Chapter Three

Lucy the predator

" Wow! If it's not the two love birds. Theo how are you darling? Lucy spread her arms to give a signal for a hug to Theodora. Theodora stood up and they met in the middle of the room and  hugged each other. Lucy was all smiles and she had already forgotten that she was all sombre earlier on. They had a brief chat and it was time for Theodora to leave. "Let me leave you two to carry on with what you are getting paid to do. See you later my love", she said giving Larry a peck on the cheek.

Lucy was sitting still on her chair blinking occasionally. She flipped her pen between her fingers and her smile could show she was onto something. She had finally got a plan to worm her way to Larry's marriage. She and Theodora had one thing in common. They love the same man. What could make it impossible for them to be in the same level of minds. Not really friends but being friendly to each other. These were the thoughts that were invading Lucy's mind at that moment. She was plotting to get under Theodora's skin, something she could do with much ease as she knew how to win someone's heart without much ado.  She knew how to use her tricks to get what she wanted. If she managed to get Larry as strong willed as he was, what would make it difficult for a soft hearted Theodora to eat from the palm of her hand. These were the thoughts that went through Lucy's mind as she constantly glanced at Larry.

Larry who was already indulged in his work did even noticed those glances. "My handsome prince, it won't be long before you dance to my tune", she thought to her self while looking at him. Lucy was just answering few calls and hatching her plan every minute she got a chance. She was fantasizing about her own wedding day.  The more she thought about it the more she became convinced it was the way to get what she wanted. Larry on the other hand had no clue that Lucy was far from being over him. He was still focusing on his work when he sense that someone was looking at him. He lifted his head to find Lucy looking at him. " Is there something wrong", he asked. "She is a nice woman, I mean Theodora. She is really nice. I feel really bad about what we did behind her back. If I knew her before what we did I wouldn't dare to try it", she said dying to hear Larry's response. "M-m-mh! Well that is all in the past now. We can put it behind and move on", he said with a bit of guilt. "Oh! No Mr, that is where you are wrong", Lucy thought to herself smiling wickedly. She stood up quickly as if  she thought of something. "Yes, you are right. It's all in the past. We can focus on the brighter side of things like your wedding for instance. Thinking of which, I have to buy Theodora a gift, just a little something to make up for the bridal shower party I missed. And I will be making up for the mistake I did at the same time. So, I will be killing two birds at the same time(she knew what she meant was opposite). I nearly messed up. Instead of being a friend I became a vile woman", she said faking a hint of remorse. 

Larry was more guilty than ever. He felt he could get guts and tell Theodora the truth and sincerely apologize. But he stuck to his decision. What Theodora did not know would not hurt her. He decided to put the matter to rest. If he could knew what Lucy was plotting, he would have done the right thing and take things from there. Theodora was a reasonable person. She had a big heart. Yes, she was going to be hurt  but she was going to come around eventually. But since he decided to bury the truth, he felt like there was no need to open a can of worms, especially during the time they were heading for their big day. He wanted to make sure Theodora felt like a queen during their wedding. A girl gets married once in her lifetime. So, Theodora was entitled to be over the moon especially those days prior to the wedding. He did not want to spoil the mood. He on the other hand was thrilled he was finally tying the knot. He felt like he had answered all the questions his grandmother was asking him all the time. "Larry when are you getting married?" She would ask. Sometimes she would remind him that she was not getting any younger. She was putting it clear that one day she would die and she would die a happy woman if she could see her grandchildren while she could talk. She could teach them a thing or two. Those dreams would be shuttered if Larry would delay getting married. His grandmother was the one who raised him since he was a little boy. His mother died when he was right years old. The only mother figure in his life was his granny. His grandfather leaved until he reached his wary years at high school and then he was no more. Her strong grandmother took the role of raising him with both hands. She knew that she has to be strong for Larry and his sister. Unfortunately, his sister also passed away at a tender age. She caught pneumonia while she was still a toddler. So, Larry was the only child, except his uncle who was working in a remote area. His uncle came home only on holidays and when he was on leave. He became the father figure after his father (Larry's grandfather) died. But his only problem was that he was a ladies man and he loved his booze too much. This made him to be cassanova of the town.

