UNBREAK MY HEART – EPISODE FOUR

Let the lover be disgraceful, crazy, absent-minded. Someone sober will worry about events going badly. Let the lover be. – Jalal Rumi.

Nathan stepped through the open panel slide doors leading into his living room. Expecting to find a female figure all sprawled out on the floor with eyes glued on the TV, he was surprised to find the room and the television switched off.

“What the heck is going on here?” He wondered aloud, dropping the packages in his hands on the L-shaped sofa.

“Toinette?” He called out.

Taking the pink bow wrapped box and the bottle of perfume with him, he mounted the stairs, two at a time.

“Antoinette, where are you?” He headed straight for the crimson pink door. Forgetting the knock first rule, he pushed open the door and stepped into the baby pink painted room.

“Daddy!” Toinette shrieked spinning around from the dressing table and grabbing a wrapper from the bed. “What’d I tell you about knocking first and waiting for me to say come in before coming in?” She demanded wrapping the cloth round her body.

Deciding that pointing out that she was wearing a thigh length singlet wasn’t going to be in his favour, he went with an apology instead.

“Oh Pink.” Using her nickname, one she earned because of her deep love for both the colour pink and the singer Pink. “I’m so sorry. You know what my memory is these days.” He gave a winning smile. “Totally unreliable”.

Toinette snorted. Then giving her father a stern look she asked. “You do know you are late, right?”

“I can’t be since you are obviously still dressing.” He pointed out.

She gave a hearty sigh. “That’s because I’m still trying to figure out what to wear.” Turning back to the mirror.

Nathan winced at the sight of her slathering on lip gloss. What had possessed him to allow his mother talk him into allowing her use lip gloss at her age?

“Hey, easy with that thing… you don’t want to overdo it now, do you?”

Toinette shrugged. “It’s colourless lip gloss, dad, no biggie.”

“It’s big when you are just twelve.”

“Almost thirteen, dad.” But she dropped the gloss. “And what have you got there?” Pointing to his hand.

He looked down at packages in his hand. “This? Well nothing really, just a little something I picked up at the supermarket.”

Toinette snatched the box and the perfume, shrieking at the top of her voice.

“You got me the perfume – Color me Pink, YES!” she flung herself into her father’s arms giving him a quick hug. “You are the best daddy ever.”

He laughed watching her as she excitedly tore open the box, then closed his ears with both hands when Toinette screeched at the top of her lungs.

“OMG!” You bought me a new dress.”

She flew to the dressing table and placed the dress over her body, beautiful, she whispered as she gazed at herself in the mirror. The broad straps ball gown with black organza lining seemed totally made for her, and in her favourite colour too, pink.

“Oh dad, it’s beautiful, absolutely beautiful.” She beamed at him. “I love it. Thank you. And it’s pink too.”

“Ah, actually that colour is called fuchsia, a shade of pink.”

“Fuchsia.” She repeated reverently rolling her eyes, absolutely suitable colour name for such an amazing dress. Forgetting her never-dress-again-in-front-of-daddy or any-other-man-for-that-matter rule, she threw aside her wrapper, pulling the dress over her head.

“Zip me up, daddy.” She ordered impatiently

“Yes ma’am.” Her father muttered at her commanding tone.

“Wow!” She whispered as the image of a lovely dark chocolate beauty in just-over-the-knee awesome fuchsia dress stared at her. “This dress looks so beautiful.” She said, marvelling at the beautiful picture she made, she traced the squarish beaded neckline with her forefinger.

“You look beautiful.” He corrected coming to stand behind her, a proud tender smile on his lips. “You look amazing, darling.”

“Thank you, daddy.”

“You are welcome.” Turning he walked to the door. “So I’m going to set up dinner, see what Aunty Sochi left for us in the kitchen, you coming?’’

“In a moment dad.” Toinette replied still staring at the mirror. “Let me put on my shoes, I’d be down soon to help you set it up.”

Nathan shook his head, what was it with women and mirrors? He wondered, even a twelve year old was not immune. He sighed as he shut the door, certain he would be setting up dinner alone.

With the Happy feet 2 movie over, Toinette rose gingerly to her feet. She was still in her Valentine’s Day pink dress.

“I’m off to bed, dad. I want to finish the book I was reading earlier before going to bed.” She bent to give her father a hug and a peck on the cheek.

With a wide smile on her face, she walked to the fair complexioned man lying on the sofa. “Thanks for the box of chocolate, Uncle Dunc.” She hugged her godfather. “Best Valentine’s date ever.” She giggled when he sniffed her.

“You smell divine.” Duncan nuzzled at her neck, making her wriggle in laughter. “Tantalizing vanilla, hmm, yummy.”

“It’s the Color me Pink.” Toinette told him smiling proudly. “My very first perfume.” She enthused. “ I think I’m going to use it …”

“Only on special days when we are going out.” Her father interrupted, and at her imploring look, he added firmly.

“No way am I allowing you wear perfume to school or even every day at home for that matter.”

“Sundays?” Her eyes were hopeful

“Special occasions, Toinette.”

Toinette sighed. What was the point of having a bottle of perfume if you can’t use it? She scowled as she sauntered towards the stairs. A mischievous gleam flashed in her eyes. Well if he was going to be mean to her, she will be mean right back.

“Uncle Dunc.” She called, turning back to face her godfather. “Did you notice how daddy seemed really distracted this evening?”

“Me? Distracted?”

