Chapter 5

She did not answer the question that his lifted brow seemed to be asking. She stepped back and looked at him.

"What is wrong?"

He demanded without moving from where he was standing in the room, vast and airy room that it was.

"There is nothing wrong. You came to tell me something, did you not?"

She asked him instead. He smiled and did not make any attempt to Walk to her. She knew he was that arrogant and proud. He stood there and said the same words she had expected him to say.

"Marry me, Jenna. My sire would love to have me married sooner than I want to and you are the woman that I deem fit for that position" .

He said the words as they came to his lips. They were easy, slipping out of his mouth and she brightened up. He saw the spark of excitement in her eyes as she stepped forward and threw her hands around his neck.

"I have waited so long to hear this! Thank you so much! I love you",

She said. She looked like she would cry and Reynolds wondered if women always cried when they received good news same way they did when they received bad news.

He had not given her a ring yet and she was already so excited. He would tell his father by morning. He was getting married and maybe a day would be fixed and then they could have a small wedding with only a few friends and relatives present. His uncle, Julius will fly in from Puerto Rico and his mother would never attend. He had not seen her for the past seventeen years. She had divorced his father and had remarried and moved to some African country that he knew nothing about. He never probed. For the times he called her or took her calls, she never mentioned her precise location to him. He had been in Cairo for two years and for those years, he never called her or received any call from her and for that reason, he had no idea if she was in the Cairo with him. He had willed himself to think less of his mother especially since the thoughts of her having a family somewhere else was comforting enough for him.

***************

Alicia woke up with the nagging feeling that she would be evicted in the next three days. She was worried and frustrated. Tony had just $60 on him and even when Helen had broken her piggy bank, she had not more than $45 and she was wondering what they would do with a rent of three thousand dollar per year. She was sick with worry and she had been so angry the previous night when she had returned that she had demanded her keys from Tony.

Alicia, Twenty six and her brother Tony _ Twenty one, and Helen _ seventeen were orphans. She did not know that at her age, she had have to take care of two other people other than her self and she was definitely not having fun doing it but she loved them and loving them meant she was always willing to see that they were fine. Both their parents had gone for a boat trip in Florida for an exotic couple's hangout and had never returned four years ago. They were not the rich type and it had begun to tell on her after she finished college and there was not much left of what her parents had that could keep them for a long time. Her parents, both terrible swimmers had been unfortunate enough to have been in a boat that capsized in the middle of the water and they had both drowned before they were found. Other couples who had been in the boat had come out alive except her parents..when she though about it, It made her really angry. Why would they, being terrible swimmers embark on such journey as the one that had eventually claimed their lives?

As Alicia turned and tossed on the bed, the morning light streaming in from the window, she decided that her parents never loved her and her siblings, hence, they had taken that trip that had ended them..she did not know she was muttering out words

"When people care too much about their own happiness, they forget that there are others dependent on them and if they make rash decisions for the sake of their happiness, It would definitely affect those depending on them".

" Are those some lines from Aristotle?"

Helen asked as she walked in with the coffee cup in a saucer.

" No. I was just thinking of something".

Alicia maintained. She would be damned if she let her kid sister see her pains and eventually break down with her. She had been on the verge of tears severally but had always consoled herself and put on the tough facade that kept them together.

"I thought i should get you coffee in bed. You are worn out."

Sure she was and every one who had an eye could see that she was worn out. She extended both hands and took the cup and the saucer from Helen.

"Thank you Helen."

She said as she tucked some stray strands of hair behind her ears and took her first sip of the coffee. The burning freshness seeped into her and she knew she could not ask for anything else. She was grateful for the gesture. She Nodded, still sniffing the coffee.

"I got a job, Alicia. I'll be working some daily shifts at Kay's burgers. I spoke with Kay. He said he'd let me work whatever shift was convenient for me."

Helen said. She was elated to have gotten a job. She would be working for the first time. Alicia felt her eyes clouding up. It was not enough that they had had to move out of their initial home and come stay in a two bedroom apartment, things seemed to be getting even worse. If only she had not quit her job.

"That is so sweet of you, honey."

"Maybe I could speak with Kay and he would lend us some money? "

Helen suggested. She was rubbing her legs together and did not seem to be very much relaxed. She still had pink stockings on and no matter what was said to her about wearing pink, she had never give up on it. Alicia looked down at her feet and smiled..

" That does not seem like a good idea. I am not sure you will get the money from Kay and again, you are too young. What are you going to say to him anyways?"

" Maybe i would just beg him? He could be a really nice guy when he means to ".

" You don't have a collateral. You don't have anything, honey. I will find a way and we will be fine. Don't worry yourself, honey".

She assured. She was going to find a way out. She did not know how and when she would but she hoped there would appear a way sooner than the date of their eviction and she held on to the belief that there would be a way.

As she left home that day, she randomly heard Helen mention that she had been praying to God and there was going to be some last minute help sent from heaven. Alicia sighed. It was good that at least, Helen alone believed in the existence of some supernatural being and actually asked for divine help from this being which she had always claimed to love and abide by his commandment. She got to work fifteen minutes late and that was not one of the things that excited Ford. He looked at her in that angry way that she knew would never hurt anyone before stomping off, leaving her apology in her mouth.

*******

Two days to the eviction and she still had no money. She returned home to a praying Helen. It warmed her heart that she had a sister who believed. She was not sure what to do anymore rather than to pack their items one after the other and throw them into bags.

"Wait, Alicia, what are you doing?"

Helen asked as she came into the room. Alicia ignored the question and had Helen stand by the door for a few more minutes before looking up at her.

"Let me know when Tony arrives..I want to talk to you two about something very Important and I need you to understand, hmm?"

"That is your car engine revving. He just arrived."

Helen said. Alicia dropped the sack she was holding and craned her neck and towards the window. True, that was her car revving, he was yet to turn off the ignition and leave the car in the lot.

The ring of the doorbell made Alicia jumped. She had been jittery for the past few days and each hour that drifted pass made her even more so. Helen left the room and went to open the door for Tony.

Alicia joined them in the living room as soon as she was sure Tony was inside.

"Hey, sister. No work today?"

He asked as he took one look at his watch. It was almost past seven and he knew she did not enjoy going to work late..