Little Lucy - S02 E14

Story 2 years ago

Little Lucy - S02 E14

Read Story: SEASON 2 EPISODE 14

” Do you, Susana take Benjamin as your lawfully wedded husband to live together until death do you two apart?” The priest asked.

” I do,” mom answered, a happy smile on her face, her eyes staring intently into her husband to be.

The priest turned to Benjamin. ” And do you, Benjamin, take Susana as your lawfully wedded wife, to live together until death do you two apart?”

But Benjamin wasn’t listening to him. His eyes were fixed on Collette who sat beside Charlotte and I.

I saw his eyes popped in surprised and there was a blank look in his stare that was centered only at Collette.

Collette stared back at him, her eyes cold and impersonal. She was as calm as a statue and as hard as nails. It was Soo difficult to read her mood. She was just impossible.

I on the other hand couldn’t keep my eyes off her for a second. At that moment, many thoughts ran in my mind. The questions just kept on coming with no answers to them.

What the hell was Collette doing here?

What’s she up to?

Why’s she soo cold?

How does her sudden arrival affect me, my new family and my relationship with Damian?

Why is she soo cute?

I turned my attention back to Benjamin. Apparently, he must’ve forgotten he was at his wedding. Collette’s sudden appearance had stalled the wedding for him. He was lost just staring at his long separated daughter.

” Mr Benjamin?” Came the priest voice.

Benjamin came back to Earth. He turned to the priest. ” I’m sorry, I was carried away.”

Mom looked worried about him. He didn’t look good. There were sweat beads on his forehead and he was breathing fast.

Even the congregation must’ve noticed the odd changes in him.

The priest repeated his questions. ” Do you, Benjamin…..”

At long last, Benjamin answered, ” I do.”

And then the new couples kissed and were officially joined as husband and wife. The congregation rose to their feet and applaud with cheers renting the air.

Everyone stood up except three people: Collette, Charlotte and me.

We sat still in our seats, despite the crazy noise of cheers from everyone, staring at our parents.

Three sisters from different parents.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Charlotte. I couldn’t recognize her. She was white from shock and nervous. She kept her face away from Collette as if she was afraid of being seen.

Then I remembered she’d once mentioned she was afraid of Collette. At that specific moment, I believed her. She really was scared of Collette.

Suddenly, Collette stood up and without giving me a glance, she carried her purse and began exiting the cathedral.

From where he stood, Benjamin could outline his daughter leaving. He whispered something to mom’s ears and darted away towards Collette.

I watched him go after her. He was calling her name frantically, brushing past friends and families who stood in his way.

I didn’t know what propelled me but I stood up as well and went after them.

Charlotte saw me move but she made no attempt to get up from her seat. She remained where she sat, staring into space.

*

*

*

*

•••AUTHOR’S POV•••

” Chi-Chi!” Benjamin shouted. ” Chi-Chi!”

He ran outside the cathedral just in time to see Collette waving a taxi down.

” Chi-Chi!” He moved fast before the taxi could pull up.

Within minutes, he was standing before Collette, stopping her from opening the rear door of the taxi.

Collette looked up at him to see him breathing heavily, her eyes set and hard.

Benjamin hurriedly brought out his inhaler and s----d in the medicine. His breathing became normal and he returned the inhaler back in his pocket.

For a while, nothing was said between these two until Collette spoke. ” Congratulations, sir. Happy married life.”

Benjamin swallowed. ” C-Chi-Chi…”

” Your wife invited me,” Collette interrupted, fishing out the invitation card from her bag. ” I promised her I’d honour her invitation. I guess she must’ve told you that.”

” She did but…I didn’t think you’d come.”

Collette’s eyes narrowed. ” I only came because I promised your wife I’d be here. Now I’ve fullfilled my promise, I’d very much like to be on my way.”

Benjamin still couldn’t believe his eyes. It Warmed his heart to see his daughter once again. The impersonal cold look on her face didn’t bother him either.

” How’s your mom, Chi-Chi?”

Collette frowned. ” She’s doing alright. Can I pass?”

She made to move but he blocked her off. ” You don’t plan on going today, Chi-Chi?”

” I’m staying the night at a friend’s house,” she replied sharply. ” I’m leaving tomorrow morning. Do step aside.”

Benjamin held her shoulder. ” Stay here for the week, Chi-Chi.”

Collette didn’t react, her eyes surveyed him and it turned him uneasy to look into those hard cold eyes.

” Why?”

Benjamin licked his lips. ” Cause I want to talk to you. I know you have questions.”

” I don’t have questions.”

” But you do,” he held her shoulder tighter. ” I know you hate me Soo much. Can you just…give me a second chance? Let me make everything clear to you.”

” My mother would be worried if I stayed longer,” she said softly. ” I’m sorry, sir. I can’t stay. I lied to her about this wedding. If she knew I was coming to your wedding, she wouldn’t have let me out of the house.”

” I’ll be gone for a five days honeymoon with Susana at Paris,” Benjamin said quickly. ” Just stay the week. It’s Christmas Eve, I’ll return before the weekend possibly Friday. I can’t talk to you now but the moment I return back to the country, you and I are going to have a daughter and father conversation.”

Collette gently removed his hand off her shoulder. ” I’m sorry, sir but you’re no longer my father. I have a father back home.”

Benjamin went hot then cold. It hurts when she said that.

” Stay,” Benjamin said instead.

Collette shook her head. ” I’m sorry.”

” What do you want from me, Chi-Chi,” Benjamin raised his hands in the air. ” Cook up a story to your mom, tell her you’re overstaying. I just want to talk to you.”

