Lost in madness

Chapter 19

Dabe

It's been nearly an hour since the girls and I pulled at Sally's for a hang, I didn't think I would back to this house for anything.

I tried to smile between conversations but it didn't help to remember where I was last night and the large wedding frame staring back at me from a cross the room was a memento of my suffering, I shouldn't have come.

The laughter and chatter around me felt distant as if I was watching a scene play out from a faraway place.

I reach for the bottle of wine and see it empty, "We need more wine, I'll go get it." I needed some air.

I got up and made my way toward the wine cellar in the kitchen, they were a whole collection, making it hard to pick,

"Need some help?"

I turned to the voice to see Sade, one of our friends. She's more of Sally's friend but we've hung out enough times not to call each other friends,

"Sure, I'd appreciate that," I replied, trying to hide my discomfort. Sade stepped closer and began examining the bottles, her fingers gliding over the labels.

"How about this one? " she asked, holding up a bottle of Merlot.

"Merlot sounds perfect," I said, forcing a smile. Sade gave me a curious look, but thankfully, she didn't press.

"So how are you?"

"I'm alright as you can see."

Sade raised an eyebrow, sensing my reluctance. "Come on, you can talk to me," she said softly.

"What?"

"I know all this can't be easy, considering..." She paused and I turned slowly to look at her, my expression confused, "C'mon, Dabe, don't let me say it...."

"Say what?"

"You and Andrew.... back in high school, it wasn't a secret, we all knew, and I'm sure Sally does as well, it was so obvious, that you two weren't doing a very good job at hiding it... And now he's married to your cousin, that must have been awful." I felt a lump in my throat but managed to keep my composure.

"Like you said, it was high school."

"Yeah, but stuff like that doesn't just disappear, you know? It doesn't matter what year it was, it's still a shitty thing to do and worse, you were a bridesmaid at their wedding. Men are shitty beings." She said with a disgusting taste but it mellowed down when she looked at me, "You shouldn't let it get to you, you're beautiful, nice, I'm sure you would find someone more deserving of you, they aren't all bad." She says and laughs, I was still stuck in my conscience to reciprocate, and she rubs my shoulder in consolation, 'I bet if she knew where you were last night, those hands would be doing something different.' My conscience mocked.

"We should get back."

She nodded in agreement and grabbing the wine bottle that we picked, we made back to the girls, "Took you two long enough." Sally spotted us coming.

"We were catching up." Sade chimed.

"You mean gossiping." Folake shaded.

"That too."

I hurried and placed the wine on the table, not before pouring myself a glass, "Dabe, this one you've been quiet, I hope all is well." Folaked poked in, she's never liked me this one.

I tried to smile, "Yeah, I'm just tired, it's been a long day."

"Oh, you should rest here then, there's a guest room ready for you." could she be any nicer, sometimes I wish Sally would have some visible bad traits that way it is easier on my conscience.

"No, it's fine."

"If you say so, but if you change your mind you're always welcome."

"Thank you." I smiled.

"Sally, was telling me about marriage and what like to be married? Get your notes, ladies, there are a lot of points to be taken, I've already learned a lot like you never go to bed angry at your significant other."

Sade laughed, "Oh, that's a classic piece of advice."

"Trust me, it's easier said than done," I added, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, Marriage isn't perfect, no marriage is, but it comes in stages, There's the Honeymoon stage, where everything is perfect. Then the Adjustment stage, where reality sets in and you realize that you have to compromise on everything. Then if stage two is successful, you settle into Routine, which leads to Comfort."

"And after that? " Folake asked, genuinely curious.

"And after that, you hit the Growth stage."

"What stage are you in?" Sade chimed, I stayed silent, sipping my wine, I had no business interfering.

"Heh, we're somewhere between Adjustment and Routine, but definitely, the honeymoon stage." She said and the girls laughed, I let out a chuckle, until she said something that had me doubting every word out of those lips, "I mean, Andrew and I talked about the future last night, and what it would feel like to have kids running around the house."

"Last night?" I let out, and the girls turned their heads to me.

Sally raised an eyebrow,

"Yes, Dabe, my husband and I have pillow talks, last night was just one out of many, Why does that surprise you?"

I cleared my throat, trying to mask my unease...

"Nothing, just making conversation," I replied, forcing a smile.

"Really? Because it sounded like you had something to add," Folake said, scrutinizing me.

"I don't know what you are trying to make out of that but I assure you, nothing of the sort," I replied, keeping my tone light.

"It seemed like you were trying to imply something."

"Guys, C'mon, Dabe was just curious." Sade cut in.

"Yes, exactly," I nodded, grateful for Sade's intervention.

I stared back at Sally skeptically, and she stared back too, I wasn't sure what she was thinking but it was certain that I wasn't the only liar in the room, has anything she ever said true, the European tour, the diamond necklace for her birthday, the supposed job offer from that prestigious firm? She had always painted this perfect picture, but maybe it was all a facade.

I took another sip of my wine, pondering again: was I really the deceitful one here?

"Nice earrings." I tested the waters.

"Thanks," Sally replied nonchalantly, her hand instinctively going to her ear. "Andrew got it for our first anniversary, do you like it?"

"Yeah, it's pretty. And, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting last night, I hope Andrew wasn't mad about you coming home late."

"No, of course not, I'm his wife, not his child, Dabe. I'm allowed to be as liberal as I want, as long as it is in line with our vows," she replied with a hint of defiance in her voice. I smiled tightly, nodding. Sally always had a way of asserting her independence, but something in her tone seemed off.

"Oh, that's good. I wouldn't want to cause any tension between the honeymooners."

"Don't worry about it, he understands. "

Sally's grin seemed a bit too perfect. "That's reassuring," I replied, masking my skepticism with a tight smile.