Asia went straight home the moment they landed. She got a taxi instead of going to Allan's to pick her old second hand car. She called Violet, let her know she was en route, then she called Mrs Rivers. There would be yet another Rivers and Mara dinner and, much as Asia didn't tell anyone, she wouldn't attend.
It was 6 PM and the sky was golden. The sun was going down as the car pulled up in the driveway. Asia got out, phone in hand and went into the house. Hopefully, Violet would be calm.
Mrs Rivers was in that feminine lounge watching TV, wine glass in hand. She stood up to embrace Asia quite warmly. That was odd. The woman never had affection for Asia and never even bothered to pretend.
"You look good, child. Is David taking good care of you?" Mrs Rivers asked.
"No, I was away with Allan. We marry soon." Asia said.
"Well keep your voice low. Your sister is taking a nap." Mrs Rivers' attitude suddenly changed.
"Get everything of yours and leave. You and I are no longer sisters," Violet was up, unamused.
"Why? What have I done, sister?" Asia looked up in time to notice Violet holding a knife.
"You are with the man I have been with since childhood. I am told you spend hours in his office! If I will not marry David neither will you!" she screamed.
"Allan is my boyfriend. He proposed and I am focused on that. I don't want David, ever. Where do you think I will live?" Asia shouted.
Violet charged at her with a knife. Asia ran out, past the gate onto the road and to the corner where taxis stood. She got on one, gave the address to Allan's and breathed. What was wrong with Violet? Normal people didn't act like that. She was mental.
Asia called Allan. He could help her retrieve her clothes then she would move in with him like he wanted. Three times he didn't pick. It started drizzling.
Asia texted David. That price was a little too high for her to pay. She looked at the window as the rain got heavy. She would give Violet a little more time to cool off. Perhaps by then, Allan and Asia would be getting married and Violet would be the maid of honour. She would realize that Asia wasn't the enemy.
Asia ran from the car to Allan's house. She got there drenched. Allan was home with a few of his friends.
Asia let herself in. Allan sat there with three male friends but there was a woman right on his lap, his arm round her. Asia frowned, said hello and left for the bedroom fast. There was a handbag on the bed. Either she had been in his bedroom or he had taken the handbag there.
Asia chuckled, went to the wardrobe and pulled out all her clothes. She grabbed a bag as Allan came to the room. She shoved the clothes into the bag then grabbed the shoes.
"Asia, why are you here?" Allan asked, a little off.
"Violet kicked me out and I thought it was time to move in with you. I am taking my belonging. Get on with whatever I interrupted." Asia fought tears and carried the bag.
"Hey, that was not like it seemed, baby. You know me," Allan looked calm. No, there was no sincerity.
"Please your friends, Allan. Bye," Asia left.
As she went past the friends, her tears hanging dangerously on the lids, they laughed. Asia ran to her car, in the rain, and got in. She cried in there. She hoped Allan would run after her.
Where would Asia go? She called her mother. Asia needed to go to Mrs Rivers' place for a few days and collect her thoughts. Do you know what Mrs Rivers said? She had people over, there was no room for Asia. Was that her mother or had Asia been switched at birth?
Asia decided to go to a motel. She would be there for a few days, check her finances and find her own place. She would pick myself up. She was Asia Rivers. She was strong, she could do it. Find a place, work and forge a path forward. Allan would come around. Had they not been together that very day?
Asia drove in the rain. It was getting late. There was slight traffic as the vehicles were driven cautiously. The rain was poring in torrents.
In the most inconvenient place, the car stopped. Isn't that how life works? She checked all that she could in there, tried to restart it multiple times but nothing. She was only two kilometres from that motel.
Asia got out, got the triangles to put up the signs in the rain. She was drenched. She sat there and called Mrs Rivers. She didn't answer.
What next? Asia swallowed her pride and called Allan. Nothing. She cried loudly. David. She called David.
"David, I need you," Asia said.
"Are you crying? What do you need, Asia?" David seemed genuinely concerned.
"My car has stopped in traffic and I can't figure out what is wrong with it," Asia lamented.
"Okay, calm down. I will be there in five," he hang up.
David had just ended a meeting. He checked his watched, asked the assistant to get a mechanic enroute and left fast. The assistant quickly made a call then stood there and chuckled.
Who had just called to make David act so fast? His mother? It couldn't be. It had to be a woman. She smiled naughtily. He was probably cheating on his long term girlfriend. Naughty Mr Mara.
Asia sighed, checked the time. 8:45 pm. She looked out as cars went by. She was supposed to be at the motel crying herself to sleep. She shut her eyes and breathed.
Maybe she would leave the country. She could go for further education and just start afresh. She was losing in all fronts and hated it. Maybe by the time she got back, Violet would have a baby already. That sounded like a good idea. She loved working in marketing. She would go back to school and sharpen her skills.
There was a knock on the window and she jumped. David. She opened the door for him. David looked at Asia and chuckled. He saw the tears, wiped them with his left hand then asked her to leave for his car. He got out, went round and opened her door.
Asia got out, handed the keys to a mechanic on standby as her bag was loaded into David's range rover. His trench coat had drops of rain on it. They sat at the back and David held her cold hand.