SPICES

The evening was still young. Tonia could hear the chattering coming from the living room. Of course she knew who they were and what they were busy talking about but for some reason, she'd refused to admit it. For the past few weeks, Hughes and his sister have been going on and on about her wedding. No doubts they were both excited about the whole wedding thing. Invitations had been sent out already. Almost the whole of Seattle knew about it. Getting married to the famous psychologist was no joke. All her friends were happy for her 'If only they knew how much I want to escape this marriage '. Tonia had thought. Hughes was downstairs with Maddie and her husband Antonia. It was the night of her engagement to the popular Damien Kress. The guests had all returned home but those three as well as a few neighbors were still having a good time talking about the wedding preparations. Tonia was the only child Hughes had left. She'd lost her mom and sister in a car accident. Tiphany Hughes and her first daughter, Sarah were on their way back from school when suddenly, a heavy truck came crashing into them. She'd tried her best to keep the car under control but ended up crashing into a tree. They were found dead hours later. Tonia was only six and didn't understand much. Hughes however, didn't take the news calmly. He'd nearly died of an heart attack but Maddie and Antonia where there to support him. He had to pull himself together for his daughter's sake. She needed him. She needed his love. She needed her mother's love and he was the only one capable of providing the love she needed. * * * Tonia had just returned from Maddie's place after school. She didn't want to go back as she enjoyed staying with them especially Kate, the clown of the house but she'd also missed her father hence going back to Seattle was necessary. The only thing she didn't expect was the marriage proposal that was awaiting her. When Hughes informed her about Damien Kress's proposal, she was shocked. She wasn't ready to get married. All she wanted to do was tell her dad that she doesn't want to get married but she couldn't. As the dutiful and obedient daughter, she has always been the pride of her father. The entire neighborhood were well aware of the healthy relationship she has with her father. Once or twice she'd witnessed a couple of parents advising their kids to be more like her but she never really cared about it. She'd only left Seattle for her exams. * * * Tonia was pacing round the room. She needed to go out. It was important she had a word or two with Damien Kress. She needed to get out of the house but with her family downstairs, it would be difficult. 'I have to do this ' . She encouraged herself. She went to the dresser and and picked up her phone. Doing a quick check on her appearance, her reflection confirmed she was good to go. "No problem I'll get some more snacks ". Maddie said. It was her niece's wedding and she was so excited she is ready to serve anyone. Tonia got to the stairs and paused, probably rethinking her decision. she rubbed her palms together in shear anxiety. Her attention was caught by the shiny object in between her fingers. It was her engagement ring. A sparkling diamond band probably worth thousands of dollars. She had the urge to pull it out and throw it into a well and pretend it was never there but it was too valuable for that. "Tonia dear, are you going somewhere ? coming from the kitchen, Maddie was the first to notice her. She was holding a tray full of home made cookies with varieties of toppings. "There's our wedding girl ". Hughes turned behind him to take a good look at his daughter. "Come and join us. we were just talking about you". He added. "Dad I was... uh...I need some fresh air, mind if I step out for a while? "Of course not. you go ahead ". Hughes smiled at her. "Thanks dad ". She clung to her phone and headed for the door. "Don't be late ". Maddie called after her in her motherly voice. "Sure auntie ". She said before jamming the door behind her. She started toward the streets. she didn't need a ride since his parent's house wasn't so far away plus she has always enjoyed walking. Not only did she know his parents but they knew her as well. Jonas Kress was a doctor before he lost one of his eyes in an aeroplane crash. He'd had to resign due to his eyes surgery which didn't go quite well. They have met a couple of times at the church as well as events and parties but she never knew they had been keeping a close eye on her all the while. she'd had so much about Damien Kress even before she found out about his proposal but her engagement was the first time she was seeing him. She got to Leonard street and her eyes fell on the beauty of the house. It was the fourth and the biggest in the street. One could tell by the exterior decor that they were preparing for a wedding _her wedding. The night lights were literally all over the building. The house doesn't have a gate making it easy for passerby to get a good view of the house. Different kinds of flowers were hanged swinging from the roof down to the ground complementing the beautiful night lights. Tonia's steps became slow the second she got to the porch. The dim street lights only made the Kress mansion to shine in its glory. Judging by the noise coming from the inside, it was obvious that they were also celebrating. No doubts their own celebration was much more bigger and lively than the one at her house. she needed to get inside but was thinking about how they will react. She'd just gotten married to their son a few hours ago. Seeing her there after her engagement might just raise questions that she is not ready to give answers to. It wouldn't take long before they start concluding she was impatient for the wedding to take place and the last thing she wanted was the good people of Seattle speculating rumours about