I will always be here to protect you
Melissa took her bag going into the house, saying hello to Mary in the kitchen she went upstairs to check on her son. Tommy was busy with the cartoon he didn’t notice his mother standing at the doorway. With a smile on her face, she watched him for a while imitating what was going on, on the big screen.
“Mommy!” He said getting up to hug his mother when she joined him on the sofa.
“Hello baby, what are you drawing?” She inquired taking his drawing book.
“That lightning mc queen the fastest race car ever, look mommy.” He said pointing to the winning red car on the big screen that he had drawn and colored. “It’s the fastest car in that race, I want a car like that when I grow up. Mommy, do you think dad will buy it if I ask?” He asked looking at his mother.
“I’ll buy anything my son wants.” Mark said walking into the room.
“Daddy.” Tommy ran to his father with open arms. Mark carried him in his arm’s joining Melissa on the sofa. “Daddy look at my drawing.” Tommy proudly gave his father the drawing book.
“It’s nice, who taught you how to draw this well?” Mark asked looking at the drawing.
“My teacher taught me and mother said it’s my talent, dad when I grow up I want to be an artist.” They both laughed nodding their heads in support.
“It’s time for bed baby.” Melissa told him when she saw him yarn.
Walking into Tommy’s room they found Betty running water in the bathtub ready to bathe Tommy. “Aunt, you don’t have to do that. Let the maid handle it.” Mark suggested, laying Tommy on the bed.
“It’s not much work my son. Taking care of my grandson keeps me busy.” Betty said walking out of the bathroom.
With Mark around, Tommy insisted on having his father bathe him. He asked his mother and grandmother to leave insisting that he is a big boy.
“Your birthday is coming up soon. Do you want daddy to hold a big party and invite all your friends?” Mark asked washing his feet.
“No, I want a cake, like the one mommy gives me on my birthday every year. Daddy, can we go to the beach too? It will make mommy thrilled.” He asked playing with his toy submarine.
“Okay baby, I will ask grandmother Mary to get you a cake then we will go to the beach whenever you like.” Mark agreed getting him from the bathtub.
“Thank you daddy, that’s a plan.” Tommy said running from the bathroom.
“What are you two planning?” Melissa asked helping Tommy on the chair to dry his hair.
Mark told her about Tommy’s wishes for his birthday and his plan to take them to the beach house for the holiday. After reading a story, they listened to Tommy’s song that they taught him in kindergarten. With his son fast asleep, Mark went to his home office to reply to some urgent emails, leaving Melissa to tuck him in.
As she got up from Tommy’s bed to go to her room, Melissa dropped her bag spilling everything from it.
Picking the bag contents, she saw the address written on her work diary.
The recent events caused her to forget the address she got from Mr. Steven’s documents. She still planned to investigate what other businesses they operated and the address was a good start.
Getting to her room she made a reminder on her phone before taking a shower.
“What are you doing here?” Mark asked leaning at the door watching her dry her hair when he found her in her bedroom. “This is our wedding night. You are not planning to sleep here alone, are you?” He questioned, walking towards her. He then took her in his arms and placed a sweet kiss on her lips.
“I thought you were busy with work.” She murmured, running her hands through his hair.
“Not anymore.” He scooped her up in his arms.
“Stop Mark, let me down. We might run into people in the hallway.” Melissa tried to get down but he held her tightly carrying her out of the room.
When they got inside the door, she stepped down.
It was her first time stepping her foot inside. “Wow!” In awe, she looked around.
The room was a private paradise on its own. The warm fireplace, two sofas and a coffee table with many business magazines on it and a flat screen mounted on the wall made a cosy sitting area. Probably where Mark did his work when not at the office. She thought.
The glass walls with a sliding door enclosed the bed leaving the bathroom with a shower and a bathtub on the right. Walking past the bed, she slid open the balcony doors, welcoming the warm humid air from the rain. The room design looked so familiar. It looked like the sketch she had made years ago reminding her of her mother. Who always encouraged her to do what she loved.
