His Third Wife

Chapter 1

"Zaria! Your kids are back again. I told you to stop feeding them; they've turned you into a food vending machine", my Manager shouted making me look out the window. I smiled. It was the same as every other day. They would show up and not leave until I gave them food. They never talked, the only thing I've been able to get out of them is a smile and a nod. It's weird, and I don't know why, but I feel like helping them every time.

"Here you go, kiddos. You didn't go to school today?", I asked, and as usual, the girl only smiled while the boy looked sad. At least today, they looked clean, unlike the day before. Well, as clean as a homeless person can be. I don't know if they're really homeless, I'm just guessing.

I left them behind and went back to work.

As I was collecting the used plates on the table I was serving, I bumped into an Asian man that looked too cute for his own good. He had a huge smile on his face that felt weird to look at.

"I apologise for my rudeness, I wasn't looking at where I was going", he said and his voice was just magic. What did his parents feed him? "Are you hurt?", he asked while inspecting me. "No Sir, I'm sorry", I said feeling shy all of a sudden. "Please don't call me that, it makes me feel old. I'm Kazuki. You're Zaria right?", he asked sounding too nice. "How did you know that?", I asked with furrowed brows. It made him smile and point at my name tag.

I officially felt stupid.

I'm a waitress at a fast food joint, of course, I have a name tag on my shirt. "I'm so stupid", I whispered to myself. "No, you're not. I forget my name too... like all the time", he said then winked and, I was sure, I was a tomato at this point. "Sir, we should get going", another man said then opened the door for him. "See you soon Zaria", he said then walked out of the restaurant.

My eyes followed him as he left.

He passed by the kids that I gave food to and said something to them. Their faces lit up, then he disappeared inside one of the black cars that were crowding the road.

What a weird fella.

"You think he promised to help them?", one of the waiters asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

The truth is, I was a lone wolf. I've learned the hard way that the only people who are worthy of my trust are my parents.

Being an only child makes us a close bunch. We tell each other everything and I'm grateful that my parents took me back when things went south in my relationship and life. I've preferred being by myself since then. No friends, no life after work just me, and family dinner.

I walked back home after work it was a long walk but it was good, it gave me time to listen to my playlist and think of life and all it has to offer.

Apart from relationships that is.

When I reached home, I found my Mum making dinner, as usual, it was fried plantains and beans. We switched to rice whenever Dad got paid, which was the first of every month. It was that predictable.

"Hi Mum", I greeted her with a side hug and her huge smile appeared making me smile back as I peeked into the pot and took in the wonderful aroma of coconut milk she added to the beans. "You gave your lunch away again didn't you", she said making me laugh. "Mum, you should have seen them, they looked so innocent, I couldn't resist", I explained and she ended up shaking her head.

I went to my bedroom and sat on the bed. I released a breath as I recalled how my life shifted from a woman who owned a successful Grill House, A Mercedes-Benz G-Class and only went to prestigious night clubs to living with my parents in a two-bedroom house with a shared bathroom and a waitress job at a fast food joint that only had traffic because it was next to a huge hospital. A tear fell from my eye and I wiped it away quickly.

I can't believe this is happening. I promised myself that I was not going to live in the past.

It's been three years.

I took my toiletries and then went to the bathroom only to find it occupied by my Dad who was singing his heart out in the worst version of Bon Jovi's song I've ever heard. "Dad, hurry up! Dinner will get cold", I shouted earning a, "I love you too Zaria!".

I returned to my room and chipped my phone in the charger, ready to watch a cooking show on Netflix. I was addicted to cooking channels so yeah.

I ended up falling asleep on my bed until I was woken up by Dad who had a weak smile on his face. "What?", I asked when he pushed my curls away. "Nothing, I just wanted to tell you that, it will get better", he said then kissed my forehead. "I know Dad, I wouldn't change this for the world", I said then hugged him.

We ate then watched TV for a bit, talking about work. I left the love birds and went to my room to enjoy an episode before sleeping. I ended up not reaching even half of the show. I fell asleep.

The Next Day

New day, new energy.

I walked into the restaurant and the place was busy. There was a pre-order that was supposed to be delivered to the hospital. A special request from a VIP patient. It was just five take way boxes and I had no idea why my Manager was overly excited about it.

"The food is ready Sir. Which ward should we bring it to?... Yes Sir... Yes, she's here... OK Sir. Thank you", my Manager said then hung up. She turned to me. "Zaria, they want you to deliver the food", she said looking confused. I got confused too.

"Why me?", I asked feeling hesitant. I was not too fond of hospitals. "I don't know, but you better make sure we don't lose the customer because you're scared", she said seriously making me swallow hard. No one wanted to be on her bad side. Not even by accident. "Here you go. They're in the private wing, room 6b", she said with excitement. I nodded my head and left.

I kept telling myself that this was the same delivery as any other. It wasn't my first so there was nothing to worry about.