Duncan chuckled. He saw the trouble and mischief glowing in the dark eyes. “Distracted?” He ignored Nathan’s groan.

“There was a time or two when I thought he was really not concentrating on the movie.”

“Ha, so you noticed?” She sighed dramatically. “I don’t know if it has to do with her or not, but…?”

“Your room, NOW!” Nathan ordered.

She inclined her head humbly. “Yes, dad. Goodnight Uncle Dunc.” Mission accomplished.

Duncan grinned cheerfully at him. “She’s going to be a remarkable woman when she grows up.”

“She’s a trouble-making little devil.” Nathan growled. “I fear I spoil her way too much.”

“Na.” Duncan shook his head. “She’s a good girl and you know it.”

Nathan sighed as he heaved to his feet. He walked to the kitchen and got out a six pack of Kaliber. He tossed Duncan one and sat down. Picking up the remote control he switched to the Sports channel.

“So wanna tell me about… her?”

“Dunc, there’s nothing to tell.”

Duncan took a gulp of his beer, grimaced at the taste. “Sooner or later, you gonna have to tell me.” He took another pull of the beer.

Nathan groaned wishing he hadn’t told Toinette about the exquisite lady with the magnificent build and extremely long rich milky chocolate satiny legs that seemed to go on forever.

If he didn’t tell Dunc, he wouldn’t have a moment’s rest… he was that tenacious. So scowling, he told him about the encounter at the supermarket.

“Hmm, are you sure she’s not one of those star-struck clingy types?” Duncan asked when he finished.

“Christ Dunc, the lady literally froze me. She was not just cold, she was arctic.”

“Maybe she’s one of those man-hating types” Duncan shrugged getting up to pick another can of Kaliber.

“She was interested at first!” Nathan disputed. “I saw it in her eyes… her light brown eyes.”

Duncan saw the dreamy look return to his eyes. It was the look he’d had all evening. “Looks like she knocked you to your knees, man.” He observed.

Nathan frowned, more like knocked him flat on his face. Grimacing he took another pull of his beer.

****

Kike lay sprawled out on the bean bag, feeling content and relaxed, the pleasant buzz of the wine coursing through her veins.

She took another sip of her chardonnay, its crisp sour taste teased her tongue. She dropped a chocolate bar on her tongue, took a sip, and savoured the mix of sweet and slightly sour.

She turned to look at her best friend and grinned gleefully at her obvious inebriated state of mind. Valerie was gesturing with her wine glass, eyes flashing, as she went on about the annoying I-think-I’m-the-most-handsome-man-in-the-world Nathan; who’d clumsily slammed into her at the supermarket.

She’d been bitching about the unscrupulous playboy who had the nerve to flirt with her for the better part of an hour when it was obvious he had a girlfriend somewhere.

She was still ranting now. “He stood there shamelessly flirting with me, all the while preparing for a date with his Color me Pink girlfriend, can you imagine that?” Indignant Valerie shot to her feet, weaved a little and then found her balance. “The utter arrogance of the male species.” She continued. She swore viciously as her glass tilted and the wine spilled.

Kike chuckled, this was great, she should have gotten a camera though, such a pity she hadn’t thought of it. And she was feeling way too relaxed to bother with her camera phone.

“Who does he think he is?” Valerie demanded now.

That I’d like to know, Kike thought eyes alight with amusement.

“Flirting with me and making me flirt back.” She grabbed a drumstick from the table and bit into it, chewing hungrily. For some odd reason her appetite seem to be highly boosted tonight.

“Ah, so you flirted with him too?’’ Kike queried, picking a drumstick too. Ha new information. They hadn’t gotten to that before.

“He seduced me into doing so, the lying cheating son of a gun.” Valerie defended.

Kike laughed.

Valerie shot her a nasty look. “I’ll have you know, young lady.” Her voice was stiffly dignified, which simply broadened the huge grin on Kike’s face. “That no woman stands a fair chance when that kind of … extremely hot mass of sexual appeal slams into you.” She nodded her head regally as she weaved back into the sofa.

Kike laughed merrily, damn what a great party. Maybe she should get out the bottle of Chamdor? Valerie’s slightly slurring voice broke into her thoughts.

“There was something familiar about him though. Like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

That’s it, Kike sighed deeply at the really slurred voice. She definitely needed to get out the bottle of Chamdor, girlfriend here has had enough to drink.

She snatched the glass of chardonnay from Valerie’s hand, ignoring her cry of protest. She passed her a fresh glass of grapefruit wine.

Valerie accepted the drink a little reluctantly, sipped it and grimaced, deciding instantly she preferred the Chardonnay. “I’m Nathan indeed. Who cares if he was Nathan, Norbit or … Nothing.” She continued with her favourite topic for the night. “Men! Forever thinking they are God’s specially packaged gifts to every woman.”

Kike cackled. “Better Nathan than Norbit. Norbit was starch-dried face and really ugly Eddie Murphy.”

“Well, starch-dried face ugly Eddie Murphy looked better.” She retorted with a malicious glint in her eyes.

Kike doubted it. A man who can get Valerie to this state of utter inebriation has got to be really better looking than Eddie Murphy, starch-dried face or not.

Valerie’s blurry, hazy eyes narrowed. “I bet he’s out there now, eating Godiva chocolate and drinking wine with his Color me Pink girlfriend… but something about him had looked really familiar, hmmm.” She leaned back against the sofa.

Kike’s smile bloomed. Ah, the pleasure of waking up tomorrow with plenty of gist.

She chuckled as she took a sip of her wine.