ENTHRALLED BY YOU

STEPHEN

STEPHEN

As the weekend approached, Lisa couldn’t stop thinking about her plans with Stephen for the weekend. After so many failed attempts she was finally going to meet Stephen’s parents. 

She had spoken to them on occasion over the phone, and video called when she was with him but actually meeting them in person was making her quite unsettled and restless. 

He had assured her a thousand times that they would love and adore her, and she would love his nephews and niece’s; but she still couldn’t help the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as the countdown drew closer.

There was a knock on her door, chocolate brown hair attached to a beautiful chubby face caught her attention before her best friend Maria poked her head through the door with a wide smile plastered on her face.

“Miss me?”, she said before Lisa squealed with joy. She jumped up, rushing to the door to hug her best friend and closest colleague. 

The feeling of nostalgia in the room was profound, because Lisa had really missed having Maria around since she went on a one month paid leave with her family to Portharcourt.

She hugged her friend too tightly because Maria’s next words were strained, like she was straining for air, and Lisa barely heard her speak. 

Quickly releasing her hold on Maria, Lisa smiled down at her partner in crime before she threw the next words at her. “You squeezed the breath out me Lisa”, Maria said. 

Laughing at Maria’s mock gesture of catching her breath , Lisa said to her,“I have missed you so much Marie”, the name she fondly called her. It feels like a million years instead one month, and you look absolutely stunning girl. 

“Rest suits you well, and it has given you that glow that I love to see around you”, Lisa complimented Maria.

“Don’t over compliment me Liz, or I might just request for another leave”, Maria responded, and they both laughed. 

“Please do not even attempt such or the entire finance department would pack their bags and do the same in protest”, Lisa retorted. They have really missed you Maria, and I feel confident they are very excited you are back. 

“Yes they are dearest; but how about you?”, you looked so stressed and troubled, she noted.

I know Mr. Williams does not pile you with an overload of work, and the last time we spoke you were just fine, so out with it, what troubles you Lisa? She asked.

Her timing was just too perfect and Lisa couldn’t keep a secret from her or lie to Maria even if she tried. She sighed heavily before relaying her current predicament.

“We are meeting the parents this weekend and I have been very worried something will go wrong”, Lisa said in one swift breath.

There were certain expressions I had expected to receive from Maria, but laughter was not one of them.

Did I grow magical horns or something while I was pouring out my heart because I didn’t see why else she would be laughing so hard?.

After she somehow managed to calm down a bit, she took my hands in hers and squeezed gently, “it’s just the jitters that comes with meeting the parents for the first time”, she said softly. 

“Lisa you have absolutely nothing to worry about, just be yourself and let them see the real you”, Maria told her. If they don’t like who you really are, it’s their fault not yours.

That last punch line managed to calm Lisa down a little bit putting a smile on her worried face. She was grateful for the little reassurance and kind words.

Now that we have that out of the way, you really have to tell me everything I missed out on”, Maria said, changing the atmosphere in the room into a lively one in an Instant.

“You know it’s still office hours, and I really do have to finish this work before the weekend”, Lisa replied. Why not we discuss to our hearts content on Sunday night over barbecue at our favorite place.

“That sounds much better”, Maria squealed while doing a fist pump in the air. Lisa had never seen anyone as excited as her friend at the mention of food.

As if the universe was listening in on their conversation, her phone rang and Stephen’s name flashed across the screen. Speak of the devil I said and showed Maria the caller.

“That looks like personal business to me and I will leave you two love birds to it”, Maria said, taking her leave.

Lisa was not expecting Stephen’s call at this time of the day since they already made plans to meet his parents on Saturday. 

Seeing his call sent her anxiety through the roof and she couldn’t help the numerous unpleasant thoughts that ran through her mind in that millisecond.

How much worse could it get she said to herself, it was just a simple meeting with his parents, not a court appearance.

Still, the growing worry that something was wrong didn’t leave her mind. 

She attributed it to the fact that Stephen himself had been off lately. Maybe he was also on edge as she, about taking her to see his parents.

All would be revealed in due to time, she assured herself. Alas, she was not prepared for the bomb that was about to explode in her face.

She slides the receive button and placed the phone to her ears, holding it there with her shoulders as she rearranged her desk.

“Hello darling”, she answered.

“Lisa, we need to talk”, Stephen replied.