The Encounter

Chapter 8

Blessing pov:

We both stood there just staring at each other, none saying a word, each just trying to catch their breath. Cola walks past me and heads for the mini bar, after what felt like ages of just staring at each other, he opens a bottle of whiskey and pours himself a drink, downing it all in one go, “want some?” He asks me, like an after thought,

“yeah I could use a drink”… I said not sure if I’m to go get it, or he’d bring it to me, “what do you want?….” He asked staring at me “ I’ll have what you’re drinking “

“No Blessing… it’s too strong, I won’t let you drink this, maybe a champagne or wine or…...”

“That’s my problem with you” I cut in, walking up to the bar, “I know what I want and that’s that whiskey you’re having, but NO… Cola knows best, and after all I’m just a little girl, that control is what I’m talking about, I hate you constantly telling me what I can or can’t do, I’m a grown woman and need I remind you that I’m….I….I know what I want” I say almost saying that I am a mother.

I grabbed the bottle off the table top and drink from it, the liquor burnt more than I expected but I couldn’t let him tell me, that’s why he said no, gosh my chest was on fire and so were my lungs but I pretended to be okay and went on….” Now may I have a drink?”

“ yes ma’am” he says pouring me a glass, he hands it over to me and watches me closely, I hated the taste, but had to take another sip as he was fully focused on me.

I take a sip, slower this time and it did feel better than my first try, “well than…” Cola said and goes ahead to pour himself another glass.

After he takes a few sips of his, he gestured at the recliner for me to sit, once I was seated he clears his throat like a man about to make a big speech.

“I had no idea that me trying to protect you both physically and mentally, was seen as a form of control, I only wanted the best for us, I wanted you to be happy, and I honestly didn’t want you to have to stress over anything…… I thought what I did was the best course of action…” I tried to say something but was cut off by Cola raising his hand “BUT….but, I see my errors and I should have asked you what you wanted, that was the best way to make you happy. By knowing and doing, what you wanted.”

I take a sip of my drink while he refills his empty glass which I have no recollection of him emptying

“I’m sorry my temper scares you, I’m sorry I let it come between us, you know I’d never hurt you. Blessing I still do, and don’t think I could ever stop. Baby I love you, I love you so much that it scares me half to death. I don’t know how to stop it, and that scares me, if something should ever happen to you, I didn’t know what I’d do, but I should have trusted you as well. I should have let you handled things, cause I know you’re capable of doing that….”

He walks around the bar to hold my hands and look me in the eyes, damn… that drink was way stronger than it burnt, my head was swamped I lost my footing but he steadied me… “I got you baby, I got you, that was all I wanted you to see even then…. I just needed you to know that, this is family, I’ve got you and you weren’t alone no more, cause I got you. I guess I didn’t know how to show you that” he try’s to chuckle but I could tell he was nervous and was forcing it

“ you should have asked me Cola”….

“ I know, I know”….

“You should have asked if I wanted to get married”…

“What?…. You didn’t want to get married to me? I thought…. I…I felt that since you finally agreed to consummate our union you wanted to be with me forever, you were a virgin, a woman don’t just give that to a man after 23years of her life without it meaning something to her”….

He looked confused almost scared of something, I didn’t know what but I knew he didn’t understand what I was trying to say

“I grabbed his face in between my hands and stare into his eyes as best as I could from my disadvantaged height point which was almost a foot short in comparison to his,.

“that’s not what I meant baby, I wasn’t ready for marriage, it’s a whole new load of responsibilities and I wasn’t ready. I’d just bagged my degree, I wanted to work and see the world, I didn’t mean YOU, I wasn’t ready to marry anyone. I gave myself to you because I loved you, and I could not see myself with anyone else but you?….”

“LOVED?”

Cola asks me, looking a little lost, emotions quickly changing from his features, something seemed to harden in his eyes and he straightened his back leaving my palms void and craving the warmth and feel of him.

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry as fear, desire and doubt floods me, I straighten my back and force myself to look him in the eye, letting him see me as I said “I still do…. I love you”

He takes a deep breath, looking away, I felt the ground shift underneath me, what if I was wrong what if he no longer wanted me, as my anxiety grew he clears his throat and asks me “ and now?”

I was puzzled “what about now? I said I love you I meant it, I still do”