98. Back to Bloomville!

We sat in his car for a while just talking, he didn't feel comfortable coming to the house and I respected that, even more special - he didn't come empty-handed. He brought me flowers, some bath relaxation stuff, a box of chocolate, and an apology for not being in contact. I appreciated his sense of awareness, I didn't have to beg for an apology. That is the kind of person he was, my boyfriend. 

He stayed with me throughout the burial weekend but everyone pretty much left by Tuesday to get back to work, but I had to remain home for a week or two more which felt like they were not moving fast enough. I was missing Walter so bad and work was calling me back but at the same time, I didn't want to leave my mom alone.

I was conflicted, she was still not in the state to be alone...I offered to take her with me but she refused and also refused for me to stay home longer. I would've worked from home just until she was okay, but she was against the idea. Thankfully, I managed to convince both my grandmothers to stick around a bit longer, they both knew and understood what she was going through. I lost a parent, but my mom's pain was different, it was like she lost her will to live which worried me a lot, but thank goodness for my grandparents and Sandra's parents. I knew she was in great hands when it came time to return to my job and daily life.

The weekend came and it was finally time to leave and I couldn't wait to see my Walter, I remember texting him the moment I got into town. I wanted to see him first, but unfortunately, work got in the way and he asked for a raincheck on the dinner I had reserved for later that evening- on a weekend. I never felt so defeated and the knot returned - the old Walter would've made a plan, but I dismissed it again, I was the girlfriend now, and I needed to be more understanding.

Later that evening I heard a knock, and excitement instantly filled my heart thinking it was him, I never ran so fast to open the door but to my dismay, I found Ntando waiting with a big brown Chinese takeaway bag,

Seeing the defeated look on my face, he cried, "Oh, if I had known you'd be so disappointed to see me, I would have just sent the delivery...",

I awkwardly chuckled, "Mxm...of course I'm disappointed, I thought you were my man..."

Shocked by my words, he exclaimed, "Wait...he has not been here yet. I just-", I glared at him with daggers shooting out of my eyes, daring him to say one more smart thing, and he instantly retreated, "Anyway, I am sorry to disappoint you, I am Ntando, your friend/gym instructor/dietician/fun friend....or did I mention friend?"

I smiled, and he chuckled, "That's more like it. No frowning, no threatening glares.", he put the bag of food on the kitchen counter, "I figured you'd be hungry. Your grandmother told me to bring you something to eat..."

I coughed in shock, "My grandmother?! How does she have your number?!". I was surprised! Ntando burst out laughing seeing my pale face, "Don't worry, I won't indulge any funny ideas. I think she just worries about you. Like now for example, she told me to bring you food.", he winked, "And she's compensating me for this by the way - you know I never say no to money."

I didn't know what was going on in my grandmother's head, but I decided to get myself out of it. Besides, I knew whatever my grandmother was planning was not going to succeed. That's why I was able to confidently say, "Okay, I trust you. Also, don't let her bully you, my grandmother could be a lot sometimes...".

I proceeded to take a seat on the couch to wait patiently for him to finish plating, I was beyond hungry at that point.

I was washed over by cloud melancholy as I watched him gently plate the food. I couldn't help but wish it was Walter. I sighed heavily, alarming him to turn his head to where I was sitting,

As if knowing where my head was at, he smiled in assurance, "I am sure he has a valid reason, don't worry."

I murmured, "What are you talking about? I am not thinking about anything..."

He nodded in agreement, but I could see it in his eyes that he was not buying whatever I was selling.

There it was, another moment reminding me that there was nothing normal about Walter's behavior, but once again. I dismissed that feeling... I was his girlfriend now, so I needed to practice being more understanding, after all, Walter's job was more demanding than Ntando's, at least that's how I comforted myself.

The weekend was over in the blink of an eye, but sadly, it did not bring Walter to me, he apparently went on a sudden business trip because of one of his artists. We hardly texted, and honestly, at that point, whatever it was I was feeling, it had manifested into something more than just a feeling. I was now convinced that this man was playing mind games with me. I woke up to prepare for work, I hadn't been in the office since that awful incident, and I was very nervous about my "first day". I knew everyone was now aware of what happened and that did not help with my nerves.

As I feared, the moment I walked into the office, all eyes were on me and the whispers were impossible to ignore, but to my surprise, it was not about that awful event - it was about the expensive bouquet of red roses on my table apparently left by everyone's office crush, Walter himself. I was stunned, "Walter moved to our office??!", and not only that, the roses were accompanied by an invitation to dinner after work.

I almost felt bad for accusing him of playing with me, my heart instantly fluttered and I couldn't stop myself from blushing even if I wanted to, my man was back. This was the Walter I knew, the Walter I fell in love with and I couldn't wait to be in his arms - Oh how I missed him.