MELISSA MY LOVE

Melissa sat in the party absentminded. This is the third baby shower she was attending in a row making her wish to have her own baby.

'When are we coming to yours, Lisa?' Diana asked with sarcasm.

'Diana, let her be, she'll just get hers,' Sam defended her.

Diana was among the girls club but they weren't friends. The club was a group of seven girls from rich homes. Class being their similarity in college they came together and mostly went to parties together. Lisa also came from a rich home, her father being the senator and Samatha, a club member and also her friend, she had the qualifications of being a member too.

But this time, she was alone. Sam and her boyfriend were planning on having a kid and she was all alone with no boyfriend. Time was running out as they all planned on having kids within the same year but what about her. She needed to have one to fit in the group but where was she going to get the baby from?

After the party she drove back home devastated, she was still a virgin. Many thoughts were going through her mind. If she doesn't have a kid then she'll have to bid the group goodbye and that would mean losing so many things. She was the apple of her father's eye and the baby to her mom. On getting home, her parents were having dinner.

'Good evening mum,' Lisa kissed her mom's cheek.

'Good evening princess,' her mom returned the greeting.

'Good evening dad,' she kissed her dad's cheek as well.

'Good evening my baby,' her dad replied.

'We were waiting for you, let's have dinner,' her mom said taking a plate to serve her.

'No mum, I'm from a party, remember,' she chuckled nervously.

'I ate to my fill,' she added with a smile.

'I prepared this food with love and passion just have one spoon,' her mom smiled at her.

That's her family, no matter what happens you must eat at home. She couldn't say no to her mom so she pulled a seat beside her mom.

'How was the party? You look sad,' her mom asked.

'It was wonderful, I'm just tired that's all,' she replied with a smile.

That was the last thing she heard as she continued picking in the food while thinking of how to get a baby. If the year ends without her having a baby, she'll be out of the group and that would be bad news.

The group meant respect, class, company and she got other benefits like modeling opportunities and having dinner with great people.

'I'll be in my room,' she pushed the plate in the middle of the table standing up.

She walked upstairs to her room and stood by the window staring at the garden deep in thoughts. The sight was beautiful and that is where she always stands anytime she got a lot in her mind.

She was enjoying herself when someone knocked at her door.

'Come in its open,' she answered.

'Hey baby,' her mom called out sitting on the bed.

'Mom,' she muttered sitting beside her.

'You trust me, right?' Daisy asked and Lisa nodded.

Of course, she trusted her mom more than anything in the world.

'Then tell me what is troubling you,' Daisy added.

'Nothing mum, I'm okay,' she replied.

How was she supposed to tell her mom that she needed a baby urgently and she didn't even have a male friend let alone a boyfriend? She was only twenty-two and thought she was still young.

'I carried you in my womb for nine months, I understood you when your only communicating language was crying. What makes you think, I won't know if something is troubling you?' Daisy asked.

'Mum, I wish to have my own baby,' she spilled the beans.

'That's not a problem. Finish your college then get a baby because he or she will need your time and attention and dividing with school may stress you out,' her mom advised.

'Why do you need a baby so urgently?' Daisy decided to ask.

'Nothing mum, I just thought it would be fun to have one,' she replied.

'If you want, I can talk to your father to adopt one,' Daisy suggested.

'No need mom, it's okay,' she rejected immediately.

What would her friends think of her? She's still mummy's puppet and can't make her own decisions? That she lives in the shadow of her parents? She wasn't going to allow that. She wanted to be ranked as a big girl and not the last born of the group.

'If you say so but if you change your mind, let me know. I'll get a baby sister for you,' her mom offered standing up.

'Thanks, mum, love you,' she side hugged her mom.

'And I love you more than anything in the world,' Daisy gently caressed her daughter's back.

'Sorry to interrupt but ma'am Lisa, your friend is here to see you,' Claris the maid said bowing her head.

She knew better than to disrespect her in the presence of her mom. Maintaining eye contact with her daughter was a sign of disrespect.

'Let her in,' Lisa replied.

