THE LONG WAIT

Chapter 10: Decisions made

Shelley

Ever since her father made a surprise visit to her place, she can’t shake off his words. She is now considering the possibility of healing their broken family. 

With her out of bed, she ponders on the conversation she had with her father the day before...

It's not lost on me how Dad always tries to portray us as a happy family when we're all together, she thought. But my brother and I can't ignore the lingering hurt and mistrust from our parents' broken marriage.

The constant feeling of suspicion every time an untrusted spouse steps out of the house and comes home late, leaving the other partner to wonder if they were with someone else. This ongoing doubt creates a strained and uneasy atmosphere at home, leading to frequent arguments and interrogations. Something my mom and Dad are no strangers to.

Shelley finds herself deep in thought as she drops to her knees to scrub the shower floor, contemplating whether she can truly believe that her father has changed and deserves forgiveness for his past indiscretions. She questions whether he has truly left behind his previous behaviour, as he claims. These doubts leave her wondering whether she should enlist the help of a private investigator to uncover the truth, but she wonders if such professionals even exist in this country.

"Well, I guess I have to take his word for it."

As she finished up the last of her household chores, she heard the distinct sound of her doorbell ringing. Intrigued by the unexpected visitor, she quickly makes her way to the front door, using a towel to wipe her hands clean. With a sense of curiosity mixed with mild apprehension, she briskly pulled the door open to reveal a smiling Sarah standing on the other side, holding a document in her hand. She ushered her inside, wondering what could have brought her to her doorstep at this unusual hour.

As she entered the room, she offered a polite apology for her early arrival. Shelley observed her take a seat at her dining table and place the document on its surface.

She approached Sarah at the table and pointed to the documents in front of her. "Sarah, what are those papers, and why are you here so early?" Her face lights up as she playfully brushes off Shelley’s question with a casual wave of her hand. "Oh, it's nothing important; I just wanted to get your take on something," she said with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"What!?" she asks, feigning indifference, as she leans on the edge of the dining table with her arms folded across her chest.

Sarah studied Shelley closely before speaking. "Well, with David's help, I was able to secure an amazing building for my boutique." The location couldn't be perfect, and I was wondering if you could help me come up with a name for it," she suggested. "That is what these documents are for," she said, gesturing toward the document on the table. She continued to flip through the pages. "Here are the names I came up with for my boutique, as well as  pictures of the clothes I will be selling." She turns the document toward Shelley so she can take a look. "What do you think?"

"Let's see," she exclaimed as she skimmed through the document. “Not bad at all,” she says, impressed by what she was seeing. “These clothes are absolutely stunning, and the shoes are simply to die for.” Shelley glanced up at her. “I think I prefer this name.” she pointed excitedly at her choice. Sarah looked at the name and back at her in disbelief. “‘Glam & Class Dream Boutique.’ Is that really what you want to go with?” she asked, astonished.

"Hey, you asked for my opinion, but if you don’t like it, feel free to choose one yourself. I'm not a fashion expert; you are. I'm happy to help you find something that suits your style."

"Oh, I hope I didn't give the wrong impression; I absolutely don't disapprove of this," Sarah says with an earnest tone and a bright smile. "Actually, I really love it. Thank you so much," she says, beaming with genuine appreciation and a wide, heartfelt smile.

"You are welcome," she replies as she pushes herself away from the table and saunters over to the fridge. As Shelley swings the door open, she casually enquires, "So, my cousin had a hand in helping you choose the perfect location for your boutique, you say?" She raises an eyebrow as she takes a swig of Coke from the can in her hand, thoroughly enjoying watching Sarah struggle to find the right words.

"Ummm.. Are you upset with me for seeking his assistance?" She asked, her expression filled with concern.

“Why will I be mad at you? You did say he helped you pick up a place for your boutique, or did something happen I am supposed to be mad at you for?"

"Of course not, nothing happened," she says with a furrowed brow. 

"'Good! Then you need not worry,' I say, hiding a mischievous smile. It's really funny for me to watch her pretend she does not have a thing for my cousin. For now, I will pretend to be oblivious to her feelings for him."

***

As Shelley and Sarah continue their discussion about which clothing line to choose for the boutique, they hear a knock at the door. Shelley excuses herself to see who might be there, while Sarah focuses on the task at hand. 

With Sarah seated there, she heard giggles echoing down the corridor. A familiar male voice reached her ears, and she couldn't help but think, "Of course, it's Ben." Her eyes followed the sound and settled on Ben and Shelley, their smiles lighting up the hallway as they made their way toward her. A pang of warmth washed over her as she noticed how closely they held each other. Unable to contain her joy, a smile spreads across her face as she warmly greets Ben.

“Hello, stranger.”

“Hello, Sarah. It's been a while. How have you been?” Ben asked. “The last time we met, I was helping you out of the pub drunk. I hope you are sober now,” he teased.

"Not one of my finest moments, I must admit," she said with a soft laugh, clearly showing her embarrassment. "I'm fine, and rest assured I am sober," she added.

"Good to know," he said, smiling. "I wouldn't want to carry you out of here drunk."

"Hopefully not," she said, laughing. "I apologize for not thanking you for your help that night. Clearly, I was in no position to offer my thanks that day."

"Never mind," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "I am pleased to assist any of Shelley's friends who require it. It is never a bother, especially if it will draw me close to her," he said with a wink at Shelley.

Shelley chuckled, shaking her head. "You will take up any opportunity to flirt, won't you." He responded with a smile.

"Hey, I'm going to give you lovebirds some space to yourselves. Clearly, I'm intruding," Sarah says with a chuckle as she gathers her bag and documents. "Shelley, thank you so much for all your help. It was incredibly useful. Ben, enjoy the rest of your day, and I'll see you two later."

"Later then, Sarah," both of them watch her leave. With Sarah gone, Shelley turns to Ben and says, "Well, what brought you to my place, my love?" while wrapping her arms around his neck. "'My love,' you say. I can get used to that," he says with a smile as he draws her close to him.

He locks lips with her in a long, passionate kiss, leaving both of them yearning for more as they part. "You still haven't answered my question," she says, panting.

"Wasn't it obvious when I kissed you?" he asks with a playful smile. “Also, I have been meaning to discuss something with you," he says.

"What?" she asks, a little taken aback as to what he wishes to speak to her about.

_

In all honesty, I'm interested to hear what you all think about this chapter.