EPILOGUE.
Three years later.
The clatters of little feet was drowned in the beach sand as the children ran around. "Mommy! See this one!!" Cassandra, Raine's daughter shouted, drawing Raine's attention.
Lying on the big picnic mat with Dane's chest pillowing her head, she beamed at her child turning to see the seashell Sandy held in her small hand.
"It's a very good one." Raine shouted, complimenting her child who beamed back at her and skidded off to go and collect more shells.
"Chimamanda, come out of that side of the beach, it's too close to the water!" Cynthia shouted to her own daughter who ran along the shore.
Gabriel who was chasing the child looked at his wife and stuck out his tongue on her. "Too bad you can't join us play chase." He teased, staring pointedly at Cynthia pregnant belly.
Vivian and Raine b
Dennis Lincoln Chukwuma Hudson waited patiently for Lorraine in his sitting room. Their flight was supposed to leave at ten in the morning but he'd told Raine that the flight leaves an hour early. He knows Raine very well, the girl's got a penchant for being late. They're going to Africa—particularly Nigeria—to live for some time. Dane is what people might call a half-breed or a half-caste. The only offspring of a match between a Nigerian mother and an American mother. Though he looks more American than half-caste, Dane had always wanted to go and see his mother's land. At twenty-nine, he'd decided that it's long overdue. At first, he'd planned to go alone to Nigeria but the moment he'd told Raine about it, she instantly decided that she's going with him. "You really didn't possibly think you can leave me here in America, did you?" She'd asked with a snort.
It's been three months since Dane and Raine got into the country and in that duration of time, they've gotten to settle into their new place and try to get to know the country and its people. Raine found out that Dane didn't lie when he said that their houses ain't far from each other. It's just a ten minutes ride. It's been a year since Raine got out of college and she still doesn't have any interest yet in working. She's got a lot of money after all and she's still making plans on how to invest. In the meantime, in Nigeria, she'd discovered gymnasia that ain't far away from her place. Raine was very excited about it. She'd always wanted to do gymnastics. At twenty-two, it's a little too late for her to be a professional gymnast but at least she still gets to take its classes and do it just for the fun of it. She's been going to the gymnasia for days now to get to know how it works but today, she'd fin
The next day's evening, Dane called Raine on the phone. "You still coming, sugarplum?" "Of course, I'm still making homemade pizza and chicken sandwiches. I'm gonna be there by 6 pm, just in time for another series of Face The Home," she stated referring to one of her favorite series. Dane smiled happily, closing down his laptop. "It's great you're making a homemade dish. I'm reluctant to go to the nearest restaurant around here, I don't know almost all the food on their menu. Add enough pepperoni to the sauce, will you?" "Of course, I've not forgotten how much you love it." Raine laughed delightfully, the sound warming his heart. "It's great we're having a sleepover, I've got a lot to tell you," she said before she hung up. Surprisingly, Lorraine kept to time and came to Dane's place before 7 pm. She opened the dinner she brought with her and they ate amicably whil
A week after the sleepover, Dane was spreading his clothes out to the sun to dry after doing laundry. The sun isn't out yet but he didn't worry because he knew that it'll be out anytime soon. He was still at it when his eyes lifted to the storey building next to his just in time to see the door open. A dark man came out of the house all dressed up in a black suit, with a suitcase in one hand and a car key in the other hand. A fair-skinned woman came out seconds after the man did and kissed him fully on the lips, then she waved at him with a smile and walked back inside the house. The man would be around thirty and the woman would be twenty-five or twenty-six. Cute couple, Dane thought. Young couples who are obviously in love with each other. He felt something akin to envy in his heart because he tried picturing Raine and him that way, and the image just doesn't fit. &n
Serena remembered Dane. For the two weeks she'd known Lorraine, the name Dane was never far from her mouth. If Lorraine was bisexual, Serena would have believed that something is going on between the both of them, but Lorraine is a lesbian. She doesn't even notice a single guy in the gymnasium even though a lot of them notice her. Serena knows that Lorraine is attracted to her just like she's attracted to the white woman. Lorraine is so beautiful and kindhearted. It's gonna be so good between them, especially because one of them has a lot of money. Serena was giddy with excitement. Lorraine said that she wants a serious relationship, and Serena knows that she can give that if it has to ensure that Lorraine becomes hers alone. "Alright. Another time then." Serena said as she continued eating her food. Afterward, Raine paid for everything and they headed out, straight to where Raine packed her car.&
It was almost 7 pm when Raine arrived at Dane's place. She'd gone to the massage house and spent the rest of her day practicing the moves she's been taught at the gymnasium so far.She'd taken a break in between her practice to call Serena on the phone just to make sure she got home safely but the phone rang nonstop, she figured that Serena might not be with her phone at that moment. She might be studying.Raine fished out her own keys to Dane's place and opened the door. She could hear music in the room so she knew where to find Dane. She entered his room just in time to see him putting on his shirt.She stood for the five seconds it took for him to put on a shirt to admire his physiques from behind. Dane has a very nice body. Muscled and well-toned. She might not be into men but she knows that much.Unbidden, a thought crossed her mind. What kind of woman will Dane eventually marry? What kind of woman take Dane away from her?She shoved the
Three days later, Raine arrived at the gymnasium. The workout sessions went amazingly well that day. Raine looked around a lot to see Serena but she didn't come in that day. Because of school, Serena does not come in all the time.Raine was sad and it showed. She'd come to look forward to seeing Serena. They've become very good friends and Serena really does seem like a very good person.At the end of the session, Raine was ready to go home. She was in her car when she remembered her plans to stop by a supermarket to buy new workout clothes.When she drove to the supermarket, she was surprised to see Serena there. She stood there with another man....a slim man wearing rugged jeans and a top. His hair is a long dread and he isn't really tall.Who's the bad-looking man and what is he doing with Serena? Raine asked herself.Just then, Serena swiveled her head and saw Lorraine. She was barely able to curb the horror she felt that Raine had seen h
Serena watched Lorraine as she skidded__SKIDDED!__into her house like a child who came back from school and noticed the car of her beloved father parked outside. Lorraine was so happy about the prospect of Dane being at her house that she forgot to ask Serena in, leaving her alone outside to make the decision if she wants to follow her in or not. That angered Serena but she didn't let it show.Raine found Dane at the kitchen making coffee with his back facing her. She tiptoed closer to him and from behind, she reached around him and covered his eyes.Dane stiffened for only a second before he relaxed, instantly overwhelmed with the familiar flowery scent. "Lorraine Alana Myers?" he asked, feigning uncertainty.Raine withdrew her hands but not completely. She wrapped it around his chest, hugging him from behind. "Maybe it's Maureen?" she smiled, calling the name of one of his ex.Dane snorted in amusement, "Maureen doesn't smell lik