"Is everything okay?" Dolly asks Deneo as the latter walks into the apartment. In no mood to veil the truth, Deneo confesses everything about her conversations with Lucky lately - specifically how she thinks God expects men and women be virgins when they first marry. Adding that men are allowed to be polygamous which is why they cannot always be virgins when they marry. Dolly gives Deneo a foreboding look throughout.
"I knew you wouldn't understand," Deneo complains at Dolly, before running out of the living room.
When Deneo attempts closing the bedroom door it gets stuck. Dolly has placed her foot by the door post.
"Let me in, please," Dolly pleads as she tries to push the door open.
"What's the point? I know you'll never see things my way. Please just go. I need time to myself," Deneo vocalises as she tries to press the door shut from the other side. Being stronger Dolly wins forcing the door ajar - just enough for her to get in.
Deneo runs to her bed, pulling the covers over herself.
She's just like Lucky - probably calling me a sanctimonious b*tch in her heart too. God, I hate people!... No, actually, who I hate is You, God. You're the reason I'm in this mess to begin with. How I wish I hadn't ran to the pulpit to have hands laid on me as the innocent child that I was all those years back. My mother tried to warn me. Then she told me I had laid a curse over myself. If only I had listened like Dolly did. But here I am now, demon-possessed and hated by all.
"Dene, I'm sorry about my reaction just now. Please just get up so we can talk," Dolly begs, sitting at the corner of Deneo's bed. "I just want to hear you out. Please help me understand?"
"I want to be alone," Deneo confesses from beneath the covers. "I'm still trying to process what just happened with Lucky. Let's talk tomorrow."
"I believe you Dene," Dolly then says and Deneo pokes her head out of the duvet. "Not about nonvirgins males being disallowed to marry, but I get the female version...and that God allows polygamy."
"Really?"
"Yes Dene. Although, just because something is allowed it doesn't mean it's good. The ideal, like the first marriage to exist, was monogamous. And in 1 Timothy 3:2 we are told the overseer of a church needs to be blameless, among other things, a husband of one wife."
"Okay, I get that."
"Good. So strive for the ideal. Lucky's already married dear, let that be..."
"Oh, I think you're mistaken. I don't want Lucky. Well, not anymor-"
"Not anymore? I knew it! You wanted to marry him on top of his current wife!" Dolly protests."
"Yes, but that's in the past now."
"Don't do that. Don't skim over it like it never happened. You almost tore a charming family apart with your dalliances. I knew there was something fishy about those 2 o'clock calls you always get."
"You heard me? I thought you were fast asleep. Why didn't you mention them before?"
"Like I said, I was under the impression something unsavoury was happening. I thought you and him were having an affair."
"An affair! Yuck! I would never do that!"
"Okay then. Glad I was wrong. Although the polygamy thing is outdated."
"Our former president was a polygamist," Deneo proclaims, and Dolly laughs at her.
"Fine, I meant in parts of Africa and the Middle East people still practise it."
"They stone women who commit adultery in the Middle East. I don't believe I have to mention how black men treat their women? Look elsewhere for paragons of morality in that forte."
"Fine. I get it. And as I said before: I'm over it."
"Good! Now when are you getting an appointment date from AP Hospital?"
"I need taxi money. Can you cover me?"
"Sure, just message me your account number again. I think I know it by now, but just to be sure..."
"Will do. Thanks sis," Deneo replies knowing she'll deposit more than what's needed - as that's her custom.
"Now get up. Dinner should be ready soon," Dolly declares as she walks out of the room. Deneo follows her out, glad she can always count on her big sister being there for her, taking care of both her and their younger brother.
After talking to Dolly Deneo is in a better mood so she eats in the living room with both her siblings, watching two episodes of Stranger Things - since that's her brother's kind of thing.
When he goes off to bed Deneo washes the dishes and then huddles with her sister in their room, watching 'Descendants of the Sun'; Dolly loves Korean dramas.
Past nine in the morning, now alone, Deneo does her usual regime and leaves the flat at 11.
By 13h26 she's back in the flat and sends Dolly a message reading:
Hey,
I'm back home. Wanted to let you know I'm booked for 03 October. It's months away, at least.
See you later :)
Dolly replies:
Cool, I'll let my boss know so I can come with you <3
Deneo responds with two hearts, eats, takes a short nap, and then gets started on the regular chores.
Nate comes back at 17h02, Dolly an hour later. The three catch up and make plans for their next visit to their mother's tomb. Nate offers to pay for the flowers while Dolly says she'll handle transport. Deneo is saddened that she can't make a contribution. She couldn't even afford to pitch in for the tombstone, but Mamakane, Dolly, Nate and their father pitched in, so all turned out okay.
They eventually turn in and as Deneo lies in bed she hopes Lucky will call.
He doesn't. Not that day. Not in a week's time. Not in a fortnight's time. But in a month, she gets a call from a long number. Sure it couldn't be Nara since Deneo has been staying away from her husband as commanded, Deneo gets up as quietly and quickly as possible answering the call by the elevators. There're CCTV cameras there but the guards downstairs cannot hear any conversation.
"Lucky?" Deneo expresses a tad out of breath.
"Yes, it's me. How are you?" Lucky's voice resonates, sending chills down her spine.
Remembering how the last call ended, Deneo tentatively asks what the call is about.
"Do I need a reason? I just missed you. Darling I'm so sorry about last time. I wanted to pick up the phone and call every day since that morning. I haven't had the guts to apologise. But now I miss you and don't care how you react to me as long as I can hear your voice... But I do hope you'll forgive me?"
"Of course I do. If I was in a committed marriage like yours and someone told me to break it off, I think I would have reacted the same way."
"So, you won't do that anymore?"
"I never said that. "
"Holy Hell! Couldn't you at least pretend? For my sake?"
"Lucky all you need is to prove my allegations wrong, and we'll live happily ever after."
YOU ARE READING
Lucky Blue Smith: How About Two?
FanfictionA fanfic that seems too realistic to be untrue. Join Lucky Blue Smith as he is forced to evaluate tenets of the church and possibly take a second wife.
