AFTER A BROKEN MARRIAGE .

chapter4

With every effort Lloyd try to start the van but with no success "damn!" He curse hissing in frustration fisting the dash board,
"Van trouble?" A soft  voice ask he look out and saw her the woman from the other day standing there facing the truck, she came around smiling at him, a smile he wouldn't be tired to see, he overall her from her face down, today she was dressed in long dress to her ankles and a flip flop slippers  her hair down  and she wore a big hat that spread about her head like a beach umbrella,
It was Saturday and she  was out to grab a few things for the house,
"This old thing won't start" he said
"Maybe its the regulator" she said
"What you know a bout vehicles?" He ask with a smile,
"Enough to help myself out of being stranded by the roadside"
Lloyd smile,
"You could pop it up let's have a look"
He didn't see why he couldn't pop it up as she said, he pop it and she look around touching up a few things lloyd kept watching "hold this" she hand him her bag he took it and saw her going on her knees to look under the van,
"You don't have to do that I'll call some one" lloyd said
"I'm only looking" Lloyd wonder what she was looking for but didn't bother to ask,
She got up brush off her knees face him, "try starting it now" she told him, Lloyd knew it would be worthless but he got in the van  turned the key and the engine roar to life,  he grin at her having this  surprised look on his face, cant believe she fix it, she actually got it to start,
"My uncle ran a mechanic shop around here they can have your engin feeling like new once again, they does good body work too" she hand him a card he took it from her reading it he didn't know many places here in paulding he mainly work here and goes home after work he wonder if she was from around here he never thought of asking, they stood facing each other when his phone rang he took it out and she saw it was the same old cracked up phone he still use, "it's work" he said"
"OK I will leave you" she walk a way,
"Hey" he said she stop and turn to him
"Thank you" he said
"You should give my uncle a call"
he nod he knew he won't be able to get a body work now not when things were this slow probably won't even be able to see about his engine for now, he watch her going off into a building that says proactive lifestyle before going his own way,
After some here and there Aliyah got home strip herself of her dress and walk around in just a small blouse and no  panties she was use to it this way a lone to move around anyway please her she call up her mom and talk for a while it was Saturday evening by this time Naomi Alessandra was in the kitchen cooking her soup, much as she and her husband has a house maid when ever its Saturday she love cooking soup and was always in the kitchen,
Aliyah didn't mind being cook far she'll do all things but hate cooking so anything they package from the foot court were good enough for her, already she knows how to cook for both her mom and grandma taught her, her grandma always say cooking is a skill she should be with most men like a woman who can cook and when she found a husband she will be able to cook for him, she wasn't looking for a husband wasn't even looking for a man right now, but find that she was thinking on that architec she only saw him a few times but she like his sweet appearance he seems worthy to be love but she knew nothing about him apart from he's and architecture who's handsome as hell he might has a few fault yes say for instance his dress code was bad and he drove a old van a very old van, but she seems to didn't let that cloud her developing feelings, she wonder when she would ran into him again, she smiled as she remembered the smile on,his face earlier when she got his van to start, he got the cutest lips she form a picture of him in her mind one that shiver her for he was naked at the top she role her eyes,
"So honey how was your week?" Naomi ask, cutting off the thoughts from her mind, Aliyah thought she told her already,
"Your dad wants to know dear",
"I had a good week" she said,
"I'm glad honey" her father said and she came to realize her mother had handed her dad the phone,
"Dad" she said with a giggle, "how are you dad?" ahe ask
"Resting my dear, and you?"
Aliyah look around her she wasnt really doing anything but just sitting in the kitchen heating a turkey dinner, "I'm doing what youre doing"
"Have you eaten?" She heard her mother ask in the back ground, "have you eaten dear?" Her father ask "your mother wants to know?"
