6. I'll comfort you...
After Ashley left.,
Mark could not stop thinking about what she said to him... It felt like her words lingered in the air... "Don't forget our meeting, don't be late... He kept on thinking of this special meeting that they had.., and how fun and crazy it would be... He could only picture the so-called meeting, and he most definitely did not want to be late for that kind of a special meeting....
He was sure the host of the meeting was going to treat him with variety of delicious dishes that he couldn't wait to taste.... The picture of the meeting in his head was so clear., colorful and extremely raunchy..
All this nonsense was what he was thinking of, while Vanessa was busy talking about everything that happened on her first day of work as she happily devoured her favorite dish... LA PASTA EMILIANA..
Sorry honey, but his own new favorite dish awaits him in his apartment, on his bed.... Poor Vanessa...
"i mean it is so funny, they actually thought I was nineteen... Can you believe that huh??....
She had been so engulfed in telling her stories, and ravenously eating her Pasta, that she just now realized that Mark had barely touched his food, and most definitely had not been listening to her stories...
"Mark.., Mark.., she called out but he didn't even hear... It was only after the third time she called his name, almost shouting at the top of her voice..that he finally snapped out of his lewd thoughts.....
Huh??... Oh am so sorry Van, my head was occupied with work... It's just that I've been so busy lately, and I am really exhausted... Work has been really stressful...
He was sorry, but something about his expression made Vanessa feel like he wasn't.... It's been two whole weeks since they last saw each other, but for some reason she felt like she was the only one who was happy to be on this date.., and it broke her heart to feel that way....
"well then Mark, if you are so tired, I think you should go home and rest....
" Hey babe, are you angry...come on I said am sorry.., I was really tired you know... There was a little bit of annoyance in his voice, and Vanessa felt it....
"two weeks Mark... It's been two weeks since we saw each other, and I just wanted a simple date, where I could talk with you, laugh with my boyfriend.., and have a simple meal together... Was that too much to ask??.... She was trying really hard to hold back the tears that threatened to pour down.., because if they did, they would just pour nonstop.
But her words only annoyed Mark even more.
"what's wrong with you huh. What is it.., you say two weeks like it's been two years.., I clearly told you that I am just tired.. Do you know how hard it is for me to work till this late in the day and still find time for you huh??. He shouted at the top of his voice, and now all eyes in the restaurant were on them.
Well how can you even know how hard it is to work when you could not even secure a job until now huh.
His words were like knives., sharp two-edged knives., and they made their way directly to her heart. They didn't even miss the spot. His words accurately dug into her heart. She could no longer hold back the tears. They just kept pouring out.
This was supposed to be a sweet and cozy date night.., how in the world had it turned into this horror.....
"Are you crying right now... Mark asked obviously disgusted at her stupid act... MY gosh Vanessa.., I can't deal with you right now... I'll call you later... And with that he stands up and walks away, leaving her there crying.., with all curious eyes on her...
Among the curious eyes, was prayer girl who was waiting for Daddy who had left her in the care of one of the restaurants attendants to go talk to someone....
"can I get a box of tissue.... She asks one of the waiters politely.., who immediately gives her one... She walks over to Vanessa...
" here... She points the tissue box at Vanessa whose eyes were still releasing the water they had in them.... Here take it.., My daddy tells me that if I see a person crying, I should always comfort them, and that it's not good to cry alone... So till my daddy gets back, I'll try and comfort you....
Vanessa amidst her tears, chuckled.., the little girl who did not seem older than five or six years was going to comfort a crying twenty-six year old woman... She collected the tissue from the box and wiped her tears...
"and how are you going to do that?... She sniffed as she asked the girl...
"like this.... The girl opens her bag and brings out a phone and a pair of earpiece....
Do you even know how to use that... Vanessa sniffs again pointing at the little girls phone....
" just because I'm little doesn't mean I'm stupid... The girl replied back in a tone that said... Duhh.. Of course I do...
What Vanessa did not realize was that she was gradually calming down....
The girl plugs in the earpiece, and fiddles with the phone for a while, and then her eyes widened... She had found what she was looking for.... She gestures Vanessa to come closer....
"whenever I am feeling down, my daddy told me to listen to this song and it would make me feel better....
" and does it work? Vanessa asks with a little smile...
"like magic... The girl says proudly with a grin on her face... She puts the earpieces into Vanessa's ear...then she asks... Are you ready??... Vanessa nods in response... Then the girl clicks on the play button....
Vanessa knew she had heard this song before.., she had heard it a lot of times..., Jenny had this song on repeat for almost a month...,
It was 'Rescue by Lauren Daigle'
she had heard it a dozen times, but she never listened to the words....for some unknown reasons, the song sounded different now that it felt like she was hearing it in her head....
When the song finished, Vanessa was ready to remove the earpiece, she didn't believe in God.., so she didn't want to continue listening to the song.., but the little girl made her listen to it one more time.., and then again....and again... Until Vanessa found herself very calm.... She had even forgotten about the fact that she had a fight with Mark.... She even found herself humming the song.
The girl was right.., or maybe it was her Daddy., she did say her daddy told her the song helps., and he was right., the song had worked magic on her.
"little miss, your father told me to bring you to him. He says I should tell you your grandmother is waiting. The attendant in charge of Prayer girl said.
Hearing the word grandmother., made the girl light up with joy.
" i think I have been helpful to you enough., I have to go now and I hope I see you again. She says as she puts her phone and earpiece back inside her bag.
Well yes you have been really helpful to me thank you. Your song did work magic. She told the girl.
The girl gestures her to come closer, and she bends to the girls level. She whispers something into Vanessa's ear.and Vanessa's eyes flew wide open. Her face was flushed with red.
Then the girl places a kiss on her cheek and walks away with the man. Smiling mischievously. While Vanessa was still frozen in shock at what the little girl whispered to her.
*********************
When Mark got to his apartment..., he saw Ashley on the bed..
All she had on was her work ID, that she wore around her neck, the rope of the ID passed between her very succulent breasts, and the ID itself, rested on her tummy just above her bellybutton...
She laid on the bed like a mermaid.... Her skin dazzling as the candle light flashed on her body.....
Yes..., this was exactly what he needed... Exactly... All he needs to help him forget about his argument with Vanessa....