Excuses

The door opened just as Janet slid off the bed and Fernando walked in. Lia itched to run to him but she stopped herself and instead took her time getting off the bed.

"Fernando," Janet rose to her feet before Lia could and walked towards him, taking his hand.

Lia looked away, unable to admire the picture they made standing together like that. This was what should have been but then her mother had an accident while coming for the wedding. She had been forced to replace her and now she was being forced to hide her relationship.

Why was life so cruel? Her husband was standing less than 5 ft away and she couldn't grab him and kiss him senseless.

Until they were sure that her mother was okay and that she could handle the news, they would pretend.

"Lia," she felt a hand on her shoulder and she shook, sighing in relief when she saw it was Fernando. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck but she held herself.

"Why are you still up?" she asked as if she didn't understand that they both had the same reason for being awake.

He gave her a look that was meant for her eyes only and shrugged. "I just can't sleep tonight and I wonder why."

Janet touched his arm at that moment and Lia blanched, looking away before she did something crazy like order her mother to let go off her husband.

What a scene that would make.

Fernando stylishly shrugged her arm off and smiled at her. "Why are you also awake, Janet? Still having trouble sleeping just like before?"

Janet shook her head and laughed, giving him the same longing look she had given him before. Lia felt like clawing her eyes out at the scene before her. The only consolation was that Fernando looked uncomfortable.

"You still remember," Janet's eyes were sparkling as she said it. "Actually, I think I have outgrown it."

"Or have you passed it down to your daughter?" he teased and they both laughed.

LIa cleared her throat, glaring at Fernando and he blanched. He coughed, apologizing with his eyes and pointed at the door.

"I didn't mean to wake you up, I heard a noise and I thought I would come check. It's your first night back in this house after all these months you have been away so I wanted to be sure you were okay."

Janet's face was as bright as the milky way, her face radiating the joy she was feeling at his words. "That's very thoughtful of you." she yawned and then chuckled. "I'm going back to bed."

Fernando nodded and walked towards the door, hesitating aa bit. "I guess I will go then since there is nothing to worry about."

"Actually," Janet said, pointing at Lia. "Perhaps you should take her along. She obviously can't sleep either so perhaps you can keep each other company."

Fernando's face brightened up and LIa sat up straighter, her heart beating wildly in her chest. If only her mother meant it, it would be so great and they wouldn't need to sneak around because she had given them the go ahead. Plus she won't be suspicious.

"Or if you don't want to go LIa, it's not compulsory. I just thought-"  Lia didn't let her finish before she cut her off. Didn't want to? She couldn't wait to be alone with Fernando again. "I don't mind." she shrugged, acting nonchalant when her hands were itching to reach out for him.

"Well then, I'll see you two when the sun is up and everywhere is bright." Janet laid back on the bed and pulled the covers over her body.

Lia sat there for a while, waiting for nothing in particular. She remained like that until Fernando pulled her arm and helped her to her feet. When he touched her, she almost screamed in delight but she held herself.

Fernando held her arm as they walked out of the room together. He closed the door gently behind them and immediately pushed Lia against the wall, resting his head on her forehead. He stayed like that for a while and she wrapped her arms around his waist, savoring the feel of his body close to hers again.

"Hey," she said and he dropped a kiss on her forehead, grinning.

"Hey yourself," he leaned down and dropped a quick kiss on her lips and when it was over, she pulled him back down for another one.

They stayed like that for a while until a noise from behind the door pulled them apart. Lia sighed as she gawked at the distance between them and leaned close to the door to hear what was happening.

When she didn't hear anything, she tiptoed towards Fernando and motioned for them to go to their room.

He hesitated for a while and she blinked, her heart squeezing. "What if she comes looking for us?"

Lia shrugged and walked off, ignoring him. She didn't care anymore at this point. She wanted to lie down in her own bed, beside her husband. Was that too much to ask?

"Babe, wait for me." he called after her and suddenly picked her up making her squeal. "You have to be quiet."

He chuckled when she rolled her eyes and bounced up the stairs at jet speed.

***

"Is something wrong?" Jane stuck her head outside, looking from left to right with a frown.

Lia tapped her foot on the ground impatiently and pointed inside the house. "Is Fernando here?"

Jane nodded, standing straight again.  "Yes, lover is inside."

"Thanks," Lia breezed past her without waiting for a reply and ran inside the house, not stopping until she got to the bedroom. Fernando was sitting on the bed when she entered. As soon as he saw her, he stood up and held his arms open.

Lia ran into them immediately, her legs hugging his waist like a monkey. His mouth eventually searched for hers and he kissed her, their hunger for each other taking over.

They were like two deprived souls.

Jane cleared her throat, her left brow raised as she eyed them. "What are you guys doing in my room? Don't you dare do the deed here!"

They pulled away immediately, LIa flushing like a tomato.

Jane sighed and held her hands up. "You can't do any of that in my house, I don't want to be thinking about you when I look at my couch or my bed." she rolled her eyes once she finished speaking and Fernando laughed.

"We apologize. Thanks for letting us meet here."

Jane shrugged. "It's her house too." she pointed at Lia and sighed. "Come on lovebirds, lets go to the dinning room and discuss strategies."

Fernando and Lia shared looks and then looked at Jane again.

"Lydia and Adam thought you might need some advice to help with your situation."

Lia's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "You told them?"

"What?" Jane rolled her eyes, shrugging her shoulders again. "They are our friends and Adam was curious about how you all were doing. It just slipped."

Lia gave her a pointed look and she blushed. "Well, they only mean well. Come on."

Jane dragged her by the hand and she groaned following, left with no other choice. Fernando walked behind them silently watching the two whisper and giggle as they walked.

Yesterday, all they did was talk. There was no specific topic but they just laid there throughout the night until dawn talking and laughing and enjoying each other's company. Right there in their bed, there was no Janet, just the two of them.

Lia had come up with the idea for them to meet up at Jane's house. Janet didn't know the address and she'd call before showing up, so they would be safe there.

"They have already tried to call me," Jane shoved her tablet in Lia's face and she groaned.

There was close to four missed calls from Lydia. Just how much did Jane tell them?

"Lia darling," Lydia greeted as soon as the call went through. Lia sighed and waved, slipping on a smile. They were only trying to help, she could at least appreciate that. Besides, what would she do without them at this time?

"How are you guys holding up and how come your mum is back? We had a funeral!"

Lydia went straight to the heart of the matter and Lia shook her head with a sigh.

How were they coping? Were they even coping?

"Well, we are holding up just fine and it's only for some time anyway. We can manage." Fernando answered before she could and she eyed him.

Lia raised one of her eyebrows. "We can?"

"Yes, we can." he replied and she sighed.

She didn't agree with him. She was barely doing alright as it is. And sneaking around to spend time together was totally insane. Who knew marriage would be this hard?

"Oh you poor babies!" Lydia cooed and sniffed, her face disappearing from view. Jane rolled her eyes and turned to face Lia.

"So what are you guys going to do now?" She asked.

Lia shrugged with a sigh. "I guess we'd have to keep making up excuses whenever we have to be together. It's insane not being able to touch his hand casually without raising suspicion."

Jane squeezed her hand gently and smiled. "You'll get through this, I know you will."

Lia just rested her head against Fernando's shoulder silently as Lydia came back on with Adam beside her.

"How are you guys doing? I can't believe Janet is actually alive."

"Neither can we." Lia thought but she let Fernando do the talking as he collected the tablet from her hand.

They had to find a way somehow.