WHY MARRY?

TWELVE

"What happened the other day" Laurie asks Jade over the phone after the incident at the birthday party. Jade was out shopping at the supermarket when Laurie's call came in. "You were talking to Todd, the next thing I see, you're being whisked away by husband who was very unhappy and angry by the way" she pointed out.

"I know right" Jade responded. "He forced me to go home and there, we had a huge fight; and then confessed his love for m-"

"Wait, he told you he LOVED YOU?" Laurie exclaimed.

"Trust me, I was as shocked as you" Jade revealed. "I thought something might have possessed him to do so" she added. She explained the whole situation to Laurie and every detail of the confessional.

"Wow!" Laurie sighed, after she exclaimed.

"One more thing..." Jade began, as she paused beside the fruit and vegetables section of the isle. She contemplated whether to tell Laurie she had gotten intimate with Aiden.

"Let me guess. You f****d him, didn't you?" Laurie stole the words out of her mouth. Jade was silent. "I knew it! there's no way you wouldn't have f****d him after such an admission of love. Heck I know I would've, in your situation"

"You don't have to describe with it such language" Jade cringed at her use of profanity.

"Oh you pure child" Laurie teased. "So what are going to do now; the divorce is fast approaching" Laurie pointed out.

"Shoot!, I didn't think about that" she revealed.

"Have you discussed your relationship moving forward?" Laurie questioned.

"No" she briefly stated.

"I believe it's an important topic of conversation' so make sure to discuss it with him. Otherwise you're the one going to be hurt in the end"

"He said he loved me though" Jade pointed out.

"You said you saw that picture of his ex underneath his pillow; you have to make sure he's over her. What if he lied to you, just to stop you from talking to other men because he wants to have possession of you" Laurie mentioned.

"He seemed sincere about his feelings for me" she tried to reason. Laurie sighed.

"I'm your best friend and I'll always protect you; all I'm saying is, just make sure his love for you is real"

                                                                         ~

Jade drove home from the supermarket, thinking about what Laurie had said to her. She was convinced Aiden loved her but after Laurie spoke some sense into her, she started to question whether his feelings were true. Although, they had been doing okay the past few days. Aiden was sweet, gentle and kind with her so far; and had no reason to suspect that he was perhaps feigning his affection for her.In the midst of her thinking, she nearly bumped her car into another vehicle that was in front of her but luckily, she swerved in time.

"What is wrong with you woman?!" the driver of the vehicle yelled.

"Sorry!, sorry!" she repeatedly apologised, as she went back to focusing on the road. Soon, she had arrived home. She parked her car neatly and took out the groceries from the trunk of the car; before carrying them inside. Aiden was there to greet her.

"Hey love" he pecked her on the lips as he took the grocery bags from her hands and headed for the kitchen. She stared at his back as he left.

"Why are you standing there staring at me" he questioned with a smile. "C'mon, let's unload the groceries together" he kissed her forehead. Looking at him right now, he did look like he truly loved her; but when she thought about that picture under his pillow, it worried her.

"Okay" she replied breaking herself out of her reverie. She entered the kitchen and they both started to sort out the groceries.

"Are you okay Jade?' you look pale" Aiden pointed out. "Are you feeling sick?" he touched her forehead and she pulled away.

"I'm fine" she said to him. "Let's make some dinner" she announced, trying to avert the situation.

"Okay then" he responded.

~

They lay in bed together that night, Jade's head cradled in his neck and Aiden's arms wrapped around her securely. If she felt so secure in his arms, why did she suspect and doubt him.

"I can see there is a lot of things on your mind today" he noticed. "Tell me what you're thinking"

"Nothing" she lied.

"Please tell me, I can tell there is something on your mind. You've been acting strange since you came from the supermarket and you've been acting strange since dinner" he pointed out. "What are you thinking?" he asks once more.

"I'm thinking that..." she began.

"That what?" he probed.

"That this is too good to be true" she said and Aiden turned so that they were looking at each other. "That you being with me is too good to be true, that us being happy right now is too good to be true-"

"That the fact that I love you is too good to be true?" he finished for her. She nodded slowly. He placed a finger on her chin. "I want you clear all form of doubt in your mind because indeed, it is true that we are happy together; it is true that I am here with you and will always be; and finally, it is true that I love you; very much so" he concluded.

"It does feel reassuring to hear you say that but..." she trailed off.

"But what?" he inquired.

"I saw that picture of your ex-girlfriend underneath your pillow." she explained. "It was when I was cleaning your room" she revealed.

"Well not to worry because I got rid of the photo; from now on, you're my only focus" he pecked her repeatedly making her burst out into a fit of giggles. "I have some good news" he stated.

"What?" she smiled.

"The merging has been finally completed" he announced and her heart sunk knowing that this could mean a divorce. Aiden could read the solemn expression on her face. "If you think I'm leaving you, then don't you dare do it; you're mine to keep for the rest of eternity" he embraced her tightly. She laughed. Now her doubts could be put to rest; she was now trusting of Aiden's love for her and his will to be and stay with her.