Sunday morning 8 o'clock service and she was bright and early. Sitting in the front row, singing her heart out and praying that one day soon, Julius would sit next to her in the pew.
He was always busy on Sunday. Golf. Work. Construction. Soccer. Volunteering at the children's home. But not church. When she asked his mother why, she shrugged and said he needed to find his own way. So she never pushed. And he always asked how it went and never stopped her from going so it wasn't that big a deal anyway.
After church Suwi went to put flowers on her mother's grave. Sixteen years and fading memories but she went every week. The gap was deeply felt as always. But her grandmother had raised her and she lacked nothing in the way of motherly love. It was an added blessing that she was such a favorite with Julius' parents and siblings too.
Driving home, it crossed her mind that he had not come to see her in two days. His texts were short. He seemed unusually preoccupied. Making a mental note to find out what was wrong, she pulled up to her gate and honked her horn. A nap would do her good.
Three more days passed and Julius didn't see Suwi. He knew he should. But in between work and guilt and another foolish visit to Leleti's flat, he couldn't find the stomach to fake it. If there was one thing he always claimed he wasn't, it was a fake. So he stayed away.
Friday morning he flew out to New York on business and made a decision to end things with Leleti when he got back.
Suwi never needed to know.
The two weeks flew by and before she knew it Suwi was rushing from the shop to the airport to pick Julius up. She had a surprise waiting at home. Seeing him walk into the waiting area, her heart skipped four beats. She failed to notice that his smile was strained and he made no eye contact. She helped push his trolley and chattered away happily about the new fittings that had just arrived for their building project.
Nodding and mumbling quietly, Julius closed his eyes in the passenger's seat and let her drive him home. The decision was made but it didn't feel like it was a good thing.
Walking into her flat he smelt the vanilla incense sticks burning and took in the pretty candlelit dinner setting on the table. His heart sunk in his chest. She pulled a casserole dish out of the oven. His favorite butter chicken and basmati rice. And she had baked an actual cake. Kicking himself he steeled his heart to make his position known.
Dinner eaten and the dishes put away, Suwi kicked her slippers off and curled up in his lap. Kissing her forehead he turned her to him and said, "Babe, we need to talk."
She closed her eyes and took in the scent of him. Was it possible for anyone to ALWAYS smell so good?
"I'm listening."
"I think we need a break."
Her eyes flew open. What on earth was he saying? A break? What was a a break?
"I just, I have a lot on my plate right now and I'm struggling to focus. I have also been dealing with my feelings about you. I just, I need to think."
Tears filled her eyes. Words flew out of her mouth. Dumbfounded and speechless, the food barely settled in her belly, she stood up and walked to her room.
Julius picked his jacket up off the chair next to the table and let himself out. His phone was ringing. Leleti calling. But he didn't remember to pick it up off the kitchen counter as he fled down the stairs...
To Be Continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment