I present to you chapter 29!
Dan looked as excited as a child waiting in line to buy some chocolate. The excitement wired his body like he was plugged into the mains. He felt like his brain was on fast-forward and there was no off switch. He bounced on his flexing feet and rubbed his hands together. He wore the facial expression of a small child with an especially large Christmas present. Excitement poured out him like sunshine through fine white linen; he glowed from the inside out. Even Keri couldn't deny the fact that she found his facial expression extremely attractive, handsome and excited and even she was ready for this exciting experience and to spend five days with Dan spending even more time together. Keri felt like every fiber of her being was vibrating with anticipation. Adrenaline was coursing through her veins. Her hands trembled and her eyes were wide. Moving over to Dan, Keri felt the intense tension that her pregnancy had caused between them and she was afraid that it would drift them apart or separate them. Her nails were already bitten down to the quick. She nibbled at their frayed, form edges like a famished mouse.
Keri nipped her nails, sobbing. "I hate this. Dan, this is killing me every single second of every single day that we are apart. I love you more than you would ever know. That means I would defend you with my life even if the odds were insurmountable. It means I will comfort you in the difficult and painful times. It means I will dance and rejoice with you when times are good. It means I will never betray you, never give up on you. Dan, I want this to work between us, I don't want to have to tip toe around you all of the time. This might be upsetting you the prospect of being a father again and you might find this scary but I don't. Dan, I don't have anybody to be there for me through good and bad times, Frank and Stella only let me stay in their place because they feel guilty about moving away t France and when I am there, I am sleeping on the sofa with Libi. Well, there is nobody else for example Libi is always preoccupied and has no time for me anymore, Tom and Aneisha are always kissing, declaring their love in public and they are already thinking of moving in together. Especially as Aneisha's parents are totally against the idea of her leaving before she is eighteen and married."
Dan nodded. "I am still in shock, I guess. Keri, I know that you are depending on me but I really don't need the pressure especially as Zoe has decided to move to France with Frank and Stella taking the girls with her. My head hasn't stopped spinning since and that's what we were arguing about before. She told me when you were in the bath.
Keri argued furiously. "And you continued to exchange joked with her. I get it, Dan loud and clear. You don't want to be involved in your unborn baby's life but as soon as Zoe mentions that she is moving to France you suddenly want to have a relationship with your daughters even though you basically ignored and refused to acknowledge their existence before."
"It's not like that, Keri. I have always loved Gabrielle and Danielle. Keri, I really don't want to fight with you." comforted Dan.
"Of course not. You just want everything for yourself and finally I realized what you are really like." Keri replied. "Sometimes, I feel like I don't even recognize you because of the way that you have changed immensely and I don't want you to change. I love you just the way that you are."
Keri moved towards Aneisha who seemed to be lost in her thoughts and she wondered What was Aneisha thinking of and why did she looked so miserable?
Aneisha's POV Flash Back
Calling it a dining-room was somewhat misleading. It was a room. We ate in it. That was all. It had once been an impressive dining-room but years of neglect had taken its toll. The table was long and solid wood. Dinner with Auntie Harmoine: elbows off the table, sit up straight, chew with your mouth shut, take small bites, make pleasant conversation, don't talk with your mouth full, finish your plates, use your napkin, ask permission to leave the table, help clear the table, sweep the floor, help wash the dishes. Mushroom soup, bitter greens with tomatoes the size of peas, rare roast beef slices as thin as paper, noodles in a green sauce, cheese that melts on your tongue served with sweet blue grapes. Auntie Harmoine normally comes round to our house for dinner most days because most of her family including her children live in Africa and she gets lonely sometimes and Dad always insists that his sister is welcome for dinner whenever she wishes which makes my life hell. The worst thing about having regular awkward dinners with your auntie was that she was always the one that had impeccable manners and the one that always provided the conversation. Which is mostly talking about me, much to the joy of Aisha, my seven year old sister and my Mother and Father who love hearing about how I am improving at school and continue to say that having my auntie at the school was having an good impression on me especially as my grades have improved immensely.
"...As you might know, I am having immense trouble encouraging parents to enroll their children in Saint Hearts." Mrs King complained quite annoyed. "Especially if you're working with Mr Flately. I mean, two years ago, that baboon won the award of Head Teacher Of The Year and I am aware of the fact that he has got an Aunt on the board of Governers who regularly vouches for him even if he is in the wrong. However, I have got some exciting news to share with my family- I am moving back to Africa once Aneisha finishes Secondary School and recently I have spoken to Kadir and Kaarina and they need their mommy back home. Pace, my sweet brother, I would love to stay with you forever but I can't leave my children and I am so sorry that our time together has come to an end but you should come to Chad one day for a holiday and I will welcome you with open arms just the way that you did with me."
Father thanked her. "Harmonie, I am delighted that you are moving back there and starting the building work on your own school in Chad and I am most grateful that you have been in my life; You deserve that reward more than that idiot that those students call a HeadMaster because you have worked at the best of your ability and no one could deny that fact."
Mother added, gratefully. "Harmonie, you have been like a sister to me since I married your brother and I would like to thank you for your constant words of wisdom, love and guidance however I hate to imiagine what would happen to Aneisha once you leave especially as you are the reason that she has been doing so well in school and I would like to thank you for your hard work in motivating our daughter. Aneisha, sweetheart, this is not an excuse to go back to your old ways skipping classes to be with that boyfriend of yours and not listening to your teachers. I believe that you have some news for us as well, Aneisha."
"Yes, Zoe and Natasha are leaving the school soon with the rest of us and they aren't going to college in England." I announced, suddenly.
Auntie's jaw dropped and she grimaced. "I don't believe it. I can't believe it. Two girls with such potential are refusing to go to college for some ridiculous reason especially as I have been informed that they have children to provide for. Aneisha, don't follow their example and go to college and convince them to go to college in England or malicious rumors would spread over the school. The awful things that people would be saying."
"Awful. Awful things that people would be saying." repeated Aisha.
