29. MARRIAGE PREPARATION

For weeks, Susan went from one department to another in search of Yvonne. She had asked Clara but was told no one bears the name, she couldn't believe Yvonne was a ghost cos she had bumped into her in person.

Susan wanted something which could tie Raymond down to her that he won't be able to get out of and marriage was the only thing. She wanted to get married to him as soon as possible.

She complained to her Dad and begged him to talk to his parents about the marriage preparations. She called Ray's Mom after dropping her Dad's call.

The following morning, she met Raymond in the kitchen eating breakfast. "Good morning, Love." She pecked his cheeks

"Morning." He quickly finish his breakfast and went back to his room.

She ate hers, cleaned up, and went to freshen up. They had nowhere to go since they were on the weekend.

A few hours later, Raymond sat down across Susan, scrolling through his phone while Susan was filing her nails in silence.

She watched him for some time and broke the silence, "Raymond, your mom called me earlier."

He looked up from his phone and watched her in silence, she repeated herself. "I said your mom called earlier."

He dropped his phone, looking at her in doubt, "She called you or you called her, Susan?"

Susan looked away, "It doesn't matter. She said she would be coming over next week."

"Coming over to do what here? What's the occasion?"

"For the marriage preparations." She smiled widely.

"What marriage preparations? Who's getting married?"

"Our wedding preparation."

"Isn't it too early for that?"

"I hope you are aware am not getting any younger but older." She glared at him.

He looked at her strangely, "I said I need..."

She stood up in anger, "You needed time and want to stand on your own without your Dad's help, you have achieved that, Ray." She yelled. "I have waited for 5 years and it's enough. I want to get married."

"I don't want to get married." He yelled back at her.

Her eyes watered as he said, "You..." The tears came rolling down.

He moved toward her to console her, "Susan can't we wait a bit longer. Try to understand where am coming from." He held her to himself.

"Raymond, why do you hate me this much? I have tried everything in my power to make you love me but nothing." She gripped his shirt in her hands.

"I can't love you like this when my head is filled with her thoughts." He closed his eyes.

She pushed away from him in anger, "You are always thinking about her, every moment in your life is her, and I'm fed up with that shit. Your phone is filled with her pictures which keeps you busy at night... And when I say at night, it means every single night and it's getting on my nerves." She shouted.

He sighed, "Susan, Under..."

"Stop telling me to f**kingly understand." She eyed him. "I am done understanding or listening to what you have to say. Now it's your turn to listen to what I have to say, We are starting our marriage preparation next week and we are getting married in the next 2 months."

"What!!! You can't decide for me."

"I have decided. I am done being patient with you, I'm done making things easy for you. What I said is final."

"Susan!!!" He shouted in anger.

"Raymond!!! Don't dare me. And If you want, you can try me." She walked out of the house.

Susan didn't come back that same day till the next day. Raymond was worried, he tried her number a few times but she didn't pick up. He guessed he was angry. Raymond was able to think and come to a conclusion before Susan came back to the house.

The door opened, Susan walked in. "Good morning, Susan."

"Good morning, Welcome home."

"You slept here?" She asked, noticing he was laying down on the three-seater couch, covered with a duvet.

He nodded, "I slept off waiting for you. I was worried sick."

"Am sorry." She looked down at her feet in shame.

"I understand you were angry at my behavior yesterday."

She shook her head negatively, "No...Am sorry about how I acted, it was wrong of me to... I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. I will accept any decision you make, even if you want to call off this relationship..." She sobbed inaudibly.

He was shocked at her calm behavior and more shocked at her apologizing. She has never said sorry when she had been at fault. He was happy at her effort to change.

"Come here." He held his hand out to her, she came closer, placing her hand in his. He pulled her gently to sit on his lap.

He cleaned her tears and hugged her to himself, "I have decided to go through with the marriage."

She moved back to look at him, "What!!! Are you serious?"

"I am. I have to move on from my past and the only way forward is you and this marriage."

She squealed, hugging him tight, "Thank you so much."

Susan released from the hug to look at him, she bit down on her lips while starring at his. She brought her head closer to Raymond's and kissed him.

An alarm went off in his head, sending a warning, "She's not your Yvonne, Ray." He brushed off the thoughts and kissed her back.

Susan deepened the kiss, she moved around looking for a comfortable spot on his lap. She balanced herself to straddle him, gripping his shoulder to steady herself.

"Yvonne... Yvonne... Yvonne..." Was who Raymond could think of and the main reason he was still kissing Susan.

He has given his word that he will go through with the marriage and he can't back out. He wished he had accepted to call off the relationship as she had said earlier but he couldn't hurt her more than he has.

He wished things had been good in the past and by now, He would have been happily married to his Kitten with lots of children.

He was brought to present by the feeling of her hand on the waistband of his trousers. He held her hands to stop her before she could go further.

"You are regretting the kiss, right?" She said with tears in her eyes. "Am..."

He pecked her to stop her from talking, "Don't you dare say you are sorry. I don't regret the kiss. Am trying to get used to this, " He made a gesture to them, "So please can we do it step by step?"

She smiled and nod, "Yes. Step by step." She stood up from his laps to sit beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Am sorry, Yvonne." He thoughts.

As from that day, things had been going smoothly between them. Raymond relates more with Susan and on the other hand, Susan began practicing how to act like a good housewife.

Cooking was hard for Susan, Raymond took the cooking and cleaning of the house upon himself. Susan helps once in a while when it gets too much for him.

The following week, Raymond's mom came visiting as promised and started the preparation. They started with the invitation card then Susan's wedding gown and other necessities.

Raymond's mom went back to prepare for other things in New York and to give out invitation cards to the people over there.

Raymond informed his employees at his company about his marriage coming up and also the reason he won't be available most times.

Yvonne couldn't cry. She told her mom about Raymond being her boss and all, her mom advised her to let go of the past and be happy, she had Justin with her.

Mercy was angry at the arrangements, she wanted Yvonne for her brother, not Susan. She spoke to Yvonne about it but was given deaf ears. Mercy decided to take matters into her hands and work things out for her brother and Yvonne.