THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
EPISODE 35
“So what would you like for dinner?” Kathleen asked loud enough for everyone of her colleagues who were on their way home to hear. Pete couldn’t help wondering what had suddenly taken over Kathleen as they walked over to the car
“Daddy Kat promised to make something delicious. I want to learn how to cook too, can I cook with her?” Amanda asked excitedly making Pete frown. Was this a planned work? he knew his daughter well enough to know he wouldn’t put such a thing past her.
“I’d rather you surprise us.” Pete said, deciding to play along with whatever Kathleen was up to. Hopefully that would make her not bring up the issue of her stolen lunch.
He could see most of the staff whispering amongst themselves, and he didn’t need to be an expert to know Kathleen was trying to give them something to talk about. But the question was why? For someone who had been hiding from them just that morning, how could she have changed so much in the space of some hours?
“Why are you not getting into the car?” Kathleen who had settled down in the car asked when she noticed he was still standing.
“Is there a reason why you’re being so extra this evening? Or is it because I ate your lunch?” Pete asked immediately he got inside the car.
“Extra? Weren’t you the one who said we didn’t owe anyone any explanation?” Kathleen asked feigning ignorance.
“Not owing anyone an explanation isn’t the same as making them believe something is going on.” Pete pointed out, looking at her with a slightly raised brow.
Kathleen raised her hand to cover her mouth in mock surprise, “Really? But I’m going to prepare dinner tonight, am I not? Maybe my voice was a little too loud when I said it. So they probably overheard me. I should learn to speak more quietly. Right Amanda?” Kathleen asked making Amanda to giggle while Pete shook his head.
“Well, about the food, you don’t have to feel too embarassed about eating it. I’m not petty, and petty isn’t me.” Kathleen said with a smile which told him she deliberately used those lines to taunt him and remind him of how he had taken the food from her on Sunday.
Pete chuckled and shook his head as he drove out of the parking lot, while Amanda smiled to herself enjoying the communication between her father and Kathleen.
Kathleen couldn’t help but wonder if she was overdoing it, and taking Sharon’s advise too far. She sighed when she remembered that she still had her mother to face when she gets to the house. She really wasn’t looking forward to seeing her mother, but she knew she didn’t have much of a choice this time.
“What changed your mind though?” Pete asked after driving in silence for a while, cutting into Kathleen’s thought.
“What changed my mind what? I don’t understand your question.” Kathleen asked in confusion.
“The switch from shy church girl to pepper them gang just within ten hours. What happened?” Pete asked, turning to spare her a glance.
“I took your advise. Isn’t that good enough?” Kathleen asked with a sigh.
“Since when did you start taking my advise?” Pete asked with a scoff.
“Since you started giving it.”
“Okay, so take my advise and find time to make your hair this weekend.” Pete said making Kathleen turn to look at him with a scowl as she raised a hand to her hair self-consciously.”
“Why do I feel like you’ve been waiting to say that to me?”
“Because I’ve been waiting to say that. I could give you an advance payment of your salary if money is the problem.” Pete offered knowing that she would probably not it if he offered to pay for her hair.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
Truly money was part if not the real reason she was yet to make her hair. This whole adulthood thing was just one big fat scam. Like bills just keeps piling up whether or not you want them to, “I like carrying my natural virgin hair. And I’d also rather you give me everything at once, so save it until it’s payday. Thanks for the offer.” Kathleen said politely.
“Does that mean you won’t make your hair? We could go make our hair together on Saturday.” Amanda offered, hoping Kathleen would agree. The salon where Pete always dropped her off to make her hair during the weekends was always filled with mothers and daughters, yet she was always there by herself some of the time, or just with her father when he wasn’t too busy.
“Yes. We couldn’t make her hair last weekend because of the incident at your place, so you could take her to the salon this weekend. And maybe retouch your hair or do whatever it is you women do to make your hair shiny. Your hair looks too dull and unkempt.” Pete added making Kathleen frown.
“That reminds me, why didn’t you tell me you asked my sister to help you pick up your mom?” Pete asked when he remembered the woman in Ella’s car.
Ella told him about it? Why? Kathleen wondered, “Because I didn’t think you would be interested in such personal details. I sought her help as a friend, not as my employer’s sister.” Kathleen explained.
“So how come everyone around me you’ve met just once are your friends, yet I’m not?” Pete asked making Kathleen sigh. She really needed a car for herself. That would save her from answering too many questions from both father and daughter.
“You never said you wanted to be my friend. They both asked to be friends, you asked me to be your employee.” Kathleen responded with a shrug.
“So I have to ask?”
“Yeah. You should ask.” Amanda chipped in from the back seat.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
*********
Eric let the movie keep playing as he watched Kimberly as she slept. She had dozed off almost as soon as they started seeing the movie, making him wonder just how tired she was. Seeing how innocent and small she looked without her wig made him smile. She had been so outraged earlier when he had taken off her wig to reveal her rough hair which she had obviously failed to comb.
“How could you do that?” She had asked as she quickly picked up the pillow and placed it over her rough hair while Eric roared with laughter at her reaction. He had laughed so hard that a tear had dropped from his eyes.
“It’s not funny! That’s not a nice thing to do!” She had yelled at him angrily.
“You’re going to be my wife, are you not?” He had asked as he tried to calm his laughter.
“What has that got to do with it?” She snapped at him irritably still holding the pillow to her head with one hand and stretching out her hand for him to hand over the wig.
