Reina. I’m hoping that we can be good friends soon. It will be a win-win situation for us. You will get a job, I will get a new friend and Drew will get a new secretary, so that he will be less stressed out and has more time for me.”

That would be two wins for her and a friend she says.

I didn’t like keeping females as my friend. Growing up, I’ve always had male friends. Whenever they weren’t crushing on me they could be easy to talk to, less judgemental and never have I heard them, not even once gossiping about their friends.

Although Gemma seemed generous, I was still hesitant about the idea of us being friends; we could probably work on it in the future and I needed her to help me get the job that I am desperately in need of.

“Okay, I accept your offer.”

Cesaro Mizra

                        The customer service Divine Deluxe boutique offered was exquisite. I enjoy the champagne they had offered while watching a cricket game on the fifty-four inches television that they provided for the comfort of their customers. It has been thirty-five minutes since I sat here waiting for Lydia to come out from the dressing room.

As soon as we entered, Lydia was whisked away by a woman dressed in a white shirt with the boutique’s logo. Therefore, finding one dress shouldn’t have taken so long.

My eyes moved from the television to look in the direction where the woman had taken her. Even though I am interested in seeing the game, I am more interested in knowing what my girlfriend has been doing for so long.

Just before I could stand from the comfortable sofa in the lounge area, Lydia walked out wearing a pink sleeveless mini dress that hugged her body.

“My apologies, my love. I had to find the perfect dress,” Lydia says as my eyes traveled from her face down to her long creamy legs.

I could not understand why she had chosen that dress out of all the elegant and beautiful ones I saw on our way in. I choose to keep my mouth shut. If she like that dress then so do I. I wasn't going to force her to wear what she didn't want to.

Placing the half filled glass on the center table I walk over to her. “You picked well sweetheart, you look beautiful.”

I lean down to kiss her lips, but Lydia moves away, causing my lips to brush against her cheek. I am perplex by why she would have done that; I knew it has nothing to do with PDA since kissing her in public has never been a problem before.

The confusion must have been clear on my face since she gave me a small smile.

“You’re so sweet Cesaro. I will leave you to your game and find the perfect shoes and jewellery to go with this dress.”

Before I could utter a word, Lydia had practically run away from me as if her ass was on fire. I couldn’t help but feel confused about the odd behaviour she has been producing since she moved to Jamaica with me. Something was up with that woman and I would make sure I find out what. I just hope that it would not be anything on the negative side that might prove my father’s intuition to be correct.