Of Songs and love
Page 4
Life after you.
Faith got home and removed her heels. Bellamy walked into the kitchen to fix himself tea. She waited for him to get back. He came and took the seat beside her. “Hey, where’s mine?”
“You didn’t ask for one. You can make some in the kitchen.” He picked her remote and put his feet on the coffee table. She stared at him for a while. He had had too much to drink. She walked to the kitchen and saw the Daughtry CD on the counter. Sam!
She had never bothered to call him. She looked ahead and saw how unkempt Bellamy was. She walked back to him and stood before him.
“What?”
“We need to talk.”
“Can we do that later Faith? I am trying to catch up on the match, now would you at least move? I would listen, just sit on the side.”
“She bent over and switched it off. He clicked, “now why did you do that?”
“It is my TV. Go get your own!”
“Okay, so this is how you are going to be…”
“Do you love me Bellamy?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Get up and leave! NOW!”
Bellamy smirked. Before he could turn he felt a load crush his head. She had thrown the dictionary at him. He stood up and stared at her. The only thing he did was spring towards the door. She collapsed in the chair and for once she cried. She could have called Sam but she didn’t want to. This was her drama. She needed no ones’ help. Bellamy was a pig! She was better off without him. She cried herself to sleep.
She woke up to the daily paper. Sam’s article was titled “Life after you.” That was another of Daughtry’s songs. She didn’t have to read it all to know what he meant.
Home.
It was three weeks since they saw each other. She had been busy at work. She got the promotion she wanted. She even took time off to visit her parents and brother. She never called Sam. She was too embarrassed to call him. She thought she needed time to think things through. He was busy at work maybe.
How could that be? Sam was the one. He had been there all along. Then again, what about his string of girlfriends? He had a chain of them for every night of pleasure. How could she deal with that?
She went to his house one night. It was four weeks since they saw each other. She sat in the living room waiting for him to get home. He arrived home at around 11:00pm. He was carrying a big bag and dragging his suitcase. He had been out of the country. They had to attend some training workshop in South Africa. How could she have forgotten that?
He stopped in his tracks. “Hi.”
“Hi stranger,” he replied and then hugged her.
“How are you doing? Never mind, I made supper. Take a seat and let me serve you. You must be tired.” He sat baffled but she walked out so fast. She came back in with some food. She had made ugali, sukumawiki and beef stew. He ate in silence. He felt his eyes struggle to remain open.
“How was your trip?” she asked jovially.
“It was great. I liked being there. How are you doing?”
“I got promoted at work.”
“Congratulations Faith. I am happy for you, we need to celebrate.”
“Yes that we do.”
“How are you doing? I mean how are things between you and Bellamy.”
“I kicked him out.” Sam almost dropped the plate. He stared at her in silence. There was a sparkle in her eyes. This sparkle was bright and eternal. He thought he was hallucinating.
“Do you love me Sam?”
“Always have.”
“Why didn’t you ever tell me? Why did you tell the whole of Kenya but not me?”
“I told you the best way I could. Remember the morning after you found out that Bellamy and Nancy were dating?”
“Yes.”
“I told you then, but you brushed me off. So I took it like a man and settled for the second best option.”
“I am stupid…”
“Yes, you were.”
“I am such a fool.”
“No you are not. You loved Bellamy I understood that, even though I never accepted it, I had to deal with it one way or another.”
“So, any chance…if not I will also understand, because, well I guess there is nothing much I can do, my life is not perfect, how could it ever be and I am not perfect, just a pain and I complain a lot. I think you should rest, maybe I am doing this all wrong.”
“Sit down Faith. You can stay.”
“What about your girls? Because I am not sharing you with anyone.”
“You won’t. I am tired; I just hope this is not a dream that will hit me hard in the face when I wake up tomorrow.”
“I am sorry Sam.”
“That would not ease the pain Faith.” He reached out to embrace her and she belonged in those arms. She could hear his heart beating and she knew he was the one. It took her almost five years to see it. At that moment she was glad there were pigs like Bellamy because they made her see sweethearts like Sam. “I love you Sam. I am not saying it because I need you in my life, but I love you and it might not be like the way you love me, but give me time.”
“It is okay; a few more years wouldn’t hurt.”
She slept in his arms that night. She woke up late for once and it felt so good. It was the sound of Sam typing at his keyboard that woke her up.
“Home: There are times when as a bachelor home is nothing but an empty room full of stuff. You walk in after a long day, and simply head for your bed. You might wake up to sip some coffee but then get back to bed. It is never intentional but it works. Every day seems like a lazy day when you are nearing thirty. You may have a string of girlfriends. The best friends, or know the best nyama choma joints but without that one woman whose presence or thoughts leave you mesmerized-you are nothing. I know my friends, are clicking or churning with rage at such talk-relax guys, we are still having nyam chom at Kitengela this weekend.
Men work with what they see. Women work with what they hear. I have heard these so many times it is becoming annoying. A simple tip, women, if you can simply be nice, men would appreciate that. Tall, dark and handsome does not exist in that order. Then again, there are a lot more qualities. Men never marry the woman they meet at the club. They marry the one who is like a wild horse. Wild horses are natural, strong, honest and most of all hard to tame. Which man doesn’t like a challenge? He would relish taming her and when he has done that, he pops the question. If he picks you up, buys you drinks in a club and lets you dance with whichever man, know he is not serious about you.
Love and lovers are different. The longest distance is the one where you are right in front of someone and they can’t see you. The greatest pleasure is walking home and finding the woman you love waiting for you. She may be fussy or start talking about her day or someone’s handbag or weave. She might even get on your case about coming home late. The greatest pleasure is knowing though she is mad, she will sleep in your arms. She will kiss and hold onto you till dawn comes.
She will be happy to have you by her side. You might steal glances at other women, but like I said, love is selfish. Lovers are jealous, believe it or not, no other will take her place, because with her no matter how much of a drunk, cheat, skunk, pain, pest, parasite, saint or angel you are-with her you are always home.”
Sam let her read it and kissed her neck softly. Faith smiled knowing there was so much to learn about him. “Sam, this article is too mushy. In fact the guys will be mad at you for leaning more to the women’s side.”
“Let them do that.”
“Sam?”
“Yes dear”
“Can I stay here again?”
“Sure, it’s your place Faith, you don’t have to ask.”
“Can we stay home at least for today or do you have to go to work.”
“We’ll stay in then.”
“Thanks Sam, for loving me stupid and all. I know I have a lot to make up for.”
“Come here Faith. I’m home with you, what more would I want?
“Food! I am starved.”
“Sure, am glad you came to your senses, food sounds great! Let’s go to the kitchen.”
Fin