Prelude to kisses

Chapter 37

The Midlands hadn't changed at all, from the caves and mountains she drove past. The roads, the trees, the buildings they all seemed to have stood against the test of time and remained the same. She was driving past the winding roads of Shurugwi now, the mining town was very small, even to this day, the small down didn't grow much. Before her grandmother passed, she learned that her grandparents had lived here when they got married, that her father and aunts had gone to school here. Grown up here before her grandfather was retrenched from his mining company and the whole family was forced to move to the village life. Her family's history in this place always made her want to stop for a while and breath in the small town.

It was spring, the leaves were an orange and yellow. It was beautiful, every curve and every turn only got her closer to her destination. But life was about the journey just as it was about the destination. She stopped the car on the side of the road. She opened the car door and was immediately filled with the smell of the yellowed leaves, the smell of the coming rain. The smell of fresh air. A bus passed by; a few cars and trucks and yet she stood still against the railing. She looked down and the holes made by miners ran deep.

She wondered how many lives had ended here, how many of them no one would ever know. It sickened her to think about it, yet there were always possibilities. Why was she thinking of all those possibilities when she was surrounded by the beauty of nature? When she was still here through it all? she thought.

It had just turned five when she was back on the road again. Her car engine roared to life, and in less than an hour if the traffic was still good, she'd be back there again, to Angie. To Mathew.

She drove around town before driving down to Angie and Dylan's house. It was just as she'd expected. Warm, happy just as she'd hoped. Angie and Dylan seemed to talk in signs as they moved around the stove while making dinner. She'd been left on the couch with their son. He was a beauty and looked just like his dad. He had Angie's eyes and nose though. He was five already, which felt surreal to Jackie. Time passed by so fast it was hard to catch it and easier having it slip through your fingers.

They were now seated at the dinner table. Chatting away about business when Jackie noticed it. She hadn't realized it until now, but it seemed to make sense now as Angie took a sip of her orange juice. "Why are you having orange juice". Angie wasn't a heavy drinker, but it was impossible that she'd be the only one having a glass of juice while she and Dylan seeped on wine. And more than that, the bottle of wine carefully placed on the table was Angie's favorite. Whenever they had it, she'd always talk about the taste, how it had the right amount of fruity taste. Angie she always seemed to have a bottle of said wine in her cabinet.

She subtly put her hand on her stomach and looked at her husband who in turn looked sideways. He got up to clean his son with a napkin. Jackie watched them act like she hadn't asked a question until she grew impatient, "You're pregnant again aren't you", she accused impatiently.

"Yes, I'm so embarrassed but yes we are", Angie said

"Why didn't you tell me? And why in the world would you feel embarrassed. This is great news", she told them, getting up from her chair to give them both a hug.

"We found out a week ago and since you said you were coming, we thought we'd tell you in person", Dylan told her

"I guess I have to give Jossie a hundred dollars", she said to herself.

Dylan and Angie remained clueless about the bet she'd made with Jossie. Jossie had been certain that the two would be pregnant again before the year ended after she came down to visit last month. When Jackie had asked why she thought so, Jossie had shrugged, hence the bet.

"I know why you're here", Angie was getting the guest bedroom ready for her while Dylan put their son to sleep.

"And why I'm I here Angie?" she knew what Angie would say, she also knew that Angie was right. That she almost always was but she wasn't going to admit it just yet.

"Mathew".

"I'm sorry to tell you that you're wrong. I'm here for business. And also, to see you, to take care of you during this pregnancy".

"You didn't know I was pregnant until an hour ago".

"You're right. But I'm still here for you, and to check on business at the printing shop".

Angie looked at her unconvinced. Did it matter anyway? What the real reason was or wasn't? As she lay still on the bed, she wondered what she should do first. It was better to start with the easy tasks. Spent the next four days doing her research, helping out at the printing shop and spending her time with Angie then on the last day she'd visit Mathew. In that exact order. She'd handle the disappointment knowing she wasn't staying long and would be leaving soon.