"Well I'm a bout to"
"She's about to" her father said,
"I hope you cook something wonderful" her mother said in the back ground, aliyah rolled her eyes "yes I have" she Said
"She has" her father passed it on,
Aliyah knew her mother would want to hear what it was she had cook, but she wasn't sure what to tell her if she ask, since she couldn't think of a meal to put  together in her mind now, "anyway dad please tell mom I love her, I love you you both take care I'll call tomorrow" she said
Freed ran the message by Naomi as soon as she said OK aliyah hang up she
later went out to the pool with her turkey meal where she spend the rest of evening having wild thoughts about her crush,
It felt like a even longer week for Lloyd his wife was becoming more Unbearable he couldn't try talking to her with out her getting angry he try to touch her and it was even worst,
He watch her wiggle in a sexy black tong while she got dress for work she has made plans to see Laurence before work making every means to be sexy she was about to get in her dress lloyd got up going over to her he was still face with that longing needs that haven't been fulfill as yet, "baby" he said turning her to face him
"What you want?" She asked
"You, I want to make love to you" he held her shoulders crushing his lips on hers,
"Mm, mm!" Monique muffle as she shook him a way, "stop that" she push him by his chest, you can't"
"Its been so long baby" he said trying to kiss her again
"You can't, I just said you can't" she ease him away little harder this time,
"Please baby I'm desperate" he beg she look down to see his hardness poking out as he held her once more
"Stop it" she push him with a hard slap across his cheek sending him stumbling
"What did you do that far?" He asked hissing hard as he held on to his cheek, he look at  her hissed another time  then left the room he left the house leaving her rather angry, Monique thought about her husband behavior with a frown until she was in Laurence's arms he kiss and romance all the bad feeling from earlier away she love it with him,
"You should get yourself something nice I'm taking you out for the weekend" he said handing her some money
"The weekend!?" She asked covering her mouth as it water with excitement they had gone out but never for the weekend, the money excited her and the diamonds  but the feeling of getting away from her husband for the weekend was joy to her soul, she thought about it all through out the rest of the day, wondering if tomorrow couldn't be the weekend,
Lloyd tries talking to Monique  but avoid touching her much as he need the love he refuses to bother her, he even apologized for his behavior he  spends a couple of nights on the sofa nothing that bothers Monique who was glad to have the room to herself,
Lloyd came in to find her backing on Thursday evening "are you going on a trip?" He ask
"Yes"
"What kind of trip?"
"If you should know it's work, are you satisfied?"
He walk away saying nothing come Friday morning she packed her things in her car as he watch her he was on the front porch when she left,
Monique was excited about her trip to Hawaii at Laurence beach condo flew there in a pravite aircraft she was mesmorise and ostonish by the condo that was twice the size of her home that she shared with her husband they spend time by the pool where they were serve lobster and white wine they later went to his bedroom to make love have dinner in the big dinning hall later went to the pub same place on the building, she didn't know he has so much she knew he has money but for him to own such a place, she can't remember seeing a condo this huge they were normally smaller much smaller,
The weekend was the best vacation Monique had ever has and wish they could stay a few more days instead of going back to that boring house with lloyd the thought of it make her face turn and cringe, "what happened baby?" Laurence ask seeing the look she held on her face,
"I just wish I didn't have to go to work and stay in your arms for ever,
"We can always do this again this weekend"
"We could?"
"Its up to you" he kiss her as she climb into her car at the airstrip that too was own by Laurence,
"Call me as soon as you get to work" he said, she nods and he kiss her watch her drive off,
Monique came in the drive way later after work as she park her husband old van pulled up next to her, she didn't even notice he was behind her,
"Hey he said with a wide grin I see you're back, so how was your weekend?" He asked
"Good" she answered rolling her eyes,
He help her in with her bags taking them to the room, "I could have done it myself" she said
"I have no problem helping,  I hope you had a good trip and that you had  get some rest between work"
"I did so what"
Lloyd shook his head,
"Can I pour you a drink?" He asked
Monique narrow her eyes "I'm not inneed of a drink and why are you sucking up?"
