CHAPTER SEVEN

JENNIFER

Something seems a little bit off about  Sammy, who is he? I thought to myself.  I couldn't quite picture his face, how is it that this is my first time hearing about Sammy. For I know well enough that I didn't see this face at the wedding.

I know these past few weeks after the marriage have been tough, we had not built a solid relationship for getting to know our friends, even though he knows mine, and did he keep the one hidden from me?

How come he is now the best friend I never knew of, where was he all this while, how come he is only coming into the picture now?

I for one know that this Sammy of a guy means no good, his intentions aren't pure. Something isn't right, He looks fishy.

Looking at them now as I sat down at the corner each engrossed in the other conversation, there seemed to be a genuine chemistry going on within them, a spark in their body chemistry that I just quite placed my fingers on it.

Seeing them gisting and laughing at each other's jokes creates a feeling of unease within me.

All of a sudden Mr. Davidson walked in, Sammy stood up as if something spoke to him, and I saw uneasiness written all over his face.

Looking over Mr. Davidson's composure, I knew something was wrong the moment he set his eyes on Sammy his whole facial expression changed.

This feeling of unease, saturated the air, as I stood there like a curious spectator. Mr Davison seems not so okay with Sammy being around his son.

Almost like there is a subtle communication going on in my presence. as I stood and watched the subtle body expressions going on from father to son, then from father to Sammy.

"Look who is here," I didn't think you would have the courage to come over to my house despite what happened the last time." You haven't learned your lesson the last time I dealt with you right?" Mr Davidson asked rhetorically.

I knew something was amiss because of their body language and the vibes they gave off gave room for me to suspect something fishy.

The trio is now aware of my presence their countenance so that I couldn't suspect that something was up, but I knew something was amiss, and I must find out whatsoever it is.

"Welcome Mr. Davidson," I said trying to ease off the overwhelming tension going on in the room." how was the business trip"?

I watched Mr Davison shift from his chair in a rather uncomfortable position as he answered my questions.

"Dad," Larry said "I can't see the marriage between the two of us working out, I can't afford to watch my back each time I step out of the house, for the fear of grieving ex seeking vengeance," Larry said to utmost surprise.

" It's not entirely Jennifer's fault you know, she didn't know it would lead to this" Mr Davidson added.

"Daddy I don't want to risk my life for this dad, who knows how many angry exes she has? I can't put my life on the line because of her dad"

"Hey!" Larry exclaimed, now facing me directly, I have never loved you and I will never will, I was forced into the ridiculous

Arrangement from this man over here"

" I can't afford to be on the lookout every day and be afraid for my life all because of this whore over her" he slammed back at me.

I wasn't expecting this type of resentment from Larry, I thought to myself, I bowed my head and looked down, staring at the squeaky-clean floors.

Just two days ago I was happy that we were leading to something tangible even if the gestures weren't borne out of pure love at least we were going somewhere before Brian came and scattered my plans.

But the man I'm seeing here has this hatred and his eyes are tinted with disgust,

Lifting my eyes from the floor, I met face to-face with Sammy, I was taken aback, as saw a little grin form on his lips.

"What the heck?"I thought, why does he have an evil grin, like he planned for all of this to happen something is fishy. He stood there fixated and looked like he was having the time of his life as Larry flared up on me.

While Larry was resenting Sammy was having the time of his life, he looked so glad about what was happening so much that he couldn't hide it.

 Why does he seem to enjoy every bit of this, I was confused, and this raised my curiosity.

There and then I saw their fingers interlocked under the hospital beddings, I twisted like two lovers re-assuring each other. I push the thought off my head.

Feeling like getting flabby, as if my body weight was suddenly too much for it to carry, I realized I was in the den of my misfortune." excuse me" I said in a flaky voice as I ran out of the room, down the stairs and into the dimly lit streets.

I saw a pub by the corner of the road and walked in, feeling the ambiance of the bar, I signaled the bar attendant, I need two shots of whiskey, I requested.

"Woah, lady in distress? The handsome bar attendant asked with a smile at the top of his lips.

"Yeah," I replied, raising my glass and drinking the content whole. I gave out a sound and squeezed my face as I felt the taste and the hotness of the drink hit my throat.

"Betrayal, heartbreak, domestic violence, evil inlaws? What could be the issue, pretty princess? The handsome bar attendant blathered on. sensing an uninterested me, he gave up and showered his attention to something else.

I tried to relax, trying to calm the brewing tension building up inside of me but my mind was stubborn, as I couldn't stop thinking about what happened a few minutes ago.

I just couldn't shake the feeling, that something was amiss, I  took a gentle look around the pub, but it seemed that everybody was happy, with their friends and loved ones around them.

I looked at the groups of friends at the far end of the bar, gisting and shouting at the top of their voices, they all seemed to be having fun, and I silently wished to be at that table, not in here feeling miserable and lonely.

"Does he despise me so much that he doesn't even want to set his face on me again?  how can I get him to have sex with me and claim the paternity of my unborn child?" I said out loud, thinking I was the only one around.

I turned back and signaled the bar attendant for another drink, as my mind roamed around.

Suddenly she heard a strange voice behind her, she turned around and saw a funny-looking old lady behind me.

"Man problem!? She asked" 

"Eavesdropping should be a crime even though the government hasn't recognized it as a crime yet, it's a crime against humanity" I blurted out to the old lady, standing behind me.

"Move to the front, old lady, I'm having a real-life crisis here," I said again, as the alcohol started to set in.

Why do you conclude that I'm having a man problem, you are just meeting me for the first time, I asked. 

"you were thinking out loud, my dear"

"None of your goddamn business"

I looked up at the pretty old lady, she had a glass sitting nicely on her nasal bone, and she looked like a villain who seemed to have changed her villainy ways.

"What else can make a pretty lady cry like this?" The old lady said, removing a lipstick from her bag and dabbing it on the already fading red hue she had before.

" I'm not crying old lady" I blurted, as I felt my anger brewing.

"your face looks drained and flushed, you look crying to me"

"Look here old lady, you are not my mom, nor my guardian, stop it, I don't want you in my business"

"No matter what life or the men of this world have done to you, don't let them know that they get to you," the elderly lady said, wipe your tears and smile like the queen you were meant to be.

I watched her as she slipped her hands into her bag and brought out a card, "call me" she said " A beautiful lady like you shouldn't cry because of a man".

" You won't understand," I said, wiping a new teardrop from my eye.

"What is there not to understand, A man you love doesn't want you? betrayal from the man you love? Or the man you love has refused to love you back. what is there not to know the old lady smiled back at me.

"You know what! I'm done, old lady, you are not getting the point. I pushed the money to the bar attendant, as I stood up and about going the old lady grabbed my hands.

"I know more than you think I do"