27
Stefan drove Kathleen to a hospital and packed at the front, Kathleen looked at him, confused, "why are we here?" He stared ahead as if afraid to go inside, "I want to show you something"
He got down, walked round to her side and opened her door, they both walked into the hospital, although, Kathleen doesn't know why he had brought her here, she knew it had everything to do with his mood earlier so she followed him.
They walked into a room and a frail look woman looked up when the door opened, she smiled when she saw Stefan, "Stefan is that you?" Her voice shook as she tried to sit and she coughed, Stefan walked to her side, "yes mom, please lie still" he grabbed her shoulders to stop her from sitting up and she laid back, glancing at Kathleen, "have you brought your girlfriend? She's beautiful" Kathleen blushed at her words and Stefan quickly corrected her, " no mom, she's not my girlfriend but she's a friend and she's married already"
"Too bad she's married, you both looked perfect together"
"I brought her here so that you can see other faces besides mine and for you to see I'm living just as you want me to, see, I even have a friend, so you don't need to worry that I'll be so lonely when you're gone"
Kathleen sat on the side of her bed and glanced at Stefan, "what's wrong with her?"
His face looked pained as he answered, "cancer" Kathleen's eyes rose to meet his, he took a deep breath before adding "last stage" her heart was filled with sympathy for him and his mother.
"Now don't look so sad, I'm glad my son has a friend, I've always known him to be a loner so was worried that he'll be all alone when I am no more, even if you're married, I'm glad you consider him a friend" Stefan's mom smiled through the tears in her eyes and Kathleen couldn't help but smile back, she kept gazing at Kathleen with a worried look and Kathleen soothe her, " do not worry about him okay, just take care of yourself, he has a lot of friends around him" Kathleen reassured her.
They stayed until she fell asleep before leaving the hospital, once outside, Stefan stood facing her and grasp her hands in his, "thanks for coming with me" he regarded her with a look in his eyes that Kathleen began to feel uncomfortable, she withdrew her hands from his but instead, he hugged her, Kathleen felt embarrassed, "enough Stefan, you don't have to hug me" she moved away from his hug and he looked contrite, " I'm sorry if I've offended you, I was just overwhelmed"
"I'm glad you're feeling better please take me back"
She entered the car and he got in beside her, " I'm sorry, don't be angry with what happened earlier" Stefan looked sincere but she had to make their boundaries clear to him, "just don't forget that I am married and I wouldn't jeopardize my marriage for anything"
"I just got carried away, I saw my mom smiled today, ever since she became sick I hardly see a smile on her face", he looked at her and smiled sadly, "thank you and sorry for dragging you all the way here, I only wanted her to feel like I am not alone if she lives, I bet I should quickly take you back home"
"This should be the last time we'll be meeting, I promised my husband I'll stay away from you, I did what I have to do because I was owing you, now we're even".
He smiled sadly, "it's ok, I understand, your husband doesn't like me and a woman must please her husband"
Kathleen made no response as he drove her home, she quickly went inside and didn't see the cold smile on Stefan's face, his work is done, he brought out his phone and put a call to Marcella, she answered on the fourth ring, "it's done, the rest is up to you".
Marcella hung up and smiled ruthlessly, poor little Kathleen won't know what hit her, she'll be so caught unaware, she quickly put a call to Nicole, " get your acting skills ready, you're about to be called up for a show".
Kathleen was relieved Derek wasn't back when she came back, she quickly took a shower, her stomach growled and she remembered that she hadn't had lunch, she quickly went to the kitchen to get something to eat, she was glad she had told Stefan to remain a distance from her, she only wants to do what would make Derek happy, she was in love with him and would confess her feelings to him, he had left for work that morning without speaking to her, she understood that he was just worried about her but she would reassure him that he had nothing to worry about, henceforth, she would try to be the kind of wife he would be proud of and she would make sure her marriage work for the better.
Derek entered the room and saw Kathleen sitting on the bed, he stared at her, his gaze hooded, she twitched her hands nervously, all the lines she had prepared earlier flying off from her head, "er... you're back"
He made no reply, his gaze access her instead and she became more nervous, she tried again, " I made the maid prepare your favorite dish"
" Humph" was all he said before dropping his suitcase and entering the bathroom