Chapter 25: Chapter 25

TWENTY FIVE- IT FEELS JUST RIGHT

"You?!" Chris sputtered angrily, glaring at Reggie with widely opened eyes. "What are you doing here?! Are you stalking me?!" He asked incredulously becoming more agitated when Reggie rolled her eyes.

"Oh, get off your high horse!" She scolded rudely, folding her arms in a confrontational stance. "I should be the one asking you what you're doing here, you're the one who appeared in front of William's door after all."

Chris turned to William angrily. "Do you know her?" He watched as William looked on in confusion, muttering a soft "Yeah."

William cleared his throat and tried to be more focused. "Chris, this is Reggie, the wifey... or at least she used to be... and Reggie this is Chris Ayettey, my partner and very good friend."

"Oh fuck." The two simultaneously whispered to William's increasing bafflement. "What's going on guys?" He looked from one to the other. "Do you know each other?"

Reggie pulled her gaze away from the sexy stranger she had now come to learn was her ex fiance's friend. She cleared her throat absentmindedly. "Well... uh it's a long story, and I promise I'll tell you later... but for now I've got to go, I'm running late."

"But what's the rush? You didn't say you had to be anywhere this quickly." William stated much to Reggie's irritation. "Are you escorting me downstairs or not? Because I know my way out after all." She snapped, striding towards the elevator without so much as a glance at Chris, William closely on her heels. He turned to his friend and mouthed, "Wait for me in my office, I'll be right back."

Chris settled heavily in the chair facing William's desk. He couldn't really describe how he was feeling,

All he knew was that, he hadn't been the same after the incident two weeks ago.

He felt so bad, and that feeling was causing him to be distant with Louisa and everyone else. She had called in the first week to check up on him, but after his dull, seemingly angry tone and one worded answers, she had stopped. Chris guessed it was to give him space and that made him feel much worse.

He knew he hadn't technically done anything wrong but the feeling still gnawed at his bones... and now he had gone after William's ex...

True, he didn't know who she was, but he had been super close to breaking the bro code.

William closed the door softly behind him and strode to his desk. "What's up with you, man?" He asked when he was seated.

Chris sighed. There was no way he was going to tell his friend about what had happened... it was definitely going to ruin his chances with Louisa, plus he didn't know how the man was going to take the news. Chris found it very funny how he always ended up with someone William had been with but oh well, at least it hadn't been a voluntary action on his part.

"It's honestly just some work shit man, nothing to worry about really." He lied.

William raised an eyebrow as he leaned back in his seat. He could tell his friend wasn't being completely honest but he thankfully didn't press on. Instead he told his friend about how Louisa had finally agreed for him to meet his daughter and how he was going to attend her musical the following day.

Chris took in the happiness that radiated off his friend in torrents...

And that's when it hit him.

He was trying to get in between a family with his love for Louisa.

He could tell the woman had feelings for his friend...

That she had feelings for him as well too, and he realised then that his presence in their life wasn't going to make her decision making process easy.

"I'm happy for you man, I'd do anything to have a child at this age, but sadly, it's a bit too late." He finished quietly, looking up when he heard William scoff in disbelief.

"What are you talking about man? You sound like a ninety year old man and I'm sure even he can get it up." William teased smiling when his friend let out a short laugh.

Good. His mood was lightening up.

"I'm not questioning my sexual prowess or anything... I assure you I'm still in my prime." He winked slyly as they both burst into loud laughter and did that bro handshake thingy.

His voice turned serious. "I just mean, if I should have a child now... I'd be an old man by the time he or she turns fifteen, and that's not how I imagined it you know?"

William sighed. He knew the feeling. In fact, he had been feeling the same way before he met Louisa again and got to know he already had a child.

"Well I've got some work to do so I'ma head to my office now." He heard Chris say faintly as he stood up and headed for the door. He snapped out of his thoughts and called out his friend's name. He watched as his friend paused mid-stride, turning to give him an inquiring look.

"You never told me how you knew Reggie."

Chris smiled faintly. He could see William wasn't going to let this go but he was equally determined to keep it away from him. "I'll tell you later, just not now." He threw behind him as he stepped out.

*****

Saturday evening came by in a rush and before William knew it, he was dressing up for Isabel's concert.

He was giddy with excitement, but he was also equally nervous. He looked in the mirror as he fixed his tie... or at least tried to. It was in times like this that he missed Reggie a slight bit. (She usually helped him with it.)

He yanked the tie off in frustration just as his phone began to ring, and then strode towards the bed and reached for the offending device.

"Hello, William Blankson here." He said curly.

"Hi, Will, it's Louisa... will you be able to make it?"

William noted the hint of worry in her tone just as he felt his body begin to relax. "Louisa, I already assured you that I wasn't going to miss it for the world. As a matter of fact, I'm getting ready to leave my house."

"Oh... well-" he heard her clear her throat nervously on the other end. "We'll see you soon then." She continued and then hang up.

William adjusted the collar of his light blue long-sleeved shirt and then attached a pair of cuff links. He then grabbed his suit jacket and his car and home keys, then with a final glance at the mirror, he headed out.

