Chapter 8: Chapter 8

“I can’t keep taking her to work with me. Customers are becoming too much and the last thing I need to do is worry about a child,” I heard someone say as I headed towards the kitchen.

It sounded oddly like Taniya’s voice so out of curiosity, I decided to investigate. Walking into the sitting room, I realized I was right. It was Taniya and she was with Ellarosa talking to Brielle.

“I’m sorry but I don’t like children. You know that,” Brielle said as she glanced at Ellarosa.

She had wanted to use the ‘I have work’ card but I knew that she was taking a week’s break from work for some reason. She told me she’d explain it later but I knew that she had no work for this week, at least. Other than that, she had told me that she never had work on Mondays. That card would have been a lie if she’d played it. Not like Taniya would have known.

“You won’t even know she’s there,” Taniya pleaded.

I didn’t like the sight of her begging a Brielle that would never agree to babysit a child so I said, “I’ll do it.”

Both of them looked at me suddenly acknowledging my presence. I walked further in and stopped by Brielle’s side.

“Really?” Taniya asked looking shocked and I nodded. “Thank you so much. How can I possibly repay you?”

“There’s no need to. I love children unlike someone I know,” I said with a not-so-subtle glance in Brielle’s direction who scoffed.

Taniya pulled me into a hug and I suddenly realized she smelled a lot like strawberries. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“It’s nothing, really,” I said with a smile to show her that I meant my words. She nodded and turned to Ellarosa. “You have to promise that you’ll behave.” “Yes, mommy,” she said with an annoyed tone and I snickered.

Taniya hugged her and ruffled her hair before giving me another nod and round of thanks then finally leaving for the bakery.

I sat on a couch across Brielle and placed Ellarosa on my laps then gave her my phone to play some games with. Brielle was also on her phone and from the smile on her face, I could tell that she was talking with Kosara. Too bad I was going to draw her out of that conversation.

“Brielle,” I called and she looked at me. “What’s the real reason for you being at home and not wanting to take care of this beautiful child?”

She placed her phone on the couch, knowing it was going to be a relatively long conversation, and shrugged.

“What’s really going on? Between you and Kosara and everything else. You’ve been lying to me for so long and I just want the truth because I care.”

She glanced at Ellarosa and I knew she didn’t want to talk with her there so I told Ellarosa to go sit on some chairs far from where we were sitting but close enough to monitor her movements. Luckily, she was happy with my phone so she didn’t even complain.

“Start talking,” I said, crossing my arms. “I’m pregnant,” she blurted.

My eyes widened. “Are you joking?”

“Why would I joke with something like that?” “Fair enough. When did this happen?”

“I found out before you came and I was worried that Kosara wouldn’t want me after he finds out.”

So that was the reason for her irrational behavior. I should have thought of that. How didn’t I notice the baby bump? She must have been pregnant for a while. I was a terrible friend.

“Well, did you tell him?” I asked sitting up straight and she nodded. “What did he say?”

“He said that he was actually happy and the only reason he would have been mad at me was for keeping it away from him this long,” she said with a smile on her face.

“That’s good news.”

“It is but with the wedding and a baby, I don’t even know. I’m still thinking of how it would be being married and all and now this? I don’t want to mess up my child because I wasn’t ready for motherhood,” she said with a sigh.

“You’ll be a great mother.” “How sure are you?”

“Because you were always like a mother to me which was weird since I’m a month older than you,” I said and she laughed. “You won’t mess it up and the child would be lucky to have you as a mother.”

She smiled. “I’m lucky to have you as a friend.”

“You are,” I said and she laughed again. “So, is there anything else I should know?”

She looked up as though in thought and snapped her fingers, remembering something. “The wedding is being pushed to February.”

“That’s in two months.” “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m due in July and that’s a horrible time. Also, I don’t want to be heavily pregnant during the wedding.”

“That’s too…soon.”

“I know but it’s necessary.” “When is it exactly?” “Valentine’s day.”

