Chapter 19
“There’s a difference between obsession and love. Be careful.”
~~~
At the dining table, Matthew and I chatted about random stuff as we waited for his grandmother. Once her maids were done attending to us, she made her grand entrance, a bottle of scotch in one hand and wine in the other.
“So, what do you do for a living?” She poured wine into three glasses and passed two to us.
“I’m a waitress.”
Bobbing her head, she flashed her teeth at me. “Not bad. I bet it makes you good money,” she said sarcastically.
“You have no idea.” I let out a dry laugh. “I like what you guys are doing with the company.”
“You’re talking about the paint, right?” Matthew asked. I nodded. “Well, it wasn’t easy but if you ask me, it doesn’t make as much money as you know.” His shoulders lifted and dropped.
“It’s because his father isn’t around to manage the business anymore, he did well with the company before his death.”
Chocking on my food, I grabbed the glass of water in front of me and gulped it down before turning to Matthew. “I thought you started the company a fresh, on your own and your father died when you were a child?”
“I lied.” He shrugged, his attention drawing back to his grandmother.
“You lie about many things,” I said, toning down my surprise.
“I know, it’s a means of survival. The truth is he was killed last year.” He covered his face with his hands and took a deep breath. Despite the resentment he had for his father, he seemed affected by his loss.
I gasped. “Last year? How come you didn’t tell me?”
“We didn’t know each other. He passed on a couple of months before I met you.”
My mouth parted to give him a lecture but I caught myself in time, thinking back to the no emotions rule. I had to get him to say he was dealing, it was the only way I could push the case forward and make his arrest easier. “Is this the kind of life you want us to live? Drugs, gangs, and fear?”
“If you don’t like it, you can leave.” His grandmother’s reply had excitement coursing through me. If only he could heed to her advice. “You just have to keep your mouth shut if you want to see your future,” she added.
“Nobody’s leaving anybody!” Matthew directed at her, leaving her gawking at the both of us. “Am I missing something? Has she hypnotized you to this point?”
“Granny, I love her. You have to understand that.” His gaze moved from her to me, compelling me to smile. If he had an inkling of the resentment I held towards him, he would take out his gun and shoot me in the face.
“You’re obsessed. This,” she paused to jab at me. “Is not love. I’m disgruntled in you, Matthew. You made a big mistake by disclosing our family secrets to her and you knew who she was but still fell in love. I don’t get it, what’s so special about her? I mean, just take a good look at her, I am positive there are way better girls than her on this planet. Get rid of her!” She lunged out of her seat and sauntered off.
Letting out a sigh, my gaze shifted from her disappearing figure to Matthew. He was staring into space, his breathing heavy and fists clenched. I basked in seeing him pissed, he deserved to suffer and I was going to make sure he did.
Suppressing the smile threatening to spill from my lips, I dipped my hand in my bag and turned off the recorder. His grandmother was the best ally I had to end the relationship without having to go through the hassle of playing detective. All I had to do was figure out a way on how to go about it.
* * *
Upon getting home, I ran myself a bath, relishing in the tranquility I yearned for since the onset of the week. Gently scrubbing myself, I let my mind travel to the days all I knew was positive vibes and free living. It almost felt like a dream, as if that person and I were diverse species.
Donning joggers and a sweatshirt, I switched off my phone and marched to the kitchen. It was my day and I didn’t need any disruption. Sweeping my eyes at the contents in the fridge, I settled for the roasted butternut squash and bacon soup Mom prepared earlier.
I put it in the microwave to warm as I readied the ingredients for my popcorn before emptying them in the popcorn popper and starting it up. A few jiffies later, I had a tray brimming with drinks and food, ready to launch movie day.
Picking a comedy film from the list of new releases, I perched my body to a comfortable position on the couch, stuffing my face with delicacies. I found myself tittering gleefully at different intervals, my delight attracting Ashlie’s attention.
She snuggled up to me, her fingers scooping into my bucket of peppered popcorn to her mouth. It had been ages since we binged a movie, severing the norm we had every week since I could think back to. With her head on my shoulder, we went through a series of movies, shifting our seating positions oftentimes.
When it was clear that fatigue had taken over the mood to watch more movies, we turned to music and catching up with each other. A smile crept to my face with every story she told. It was soothing to know her life was swiveling in the right direction. At least she would get to make it and make our parents proud if I didn’t live to my purpose.
“Will life ever be the same again?” she asked, diverting the subject to my current situation.
I sighed, taking her hand in mine and blinking back tears. “I can only hope, my dear. It’s not easy but we must overcome.”
“Does he hurt you?” her voice broke, tears gushing out of her eyes for the first time since my dilemma began.
Shaking my head with vigor, I said, “He doesn’t, but he may do so if things don’t go as planned.”
“I don’t want to lose you, Shannon. You have to run away. You will be safer elsewhere until they’re able to apprehend him.”
I wiped her tears with the back of my hand, her fears pushing me into bawling my eyes out. “If I run, we will never catch him and I will have to hide for a very long time. We’re this close to nabbing him,” I managed to affirm.
“I won’t stop praying for you, okay? You will conquer this.” I nodded, unable to word out a complete sentence. Opening my arms to her, she crushed into them and we embraced one another with affection.
