Lost And Found

Chapter Fourteen

Deni felt bad about not being able to attend the funeral, that Saturday she had a meeting that turned out well with the Publishers. Her book was good to go and she was elated. She however passed by the house later that day and she was received warmly….as a friend of course. She saw Maxine again but she didn't seem to recognize her anyway and she did see Chase who tried to talk to her but she was mad at him too, and she didn't want to create a scene and she told him sincerely it wasn’t the time.
She stayed a while, just sitting down watching…..and then she saw Mrs. Graham or she thought she saw her just leave but when she got out there was no one in sight. She probably was just imagining things. When she was sure she had had enough of the moody black atmosphere she said her byes and left. Kobe offered to call a cab but she turned down the offer and got a cab herself.
Denise got to her apartment completely exhausted, she had had a long day and she wanted to do nothing more than to rest. A storm was brewing and the weather had changed, it looked like it was going to rain, she loved the idea. She picked up her bible and began to read the story of Ruth. Somewhere around the third chapter the storm began. She sat on the couch reading and sipping her warm cup of cocoa and checking her phone from time to time to see if she had any messages…….from Sam.

***
Sam worked on his new song, writing and cancelling, then strumming then writing again. The storm started and he put down his guitar and yawned. It was late, and looking dark already and he had had a long day at the funeral and then eh had to help his dad with some work. He had not heard from Denise the whole day and he was worried. He picked his phone to call her and that was when the message came in, from Nadia.
"Hey, she said"
"Hey you" He replied.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing much just lying down, your end?"
"Trying to come up with routines for the choreography"
"Youth Festival?" He typed.
"Yep"
"Cool"
"So how's your new bestie" She typed.
"Who?"
"Her…"
"Deni?"
"Yep"
"Good, thanks for asking"
"People are saying you guys are together"
"Wow, already?"
"LOL(laughing out loud), IKR (I know right).
"Well, let them say"
"You seem to like her"
"I do"
"Really?"
"Yes"
"Good to know, goodnight then"
"Goodnight" He said and placed his phone down, then he sighed and closed his eyes lost in thoughts asking himself questions which involved Deni.
"Could it be he was falling in love with her?", was it too soon?, was it even possible?, she was carrying another man's child could he handle the responsibility?, and then there was 'people', what would they think?, what would happen to his Father's ministry?" It was honestly too much to handle, he felt like Joseph The Carpenter and right at that moment, he needed a dream or an angel to confirm that she was the one…..and there was his feelings, they were real, very real and he could not deny he had something for her, he wanted to be there for her, through it all……..
"Lord, I honestly don't know what your plan is, but you alone know what's best for me and for Deni, you alone can love her more than any man or any one down here on earth, so please take care of her, please console her and give her strength to carry on through it all, please' He whispered in prayer and drifted off to sleep.