I groaned. “Really? You had to do that?”

She grinned. My best friend was a hopeless romantic just like me. Okay, maybe I was worse but still. “Look at this, all the bridesmaids and the groomsmen are married.”

I glared at her. “Do I look married to you?”

“Well, other than you of course,” she said with a sheepish smile. “Look, it’s not my fault that my friends, sisters, and cousins are married.”

“There is nothing cheesier than being the only bridesmaid at a wedding taking place on Valentine’s Day which is simultaneously my birthday,” I muttered, rolling my eyes at her.

She chuckled. “Just wait. I’m going to hand the bouquet to you after the wedding as a birthday gift.” I glared at her. “Look at the bright side.”

“What is this bright side that can possibly make me forget the horrible thing you just told me?”

She wiggled her eyebrows and just when I was about to question her sanity, she said, “Emrys is the only unmarried groomsman.”

“Keep talking,” I said, my annoyance dissipating like it was never there. “And he’s the best man. You know what that means,” she said with a wink.

“Okay so maybe there is a bright side but Emrys and I might just be only friends so there will be nothing special,” I said with a sad sigh.

She smacked my head and glared at me. “You idiot. Emrys is actually spending time with you because he likes you. Isn’t that obvious?”

“Maybe. We’re actually going out tonight again,” I said with a sheepish smile. “Seriously? Where?” she asked with wide eyes.

“He said a restaurant,” I said with a shrug.

“There is only one place Emrys goes to make sure he isn’t stalked by crazy fans or paparazzi and that’s Taniya’s bakery. If he’s not taking you there, that means he wants the world to know you,” she said with a loud squeal that caused Ellarosa’s eyes to land on us.

“Shut up. The kid’s questioning your sanity,” I said pinching her on her leg so she’d stop making a fool out of herself.

“Well, excuse me for actually being happy for my best friend,” she said rolling her eyes. “Aren’t you happy?”

I smiled. “I am but I don’t want to jinx it by being happy. You know how these things work.”

“Well, we need to start getting you ready,” she said with a bright smile that was been larger than mine for some reason. “My ship is finally sailing.”

“Since when did you ship us?”

“Since we became best friends,” she said and I burst into laughter.

I was about to leave with her but Ellarosa came to me and said, “Your phone is ringing.”

I took it from her and saw from the caller ID that it was Leon. I wondered why he was calling since he had told me he wouldn’t be able to talk to me today. I told Brielle that she should go without me and I’d join later. It was a call I had to pick.

“Leon?”

He sounded out of breath. “Where are you?”

“In Brielle’s house like I’ve always been,” I replied confused. “Is anything wrong?” “You can’t leave that house today.”

“Why?” He was quiet. “Why don’t you want me to go out? You have to give me a reason before actually asking me to do what you want.”

“Just don’t,” he pleaded. “I’m saying this because it’s what’s best for you.”

“I have a date with Emrys tonight and I can’t just reschedule because you said so,” I said with a frown.

He spoke his language and even though I didn’t understand it, I didn’t need anyone telling me that he was cursing.

“Look, just…you know what I’m coming to Atham City.” “Why?”

“I can’t talk now. Just expect me in two days or three and please, stay safe and don’t talk to anyone that looks shady.”

“Leon…”

He hung up. I hated when he hung up on me while I was talking but this time, I was actually worried. It sounded so urgent and as much as I wanted to stay back because he told me to, I couldn’t because this was my chance at getting all I’d ever wanted.

As I walked up to Brielle’s room with Ellarosa’s hand in mine, I kept asking myself if I would really give up a chance at a date with Emrys for something Leon wasn’t explaining to me. Emrys or Leon?

You can have many more dates but you only have one life, my subconscious piped.

I thought about it but I also reasoned that Emrys was a busy person and I didn’t want to ruin that for personal reasons. Besides, I wasn’t even sure it was a life-threatening situation. It could have been anything for all I knew.

