Love, Lust and A Baby

Meet Samuel.

I was 16 years old when we moved to Boston Massachusetts's capital from New york. My parents were divorced and my Mom had custody of I and my sisters who were twin, Emma and Emily who were just 9 years old. The divorce was a messy one and I and my sisters suffered the most. We bore the shame, the ridicule, the constant pity given to us even at school. Yes, my parents' divorce was a public affair. 

Dad had knocked up his secretary and was also having an affair with another woman. My family was long over even before the divorce. My parents started fighting when I was 5. As a child, I would hide under my bed covers and cry silently wishing that the voices downstairs would stop shouting at each other. 

It started with constant arguments every night, I didn't know why adults fought over everything. Then Daddy started keeping late nights. I remember how Mummy would sit on the staircase each night, after putting me to bed. A phone in her hand dialling numbers. Sometimes she would cry rocking her body silently. I wanted to reach out for her and tell her not to worry but I couldn't. I was supposed to be sleeping.

When Dad comes, he throws his brown suitcase on the couch, loosens his tie, walks to the kitchen to get ice which he puts in a glass that had brown shiny liquid. He then sits on the couch, stretches his legs, picks up the remote controller and starts watching soccer. When he's done drinking from the glass, he takes out a cigarette and smokes, puffing circles of rings in the air. It was always fascinating. Behind him, Mummy will start talking and crying, her eyes will be red and her lips trembling. Sometimes she would kneel beside Daddy but Daddy never looked at her. 

Then one day, he slapped mum. It was a Saturday and I was playing on the patio when I heard voices inside the house. 

"Richard, we can't continue like this, it was an honest mistake" Mum was crying again.

"Yes..." Daddy threw his hands in the air "and look what it gave you, a bastard".

"My son is not a bastard" Mum shouted back at him.

"Well, I won't ever play father to him, he's not my son and will never be". Dad's chest was heaving.

I couldn't understand what was going on. My tiny hands reached for the doorknob as I made my way into the living room.

"Daddy..." I called out. I just wanted him to put me on his shoulders or take me to the park. 

In seconds, he crossed the room and roughly grabbed my shirt his nostrils were flared as he looked me in the eye.

"I am not your Father" He yelled at me.

Mummy was hitting him from behind, she was crying and shouting at the same time, then he reached behind her and slapped her. My mum fell on the floor, surprise and shock were written all over her face as she held onto her left cheek. 

"Richard, you slapped me?" she asked, a fresh bout of tears flowing down her cheeks.

Daddy simply looked at his hand and back at mom picked up the car keys on the coffee table and left the house. Leaving behind a crying woman and a broken boy.

***

I stood in front of Al's door, adjusting my jacket, ran a hand through my hair and arranged the flowers in my hands. As I reached for the knocker, the door flew open. She was putting on a tiny-strap, brown knee-length gown. Her long beautiful legs displayed themselves shamelessly. She was just the way I first saw her. We met at St. Mary's Cathedral. I had felt eyes on me during the mass and when I turned, the eyes looked away quickly not before I caught a glimpse of the sea-green eyes.

"Uh..., Samuel?" she was shaking my left hand. 

I smiled at her, trying to cover how awkward I felt.

"You're early," she said. "I wasn't expecting you till 9'0clock" she glanced at the apple watch on her wrist, the green light illuminating her beautiful face. God! she's so beautiful.

"Y-yeah, S-sorry" I stuttered. (Get your act together Samuel).

"I didn't realize it was still early" I started. Her eyes darted to the silver wristwatch on my left wrist, she wasn't believing my story.

"Okay, okay, I was so excited to see you guess I must have overdone it" I confessed shamelessly raising my hands in defeat. 

She looked surprised and bowed her head shyly.

"I could go and come back later" I volunteered (I wasn't going anywhere).

"No!" she replied quickly, almost too quickly. 

"I mean, it's okay, please stay; I am almost done anyways, just wanted to go fetch Joan to help me fix my hair" she explained calmly standing aside to usher me in.

Her hair looked perfect.

The room smelled of her.

"Can I get you something?" she asked 

"No, I am fine" trying to look at anything but her, the hug scene was playing out in my head. 

"I brought you flowers," trying to ease how nervous I was, I crossed the room in quick strides, flowers in my outstretched hand. ( no, I was almost running). I was acting like a lovesick teenager, not a 24-year-old. 

She smiled gratefully at me as she collected the flowers burying her face in the bouquet. 

"Peonies" she muttered looking up at me with soulful eyes that made me want to drag her into my arms and kiss her senseless. 

I shook my head slightly trying to clear my lust-filled thoughts, I didn't want to go to jail for s****l molestation to a 16-year-old girl. She buried her face into the flower as she inhaled its rich scent.

"You know, Peonies are said to bring good luck to the receiver" she muttered again.

I didn't even know the name of the flower, they were the only ones left on the shelf when I went to the flower shop. I wanted to get something rare and I am glad I did. 

"I need to put this in a vase," she said again, her face slightly buried in the flowers. I tagged behind her to the kitchen. Watched as she half-filled a big cup with water, dropped the flowers inside and placed it close to the window. She turned and hugged me.

My hands quickly went around her wrapping her in a bear hug as I inhaled the rich scents from her hair. My hands were running all over her hair in contentment. I could remain like this till morning.

"Thank you for bringing me the flowers" she smiled shyly pushing away from my chest to look at me her pink lips were slightly opened; she was still in my arms. I could feel the blood rushing to my lower body. I dipped my head in for a kiss.

"Ummm..." I heard a slight cough behind me. ( uhh...not now, I am trying to have a moment here). Al, jumped away from me almost in fear as I reluctantly dropped my hands from her body. I turned back and saw Joan looking at me, laughter dancing in her eyes.

"Sorry guys, I saw the front door opened" she explained with her hands "Maybe I should come back later" she teased.

"Joan!" Al warned sternly. 

"Sam-Samuel, please could you wait for me in the living room" she called out sweetly dragging her friend towards her.

I nodded my head in agreement and left the kitchen. It was going to be a long night.