Stars Aligned

Insert 14

Lisa's pov

Snakes:  This is the man you want me to be, fine, I'm taking custody of my child and I swear You. Will. Never. See. Her. Again!

His eyes were not saying anything else than determination and anger. He drove off, leaving me there standing unmoving, no no he can't do that, he can't take my baby away from me. This is what I was afraid of, him taking everything from me. I sobbed my heart clenching at the thought of him not allowing me to see my child again. I couldn't fight him, he was powerful and in the eyes of the law, he was suitable for Ronnie financially while I had to work between jobs. Was this my punishment for what I did, god was it?

I felt someone hugging me from behind, I knew it was my sister comforting me.
Sino: Come on, let's go inside.
I shook my head, I wanted to go, this day has been shit and I wasn't having it anymore.
Me: Ronnie, where's my child?
I yanked my body from her grasp and ran inside to find my baby playing. I picked her up and went upstairs to take her bag.
Betty: Lisa?
Me: Let's go.
I was walking to the door when Sino stopped me.
Sino: Let me take you home.
I didn't even think about how I was gonna get there, my mind just decided.

Siya took all of us home after saying goodbye to everyone, I really didn't want to ruin the get-together for them, but I think it had already been ruined when my secret came out. I don't blame anyone for that really because one way or another it would've eventually came out. Arriving home, I and Ronnie immediately went to our room.
Ronnie; Mommy why are you cwying?
She touched my face with her tiny hands and wiping my tears. She was at the verge of tears as well.
Me: Mommy is tired baby, come on.
I laid down with her in my arms, she slowly drifted to sleep.

I kissed her forehead, with more tears spilling, I sniffled and wiped them.
Me: I'll fight for you, with everything I have, till I have nothing.
I also drifted to sleep. With one thought in my mind, to not go down without a fight for my child, if he wanted to take away my life, I might as well fight with it.

***

The next morning I was feeding Ronnie her breakfast, with Sino breastfeeding Khalu, it was kinda cute. Betty was eating her breakfast while making funny faces with Ronnie. I don't know where Siya went.
Me: Done! Who's a good girl?
Ronnie: Meee!
I giggled and kissed her cheek and rubbed my nose against hers. Taking mine and her plate to the kitchen. I rinsed them and went back to the dining room to find Mndeni standing there in his suit with his hands in his pocket.

I stopped in my steps as if he felt me behind him, he turned and smirked at me.
Snakes: I think we need to talk.
He said with a smug smile on his face. I nodded because I really had to convince him to not do this to me.
Ronnie: Mommy look, my pwetty fwiend.
I looked at him and back at her, looking at her smile that brightly at her dad that she didn't know was her dad made me feel bad for doing this to her.

Me: Mommy will be back baby.
Ronnie nodded and came around to open her hand.
I asked with a gesture of my hands what she wanted.
Ronnie: ahah, my skittles, you said after bweakfast you'll give me skittles.
I sighed and took the sweets from my back pocket and handed it to her, she kissed my cheek and skipped her way to Betty. I turned to look at Snakes, he had a look in his eyes, but I couldn't point it out, it seemed as if he was proud or content with something.

I led him to my room, he closed it after. I stood there waiting for him to say something. He seemed to pick out my attitude.
Snakes: You, you you.
He said each word slowly as he walked around the room, like he was analyzing it. He turned to look at me when he leaned against the nightstand of my bed.
Snakes: I have a proposition for you.
Me: What, not taking my child anymore?
I asked with sass in my voice, he chuckled and shook his head, but not from my question but amusement.

Snakes: I'd be careful there my love.
I rolled my eyes at him.
Me: What's this proposition you have for me.
I asked with raised eyebrows. Which made him smirk. Maybe I was being overly sassy considering my situation.
Snaked: You know that I could get Ronnie with a snap of a finger and you wouldn't do shit about it, but I'm not a bad person, not that you'd know.
You a great man. That's what I wanted to say but I just kept scowling at his smug-like face.