That was it. My choice was made. I was going on that date with Emrys and I knew God would go with me. As long as he did, I had nothing to worry myself about. I’d be safe.

“What took you so long?” Brielle asked dragging me out of my conflicting thoughts. “Leon called.”

“Oh. Was something wrong?”

I thought of if I should tell her or not and said, “It was nothing. He just wanted to know the code. He was locked out of the house.”

“Right. I forgot both of you live together,” she said and there was this tone I detected that I couldn’t decipher so I let it be.

“Can you take care of Rosa until her mother comes if she’s not back by the time I’m gone?”

“I will. I’ll probably take her to a fair or something,” she said waving her hand to tell me it wasn’t a problem.

“Thank you.” She smiled. “Now, about that dress…”

***

I should have learnt from past experiences that when Brielle said “let me take care of everything”, you should do the opposite of that because she would go an extra mile to make you stand out. Something I was clearly trying to avoid especially when I had no idea where this “date” of mine would take place.

After deciding that I had no taste in fashion, which I thought was an insult because I was crazy for fashion, she had gone through her own closet throwing clothes at me and refusing to let me choose a thing.

She put me in a tight burgundy dress that only stopped midthigh no matter how much I tried to drag it down. It was beautiful but I thought it was too…extra. It had long puffy sleeves that became fitted around my wrists.

With its V-neck, twist front and detailed pleats, I showed the right amount of cleavage. I had tried to pull it off but Brielle wasn’t taking no for an answer. She hurriedly threw her silver heels at me to silence the complaints I was about to send her way.

I grumbled but still put them on as she came over and pushed me in a chair. I didn’t even complain as I’d learnt my lesson so I let her pull my hair until she was done with her workmanship. The one she called a banana braid.

I finally took a stand when it came to the makeup and let her restrict her torture to a mild makeup. I didn’t expect her to but she agreed.

“And done.”

I looked in the mirror and I thought I looked really good. I looked good on every other day but it was like a spell had been cast on me and I was suddenly a million times more beautiful.

“You like it right?” she asked with a wide smile and I nodded. “Now make sure you don’t do anything stupid tonight like sleep with him on the first date.”

“Really, Brielle? Really?”

“What? It happens and I don’t want him to break your heart,” she said with a pout. I rolled my eyes but still smiled. “Thank you, Brie…for everything.”

She slapped my arm playfully. “What are best friends for?”

“I’m serious. Thank you. I don’t even think any of this would have been possible if you didn’t let yourself be born as Emrys’s cousin.”

“Then we’d have to thank my parents,” she said with a wide grin. “Or your grandparents,” I added and she laughed.

She was about to say something else when Ellarosa walked in and said, “Emmy is asking for you.” Her eyes landed on me and her eyes sparkled. “You look like a princess.”

“Thank you,” I said with a smile as I stood up ready to meet Emrys.

“Remember what I said,” she said and I nodded. She placed my purse in my hand and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Have fun.”

“You too.”

She snickered. ‘I’ll have fun babysitting.”

I shook my head as I walked out heading to the sitting room where Ellarosa pointed out Emrys was waiting for me.

He didn’t notice me immediately and I thanked God for that because if he did, he’d have noticed me drooling. I knew Emrys was hot but seeing him in a suit did things to me. I even found it more beautiful that suit he wore brought out the blue in his eyes.

I silently prayed that I would be able to have a normal conversation with him as I walked further into the room. The moment his eyes landed on me; his jaw dropped. I was glad that he thought I looked nice. I was glad that his reaction was that.

“Paris, you look…stunning,” he said after finding the word to use. “No, you look beautiful.” Cue the blush. “Thank you. You look handsome.”

“Eyes would be on you and not me,” he said with a deep chuckle. “Shall we?”

And that was how I was going on a date with the guy I’d had a crush on for years. Do people still think magic wasn’t possible? I was sure I had a fairy godmother somewhere who was doing everything in her power to make sure I was happy. Trust me, she was doing a great job at the moment.