30

Denise got inside the room grinning like a little girl. Her mother was watching her closely as she entered the room. She stood by the staircase, wondering why her daughter was grinning like that for. Denise leaned back on the door frame, touching her lips.

"Baby girl, are you okay?" Mrs. Wilson asked, starting Denise.

"Mom, how long have you been standing there? I did not see you," she said and moved away from the door.

"I have not been here that long. I just came downstairs to get Tina to buy something for me when I saw you staring at the ceiling, grinning to yourself. Did something happen?" her mother asked her.

Denise walked towards her mother and held her hand. "He kissed me, mother. He kissed me on the lips and it felt so good, mother."

"Who are you talking about?" her mother asked.

"Harry, mother. He told me he loved me and kissed me. You don't know how happy that made me mother. Finally, I and Harry can have something more than friendship." Denise looked so excited.

Her mother looked even more confused. "Wait! You mean, Harry told you he loved you?"

"Yes mother," she replied with a high pitched voice.

"Oh God, that is good news. I am so happy it finally happened. So, come. Tell me everything in detail. How did everything happen?"

Denise got closer to her mother, held her hands, and dragged her towards the living room. Both of them sat down with a thud and her mother laughed.

"He said he wanted to speak to. me after he came back from seeing his mother. Then we went to the garden where he confessed his love to me, mother. He told me he loves me. I am so happy mother."

"So, what happens now? Does that mean you two are going to start dating as soon as possible?"

"Well, yes. But I asked him to give me some time to be able to get myself together. I just got out of a breakup and I don't want to rush into anything else."

"Denise, you love Harold, don't you?" her mother asked her.

"Of course I do. I love him with everything I have."

"Then, why do you want time? Don't you want him?"

"I want him, mother. I need him like the air I breathe."

"Then don't let him slip away from you. Harold is a good man. He has been with you for a long time even when all those so-called men were leaving. He stayed with you and brought back that beautiful smile to your face again. I think he is the best man for you."

"I know that mother. Harold is like a God sent to me. But, I just want to take things slow with him. And he agrees with me. All I want right now mother is to enjoy the time I have with him."

"Alright baby girl, if you say so. I am really happy that finally, you have the man of your dreams. I really wish you all the best, dear daughter." her mother said.

"Thank you."

The following day, everything was just as normal as every day. They both went to work and went about their business like they normally do. Harold was running errands for Denise again when he ran into Karen at the supermarket where Denise had sent him to get some things for her.

"Hello, Harry. We meet again," Karen said in a seductive voice.

Harold did not like anyone calling him Harry except Denise. Not even his mother was allowed to call him that.

"Hello, Karen. I did not think I would see you so soon. How are you doing?" he forced out a smile.

"I am doing well. I have been hoping to see you ever since our last encounter. How are you also doing?" she asked him as she tried to go closer to him.

Harold stepped back a bit, avoiding Karen's hand which had somehow tried to get a hold of his uniform.

"Really? I see," he turned towards the lady by the counter. "How much for all of these?" he asked the lady, totally ignoring Karen.

"Harold, come on, I am not a bad person for you to ignore me like this. I only want to be friends with you," Karen said.

"I am not ignoring you, Karen. I just need to get these things back to the office on time. Is there something you need?" Harold responded.

"I only want your number, that's it. Maybe I can call you so that we hung out together?"

"It sounds nice but I am sorry I can't go anywhere with you. Let me pay for what you bought then as a way of me making it up to you, huh?"

"No, don't worry about it."

"Okay." Harold shrugged and paid for his things then left the shop.

Karen followed him out once he was gone and found him closing the door to Denise's car.

"I want to know why you don't want to at least give me your number. I just want to get to know you better. I don't think that's bad, right?"

"It's not bad. it's just that you always get me at the wrong time. Listen, I will give it to you the next time we meet, okay? I have to go now. See you, " he said and sat in the car, then drove off.

"I always get what I want Harold. You will be mine someday, I promise you," she said to herself when Harold was out of sight.

Harold rushed with the shopping bags into Denise's office. She took the bags from him when he came in, and placed them beside her desk.

"What took you so long? I wanted us to go to Shaw and Ferguson's."

"I am really sorry Denise. I just ran into someone on my way here."

"Don't worry, you are not that late. Anyway, I want to take you somewhere tonight. I want us to spend some time together. What do you say?" Denise said and held the lapels of Harold's uniform.

"I will go wherever you want me to go," Harold said.

Denise smiled and kissed Harold on the lips with everything she has.