'I'll leave you two to talk,' Daisy smiled at her daughter and left the room.

'Water,' Sam requested jumping on the bed.

Lisa opened the fridge and handed her a bottle of water.

'Gosh, I needed this,' Sam said throwing the bottle across the room.

'Really?' Lisa questioned.

'Really what? You got maids to do the work. Do you know how long I've run just to reach here?'

'I heard your car enter the compound,' Lisa replied.

'Whatever?' Sam rolled her eyes.

'You've had dinner or they should prepare some food for you?' Lisa asked.

'Unlike you, I ate at the party. Tell why didn't you eat?' Sam asked.

'I had eaten before I went over,'

'If I didn't know you, i would have believed those cheap lies,'

'I'm not lying,'

'Ok, what are you thinking about the baby stuff? My boyfriend and I agreed that get pregnant next month,'

'I don't even have a boyfriend unless I'll drink the pregnancy from the coffee I take every morning,' Lisa shrugged.

'I got a perfect Idea,' Sam grinned.

'Which is?' Lisa asked sitting beside her friend curiously.

'There is a party tonight, why don't we go to the party, look for a handsome guy, real handsome then get pregnant and raise the kid,' Sam suggested.

'What if I don't get pregnant?' Lisa asked.

'When are your menses?' Sam asked.

'In three days,' Lisa replied.

'Then you'll get pregnant,' Sam assured her.

'What of my mom and dad?' Lisa asked.

The plan was perfect but she still had doubts.

'I'm sure they'll support you but if they don't you got savings. All the money we've been earning from modeling is enough to take care of you during pregnancy and I also won't abandon you,' Sam encouraged her.

'Ok then, let me change,' Lisa stood up.

'Something simple, we'll get dressed at my house to avoid raising suspicions,'

Lisa walked to her closet and changed into a blue oversized jeans and a white crop top with black boots.

'You look nice,' Sam commented standing up with her sling bag.

'I'm going to tell your mom that we are going over to my house for a sleepover. Now cheer up,' Sam added leading the way.

'My parents aren't home and thought of Lisa giving me company,' Sam explained to Daisy half-truth, half-lies.

Sam's parents weren't home and that was why she insisted on going today to avoid giving her mom explanations.

'No problem, take care of yourself,' Daisy hugged her daughter before they left.

Nancy, with a bundle of clothes in her left hand, used her right hand to push the door of her boss's room open and entered. She saw them leave the house in the morning to go to work and didn't see them return that was why she didn't knock.

She almost screamed at what she saw but composed herself, dropped the clothes on the couch in the room, and left her mind in chaos.

She was in the house all day long and didn't see the lady of the house returning and not only did she return she came back with another man and they were on the matrimonial bed.

The respect she had for Kendra faded away. She was married for four years then, this? She pities her boss Damian, he was a good man but with an evil wife.

Kendra pushed Ace off her immediately. She didn't expect to be caught by Nancy. She was a middle-aged woman whom she found in the house when she got married and was really close to Damian. She was hundred percent sure that she would inform Damian of what she saw and she wasn't ready to lose her marriage.

'What are you going to do? Will she tell that dummy?' Ace asked worriedly.

'I think she will,' she replied getting down to pick her clothes.

'Then fire her before he arrives,' Ace suggested.

'It isn't as easy as you think. If I fire her without committing a crime it will raise more suspicions,' Kendra explained frustrated.

It was like her brain had gone blank and could think of a way out.

Downstairs Nancy was stressed as Damian was like her son. Telling him would break him as it was evident how he loved his wife but keeping it a secret will expose him to a lot of dangers like a sickness.

'If she had the guts to bring a man to her home, how many men has she slept with?' Nancy thought to herself.

'Nancy!' Kendra called running downstairs.

Nancy walked out of the kitchen to meet her.

'Do you and your visitor need anything?' Nancy asked with sarcasm.

'Don't try that tone with me, I'm still your boss and you won't want me to report you to my husband,' Kendra replied walking closer to her.

