Chapter 21 Unveiling

They sat in companionable silence for a while, and then Dave asked what he had been dying to ask since she picked her up. "What happened?" he chanced a look at her "With your Dad…I mean?"

Brenda shifted in her chair, looking uncomfortable "I d rather not say for now" she quickly added not that I don t want to but "I feel ashamed talking about it"

"Okay" he responded reasonably. "So where do you want to go?" he asked changing the subject.

"I don t know? Maybe a good hotel, my apartment is not ready yet."

"Maybe you could stay at my place." He said half teasing. He looked at her with intensity that always managed to shake Brenda to her chore.

She looked at Dave and his compelling features. She promised herself celibacy till she got married, and she knew agreeing to Dave suggestion will be like testing fate. Heat spread over her, Swallowing a knot that formed in her throat. "I- don t think that s a good idea."

"I was kidding," he said smiling just a little but the desire for her remained unveiled in his eyes. "Why don t I take you to Davila hotels? If you would like that"

"You work there right? That s perfect." She said with enthusiasm. I always love that place since the first day I saw it. The owner did a great job. The architecture, the interior designs too, looked good"

"Thank you I m glad you like the place it meant a lot." He responded, a soft smile played on his sensuous lips.

He drove into the parking lot, and helped her with the suitcases. He requested her to sit at the lounge, while he arranged for her room.

Brenda walked tiredly to the welcoming lounge. She set to sit, but dipped into her bag for her wallet, don t you need my Identification and debit card? She called before he walked too far.

"No. not really, I work here remember, so I have a waver" he quickly supplied.

"How about my debit card?" she asked again.

Dave smiled; he was doing this smile thing too often. "No, I got this"

"Are you sure? You know I can manage this. I m not broke overnight because I left my Dad s house, you know. Besides how do you want to manage the cost? This place looks expensive."

His expression became brooding once again and he snapped "I said I got this. You think I m so poor I can t manage to foot your bill"

Brenda kept mute, so much for improved mood. She returned her wallet back to her bag and took her seat. She was willing to take his insults, giving all he went through with her father; it s only a little price to pay for her guilt.

Brenda watched him from the longue, talking to one the receptionist who seemed to be nodding and typing some things into the system. The receptionist handed him what looked to be a key-card.

Dave came back, and invited her to follow him. She followed him to the elevator while Dave still dragged her suitcases behind him.

They were the only one in the elevator; both of them looked to have a lot on their mind.

Look…

I don t…

They both started the same time, and then stopped.

You can go first Dave said…

"See… I m …." She started again confused as to how to broach the subject with him. She could see he was trying hard to be civil probably because of his sister; and she had to meet him half way if they were ever going to bridge the chasm between them. And how ever Dave reacted; it was justified. But they had to talk and she owed him an apology.

"Well…?" He prompted.

But the ding indicating the arrival to their suites interrupted the discussion.

Brenda gave a short laugh "Saved by the bell, I guess"

"Yeah right" He scoffed, but his eyes did all the talking.

Brenda was mesmerized when they stepped out of the elevator. Dave must be held in high regard to have gotten her the presidential suite. "This is beautiful." He commented as she followed him to the door.

Dave swiped the card and the door opened… if the exterior was beautiful the interior was breath-taking.

"Woo!"

You like? He watched her expression like that of a little girl in a candy store.

"I love it. Thank you for doing this for me…. hope it… well, never mind. it s beautiful" she was going to ask if it didn t cost him much, but have learned from experience that money talks make him uncomfortable enough to be snappy or irritated. Though she couldn t fathom the reason why he will be sensitive about it, but she will not ruin the delicate camaraderie between them.

The expression on her face was all the reward he needed. He smiled again. Dave checked his time "it s almost 11:00 pm. It s getting late, you should get some rest." He left her things in the middle of the massive sitting room. "I think I should head back home now,"

Brenda abandoned her admiration of the room, turning to Dave who was her knight for the night. "Thank you" she was really grateful for coming all the way to pick her on whim. It meant a lot to her. It gave her hope that the Dave she knew was not completely gone, but hidden somewhere inside the Cynical Dave.

You are welcome. He turned to leave.

"Wait…" she quickly called to him

"For the tip you mean?" he jokingly responded

Brenda laughed "I think I can arrange that" biting her tongue with a seductive look on her face.

***

Dave knew they had a lot to talk about and both of them were stylishly avoiding broaching the past, which was why he wanted to run as quickly as possible, he wasn t sure he could trust himself. His emotions had been all over the place since he saw him at that party. And especially earlier with Aunty Cecilia, he didn t know if he could handle anything more, at least not tonight, which was why he gave that silly remark about the tip. But that flirty attitude of hers might get them both in trouble, if she kept it up.

"Can you please just give me a minute, I know it s late but I do need to talk to you." He heard her say seriously "I owe you an apology" without waiting for his reply.

"All those years ago I should have trusted you, I should have believed you" she walked towards him. "I get it if you hate me or never wanted to talk to me again I deserved it."

Gosh! She got him bad. "You don t have to apologize" he looked away from her "it s in the past"

"I finally see my father for the man he is" Dave s attention was snagged when he heard what she said.

"For one I didn t know all he put you through, but my hose keeper told me everything. Though not an excuse but I was a na?ve spoilt little girl"

Dave listened not saying a word. But the pain grew in his chest; he remembered not only the humiliation. But the fact that he was not there, when his mother needed him. That was the height of his pain. Despite all she did for him, taking his place for an offense she didn t commit. He still let her down. He doubt if he would be able to forgive himself.

"I know my Dad put you through a lot. Becky told me that much"

"You can t even imagine the half of it Brenda." He said through gritted teeth, his eyes becoming darker and his mouth tight with anger, staring into the distance. "Where do I begin? Was it the fact that I couldn t be with my mum when she died, because I was being punished for a crime I didn t even commit? Or because my sister hated me for a long time after that, when we were supposed to grieve together? She pushed me away, if not for Cecilia s intervention. She would have hated me for life, and I still carry the guilt of all I put her through too.

It was Brenda s turn to listen, tears shimmered in her eyes. He was simply too young to go through all that. "I m so sorry." She moved closer to him. Now, he was seated dejectedly on the sofa. Brenda sat on the arm of his chair and rubbed his back rhythmically, offering him any comfort, even if it was as little as rubbing his back. He looked to be in a lot of pain. "Your sister should know it wasn t your fault your mum died, the time she did, she was sick however unfortunate."

"That s the point. It was my fault Brenda. And I have blamed everyone, my Dad, even you. But the truth is I was the cause of her death. He laughed scornfully "I blamed everyone except myself"

"Don t be too hard on yourself Dave you couldn t have known she was going to die on that day."

"If I had not killed my Dad, she would not have gone to prison; maybe she wouldn t have gotten sick in that awful environment, let alone dying when she did."

Brenda stopped listening at the kill my Dad part. "Wait, you did what? You killed your Dad?"

"Yes Brenda I did, I m a horrible person. And I m responsible for both of my parents' death" he broke down, and wept like a baby, dropping his head in his hands, he groaned.