*****

"Relax! Everything is going to be fine... stop being so nervous." Naa Larley advised Louisa, her hands on the anxious woman's shoulders in a show of comfort. Louisa smiled wanly. She honestly didn't know why she was nervous... perhaps it was because Isabel was finally letting her feelings show and actually looking forward to her father seeing her perform, and she couldn't even begin to imagine how her daughter would feel if the man didn't turn up.

To be fair, William had said he was on his way but, knowing the man and his track record of disappearing, could you blame her really for being slightly paranoid?

"Hey Twinnie." Louisa heard Mike, Naa Larley's husband call out teasingly as he grabbed his wife and gave her a quick peck on the cheek while looking over at her in concern. The name had come about as a result of their matching white and black suit outfit which was just mere coincidence... They didn't know they'd be clashing like that and it was pretty funny how at first glance, everyone who saw them standing together just assumed that they were a couple.

"Are you alright?" He asked worriedly.

Louisa nodded and addressed them all. "I'm alright guys. Let's start heading towards our seats, Mama is sitting there all by herself."

"Oh no, she isn't." Naa Larley butted in. "Melissa's nanny is with her but you're right, let's go take our seats... I'm beginning to feel slightly tired. Besides the show's about to start."

They all proceeded to their seats just as the MC took a microphone.

"Thank you all for coming to the monthly East Airport International School Musical Concert. I promise tonight's going to be a fun-packed never ending night of wonderful music and musical acts. Are you happy to be here?"

Choruses of yes filled the auditorium as the MC tried to rev the seemingly dull audience. "Come on guys... I'm not feeling y'all at all. If you're ready for a night of fun, can I have a round of applause and a LOUD SCREAM!!"

The place went up in an uproar as everyone began to clap and shout enthusiastically.

But Louisa wasn't feeling it.

Naa Larley had Mike, and her mum had Mrs. Amoah, Melissa's nanny to talk to, and they all seemed to be pretty deep in conversation, leaving her all to herself, and she was feeling quite bored and lonely.

She felt him sit beside her even before she glanced up at him.

"Sorry I'm late, Lou. Traffic was quite heavy." William apologised graciously as he took his seat. He leaned close so he could greet Naa Larley and the crew and Louisa caught a whiff of his expensive cologne... she noted how it had been applied just perfectly, not so much that it was overwhelming...

Just right.

"Are you sniffing me?" She heard William ask amusingly causing her to blanch in embarrassment. "No, no... Why would you think that?" She asked incredulously.

"I didn't ask you to lean into me." She continued, tone defensive.

William laughed. A rich baritone sound that had her smiling inwardly, not that she was going to let him know that... at least not yet. "I know we'll have proper introductions after the show... but I had to greet your folks at least you know... and how was I going to do that if I didn't lean into you?"

Louisa didn't have an answer to that, seeing as he had a point and all, so she just huffed in annoyance as William burst into laughter again.

"You're so cute when you're mad." He teased, leaning close again. "You look amazing... but then again you always do, and you smell amazing too." He complimented huskily causing Louisa's eyes to darken in awareness. "Well you clean up nicely too." She replied back quietly just as the MC introduced the first act, shattering the little bubble they seemed to be in.

Naa Larley, who was sitting at Louisa's left side nudged her gently, a little smirk on her face... eyebrows lifting up and down teasingly. Louisa knew it was because she had noticed what had happened between her and William, and that the woman just wanted to draw a reaction out of her but she wasn't going to give her that. Turning to the stage, she watched as a five year old girl wonderfully belted the lyrics of Frozen's Let It Go.

*****

Contestants came and went, and though William enjoyed some acts and found some funny and cute... He couldn't wait to see his little girl in action.

All things aside, he was having a great time, and he could tell Louisa was too, if the way she was laughing over his comments about some contestants and the shining glint in her eyes was any indication.

The heavens seemed to be on his side though...

For soon, William heard the MC announce, "And now, our next contestant... ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Isabel Ewurakua Mensah, she'll be playing us a wonderful tune on the violin!"

Everyone broke out in a loud applause and Louisa could almost swear William clapped the loudest.

They watched as Isabel calmly walked to the centre of the stage and took a seat, gently placing her violin under her chin... bow in place.

With a deep breath, the young teen began to play.

The whole auditorium was silent as the melodious tune of Fur Elise filled the air.

Louisa didn't know why... but the music tugged at the strings of her heart... and perhaps it was because she had always loved the tune, or that she was super proud of her daughter, she didn't know which one it was exactly, but at that moment...

She felt very complete...

Like she was in her very own paradise, with the love of her life, their beautiful daughter, and family... for that was how she saw her best friend and her husband and Mrs. Amoah,

As family.

Louisa began to cry.

But this time, they were tears of joy.

The moment was just so beautiful, she had to close her eyes and forever engrave the memory in her heart.

William gently reached for her hand, unshed tears in his own eyes.

He could feel it too... the joy, the happiness,

The completeness.

This was unlike anything he had experienced in his life... the feeling.

It felt just right....

Like he was finally in Paradise.