CHAPTER 13
Over the days that come Michaela tries to enjoy everything that constitutes to her life here. Cherry is bathed every week with love and vigour. With passing of each day she tends to discover a thing or two about her. She sure knows her more than she did before.
Cassy and Michaela have built an understanding between each other. But that is all that’s there to it. You are his friend , I am his wife. Act accordingly and everything is ten times better. Michaela knows, this decision is not about choice anymore.
As for Nate, there are days when he makes it unimaginably difficult for her to love him. But then on some days, loving him is as natural and as necessary as breathing. But there had not yet been a day when she doesn’t love him. Love is here. And love is here to stay.
As for him, she has accepted that love may or may not come. And it was fine with her. It was this one important lesson that she had learnt in these days with him, that you cannot make Nate Walsh feel anything that he didn’t himself felt. And she won’t have it any other way anymore. It love were to come, it must come naturally from his own heart and not due to the pressure of her.
As time continues to pass mercilessly, she dreads the end that’s coming with it. What will become of her, when she goes back to that lonely mansion. Alone for days together, in the company of nothing but meekness of her own dreadful self. She knows she’ll miss him, she’ll miss waking up to his face and hugging him in sleep. But more than that she’ll miss his sneaky glances, and the was he purses his lips to hide his smile and the way he suppresses his laughter. She'll miss him like hell.
The question is will he miss her? Or will it be happy riddance. Will he mend things with Cassy and go on to marry her? Or will he spend his afternoons on the seaside, reminiscing of the time they spent together. The saddest part is she’ll never know. The only news that she’ll have of him, will probably come from the newspapers or worst, the tabloids. None of which will tell her if he’s happy or in pain. Nothing that will speak personally of his well being. Or that of Nana, or Cherry or even Cassy. She’ll probably have to spend her days in the grips of uncertainty. Maybe she’ll visit them once in a long time. But even that thought was uncalled for, because once Nana realizes that her feelings were played with, she wouldn’t want to see her face. As for Cassy, there was nothing that would persist the end. And Cherry, she was sure, would spend her days sleeping in the dust, getting bathed by whoever took Michaela’s place, ignorant of how much Michaela missed her.
CHALTER 14
“ The New year is on its way. Where are Gilberto and his people? I swear if they don’t get here by tomorrow, I’m going to barbecue his ass for dinner.”
Nana is flushed as she goes on with enthusiasm.
“And where in the world is Edmund? He don’t need his horses or what? I can’t believe how lazy the people are.”
“ Nana new year is still a week away. Don't get yourself so worked up, it's had for your health.”
Cassy tries to make sense.
“I don't need to hear that from you Missy. I am very well aware of how this goes. Each year they start late and everything turns into a chaos. God forbid, in that was to continue this year as well, it might be my last year celebrating the new year.”
A long pause follows, clearly no-one likes the infuriated Nana.
“Pass me the sauce Jon.” She says to get grandson. And her grandson does just that.
Nate sits beside Nana, and just in front of him are Cassy and Michaela, while Steven stands at the kitchen counter.
“Where is the New year celebration going to be held?”
Michaela asks.
“just a few miles away. We will take the car.”
“So we need to get the horses all dolled up isn't it. I’m so happy for Cherry. This is her first time performing at a new year celebration isn't it?”
Everybody nods in agreement.
“We also need to have the wedding.”
Nate chokes on his food as the words reach his ears.
“what wedding?” he asks, flabbergasted.
“Your wedding of course. Is going to be a year. I want to see you both get married in a proper, traditional way before I die.’”
“Let's concentrate on the New year Nana. We have all the time in the world to get married again.”
“ Don't you dare think that I'll forget about it.” She says and smirks at Nate.
“Roberto is going to be here at afternoon. His son is looking for a new horse. The last one choked to death he told me. He ate a Lego, he said.”
“ What a callous bastard. He shouldn't but his son a horse for at least a year or two. Only then will the child learn the lesson. But who can make reason with today's parent. They spoil their child and they banter them when things go wrong. No punishment means no character.”
With that she gulps down the last bite of chicken.
“How ironical.” Nate says, smirking towards Michaela.
“I’m going to whoop your ass.” She replied to his sarcastic comment.
“Let's get to work.” Cassy says placing her table napkin down.
“You better finish your juice or I’ll whoop your ass Case.” Steven shorts from the kitchen.
“Already done.” She shouts back while gulping down what’s left in the glass, winning at Michaela.
Michaela smiles as she hurries towards the stable.
“I wish I too had a brother.”
