THIRTEEN
More than half of the morning Rick had done things absentmindedly. And right that moment he was walking from one point to another in the living room, in search of something. Diane watched him as she sliced some apples at the dining table.
‘What you looking for?’
‘Um, the remote, I can’t seem to find it.’
Diane looked at his hand and then at him, ‘which of the remotes?’
‘TV.’
Diane smiled with a side lip and shook her head in pity.
‘What?’ he spread his hands in the air; the remote was in his right hand.
‘You’re holding it Rick.’
Rick furrowed and looked at his right hand; he felt embarrassed. ‘Oh, i—it happens,’ he shrugged.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yeah I am,’ he walked to the living room and Diane followed with the plate of sliced apples.
‘Are you sure? Cos you don’t look okay to me,’ she stared at him.
Rick looked at her and met her gaze, he smiled and scrambled his brain to find an excuse.
‘Uh— It’s nothing darling, it’s just—you know— stress.’
‘Stress?’
‘Yeah, stress, I’ve been under lots of pressure lately, work, wedding, you know.’
‘Oh darling,’ she tucked a slice of apple in her mouth and moved closer to him, ‘here, eat this and you’ll feel better,’ she tucked one in his mouth.
He ate and smiled.
‘Now tell me,’ she continued as they sit. ‘Are you nervous to get married?’ she winked at him.
’What! No. How can I be nervous to get married? No,’ Rick said.
‘Okay so you’re nervous you’re marrying me?’ she teased.
‘What! No! What do you think? That you shake me? Hell no, I’m a strong man, I cannot be shaken,’ he demonstrated being strong with his arms.
Diane burst into laughter and he laughed watching her laugh and pulled her head to his chest.
‘You are a wonderful woman Diane and I’m so lucky to have you.’
Diane looked up at him and nodded up at him, ’what are you doing, you leaving me?’
Rick furrowed instantly, ‘what?’
‘You just said I’m a wonderful woman and you’re so lucky to have me.’
‘So?’ Rick asked in confusion.
‘That’s a farewell message, when you say that to someone, you’re saying goodbye to that person.’
‘What?’ Rick was surprised, he laughed. ‘Miss Diane Murray, did you go to school at all? I said I’m lucky to have you, not I was lucky to have you.’
Diane burst into laughter and Rick watch her in confusion.
‘What now? You’re laughing that you’re a dull head?’ he hit her lightly on the head playfully.
Diane held her head and laughed.
‘I was just teasing you, you wouldn’t leave me I know, or where else would you go huh?’ she nodded up at him.
Rick smiled and shook his head slowly like a baby, looking at her with emotions, ‘nowhere.’
‘Exactly!’ she laughed and he hugged her.
‘I love you Diane, I love you so much.’
Diane smiled in his arms, ‘I love you more Rick.’
Later, in the night, they decided to enjoy a little breeze in the compound. Rick sat on a chair and Diane stood behind him with her arms wrapped around his neck. There were glasses of juice on the table in front of them.
‘Oh no, I’m not going to accept that,’ Rick laughed and held her hands to his neck.
‘Oh yes, you will,’ Diane turned and sat on his laps.
‘And if I pass?’
‘You’ll eat my portion.’
‘No, I don’t eat much, let’s bet on something else.’
‘Alright then, we’ll switch careers; I’ll take over yours, become a doctor and you mine.’
Rick looked at her insanely, she stared at him then he burst into hard laughter, an uncontrollable one. Diane watched him then burst into laughter too. They laughed so much then Rick tried to control himself, he breathed.
Diane watched him.
‘My love, is everything alright?’
‘What? Of course yes,’ still laughing.
‘You are not Rick, remember I know you well enough to know if you are okay or not.’
Rick was silent.
‘I hope it’s not still about the wedding. I’ve told you to relax, it will be fine. We are not taking a wrong step my love. I just hope you will see it as a good thing.’
‘Oh no no my love, this is the best thing that can happen to me,’ Rick sighed and looked her in the eyes, ‘my love, the only thing I want you to know is that I love you so much and I can’t lose you for anything, not even a woman can come in between us, okay?’ Rick was lost in his own words.
Diane smiled and snapped her finger at his face, ‘c’mon snap out of that realm; I know that and you know I can’t lose you too, hmm?’ she leaned in and kissed his lips, ‘hmm?’
He smiled and nodded and she bit him on the lips.
‘Ouch!’ he screamed.
Diane ran away and he chased her around the compound then into the house.
Usman the gatekeeper was sitting in a corner by the well-trimmed flowers. He smiled watching them chase each other.