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.
He wasn't surprised. Knowing Raine for as long as he did, he knew that she'd follow him. They've been so close together for so long, it's almost impossible to be far away from each other.
After his cold and ambitious politician of a father had died of a heart attack when he was nineteen—four months after he became a legal guardian to Raine—they've had each other because they don't have any other person in the world.
He checked his watch again and sighed heavily.
Lorraine never keeps to time, not even for a flight, he thought, but not without fondness.
More than twenty minutes later, he was about to call her on phone again when he heard the familiar sound of the SUV.
He came out of the house just in time to see her get out of the car.
"I know, I know, I'm late and you're angry and you're gonna scold me and lecture me too about being early and all those stuff but it's not really my fault this time around." Lorraine Alana Myers said in a rush as she rushed closer to him.
As usual, she threw her arms around him and gave him a big smooch on the cheek. Dane barely resisted the urge to pull her tighter and drink in her scent.
"We're gonna miss our flight because of you, Raine. Even if you don't like being early for anything, you should at least be early for a booked flight," he said instead in a rather stern voice.
She pushed out her lower lip, her eyes cast down. "You're scolding me even though I'm thirty minutes early...."
"Early? You're thirty minutes la—" he paused, "How did you know I booked a ten o'clock flight instead of a nine?"
She grinned heartily, showcasing beautiful sets of teeth. The smile went all over Dane's body.
At twenty-two, Lorraine is a very beautiful girl but she is downright stunning when she smiles. She can tempt a straight guy or woman to become bi-curious.
Too bad she's a lesbian and only has eyes for girls.
"Because I know you so much." She stated matter-of-factly.
He snorted, "Get in the car, let's go."
She walked to the car and entered with a huge smile on her face, "Aaaah, I'm going to miss America." she sighed as she settled into her seat.
"No one's forcing you to go." Dane reminded her with a smile.
She waved him off with a smile because what he said is true. No one is forcing her to go, but then again, staying is not an option because Dane won't be here.
"Where you go, I go. It's as simple as that," she stated like it's the most natural thing in the world.
Dane's stupid heart fluttered and he barely swallowed down a cuss.
She doesn't mean it that way, buddy. He said to his stupid heart.
Lorraine can never love him the want he wanted, he and his stupid heart know that more than anything.
Lorraine sat beside Dane in the car feeling very at home. She'll miss her friends...well, the few she has anyway. She's never had many friends or people in her life.
Starting with grade school when her parents were still alive to high school when they'd died from a fire accident in their home and she's retreated into herself.
Then, when she started feeling weird and abnormal, noticing only the girls in school and not having an ounce of attraction for the boys especially when they noticed her a lot, she'd become downright unfriendly to people. Nearly hostile while trying to put them away and keep them at arm's length.
The one person she'd confided in was Dane. Dane, who'd taken her into their house against his father's wish when her parents died.
He'd became her legal guardian until she was eighteen, of legal age, to inherit her trust fund. Over the years he'd become her best friend even though he's seven years older than she is. He'd become her anchor and she'd come to depend on him a lot.
"So, what about the house? Did you find anyone for me too?" She asked, turning to face him.
"You mean the one you wanted to live in? Yeah, I spoke with the real estate agent that helped me buy a house in that estate to help me look for another house. He found one too. A newly built beautiful bungalow."
"Wow, that's great." Raine said excitedly, "Hope it's not too far from your place?"
Dane chuckled, turning the steering wheel in another direction. "No, it's not. It's just a few miles away."
"Great. What about work?"
"I'm not in a hurry to start working. I need to settle down first, study my environment." He replied.
She nodded to that, keeping her eyes on the road, "That's understandable. You're one of the best physiotherapists and fitness trainer in America. You're young and rich. You can easily decide not to work for the rest of your life. "
He chuckled softly. "Not so young anymore, sugarplum. I'll be thirty in a few months. You're right about not having to work but then again, you know how much I love my work."
She nodded again. "That I do. I'm so excited, I've always wanted to go to Africa. That continent has always fascinated me."
"Me too. I never really know my mother but she was a very beautiful woman from her pictures. I'm glad I'm finally going to her country. I wanna see what it's like." Dane said.
It was a ten minutes ride to the airport. They got themselves settled on their seat next to each other.
As the plane was about to take off, Raine's hand suddenly found his across the seat and her fingers tightened around his.
Dane smiled ruefully, "I've almost forgotten about your flying phobia."
"Lucky you. I hope I can forget too but I can't. I'm so afraid right now." She swallowed tightly, her hand in his suddenly cold and clammy.
Dane reached for her and placed her head on his chest. "Now close your eyes, sugarplum."
She sighed with relief and settled deeper against him. "Ahh! That feels so good. I wonder what I'll do without you."
Dane forced his heart not to react to her, but if there's one thing his stupid heart doesn't do at all, it's listening to him.
His heart fluttered and settled warmly at the feel of her pressed tightly against him.
He was so attuned to her during the flight that he noticed every little movement her body made against him.
He also noticed when her body relaxed into a peaceful slumber as she fell asleep against him.
.
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
Maybe he's not giving her new friend the chance she deserves.He will just have to observe her the more. If she's really a nice person and she makes Raine happy, then there's no reason for him not to like the woman. If anybody deserves to be happy, it's Raine.Dane kissed her forehead, "You know, you always like to see the best in people, Sugarplum. Even in America. You saw the best in Demara but she turned out to be the devil's ex-wife.""Are you saying that Serena might be like Demara?"Dane hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "All am saying is that you should be careful, honey. Don't be quick to trust anybody, alright?""Alright, I promise." She whispered, snuggling deeper into him.They stayed that way watching television until Raine eventually fell asleep. Dane was aware of when she went lax in his arms, settling into a peaceful slumber.He smiled. Raine complains of insomnia a lot but for someone who