They walked out of the restaurant together. Kelvin insisted on dropping Freya off. He was mute throughout the ride but his mind was all over the place.
"I'll be getting off very soon." Freya's voice interrupted his thoughts, he slowed when he neared the curve she would be alighting at. "Thank you."
Kelvin massaged his forehead. He missed his wife. "Yeah."
Freya unlocked the door without stepping out. "Please, don't hurt her." Her hands were tight around the straps of her handbag. Kelvin was convinced Leila didn't tell her friend about the robbery incident with Charles. "She has been through enough." And he would spend the rest of their lives making her happy. But he didn't mention this to Freya. Sitting straighter, Freya continued, "If you hurt her, I swear to God and everything you believe in, I will come for you."
The smile on her lips contrasted with her words. Kelvin's head dipped in a mock bow. He would be the last person to hurt his wife and he didn't need a threat before he fulfilled the promise he made to her.
Minutes after Freya was out of his car, he couldn't move. His fingers weaved through his hair. What to do with Charles? He punched the steering and let out a groan.
How could he be so powerful yet so powerless? His phone beeped and his mood took on a positive dive.
Leila: How's it going?
Kelvin: Fine. She's gone now. I miss you.
Leila: I miss you too.
Not even a hurricane could wipe the smile off his face when he read the text. Kelvin didn't reply. There was no perfect reply to that. He put the car on drive and headed for the office. He would deal with Charles later but for now, he wanted to think only of his wife.
On getting to Tech Valley, he busied himself with work. Once his alarm beeped, he got out of the office immediately amid Amara's attempts to keep him back for missing work yesterday. He wanted to spend the rest of the day with his wife, talking, doing everything and anything she would like.
Kelvin made a quick stop at the mall. It was odd shopping by himself. But when he looked at the jar in his hand, it made him feel a little normal.
The drive home had him whistling to a tone, rotating the steering with the same sweet smile he had on his lips after receiving Leila's text. She admitted to missing him. He was one step closer to winning his heart.
His wife was home before him. Already bathed and dressed. How did she always get home so fast? He changed out of his shoes first, dropped the paper bag on the table and tiptoed into the kitchen. Locking her in an embrace from behind, he inhaled deeply. She smelt of his soap.
"Hey." She was frying plantain. "How do you do?"
"How do you do?" she replied. Flipping the first batch of plantain into a metal strainer she dropped on a tray, she handed him the spoon to continue frying. Kelvin laughed. He might have told her he wanted to learn to cook but this wasn't how it should be done. He should be bribed with kisses. "Just flip them." On her instructions, he turned the plantains when they were golden brown. "How was work? I didn't see you."
They stood side by side while she cracked eggs to prepare the sauce to go with the plantain. "Did you come to my office?"
Leila's silence was his answer. If she had stopped by his office, she would have seen him. He finished the last batch of frying and Leila took over. She reduced the heat and grabbed a skillet while he washed his hands.
"Freya called me." A dash of oil went into the frying pan, followed by the whisked egg. Kelvin stood by the sink, her back was to him and he newly admired the curve of her body. "Thanks for meeting up with her."
Meeting up with Freya benefitted him more than it did her but he couldn't say that. He could have easily asked Amara to contact the Lyons' and fix the appointment with Nathan, the CEO of Index.
"I'm going to change."
Leila nodded. He was gone in a heartbeat.
After bathing, he stepped out onto the balcony to make some arrangements. The sun hid behind the clouds and lights from surrounding buildings illuminated the sky. He left the couches and table intact but pushed the big pot of flower beside the railing to create a perfect dinner aesthetic. Finding the right song was the most difficult part. He settled for Ed Sheeran.
The soft music filtered into the air as he laid the wine and empty glasses on the table. Next things were the flowers. His feet crashed to a stop when he walked inside their bedroom and his excitement fizzled out at Leila's deep frown.
"Where were you? I've been looking for you," she said. Her lips pulled into a tight line. He didn't like being scolded by his wife but he was mute. "Dinner is ready."
