I stretch and open my eyes and sighed with contentment. I roll over to nestle against the warm hard body of Daniel but instead, I was met with the twisted sheet and an empty space where he should have been.

I quickly sat up in bed and stare around me. My eyes scanned the room then came to rest on the empty spot where we had hastily shed our clothes, his was gone and mine was now folded neatly and placed on the vanity stool by my dressing table.

I felt all the emotions of the night I sat alone in our room at the villa assail me. I curse myself for being so darn wanton. As I got up from the bed I felt a myriad of painful feelings submerging into my broken heart.

" God mi stupid!" I chided myself as unshed tears burn my eyes and I fight hard to keep them at bay.

As I walk into the shower stall and let the cold water from the shower wash away the scent of our lovemaking, I was just as lost as when I had woken up at the Villa the morning after our beautiful reception.

After dozing off after sitting up waiting for Daniel to return my miss call or replying to my message I had jumped up from my doze to see that an hour had passed and still no reply. I felt angry at this and deleted my message and cried myself to sleep.

I ended waking up late. When I was almost through getting myself ready to leave the Villa a voice note came from him explaining his reason for his departure.

He would have to fly out to New Jersey on a business trip. A medical institute there was interested in a project his company has recently launched. I was instructed that his driver would deliver a car for my disposal that would transport me home after I checked out and he would keep in touch.

I had no intention of staying at the Villa by myself so I checked out leaving instructions for the driver to take the car to my address which I had left at the receptionist.

The minute the voice note ended I was tempted to accuse him of running away. I could not get over how convenient it all played out. I tried not to dwell on the fact that he had ignored my call and message but I simply replied.

"Ok"

But it was not ok. I had wanted him there with me. I wanted to tell him in person he was not the reason for my tears and I wanted for us to make this work, I wanted us to be a true family and man and wife in every sense of the word. I wanted him to know I love him. I wanted to tell him we didn't have to give up.

First, it was a folded note in an envelope attached to my freshly laundered clothes, then a voice note at the Villa. I dread to know what next.

I was so in love that I had failed to realize the pattern that fueled the basis of our so-called relationship and farce of a marriage, but now it was clear, each time we got close he found a way to distant himself and leave me broken. There was nothing he could say to me right now that could ease my shame.

I scrub my body wanting to drive the feeling that will forever linger on my skin if only I could scrub away the ones that tattooed themselves within the very core of me. I had no time for these feelings. I could not give in to the raw emotions that were raging within me. I knew he cared, might even deep down in his heart love me too, so why was he making it so hard?

I towel myself dry after I had finished showering and calling myself all types of fool I return naked into the room and look at the small bedside clock on the bedside table to see how far ahead the time was.

There I saw a folded piece of paper with a white rose nestled on it. I found myself reaching for it in anticipation. He had left a note. I knew earlier that I was adverse against receiving another message but I reach for it and unfold the paper. It was a leaf from my notepad. On it in bold clear writing was the words.

Goodmorning Mrs Myers,
It was wonderful to wake up in your arms. I could watch you sleep all night. But darling I must leave you to get ready for work before my willpower fails and I spend the rest of the morning making love to you again. I'll be by tonight.
JD. Myers.

I could not help the smile that spread across my face. The knowledge that he had not rushed away out of the need to hide away from what was building up fast between us released the tension and set me at ease. I took the rose which he had no doubt picked from the garden and gave it a gentle sniff before replacing it and the note and made to get myself ready for work.

I hum as I hurriedly put on clean underwear, moisturize my skin, and deodorize. I donned grey work pants with pink pinstripes and a soft pink cotton v neck cuff sleeve shirt. I brushed my hair applying some spritz for a light hold as I know there would be no chance of curling it as time was catching up on me. With my lipgloss in hand, I got my handbag rushed to the closet to put on my flats, and headed out, I only hope I had everything.

Reminder to self..." next time you make love to your husband before a work morning, ensure he helps you to prepare for work so you can make some more love and not have to rush".

I giggled as I rush into the hall the smell of Ian making breakfast filled the air with a sweet aroma, but due to my pregnancy the scent caused a rush of nausea to assail me making me rush on the verandah for some much-needed air.

The crisp cool morning air felt like a lover's sweet caress as it fan across my flush face. I took deep gulps as I mentally tried to settle the little being inside me. It seems to work but my knees felt weak so I settle myself on the  sofa and waited for the feeling to subside.

I look out at the morning, the way the sunlight intertwines its ray with the smokey morning mist that still enclose the approaching morning gave me a sense of comfort. Soon it will have to give way to the rays that would surround the morning in its golden glow. The quiet of the morning brought about minimal sounds as I nestle my head against the window behind me.

"Les are you alright?" the sound of the door opening and my brother's voice cause me to open my eyes and I smile and nod.

I came to realize nodding was not such a good idea and I saw his face crease with concern. I wave away his worries and he came closer to stare down at me.

"Yuh want some mint tea?" he asks still staring with worry.

I was about to nod again but decide against it. "Yeah please," I answer.

My mouth felt as if someone had rubbed the inside with sandpaper. I did not like this feeling one bit. I place my hand on my stomach and rub the still flat area in comfort.

When Ian returned with the cup of tea I took a tentative sip of the hot appreciated mix. He watched me with a mischievous look as it seems he was now convinced I would be ok.

"Is what?" I query as I see his mouth curve with a playful smile.

The smile broadened as he said. " Next time you and your husband take it a little easy yuh ere."

I blush as I knew what he was referring to. My brother could be such a brute at times. I glare at him as I took another sip of the tea then hand him the cup. I was about to speak when I heard my cellphone ringing inside.

"Make yourself useful and get my phone," I snap at him and he laughs as he made haste to get my phone.

I stood and went to lean against the wooden barrier that enclosed the verandah and waited on Ian. He returns and hands the phone to me and whispers teasingly.

"Loverboy."

I took the phone and glared at him before answering. "Hello."

"Hey, baby."

I smiled at the pleasure of his voice in my ear and the sweet endearment.

"Good morning," I breathed.

I was still too shy to show such affection in front of Ian who was still standing there. I wait for Daniel to continue. I however heard instead a sultry female voice filling the background with words that sent the nauseating feeling back with full force.

I drop the phone and wretch the barely digested mint tea over the railing and onto the white rose bush that seems to mock my gullibility. As my stomach emptied its meagre contents on the very rose bush that Daniel had plucked the rose that was now nestled in my notebook on my bedside table the voice reverberated in my head.

"Dan baby....what's taking you so long?"

Good lord will my dreams ever stop being a nightmare?!

******************************************
Helloooo my people my people😄

Now, what's going on...? Daniel is missing, another note in his place.... Leslie is all hormonal but that's just the tip of the ice burg.

Who's voice is that in Daniel's background and why is she being so familiar with him?!

The drama keeps coming I tell yah.

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