Chapter 7

• As I rwach the garden I see Arnold there mixing and talking to the guests his countenance has become pleasent, I knew he would still be hurting but he was good at hiding it, right choice queenie I pat myself on the shoulder.
• I walk towards him, and hold his arm as he smiles and kiss my cheek, they were talking about me, this guests Mr shultz and his wife regularly had lunch with my parents, they were telling him how well they knew me.
• CONGRATS Mrs shultz said with a smile on her face, she stood there with a smile on her wrinkled face, which still holds its beauty, you could tell how she had been when she was young, Mr shultz was lucky u said to myself everytime I met this couple.
• "Thank you Mrs shultz, thank you for coming".
• Oh dear you are welcome, I thought you were not going to get married?
• You never brought a boy home and your mother kept complaining to me, isn't that right Brian?
• She looked at her husband who nodds in affirmation, his drink in his hand and eyes looking lost.
• "Yes dear", he managed to say at the end of the long nod.
• But I was confident you would, I told your mother when the time is right you will find your own life partner, isn't that right Brian?
• Yes dear he says again this time with his glass to his mouth.
• I wonder how thier marriage had been, he looked like he wanted to dissappear, he was tired of it all, and at the same time it was the only thing holding together, keeping him alive.
• Arnold would be free before he becomes this way...
• We hear the sound of metal and glass pushing against each other
• I want to make a toast to the bride and groom, we turn and I see a man in his twenties, blond hair, blue eyes and a suit that hugged him perfectly.
• My name is Fred shaw and I would like to make a toast to my elder brother and his wife,
• He clears his throat, "to love that binds, to love that makes the world go round, may your union be filled with bliss, dear brother".
• He raise his glass up towards us and then drinks, the rest of the guests follow him and do the same.
• He walks towards us flashing a bright smile, he reaches us and hugs Arnold who was not so happy, he was more confused than happy and I knew there was something.
• Hey brother Arnold said.
• When did you get out he asked
• Today, I just got out today he replied.
• Where did you get your suit?
• "I went to your apartment but you weren't there, I meet a guy who says he is a friend of yours and he took me shopping, I did not know you moved so high up on the world, weldone brother, dad would be proud."
• Queenie meet my brother arnorld said.
• The pleasure is all mine dear sister in law, can I say that?
• Just call me queenie please.
• " Okay sister inlaw quennie," he said with a smug on his face.
• I love this place, Fred continued only to be stopped by someone else making a toast,close acquaintances of my parents kept making toasts one after the other after Fred had opened the floor.
• It continued for a long while before the life band took over, I and Arnold sat and watched the guest gance and then Freddy asked me to join him which I did.
• What where you sentenced for? I ask him.
• If I tell you I will have to kill you he said, his smile masking his thoughts, Freddy was hard to read.
• So I replied with a smile, "so you are the black sheep of the house then.
• Yes I am the black sheep of the house.
• Then from one blacksheep to another welcome to the family I say to him.
• He grinned and said" I think I am in love right now, can I marry you too?
• Your brother already beat you to it maybe next time.
• Yeah I will wait he said nodding his head, as though he was comforting himself.
• I turn to look for Arnold, I see him dancing too, his hands around Christine and my body grows hot, I can't say why I want them to stop, I don't know if it is because of Christine or Arnold, I don't know who.
• I tell myself like a prayer, it is because I love Christine and I don't want people to think otherwise, I look at them and yes I could see it, they look happy together, I break free from Freddy and walk towards them.
• Christine, may I I insisted
• Yes you may she said with a smile,Freddy had followed behind and now he was dancing with Christine.
• I felt better, this feels nicer, I had not finished my thoughts before Archer asks the Arnold may I?
• Arnold looks at me, waiting for my approval before he let's Archer to dance with me, I smile and he hands me over.
• And as we dance Archer says"it seems your husband has a brother.
• Yes he does
• What is the problem Archer?
• This could be us here, right now, this could be the two of us if you had just asked me.
• Why would you marry a woman who you would not make love to?
• Why would he?
• Archer asked me, then with a chuckle he said "ohh I see!
• Looking at him confused, I wait to hear his observation, he already knows, I wonder why he is excited, I wonder why he is sniffing around.
• He is impotent right, that explains it.
• Yes u reply, so he would just shut up.
• You always seem to amaze me, but still I would have given an arm and a leg to be with you.
• I don't want to be with you Archer, it was that obvious why are you still bent on making it hard on yourself.
• Okay he said.
• His countenance tightened, you will regret this, I promise you", he added with a smile.