The Youth Festival was in two days and she had worked things out with Dave, written the script and given it to him, told him how she wanted it done and he delivered. She attended a rehearsal and everyone was happy to see the mind behind the script, they admired her and she felt in the right place, she felt a sense of belonging. As she watched them act, she laughed, smiled and found herself loving it.
She looked forward to the festival. Selasi arrived in London and seeing her again was soothing. She missed her friend. Deni locked Selasi in a tight hug at the airport.
"Gosh I miss you so much" Selasi said.
"Me too girl" Deni pressed her cheek against Selasi's and helped her with her bags.
"Girl, your luggage, its like you're here forever"
Selasi laughed.
"Of course,  I brought Chanel, Louis Vuitton and YLS with me"
"You are crazy" They both walked out towards the car Deni had rented just so they could spend time together.
"Okay, so you got a car?"
"Hell yeah I did"
"Way to go girl, you finally grew up"
They loaded the bags into the car and Deni drove off, they got food on the way and soon arrived at Deni's apartment.
"Welcome to my abode, mi casa es su casa"
"Wow girl you've got taste"
"Why thank you……so I'll drag your stuff into my room, we gotta share the room though"
"More fun" Selasi said.
"Help yourself to anything, I've got stuff you might like in the fridge"
"Well great coz I need to get rid of this thirst" She walked to the fridge as Deni took the bags in.
"So how are things with your new beau?"
"Who, Sam?"
"Uh huh, you know its funny coz he has….." Selasi was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.
"It must be him, we actually have a program tonight, you should come" Deni said as she walked towards the door, she opened it and he stepped in hugging her.
"Hey you, do come in, Selasi came in, you should meet her"
Selasi turned and her heart stopped for a minute, he frowned.
"Eme?"
"KK?.....oh my God it is you" Selasi walked over to him and hugged him.
"Oh God I can't believe this" He held her so tight not wanting to let go.
"Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness….." She kept saying and suddenly she got emotional….she broke the hug and stared, then wiped a tear.
"I was just about to tell you that my brother has the same name and you told me I am so much like this new friend of yours….little did I know it was my own kid brother"
"You are Selasi?" He laughed.
"Come here" She hugged him again.
"Oh my gosh you are so tall now" Selasi said.
"Wait a minute, she is Eme?"
"And you never told me you had a brother"
"Well you never asked" Selasi said.
"I should have known, you always loved the name Selasi back in the day" Sam said.
"Oh my God Kk I'm so glad to see you"
"You need to stop calling me that" He said.
"Wow, I'm speechless" Deni said.
"So you've met my sister Eme"
"And my brother is your beau?"
"Her what?"
"Never mind, you're looking good, come tell me about you, whats up?"
"Its been five years and I haven't heard from you…..till now"
"Yeah, sorry about that, how are mom and dad?"
"They're good, you should come home they would love to see you, gosh you're pretty"
"Haven't I always been?"
They both giggled. Deni sat beside her friend.
"I don't think that is a good idea"
"It is" Deni said and they both turned to her.
"Deni trust me you don't understand"
"I do, I know about Gracie and everything that happened, the feud why you ran away trust me I know all that and it sucks….i know what a broken home feels like, and although you act okay without your family, there has and will always be a part of you that yearns for them and you just cant deny yourself that, the gift of family is everything anyone could ask for"
"Yeah…okay so there's this program tonight, mom and dad are going to be there, you should come"
"I don't know guys I really cant handle any more drama"
"They miss you, they do" Sam said and she smiled then touched her brother.
"I miss you all too" Tears welled up in her eyes.
They talked for long, catching up with stuff and Deni was so happy to see them both happy, seated on the carpet talking and eating from a big bowl of popcorn and trying to watch a movie as they conversed. It was lovely.
"We should get some wine, got any Deni?"
Umm no"
"I don't think she should be drinking wine in her condition"
"Condition, what condition?" Selasi said and he frowned then they both looked at Deni.
"She doesn’t know?"
"Umm, i…..i didn't think I would decide to keep it…."
"Keep what, what is going on, tell em"
"I'm pregnant Selasi"
"What?" Selasi was genuinely shocked, she turned to her brother, eyes wide open...
"Did you…?"
"No, no…..!" Deni screamed almost immediately.
"Wait, was it him…..Kobe?"
Deni nodded.
"Oh my God….OH MY GOD! this is messed up…why wouldn’t you tell me, why would you keep it from me?"
"I feel embarrassed about it, its not my favorite topic I haven't even told my mom…
"but you told Sam?"
Selasi seemed hurt.
"She didn't tell me, I found out, you don't have to be mad"
"I'm not mad, I'm just….."
Suddenly Deni began to cry, tears silently streamed down her face.
"Oh honey I'm sorry" Selasi said, standing up to get to her friend, she hugged her.
"I'm sorry I just didn't know how to say it"
"It's okay baby we would figure this out and you are keeping it, you've got us and we don't judge you but you should tell your mom, okay, don't make the same mistake I did, keeping things from your mom"
"Okay" She said.
"We've got you, okay?" Sam said and she smiled then sniffed.
"See" Selasi smiled at her too and she laughed through her tears.
"Thanks guys, I don't know what I ever did to deserve you both"
"So when is this program?"
"Tonight, I could pick you both up"
"Great, coz I don't think I want to drive at night"
"And I don't really remember the routes around anymore, seems a lot has changed around here" Selasi said.
"So what do I call you now, Selasi or Eme?"
"Eme's gone bro, its Selasi now"
"Okay sissy" He said and the girls laughed.
"Gotta go get things ready and set up for the event but I'll pick you both up at six"
"Great" They both saw him to the door and said bye. When Sam was gone, the girls returned to the couch again.
"I cant believe you're pregnant, we should go shopping……"
"You are crazy"
"Whaaaat?, I'm serious, we should, so is it a boy or a girl?"
"Seriously, I don't know, come to think of it I have an appointment with the doctor on Monday, would you come with me?"
"Sure, but does he know?"
"Kobe?, no"
"You should tell him"
"Yeah, I would, tonight…."
"Over the phone?"
"Yeah?"
"That’s wicked"
"Well whats more wicked than lying and cheating and dumping my ass?"
Deni said and Selasi laughed.
"Come on, lets go see what we're going to wear.