Chapter 1
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Tom picked up the microphone and cleared his throat.
“So, there was this day my car broke down in the middle of nowhere. I called my family and friends, but they were all far away. Then my phone beeped, and it was Austin calling.”
The crowd murmured.
“Smile, Tom,” Grissel whispered.
“Okay, my wife just whispered, I love you.” Everyone laughed, and the boys in the far corner made more noise.
Tom’s circle stretched from America to Africa, the best of both worlds, and that alone kept his days lively. Yet beneath the image of a dreamer with women constantly at his heels, he longed for something more enduring.
“Go on.” the MC encouraged.
“Austin said he had a friend who was closer, so he was going to send the person to pick me up. He forgot to mention it was a female.” Tom paused and feigned a smile. “About thirty minutes later, this black beauty with her shades on pulled up and asked me to join her ride. I bluntly told her I wasn’t waiting for an escort, then she mentioned that Austin sent her.”
“So, at first sight, you thought she was a call girl?” the MC interrupted.
“Yes. I mean, she wasn’t dressed as one, but she was a beauty.”
“And you assumed every escort is a beauty,” the MC scoffed.
“Aren’t they all beautiful?” Tom teased, and laughter rose from the crowd.
“But mind you, my wife is the prettiest.” He feigned a smile at Grissel before turning back to the MC.
“So, what happened after that?”
“The drive home was quiet, and I figured she was the quiet type.” Tom grinned. “I’m not sure if she noticed that I was stealing glances and sweating. I felt ready for marriage that very moment. You could call it love at first sight.”
“Wow, love at first sight,” the MC repeated, stepping back.
“When I alighted, I had to apologize for thinking she was an escort.” She just smiled and drove off.” Tom grinned again. “I remember calling my aunty about this girl giving me sleepless nights. She just laughed, knowing how flirtatious I can be. When I told her this one was real, she didn’t believe me.”
“So, you had a lot of girls, huh?”
“Trust me, I had more than you can imagine,” Tom said. “But everything changed in Grissel’s car. I was attracted to her, and I wasn’t sure if it was her beauty, because she didn’t say a single word to me during that ride.”
“And you didn’t take her number, Tom?”
“I knew I’d see her again. Luckily, Austin invited her to one of our regular drink outings a few weeks later.”
“And there you had your chance.”
“You should have seen me that day. I told Austin, ‘Look, man, I hope this girl isn’t your wife.’ He just smiled, and my world fell apart.
“You thought you lost her?” The MC asked.
“Yes. He should have just answered my question. I finally had to talk to him again, and he said, ‘She’s all mine, but you wouldn’t like what you see.’”
“What did he mean by that? Was Grissel some sort of hard nut to crack?”
“A very tough one. It took me two years, and here we are today. She turned out to be the gentle and stubborn type who had probably met some obstinate men along the way, so she chose to be reserved.”
Tom had not noticed Grissel pushing back her tears at that moment.
“So how do you feel today?” the MC asked. Everyone’s eyes were fixated on him.
Tom looked around, slightly confused.
“Tom, how do you feel after cracking the nut?”
“Wait for it. I’m looking for the right word.” He laughed.
“Listen everyone, I think the man of the moment has something up his sleeve,” the MC said, and the crowd cheered.
“I can call you Danny, right?” Tom asked.
“Yeah, sure,” Danny replied, uncertain where this was going.
“When you were a child, you always wanted a toy, right?”
“Yes, at some point,” Danny admitted.
“Did you always get your toys that easily?” Tom pressed, his eyes fixed on him.
“Not by chance. It takes a miracle to get my desired toys.”
“And how did you feel any time your parents denied your request?” Tom asked again.
“I cried and made a scene.”
“Great. And now that you are of age, how do you feel?”
“Gosh, I can get the whole damn world if I so wish.” Danny responded with a smile.
“There you have your answer.” “Not to say my wife is a toy, but I used to cherish my toys back then.” My family can attest to that. Tom glanced at his family.
Julia and Melisa smiled from where they sat. “That’s true,” Julia shouted.
“I can buy the whole damn world with Grissel by my side.” He turned her. She had her jaw resting in her hands, quietly watching him.
“Aww, that’s a nice one.” Danny blushed.
Tom turned to his friend and said, “Austin, I will cherish this toy you brought into my life, and I promise never to make her cry. So, you can stop doing due diligence anytime we quarrel.”
“Got it, boss.” Austin shouted from the far-right corner making everyone laugh.
“Grissel, do you have anything to add? I mean, your husband just promised you the whole damn world.”
She suddenly broke down in tears. Tom hesitated, unsure if he should hug her. His words had come from the heart, but he was still unsettled by her earlier reaction in the church auditorium.
“OMG, he just made her cry when he promised earlier never to make her cry.” Danny teased.
He knew Grissel wasn’t the type to show affection in public, so he wiped her eyes with the back of his hands and gripped her tightly.
“Austin, don’t come for my head yet; that wasn’t me.” I guess she meant to say, I love you,” Tom joked, making the crowd laugh until tears rolled down their faces.
“Now, that’s love,” someone in the crowd said.
“Grissel, congratulations,” her elder sister added, stepping forward to embrace her.
That was the last time they spoke before the party came to an end.
