60 The Engagements

Tola stared at Deo. It had been one month and she hadn't set her eyes on him. He was looking extremely handsome in his casual black trousers and a T shirt.

"I figured you liked me better in casual wears." Deo spoke up.

"I like you in anything you put on." She swallowed. She stood opposite him and when he tried to speak, she stopped him.

"I owe you an apology Dee; I should not have behaved the way I did."

"I expected nothing less than that."

He brushed away a stray hair from her face. "Anything is forgiven when you call me Dee."

"You might be sorry you said that in the future"

she said when he took her in his arms.

"As long as you will be spending that future

with me."

He bent his head and kissed her deeply.

He had wanted to do that for a very long time.

No other thing felt so right or perfect. They held

each other, both realizing that they needed the

other as much as they needed their next breath.

"Are you planning to seduce me into accepting

you?" Tola asked breathlessly.

He grinned. "As long as it makes you accept to be

my wife." Tola gasped. Deo tensed as he put his hand into his pocket and brought out a tiny box and got down on one knee. Tola gasped as all their friends came out of hiding from the various rooms and Lucy entered the house with Raymond.

Suddenly, the house was filled with friends and

family members. Tola blinked back tears but they came anyways. This had taken her by surprise, she had not seen it coming at all. She did not expect to be engaged twice in the same year. Was this really happening to her? Was she dreaming?

"Tola, I don't know any romantic word to say in

order to soar your heart but I can promise to make you happy for the rest of your life. To put laughter on your face and to love you and you alone. Please be my wife Tola, please."

"Yes… Yes" she screamed and hugged him fiercely, kissing his neck in tears.

He slipped the shinning diamond ring into her fingers and kissed the finger with the ring. The cheer in the room was deafening and chants of 'kiss her, kiss her, kiss her…' rang out in the large sitting room.

Deo pulled Tola into his arms and kissed her. They both forgot about the crowd and got lost in a world of their own. The kiss ended and they suddenly noticed that the room was dead silent.

Tola was not surprised because she had known all along.

The sitting room was dark except a spotlight which illuminated a painting.

Luciana gasped as she stared at herself. The

painting was of her wearing the gown that Raymond had bought for her from the boutique the day after she had been discharged from the hospital. She had worn it and had looked like a beautiful bride.

Everyone was struck by the mastery of the painting including Tola. Ray appeared and a spotlight captured him as he moved towards Luciana.

"When I picked up a brush to paint again, only one image popped up in my mind. That Sunday, you had entered my room, wanting to drag me to church. I had pretended to be asleep and you stared at me longingly like you wouldn't mind joining me on the bed."

Everyone chuckled.

Tears streamed down Luciana's face uncontrollably. She had never imagined someone painting her.

"You had been so breathtakingly beautiful that I had taken my time to capture that image of you in

my head, hoping that I would be able to paint again." he got down on one knee.

"Lucy, you gave me back my life and made me live again. You drove all my fears away and gave me love. I can't spend the rest of my life without you; you sweeten my life; that is why I call you 'sugar'.

Please marry me Luciana Mbabazi. I promise to

never ever make you know a moment of sadness. I will be with you every time you need me. Please marry me, sugar."

His heart pounded against his ribs as he stared up at her with a sparkling ring in his hand. Everyone seemed to hold their breath.

Luciana knelt down, unable to control her tears.

She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

He quickly pulled her slightly away from him. "Is

that a 'yes' honey?"

"Yes" she screamed. "Yes… yes…" she continued

to say until Ray silenced her with a firm kiss. The

kiss was so tender and deep and demanding at the same time. They were both oblivious to the

resounding cheers as they held on to each other.

Vicky wiped off the tears in her eyes as she stared

at the ring on her own finger. She smiled up at

Duke who hugged her protectively, when he

noticed the eyes of some guys on Vicky. He kissed her head. Bella was also present. She was filled with so much joy knowing that her former boss had gotten himself a beautiful and loving fiancée. She smiled at the couple. She was very happy for them. She had also found happiness in the arms of another man and her business was booming.

Lucy stood up and hugged Tola tightly. People

started congratulating the two couples.

"I am happy for you Vicky" Lucy said.

"You said I would not have to try, guess what? I

did not try a bit. Duke swept me off my feet"

Lucy laughed. "You deserve it darling."

"And you and Raymond are made for each

other."

Bella hugged Raymond.

"I am glad you could make it Bella" Raymond said and she smiled.

"I would not miss it for anything in the world.

Fred was sentenced to 35 years in prison and the

two couples got married one year after on the

same day.

***THE END***