CHERRY'S POV
I walk into the building and head straight to my office, answering pleasantries before I get to my door.
Getting inside, everything is clean and in order.
Smiling to myself, I know that Tamara has definitely outdid herself, but she did well, this time.
The clusters I left when I travelled are no where to be seen, the office is cleaned, and the fridge is well stocked with my favorite chocolates.
I hear a soft knock on the door and I know that it's Tamara, "Come in." I say.
"Good morning ma'am, welcome back, how was your trip?" She says but I can detect something unusual in her tone.
"Good morning Tamara, and my trip was fine. I hope everything is still intact here, and all my schedules for the day have being arranged." I ask, "Yes ma'am... ma'am." She stammers and I finally looks at her.
Oh my God! I'm shocked at what I see. "Tamara, what happened?" I ask her, but she just mumbles a reply and shakes her head.
"Don't worry ma, I'm okay, I'm fine. “She says with a shiver, and I don't like it one bit.
"Tamara, talk to me this instant. Your eyes are red, you've been crying, what's the matter? What's wrong?" "You don't have to worry ma'am, I'm fine." She says and I get riled up.
"Go and clean your face in the toilet." I tell her, and she nods, walks in the toilet, do the necessary things and comes back outside.
Handing her a napkin to dry her face off, I direct her to a chair, sit beside her and say calmly, "Talk to me, what happened?"
"Okay ma'am, if you really want to know, uhm..... My boyfriend or my fiance rather, told me he'll be leaving the States to Europe, and he said I should come along, so we could stay there together. According to him he hates long distance relationships and........"
"Ok.." I say urging her on, I can see she's not finished.
"Yeah, I told him that he should try to make the distance thing work for us, that I can't come with him due to some personal reasons, and my work too and that I'll visit him often. He then turned the whole thing the other way round, saying I valued my job more than him, that I never loved him, that even if I did, I would have not even thought about anything and just said yes to his request. I pleaded with him yesterday, and he gave me two days to think about it, our relationship or my work, and that of I don't come up with an answer, then we're done for good..... Then.... then....."
Caressing her back softly, I stand up and go get a cup of water for her from the dispenser, and she drinks to her satisfaction and says, "Thanks ma'am."
"You are welcome, so continue." I say urging her despite her stammers to continue, even though personally I think I know where all this is going to lead too.
"He...He...." She stammers, "Calm down, okay, calm down."
"He called this morning, telling me he has already left, and that he's going to start a new life there, better still with another woman and that I should take care. Basically calling our engagement off, without even considering my feelings." She says and cries softly, sniffling, wiping my handkerchief on her face in a bid to get rid of the tears.
"I've being calling him, I've tried his line all through today, but he seems he has blocked me, or switched his phone off, I don't know he's not picking my calls, and everything is going straight to voicemail."
God! I don't do this, comfort someone, I've tuned the world out for so long, not feeling any emotion, acting cold and this position I'm in now is so new to me, I don't even know what to do.
"Oh my, Tamara, I don't know what to say, I'm so sorry." I say but she nods sharply, "That's not the least of my concern, that's not even the matter here now." She says her voice rising.
"I'm... I'm pregnant for him, ma'am." And with this last words come torrents of tears, and she starts crying heavily.
I'm shocked and stunned to say the least, this has really taken the situation to a whole nother level.
"I don't know what to do, I don't know where to start from ma'am. I don't want my child to grow up without a father.... I just don't know what to do, I'm confused, I'm convinced that he never loved me, for him to make an abrupt decision at such a crucial time." She keeps talking and at the same time crying, and I feel very bad for her.
That's the thing with love, the thing with men.
They only end up breaking your heart.
Getting more close to her, I engulf her in an embrace, patting her back, trying to calm her down, I don't have much words to say, but I think my time here might be just what she needs.
"It's okay Mara, ssshhh, its okay, I'm here for you, your loved ones are also here for you. It's going to be alright dear, you are a strong woman, you can live without him." I say brushing her hair with my palm, calming her down.
"Yes ma'am, thanks so much, I feel so much relieved now. It feels as if part of the burden have being lifted off."
"I'm glad you feel that way. Just know I'm here for you always."
Next Morning
CHERRY'S POV
I wake up and rub my eyes softly. I suddenly remember Jeanne, she's leaving today, this morning actually, Oh no, I pray she hasn't gone yet, without me saying goodbye.
I race down the stairs with my nighties still on.
I see her having breakfast on the dining table, and I calm down a little bit, and gently walk to where she is.
Hugging her from behind, I say, "Hey pumpkin, I taught you left already without saying goodbye, I was worried, taught I slept out on you."
"Come on babe, why would I do that. Why would I leave without my favorite person in the whole wide world seeing me off." She says smiling and I pout my lips like a baby and just hum.
"Are you done eating, have you packed your things, are you set already?" I ask her and she nods and freeing my embrace, she gets up.
"Yeah, I'm done, don't worry yourself."
"I'll miss you so much." I say and she just smiles.
"I'll miss you too sister, but don't worry it's just for a few days, maybe two or three days." She says.
That word sister definitely got to me, and I melt inside, I'm so grateful to have her by my side.
I whine like a baby, "Two days without you feels like two years don't you know that?" I ask and she just smiles.
"Don't worry, I'll call you everyday, alright."
Pecking me, she takes her luggages packed by the dining table side, and I escort her downstairs to meet her driver Gideon who's taking her to the airport.
"Take care." I tell her, waving as she gets into the car, and she waves back.
I watch the car drive off, and already feeling her absence, I go inside and do what I know how to do best.
Sleep!!!!
TBC