Chapter 32 Your friend, does she have a boyfriend?
Two days later.
At the mansion, Paul was staring at Herty's number on his phone. Anytime he dialled, he ended the call immediately without allowing it to connect. He couldn't think of a reasonable excuse to give her, even though the latter gave him her number. He wasn't ready to follow her to Friday's service and yet, he wanted to see her.
Worrying what the outcome may be, he decides to confide in Danica. Perhaps, Danica might give him some interesting information about her. In the kitchen, Danica was making dinner for everyone but Loney's was special. Today, she intended to eat dinner with him. At least, it would convey a message, right?
"Hey Danica, what are you cooking?" Paul was stretching his neck to look inside the pot, completely dug up by the aroma.
"Taco rice with grilled chicken and green chilli salsa," Danica's face lit, the spark evident in her voice. This was her mum's favourite and her dad's favourite was what she was preparing for Loney. Those days, she had to choose between eating with her mum or dad but mostly, she would settle on both in order not to offend any of them. She sometimes found herself overeating and had to find ways of getting the food out of her body. She felt warm liquid washing her cheek before realization hit her that she was shedding a tear. She quickly wiped it off. It was always ad if she was an only child because Daniella was never close to her.
"But I smell something else," Paul's inquisitive voice exposed. Danica was slightly shy as she revealed, "that is a surprise for Loney."
Paul's eyes magnified in shock. Loney didn't tell him that he was coming over so how did Danica know? "He's coming?"
"Yep," Danica nodded.
"How did he hide it from me and how did you know?" Paul hid the displeasure in his tone. He enjoyed being the one to convey the good news.
"He gave me a phone the last time he came. Well, I can only call him and no one else but it's fine. I'm here because of him anyway," Danica continued with her cooking without sparing him a glance. She didn't know why she felt uneasy when she spoke about Loney.
Paul took in her features, a wrinkle appearing on his forehead. "You look pale. Anything the matter?" Paul was genuinely concerned, recalling Loney's warning. He also realized that Danica slept longer these days, with or without her intimate sessions.
"No, I just feel so tired. Weird, isn't it?" Danica was just casual about it. She had been thinking a lot about Loney but she doesn't think it was enough to make her pale. Aside from fatigue, she was perfectly fine.
However, Paul could not hide his worry. He felt that Danica was becoming stressed with all the cooking, even though he enjoyed the delicious meals she made. "Why don't you let Mabel cook then?"
"Don't worry, I'm halfway done and what brings you to the kitchen? It's quite unusual for you to be here chatting with me," Danica unearthed him.
Paul scratched his head uncomfortably. "It's not the first time I've been to the kitchen while you were cooking," he draws his hand to pick something on the counter but Danica shoves it away.
"Germs. You don't touch food with unclean hands. Anyway, you were hungry by then but I don't think you are now. I feel you are here for a different purpose," Danica pointed out while she diced some vegetables.
Paul knitted his brow, surprised to be caught. "I'm I that predictable?"
Danica cast a sharp glance at him, surprised to see him vulnerable. "Just today."
Paul paused for a while and let out, "your friend, does she have a boyfriend?" His eyes roamed expectantly.
"I will give you an answer for an answer you know what I'm talking about," Danica continued cooking like she hadn't said anything. Paul was bewildered. He didn't see it coming. He sat on the chair beside the kitchen island. "Let me know the question first."
Danica shook her head, "you have to give your word first."
"That isn't fair. I can't give my word without knowing the content."
"My lips are sealed then," Danica wiped her hand with a napkin and said.
James knew she was going to ask about Loney and he wasn't ready to give any more information than she already knew but Danica wanted more and if she wasn't going to get it from Loney, this would be her bait. James wasn't ready to let go. He won't be able to sleep well without this piece of information. "I will answer the question if I know the answer for sure."
Danica smiled, "what does Loney do for a living? He seems to always be busy."
Paul thought for a while. Loney's business was legitimate and there was nothing to hide. "You see the house you live in, he designed and built it with his own hands. That's what he does for a living."
Danica froze. Suddenly, everything began to make sense to her. The different clothes she saw in his closet. The shoes weren't the regular kind. Paul wasn't telling a lie. "Ohhhhhh, that is huge."
"I know. So does your friend have a boyfriend?" James asked sharply. He didn't want to miss the opportunity.
"Nope. Never." Danica continued with her cooking while Paul watched in admiration. She loves what she does. Even if she was sick, her healing would only come from cooking. "Is it because she doesn't want one or she's probably lesbian?"
Danica hid her shock and anger at his next question and rather asked, "which company does Loney work for? I mean the name."
