" I'm sure it was Morticia!" The little girl exclaimed.
" How could it be? She has never dressed like the girl you pointed to me. If it was Morticia, why was she running away? We haven't heard anything about her ever since she disappeared. Besides, she does not have a friend, so who was the lady running after her?" the woman asked as she squatted in front of her daughter, with a confused look on her face.
" I don't have the answer to your questions, but I'm sure it was Morticia I saw mommy" the little girl who was about 8 said to her mother.
" I need to find her baby. I need to warn her. If Morgan ever sets his eye on her, she's as good as dead." The woman told her daughter who said nothing.
* * *
" I didn't know you're an athlete miss! We sure have a lot to discuss about." Jenna said panting, with her hands pressing on her knees, while the shopping bags almost fell to the ground.
" I'm sorry about that. And yeah, we do have a lot to learn about each other. For your safety too." Morticia said replied as she used her hands to sweep her hair backwards. She was also breathing heavily.
" Let's go..."
"Wait!" Jenna exclaimed.
" What is it? Is there a problem?" Morticia asked.
" My car! We left it behind." Jenna said as she slapped her forehead.
" Oh my! Let's go! I'm so sorry about that." Morticia said, feeling guilty.
" No! You can't go back there, you can't risk letting them see you."
" I know but it's my fault all of this is happening. I'm sorry. "
" No problem Morticia. Just wait for me here. I'll be back soon" Jenna said as she turned to leave.
" Thank you for being so understanding Jenna." Morticia said with a barely noticeable smile.
" It's okay. I'll be back."
* * *
The ride to Jenna's house was awfully quiet as Jenna's gaze was fixed on the road, while Morticia attentively counted buildings and billboards.
When they got home, they took the shopping bags inside, without saying a word.
In the living room, Jenna kept the bags on the table and slumped on the sofa, while Morticia stood, trying to compose the right words.
" You know we can't continue like this. You were obviously avoiding the topic about your past earlier, when we had breakfast." Jenna said. Barely a few seconds after, she continued, "I understand it might be traumatizing, but I need to know, if there's anything I can do to help. And like you said earlier, for my safety too."
" I'm sorry Jenna. It's just that ever since my dad died..." Morticia said as she felt her throat clog from the words she had just said.
Seeing the pain in her eyes, Jenna stretched out and held her hands, pulling her gently, so she could sit on the sofa. She felt pity for the young lady.
Morticia managed to compose herself before she continued,
" Ever since my father died, my life has resembled that of a stray cat. And now, I just don't know what I'd do if you don't want me here anymore. I've never moved out of the houses I've ever lived in good terms. And please don't take this as an emotional blackmail, but I'm only being honest Jenna. I don't want a kind and gentle hearted person like you to get in harm's way because of me, but I..."
" It's okay Ticy. I think I understand you. But if we're gonna stay together, we need to have basic understanding of, at least, a bit of our past, so we know what lies ahead." Jenna said as she patted Morticia's hands.
" Ok. I will tell you everything. And just know that you can make any decision at the end of the day. You've done more than enough for me Jenna. You are rare and if leaving will protect you, I'd gladly do that." Morticia said with a small smile before she continued,
" Where do I start from now?" Morticia asked herself, releasing a long sigh.
" That's easy. You can start from when you were born." Jenna said with a chuckle.
" Then we might not see sunshine for a couple of days." Morticia said with a half smile, as her mind wandered off to the not so pleasant memories.
" That reminds me. I bought a bottle last night. Give me a sec." Jenna said as she stood up and swiftly made her way to the fridge, in the kitchen.
As Morticia watched her retreating figure, she hoped for the best outcome. She knew she wouldn't be mad at Jenna if she decides to chase her away. She was very grateful to Jenna, because she had no idea how she would've managed to survive, if Jenna didn't take her out the mud.
* * *
~ Hentritch ~
Before they finished dinner, the previous day at Tiana's restaurant, Malcolm left due to an emergency at the office. Only Jordan, Kendrell and Tiana stayed back till night.
When Kendrell and Tiana returned home, Tiana received an emergency call, that prompted her to leave for San Huego that night.
The next day, Kendrell called severally, but she didn't respond.
Later during the day, he called again, causing him to temporarily suspend editing the Email he intended to forward to Mario, his business partner.
" Hey beautiful. How have you been? I called earlier but you didn't take the call. I hope everything is alright sweetie? You know you didn't call to tell me if you've arrived or not. I was starting to get worried." Kendrell said at a go.
" I'm sorry I.... ah... I was too tired to call. Let's talk later babe. Bye." Tiana said as she flung her phone across the room.
" Damn you! You couldn't even let me... take the call for a few seconds! Damn! What if he ahhhhhh..." Tiana moaned loudly as the man on top of her intensified his efforts, taking the words out her mouth.
" Shhhhhhh baby girl. No complaints in here." The 'anonymous' person said, as he further whispered words of the flesh to her.
