As I blew my breath into the bathroom mirror, Damien's tuxedo came into my view from behind. I jumped in horrific surprise then yelled at him.
“Are you mad? What if I was naked or taking a bath?” My eyes looked extra large in the mirror and my fingers shook as they held onto the sink.
He groaned as his fingers rubbed his forehead in a massaging manner. “I knew you wouldn't rush off to take your bath just like that? In addition, the stack of towels was still outside, no one was being used and finally, there was no unusual sound in the bathroom.” He exhaled dramatically then added with a mischievous glint in his eyes, “I weighed my options but even at that, I could've been wrong. Why should you care? We're married.” He said so much gusto, I started to laugh and turned to face him.
“Finally” He sang as he opened his hands in a gentlemanly manner, dramatically ending it with a bow. “There you go, milady. We need to sort out those thoughts in your head.”
I placed my hand in his and let him lead me away. He hummed as he led me out of the bathroom and out of the room too. We kept walking through doors until a whiff of flowers floated into my nostrils and my face broke into a large smile.
“And… Here we are.” He announced, jocularly and I burst into a happy dance. How I loved flowers and gardens, they reminded me of my childhood when I used to have a garden and the flowers were my confidants. Heavenly!
“Okay. Okay. That's enough. You dance very weirdly. There's no structure and you keep missing steps but…” He raised a finger when my lips began to form words again. “But, but, bu-bu-bu-but I love the way you smile when you do your disoriented, one-of-a-kind dance.”
I paused, picking his words apart, taking note of their structure and his facial expressions while saying them. I raised my hand to hit him but on second thought, I screamed “Is that a compliment in the midst of an insult?” My eyes were fiery but I could render my left hand useless and maybe fully bandaged this time.
Ignoring my outburst, he pointed to my limb left hand which kept clenching and unclenching its fist. “That's a good choice, Soph. I don't have the strength to become your hands and I'm sure you'll soon need a shower, I can't render that.” The tone of his voice held something I couldn't decipher but I cared less. He's just one complex puzzle.
“Why did you bring me to the garden?” I asked in a calmer tone, hoping he wouldn't mess up this mood.
He didn't, instead he brightened it the more with a large smile, he began to talk.
“I used to run around in gardens as a kid. Everyone has safe places and the garden was that place. Sometimes when growing up, my parents forgot they had a son and dwelled more on Diego's needs. I wasn't ever jealous but I just thought that I needed some level of care too.” He looked sideways at me and our eyes met. I held it for a while then broke it off. “Some parents do not understand that every child needs them. Some for more difficult things and others for the simplest and funniest of things and it's their duty to always answer to these needs, no matter how exhausting.”
“That's why motherhood scares me. It's a lot more than giving birth and naming the child. It's a lot more than school or school events and feeding or clothing. Those are very vital but being there every time your child calls both loudly and silently is equally as important.” I added to his opinion and he smiled.
“So, what's in that young head of yours? Why do you always zone out?” He asked but immediately rushed to add when I maintained a cold face. “I know you're going through a hard time and I thought talking about it will help you overcome it faster.” I scoffed, sizing him up.
“With you?” My voice was gloomy but I knew he could catch the sarcasm in the words.
“Look, I'm not a therapist and I have little knowledge of psychology but I've been hurt a lot of times. I've been let down by those I looked up to protect and cover him. I understand how it hurts so I won't make you feel any less for hurting.” He carried on when I kept moving further into the garden.
“Come on, Soph. Nobody is saying you can't get revenge if you talk things over. They deserve it more than ever but for your safety and happiness, you need to try to talk about it?” I heard his nervous gulp when I just shrugged and placed my fine ass on the chair situated at the center of the garden and in front of the daisies.
“Do you like daisies?” I looked up at him, I nudged my head towards the row of daisies.
“Yes, I do.” He exhaled as he sat on the chair.
As always… SILENCE.
I could hear a distant clock ticking far off. I needed to have a bath but I knew he wouldn't let me if didn't start talking. He looked determined.
“About this morning.” I began with a small smile. “I actually went back to our first meeting. It was an ordinary one. I'd gone to a gala that I knew David wouldn't be around for but somehow, he was around and was given an award. I became panicky and ran to the bathroom to hide but walked into a discussion between three ladies. As if on cue, they started fighting and that's when I got this scar.” I pointed to the scar on my right knee. His eyes followed my fingers but just lips didn't utter a word. Was this how he listened?
“I tried to disengage them. Anything to stop someone else from getting hurt and not returning to the gala. But unfortunately for me, the most aggressive one of them didn't think so. She lurched at me and stuck her pocket knife into the skin directly under my knee. I'd fallen to the ground, wailing and writhing in pain and that's when Audrey showed up. I was later told that she'd come to fix her makeup but met such a bizarre scene. Well, I was rushed to the hospital and the cops were called. The commotion stopped the gala and everyone prayed I would make it because the cut was too deep and I'd lost so much blood already. I was barely alive when the paramedics came.” I stretched my hands and plucked a branch off a daisy flower stem.
“Superman and the hero of Rubenn, Mr David Nelsons decided to follow me. He helped calm the crowd and we started bonding in the hospital. He kept being exceptionally sweet and I couldn't help it.” I refrained from saying more. I wasn't talking to a deaf or dumb man.
“How long did you stay in the hospital?” He finally spoke when I was quiet for about 5 minutes.
“2 months and a few days. The cut kept opening with every attempt at physical therapy. I couldn't walk too for a while. He and Audrey alternated taking care of me. I felt so special that a huge figure like him would look my way twice.” I smiled then stood up, making him stand with me. “It's over now. I guess it'd been Audrey's plan all along to punish me, you know? I liked him before we'd met and everything wasn't serendipitous. It was planned and I'll get to the bottom of it.”
I concluded with resolve as a notification popped into my phone. I clicked on it.
“What?!” I shrieked as my eyes met the video's title.
AUDREY WOODS ADDRESSES THE PUBLIC WITH EVIDENCE OF HER INNOCENCE - HER SISTER'S SECRET MARRIAGE TO DAMIEN CRAWFORD.