"I'm not I'm just trying to be nice to my wife"
"I'll ask you when I want you to be nice I'm tired leave me please, she shoved him out the room closed the door not long after she was on the the phone talking sweetly and giggling,
She was on the phone in the morning in the same way lloyd came in the kitchen grab a box of milk before leaving out,
He was glad that he didn't broke down this morning and beat the traffic to work he called his assistance to ask her for a phone book which she took to him some minutes later, he gone through some pages looking for a marriage counselor, he couldn't find one listed in town none in Walton or in paulding none in rockdale, he saw a few in Cobb's but didn't think he need to take that long trip to see a marriage counselor, he closed the phone book as he got up to leave he left it on his assistance desk, he was face with van trouble again this evening after it was acting so good from the other day, he had to leave it by the road he called the mechanic and he came to look at it he made a list of what he would need but for now he couldn't afford all that, he had to left it there and grab a cab home in the evening Monique didn't know he was home for his van wasn't in the driveway, she came in and saw him, she turn towards their bed room closing the door behind her he could hear her on the phone talking and laughing as she's been doing since of late,
Thursday evening she was packing to go for the weekend again he was forced to ask,
"Another job related weekend?"
"Why you even bother to ask?" Monique asked him "if I don't try to keep working I won't be able to maintain myself"
"Its the second weekend since the other day"
"Like I haven't noticed like i am not the one taking the weekends" monique rebut  angrily, "you talk more than you contribute" she told him,
"I'm only saying I need time too"
"You have too many times that is why things at the company are so slow you spend more time bothering about me than being out there seeking jobs"
"What am I to do if I'm not getting any jobs ah?"
"Because you're not getting any I'm to stop getting too then we both become broke and sit here looking at each other? Ah! You're such a laugh for I don't want to sit here just to look at you"
"So what's wrong with looking at me?" Lloyd asked
"Everything is wrong"
His phone rang on the dresser as they both turn to see it ringing she was surprised to see the condition of his phone first his van now his phone and him on top of everything falling to pieces, she shook her head as she look at him he walk away leaving her
Mark Graham call him up to see if he wanted to grab a beer mark was a long time friend they had study together at ouluo architectural university in canada but once he graduated he change his mind about becoming architecture and went back to be the assistant couch for the canada united rugby team he only visited once in a while but he and Lloyd keep in touch he was kind a surprise he was here today he agreed to go out just to get away from all of the stress"
Mark became such a friend that lloyd could share his problem with him, but he  didn't want to bother him with this thing with his wife,   but after talking  he open up to him telling of her behavior,
Mark was with the believe it was working stress since she wasn't pregnant as Lloyd had thought her to be, ,
Lloyd hope it was a way to deal with her for it was becoming bitter and mark could see the way he was stressed,
"Mr architec" someone said they both look up they were sitting outside Albany out door dinning having a beer and a burger
"Hey! Ah, ah" he tries to remember her name,
"Aliyah" she said with a smile,
"Aliyah" lloyd said nodding his head, "aliyah meet mark a good friend of mind, mark this is aliyah"
Hi" aliyah greet mark  extending a arm to him for shaking,
"Nice to meet you" mark said
"So how are you mr architic?" She asked
"I'm doing fine, you?" Mark look at him then back to the girl
"Not bad just having a night out on the town and I can see you having time with your friend so I won't be a bug"
"You're not being a bug, but I'll see you around"
She nods, "so have you called the number?"
