Chapter 23

Levi.

Alan nodded his head.

Just then, my mother-in-law came to join us. I had seen her pull out of her daughters' presence in the living room. My gaze not leaving Kenya. Following her every step, while I listened to Alan. Admiring her, putting to memory her every gesture.

"Mr Ruthford. Alan," My mother-in-law quietly called. We raised our gazes to her, earning an appreciative smile from her.

"Mother in law, you call Alan by his name. Wouldn't you treat me in the same way?" I quietly asked, smiling.

"Oh, I hadn't considered it. However, now that you have mentioned it, I would gladly do so." She agreed. I smiled, warmly. My heart softened in my chest.

"I wanted to see you alone... Levi." She continued, a knowing smile crossing her lips as she caught a glimpse of my satisfied smile at the informal address.

"Sure thing. I'd just go and join Amanda and Kenya." Alan suggested, rising to his feet and walking away. I stood up and pulled out a chair for her, before I sat.

Sensing her hesitation, I quietly spoke. "You don't have to be uncomfortable with me. We are family now. Any issues you have concern me," I urged. She raised her gaze at him and I instantly saw a likeness of my wife in her.

"I wanted to thank you for giving my daughter a home. A chance to be a woman, like every other woman." She began, the smile on her face faltering as she struggled to curtail her emotions. Tears rolled down her eyes.

"You don't have to thank me." I cut in, slightly displeased that she felt that way. Puzzled by her reason for those words.

"I do, Levi." She pressed, chuckling nervously as she dabbed her eyes. I decided to let her speak. I needed to know.

"I don't know if she ever told you what happened to me and Amanda, when Kenya was still in the womb?"

I nodded my head.

"Well, that incident had left her to suffer a birth defect A malfunction in her formation Hips Dysplasia, the doctors had diagnosed when she was born. They had declared that she was lucky to have survived after what she had gone through in the womb. And we subsequently visited the pediatricians, until correctional surgery had taken place, when she was a few months old." She sniffed.

I drew closer and took her hands in mine. A comforting gesture. She smiled.

"I had watched my baby suffer rejection. Her tears, constant torments to my heart. But I had harbored hope. I hadn't been dissuaded. And I had told her that love would find her. Not that Hank of a man, who had been a brute." Mercy bitterly disclosed, mirroring Levi's emotion about the subject. I wondered if she knew of Hank's end.

"But now, she has you. I am grateful that you married her and saved her from this misery." She added.

A movement caught my eye and I looked in time to catch Kenya standing on the threshold of the door leading to the terrace. Her eyes pooled in tears, watching us. Her mother hadn't seen her yet, but I did. Obviously, from her stance, she had heard her mum's heartfelt confession.

Quietly, she slipped away and disappeared along the other side of the terrace. I wanted to follow her immediately, but I stayed, knowing her Mum needed this time to vent. I would find my wife later.

A few moments later, after my mother-in-law calmed down, she announced their intention to depart early. Reminding me to look after her little girl. A duty which I inwardly vowed to uphold.

When they were ready to leave, the party was disappointed to find that Kenya was nowhere in sight. They asked I sent their regards. As I saw them off to Alan's awaiting vehicle, I couldn't help but notice the frantic glances which Amanda Preston threw my way. I would have wanted to ask her about it, perhaps if her sister had disclosed anything to her. But I decided against it. Choosing to ignore the gesture.

Schooling my emotions, I watched them leave. After, I went in search of my beautiful wife.

I stood on the terrace, scanning the beachfront for Kenya. The massive, white, two-story building, made of bricks, steel, expansive glass doors and windows, stood on rocks. The entire arrangement of the building spacious, boasting 6 bedrooms, including ensuite bathrooms. Massive and spacious living room, with sparse furnishings to highlight the white, black and brown decorations. White sofas graced the living room. A glass coffee table and an exotic bar, fully stocked. Walls bore expensive Watteau, Seurat and Degas paintings.

Descending the terrace stairs, I walked along the sandy beach. Wearing only my shirt, with its sleeves rolled up and my suit pants.

The sand felt sharp under my feet, the saltiness of the sea wafting through the air. The wind picked up, tingling my nostrils. The white foam of the sea climbed my feet, the cold water seeping through my skin. The smell of the wet sand evoked nostalgic memories of me and my Mum building sand castles. The sun not punishing. Rather, delicate and warm, gradually awakened my senses to calmness. One I rarely saw in New York.

I saw Kenya, calm, her fixed gaze on the sea. She sat on the sand, her legs pulled up in front of her. Beautiful and peaceful. Without any care in the world. I regretted crashing her world with my presence. But I wasn't able to do otherwise. Marrying her had been my only option, in order to save us both from eternal destruction. Because whether Kenya accepted it or not, desire stirred within us. A dreadful threat above our heads.

Closing the distance between us, I sat beside her. Her beautiful perfume that I picked or her; chocolate, flowers, stirred my senses alive. I equally stared at the sea ahead, weighing where to begin. She deserved this much.