Natalie's Point of view
Ding Dong
The bell rang again, and I was a bit nonchalant about opening the door. I stood there for a while without saying anything.
"Who's home?" A masculine voice called out to me from outside the house. It was the letter carrier.
I opened the door and looked at him, with indifference written all over my face.
"What do you want, Mister?" I said, looking into his eyes. Probably he'd know that I am not here to play silly games.
"Hi Natalie, you have mail" he said with a broad smile. I looked up and down at him, as he stretched out a wrapped brown envelope to give to me.
"Why did you decide to come this early, it is not even dawn yet?" I said as I collected the envelope and the signature form to sign on it.
"The person asked us to deliver the parcel. The first thing tomorrow morning for you and we shouldn't hesitate to do that is, he's prominent in this area, and could get me fired" he said, handing a pen over to me.
"Pttf.." I made an inaudible sound. It didn't seem like that was true, but it sounded true. I bade him goodbye as I closed the door and bolted it strongly.
I ran upstairs to meet Paula, so we could read the contents of the letter together. We removed the seal, and it read "From John Walkwood to Natalie Underwood".
I felt so uneasy, I hadn't felt that uneasy in a long time in my life and I hated myself for it. Paula patted my back. "It's going to be okay, my darling. It's understandable that you're already so emotionally invested in this person that you keep beating yourself around him and it."
I nodded.
I slowly opened it and it read
"Dear Natalie, I actually have no explanation to give as I thought I did not owe you one. My wife had caught us in an unpleasant situation and had sent me packing as the house was bought in her name. Well, this is me asking that I come stay with you till I have myself sorted out. I promise I won't bring you any more trouble. I know better now, and I bet you'd like to see it.
John Walkwood "
I looked at Paula, who looked at me and we had a good laugh.
"I'm sure he felt like you'd be a good wife", Paula chuckled as she placed the trolley properly so it didn't fall.
"Material? I hadn't even been to an article yet and his wife walked in on the house and here he was with a ridiculous letter, "Holy Gracious". I was getting pissed.
"You'll be fine" Paula reached out to me.
"The MD called me today and asked me to resume in three days' time, so I need to get up and do it so I can be fit for work". I said, standing up and clearing my plate from the table.
"Really? Well, that's good news too", Paula said, following me to the kitchen. "I had a feeling my days of rest were coming to an end, and it was close."
"Probably intuitive," She snapped.
I stood in the kitchen and began to load the dishwasher. "So what are you going to do about John's letter?"
I rolled my eyes in disgust, "He's got nerves, thinking I'll just welcome him into my house with open arms after all he has done to me, funny."
"I feel he underestimated my baby, '' Paula chuckled. The doorbell rang again and this time I was too lazy to go check who that could be.
"Could be John, on his way to beg probably", Paula teased me. I didn't smile, but I shot her a note with a funny look and I kept on with the stuff I had on.
I finally made my way to the door ready to give whoever my piece of mind, but it was another delivery man with a full bouquet of flowers.
"Delivery for Natalie Underwood, kindly sign here" he said, handing me the flowers and the form to fill in.
I slammed the door behind me, I saw a little more and Paula grinning from ear to ear. I opened the note and it read "Hello Natalie, I hope this gift covers up for the pains I have caused you the past few days, I hope it can start to make up for my mistakes too. -John"
"Funnily Bipolar" I snapped as I dropped everything on the table.
I felt a flutter in my chest, despite my effort to remain annoyed. "It's just a cheap trick to get me" I said, trying so hard to sound convincing to myself.
"It probably is. But don't let it get you all worked up, you have a lot to do" Paula said as she packs up her things in a bag, preparing to return to her kids.
"Good things will always come to you, best put, it must always come to you because you're a good person and good attracts good. I love you sis".
"I love you too sis" I said as reality dawned on me how much I'll miss her. "Do take care of yourself and the kids, I'll come around when I can".
"Sure"
"Bye Paula"
"Bye Natty"
I watched by the door as she left majestically. Paula has been my best pal since the demise of our parents.
I bolted the door as I remember I still had the note from the bouquet. I went through it over and over again. I wasn't going to make this mistake in my life again. The mistake of getting all entangled with men and getting heartbroken before they profess their feelings to me. I wasn't going to do that anymore.
Why did John send me a letter and a bouquet in less than four hours? Will my emotions really change as I discover for the umpteenth time that I let my feelings control me? Why did my boss suddenly ask me to return to work?