Larry remembered all those days he brought different ladies in their home. During weekends he would disappear and came back with some delicacies. Larry would enjoy eating while his uncle would singing while drinking his beer. Larry loved his uncle's sense of humour. He would laugh until his stomach hurt when he  cracked some jokes. He also loved his sense of style. Bro Joe (as he was passionately called) was a smart dresser. He knew how to mix colors and styles that were in fashion at that time. He would drew all the attention to himself in his neighbourhood. Some used to call him the 'champion' and the name fitted exactly to his kind of carefree lifestyle. When it came to partying, he was an animal. He knew all the fancy places that were attended by well known public figures. At times he would drink and dine without spending a cent. "They don't call me Champion for nothing', he would say when he started to crack his jokes. There is one story that Larry would always remember that his uncle told him about his wild lifestyle. One day he was invited by his friends to attend a top of the range party in Johannesburg. He was told to dress to kill as usual. He went to his famous 'Bro Joe"s closet. His friends would even come to pick their favourite outfits from his closet when they wanted to impress the ladies in some parties. So, Bro Joe picked his favourite outfit as usual. It was his check red Scottish styled suit with a white shirt and a bow tie. The trouser had cross belts. He would wear either sharp pointed black or black and white shoes. He would top it all with a matching cowboy hat. With that kind of outfit, the night would belong to him and the dance floor would his . He was always the life of the party. The night he was invited he was told that his favourite musician Hugh Masekela would be there. He was told that he was going to share the dance floor with him. How ecstatic he was and it was like the day was taking to long to come to an end. The time had finally arrived and he was ready to hit the dance floor. To his disappointment, Hugh was not there, instead there was a gumboots dance group. He was obliged to perform a spectacle gumboots dance moves. To make things worse he fell from the stage. He became so annoyed and embarrassed. Everyone was applauding for him to get up and dance. He just stood there until one lady came to pick him. It took him a while to recognise the lady. It was the famous popstar musician. He was blushing and excited at the same time. Before the party came to an end the lady disappeared. He was told that she went with her boyfriend. "How come", he thought the lady was into him. He went to the suburb she was staying in. He got mugged before he arrived at the lady's house. He knocked at her door half naked because the thugs took all his clothes. The lady gave him clothes and hired a cab to take him home. His friends laughed at him and he was furious. He spent the whole week without talking to them. 

Larry would laugh until tears roll down the face all over again  when he heard that story. The way his uncle was narrating it was hilarious. He was a good narrator. He would make the listener to feel like they were there when the story happened. That was what Larry missed about his uncle and his hero. Every boy in their Street knew that they could not touch Larry. Even the bullies knew their place when it came to him. His uncle taught him all the street fighting skills and besides they knew that they cannot touch the Champion's niece. Larry would feel protected when his uncle was around. He cried a lot when he passed away without seeing him growing up to be a fine young men. Although, he was close to his uncle, his grandmother would not allow him to familiar with his uncle's way of life. She protected him by all means. She knew that Larry would become easily affected when she allowed him to  be exposed to his uncle's habits. Instead she made sure she grabbed him by his arm to take him to church every Sunday. That is the reason Larry turned out to be a well groomed young man. That is the side of him that Theodora was mad about. She loved him into bits. She could not imagine how life would be without Larry. They had a lot in common. Like him, she was an orphan too. Her mother died when she was a little girl. She was raised by her uncle who was a strict man. Finding Larry's love was the best thing that ever happened to her. His love was closest to the one her mother would give her had she been alive. There was Lucy on the other hand, wanting to take all that from her. Lucy was adamant that Larry was her destiny. She saw him as a ticket to her happiness.