“Get used to me seeing you like this. There’s no one else around here anyway, and it’s not like you’re in love with me or you’re sexually attracted to me, right? So you don’t have to worry about me seeing your unkempt hair. The weather is really hot, so why don’t you change into one of my light t-shirts so you don’t ruin your clothes?” Eric had asked as he walked over to the opposite side of the room and hung the wig on a nail making it clear he had no intention of returning it.
“Now be a good girl and drop the pillow.” He told her with a charming smile as he would give to a silly little kid.
“My hair…”
“Yes it’s rough. But like I said, I have a mother and sister, so I understand how you ladies can cover your really messy hair with a wig in one second. It doesn’t matter to me. Just drop the pillow already. See how much you’re sweating.” Eric had said with a frown as he moved to the wardrobe to find suitable oversize polo for her.
Kimberly finally managed to let the pillow drop on the bed, while he threw a t-shirt on the bed, “You can go in and change into that. You should at least be comfortable while we watch the movie.” Eric had said as he returned to the bed while Kimberly had quickly hurried into the bathroom with both her phone and the t-shirt.
After changing out of her clothes, Kimberly had used her phone’s camera to assess her hair and see how rough it looked, “Do you have a comb?” She had called out.
“No. Just an hairbrush.” Eric had responded.
“Can I have it?” She had asked as she stepped out of the bathroom wearing just the oversize t-shirt. Eric had almost grinned when he noticed the way she held the edge of the t-shirt self-consciously like she was trying to drag it down to cover her laps.
“Sure. Over there.” He had said pointing to the wardrobe, and watched as she walked over to get it, “Do I make you uncomfortable?” He had asked making her frown.
“Huh?” Kimberly had asked, turning around to look at him as though she hadn’t heard him correctly.
“Are you uncomfortable around me?” Eric repeated.
“Why?” Kimberly asked as she brushed back her hair which was looking very scattered.
“Because it’s a question that needs an answer. I’ve seen your Instagram pictures and how you wear skimpy clothes, so how come you’re tugging down a t-shirt which stops slightly above your knee?”
“I’m not!” Kimberly denied making Eric snort, as he sat up on the bed to watch her. He rested his back against the wall and placed both palms behind his head comfortably as he followed all her movements with his eyes.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
Kimberly dropped the brush at the place she had picked it from before returning to the bed to join him. She made sure she kept a reasonable distance from him so that neither of their bodies touched each other.
“Are we going to watch it like this? Shouldn’t we lie on our stomach?” Kimberly asked as she opened her Netflix app and started looking through it for movies.
“You’re more pretty without the wig and heavy make-up. You look younger too. How old are you?” Eric asked making Kimberly lift a brow.
“It’s rude to ask a lady that, haven’t you been taught that?”
“Abeg answer something jare! Am I going to eat your age? I can ask for your name and your birthday but not your age? Is your age something you’re supposed to be embarassed about?” Eric asked dryly.
“When we first met you seemed like you don’t talk much, but you actually do.” Kimberly muttered.
Eric was almost tempted to tell her he really didn’t talk much until he met her, but he didn’t think it was necessary. “So you regret asking me to marry you I suppose? It’s not too late to change your mind though.” Eric added.
“I didn’t say that.”
“So you still want to marry me then I suppose.” Eric said with a teasing smile making Kimberly let out a weary sigh.
“Are we going to watch the movie or not?” She asked impatiently.
“Of course we will. After you tell me your age and your birthday.” Eric said without taking his eyes off her. He was still trying to understand the type of person she was, and what she liked in a guy. She did want someone reserved? Or someone chatty and naughty? He wasn’t curious because he had any interest in her… but more because he wanted to be able to play the role of a perfect husband.
“If you checked my Instagram page as you said, then you should have known that I clocked Twenty-seven last month, August eleventh.”
“So did you die now that you told me your age? Everytime you ladies will come up with tricky quotes to get your way. I’m pretty sure the person whoever came up with the idea that it was rude to ask for a lady’s age, is probably a spinster going out with a man younger than her.” Eric said making Kimberly giggle.
“Whatever. Let’s just watch the movie before I leave.” Kimberly said as she played the movie, and adjusted on the bed. She had to admit she was in a much better mood now than she had been when she came in. It was obvious Eric did know how to be annoying and sweet at the same time. At the rate he was going, she was going to have to start covering her heart with the blood of Jesus. The last thing she wanted was to become emotionally attached to him, even though she still didn’t believe in love.
“You don’t want to know how old I am? Or isn’t that what’s supposed to come after I answer your question?” Eric asked, wondering why she wasn’t so curious about him. She was making his double life even easier than he would have thought possible.
Kimberly paused the movie and turned to look at him, “Well, I figured if I found out all there is to you before we get married, I might get bored within the first week. So I’d rather take it slow so there is always something to discuss when we run into each other around the house.” Kimberly explained before returning her gaze to her phone’s screen.
“Run into each other?” Eric repeated.
“Yes. We are going to be more like flatmates unless we receive a visitor, remember!” She asked without taking her eyes off her phones screen as she played the movie again, “Lets see Merry Men. So many people have been talking about it.”
“Cool.” Eric said as he lay down beside her.
Looking at her now as she slept, he remembered Ali’s conversation with her earlier, and stood up. He quietly walked out of the house shutting the door behind him.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
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