VINCE THOUGHT SOMETHING HAPPENED TO SIDNEY
Sunday morning Sidney felt his eyes didn't want to open, but she was conscious it was Sunday and the Lord's day. Still feeling tired from all the cooking and baking Saturday. She crawl off the sofa and hustled to organise herself.
Selecting this beautiful cream dress with silver treads gives it a beautiful glow. It was simple and straight looking amazingly elegant. Jeff had bought it for her as a wedding gift. Standing in front of the full-length mirror smiling at how lovely the neckline looks with the pattern across the v-neck holding the gold buckle.
Jeff knows I cannot wear jewelery so he had ordered it, stroking the outline of the dress it fit snug and it was a perfect fit. Thinking about it now where was this dress I had completely forgotten about it, and it was packed in my suitcase for the wedding. Covering herself with the blood as she completes her dressing.
Wearing the gold shoes Vince had bought for her the day of the welcoming party. Sidney applies a slight makeup.. combing her hair allowing it to fall at the back, using a bow clip to keep the hair away from her face.
The beautiful waves with the length were a change from the plait or rolling in a bun. Turning sideways admiring it in the mirror as it reaches her hipline.
Satisfied she took up her purse and her bible seeing she has ten minutes, closing the door softly so Vince won't be disturbed, reaching downstairs when the phone rang.
Hoping someone will answer it, after three rings she went and pick up, "Hello good morning, Montgomery resident, Yes, Ma'am, Mr. Montgomery is resting, Ma'am when will this fundraiser be taking place? You are saying this evening Ma'am?
And when you say contribute what does that entail? Goodness and when will this be needed? Okay, I will remind him immediately."
Entering Grandpa's room, seeing him reading his bible, "Good morning, Grandpa."
"Child, you are up and ready for church?" Sidney sees the smile wondering what he must be thinking.
"Yes Grandpa, I just came to remind you that a Mrs. Annemarie calls to say of some fundraiser that you contribute bar-bar-q towards."
"Is that for today?"
"That's what she said."
"Thanks, child, let me get up and start making, preparations and you go to church."
"Hello, you are not going to do any work; you are not well so just relax."
Taking her hand in his, "Now you are looking very pretty so don't get angry to spoil your dress. I was just going to order the chicken and tell Molly to arrange the seasoning."
Seeing how concerned she had become, like her, even more, when she said, "Are you sure you are not going to do any work?"
"Yes child, where I order my chicken, they send it already wash."
"Okay, I only hope so, and please order a few extras for us?"
Seeing her hurry to church, 'knowing that the service had already started, and she was going to be late. And where did she get that beautiful dress?'
Hurrying down the stairs, thinking something has happened when Uncle Myles calls everyone. GP was sitting comfortably, wondering what was going on, then it clicks in his mind if GP is okay then it must be Sidney she is the only one missing.
Panicking for a minute but was afraid to ask, yesterday we all had a wonderful afternoon together I only hope it has nothing to spoil that.
Now if I panic another time, eventually they will just get fed up and ignore me. Waiting patiently to hear what was so important for us to be all up, but the nagging question lingers in his mind, where is Sidney?
Recalling last week what had occurred when he enters the room after seeing the doctor off and she wasn't there, I thought she was in the restroom, but she was not. Unable to bear the thought of her leaving me or leaving my room was unbearable. Vince recalls Charles telling him that Sidney was telling GP that this was not his fault.
I knew she had no idea the family were all in the room listening to her conversation, When Charles related the conversation they heard to me, I know she blamed me for all her heartache because of him, and hearing him saying she will only remain for a while brought about fear."
Jumping when Charles touches his hand, "Are you okay, Vince?"
"Sure, did you say something? Oh no, this is not good my body needs some sleep, I could swear I overheard myself snoring."
"Vince stops fooling around, weren't you listening to GP, he said for us to go and get the things Molly writes on the list?"
Sorry, I was not paying attention, I am still feeling sleepy, and last night I didn't sleep too well."
"Vince, did you and Sidney quarrel again?"
'Oh Boy, soon everyone will think we are always quarrelling,' "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Charles notices the hesitation, "Then tell me why the tension and where is your wife?"
Ignoring his question Vince asks, "Are you ready or do you have to freshen up before we head out?"
"I am good Vince."
"Then let us hurry, there's much work to be done."
"
My point exactly, so where is your loving wife? When we have so much work to do?"
Noticing Chrystal at the back of him, becoming angry immediately replying to her, "Didn't I tell you I don't want you coming here."
"Hello, every year I help with the preparation for the fundraiser and I am sorry if I offend you, but I love helping out."
"Well, just do me a favor and stays the hell out of my way."
"Don't you think your wife should be helping out?"