her. "Okay Tonia, it's now or never ". she mumbled to herself before ringing the doorbell. She waited for someone to get the door but no one came. The noise from the inside was so loud no one could hear the ringing of the bell. Kids were running around, loud music was playing from one corner and the adults seemed too engrossed in their own conversation. She rang the doorbell a few more times until it was finally opened. "Tonia it's you ". The twelve years old said with a pleasant smile. She'd only met her at the engagement party. "Mirabella right? Tonia asked to see her nod. She is Damien Kress niece and the senior to her naughty twin brothers, Dicky and Derry. "Come on in. Everyone is so busy right now. who do you want to see? Mirabella asked inviting her in. She led her to the kitchen but no one noticed them. "Is your uncle home? Tonia asked. "Mnn ". Tonia bent toward her and placed her hands on her shoulder. "Do me a favor and take me to him but no one else should know okay, it will be our little secret ". Tonia wispered. "Okay ". CHAPTER TWO :Gone wrong. Damien Kress wasn't sitting but his friend was. Tension was written all over him. The beauty of the terrace couldn't even match the tension in his eyes. The lights had been switched off but the flickering of the night light hanging on the flowers shed but a little light on them. Damien Kress walked to the dark then walked back to his friend in a way that seemed as though he was going to attack him. "Do you have any idea what mess I'm in right now? He asked with his hand stretched out. "Relax man... you know what, the solution to this problem is in your hands. You just have to walk up to your parents and tell them the truth ". Theo said standing up. "And how am I supposed to do that, should I go to them and say 'mum, dad, I don't want to get married '. How do you think they will react? Theo didn't seem to have an answer for him. He knew what he was asking his friend to do wasn't easy but what else could he do, that was the only idea that he could think of so far. "You know what ,Mom and dad has always have high expectations for me. How will they feel if I were to tell them I'm cancelling the wedding, any Idea, and what about the poor girl and her family, she will be shattered. The wedding invitations has been sent out, the whole community knows about this wedding and..." He paused and went back to Theo. "Look at this, it's my wedding ring. we just got engaged today for goodness sake ". He showed him the ring as if he has not seen it before. "Okay then... you are worried about everyone else and how they would react if you break off the engagement and not yourself. If you really think it's too late to act now then... then go ahead and get married to her ". "But I don't want to get married ". Damien said almost yelling. "Neither do I ". Both friends looked around for the voice that had said those words. She sounded familiar. They could see a shadow coming towards them slowly. It gradually moulded into a female statue, slim and tall. The darkness was still covering her face. "Who is there, come out and...". He stop mid sentence when she appeared in front of them. "Tonia? He asked in disbelief. "I also don't want to get married ". She repeated making herself more visible. Damien Kress was puzzled and so was his friend. Do you mean what you just said? He asked as she moved closer to them. "My dad has always dreamed of me getting married in to a good family but I'm not ready for that now, as a matter of fact, the last thing I can think of right now is actually getting married ". She announced. "And all along I was thinking you were happy with this wedding arrangements". He blotted with a relieved sigh. "So let me get this straight, you two are engaged to be married but neither of you wants this marriage am I right? Theo asked and both of them nodded. "Why then did you let the engagement take place in the first place, couldn't you have rejected each other from the beginning ". Theo asked sounding upset. he was talking like someone who was busy scolding his children for giving wrong information. "I did it for my family ". both said at once. Theo stood still and observed them closely. He'd almost concluded that they were both out of their minds. "You know how pesty my parents can be. 'Damien when are you getting married, Damien you are not getting younger, Damien we want to hold your kids as well', Damien this Damien that. it never ends". He complained. "If I had told them that I was against this wedding do you have any idea what shock they would have gotten? you are well aware of how many engagement I have broken, I can't keep doing that". He added not really expecting a reply. "One thing is for sure and that is the fact that my dad as well as auntie Maddie will be very dissapointed but seeing that you are also not ready to get married, I'm ready to break it off". Tonia said. She knew how risky it was but she was willing to take that risk. "Isn't Mr Hughes a heart patient? Kress demanded. No doubts he was right. after the death of Tiphany's death, the shocking news had affected him so badly the doctor had warned against such. He'd had to take an early retirement from the army so as to take proper care of himself. "He is but someone has got to do something ". she replied. "Okay then but when will that be because the wedding is only one week away ". Damien pointed out. "Not to mention mom has a get -together party planned for both families in two days ". He added. "Yes I know that..., if not tonight then tomorrow morning ".Tonia replied. "All the best ". Theo gave her a thumbs up with a frown. He was not in any way happy with their decision. If only they had spoken up from the very beginning then non of what was happening would happen. "You should probably get going, it's getting late already ". Damien said with a concerned tone. "Yeah, no