SPICES

CHAPTER THREE : forgetting her past.

It was barely 7:30am. Hughes was still

sleeping and so was Antonia. Tonia got

up from her bed and went straight to the

bathroom. Her hair was a mess. She'd

spent the entire night looking after her

father she hadn't got a chance to speak

with Damien Kress. the sooner she

spoke to him, the better it would be for

everyone. Hughes health had

deteriorated and she just couldn't take

the risk of telling him about breaking off

her engagement any longer.

Tonia brushed her teeth quickly and

ran a cold shower on her body. Drying

her hair, she packed it in a pony tail

style. She tied her robe and came back

to her room. Opening up the wardrobe,

she picked out a jeans trousers and a

pink sleeveless. The get together wasn't

until nine in the evening so there was no

need to get all dressed up.

Tonia got to the stairs and perceived

the brewing coffee. it smells so good

she could already taste it.

"Good morning auntie ". she hugged

the older woman slightly. She had

prepared some coffee and had poured it

in a silver flask while a few more were

still brewing in the coffee maker. She'd

also prepared some toast and was

preparing some scrambled eggs when

Tonia walked in.

"Slept well? Maddie asked to get a

nod from her.

"Here have some coffee, nice isn't it?

She asked after handing her a mug

filled with coffee. Tonia took a sip.

"Yes it is but why so many, I mean we

are just four ". Tonia pointed out. Taking

out her apron, Maddie slipped it into the

hanger and faced her niece.

"Oh honey I...". The door bell rang

interrupting her.

"I will get it ".

Tonia went to the door and opening it, it

was the most pleasant surprise.

"Perrie, Kate...oh my Talia...what a

pleasant surprise ". She said hugging

them one after the other. Talia's belly

was so big it seemed as though she was

due but there was a whole three months

left. The last time she saw her, you

wouldn't know she is pregnant unless

you are told.

"Don't forget me ". Trixie said making

herself visible. She seemed to be

struggling with a bag that was almost

twice her size.

"No ways. You are my favorite so

how can I forget you ". Tonia said and

pinched her cheeks playfully.

"I'm not sure if I will still be your

favorite by the time mom puts to bed ".

The little girl said.

"What do you mean, no one can take you

place... no matter how adorable she is ".

Tonia said pinching her cheeks again.

"Come on in ". She said helping Talia with

her cross bag. Perrie was carrying most

of his family's luggage while Kate stock

to hers. Perrie had gone to pick her up

from school so her stuff wasn't much

like the rest of them.

"I had no idea you guys were coming

today. According to the arrangement,

you guys were meant to arrive two days

before the wedding ". Tonia reminded.

"l'm sorry honey. I was gonna tell you

but you were with Johnny all night and I

didn't want to spoil the father -daughter

moment ". Maddie said joining them in

the living room.

"Grandma!!! Trixie ran into her arms.

"I've missed you so much grandma ".

"I've equally missed you a lot as well my

princess ". Maddie replied.

"It's a good thing you are all here.

The house was getting boring day after

day ". Tonia complained. Having her

cousins around would lessen her

boredom _at least.

"I hope you guys had a nice trip ". She

added. Having a pregnant lady travel a

far distance especially during such bad

weather wasn't advisable.

"We sure did and Trixie couldn't stop

talking about the fun she'd have when

we arrived ". Talia replied.

"Alright then, I will leave you guys to

settle down. Aunt just made breakfast.

Kate you are with me, we are going

shopping ". Tonia announced trying to

sound ecstatic.

"I'm sorry wedding girl, a few of my

friends will be coming over and I would

like to be around when they do so you

will have to get on without me ".

"But it's still morning, you have a lot of

time to prepare for their arrival ". Tonia

really needed her cousin to accompany

her. They have a lot of catching up to do.

"I know but I haven't booked their rooms

yet not to mention I have a job interview

to prepare for ". She broke the news.

"Really, a job interview? Tonia who

was already standing went back to her

sitting position beside Kate.

"Yes and if she gets the job then we

will have another chef in the family ".

Talia replied with a warm smile. Maddie

owns a bakery hence her passion for

food. No doubts Kate had taken after

her.

"Oh I see. Just don't eat up the whole

store or your cheeks might just get more

chubby ". Tonia teased pulling her

cheeks playfully.

"How mean, I ain't chubby ".

"You can say that to the mirror ". Perrie

teased.

Kate frowned and ignored him.

"Anyways, if I get the job as the head

chef it will only be part time so I can

focus on my studies then after college I

will join in full time till I open my very

own bakery ". She announced excitedly.

"Whoa..." Perrie started with the

mocking handclap.

"Laugh all you want but it is true, as a

matter of fact I am on a diet ".

"Oh my God ". Maddie exclaimed.

Knowing her daughter very well, she can

never stay away from food and now

diet?

"Are you being serious right now? Perrie

asked but she didn't reply. Everyone was

busy pulling her leg and she wasn't

finding it funny. She just arrived and

they were already making a joke of her.