Me: You can't seriously want to separate a mother and a child, please don't do this.
I begged, I was ready to beg for him to not do this. He smiled and walked closer to stand right in front of me. He wiped the solemn tear that had slipped from my eye. He looked at me with a look, a soft look. My eyes begged him, he caressed my cheek with the back of his finger, letting my emotions take the better of me as I closed my eyes and leaned to his touch.
Snakes: Marry me.

I froze, snapping my eyes open, to see him looking at me with a serious look. Did he just-
Me: What?
Snakes: Marry me.
Me: I'm not marrying you, are you insane?
Snakes: That is my proposition love, you marry me and we become a happy family, you deny you lose everything.
My eyes went wide, I shook my head for him to not do this. Was he blackmailing me into being a family with him?
Me: No please don't do this.
Snakes sighed and withdrew his hand. He looked pained.
Snakes: You begging as if I'm not the same man you once loved, as if asking you to marry me is the most incredulous thing.

Me: It is, it's absurd and I won't marry you.
I shouted at him punching his chest and crying at the same time. He let me, not looking at me at all.
Me: Why are you doing this!
He grabbed my fisted hands stopping me, he pulled me closer to his chest.
Snakes: The choice is yours, my love.
He said and kissed my forehead, his lips lingering there for a while. My damn body betraying me by wrapping its arms around his body not wanting his touch away from me.

He hugged me back with the same intensity, feeling the jolts of electricity all over my body and feeling his body shudder as well. He kissed my head a few times. I cried in his chest. I missed him so much, missed his warm body and his caressing touch. If felt right, being in his arms felt right. This was our way if saying I missed you so much it hurts but I can't say it rather I will hold you.
Me: I'm so angry with you!
I muffled in his chest. My tears staining his suit. I don't think he cared though. The love I had for this man was immense.
Snakes: I am too sweetheart, I am too.
I pulled away after a while and looked up at him. His inviting brown orbs. The hair fell over his eyes and I itched to run my fingers through it , but I held myself back and instead withdrew from his embrace.
Me: This marriage won't mean anything to me, this is for Ronnie.
Snakes: Nothing at all, for Ronnie.

Hearing the coldness from his voice like he hadn't hugged me as his life depended on it a few seconds ago. His face so stone-hard and betraying a single emotion.
Me: Fine, I'll marry you.
Snakes: Good, in a week we get married.
I wasn't even surprised by that, it was not like this marriage was of love, not anymore. It was for Ronnie so I didn't see why we had to wait either. I nodded, and he walked to the door, halting in his steps. My eyes went to the door, there stood Ronnie with a messy and the most confused face.

Me: Baby?
Ronnie: W-what?
Snakes crouched to her level and looked at me to which I nodded as a go-ahead.
Snakes: Hey princess.
Ronnie kept quiet still confused. Snakes rubbed the back of his neck, obviously having a hard time with what he wanted to do. I went to kneel next to him, taking her hand. The endearment he used to address her making my heart swell.
Me: Listen, baby, you know how everyone has a mommy and a daddy?
Ronnie: Yes but my daddy is working wight mommy?
I side looked Snakes and found him glaring at me, I rolled my eyes at him. What did he want me to say to her when she asked about her daddy. Okay possibly the truth,but hey I didn't so yeah and I guess I wasn't as creative coming with an excuse.

Me: Well yes, but now he's done working and he's back for his little girl.
Ronnie: In the house?
Me: In front of you baby.
Her mouth dropped, her eyes going from me to him so many times that I tilted my head to see if she was okay? Until her lips turned into a big grin, I was relieved and I'm sure he was too.
Snakes: Come to daddy princess.
Ronnie: Daddy!
She immediately lunged herself at him, he hugged her and got up with her in his arms.
I may try to deny it, but I was glad he was here, with her and with me. My tears at bay, I smiled at the reunion of the duo. Something tugged at my heart at the sight. And I think I saw a tear stride down Mndeni's face but maybe I was mistaken.