FOREVER MINE.

Chapter 17

 Jina was now in a relaxed mood. She drove slowly as she neared the mansion.

“Finally we are here!” She said enthusiastically, pulling on the brakes at the portal. She had been counting down to their approach for some time. Richard, whose face was raddled, sighed heavily in relief.

 “Whew! It's been quite a long day.”

“But not totally a bad one, huh?” She said, trying to cultivate a smile from him. Richard smirked. 

“ It only gets better with your inspiration, my dear.”

“No, you are; always!” She exclaimed, shifted position and faced him. Her eyes shone with a bright dazzle. She reached for his arm that was poised on the chair. Richard waited in anticipation as his wife cleared her throat and her delectable face glowed with a beaming smile.

“I wonder what you have in your pack, Jina; always charming.” That she loved her immensely was not a delusion; it was a fact that he couldn’t deny.

“Honey,” she said, squeezing his hand.

“Hmh,” he gazed at her with a broad smile bewildered at her sudden behaviour. She blushed and started in a noticeable dotty manner,

"How do I,

Get through my life without you,

If I had to live without you...

do’ know what would happen to me-

All I...

Richard who had been wiggling his head addicted to the relics and the rhythm of the song couldn’t hold back his feelings and excitement and was enjoined in the contagious ecstatic doozy moment. They warbled on the racy song together regardless of the discord in the voices till they mysteriously found themselves entangled in an embrace.

“You have the worst voice, honey,” Jina remarked jokingly after the excitement that was replete with joy.

 “You sing like a crow.” Richard chuckled, and mighty of himself retorted,  “I don’t think so, in fact, I have the sweetest voice and I am better than any great singers there’s in our country.”

“You think so?” she smirked and Richard illustratively tried on one of  Celine’s songs. Jina received the joking attempts with hilarity and naturally threw her hands on the horn that honked unexpectedly.

***

As soon as Melisa heard the sound of the horn she hied out of the house to open it. 

“They are back soon, don’t you think so?” Mercy reckoned after gesticulating on the wall clock. 

Esther gave a deprecating shrug and strutted to the direction of the kitchen where she had been beavering away at her chores.

“I hope it’s Uncle Richard.” She mumbled and started to boil tea. Though she’s holding up well under Jina’s pressure and mistreatment, it was obvious she was somewhat troubled thinking about her circumstances.

“Honey, let’s go., Jina suggested after imprinting a kiss on his lips and made to get out but was curtailed, 

 “ No,” Richard said in a soft charming voice, “I’ll open for you.”

“OK, thank you.” She smirked. “This too much love will kill me, honey!”

“I will, even if it’s the last thing I do to prove my love and respect for you dear, I love you.” He said in a friendly manner and smiled.

“And I love you more.”

 He kisses her passionately and gropes out of the car. His words provoked a raging fear in her heart as though they portended some underlying danger.

“Let no harm come your way dear, I wouldn’t be able to bear it.”

Jina muttered and her face darkened.

Richard walks gently across to the other side to open for his wife. He was happy and relaxed. In a moment, he distinctly felt someone was watching him and he halted and turned and looked behind. There was no one but a man talking on the phone walking in the opposite direction. I wonder what's wrong with me today! God have mercy. He muttered and proceeded.

 Jina had no sooner stepped out of the car when their frequent visitors packed behind them.

The car door opened and Mr and Mrs Wabua came out. Rich and Jina give them a toothy smile as they shake hands cordially.

“You two look gorgeous, have you been on a date?” Mrs Wabua gazed at Jina and Richard in turn and then smirked. Richard paled visibly at the question and responded, 

“I am afraid not. Why would you say that?”

“That is what it looks like; your faces are gleaming. You both look young and happy,” She said softly and twisted her head to look at her husband, “don’t you agree with me, dear?”

“Absolutely!” Mr Wabua Wholeheartedly answered

The bon vivant Mr and Mrs Wabua were always a joy to behold; their presence always filled the air with joy and laughter, never getting tired or old and ever blossoming with love and affection.

 "It’s been long since we had a day out,” Mr Wabua reckoned with his usual boyish charm. 

“Great idea sweetheart," interjected his wife with a dative smile and resumed, of late we seem disengaged from our old pleasures. No wonder my baby has grown wrinkles.”

 She said with a smile that breathed charm and life.

Richard, who seems to have a reconciliation of his feelings for his wife, puts his hand around her waist and gives a striking alluring look. Drawing her closer he kissed her and said, “whatever my love decides I won’t decline.”

  Mrs Wabua turned bright-eyed 

and smirked. He clasped her hand and squeezed it awkwardly.   “Broadly speaking, I agree with you honey.” he kissed her hand and pursued, “one has to enjoy life to bliss before death claims us.”

“Great! So shall we make it, come weekend-Saturday?” Me Wabua asked vigorously, his eyes seeming anxious to know the response. Jina was hesitant. She remembered that she had to attend her nephew’s party which was due then. As an afterthought, she retorted, 

“Chance would be a nice thing. We have a party to attend honey, remember.”

“Hmmm,” Richard chimed, “I was dimly aware. We have to postpone it thus, perhaps Monday?” They were still chatting when Melissa opened the gate.

 She bubbles a smile and they sweep her in their arms one after another.