“Barba?, No way he would have been even greater of a pain in the ass.” Nate replies chucking at her reaction.
“Will there be fireworks?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“What about joy rides?”
“I guess.”
“and what about this games which you okay and get cheap shit if you run.”
“Hahaha.I guess there will be. Aren’t you too old to be excited for such stuff.”
“I have never went to a fare, or whatever you call it. I have never been on a ride or played those games. I have forever wondered what it would feel like to go there with my man.”
It take a minute for realization to dawn on her.
A light flush appears on Nate’s cheeks.
“ I meant a man. I always wanted to attend them with a man.” She stutters.
This annoys him. A man...means she just wanted the company of a man. Irrespective of who it was. But he knows she would still want it to be him. Her affection towards him was not something she could mask from him. However, it was still annoying when she acted otherwise.
“ Why are we not bothered about Christmas though? I was waiting for Nana to discuss with us the preparations for Christmas. It’s just a day away.”
“ My father died that day.” He says bleakly.
“ it’s like any other day of the month for us. His presence was the only thing that made Christmas, Christmas. And because he is no more with us, it’s as mediocre as any other day.”
A fake smile spreads on his lips, and it’s enough to make her feel like an ass.
“ I’m sorry.”
“ Don’t be. I’m not. He had it coming from the day he started the cartel. Death was hanging over his head like a butcher knife ever since.”
He walks with her to the stable with his head hanging down in dejection.
“ When the news came, we didn’t even cry. We accepted it and we moved. I just sat on my bed whispering to myself, ' he’s gone, he is not coming back, he’s gone for real this time.’, I remember I puked and sat near the toilet, until the tears came. And that was that. “
Rest of the walk is silent. They reach Cherry’s place and Michaela slides her hand into his.
“ You are good son baby.”
He is too drowned in his thoughts to catch what she just said. And when he does, he purses his lips in order to contain the smile that threatens to spread on his lips.
“ I meant Nate.” She stammers.
“ It’s okay. We don’t have much time left together, might as well bare with you.”
“ There’s no need for that. I bet I can manage.” She says roughly.
“ Why not. I want to.”
“ Well since you just said that we don’t have much time left together. It just reminded me , I’ll have to find a new husband and I bet he won’t like it when he gets to know I called you baby.”
Michaela was mistaken if she thought this would be funny. Even though she didn't intend to, it hurts Nate right where it should have. The punch if jealousy comes to him not without surprise.
He pushes her towards the wall in a swift motion, holding her in between with his hands aa a barrier.
“So you plan on getting married again after we separate?”
“ Don’t you? We are too young to waste away our lives being single forever, isn’t it? And I believe one bad experience should not ruin you belief in the institution of marriage.”
She states, undaunted.
“So being with me has been a bad experience for you. Is that what you’re stating?”
“Not for me. For you I’m sure it’s been horrific.”
“ Do you think I’m that easy to forget?”
He asks, his eyes darkening, hinting towards the menace on the way.
And before she can reply he slams his palm onto her mouth. Her voice comes as a murmur.
He kisses her from above his palm.
“Do I need to remind you why I cannot be replaced?”
She shakes her head from side to side in order to indicate ‘no’. But his grip on her makes it impossible for her to do so.
She shifts her eyes towards her left where Cherry stands, completely disinterested in their aggressive love making.
He gets the hint and picks her up on his shoulder. He spanks her right butt cheek and she yelps for help.
“ Let’s get you somewhere more private.”
He says while taking her to the back of the stable.
He lets her down into the dried grass resting in the corner of the room. She gets up as swiftly as he puts her down.
“We can’t do it here. Let’s go back to the trailer.”
“Why not? It’s adventurous isn’t it? Risky love making?” he says, laughing.
“ No. I have seen in movies. The grass gets into...everywhere.”
He is left dumbfounded.
“ Shut up.”
He moves closer to her, grabbing her butt cheeks he kisses her.
Again.
And again.
And again.
He bend her over, kissing her body, spanking her butt. He lifts her cotton dress and rubs his hard on, on her.
“No one can do what I can to you. No one can have you like me. No fucking one.”
He kisses her legs and slips a finger into her folds. She’s wet. And he makes her wetter.
As her undoes his garments and rubs the tip of his cock into her folds, a moan escapes her lips.
“ Do it.” She says, her voice wavering.
“I don’t need your permission.”
He slips it inside and does what he does best. He makes love to her. Over and over again. Till she is left shivering like a bird.
As long as she is next to his side, she is his. He will have anywhere, everywhere and in whatever way he desires.