CASCADING

MATTERS OF THE HEART CHAPTER 5

Back at home, Steffen peeled off his clothes and headed for the shower. Allowing the water to run on him from head down, he replayed the entire day in his head. At one point he gave a laugh so hard when he remembered how Darla could have mauled his hands if he had reached out to her. His funny new friend Samuel aka Sam that was like an adult child and his reaction to June being called by her middle name, so priceless. Cindy's warm motherly ways made him regret not being raised by his own mother and his mood shifted.

Cupping warm water on his face he closed his eyes and June's face came to him. "So cute," he said out loud and smiled. 'Scott,' He remember her calling that name and he frowned. Leaning against the wet tiles he asked, "What was that emotion? Was she surprised when the phone rang? Or was it excitement? I couldn't tell she turned away so quickly. Ugh!" He gripped his chest when he felt a familiar hurt and sadness came over him. The image of his ex-girlfriend or rather ex-fiancé and best friend from school André kissing on the front step of her house was too vivid. He bang on the tiles behind him. 'Oh God you took me from that place of hurt, anger and depression and healed me. I will not walk back into that place and be entangled again. Direct my path and keep me from falling. Amen.' He came out the shower went to bed and pulled the covers over him. A sudden tiredness hit him and before any longer he fell straight asleep.

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Meanwhile, June laid restless on her bed. She didn't know what to make of all that transpired in the last few hours before coming to bed. She decided to stay by her dad for the night, but thoughts of Steffen flooded her. It was too much of a coincidence that he met her dad and ended up having dinner at their house. Like how is that even possible? She thought as she pulled the ears of Mindy, one of her stuffed bunny toys. She looked at the toy's fluffy face and asked, "Where did this guy come from? First he came to my office, then met my dad leaving my office and ended up having dinner in my home all in the same day. Weird right?..." She paused looking deep into Mindy's button eyes, supposedly waiting for an answer.

She turned to her side hugging Mindy and giggled like a sixteen year old who just met her crush, when she remembered Steffen's strong arm holding her from falling. She didn't feel that kind of spark in a long time, not since university in the U.S when she met Brandon after she tried out for cheerleading. He threw his soccer ball over to where she was practicing so he could run over and say hi, while getting his ball of course. He was too cute and they ended up dating for a while till she came back to Barbados for good. It broke his heart to have her leave, he cried like a baby for days. He ended up calling her every week and had planned to visit her, but it never happened. She heard from Julia her friend over there in the States, that he and Cara started dating a year after, so she let go of all possibilities of getting back together with him. Then there was Scott, whom she felt nothing for, but enjoyed his company when she was bored. She longed for a life with someone more than just for fun. She closed her eyes and started to drift off. It would be great to have a special someone who would care for all of who I am and love me unconditionally, flaws and all. No sooner than that thought crossed her mind she fell straight asleep. She dreamt of holding a baby dressed in a yellow onesie with a all too familiar hand holding her around her waist. She felt happy and secure leaning back on the chest of her love and holding their precious baby in her arms.

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"What is in this parcel in the fridge?" Miriam asked closing the fridge door and turning back to the stove.

Dressed in a white tee and navy blue joggers, Steffen came in the kitchen humming a melody. "Oh, I forgot to mention it grandma," Steffen said as he stretched and stiffened a yawn. "Good morning," he leaned over and gave his grandmother a kiss on her cheek. "I met someone yesterday...