James knew that once he gave out the name, Google would give her every other information. He wasn't ready to risk his friendship with Loney. If the guy wanted to tell her, that was great but it wasn't going to come from him. "You know what, just forget it," He waved slightly, stood up and left the kitchen.
Danica's lips curled as she saw Paul walk away. She finished cooking and began plating. Once she was done, she went upstairs to have her shower and put on a nice dress, slightly above her knee. She was a bit uncomfortable but when she was met with her reflection in the mirror, she looked terrific.
By the time she got downstairs to her relief, Mabel and Paul had finished eating and retired to their rooms. She sent a quick text to Loney.
'Are you on your way?' She waited for a few minutes but no response came. Then she sent another one. 'Food is ready. Please let me know how close you are.' She waited for twenty minutes but there was still no response. She was about to send another one but thought against it. She didn't want to be a pain to him. She figured that if anything, she had to give him his space while she found her way in.
She dropped the phone beside her on the sofa and it vibrated. She checked the screen and saw a text message from Loney. Her heart thumped, 'Closer than you think.'
She didn't understand what it meant. Was he almost there? She couldn't get her head around it. She began typing a response when the door pushed open. Her face lit up but her words stuck in her throat. Loney was dressed in his suit and even though he looked tired, his face lit up at the sight of Danica.
"You look beautiful," the deep alluring voice soothed her ears, the instant his eyes met hers. Her lips twirled, a smile carving in, "thank you."
"So, what did you make for me today?" Loney smelt the aroma and knew something delicious awaited him.
"A surprise?" Danica tried to hide her blush, as she strode to the dining room. She couldn't understand why Loney made her heart rate increase every time he came around her.
"I should just see it then," Loney strode behind her, his heart dancing at how much effort she put in to welcome him. He was convinced that Danica felt something for him. He loosened his tie, sat on the dining chair and opened the lid, "Ohhhh, Tacos de Carne Asada, one of my favourites."
Danica found relief and sat opposite him. She wasn't sure whether he would like it. "I'm glad you like it."
Loney nodded, his eyes narrowing at the quantity of the dishes. "But this is too much. I hope you don't intend to overfeed me?" He asked jokingly, then he looked at her closely, a frown set in, "Have you eaten already? You look pale." Loney was worried. He wanted Danica well taken care of and began to feel that perhaps, she wasn't getting the needed care.
Danica was in a different world. Loney's presence made her day and she didn't know why they kept saying she looked pale. Even Mabel said it earlier. The middle-aged woman had a knack for words that sometimes made her uncomfortable. "I just wanted to eat with you today," she didn't hide her excitement but instantly wished she could take back her words as Loney's countenance changed.
"So you were waiting for me?" His deep voice scared her a bit but she was determined to not ruin the night therefore, she just shrugged. Loney shook his head. "Please don't do that again. Anything can happen for me to be late." His voice was soft but firm. Loney was glad that he mattered to her but her well being was his number one priority yet, he didn't know how to convey it without sounding too intense. He had never been in any relationship and lacked ways of expressing himself in the love language.
But Danica didn't notice. Loney being there was all that mattered. She smiled and said, "so, you should let me know when something comes up. I just want to know if you are okay," Danica communicated her intentions. She was indirectly telling Loney to inform her when he wasn't going to come home on time but she couldn't tell if he understood because his expression was unreadable."
After a brief silence, he said, "Let's eat."
"So, can I ask how your day went?" Danica casually asked, while dishing out his food.
Loney swallowed hard and said, "Good. Yours?"
"Fine," her smile covered her face while they dug in. The rest of the meal was in silence and when Loney finished, Danica packed the plates into the dishwasher and naturally followed him upstairs. After all, they had an appointment. Loney went into the shower, just as Danica sat on the sofa. Today, she had a naughty mind. She kept thinking about how to please him like he always did her.
Suddenly, his phone rang and she stood up to pick it for him. The caller ID was Jasmine. Danica's heart sank slightly. She didn't answer it but was taking it to Loney in the shower when the call ended. A message dropped instantly. 'I hope you don't forget about my birthday tomorrow? I can't wait to introduce you to my friends.''
Danica was slightly jealous. Her birthday would be two weeks from now. She didn't know whether Loney even knew or would remember but she didn't know his birthday either. Whoever this girl was, must be Loney's girlfriend. Nevertheless, she took the phone to the shower and yelled, "your phone has been ringing." Her voice carried sadness, as she kept wondering how this girl became his girlfriend and what about Marie? Who was she to him?
Why would he want a baby when he wasn't married? "Who is it?" Loney's deep voice shook her from her trance.
"Jasmine," she yelled. Loney froze.