Heavy Hearts

SIX

It was still early afternoon the next day when Alex answered the knock on his door. His mother walked in looking worried.
“What's wrong mother?” Alex asked with concern.
“What are you doing in here all alone when Veronica is out there by herself.” His mother asked instead.
“Mother, when are you going to quit trying to match make me and Veronica?” He asked
“Why should I stop? She is a good girl, from a good home and she is single like you. You're perfect for each other.” His mother answered.
“Mother I am not interested in her.” He said and looked at his mother who was glaring at him, “but Desmond is.” He concluded quietly.
“Desmond?” His mother asked, her glaring gaze turning into an inquiring one.
“Yes. He told me himself yesterday after we came back from church.”
Cecilia Thompson held her mouth agape for a moment before she spoke. “Desmond is interested in Veronica? This is good news.” She said smiling.
“Yes. Good news indeed and we won't want to ruin it.” Alex said grinning at his mother.
“Of course not. But you should be ashamed of yourself Alex,” she said sharply.
“Why?” Alex shrugged.
“Your friend who lost his whole family barely a year will be excused if he chose to be alone for a while but here he is trying to build his life again with another woman, but you're still yet to find a woman to marry.”
“Don't worry mother, I promise you I will get married soon.”
“Really? Are you in a serious relationship?” She asked anxiously.
“Not serious yet.”
“Oh Alex...” she sighed, and he laughed.
While packing their things and getting ready to leave that day. Veronica’s mother asked, “What do you think about Alex?” Veronica looked at her mother, bewildered.
“You know he is tall, handsome and single.” Her mother continued winking at her.
“Ugh...Mummy please don’t go there.”Veronica screamed.
“What? You don't like him?” Her mother asked disappointed.
“Of course I like him, but as a friend.” She answered.
“Okay. What about his friend?”
Veronica kept mute but her mother continued “He looks like a good catch for a husband”. Veronica muffled the tears that were threatening to slip down her eyes. Her mother was really serious about her finding a man and getting married.
“Veronica is everything okay?” Her mother asked sensing her daughter's change of mood.
“I'm fine.” She said turning her back to her mother, and stealthily wiping her eyes dry.
“But you don't look fine.” She said turning Veronica around to face her. “What's wrong Veronica?”
Veronica who has earlier decided not to tell her mother about her illness, opened up to her to put away false hopes from her mother’s mind about her getting married. And while mother and daughter were conversing they had an eaves dropper.
“Why didn't you tell me about this before now?” Her mother asked sadly.
“I didn't want you to get all sad and worried.” Veronica said with a teary voice, “I wanted you to enjoy the Christmas celebration to the fullest.”
“Are you sure it’s a lost cause?” Her mother asked, tears forming in her eyes.
“A doctor friend of mine is trying everything to ensure its not, but mine is a rare case mother.” She said then swallowed hard before she continued, “some kinds of leukaemia can be kept under control with blood transfusions and drugs..."
Her mother's eyes grew wide, “but not yours.” She finished for her.
Veronica nodded slowly, as tears helplessly flowed down her eyes.

Later that day, Veronica who was in her room waiting for her mother who has decided to discuss a little with her friend before they left, heard a knock on her door and when she opened it her heart stood still and leapt into her throat. Desmond Eze had come to see her.
“Veronica,” Desmond said stiffly, "may I come in for a moment?
“Of course, am alone.” She said as she let him and locked the door behind them.
“I know. I saw your mother with Mrs Thompson.” He said.
Then there was silence. None of them spoke; they just stared at each other like their life depended on it.
“I want to ask you something?” Desmond said, breaking the silence.
Veronica eyes grew enormous in response.
“Have we met before?” He asked.
“Oh that!” She gasped relieved by the question he asked because she had something else in mind. “Yes, we have met before.” She admitted.
Desmond stared at her dumbfounded. So she took it upon herself to narrate their first meeting.
“Veronica,” he said, his voice thick, and somehow he was moving towards her, and she was stepping into his arms. This mutual attraction they had was heady and dangerous especially for him a widower in his mid-thirties, who has earlier resigned to be alone as he thought he could never fall for another woman.
Their lips touched, and in no time they were kissing. For a long time, they stood in each other arms, kissing.
“Veronica,” he muttered, breaking the kiss. He looked down at her and dragged in his breath. She was beautiful, and that for a moment he could only stare at her. “Veronica...” he began again.
“Hmm?” She mumbled as she slowly withdrew from his embrace.
“We...it's not just me, is it?” Desmond asked staring at the ceiling. “I mean...its mutual, right?”
Veronica smiled, incredibly touched by his insecurity.
“Yes.” She said softly.
“It’s serious.”
Again she smiled. “Yes,” she assured him, “it’s serious.”
She heard him take a deep breath. “Marriage, children, and all the future together. That kind of serious. Yes?” Desmond felt the seconds stretch and felt a cold shiver rippled down his spine as she was yet to respond. “Veronica?” he said, hearing the fear plainly in his voice.
Veronica blinked twice. “Yes,” she said. “Marriage and children, and…the future.”
Desmond relaxed. His hands curled around her waist as he pulled her back in his arms. “Good. I promise you, as soon as I can, I will get my own place and…”
Veronica listened to his happy and excited plans for the future in a miserable silence.
But what else could she have said? That she wasn’t even sure there was going to be a future? Even though that was the right thing to do. She knew her silence about her condition will only hurt him in future.
Suddenly she wriggled out of his arms and looked up at him. “There is something I have to tell you Desmond.”
And just then her phone rang. She decided to ignore it, but Desmond insisted she answered it to avoid anymore interruptions.
It was Dr. Gregory on line. They talked for a long time all the while Veronica backing Desmond that when she hung up was surprised to see he was gone.

Regina was on her way to her room when she saw Desmond creeping out of Veronica’s room. Her face burnt with anger. She was still not over the jealousy she felt when Desmond and Veronica danced together at the party, now he was sneaking out of the room. What does that mean? Did he prefer Veronica to her? She had been nothing but utterly nice to him, and has thrown herself at him since he moved in. Wasn’t she pretty enough? She thought as hot tears began slipping down her eyes.
Well one thing was certain, Veronica can’t be with Desmond. She thought wiping the tears from her eyes. She knew her secret. She had listened to Veronica tell her mother about her illness. She was actually going to their room to help them pack so they could leave quickly as she was already jealous of Desmond’s obvious attraction to Veronica, but had run into them discussing. So just in case she hasn’t told Desmond, Regina decided she was going to tell him. And that should end his interest in her. Nobody will want to be with someone who was going to die soon… especially one who has just lost a spouse.