It was a pretty intense morning!
Tiana stabbing Kendrell in the back, without a care!
Well, she wasn't new to it anyways. Cheating on Ken had been reality barely four months into their relationship.
She had consciously betrayed the man who loved her deeply!
What did he expect her to do? Wait for the day he would give her enough to keep up with her standards as a Medley? No. She didn't intend to grow old in poverty.
She wasn't going to be a laughing stock to her friends! Yes he was very handsome and he had great qualities, but, he wasn't enough! He wasn't really qualified for her.
* * *
Glancing at his phone after the call disconnected, streaks of lines appeared on Kendrell's forehead. He was tempted to call again, but he held back.
'Maybe she's busy.' Kendrell thought.
And hell yeah she was! She was truly busy! Busy trampling on his fragile heart!
Pinching his brows, he returned his focus focus to the laptop in front of him.
While he was engrossed in editing the email, a call came in. The caller was none other than Malcolm.
With his gaze and attention on the screen, Kendrell answered the call, unconsciously.
" Hello?"
" Oh my! Someone answered my call as soon as it came in! I think it's going to rain peach purple today." Malcolm said dramatically.
Finally, Ken glanced at his phone and facepalmed, before groaning.
'' What is it?'' Ken answered.
" Oh come off it bestie! Don't be like that!" Malcolm said, with a grin.
" What do you want? Why did you call?"
" You know it's been barely 12 hours since we last saw each other, but I miss you already bestie." Malcolm said, trying to mask the smile in his voice, which was already very obvious.
" When will you change Malcolm? When?" Kendrell said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
'' But it's true bestie. I really do miss you. I miss your bright lovely smile. I miss the sparkle in your eyes whenever you feel like shoving a brick down my throat. I miss the way you look at...''
'' Three seconds Malc! Only three!'' Kendrell said, as he gritted his teeth.
" Ugh! Fine bestie! How boring!" Malcolm exclaimed.
" The thing is, I wanted the both of us to hang out this evening. By 5pm, if it's fine by you. It's about Jordan, basically." Malcolm said, as he finally spoke in a serious tone.
That prompted Ken to sit up.
" Why? Did something happen to him?" Kendrell asked.
" No. It's just that... I don't know man..he's been acting really strange lately. You know we visited you together yesterday"
" Yeah, what about that?"
" Nothing serious really, but, I don't know, he was different. He's not the Jordan we know, he hasn't been for a while now. I don't know man."
" Well, I thought so too. But you know, he's just like my Barbie sometimes. She has mood swings and sometimes it involves being indifferent towards me, you know. I don't know man, but I think it's just been 'that' kind of week for him." Kendrell said.
" Well, I guess so too. But of course, that wasn't the only reason I called. I wanted us to pay him a surprise visit. You know he left yesterday because of an emergency and I haven't had the chance to talk to him on the phone, so we could as well just kill two birds with a stone." Malcolm suggested.
" Yeah, that's fine by me. We'll do that. Where are we meeting by the way?"
" Let's meet at the coffee shop down his street. " Malcolm suggested.
'' But this seems weird and awkward, don't you think? I mean, we all had dinner yesterday. " Ken said.
" It was a supposed to be the both of us and of course, 'your Barbie' who invited us over to her restaurant. All we talked about yesterday, before we left, was centered on you. You know we couldn't have an in-depth conversation with Tiana present." Malcolm paused, before he continued,
"I feel we should look out for him. He's our friend after all. A surprise visit won't hurt. I've been having this gutsy feeling that we should pay him a visit. I can't explain it."
" Ok then. I... Hold on, a minute." Kendrell said, as a notification popped up on his other phone, which was strictly meant for business.
Glancing at it, Mario's name was displayed on the screen.
" I have to go Malc. Talk to you later." Kendrell said as he dropped the call.
It was a message from Mario, reminding Kendrell he was to send an Email.
And Kendrell did just that, right after editing it.
* * *
4:51 PM
" Hey dude!" Kendrell said to Malcolm as they exchanged bro handshakes.
They met at 'Hymas coffee shop', a coffee shop along the street of Jordan's house as they had agreed earlier.
" Oh. Now I realize how much I miss you my dear friend." Malcolm said with a grin.
" Please don't start. Not now. I beg you." Kendrell pleaded as they proceeded to sit.
" Ok then. I give up." Malcolm said with his hands up as he resigned.
The pair of friends discussed as Malcolm brought Ken up to speed with things at work.
He also proposed a firm to Kendrell, in hopes that it would be a success this time.
* * *
They took a stroll to Jordan's house. Kendrell was personally very excited to see the look on Jordan's face. But for Malcolm, he wasn't sure how he felt. He just needed to talk to Jordan.
Just as they arrived, Kendrell was about to reach for the door bell phone, when the door opened.
But what he saw next, left him transfixed.
Of course, he saw Jordan but he had his hands wrapped around a lady's waist.
And she was none other than Tiana!