Love In Colour

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: UNKNOWN UNCLES & FUNNY DISTRACTIONS

When I wake up from my tear-filled sleep. My head is pounding, and my eyes feel puffy. I slowly sit up and go through the details from earlier. I can't believe that woman wants to meet me, "officially". She must be out of her mind, but then there's that small part of me—that little girl that I've been protecting for so long, she would like to have a sit down and ask that woman all the questions that have been hanging out the tip of our tongue.

The first thing I do is grab my phone from the coffee table and make a call to work. The person I want is thankfully available, "Hey Minnie."

The chirpy, always happy voice speaks, "Thandi? Sweetheart, are you okay?"

As I try to answer her question, she continues to ask more, her words going by so fast. My throat feels dry when she mentions a family member who needed my home address; "Did that generous man find you? He mentioned that he was your uncle and he sounded really desperate to get in touch with you."

I take a deep breath to calm my beating heart, my hands feel sweaty and I wipe them on the fabric covering my thighs. Minnie notices my silence and calls for me on the other end of the line. "Is everything alright? You're not in some kind of trouble, are you honey?"

"I'm alright Minnie, everything is going well. Thank you for the information, my uncle did find me." I fake my happy tone.

I hang up after a few encouraging words from her. That's one of the things that I admire about Minnie, her positive outlook on life. She's all peace and love, a hippy lives in a world filled with people who are holding hands, singing Kumbaya.

My stomach reminds me that I haven't consumed anything for hours. I text Ben, Rhys and Gray to ask if they could come over.

Ben answers quickly agreeing to be on his way here straight after work with Rhys. The phone pings and the screen illuminates with a reply from Grayson.

Gray: On my way right now. Do you need anything?

I smile at his words before responding.

Me: just you.

Another quick text from him.

Gray: I'm coming, baby.

I place the device on the kitchen counter before I transfer the now, cold pizza onto an oven tray so I can warm it up. I set the temperature and then switched on the kettle to make tea.

The doorbell rings, the ding echoing throughout the small cottage, A moment later the door opens just as I walk out into the living room. My heart clenches and my eyes water up a little when they land on Gray. I watch as he slips his feet out of his sneakers. A smile tugs at my lips when I see his socks. He's wearing one of some pairs that I brought for him a few weeks ago. I went shopping and saw these cool, silly socks with cartoons on them.

My gaze is still transfixed by the pizza slices on the socks when he walks toward me I admire his tall, bulky body. His index finger tilts my chin so I can look up at him. The concern in his eyes pulls at my heart, and my eyes begin to tear up again. "What's wrong baby?" he asks.

"What makes you think something is wrong?" I ask with a shaky voice.

He continues to stare deeply into my eyes, "I just know. Talk to me."

So I do as he requests and I tell him about Richard coming over and asking on his wife's behalf, to please meet and talk to her. I tell him about what he said to Minnie, about him being my uncle.

I don't even know this man.

Wetness trails down my cheeks as I talk to Gray. He holds me in his arms protectively. I feel comforted. He wipes away the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. "Do you want me to hunt him down and punch him?" he asks in all seriousness.

I know if I said yes, Gray would really do it. But, I don't want Richard to get punched even though he crossed a line. He crossed it for his wife and the well-being of their family. They have a family. She has a family.

They are a family.

I look into Gray's mismatched eyes, "No, thank you for the offer."

He nods, "Alright, just know the offer stands. Whenever you."

"I appreciate that."

The timer goes off for the oven, and Gray walks us into the kitchen with his arms still wrapped around my waist. I don't want him to let me go. I love being held by him.

When he lets go of me, he puts on the oven mitts and heads to the oven to take out the hot pizza. I get some mugs out for us and for Ben and Rhys. They walk in just as we finish getting to food and tea ready. Grayson gets out some plates and we all gather in my living room.

I fill in my best friends on what happened while trying to keep tears away from my eyes. Why am I even crying? Why is this entire situation so emotionally draining?

"The nerve of that woman! How dare they?" Rhys reaches over to hold one of Ben's shaking hands. The rage in his eyes reminds me of all the times I've shouted at God, asking him why wasn't he saving me from all the pain and suffering I endured.

Ben takes a deep breath, "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise. You're right to be angry. I am too." Gray directs the words to Ben.

"We all are," Rhys states.

Which is a very true fact.

"Would you like to go ahead with meeting her?"

I go quiet while I mentally digest Rhy's question. A part of me does, very much but my protectiveness over her just overtakes that feeling. I am my younger self's protector.

"I don't know, I still need some time to get through everything in my head. I need to properly get my thoughts together."

Gray pulls me closer to his side, I welcome the warmth, "Whatever you decide to do, remember that we're all here for you."

Ben and Rhys both nod in agreement.

Once again the flowing river of gratitude towards the three men increases. I am just one of the luckiest people in the world.

Now that I have some internal work to do, I need to not think about it for a moment, "My brain is fried. Someone distract me please." I mumble as I snuggle closer to Grayson, he wraps his arm tightly holding me against his warm body. Ben takes the reigns and tells a few work stories that have me smiling and just feeling normal.

Just a moment of normalcy as if there isn't a cloud looming on top of my head.