'Which one?' Nancy asked and Kendra pointed a gun at her.

'If you dare tell my husband anything, I won't hesitate to blow your head,' Kendra threatened to scare Nancy.

Saying she was scared was an understatement. She has only seen guns from afar and seeing them close to her made her tremble.

'I'll keep my mouth shut, don't kill me,' Nancy begged.

She couldn't imagine leaving her granddaughter all alone. She was only seven years and her mom died during delivery and she stays with her.

'Good girl, keeping quiet is beautiful,' Kendra patted her shoulder, his the gun, and walked away.

Nancy sighed with relief after she left whispering a thanksgiving prayer.

'How did it go?' Ace asked Kendra.

'Perfect,' Kendra replied.

'My gun, I need to go before that dummy comes back,' said Ace with a smirk.

Kendra handed him the gun.

'I'll miss you,' Ace said.

They hugged each other, shared a deep kiss before Ace left.

It was four in the evening when Ace left and Damian arrived at four-thirty. Kendra walked to the door to welcome her husband, side eying Nancy who was preparing dinner in the kitchen from the window. She was also thanking God for delaying Damian because he would have found Ace and that would be the worst news to receive after the wonderful moment she shared with Ace.

'What's with all the perfume?' Damian asked coughing.

'You can't tell me I look nice. All you do is find something wrong about me,' Kendra yelled at her husband tears streaming down her face.

'I'm sorry, I didn't get something wrong, I only asked about the perfume because it's too much and you know I'm allergic to that perfume,' Damian defended himself.

Damian had had a long day at work and arguing with his wife was the last thing he wanted. He came home early because he needed some peace of mind and to relax.

'It's always about you,' Kendra yelled running upstairs.

Damian dropped what he had on the couch and ran after her to their room.

'Baby please, I didn't mean to offend you,' Damian begged.

'I want a baby,' Kendra said a different thing staring out through the window and Damian's face fell.

He never wanted this in the first place. It was taking everything in him to keep on but his chest was whizzing. He was asthmatic and allergic to some perfumes and his wife knew better than to use them.

Their marriage was only beautiful in the first year but everything changed after they visited the hospital.

He still loved his wife and hoped that one day she'll change and go back to that Kendra he fell in love with.

'We've talked about this and I suggested adoption but you refused,' Damian said lowly.

She had brushed his ego and she knew it more than anyone else.

'I don't want to adopt, I want to carry my baby in my womb, my flesh and blood,' Kendra had made up her mind and she wasn't going back.

With a close look, Damian's eyes were watery and she couldn't allow himself to be seen as a weak man. He walked to the drawer, took his inhaler, and left the room.

Kendra smiled at nothing in particular, locked the door, and jumped on the bed.

'Damian,' Nancy called out to him as he was about to leave the house.

With the respect she had for that woman, he couldn't imagine walking out on her. He stopped in his tracks, wipes her tears then turned to face the older woman.

'Hey, sorry I didn't greet you. How was your day?' Damian asked faking a smile.

'I'm fine but you don't look fine. Your chest?' Nancy raised her brows concerned.

'I'll be fine, I got my inhaler with me,' he replied with a smile.

'Before you go, let me prepare some lemon tea. It would help,' Nancy suggested.

Damian smiled bitterly as he followed her to the kitchen. This was what Kendra used to do years back. Prepare him lemon tea, ginger water to help him when he had an asthma breakdown. That made him to forget he was asthmatic for even a month or two but nowadays he has to be with an inhaler everywhere as Kendra makes sure that she provokes it.

'If love isn't there, why don't you guys divorce,' Nancy suggested.

'I still love her and I'm sure she still loves me. One day she'll change to the woman I fell in love with,' this is what he has been assuring himself with for the past three years.

Their marriage was something to admire, loving each other affectionately that they couldn't stay away from each other for a long time. Then one day everything changed and he was the one still holding to the hope that she'll change.

'Open your eyes,' Nancy added placing a cup of lemon tea before him.