one knows that I'm here, not. even your family. Actually when I came in, they were all too busy to notice me ". She said. "They are all just too excited about the whole wedding thing I guess ". Damien replied. "Okay then. Nice talking to you ". she said and headed back. "I think I like her ". Theo said after she was gone. Tonia found herself in the courtyard a few minutes later. It was her first time of going into the Kress mansion hence she didn't her way around. Not only was the mansion big but the rooms were too many that it won't take a stranger up to five minutes to get lost. The courtyard was the biggest and in two days time she would be back for the get-together. And it was not something she wanted hence it was necessary to have a word with her father. She could hear their loud chattering all the way from the living room. She needed to get out of the house without anyone seeing her but she'd lost her way. The passage she'd followed in to the courtyard looked the same as the one Mirabella had led her to the terrace. "You're still here ". She heard a voice behind her. Looking back, she saw Damien Kress staring at her. "Well actually I... ". "Come on ". He held her hand and led her to the kitchen. It was not difficult snicking her out through the back door as no one else was really watching. "Thanks ". She said after they'd gotten out side. "I should be the one thanking you. you're willing to risk your dad's health for the both of us, I am really grateful ". He told her. "I will be on my way now ". She said and made her way back. She glanced at her phone and realized it was 10:04pm. Oh no I'm late . She walked as fast as she could to catch up with the she had wasted. She had almost gotten to her street when she noticed Jeramie's house. Their lights were still on. She'd broken up with him a few days ago and he had refused to take her calls but now that she has the hope that the wedding won't be taking place again, she needed to talk to him and clear out their misunderstandings. She got to the door and knocked on it gently. The door was opened immediately but it was his grandma. "Is Jeramie home? She requested politely. "He's out with a friend ". The old lad said and shut the door immediately. Tonia wasn't really surprised about her attitude. The old woman never liked her from the beginning plus she broke up with her grandson a few days ago. Perhaps that explains her harsh tone. she could recall vividly that Jeramie hadn't taken the news with a calm head. They'd only dated for six months before she got Damien Kress proposal. With no where to go, Tonia decided to go back home. No doubts her father must be waiting eagerly for her to return safely. Seeing how late it was, she took a faster route. She walked behind the empty tanks in Jackson's street and came out a street before hers. It was always quiet and creepy at that time of the night but Tonia was sure she could hear some voices. The male voice was very familiar too. Curious to know who it was, she leaned closer to get a bette view but to her surprise she saw Jeramie _ and Norah  from across the street. Tonia was about walking up to them and asking them what they were doing alone at that time of the night but stopped herself. She needed to hear what they were busy talking about hence she moved closer slowly without making a sound. "I know you still love her and she loves you too". She was looking at him seductively and he seemed to be welcoming her. "Love... I was never in love with her. And if she truly love me then she won't go ahead and get married ". He said while caressing her lips. "Tonia was foolish to break up with you, that too for someone who's eight years older than her ". Norah said. "That is her loss babe ". Jeramie said and pulled her closer.        my loss, how dare you? She was seeing everything with her own eyes yet she was still finding it hard to believe. Kat had told her not to trust him but she had assumed she was only saying that because of the way she felt about him. She'd thought what they had was special it'd downed on her she's been wrong the whole time. Now they were extremely close and their lips were about to touch. No Jerry, please don't do it. She begged within her but it was already too late Jeramie was kissing her and she was watching it happen. Angry with herself for trusting him so much, she stormed off leaving them to continue with their kiss. * * * Tonia got to her house and cleaned her face with her bare palms. She made sure her face was dry before going in. The living room was empty but some voices were coming from the kitchen. "Don't worry Maddie, the doctor said he will be alright so it has to be the truth ". Getting closer, she heard Mrs Williams say. "Doctor, was the doctor here? She asked impatiently. "Alright Maddie, I will get going now ". She said and left both aunt and niece to continue. "Auntie what happened, why was the doctor here, is my dad okay? She asked panicking. Her father was her entire world and she won't be able to live should anything happen to him. "Tell me what happened to dad ". She demanded already losing her cool. "Relax dear, Johnny is absolutely alright. Nothing to worry about ". "Why then was the doctor here? Tonia asked. She wasn't calm yet. "It was a minor issue. Johnny got a bit to excited and it affected his heart that's why I had to call the doctor". Maddie explained. "What did the doctor say? It was as if she wouldn't relax not until she was completely sure her father was okay. "Nothing much, we shouldn't tell him anything that can get upset or stress him out that's all ". Maddie told her. "You have no idea how happy you have made your dad by accepting this proposal". Maddie said rubbing her hair. "Yeah, l am happy he is happy". Tonia replied with much melancholy. Great, plan flopped. She cursed within herself. Everything was going totally bad. Too bad.