Chapter Three

As the launch ended , Mr . and Mrs. Andrew invited Alex's parents to dinner in their home . Most people took them for very close friends , but the two families knew otherwise . Having migrated from the East about fifty years ago when one wealthy family had alienated their property , the two families had stayed close to each other , sharing their fortunes and misfortunes . Only Andrew and Delemare knew that they were brothers, excluding their octogenirian mother who had decided to stay back in the East .

" Go on ,we will catch up with you at home ," Grace told the parents . " We have a few things to clear up in the office before we call it a day ."

" That's fine , but don't you dare keep us waiting ," cajoled her mother .

" We won't, Mum . Would we ?" She inquired of Alex , a broad smile on her face .

" We won't dare !" responded Alex . " Just a little paperwork and we are done ."

The two hurried into the office as the parents walked towards their cars .

* * * * *

" Am curious to know why we couldn't accompany the old couples for the sumptuous dinner ," Alex prompted her as soon as they entered her office . 

" Am also curious to know a few things from you in view of what has happened today ," she responded , holding his hands .

" It has been the greatest day of our first invention , but forgive me . Why , we could have reminisced over that on our way home , or at home ?" He wondered , feigning some surprise .

" Don't play dump with me ! Am not into the launch and the drug .You perfectly understand what I mean!"

" And that's ?" He cajoled , leading her to a seat .

" To start with , why were you too inquisitive about Jack ?"

" Was I now ? I didn't realize he had colonized your heart ."

" Nonsense ! Who has said anything about colonization of the heart ? Besides , he seemed to be amiably fine ."

" Well , it is none of my business to think otherwise , but you barely know him ."

" And you do ?" She asked , looking him straight in the eyes . She blushed as the feeling that had crept up her nerves earlier resurfaced . Her heart beat faster .

" No , I don't ," he responded after what seemed to be an eternity because he was fighting a strong urge to touch her delicate , sensual lips with his fingers . An awkward silence ensued , each trying to camouflage the true feelings inside .

" However ," he continued , " I have a confession to make ."

" A confession ? What wrong have you committed ?"

" I don't know whether am wrong or right . I will know If you give me time to purge it out of my chest ."

" Okay , go on please ."

" Thank you . For a very long time now , I have been struggling to hide deep inside me my true feelings for you . In fact from the time we were in nursery school . Do you remember that skit we performed in school called ' Together as One '?"

" Yes , I do ! I can recite it verbatim even now !" She started as he joined.

' If you could hold my hand ,           On the beautiful warm sand ,         In the tintalizing noon ,                    Or in the romantic moon ,                   I would be a conquerer !

If life was an epic play ,            Whose heart would I slay ,                If not the beautiful yours ,            Into one complete ours ,                  To become together as One ?'

They locked eyes for long at the end of the recital as if each was trying to find an answer to the question in the skit . 

" I don't know what made that teacher to pair us two , but one thing I know is that the images of you and I holding hands have remained deep inside the core of my heart since then . I have managed to suppress my emotions all this long because of our studies and careers . I must own up to the fact that the events today took care of the last vestiges of restraints that I have been having ." He moved closer and held both of her hands .

" What is it that you are trying to say in so many words ?" She asked , amusingly . " Plus , I have never known you to be such romantic . What do you expect me to do with such a belated confession ?" She teased .

" What am saying is that my heart has been enslaved by you . I want yours and mine hearts to pulsate as one for the rest of our lives ."

" I could echo similar sentiments and embrace the whole idea , but to do so would be betraying your fiancee . Remember , you didn't have the same feelings when you started dating Kate two years ago ?"

" You are grossly mistaken ! Kate was an imposter and it was you who instigated the mess ."

" Was ? Are you two not seeing each other anymore ?"

" Long story ."

" Try me , am all ears !"

" To cut the long story short , we stopped seeing each other about six months ago . I couldn't put up with her philanderous behavior in addition to not loving her . I think she has moved on ."

" Am sorry to hear so . When I met her in college , I thought she was a decent girl . Accept my apologies for introducing her to you . Nevertheless , the magnitude of what you are proposing needs further consideration and time ."

" I have waited all this long time to tell you , a little more time won't hurt . Take all the time you need , but am afraid there isn't much to consider given the fact that you have always known me ."

" Am sure there's a part of you I haven't always known !" She blushed as he held her head between his palms and tilted it upwards so that their faces were separated by a few inches . Her heart hammering against her chest , her soft lips vasodilated and became dry , yearning for his kiss . It never came . 

Alex fought against the urge , thinking it to be inappropriate . He instead caressed her lips with his finger and let her free .

" Well , it's time we got home for that dinner , otherwise my Mum would be upset ," she finally found her voice and they strode out of the office .

* * * * *

Grace's parents retreated for sleep after seeing their visitors off at the end of the sumptuously delicious dinner . Nowadays , they could afford to host any number of guests in their two-storeyed house thanks to their hard-working daughters . Their long marital union had blessed them with three daughters , namely , Grace , Fariya and Ruth in that order . 

While Grace had delayed marriage due to her career ambition , Fariya , her immediate follower , had gotten married immediately after graduating with her Bachelor of Laws degree . She was now blessed with one child and running her practising firm jointly with her husband . At twenty-three , Ruth was doing her Master's degree in Medical Engineering in a foreign University .

" Did you notice anything unique in the way Grace and Alex are relating of late ?" Mr. Andrew asked his wife. 

" Well , are we to be bothered even now when they are adults ?" She inquired . " While I noted that they are acting like a courting couple , I wouldn't say that I have any qualms about it ."

" Then perhaps it's time I told you that they can't intermarry ."

" Why on earth can't they ? They have always worked hard together and been close to each other ."

" I don't dispute that . It is to do with consanguinity . It could be incest if they ever thought about it ."

" You are perplexing me . What is the relationship between the Delemares and us ? Are you privy to some secretes that am not aware of ?"

" It is a long story . I will tell you in due course . Let's wait and see how it unfolds between them , and besides , our observations might be erroneous . For now , we could do with a little sleep as it has been a long day ."