He sipped the tea slowly thinking over what Nancy said. What does she mean? He couldn't ask as Nancy already left.

He needed to do something to make him forget all his troubles. After the tea, he used the inhaler and went to his study locking the door behind him to have some time alone.

'Hey man,' Eric his friend entered the room in a jovial mood.

Damian wasn't surprised by how he entered as he had the key to the room.

'Hey,' Damian responded lowly.

'You had another fight?' Eric asked even though he already had the answer.

'She wants a baby,' Damian replied.

'I got an idea, there is a party downtown. Let's go, have fun then we'll think tomorrow,' Eric suggested.

'Maybe tomorrow,'

'You had an attack again?' Eric raised his brows.

'Yeah but not that bad,' he replied.

'You won't drink or mingle with people. I booked a VIP place upstairs. We'll watch the dance from up,' Eric explained.

Damian thought for a while before accepting to go.

'I'll drive and for once stop thinking about her and start thinking of how to divorce that woman unless you want an early death,' Eric shrugged.

'But with time she'll change,' Damian protested.

'You are among the people expecting to see Satan in heaven,' Eric scoffed.

'That isn't funny, you know that?' Damian asked but Eric rolled his eyes at him.

'Just drive this damn car and stop messing with my head,' Damian threatened.

Lisa walked behind Sam with her hands tightly clasped on her small purse. She was scared, nervous, confused, happy at the thought of having a baby but all this put together was freaking her out.

This wasn't the first she was in a club but today was different. The thought of losing her virginity to some random guy almost made her freak but everything in this life has a price to pay and she was paying to keep her friends.

Noticing her slow steps, Sam stopped waiting for her. She had booked a VIP place upstairs to enable them to get a good glimpse at everyone present. Sam was looking for the most handsome guy for her friend that way she'll have the cutest baby loved by all.

'I'm scared,' Lisa murmured in her ears as the music was too high.

'You don't need to be, I got your back,' Sam whispered back assuring her but deep inside she wasn't also sure of what they were doing.

She just wanted to help her friends but the risks were too many. What if she doesn't get pregnant. She was ninety-eight percent sure she would conceive but the two percent was also staring at her. Mocking her, shouting at her that it would dominate and that would mean disappointing her friend.

Sam pushed back the negative thoughts and pulled Lisa upstairs. They took their seats and served with wine as they stared at those who walked in and out. Handsome guys were present but none caught Sam's attention. They weren't what she wanted and didn't want to compromise so she practiced patience.

'Patience,' she kept on whispering to herself and after what seemed like forever the door downstairs opened and two men walked in that her jaws dropped.

If not for the fact that she was engaged, she would have gotten him so she reminded herself that she was here to help her friend.

'Look down at the door,' Sam told her friend.

'The one in blue is handsome,' Lisa commented.

She may be an introvert, naive, innocent, name it, all the dull things that a girl her age is expected to be but at least she could appreciate good things when she comes across them.

'Would you like to carry his child? Imagine having a son as cute as him?' Sam asked dreamingly.

Actually, she won't mind either.

'You can't get him,' Lisa replied the obvious.

'I'll try my best,' Sam assured.

If not for her friend at least for herself then that seed won't go to waste. She followed him with her eyes and almost screamed when she saw them take the stares.

'What are you planning to do?' Lisa asked.

'I don't know yet, the only thing I know is that I shouldn't lose him among those people,' she pointed at those dancing.

Where they were, they could see everybody and there was no loud music. This helped those there able to chat and laugh without whispering. Sam spent so much money to secure them a place there and it was worth it.

After seeing where they were seated, a waiter walked to them and scribbled few things in his book, he then walked away.

'Don't leave this place,' Sam ordered standing up.

'Where are you going?' Lisa asked.

She didn't want to be left alone.

'To sort out something will be back before you know it,' Sam answered.

She walked away before Lisa could convince her otherwise as it seemed Lisa was having second thoughts about everything. She looked around till she spotted the waiter who had taken the men's order. She walked closer and whispered something in his ears then took another route.

The guy looked around then followed her.