What Love Sees

Eight

Karen shrugged as she bit into her snack “Well I fail to see what the problem is”, she said with her mouthful

“Seriously Karen, the guy has been promised to my sister”

“Oh please Natalie, do you hear yourself? The guy has been promised? Where are we, in Victorian England?” laughed Karen but Natalie sighed and Karen soon sobered up

“Look Natalie, Richard is not a baby, he is a grown man and you guys trying to control his life is ridiculous and to be honest, mean” continued Karen but she raised her hand when Natalie was about to protest

“You are doing exactly the same thing your sister is doing, manipulating the poor man, you all think you know what he wants better than the man himself, you all believe you know what’s good for him and you are all manipulating him, although in different ways, but manipulating just the same and it is unfair” argued Karen

“I just want him to be happy Karen, I don’t have anything to offer him”, Natalie was almost in tears and Karen sighed

“Natalie, Richard is old enough to know his mind, the man runs a company for God sake and it is completely unfair to not trust him to be able to decide on what he wants and you are being unfair denying you both the happiness you deserve, so think about it Natalie, think long and hard before you send him on his way”, said Karen

However, Natalie made up her mind after her confrontation with Elizabeth and her mother a few days later

“What game do you think you are playing Natalie? I have failed to see the funny side of it” Elizabeth burst out

“What are you talking about?” asked Natalie

“I think the question should be ‘who’ are we talking about?” replied Maybelline

“It’s Richard and you know exactly what I mean” retorted Elizabeth, Natalie frowned and explained that she had not seen Richard in almost two weeks

“Precisely, and he has been asking where the hell you are, calling the house, that in my own opinion is the wrong enquiry, he is not supposed to be asking for you! I didn’t say anything when you two were spending time together. I was glad that he felt pity for you and was just helping you out, but frankly now, I don’t like how you are taking advantage of his help”

She crossed her arms and glared at her sister

“His attention is supposed to be on me, when he’s with me, he’s not supposed to be asking or talking about you” she snapped

“Natalie dear,” said Maybelline gently as she went to sit beside Natalie “I don’t want you to get hurt, I don’t want you to mistake Richard’s friendship for something else, Richard has always liked being needed, he can’t help it, he likes to help those less able and I don’t want you to read more into it than what it actually is, do you understand?”

“I haven’t done anything mum, and besides, it’s not my fault you are insecure about your relationship with Richard, Elizabeth. And as you’ve pointed out, why would Richard Waters be interested in me when you are with him?”

“Exactly, you are not just his type so stay away from him”

“Believe me, I know. I am going to my room I have a headache. Be rest assured sis, I haven’t seen or spoken with Richard, so you see, there’s no cause for alarm”.