Collette checked her time. ” You’re married now, sir. Don’t keep your wife waiting.”

Benjamin flickered a smile over his lips. ” Still the same old girl, huh. You haven’t changed a bit. Does this means you’re staying?”

” No.”

Benjamin brought out his handkerchief and wiped his forehead. He was sweating and he couldn’t tell why. ” Alright, Chi-Chi. I won’t stop you but do be reasonable. There’s Charlotte and Lucy to think about. It’s been ages since you saw your twin sister, Chole. It looks rude to just show up and disappear without saying a “hi”. What about your stepsister, Lucy? I understand if you say no to me but please don’t say no to your sisters. They need you more than I do.”

” Oga,” the taxi driver’s voice boomed over to them. ” Una no de go again?”

Benjamin turned to him and stashed him a thousand note in his hand. ” No one is going anywhere. Take this. Sorry for wasting your time.”

The taxi grunted, took the money and zoomed away.

Collette turned around, gazing at the church entrance. She closed her eyes and opened it, taking in a deep breath.

” I’m Soo happy to see you, Chi-Chi,” Benjamin said, edging towards her. ” I’ve been thinking about you ever since that divorce.”

Collette said nothing. Her eyes were fixed at the entrance of the cathedral. She was sharp to see Lucy hiding behind the large pillar supporting the roof of the Church entrance.

Lucy must’ve sighted her for she dodged back in time but Collette had seen her and seeing those big eyes again warmed her heart.

Behind her, Benjamin was still talking. ” If you’d stay for the week, I’d very much appreciate it,” he went on. ” Stay with your sisters. Spend the holiday with us. Once I’m back from Paris, we’re going to have a family outing. Just you, Chole and I. It’d be a family reunion.”

Collette took a deep breath and turned around to face him fully in the face. For Lucy’s sake, I’ll stay.”

Benjamin nodded, but he wasn’t Satisfied with that answer. He knew his daughter very well. There was something more she had to add to that.

” But?” He asked.

Collette’s frown went deeper. ” But I’m staying three days not five days.”

Benjamin came closer and held her shoulder. ” My honeymoon ends by the weekend. I can’t afford to be back before Friday.”

” Then I’ll leave tomorrow,” she said sharply. ” If your honeymoon is more important than me, I won’t stop you. Go ahead and enjoy your wife. I can’t stay more than three days. I told Mom I’d be back tomorrow. I can stall for three days but I can never stick around for five days. It’s not possible.”

Benjamin considered the situation at hand. His honeymoon was supposed to go on for a month but the bank can’t be without a manager for a month. His assistant manager was incompetent and unreliable. He had to bring down his honeymoon to five days.

Collette watched him, knowing fully well he had no other choice but to agree to her terms.

” Alright,” he sighed. ” Three days it is. I’ll make a video call the night before you leave.”

Collette lowered her eyelids. ” Have a happy honeymoon, sir.”

And she walked away from him towards the parking lot where she had seen Charlotte parked her Range Rover minutes ago.

Benjamin watched her go, his eyes sadder than ever and he clenched his hands.

•••END OF AUTHOR’S POV•••

*

*

*

*

The couple’s stepped out towards the white limosine that would convey them to the airport where they would take the afternoon flight to Paris for their honeymoon.

” Take good care of your sisters,” Benjamin was speaking to Charlotte. ” Chi-Chi would be staying with you girls for the next three days. I’ll place a video call the evening before she leaves. Watch out for your sisters, Chole. You’re the senior now. You’re in charge. Take responsibilities.”

Charlotte could only nod. She was still shaken from Collette’s appearance. We were all outside the church before the limosine. Friends and families gathered around us, taking pictures, wishing the couples well and all that stuff.

It was Soo noisy I couldn’t hear a thing of what my mother was telling me. I was caught in her bone crushing hug as she kissed my forehead.

” Take care of yourself, baby,” she was happy. ” And don’t cause trouble for your sisters. I’ll be back soon.”

I stared at her, pouting. ” Why didn’t you tell me Collette was going to come after all.”

Mom smiled. ” She promised me she’d come. I wanted to book a flight ticket for her but she insisted to come on her own. It was meant to be a surprise for you and Benjamin.”

Well, it was a surprise. A big one at that.

” You’ll be back soon, right?” I asked.

Mom nodded, releasing me. ” In fives days time, I guess.”

Just like Charlotte, I nodded and faked a smile. ” Happy married life, mom. It look Soo good to see you happy.”

And mom crushed my bones in another hug.

Eventually, the newly wedded couple got into their rented limosine and it sped off into the highway with the words behind the car, stating: JUST WEDDED.

Just wedded, huh!

I passed a tongue across my lips. Just wedded.

The words stuck in my mind until the car faded out of sight.

Just wedded.

Damian came beside me and began talking. ” What a wedding. Congratulations Lucy. I feel happy for you.”

Charlotte moved away from me and headed towards the parking lot. I turned to Damian, eyes hard.

” What’s the matter?” He asked, puzzled at my new expression.

” Now’s not the time, Damian,” I said coldly and followed Charlotte.

Damian watched us leave. His eyes went from us to the girl waiting at the parking lot.

Then he stiffened. He stared at the girl closely. ” Hold the phone. Isn’t that…. Charlotte?”

He was confused. Charlotte had dreads but this girl….this girl had long silky dark hair. He never knew this girl was Collette.

Charlotte’s twin sister.

*

*

*

*

To Be Continued……