Chapter 6: Chapter 6

“Here we are” Lexi said as they alighted from the car Infront of her house. She owned her own house now and that had been a remarkable improvement. Her friend had slowly and steadily managed to grow from just designing clothes for the sake of it to owning her own clothing brand. She was a super talented designer and Lisa always loved her sense of fashion. Even when she dressed more manly, it was still with so much style that instead of being repulsive, it was enchanting. At first, they had even thought that her tendency to dress up like a man had stemmed from her sexuality but no. Lexi was no lesbian. She was as straight as they came.

Stepping out, Marya was excited to be in a new place whereas Lisa felt a sense of trepidation. She was back. She did not know if Hassan was done with his revenge or he would still manage to find them and hurt them. However, there was one thing she was sure of. She was no longer going to keep on running. And the second was that in no way must Omar ever find out Marya was his daughter otherwise she did not know what he would do. Maybe he would take her from her just for the sake of it.

Settling all those disturbing thoughts at the back of her head, they got inside to a well-designed house, with the interior décor on point. Somewhere in between the long distance to Lexi’s place, Marya had gotten around to calling her auntie Lexi and surprisingly, they got along so well that you’d think they knew each other since forever. Marya was an energetic bubbly kid who was always excited about everything whereas Lexi was a power engine. Imagining the both of them together, was going to be a disaster.

Now standing while staring at their room, the one she would be sharing with Marya she was amazed. Her friend had taken the time to remake the whole place and the fluffy pink pillows that lay on the bed were already attracting Marya. And like a grown up, her eyes were opened wide, in a mischievous sense of surprise. “Oh my God auntie Lexi. This place looks like a princesses place.” she said as she struggled to pronounce the princess word well. Can I please have the baby bear on the bed,” she said as put her pout in such a desirable way that Lexi was well on her way to laughter.

“Yes, you may sweetheart. All the toys in this room are yours.” At this, Marya lifted her slightly chubby legs and went of racing towards the bed, something that had Lisa grimacing in anticipation for her fall. It seemed like Lisa was never going anywhere slowly. Somehow, the thick carpet on the ground did not hinder her and she reached her doll safe and sound. In excited rush, she turned to her with a big grin. “Momma, look auntie got me a big bear. He is even bigger than Poly.” Laughing good humidly she winked at, something she knew meant to say thank you. And so, in the nicest voice and manners she could manage.

She turned to Lisa and said “thank you auntie Lexi.” Lexi could feel her heart squeezing at how adorable she was. Hugging her while smothering her face with kisses, she finally told her she was welcome. Having made her a bit busy, Lisa freshened up and then went on to sit with Lexi for the talk that she knew was long due. Seeing her friends glimmering eyes she knew that she could not hide anything.

So, when Lexi asked her how she was doing, she answered with confidence.

“Oh Lexi, I am doing fine thanks baby girl. By the way thanks for picking us in the airport.”

“Don’t mention it. You know I would do that and even more for you.”

“I know. I don’t have any other friend like you,” Lisa replied, to which in a shared conspiracy wink, they clicked their glasses of juice.

“So now that you are back, please tell me that you are here to stay.”

“Ha-ha, come on Lexi, you know that I am not going anywhere anymore.”

“I don’t believe you Lisa. Do you promise.”

“Yes, yes I promise that I Lisa won’t leave again no matter what happens.”

“Good, because there is no way I would allow you people to go now that I have found my long-lost daughter. Who is so adorable?” She said in the midst of happy laughter.

At the back of her head, there was a question that really threatened to come out no matter how much she knew she should not ask. ‘How is he doing.” She asked before she could stop herself.’

Breathing out, Lexi already knew who he was talking about and she felt saddened. Maybe her friend had not gotten over Omar as she had thought. “Come-on Lisa, don’t tell me you still think about that bastard. You don’t know that you deserve way better than him. Especially with the way that guy treated you. You cannot seriously be asking after him.”

Okay, sorry baby girl that was just out of curiosity. In any case I hate him. Lisa said with conviction, as though trying to convince herself.

“I hope so Lisa, because that man, should not be allowed near you. Not after the way he betrayed you.”

It was after that they got into the major basics of what she wanted to do. She had collected enough funds to start something after she had gotten hand on experience on wedding planning after she had given birth to Marya. She now wanted to set up her own shop, but her dream was not to just survive, she wanted to excel because she believed she could. Or maybe she wanted to show him, if he ever saw her again, that she did not die, and she was way bigger than the fall she had taken.