"Don't worry dear cousin. I believe

you. Now come on auntie has prepared

some toasts in the kitchen ". Tonia said

getting her up.

"Toasts, I bet she'd also prepared

some scrambled eggs as well ". She

said already feeling the taste. She

wouldn't mind guffing down all at once.

"She sure did and you are gonna love

it ". Tonia replied.

"Sure, mom knows best ". She said

and was already going towards the

kitchen but paused and looked at her

family. They were all giving her the look.

The one that says 'typical Katie '. She

looked at Tonia and realized she was

smiling mischievously. Only then did she

realise what she'd done.

"Diet you say ". Perrie said with a loud

chuckle.

Kate flung Tonia's hand away from

her shoulder in a child like anger and

stormed off to the kitchen.

"She's angry so why didn't she go to

her room, why the kitchen ". Trixie asked

sounding so naive.

"Where else do you expect her to find

lots and lots of toasts and scrambled

eggs? Perrie asked.

"Kitchen! everyone chorused.

Kate came out and they all stopped

laughing immediately. she was carrying

a silver plate with about five or six

toasts on it with a mug of coffee.

"In case you need me, I will be in my

room ". She turned and made her way to

the stairs. Turning back, she added.

"Oh... and mom, the coffee taste

really good ". The rest of them just

laughed.

* * *

Kat and Ella were waiting outside.

They had arrived rather early. Maddie

had taken her daughter in-law shopping

, Kate was out with her friends and the

men were in their own world. Trixie had

also joined both her mother and

grandmother. Tonia finally stepped

outside and met her friends waiting

outside the car _Kat's car. It was the

most precious thing to her.

"I am ready ".

"Took you long enough ". Kat

reprimanded.

"Looking good ". Ella complimented.

Tonia used that opportunity to turn

around displaying her red sleeveless

mini gown. She was also putting on a

black flat with a mini cross bag. She'd

still left her hair in the pony tail style.

"Thank you ".

"Oh my gosh girl, if you look this good

now, how will you look on your wedding

day? Kat asked noticing how the pencil

gown was pinned to her skin. She wasn't

wearing much makeup except from the

red shade of lipstick.

"I am pretty sure every man at the

wedding will wish they were the groom ".

Answering Kat's question, Ella teased.

"Damien Kress wouldn't take his eyes off

of her that's for sure ". Kat added.

"Stop it you guys ". She blushed. She'd

seen her appearance in the mirror and

knew her friends were right about her

looks but she wasn't going to admit it

. She had her reasons for getting all

decked up though it was just a quick

shopping. Maddie had invited her but

she had her own plans and didn't want

to disappoint her friends either.

The three girls did their shopping as

soon as they could and went back to the

coffee shop. It didn't take much of their

time since all they went for was only a

few clothes. Her wedding dress had

been delivered the morning of their

engagement.

"Isn't this coffee great? Kat asked

and took another sip.

"It is but not as good as the one

prepared by my aunt ".Tonia corrected.

She was looking beautiful but her eyes

were reflecting something else.

"What's up with you girl, you're

looking glum ".

Ella was still sipping on her coffee slowly

but her eyes couldn't stop staring at

Tonia.

"I'm not glum...I'm just...".

"Thinking about Jerry? Kat completed.

Tonia couldn't reply. Her friend was right

she was thinking about him. In

retrospect, Jeramie was the reason

she'd dressed up like that. Not because

she wanted to impress him or attract

him but just to get him jealous. She'd

hoped she would bump into him at the

coffee shop but he didn't show up.

"You know I never liked him. I'm still

confused on what you actually saw in

him ". As blunt as always, Kat voiced out

her opinion.

"But why Norah, everyone knows how

sleazy she is ". Tonia blinked facing up

to stop the tears that were threatening

to fall.

"Girl, That son of a b***h is your past

now, why waste your precious tears on

him? besides you are getting married

that too to the hot and sexy Damien

Kress. Not only is he rich but good

looking too. You should be happy you

will get to spend the rest of your life with

him rather than crying for breaking up

with him or the fact that he has been

cheating on you all this while ". Ella

placed a comforting hand on her

shoulder.

"Yeah girl, you should be bursting out

in happiness and not looking so sad

unless...hold on, you are happy to be

getting married right ? Kat asked with a

searching gaze.

Her question came as a surprise to

Tonia. She'd thought she was doing a

good job hiding her sadness but she

couldn't be more wrong. Kat has been

her best friend since the third grade.

They grew up together which was only

fair enough for the fact that she couldn't

hide a thing from her.

"Of course I'm happy...I'm very much

happy ". She stressed.

"That's good. I can't wait for you to

finally get married and be called mrs

Damien Kress. oh how excited I am as

though is my wedding ". Ella said

hugging Tonia.

"Well we better get going. we still have

a get together party to attend this

evening ". Kat rose to her feet inviting

the rest to join her. She still wasn't

convinced by her friend's response.