FOREVER MINE.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

They were both full of sentiments, but Jina managed to soothe him.

" I forgive you, honey. If anything, I should be the one begging for forgiveness. I caused everything, yes I did." She said to pacify him and then wiped his tears with her hand. Richard raised his face and looked at his wife. He held her face between his hands and kissed her and then leaned over her shoulder. In a moment he caught sight of a gold shining necklace which lay on the floor close to the window. It appeared to be Julie's. She might have dropped it while they were caressing last night. Richard's heart thumped with violence and almost ripped out of his chest. 

"Richard, you are doomed! This is the end of the road for you. That necklace is an exhibit of your crime. It will expose the bare bones of your secret." He told himself and his chest heaved. He was in an abyss of despair. Jina loosened her grip and got to her feet. "Come out of bed honey. To begin with, you need to take a shower. I am sure that's what you need. Meanwhile, I will draw the curtains." She said and turned in the direction of the window.

Richard trembled. Jina was bound to ask for the owner and what would he answer? He was in a tight fix. His marriage was on the verge of collapse and he couldn't bear seeing that happen. Now that Jina had presumably transformed into a better person, he had created a bigger problem.  He raised his eyebrows as he watched Jina walk towards the spot where the symbol of his treachery lay. His mouth fell open as his heart hammered in his chest. Just a few steps and bam! She would behold the shiny object. 

"No, you can't just sit and watch your marriage get ruined." He thought and shrieked.

 "Ah, my head! Jina, my head will explode."He bellowed. She, at the sound of his alarming voice, swirled and sprinted towards him. She was tense. Richard held his head and grimaced. Jina was jittery. She yanked at him in apprehension and asked, "Honey, what is it?'' She was acting barmy and befuddled due to nervousness. 

"Jina," Richard yelled at her as his voice trembled. "Some water, please!"

"Ok, honey, I... I Ok just…" She spluttered nervously and wandered her eyes around. There wasn't any in the fridge. She had to rush to the kitchen. She hastened out of the room like a bat out of hell frightened. As soon as she was gone, Richard leapt off the bed and sprinted towards the window. "I know, Jina will beat a hasty retreat. I have to act fast." He mumbled and stooped picking up the necklace and thrust it in his pocket. "Goodness me! this is hell. Why did I allow myself to be influenced by Julie? This won't end well for me." He grimaced. "May God bless us." He mumbled and exhaled and peered through the window.

 "Jina must be on her way. I have to play my ace again." He thought and composed on the bed and held his head, groaning as if he had an acute migraine. Jina returned a few minutes later with a glass of water.

She was panting and gasping for breath, worried and terrified. "Honey," she said crouching," take a sip." She lowered the glass to his mouth.

"Ok," he grimaced and gulped some down his throat. His stomach almost raised. He was not used to taking cold water in the morning and always complained that it tasted like medicine. 

"Take some more, dear, it will calm you down." She said forcing the glass on his mouth.

"Richard, this was an offbeat!" He thought and anger seethed inside him. There was no option but to heed. He sipped a little and pushed her hand slightly and reckoned, "Don't worry honey, I will be fine."

"Should I call the doctor?" Jina asked with impassioned concern.

"No!" he retorted, shaking his head vigorously, "I am improving already. This water is magic." He said and smiled at the corner of his mouth and lay down a bit. Jina gazed at him anxiously and kept dabbing his face. "This is all my fault. I hope you get well soon." She thought and lay beside him facing his direction. Richard looked into her eyes and felt ashamed of himself. He closed them to shut off her sight, but he could still see her with his instinct. His dismal act had paid off but he wasn't sure what he would do if the balloon went up.

A few moments later, Richard claims that the migraines had gone. It was a relief to Jina. She had fallen for her lie, but what would happen if she came to know the actuality of the situation?

Richard gets out of bed and joins the shower as Jina waits. She is still in shock.

As she sat on the bed, she pondered on the achingly absurd matter that was obtuse to her.

"What could be wrong with my Richard lately? His health is deteriorating. If it's not sweating in the cold weather, it's a migraine! I think I need to convince him to go for a serious check-up." She reckoned and her face turned miserably. Richard feels heavy with guilt. He pours water on himself with pressure as if it would wash away the guilt.

"I regret that I met Julie. She is an irresistible witch that is bound to annihilate my life. Damn her! damn all the beautiful and sexy women who are like her!" He hissed. Ironically, as he cursed he felt a yearning to be with her again and this perplexed him.

***

The girls had been waiting for Jina and Richard to join them for some time now. Very soon breakfast will get cold. Esther peeked outside but they weren't close. She was ill at ease. "Something must be wrong." She thought. She was in bits. Earlier Jina had almost bumped into her on the way out and she seemed nervous. "I hope all is well." Her face altered. She muttered and went across to the dining table. Mellisa and Mercy had been swayed by the animated graphics on television, thus they were less concerned about anything else.

In a moment, The two love birds showed up holding hands. They were happy. There was peace again in the family. It was a new day of great happiness as laughter, job, content filled the mansion, just as Esther had always wished. "I hope that this happiness stays forever. That we would treat each other with love and respect. That there won't be any sorrows, fights and regrets." She thought and then clutched at the image on the rosary and muttered, "Thank you Mother Mary for answering my prayers." She. Smiled and concentrated on the breakfast with a kind of relaxation that was indescribable.