"I was thinking we could eat outside today for a change." They barely spent time outside their room. "The weather is really cool." For couples to hang out. When she said nothing, he added, "It's up to you."
Her hands dropped to her sides, she did that thing with her lips that made him want to kiss her. Kelvin walked towards her and freed her hair. "You're acting weird, Kev."
Pushing her gently to the door, he said, "Outside it is."
The bouquet was on the table when Leila joined him at the big, spacious balcony that could host a small family. Her brows knitted in worry, he shrugged and pulled out a seat for her after collecting the tray.
"Kev, is everything okay?" Leila asked.
The jitters in her voice almost made him nervous. He poured her a glass of wine. "Everything is perfect," he replied and tipped his glass against hers. "Eat, Leila."
She picked her fork. Kelvin counted twenty seconds before she took her first bite. He was halfway done when she took another bite of the delicious dinner.
"Okay." She dropped the fork and downed the red wine swirling in her glass. "You're freaking me out."
"Why?"
There was nothing out of the ordinary about this moment. Just a couple having dinner on the balcony.
"It's just weird." She had resumed eating. Biting the edge of her lips, she tsked. "It is odd being out here."
"Because we don't do it often." The pad of his thumb brushed a corner of her lips, he sucked his thumb and winked. "Maybe we should do it more often. Yeah?"
"Yeah."
It came out as a question but he was content with hearing a reply. "Leila...what do you think about a big wedding?"
Freya's words had struck a nerve. A big wedding could solidify Leila's name as his wife but she had to be comfortable with the idea. Leila puckered her lips.
"Cool," she replied but he wanted her to say more, show excitement. "They are lovely."
"Would you like one?"
Wrinkles appeared on his forehead as she contemplated his question. "No. Why would I want another wedding?" she asked with a laugh. Kelvin didn't find the question amusing. "Aren't we married already?"
Again, her tone struck a nerve. He was giving her a chance to make their relationship public. This way, she wouldn't have to hide away from him in the office.
"I know but I was thinking you would want something public." With his wife's gaze piercing him, he was starting to doubt himself. His confidence wavered. Wasn't he making any sense to her? He stacked their empty plates to keep busy. "Are you fine with it this way?"
"Sure."
Oh. "Alright then."
Pangs of pain hit him but he masked it with a smile. He felt the same way he did earlier in the morning when she mentioned she had dated Charles but this was worse. It couldn't be that she was ashamed of him.
He couldn't resist saying, "Can I ask why?"
"We are already married, there is really no need." She looked at him like she thought his idea stupid. He forced another smile. "A gigantic waste of money if you ask me."
But if she had asked him, he would have told her he didn't mind it one bit. It was his money and he didn't consider their wedding a waste of funds.
"If you say so, Leila."
"I do say so, Mr Kelvin McKenna." Her smile was big and it made him smile as well. Maybe they didn't need a big wedding. "I'm fine with our arrangement."
Kelvin didn't like that word. This was more than an arrangement, it was a lifetime commitment. From the corners of his eyes, he caught her staring at him. Each time he turned to her to find out the issue, she looked away. Shy Leila was back.
He placed a hand on her knee. "What is it?"
"What is what?" she asked. She poured herself some wine. The wedge between his brows deepened when she finished the wine in one gulp. He took the empty glass from her before she could pour herself another round. "But I want more. I want wine, Kev."
"No, you don't." He laced their hands and she beamed. She was tipsy. "Do you have something to tell me?" Her cheeks pinked and Leila looked everywhere but at him. He was convinced she had something to say. "Leila, you know you can talk to me about anything, right? What is it?"
Hiding her face behind her palms, she giggled. "Will you make your wife come?"
Keeping a straight face was hard but Kelvin tried. Her hands lowered. "What did you say?" A shadow fell over her face, he had a gut feeling she was about to renounce her words but he stepped in before she could. "Sure, Leila. I will." Nibbling on her fingertips, he said, "Fingers or tongue?"
"Both?"
Kelvin laughed. He was still laughing when he swept her off her feet. Her wish was his command.