The police, really? What was she thinking when she made those silly threats?
Leila hid herself in the bathroom while Kelvin packed up. If he filed for a divorce, she wouldn't agree. She didn't want him to leave her. And it wasn't up to two years yet.
She didn't mean to push him but when he came so close to her, that feeling of helplessness crept over her and she reacted without thinking. For a moment, she thought he was Charles and had imagined him dragging her to the bed and...
Why did he have to kiss that lady? Here she had been preparing for their time together and he was there at the clinic getting comfortable with another woman. Was that why he asked her to leave? It was unfair.
Leila closed her eyes but the pictures she received earlier played in her mind.
Breakfast had come as usual. Then she took her bath, ready to call him to know what time she could visit when her phone pinged with pictures. His shirt was unbuttoned in all the pictures, his hand on her waist and her lips pressed against his. Fucking liar.
If he wanted to be with another woman, why did he marry her? Leila was on pilot mode as she moved into the stall and sank to her knees. She turned on the shower, warm water jetted down on her and she hugged her knees to her chest.
He had the guts to meet with his mistress in the clinic after she kissed him. She printed out the pictures. There must have been a mistake somewhere. Her Kelvin wouldn't do that but all the pictures showed him. Him and someone different from Madonna. It had to be the woman who picked his call.
She sobbed into her palms, already regretting her decision to take a leave today.
Her office allowed seven days of casual leave each year and a month of annual leave. She took off today and tomorrow to be with her husband but look what she got in return. Lying, cheating asshole. There was no point trusting men, they would always embarrass you.
Leila wiped her eyes as the water rained down on her, smudging the eye make up all over her cheeks. She even applied makeup for his sake. Sat in front of the mirror for two hours to mimic a YuuTube tutorial so she could be prettier, more sexy for Kelvin.
The knock on the door made her raise her head. She was still angry with him but she also wanted him to know she didn't mean that part about getting a divorce. She got up quickly, tied a towel around her chest and hair, then opened the door.
There was no one there. Her heart sank to her belly. Did he leave without telling her?
A note was tapped to the mirror, Leila crossed over to the vanity and snatched it. Her hands shook as she read the content.
I won't be home tonight, don't wait up.
It was no big deal. This was not his first time sleeping outside. She took wobbly steps to the bed and collapsed on it. Now what? The only person she could speak to was her best friend so she called her.
Freya's phone rang for so long she gave up trying. After wiping the makeup, getting into dry clothes, she closed the curtains and turned off the lights. The darkness comforted her to an extent, she crawled under the covers and closed her eyes.
Her sleep was fitful, she kept seeing Kelvin in her dreams. The result of each dream was the same. He was always throwing divorce papers at her. She woke up panting. The bed was soaked with her sweat. She changed the sheets and walked around the room.
Leila was bored out of her mind. She was afraid Kelvin might have left her. Their marriage wasn't perfect but she liked the comfort his presence brought. She stopped in front of the curtains and pulled them open.
Humming a tone, she cleaned up the neat room. The ache in her chest returned when she found the printed picture of Kelvin and that lady. Without a thought, she shredded it.
What if... what if Kelvin didn't know about it? In the pictures, his hands were around her waist but most part of his face were hidden. He looked so confused during her outburst, maybe she should have taken that as a sign or listened to his advice about talking about it first.
Leila rushed to her phone when it rang, her hope died when she noted the caller was Lily. She let the phone ring without picking, then sent her friend a text later to reassure her. It wasn't normal for her to miss work so she could understand Lily's concern for her.
The next person she called was Kelvin but he was on another call. She sent Freya a text and her phone rang immediately. Freya only had to ask her what happened before her tear dam split open. She lowered herself to the seat in front of the vanity.
Between hiccups, sniffs and sobs, she managed to tell her friend the full story. But when she was done, Freya didn't say a word. Her best friend's silence bothered her.
"Freya..." she said when her friend hadn't spoken a word. "I fucked up, right? I don't think he will come home." She pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. Her eyes were dull and the tip of her nose was red from too much sniffing. If only he would pick her call. "I think he might have gone to see a lawyer."
Her imagination was going wild, the theories were absurd but she believed them. What if he decided to move out? Kelvin had houses scattered in California.
"Your words were harsh," Freya finally said. "But I don't think he will divorce you. He just needs space." She could deal with that, she would give him as much space as he wanted if it would yield positive results. "Leila..."
At the switch in her best friend's voice, she sat up. Whatever Freya had to say was important.
"What if someone set him up?" But why would anyone do that? Kelvin was a good man, except the person's intention was to create a rift between them. "What if it's someone we both know? Someone who would benefit from you two breaking up." Only one person came to mind. "Think about it, Leila."
Propping her elbow on the vanity, she sneezed into a wet wipe. "What if he really cheated?" Even as she said this, it sounded strange to her ears. For God's sake, it was Kelvin. Before now, the media always thought him to be strange because of the lack of females in his life. "He's not picking my calls. What should I do?"
Her friend had been married for longer than she had, she must have good advice for her. Leila tapped her foot into the ground. If Freya was right, Charles Black might have set her husband up. But how did he know where to find them? What if it was through Madonna? She was the only one who looked unhappy to see her with Kelvin. She had to confront Madonna.
"Give him space and time, then try again."
Useless advice but she nodded to it. They spoke for a few more minutes and the call ended. She tried his number again, he was not on a call but he didn't pick.
That was expected but it still hurt. She moved to the wardrobe and took out one of his t-shirts to wear. The shirt swallowed her frame and stopped at her knee. She took pictures of herself in it and sent them to him.
The blue tick showed he had seen the messages but no response came from him.
What could she do?
Leila: I'm sorry.
Leila: Please call me. Let's talk.
Leila: Okay, I might have overreacted but I didn't know what to do, Kev. Please, give me a chance to explain.
Leila: I know you're mad at me and you don't want to see me, I understand but can you please pick up? Talk to your flower.
All the messages she sent were delivered. She set the phone on the bed, legs crossed with her hands clasped behind her neck. Her breath hitched when he read the text and the three dots to show Kelvin was typing appeared on her screen. She nearly cried out with joy.
Thank Jesus.
Seconds after, the dots disappeared. The hole in her heart expanded, Leila tried not to put much thought into it and dialled his number. No response. She could no longer hold in the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
Leila: Kev, I'm sorry. I was angry. I was jealous, okay? I thought I pushed you into the hands of another woman. I know nothing I say now will change what has happened but I just really want us to talk.
Leila: You said we are a team, remember? And you will always be there when I need you. I need you now. Please come through for me now. Kev, please. I'm begging you. Call me.