By the moon, I swear

CHAPTER 9

TRISTAN

Dressed in a black tux with a black shirt unbuttoned in the collar I felt ruggedly handsome but that confidence quickly diminished when I saw her. She was absolutely breath taking molded in a tight fitting red dress. Caressing her frame hugging every curve. I don’t know what it is about her that always left me breathless. She looked quite elegant while a looked like a teenage boy just caught in the right side of things for once. The things that my Linda always made me go through.

Linda or Amber as she calls herself nowadays was now officially my best friend. Funny I never thought we would get to that category. Friends yes, companionship yes, lovers, wife that I fore saw but this was totally new to me but it’s what she needed and I was more than ready to give it to her.

Women I never truly understand them. A couple of months back we were fine she was even teaching me how to cook. Gabriel as usual with his wrong timing interrupted and I bolted into my room. The next thing I knew she had broken up with Gabriel and was even giving me an explanation for it. She said she saw him more of a brother and nothing else. That of course gave me a lot of lee way. I don’t know why she would put her heart in a vulnerable position like that but I was more than grateful. It gave me hope. The will to fight for her heart again and profound admiration for her. For once she took the step to get closer to me unlike all the other times where most of the effort came from me.

Okay, I know she never said we were going to be together now that she was single but my heart couldn’t just help it. I mean she has and will always be the one. With her am complete. I’m also not stupid to believe that Gabriel will just leave the field plain open for me. I know he is also trying to woo her back. He has been taking her out for dates this past few days which I have been more than liberal considering but he just missed out on the bigger picture. All that matters is her feelings and she only sees him as a brother. What a sore loser.

This time around, I decided to do things differently. I wanted Linda to like me for me that is the only way I can rest easy assured she will always choose me. I mean hasn’t my heart gone through enough heartbreak. William had agreed to bring her by the office. I had some few final touches to finish before we went on our endeavors. Today I had a surprise planned out for her. One I’m sure she will greatly appreciate.

Walking towards her, I couldn’t resist but kiss her on the forehead while tuck her arm in mine while leading her outside to the limousine that awaited us. Contrary to its most common function I refused her to sit behind. She was on my lap up the front with the driver. The back of the car would have given her a clue on my surprise and I didn’t want it ruined. After all what is a surprise if not trusting your partner blindly?

AMBER

I don’t know what Tristan is up to but he’s been acting weird. I woke up to William telling me that I have to dress up to meet Tristan and that we were going to spend the whole day together. When I asked for more details he quickly escaped my presence saying that it was a surprise. One I hate surprises. Apart from the birthday my life has been full of nasty surprises. Two; William really ought to keep his mouth shut. I mean I just nudged him a little and he told me Tristan has a surprise for me. I wonder is it a surprise if he’s already told me am in for a surprise. But then again it kept me guessing, wondering. Always on my toes. Maybe he wasn’t dumb to tell me after all. Either way two could play the game. I put on my most erotic yet classy dress. Tristan is in for a shock. Looking forward to seeing his face when he realizes I’ve nudged up my game.

Frozen in spot, gasping, body tight and eyes flared when I caught his gaze was exactly the reaction I was expecting. His eyes remained glued to mine for a while before he got to his senses and guided me out of the company. I give up of course no matter how hard I try the joke is always on me. I’m the one that was shocked at the events turn out while the coy smile just played on his lips. First his dress code that totally drove me nuts, then the limo which he rented just for the day then me sitting on his lap. Not that I was complaining each bump brought a whole new meaning to riding a limo.

With his huge hands clasped tightly around my eyes, letting no light pass through. I couldn’t tell where we were. Yes we were out of the limo but I had barely had enough time to register my surroundings. I heard numerous feet shuffling around me but no one spoke. Everything in me sprang to alert. I didn’t know where we were, there were people surrounding us and none of them was talking. Everything about the scenario screamed of weirdness and danger. Did I trust Tristan, yes and no. Yes because deep down I knew he was a good guy who had a bit of affection for me, well so long as he thought I was his lover. And no because let’s face it. He can be weird and crazy and until recently the confidence than he wouldn’t even harm a hair on me diminished.

I wasn’t a coward well maybe deep down but so long as I kept a straight face no one would know right? I reached over my back clasping his shirt tightly between my fingers. I dint care which state of mind he was in at that time all I knew is that if that was hell I was going to face, so help me God but I was dragging him with to the very end.

My eye were set free and all that I had imagined had been nothing close. One moment I was frozen to the ground motionless my face expressionless and the next tears filled my eyes running down my cheeks in their own accord. Happiness, peace, love all erupting in me at the same time. I never thought I could feel so many emotions at once. I looked back at Tristan but he said nothing a smile on his lips told me he was experiencing the same thing though he was dealing with it better than I was. On the first row were my sisters and William, I don’t even know how he got there ahead of us and on the other ten rows were a bunch of kids of all ages. We were in a Children’s home. I must admit hands high, all surrendered that that was the best surprise ever. All kids ran towards me and I hugged as many as I could.

The limo opened and it was full of stuff to help them out. From designer clothes, to food, to toys, to shoes. I mean Tristan had thought of everything. He even gave each of them their new school ID’s. He had paid for their fees in one of the most elite schools. When I talked to him in private about that being too much for him to bare he responded by shrugging and saying that he was so loaded he wouldn’t feel a pinch. And that It was never about the money but his mum loved helping out others and it was too damn long since he helped himself. With nothing to respond with, I just hugged him and dragged him to where the others were.

We jumped we sang we played. Oh God, I don’t even remember the last time I lost myself like that. Letting myself feel the happiness. Loving freely being loved by strangers. Being appreciated just for being alive, for visiting yet I had done nothing much. Laughing so loud at jokes that were silly, relaxing. Seeing true love, true happiness in people yet they had so little. A true definition of the life God wanted us to live. Always dependent on him, trusting that he will pull us through in every situation. Trusting that he knows what’s best for us and that with him around we will never lack. Living every single second as if it was the last. With no regrets. Just full of joy and love. A life that in all my years I had never truly experienced. It was truly the best gift Tristan ever gave me. Though wrong, I couldn’t help but fall for him more and more.

Time went by so fast against all our wishes and we had to go back home. Since then though we made a point of visiting the kids thrice a week and I felt no guilt misusing the black unlimited credit card in buying them staff. It was mine after all. With Tristan money of course but he said it was mine to use as I wish. I never bought anything for me. Didn’t feel right but I wanted to make a difference with the kids. I wanted them never to experience sorrow or the childhood I had to go through. I gave them all that money could buy, I also gave them my heart and time. Apart from the few good people in my life, they became my family. A part of me.