Asia wore a tiny black dress Gabriel got her. She looked great in it. She turned and checked herself in the mirror as Gabriel entered the bedroom.
"Will you like it if I always dress like this? Or is this just a dress?" Asia asked staring in the mirror.
"You look amazing in anything but once you are ready for sex, I will prefer you naked," Well damn.
"I ... I ... I will be ready soon. We need to get on with having the child of the promise," Asia said as Gabriel wrapped his arms round her.
"I will ring you in a week then the wedding. I want you pregnant before the wedding." Gabriel kissed Asia's neck while she blushed heavily.
"We should be leaving now," Asia whispered.
Gabriel scooped up Asia and took her to his car. While he drove, she thought of what he said. Having a baby was an emergency. It had to happen soon. If not for anything, for Asia's peace of mind. Violet would come after her. She was sure of it.
Gabriel carried her up the steps and into the house. It was barely 7 PM. He was casually dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a denim shirt. He wore brown leather boots. He had a baseball cap and seemed calm.
Gabriel had asked if Asia needed him to get her dinner and breakfast but she had insisted she could cook. He wanted to see that so she had invited him in. He was African. It was important that his wife-to-be could cook. He didn't have to say it.
But they still had to talk about a lot. Children, home, work, friends, everything. They needed to get to know each other and needed time together.
Asia made a call to have groceries delivered. She also needed drinks. She asked what he loved to drink. Tusker. She ordered those as well, turned on some music and went to check her bedroom.
Deep inside, Asia missed Violet. Yes, Violet had tried to get in touch but Asia wouldn't trust her. Had she not volunteered to marry Gabriel? Violet would come for Gabriel so Asia needed David's help.
While thoughts fleeted through her mind, they settled on Gabriel. He seemed to get more handsome every day. She sighed, smiled and looked down. She could walk but carefully.
There was a knock and Asia left for the door. It probably was the delivery guy. Gabriel, who was in the lounge, got to the door before she did. But she smiled then he opened the door.
Allan was there, frowning, obviously surprised. Gabriel gracefully welcomed him. He knew him. They knew each other. Just as Allan got in, the delivery guy arrived.
Gabriel picked the four grocery bags and left for the kitchen while Asia locked the door and offered Allan a seat. She then went to the kitchen to put the beef to boil and organize the food out of the bags.
"Do you need a minute?" Gabriel leant against a cabinet, beer in hand.
"One long minute then I will get dinner ready. You can rest in my room. I will get you once I am done. If you don't mind," she spoke fast, put the beef to simmer.
"I will be waiting for you to get me," he smiled as she pointed at the door to her room.
"Asia, you left me for your doctor?" Allan got up once she joined him.
"He is a Mara. We marry in weeks and it is best that you and I part ways," she spoke calmly.
"You love me, Asia. You have never cared about wealth. You cannot marry for wealth. It isn't you. We have plans baby …" Allan spoke earnestly.
"You slept with that lady, multiple times, Allan. I am sure of it. Me leaving you, take it as that. I left because you are a philanderer." She was firm.
"Asia, we can move past that and …"
"Leave. I will not ask you again," She was getting upset as she showed him out.
Asia went to the kitchen, sat on a high stool and held her heart. She breathed deeply. She had hoped Allan would deny getting intimate with someone else. He knew he was the only man she had been with.
She let her tears flow. No, she felt no relief. She placed her hands on her mouth and screamed. She was shaking.
What guarantee did she have that Gabriel wouldn't do the same thing? What if this was a mistake? Then what? She got off the chair, washed her face in the sink and left for the bedroom.
Gabriel was in bed, shirtless. He looked up when Asia opened the door. She smiled. You would smile too if you saw such a man on your bed shirtless.
Asia went to Gabriel and sat on the bed. He asked how that went. Well. It went well. She looked away and asked if he wanted to go to the kitchen, watch her cook. He sat up and held her hand. He knew she had doubt.
Just a few days and they would be engaged. He would have a ring on her and claim her as his. He rubbed her hand, got up and picked her. Her hand rested on his naked skin and that made him feel things. He breathed and walked to the kitchen. He placed her on the work table, parted her legs and stood between them.
"Asia, I will do right by you. I know we didn't have a say in this but if we work on us, we will be happy," Gabriel said, held her shoulders.
"Maybe we should have the child of the promise and go our separate ways," Asia said, looked away.
"Asia, no. Give us as a chance, beautiful." He held her cheeks. "What is your fear?"
"I don't want my heart broken," She shook her head and fought the tears.
"I will not look at another, Asia. I will prioritise you and our children. Trust me," he seemed serious.
Gabriel pulled Asia into his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder. She let her tears flow but held on to him. He asked her to give them a chance to be happy, to work on them.
Asia ended up agreeing but they still remained in that position for minutes. They would work at being happy, marry and live like a normal family. They had the same goals.
While Gabriel had a second beer, Asia effortlessly cooked. She chopped the vegetables and cooked. She heat the water for ugali and cooked while holding conversation with Gabriel.
He asked if there was a place she wanted to go to for the honeymoon. She smiled and looked down. She hadn't thought of that so she asked him to surprise her. She blushed because honeymoon sounded a lot like sex and Gabriel knew that or he wouldn't be smiling at her so suggestively.
Somewhere hot would be nice. She ferried the food to the table, prayed and they got to eat.
"How is work?" Gabriel asked.
"Hostile, currently. I apparently stole David from Violet," the two laughed. "I am thinking of becoming David's P.A," she said, poured him a glass of water.
"You don't have to work. Or you can start a business, all options are open," he spoke, looked at her.
"Where will we live once we marry? At the barracks?" she asked and saw him smile.
"You don't mind?" he raised his eyebrows.
"I am marrying a soldier. I am ready for the life," she was serious.
"I will get a nice place for us. I will leave my car with you till we figure something better," he smiled. Thoughtful."You are my responsibility going forward, Asia. Call anytime, ask for anything you need."
As Gabriel was picked for the barracks, he smiled to himself. Asia wasn't materialistic. She was also a great cook. He would make it work.