HIM

CHAPTER 41

In all the happiness and haste of making a deal with my father, I totally forgot to ask the time he'd be here. So here I was, up by 7am,my eyes all very heavy and sore from chatting till very late last night and very little sleep. I wondered if I could manage the day without dozing off at some point. I hoped not.
Mum hadn't protested or said anything about it, all she said was, "OK". It sounded plain to me.
I hadn't expected her to protest either, this was my father trying to make it up to his 18-year old daughter.
I wasn't demanding much from him since I was all grown up now.
I did what I could; cleaning utensils and the kitchen plus the living room. Mum would take care of the rest.
Funnily I didn't feel like eating anything that morning, except for my occasional milk.
Then I went and cleaned myself up, dressed and sat in the living room waiting for a knock on the door.

Knock! Knock!
I frantically jumped to the door and opened it expecting a man standing there. I was in for a rude shock. She was standing there, smiling generously when she saw me.
"Hi Cindy," I greeted her not shrinking the wide smile I had when I went to open the door. It hadn't been hers, but she deserved it still.
"Hey Linn, you're too beautiful for someone who's just woken up."
I understood what she meant.
"Come on in. Are you alone?" I asked throwing glances behind her to catch any small movements. I was expecting to see someone.
"I'm alone and whoever you're looking for is still asleep. I didn't want to wake him up."
We then walked to the sitting room and she carefully set herself on the recliner that I so much loved.
"Oh, would you like some breakfast?"
"Just a cup of something hot will work for me."
I had hoped she'd say no.
I heard the rustling of feet walking towards the room.
"Good morning Mama," I shouted before I could even see her face.
She came into vicinity, yawned then looked at me.
"You are too loud with your greetings this days."
Then she walked to where we were after noticing the extra person.
"Cindy, lovely to see you. How're you?"
"Am good thanks."
"You want some coffee?"
"Yes please, thank you."
Then she started walking away.
"Mum, you didn't even answer my good morning."
"Oh, sorry honey. Good morning to you."
Then I smiled.
"So Cindy, what brings you this early?" I asked.
She let out a funny sound then hid her face in her hands and tilted her head back.
Now that must be something very interesting.
She then stood and walked to where I was seated, we sat next to each other.
"Linn, I need some advice from you."
"Wow! That was totally unexpected. I hope grandma didn't lie to you that am a practicing therapist."
Well, she was the only person who could say that to anyone.
"No, it has nothing to do with your grandma. I just couldn't think of anyone else to talk to."
No one asks for advice from me, not ever.
This was going to be new and refreshing I thought.
"OK then, tell me. I hope it's something really interesting."
This time she moved so close that I could head her breath. This must be top-secret information.
"Allan asked me if I could be his girlfriend and I don't know what to tell him." She almost whispered.
That literally cracked me up. I laughed really loud, throwing myself at the sofa.
"It's more interesting than I thought," I informed her between the laughs.
"I feel embarrassed."
"Come on, it was funny the way you said it. Sorry for my laugh."
To be honest I still laughed.
Mum walked in with a cup of coffee and gave it to Cindy. She looked at me and shaked her head, then walked away, into her room I believe.
I don't know what or who woke my grandma, because she walked in after Mom had gone.
She saw Cindy then walked over to us.
"Cindy, what have you done to my grandchild this early? I could hear her laugh in my peaceful sleep."
Cindy just smiled then shaked grandma's hand. She looked at me thoughtfully for a minute and then walked away from us.
"Hey, let's go outside so we can have this talk freely," I told her.
We walked on the lawn and stood at a distance away from the house.

"Now, I won't laugh at anything. I'll be listening and talking only. So tell me, why haven't you made up your mind?"
"I don't know why, that's why am here."
"Oh, I forgot that part. Do you like him?"
"I like him, of course I do like him."
"Very much I can tell. Is he annoying?"
"Sometimes, but rarely."
"Does he make you smile?"
"A lot."
"Hugs well?"
"A million times yes."
"Sweet?"
"Damn yes."
"Does he have a girlfriend?"
"Hell no. Why would he ask me to be his then?"
"I believe you know what cheating is."
"Linn! Can we stop making assumptions here please!"
"Well OK, forget that part, it was a joke."
"So, what next?"
"OK Cindy, I Allan, like you very much, I can be annoying sometimes but I am mostly sweet, I make you oversmile, I hug you tighter than a bear and I don't have a girlfriend. Would you like to be my girlfriend?"

She burst out laughing and left me wondering what I had done wrong.
"Am I so bad?"
"No, worse."
"So it's a no?"
"A very definite no."
"I thought you liked me."
"You are not Allan."
"Oh, I thought we were still on the play. On a scale of 1-10?"
"Zero."
"Ouch."
"Total honesty."
"Anyway Cindy, my advice, say yes."
"Thank you. I knew I wanted to say yes but I was afraid of making the choice you know."
"I hope we both did the right thing."
"Speaking of the right thing, does Flen know you like him?"
"Flen is my boyfriend." I answered so proudly and eloquently.
"What have I been missing? How did you both get there? And why was I not told when am just a fence away from you? Linn! Spill!"
"It's a long story and my Dad is coming here to pick me up."
"Goodness Linn! How much don't I know about you?"
"A lot I can promise."
"I am coming for a sleepover tonight then or am dragging you to our house tonight."
"Oh, sorry. I've got one with May tonight."
She looked disappointed when I said that. So I added quickly, "But tomorrow I've got no solid plan so I'll come around."
That got her smiling.
We went back to the house, she drinking up her coffee, me pretending to be on the phone.
Then we heard a knock on the door.
"My time to go," I said as I walked to the door.
I stepped out and found him smiling.
"Good morning Dad."
"Good morning little cupcake."
That was unfair.
Mum came out and asked to be excused while he talked to him for a bit.
I walked and waited at the gate. They didn't seem to be arguing, they were just talking.
Moments later he walked up to me.
"Let's get moving little cupcake."
"You know, I think we need to set some rules before we get out of this compound."
"We have all day to listen to your rules so we might as well keep walking."
"OK."