ℂ𝕃𝕆𝕊𝔼ℝ 𝕋ℍ𝔸ℕ 𝕐𝕆𝕌 𝕋ℍ𝕀ℕ𝕂

║ THIRTY ║

GRINNING WIDELY, YVONNE looked from Nicole to Ryan.
“So, we've come for your blessings, mum.” Nicole said, smiling.
Yvonne placed a hand on her chest, pleased to hear what Nicole just said. She was happy for her daughter who had no hope of finding the perfect soulmate but here she was with the man she didn't even expect she would fall in love with “I will bless you. Besides, you two owe me a story.”
They both laughed and Yvonne joined in.

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“I won't address you by your first name ever again. You'll soon be a married woman.” Neil said after he dropped her wedding invitation card on his desk. “I need to give you that respect. You deserve it.”
Nicole smiled, “Well, I'm thinking of having a good conversation with your wife about…”
“How to be a good wife?” Neil cut in.
“No!” she was amused by his statement and laughed it off. “I need her to plan my wedding, she's into it right?”
“Yes but, she's pretty occupied for a long conversation…”
“I need her number, please.”
Nicole narrowed her eyes at him and then darted her eyes to his cellphone on his desk. She took his phone from his desk swiftly.
“The last person you called or the last person who called you is your wife, I guess.” she said.
Neil chuckled, “Maybe. You can't go through it. I got password.” he told her.
“I will disable it.”
“You won't try it.”
“I am being serious now. I need her number.”
“Hmm, I thought you'll never patronize us, I'm glad you did now.”
“Who told you so? I am a patron of Bashiredez product. I ordered for a birthday cake on my mum's birthday last month and you know my mum loves to cook so she patronizes your wife's company a lot. Have you heard of Yvonne Harper?”
“Yeah, she's one of our big patron.”
“She's my mum.”
Neil gaped. “I am sorry, I didn't realize.”
“There's is nothing to be sorry about, just letting you know.”
“She is the one who linked my wife with the owner of Adonai grocery store and Domino.”
“I don't know about that but, I think my mum knows your wife than I do. So?”
“I'll call her right away but you know our service is not for free.” he placed his phone on his ear and winked.
“I didn't ask for a free service, Mr.” she said and clucked her tongue.

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“Neil has told me so much about you.” Bailey said as she offered Nicole a seat in the kitchen.
“Yeah I know, both the good and bad.”
Bailey laughed heartily.
“He talks a lot, isn't it?”
“Especially about you.” Bailey smiled, pink color filling her cheeks. Bailey went to the freezer to bring out a bowl of ice cream and placed it on the table.
“This is for us, it's my new recipe. I don't know a name to give it yet. You're the first customer to taste it.”
“Great!” Nicole smiled.
“Do you care for cookies too?”
“This is okay. Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
Nicole uncovered the bowl of ice cream and took her first scoop. “Bless the food, Father. Amen.”  she said quietly and put it in her mouth.
    Bailey sat close to her, dipping her own spoon into the bowl
“How does it taste?”
“Milky sweetish taste,” Nicole tried to describe. “It's not too sweet.”
“I made it for people with diabetes. Doctors will tell them don't eat sweet things, don't eat that and all but how many of them keep to instructions, they might at first but get frustrated. That's why I came up with this new recipe, it's sugar free. Even if they eat this everyday, it won't harm them.”
“Lovely.” Nicole clapped. “I admire what you do. You are not concerned about your pocket, you are concerned about the life of people.”
“Thank you. I have had this dream a long time ago, to create food that heals and prevent illness. I know with this new recipe, I'll be a world–class chef.”
“You already are.” Nicole hugged her.
“Thank you, Nicole. Let's get to work.” Bailey showed her previous event she had planned and Nicole was fascinated.
“I want my wedding to be unique. I'd love a beach wedding.” she said contemplative.
“If you haven't decided, we could plan a surprise wedding for you. The location and everything will be a surprise. Take a look.” Bailey showed her a surprise wedding video she'd planned for a woman two months ago.
“She cried.” Nicole said after the video ended.
“Why won't she? She didn't expect it.”
“I think I've decided now. Beach wedding is what I want.”
“Then Beach wedding it is. I'll send a fashion designer to take your measurements for your wedding gown.”
“Thank you so much, Mrs Darwin.”
“You can call me Bailey.”
Nicole smiled, “Can I take the ice cream along with me?”
“Why not?” Bailey gave Nicole a nylon bag so she could carry the ice cream.
“Please give this cupcake to your husband to be.” Bailey gave her a neatly wrapped heart shaped box.
“When Neil and I were courting, I normally baked cupcakes for him. Then, he used to work with the emergency unit –911. I would call him and he will playfully say, ‘hello, what's your emergency please?’ and I would say ‘You're the emergency. I need you to come over right now!’ don't mind me I could be aggressive sometimes.” Bailey raised her shoulders which made her neck look shorter and dropped them back in place.
“Be careful, Nicole. Don't be too caught up in the moment. I was and I made a blunder. We kissed when we weren't supposed to. It happened just once but I felt guilty for it, he did too. Just letting you know that as a Christian you have to be watchful. I was a strong christian yet I fell into it. I never told my mum and it's of recent I told my sister. When it happens, regret comes. We avoided each other for weeks until I summoned courage to face him, we had to make rules for a healthy relationship. Thank God our love for each other is still strong. We quarel, we do. The thing is one party has to be wise enough to apologize. It's part of marriage. Marriage is sweet, it's your choice to decide the taste– sweet, sour, bitter. Pray when you see things not working the way you want it. It requires patience and true love. Lastly, I pray you have a family you pray to have. Thanks for your patronage.” Bailey squeezed her shoulder.
“I like you, already.” Nicole said truthfully.
“I like you too because you possess such a great personality.”
“That means a lot to me.” Nicole got teary eyed.
“You better save those tears for your wedding day.” Bailey teased and Nicole laughed.