Chapter Fifteen

SONIA

"Hey honey, how was it?"

I closed my eyes and opened it immediately when I saw my mum discussing with my aunt Helen. I nodded with a smile at my mum.

I wasn't ready to tell her right now, in the presence of my beloved aunt whom I hadn't met in five years, that my daughter's father practically threw me out of his office and even told my daughter that I was nothing but one of those poor beggars who came to beg for money.

It was really hard to look at them and not burst into tears.

Aunt Helen saw right through me and stood up to hug me.

"Oh honey" She started crying immediately, as she engulfed me in her arms.

"I've missed you too Aunt Helen" I cried till my tears started forming wet patches on Aunt Helen's shirt. She didn't even care.

She led me back to the couch and I sat wedged between my mum and my aunt.

Under normal circumstances, this would have brought joy to my heart, but this time around, I was deeply pained.

"He asked me out of his office. He wouldn't even listened to me. He- he-" I couldn't even get the words out of my mouth.

"He did what, Sonie?" Aunt Helen asked impatiently.

"He told Catherine I'm just a poor beggar"

My mum stood up immediately.

"How dare he say that?!!' She shouted at the top of her voice.

"Lisa, calm down, okay?" Aunt Helen said.

"No, I wouldn't. Whatever Sonie did or didn't do, shouldn't warrant him disrespecting her that way. She's still Catherine's mother, no matter what!! He shouldn't treat her that way. He shouldn't!!! He's an adult for Christ's sake. He's mature, and He's a Christian. I am going there to give him a piece of my mind. I sure am!!" My mum yelled in anger.

"Then I'm coming with you" My aunt said and carried her bag with her.

I stood up and looked at the both of them.

This was so wrong.

Ben would surely get a wrong impression of me, if my mum and aunt comes to fight on my behalf and who knows what he might do next?

"Please mum. You shouldn't stress yourself. It's my problem. I'll handle it myself" I responded.

"No baby. We're in this together. It's all my fault actually. If only I hadn't kept the secret from you for so long..."

"What's done is done mum. We just have to move on" I responded weakly and turned to go to my room, when the door moved a little, followed by soft knocks.

"Is anyone in?"

I turned back to the sound of the voice and was stunned to see Ben.

"Hello Miss Gordon. Hello to you too, Aunt Helen" He said politely to my mum and aunt.

My mum advanced towards him menacingly - her eyes blazing red like fire.

"You've got a lot of nerve coming down here Ben" My mum said.

"Yeah, I know. And I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for how I spoke to you, Sonia. If you'd have me, let's have that conversation again privately, please?" He pleaded.

I looked to my mum and aunt.

Before I could respond, my mum interrupted.

"Whatever you have to say, start talking now"

"No mum. It's between Ben and me. I'd be back soon. I love you" I kissed her and walked outside.

Ben followed closely behind me.

"I hope you don't mind that I didn't come with my car" He asked.

I could only nod, because at this point in time with him, I really was short of words.

The Ben I fell in love with, isn't the same Ben I'm walking with now.

I really didn't know what to say to him, nor even how to address him.

"A new place just opened around town. Your mum goes there for women's group meeting once in a while. Do you want us to try the place?"

I looked up at him.

"My mum is involved in this town's activities?" I asked.

"It's a church gathering for elderly women, but yeah your mum's also involved in this towns activities, and a whole lot. You have a lot of catching up to do" He said, with a smile, that made me feel a little bit relaxed in his presence.

"Alright. I guess we could check out the place" I responded nervously.

"What would you like to take, Sonia? I'm afraid the only nice food they make here are sushis and tacos" He said with a small smile.

"No, it's okay. I'm fine" I responded, fidgeting with my fingers, hoping he'd just start this conversation and get it over with, as soon as possible, so I can leave.

"Alright Sonia. Look, I'm really sorry for how I treated you back at my office. I was having a bad day and I just remembered that my mum's death anniversary is today, so everything was just playing mind tricks on me. Catherine also caught a tooth infection today and I've been figuring easy ways to take care of her. I also lost a very important business contract today as well, so everything coupled with the reminder of what you did, to Catherine and me, made me lose it"

"But Ben I.."

"No Sonia, my actions are actually inexcusable, because no matter what you did, I shouldn't have said such things about you to Catherine. If you must know, I've rectified everything. I told her you're one of my old friends but you had to get away for something very important, and you're back now, and she'd be seeing more of you from now"

I looked up at him.

My heart swelled with pride and joy.

He'd really cleared my name? That was a huge relief for me.

"Thank you so much Ben. You don't know how much relief this information has cost me" I said, longing to grab his hands in appreciation, but quickly refrained from doing that, due to dear of embarrassment.

"I promise not to let you down, Ben. Honestly. I'm never leaving again. I'm here to stay finally"

"It's alright" Ben responded.

Just then a waitress came along, and this time around we both ordered two plates of sushis, with soy sauce.

I'd actually never eaten such food combination before, but Ben suggested that it was nice and I try it, so I had to try it.

Truthfully, I really enjoyed it and we ended up getting another plate for me, as we talked endlessly over the next few hours.

It was really so nice to talk freely with Ben.

It was in the heat of the moment that I realized how much I'd missed him.

As for love, I really had no idea if I still loved him.

"I've really missed you, Ben" I admitted uncontrollably, and started hoping and praying he felt the same way. At the same time, I braved myself up for an embarrassment.

"Hmm. It's alright. There's one more thing, though, that you need to know"

"What's that?" I asked, with trepidation and fear rising in my heart.

"I'm engaged!!"