She leaned back into the chair kicking off her heels and sighed closing her eyes glad the day was almost over. The board meeting had gone well as she handed everything over to her uncle to take care of as her wedding was approaching and fast.

Opening her eyes, her eyes fell on the wall right in front as she stared at something in a frame, he had captured it really well she thought. From her smiling features to the dress she was wearing. She looked at the dress again, it was the same dress that Rhoda had given her the first day she went to church with them.

"What's got you in a happy mood? It possibly can't be yourself?" she blinked to find Nessa sitting in front of her with a curious expression, the unconscious smile she had on her face disappeared.

"What?"

"That painting of yourself, you've been staring at it for a total five minutes"

"No I haven't"

"Oh really, you didn't even notice me coming in and taking a seat did you?" she had a point there she realised.

"I'm sure you don't even realise you are smiling because of something else other than the painting. In fact a someone"

Rain tried to decode the puzzle of Nessa's sentence but got nothing, "Which someone?"

Her cousin continued, "Okay, I'll excuse the looks I saw happening at the orphanage and the last day you guys met"

"What looks?" The day after the dedication to the orphanage, Pastor Aaron had met just to say thanks to the team that had made everything possible. Fred had tagged along giving some excuse about just wanting to be there. Rain wasn't sure what looks Nessa was talking about. But from what she saw that day, Fred was the one giving looks to Nessa whenever she was talking to Pastor Aaron. She had brushed it aside not willing to dwell on it.

Nessa sighed and rotated in her chair, once, twice. "You and the painter boy"

"What?" she nearly shrieked, "You have no idea what you are talking about"

Her cousin shook her head, "But I think I do, you on the other hand, I suspect have no idea what is happening huh?"

She raised her hand pausing her cousins' cryptic questions. "Nessa, are you okay? I have no idea what looks you are talking about, the only looks I saw was the one Fred was giving you"

"What?" Nessa blinked confused but quickly composed herself not bothering to address Rain's latter comment, "I'm fine, it's you I'm worried about. You are involved in something you have no idea is happening and I'm afraid by the time you realize it will be too late"

"Nessa please get straight to the point"

"You are already treasuring a gift from your painter boy, see a look at it makes you smile and ...."

She stood up, what was Nessa up to? "Look just tell me already. Are you trying to say I'm not supposed to like his gift? What is so wrong with liking a gift?"

"No, Rain, you are rather giving much attention to his gift don't you think?"

Her mouth opened, "Just because I like his gift doesn't mean I love him" she said almost a yell.

Nessa shrunk a little in her seat, staring at her in shock.

"What?!" she yelled when Nessa stared shocked at her.

"I didn't say you love him"

But she implied it!

The little temper that had bubbled up, deflated, Nessa stood up, "I'll go now"

She watched the door close, and her eyes went to the painting.

Oh God, no, I can't love him right?

*******************************

Daniel got a call and had to rush to Rhoda's house. Her husband Adams was the first person he saw when he got there.

"What happened? You said something was happening"

"Yeah a party and you had to be here" Rhoda said appearing form the kitchen, the baby in her arms.

"Guess who's here" she cooed to the baby before handing him over. He took the baby from her and scowled at her.

"You made me rush here because of a party? I didn't even get to take a shower"

"What? You will tell me later, we did not invite you cause we were being selfish" she said smartly. "But I hope you are not serious about not taking a shower"

He shrugged, "Maybe"

Denzel snuggled closer to him probably to get comfortable. He looked at him, he was going to be a spitting image of his dad one day.

"Wondering why he looks like his father?" Adam said peeking over his shoulder at his son.

Daniel scoffed as he moved to the backyard with Adam holding the door open for him. Rhoda was sitting with Serwaa, his mouth watered seeing the food on the table if Serwaa was here then that meant Vincent was here too.

"Ah come on, you had to carry the baby" Vincent's familiar voice came from behind him.

He turned to look at him, "Why planning to scare me?"

"And if I was?"

"Arent you a little old for that?" he moved to sit by Rhoda, "Hello Serwaa, how are you?"

"I'm good, thank you, yourself?"

"I'm good too" she smiled as her husband sat by her grabbing a khebab form the mountain of khebab on the table. Adam came to sit next to Rhoda

"So what do you guys call this?"

"A get together, Doreen is with mom, so why don't we come together over meat, no one can not like this" Rhoda spoke.

"Well I like it" , he said grabbing aa khebab and pulled off a meat, it was quite spicy. The bundle in his arms stiired, he looked down to see big dark eyes staring at him. It reminded him of when Doreen was a baby, she would stare at him for the longest time probably to memorize his face. He was sure that was what was happening right now.

"Okay Rhoda, I've held him long enough now, take him"

Her eyebrow raised, she looked at him with a scoff, "Why, are you tired already?"

"He's awake"

"But he's not crying so I see no problem"

He sighed and continued to eat*****

Serwaa and her husband were matching clothes, green polo tops and blue jeans. It kind of reminded him of when they got newly married, they always wore matching clothes then. He sat and chose to rather enjoy watching his friends chat and laugh about something whilst munching on some spiced khebab of course.

The baby fell asleep sometime later and as his hand felt numb, Rhoda asked him to place him in his room.

More than willing, he did so. Gripping the edges of the cot he stared at the young one relaxing, from the corner of his eyes he saw Rhoda enter.

"How did your date go?" she asked quietly coming to a stop beside him.

He'd agreed and gone on a date with a friend she'd introduced him to. She was quite interesting and he'd enjoyed her company, turns out they lived in the same apartment complex. That had been a pleasant surprise as they'd continued their conversation all the way home.

"It was pretty great"
"And interesting" he added as an afterthought

Rhoda smiled, "I knew you would, she's an interesting girl"

"She is, and smart as well." But kept the rest of his thoughts to himself. Not willing to let his sister in on everything. Most especially that the lady, Thelma had been able to read him to know he was seeking an escape from pain.

Though knowing that, she told him she'd help, as friends, of course. From there they would see where they could end up. And whatever the outcome, they would receive it wholeheartedly.

To that, he could only wait and watch how their friendship would play out.

Ko si se me te monka....stay blessed😊😊😊😊