"Not yet but soon"
She nod looking from him to mark before going off,
"Who's that, she's pretty"
"Yea she is, I don't really know her all that well"
"So who are you to call?" Mark asked
"Her uncle he  has a garage he does body work, and my van really need some fixing"
Mark nod they both look as aliyah break the corner,
"I like her" mark said
Lloyd look at him but didn't object mark wasn't married but he got a son and he and his mother live  but  he still had outside relationship and he wasn't surprised if he managed to talk his way inside her bed he was that kind of guy a charmer,
But lloyd was reading it wrong mark could see that she likes lloyd  and from the way  he looks at her he  like her as well,  he wasn't expressing his like in that way to bed her something more like a friendly conversation with her but neither of them continue to talk about it they leave it at that they left there and walk around the park for a hour before Mark drove him home, he promise to call tomorrow hopefully they'll meet for the weekend they agree and mark drove off,
Since Monique went off on her weekend lloyd use it to spend time with mark they done a few things he haven't in a long while the night ended with them leaving the club at four, mark crashed with him, they went out Sunday night but since mark was leaving and lloyd has to go to work they didn't stay out too late monday morning mark  drop him at work before taking the journey back to Canada,
Lloyd got home to find his wife home he tries not to say anything to her that would get her angry instead it was just a quick good evening and went his way, he tries for another few days to do less talking to her, but it didn't change anything she was still distant and rebellious when ever he say a word or two,
Both his parents insist he seek counseling which he was now considering the only option to fix his marriage, since he had try finding one in the phone book and couldn't he haven't looked from there,
His mother  couldn't  help but to think she was cheating on her son this was something  she kept from sharing with  her husband  for maybe  he might  think it's  because  she don't really  like her much, not that she did hate her but the way she treats her son she despise that no good wife should  treats  their husband  so especially when it's  some one who tries  to take care of you,
Lloyd went to town and asked around for a marriage counseling office and was point to one on the main street plaza on the seven floor he wasn't sure he wanted to go about it but he went up anyway he came face to face with a woman young than he was probably by four or five years if his judgment was right, she has a pleasant smile and greeted him well making it easy to talk to her he tries to explain the situation and from the sound of it Nelisa could tell it has nothing to do with work stress his wife was cheating but she didn't want to be that bold to say it out loud not everyman could stand hearing that their wife is cheating on them after six years of marriage, she went a head and fix him a appointment which he gladly accept, he was willing to do anything to fix his marriage and this was the beginning of the steps he was willing to take,
He barely got to the door    when  it push open and she walk in, it took Lloyd a simple second to recognize her and she him, her mouth flew open as she smiled on seeing it was the architecture,
"I I'm becoming a custom running into you"
He smile with a nod, looking from one lady to the other, he had the believe that like him she was here on a appointment for at the time neither ladies greet each other, He felt acward seeing her while he was here, he stood for a while just looking at her just when his phone rang he took it from his pocket aliyah  noticed the same old phone and cringe,
"It's work"he said
"Work?" She ask wondering if  it is a custom for everyone to work beyond their work hours except for her,
Lloyd nod "I have to take it, I'll see you" He exchange look with both ladies
"See you" nelisa said with a smile aliyah saw how he look at nelisa nod at her  then walk away leaving the office with them staring after him. Aliyah was starting to think they were seeing each other from the look on each face and felt disgusting for she was falling for the guy her best friend was dating, Neither of them at this point were seeing anyone and what a shame it would be for them both to be on to the same guy,
He was gone closing the door behind him when aliyah face nelisa "you didn't tell me you were renovating" she said trying to hear if she would say they're dating,
"Renovate no what reason the place his fine" nelisa said
"So what was the architec doing in your office,
"He's an architecture?" Nelisa ask "so you know him?"
"Ran into him a few times"
Nelisa nod
"Well I'm here to take you to dinner if you're free"
"Dinner sounds good and why wouldn't I be free?" Nelisa ask taking up her bag for them both to leave,
"You can tell me about it when we get to dinner" aliyah said
"Tell you what?" Nelisa ask
"So you got nothing to tell?"
"No, why do I feel you're interigating me"
"I'm not"
"Shut up about it then" nelisa said taking her hand they walk a quiet walk to the hotel restaurant around the corner from her office aliyah wasn't at ease for she wanted to know so bad that she isn't dating the architec she don't want to have a crush for her best friend's man they share every thing but she don't think they could be able to share the same boyfriend.