Feeling Mark’s presence behind her when he placed his hands on her hips, Melissa giggled.
Turning in his arms she gazed into his eyes as smiled at her.
Picking a flower from the hanging flower pot, Mark tucked it in her hair brushing it from her face. Stroking her cheeks, he pecked her on the lips with his cold lips staring deep into her eyes.
“I made this room for us.” He said running his fingers through her hair.
Placing her arm’s around his neck she smiled. “It’s beautiful, who designed it?” She asked for confirmation.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
“You did. At the park while busy playing with Spark, I peek at your drawings. I was curious to see what kept you busy every day. When the sketch caught my eye, I decided to use it. I make our safe haven hoping someday you will share it with me.” He confirmed smiling at her.
“I love it.” She placed her hand on his chest gazing into his eyes. “It is more beautiful than what I had in mind. I love it and I love you so much.” Tiptoeing, she closed her eyes kissing him on the lips igniting the fire within.
Scooping her in his arms he took her back into the room placing her on the bed.
Turning off the light, he trailed kisses down her neck running his hand under her bathrobe.
Touching her bare skin folding and caressing, he made her gasp and moan. “Ah! Oh!” Wrapping her arms around his neck, she touched his hair.
Tilting back her head, she closed her eyes enjoying how he loved her. How he took time to touch and kiss every part of her body. Teaching and guiding her along as they fell in euphoria.
“I love you.” He murmured, settling beside her.
“I love you more.” She smiled hiding her flashed face on his chest.
The light from the outside bulbs lighting the compound streamed in. And dimly lit the room creating a romantic ambiance. As the ecstasy died down, she stared up at the ceiling, and watched the dancing hearts and stars above her. That gave an illusion of a beautiful calm night sky. Listening to Mark’s rhythmic breathing, she smiled as exhaustion got her to close her eyes falling into a deep sleep.
“Morning sunshine.” He pecked her lips when she opened her eyes.
“Morning.” She said covering her eyes from the sunlight when he opened the curtain with the remote. “Did you talk to your parents about our marriage?” Melissa asked lying on his chest.
“Yes, my family is happy about our marriage, my mother is waiting anxiously to see Tommy.” He said brushing her hair.
“Is grandfather Johnson okay with it? I know he wants you to marry Sasha.” She asked trying to sit up.
“I spoke with grandfather last night.” When Robert informed him about his grandfather’s health on his way to the company, turning back he went to see him in the mansion. After a few choices of words, the old man gave his blessings inviting them for a formal dinner. “Don’t worry too much, grandfather is okay with us being together and I will always be here to protect you.” He assured pulling her back covering them with the blanket.
“Stop, we have to go to work.” Giggling, Melissa ran out of bed and locked herself in the bathroom. After knocking on the door and insisting for a while, she let him in to join in the shower.
“Here comes the new wed’s.” Lisa said getting up to welcome them when they walked hand in hand to the breakfast table set in the garden.
As they took their seats, Jane brought a two-tier cake from the kitchen. Followed closely by Mary with a bread knife in her hand. She placed the purple and white iced cake on the table as they cheered.
“Though there is no ceremony, we baked a cake to celebrate your wedding.” Mary smiled, handing the knife to Melissa and Mark.
“I want the biggest.” Tommy said taking a piece from the plate as Melissa and Mark served everyone.
“Thank you for the cake, Jane.” Melissa muttered putting a piece in her mouth. “Mm! This raspberry cake is delicious, you have to make another for Tommy’s birthday.” Melissa said feeding a piece to Mark with her folk as Lisa took pictures.
“I love fruit cake.” Tommy asserted stuffing his mouth with cake.
“Are you going to work?” Lisa asked when Mark left the table.
“Yes!” Melissa responded sipping her juice.
“I thought you were helping me move?” Lisa questioned.
“Of course I will but I have to get to work first. Let’s meet at the apartment.” Melissa responded placing the napkin on the table. “Mommy, I’m going to the car with dad.” Melissa smiled to see her son so excited. She gave the apartment key and address to Lisa before leaving with Tommy for his early kindergarten class.