BEFORE DAWN

chapter four

The sun shown brightly through the glass windows as its rays filled the room, it was a beautiful morning. Dora had woken up with a smile on her face. It was Saturday she smiled, these days she noticed she was adding weight and was always smiling.
While preparing breakfast, she remembered chimamanda was not here with her and she had a date with jaden today too. It was the first time she would be going on a date with anyone, it made her realize all she had been missing out on. Today she was going to look her best and enjoy herself, but for anyone else but for herself.

She picked out a red dress and placed it on her body, it's been a long time she wore it ,the Christmas before her parent's death was the last time. everything had changed so much, she sighed.
Jaden kept thinking about Dora, he tried imagining her this night, her lovely face and her smile, that smile that could bring anyone to their knees. Will she be able to make it?
'of course she will' he said out loud.
'dad are you okay?' Maureen walked into the living room.
'yes angel, I was just thinking '
'dad can I ask you something? ' she sat close to him.
'anything, ' he smiled.
'do you like aunt Dora? '
Jaden watched her closely, he knew the answer to the question but he also knew Maureen had not fully recovered from her mother's death. She still blamed herself for her death.
'why do you ask? '
'well, I just noticed that you always smile whenever you talk about her or when she is around ' Maureen said.
'I smile princess, you know that. '
'not in a long time ' she stated. 'I'm not a child dad,  and I know you very well'.
'okay, yes I like her. I think I'm in love with her' he sighed, finally accepting the fact that he was attracted to Dora.
' don't you think it's time to move on?, I mean you need a mother's love and I need someone to talk to '. He was watching her closely, the expression on her face was making him worry.
'dad I'm not ready.. I.. Can't..... It's too soon' she got up.
'too soon? Maureen your mom died 14 years ago. I believe we have mourned her enough. ' he was shocked at her response.
'I'm not ready, I can't replace her. For god's sake I did not even see her, can't you let me live with just her memories? ' Maureen was almost in tears
'Now I'm not asking you to forget about her, I'm trying to help you '.jaden made to touch her, but she moved away from him.
'no, you are only helping yourself. You never really cared about her'. She left the house.
Jaden was dumbfounded, never in his life had he been talked to this way, now his daughter thought he was selfish. God knows he has tried, 14 whole years he had mourned his wife. Didn't he deserve happiness for once? Was he asking for too much?.

Maureen ran to her best friend's house, it was the only place she could think of, Kelsey has always been there for her. She ran to her the moment she spotted her in her mom's garden.
'whoa take it easy girl, are you alright? ' she stooped talking when she noticed the tears in her friend's eyes.
'it's my dad, he... ' she kept on crying
'let's go inside, you can tell me everything, okay'. Kelsey's mom was out, luckily for them.
'okay what's going on? '

'it's my dad, he.. He is planning on taking a new wife'.
'but Maureen isn't that a good thing, I mean you have always wanted a mom' Kelsey was Suprised, something was definitely wrong here.
'I know, but I can't help it. I don't think I'm ready for this, not even in the next year. ' she sobbed.
' but I thought.. Hey tell me what is really the problem with you? You should be happy'.
'that's the problem, I'm not happy. I can't be happy about this, he wants to let go of mom, how I'm I supposed to accept that?' she yelled.
'you are not serious, are you?, this is unbelievable. That man has given 14years of his life to you and your mom ,he has tried Maureen. He has to move on! '
'you don't seem to understand, why is everyone not listening to me. I don't want another mother! ' she stormed out.

Kelsey was confused as ever, ever since they were kids Maureen had always wanted a mother, and now that she was presented with an opportunity, she was rejecting it?. It was indeed confusing.