"As you know my wife is injured so she needs her rest furthermore she is not your business." Seeing Charles, looking at him, wondering if he knows she is not in the room.
"Hello, stop making excuses for her, she is just using her hand as an excuse."
"You listen to me, that is my wife and my business so just butt out and get the hell out of here."
CHARLES TRIED TO HELP VINCE
When GP sees Chrystal and Vince arguing he walks towards them, "Vince, is something the matter Son?"
"No GP, we were just leaving to get those items that are needed."
"Son Sidney asked me to order a few extra chickens, and the depot said they might not have sufficient, so if you cannot get it there will you pick up a few in another depot."
"Okay GP," hurrying Charles for them to get the things seeing the long list, but in his heart, he was thankful that Chrystal won't think his wife doesn't know anything about this event, but why didn't GP say anything last night, we could have bought all the things then instead of this hassle now.
Glimpsing at Charles as Vince drives, he sees the expression of total puzzlement on his face, then he unexpectedly turns and asks, "Vince, what's going on between you and Sidney?"
Not wanting to discuss anything about his marriage or anything about Sidney with anyone, "Nothing, and can we drop the topic."
"Vince, you never held back anything from me before, maybe I can help."
"What is there to help Charles, I had made a mess of my life and with Chrystal always here and butting in, that does make things even worse. My stupidity may cause my marriage to break up and right now I am trying to figure a way how to save it.
I love Sidney, and she is not even speaking to me, I don't know how to rectify the problem, we are not communicating with each other."
"I could tell Vanessa she might have some good ideas and she like Sidney a lot."
"Please, Charles, I don't want her to think I am relating our problem to others, and next thing Chrystal hears and try to embarrass her. I won't like to see her rage she can be pretty vicious at times."
Hearing Charles laughs, "Vince you make her sound so uncaring and merciless."
"Oh my dear cousin, I hope you never have to experience a woman's rage, when she takes care of GP she is the gentlest person, but when she is angry she can be very stubborn, trust me I know what I am talking about."
"Vince, what George said is there any truth about her holding a black belt?" "
As I said we really don't talk so I can't say for certain, but when I found her in Irvin, she was being attacked by four big and strapped men, she had already beaten two then they shot her but the other two were having a difficult time with her when I step in.
Charles the shot in her hand didn't hold her back from giving them both a good trashing, yet she can be so unpredictable at times.
She confuse me and leave me so baffled most of the time, For example, after my car crashed she was so scared begging me not to leave her. So if she could protect herself why did she beg for my help?"
"Vince, could it mean she wanted to see if you were ready to fight and protect her?" Going back in his mind to that specific day in the camp, 'I did fight to protect her, then it was the long Thorne which she had to endure that pain. Georgia was right she tolerates pain just like when I hurt her.'
"Nah, she did not hesitate to hold back rebuking me, for taking her along on the trip."
"Vince, women are strange creatures, yet when you get to know them they are very beautiful on the inside. And another thing when we expect them to say they need us, that's when they push us away testing our love for them to make us want them more."
"I don't understand."
"Vince, it is very simple, it could only mean one thing, she wanted to see if you were willing to go the extra mile and care for her?"
Recalling while he was carrying her, she was crying, but then, I was hurting and told her to fend for herself. She was hurt and angry when I found her home. While all the time I was panicking for her safety.
"You could be right; she was angry with me saying I don't care for her."
"Vince, she is a smart girl and knows how to manipulate others, but she is a beautiful and kindhearted person. I know she cares for you, a few days ago when she asked Molly whose tray was that on the table, boy I just stayed out of the kitchen when Molly got a good buffing, then she fixed your tray and took it up for you.
Vince, I might be wrong, but my guess is Sidney has fallen in love with you."
"Sorry Charles, that's not possible she still has feelings for Gilbert."
Hearing him stutter as he asks, "You mean Gil..Gilbert your friend?"
"Yes, they were going to get married two months before we got married."
Holding his head as he said, "Vince, you mad, Gilbert has been married over a year ago, I was at the wedding."
"You are wrong Charles we met a few days before Sidney and I got married and he came and proposed to her again, I am telling you what I see and know."
"Okay, in that case when we reach home, I will show you a photo I took with Gilbert and my friend Christina." With that, they reach the chicken depot to collect the chicken last on the list then head back home.
Vince felt numb with the information Charles gave him, he start the van and had driven for about five minutes before he respond, "Are you saying Christina is married to Gilbert?"
Charles sees the shock on his face, "Yes! I have proof of what I am relating."
"Charles, is GP aware that Gilbert is married?"
"What has GP to do with this?"
"Charles, when we get married, Sidney thought GP had planned this all along, she thought GP gives him a promotion and cause him to leave right before we got married."