For Better, For Best. Part 1

After tossing in bed for what seems like hours, Kathleen eventually switched on her bed stand light.

Seeing it was 3:30am; she sigh.
Common', she said to herself, I really need to sleep, she murmured.

The excitement of seeing Matt after six months away in Uni had kept her awake all through the night. Matt went away to Liverpool to study while she decided to stay back in her home town, Colchester to continue her studies but surely the long distance relationship has proven to test them both. But putting all the fight and argument aside, she was excited to have him to herself for the whole summer break.
The sound of the fire alarm brought her back from her thought.

What!, standing up from her bed, she opened the door and walked to the kitchen, there she found her Mum trying to put off the alarm.
Mum, she called out, its 3:30 in the morning, what are you doing, she asked, helping her to blow air into the alarm.
I'm sorry dear, she said. I couldn't sleep and thought, why not get busy, she said.
Busy? Kath asked back. Why would a seven months old pregnant woman want to be busy at this time?
You really need to take things easy please, Kath said to her. Where's Dad?
Oh, he went to Bolton, would be back tomorrow evening, she answered.
But you know you should take things easy mum, Kath said to her
I know dear, Marion answered back, I just get frustrated when i cant sleep and cooking makes me feel better, she said opening the oven.
See; I made short bread biscuits, she showed Kath. Time was worth while, you would say?, Marion said.
What happened to buying them off the shelf, Kath asked.
A little encouragement here, Marion said smiling at her daughter.
I'm sorry mum, its just that, i don't like it when you stress yourself.
OK dear, I understand, I will go back to bed as soon as I clean up this mess, she said going over to the sink.
No, no, I will finish that, going to stand at the sink, you go to bed now, besides, I couldn't sleep too, she said.
Hmm, excited about Matt, Marion asked,
Yes, Kath blushed. I cant wait to see him.
Hm mm, Marion giggled.
Mum, go to bed, Kath said smiling at her mum.

Watching her mum going to her room, She turned to the sink to begin clearing up but the thought of her mum recent behaviour weigh heavily on her. First, the pregnancy was quite a surprise, at the age of 45, both her parent had given up on more babies, then comes the surprise. At first, Marion was happily surprised but after few months, she wasn't so much thrilled especially when Dave, her husband suddenly withdrew himself, he started travelling on business more, coming home late, even when he was at home, they hardly exchanged words. Kathleen loves her parents dearly but this silent wars between them was becoming unbearable especially when she sees how sad her mum was becoming, although Marion tries to put on the brave face but day after day, she was drenching in sadness, she felt all alone.

After cleaning up and making herself a cup of tea, she decided to go back to bed even though she had just a hour to sleep.

..............

Haven slept for an hour, Kathleen woke up to do her chores, after several hours to keep busy, she checked her phone again, its 3:30pm, Matt should be back now and she did made him promise to call her as soon as he get back to Colchester. But again, she decided not to get bother about this, maybe, he was so tired and went off to sleep.

You make such a fuss, she said to herself.
Kathleen, are you there? she heard her mum called.
Yes, she answered. Do you need anything?
Yes please, she answered, could you bring the post in here for me, she asked.
Thanks dear, Marion said taking the mail. Any news from Matt yet? she asked
No, Kath answered
Hes probably tired, Marion said
Hmm, Kath said and left the room.

Marion watched her daughter leave the house, she knows Kathleen has been doing her best to keep everything in place for few months now. She's grateful to God for the daughter and prays for the best for her. she always pray her daughter has the kind of great marriage she has but now, she's not so sure the prayer is such a good idea. She and Dave has always been so close, being in love has been a great venture for them both, they were best friends and lovers but for the past few months now, she's not so sure where they stand.
she doesn't understand why Dave can be so withdrawn towards this pregnancies, at least, it takes two to tangle, this pregnancy happened as a result of their love making even if it was unexpected considering all the precautions they took.

Marion sighs in her thought as she opened the posts. She opened the letter with the bank statements but to her astonishment, she saw something that didn't make sense.
A bill for Holiday Inn Hotel in Colchester for several nights for the past three months.

Why would Dave lodge in an hotel in the same town where he lives and he claims he was in business trip.
This is not happening, Marion said to herself. There's probably a best explanation for this, she assured herself.
doesn't understand why one day they are so much in love with you and the next, they are not.
As tears rolled from her eyes, she felt so much hurt and pain, not only because of the new discovery but because of what to come, an unknown future. Dave would be back in the evening but the though of even asking him was unclear.

.............
To be Continued


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