The Virgins Guide to a Happy Life

10- Dinner Parties

I had refused to meet the rest of the family just yet, instead buying myself some time. I was always a stubborn girl. I couldn't help the way the Lord made me. Terrance obviously had plans on how things were supposed to work in this marriage, something's I did not approve with.

"You've been up here for nearly 3 hours now. Are you coming to meet the rest of my family?" He was leaning against the door watching me from my position on the day bed. I was currently doing a worksheet that wasn't going to be due till the ending of the semester, and a final way to rack up more points before final exams in May. I was a nerd like that.

"I'm not that hungry." I said and looked up at him. He stared at me and turned to leave.

"Fine, dig your grave." He said and walked away. I had no idea what that meant, but the idea of more bodily harm wasn't sounding to nice. Not even five minutes passed when a man came running into the room. I squealed in surprise.

He was short, about my height, with almost no hair on his head or his face and he was red skinned. He had light brown eyes and big lips. He stared at me, then his face broke out in a smile.

"Gwyndolyn?" He asked and I just stared. "Aren't you a beautiful little thing." He walked closer to me and I stiffened. He stopped moving forward. "I'm Garfield. I volunteered to bring you to dinner." He said with a smile. I frowned at him and moved my papers to the side of the bed.

"I'm not that hungry you know." I said and his smile deepened.

"You don't have to be. You just have to join us for dinner." He reached me in the blink of an eye and grabbed my hand, roughly. Panic set in and I instinctively screamed. He released my hand and stared at me oddly.

"I'm, uh, a germaphobe. I'll come." He beamed at my words and walked out the room. I stood with some effort and followed after him, all the way to the dining room, where a congregation sat.

"I got her." Garfield smiled and went to take a seat next to a woman who sat adjacent to April. At the head of the table sat a woman. She was an anomaly in the sea of people. She was white, like Michael Jackson bleached his skin white, with straw coloured hair that was curled oddly and glasses on her face. Her eyes looked to be brown, but I could be wrong. On her right was Malique and next to him a dougla girl with a nose piercing, and red dye at the tips of her hair. She was thick with a timid smile and her chocolate skin was adorned by her head of black straight hair. Next to her sat a teenager with big brown eyes, dimples in her cheeks and caramel coloured skin. Her hair was recently cut for natural. Next to her was an empty seat then a high chair where a baby sat, dipping his hands in his food playfully.

On the other end of the table, the seat was empty and next to that empty seat sat a next high chair with an older girl, probably aged 2 and she was playing in her food as well. Next to her was Terrance, next to him was Garfield, then a woman with braids in her hair and hazel eyes, who looked averaged sized and tall with chocolate coloured skin. Next to her was April and then the head.

"Well Terrance, aren't you going to introduce us to your fiancée?" The woman at the head said and my eyes rested on her. Terrance stood from his seat and walked towards me.

"Everybody, this is Gwyndolyn. Gwyn, my mom Isla, my brother Malique, his girlfriend Brittney, my half sister Thea, baby Marcus, Hazel, my step brother Garfield, his wife Heather and my half sister April." Terrance said in a breath and I looked at everybody.

"Hi." I said softly and April smiled up at me.

"Have a seat love, so we can start eating." His mother said and only then did I realise that I didn't know Terrance's last name. I walked to the empty seat and sat just as Terrance took his seat opposite to me. Everyone grabbed hands and looked to me expectantly when I didn't hold Thea's hand. I held unto her hand, then on Marcus' shoulder and April led us in prayer. When the Amens were said and hands dropped people did not hesitate to eat. I stared at the food in my plate. It looked to be rotisserie chicken with red beans and co-co with vegetables and a green salad. I picked up my fork and ate slowly. Halfway through the meal questions started.

"So Gwyndolyn, how long have you and Terrance known each other." Garfield asked and I choked. I stopped Thea before she could pat my back and took a sip of my water.

"A while." I said vaguely, my throat hoarse.

"Where did you meet?" Brittney asked, leaning over to look at me.

"Rugby." I was glad I saw the pictures on the wall showing Terrance playing rugby.

"Oh, you play? What's your position?" Malique asked.

"My brother plays. I usually go to his games for moral support." The truth. I let out a breath.

"How long have you two been together?" April asked.

"A little over two years." Terrance said and I threw a smile his way, he smirked.

"And we are now meeting you." April said in astonishment.

"Lyn, wanted to focus on her degree first, and I respected that." I flinched at the name Terrance called me.

"Degree? In what?" Isla asked.

"Bsc in Maths and a minor in psychology." I said and placed my fork down. I was no longer hungry.

"Do you play any sports?" April asked.

"I do tennis for extra credits and I do a dance class every so often." I said and she beamed.

"I always wanted to pick up dance. Is it fun?" I scrunched up my eyebrows.

"At times." I said and she seemed deflated by my refusal to feed her.

"When are you finishing?" Heather asked.

"This is my final year." I told her and she nodded.

"Then what are you going to do?" Isla asked.

"Probably teach. I always wanted to be a teacher." I said with a small smile on my face.

"I hope you have no intentions of using my son as a money bag. That's all you bitches are out here. A set of gold diggers." My eyes widened to the size of saucers.

"Mom!" April shrieked at the same time Terrance hissed "Mom." It stroke something in me and I pushed back my chair from the table.

"May I be excused?" I asked politely and after two seconds of no reply I stood from my seat and with steady steps made my way out the dining room.

"Is she, is she pregnant?" Isla asked and I halted. My heart broke all the more. I sucked up the pain and ran up the steps and slowly made my way to the bedroom. I closed the door then escaped to the bathroom. I looked in his medicine cabinet and pulled out the box of razors. I sat on the toilet seat and with some effort pulled down my skirt. I sat with the razor in my hand and looked at the inside of my thigh.

"You cut?" Terrance asked in horror as he came into the bathroom. His eyes on the scars on my leg. I turned my face and choked on a sob. "Why are you crying?" He asked. He stooped in front of me and turned my face to face him. "Is it because of what she said?" He caressed my cheek.

"It...doesn't...matter... I'm just...a gold...digging...whore." He wiped my tears.

"No you aren't. You're a smart, amazing person and anything but a whore."

"Don't bullshit me. I know you thought I was a whore." He frowned and I sniffled.

"I never for a second thought you were a whore, maybe too horny, but never a whore."

"She thought I was pregnant. First impressions matter and I-" He cut me off.

"She doesn't know about the brace. And you can't be pregnant if you are still a virgin."

"She doesn't know that. I'm-" he cut me off again.

"I chose you. I saw potential in a marriage with you. Nobody else intrigued me like you did. And even if my mother disapproves, my father approves, and he doesn't approve of anyone." He said and leaned forward and kissed me.

It sent tingles straight down to my toes and I relished in the feel.