"I'll meet you guys at church alright?" I told El who was dressing up for church, she nodded her head. I left the house taking a cab to Andre's house in Manhattan, he sent an address which I gave to the cab driver, telling him I don't know there, never been on my own to Manhattan so he should take me to the exact place.
"Don't worry Miss." He tipped his hat at me.
I plugged in my earphones and listened to gospel songs on my phone to while away time.
I sang along to the lyrics, bobbing my head. The driver beamed watching me in his mirror, "care to share?"
"Sure." He connected it to his Bluetooth in the car , we listened to it together and surprisingly we both loved the songs of Don Moen and Hillsong.
He sang the songs loud and missing words causing me to laugh, spreading happiness and joy on a Sunday morning, "we're here Miss."
I took the bill from my purse and handed it to him, he declined, "no problem Miss, you just made my morning, remember me when you get to church."
"Okay sir, God bless you." I stuffed them back and waved him as he drove off. I shifted my gaze to the huge building in front of me, it was no house, it was a huge hotel building with a Royal French sign at the middle of the building. I sent Andre a quick text announcing my arrival.
I walked into the reception taking in my surroundings. It's too busy for a Sunday morning with people checking in others going out and little children calling out to their friends. I approached the receptionist who was less busy and greeted her, "hello good morning."
"Good morning Miss, how may I help you?" She gave a polite smile , revealing a set of white denture with a golden tooth.
Andre came down beating me to it, "Hey baby!"
He was looking good in a simple jeans with a black leather coat, his hair left loose as always and growing longer,"She's here for me Petra."
He came closer and gave me a hug , his familiar Clive Christian perfume mixed with his many scent hitting my nostrils. He brought his lips on mine, I gently pushed him away and gave him a peck on his cheeks. He cocked his brow at me , I signed him with my eye to look around. There were curious stated from the staff and people around, the receptionist, Petra gave me a dirty look rolling her eyes.
Andre wasn't bothered, he drew me closer into a tight hug and smashed his lips on mine, zoning the people out. The 'ewww' and 'gross' comments by the little children made Andre pull apart from a blushing me.
"Ready to go?" I asked him looking over at Petra who was whispering things into the ears of her colleague beside her. Her friend turned to glance at me, giving me a dirty look too.
Andre followed my gaze scowling at the two ladies. They gave him flirty stares , Petra went overboard unbuttoning her shirt to show huge tits and cleavage.
Andre rolled hi eyes and took my hand in his, pecked my cheeks and walked us into an elevator.
I was clueless as to what we were doing in an elevator when we should be out there riding to church , "Andre are we not supposed to go to church ?"
"That's what we are doing babe." He kissed my forehead and positioned me in between his arms, my back on his chest. His breath fanning my cheeks.
"Dâr." I was flustered, our position was quit bothering.
"Shh love, we're going to my garage, we can't walk to church you know." He sniffed my hair, resting his chin on my head, "your hair smells like cocoa I love it."
"Yours smells like strawberries, ain't you girlish."
He flexed his muscles and swallowed saliva for his Adam's apple to bob, "demonstrated to you how much more of a man I am to be girlish."
We stepped out of the elevator with me giggling. Andre was making girlish faces at me when I argued with him he was a girl.
I widen my eyes in surprise, I was expecting a wealthy man's garage yes but not this. His garage looked like that of tons of celebrities combined. Sport cars, four wheel drives and whatever you can think of yes they're here.
"Your yes will fall out of their sockets love." Drey chuckled at my expression pulling me closer to him, "what do you want us to use?"
I scanned the fleet of cars completely at sea, "Drey choose, I'm confused." Its gonna be a Benz or Urus for me or maybe Rolls Royce or Bentley, that gold Jeep is tempting and that Bugatti too. See I'm confused.
"Let's take the black Bentley." I nodded in agreement, his choice is fine with me. We walked to it , he unlocked it and as usual opened my door. He got in and started the ignition, the engine roared to life.
Drey entwined our fingers resting them in his laps, he drove out of the garage into the streets. Andre drove at an acceptable speed and soon we were at the church.
We got out of the car and made our way into the church. The service had started , we took our seats at the back pew and listened to the preaching which was based on forgiveness.
Andre was tense during the sermon, he kept lacing and unlacing our fingers go run his fingers through his hair or run them over his face.
"What's wrong boo?" I rubbed his thighs hoping to calm his nerves.
He gave a sad smile and pecked my forehead, "nothing to worry about love."
"It's something to worry about if you keep doing what I told you no to."
"Trust me love, I'm fine don't worry about me, let's concentrate on the sermon." He caressed my cheek and laid my head on his chest.
I did as he said, concentrated on the sermon which was concluded in minutes. There was round of applause through out the congregation. The sermon was powerful, forgive others even though they don't deserve it, we should let go of any grudges which are hindering our life with Christ and make peace with others and in doing so make peace with God who's all forgiving.
The announcements were given and offertory taken. We stood up to receive the benediction to finalize the service for the day. El and my family came to meet us at the back.
"Andre my boy, how you? It's been long I saw you." Uncle Richard shook Drey's hand.
"Work keeps getting busier, I'm fine and you?"
Uncle Richard chuckled mocking Drey, "work keeps getting busier yet you take my niece on dates and spend all your time with her, so is Ann work too?"
Andre blushed embarrassed by Uncle Richards words. Aunt Bertha smacked her husband's shoulders taking sides with Drey. "Stop embarrassing the boy Rich."
Uncle Richard pecked his wife, "I'm sorry darling , Drey my boy I'm good too."
Drey nodded his head and excused himself. He whispered in my ears telling me to wait a little while for him ,he wants to see the pastor."
"Eww right before our eyes, you two are getting lovey dovey!" El made a face and covered her eyes like what we did needed to be censored.
I rolled my eyes at her childishness. I yanked her hands off her eyes chuckling to myself, "You and Darrel do worse."
"We don't do it in front of mum and dad."
"You think they've never seen your saliva sharing moment with Darrel?"
El's eyes darted between her parents who stood there smiling at her, "we've seen you two a couple of times, be discreet enough, it was so gross watching your baby do that." Uncle Richard said half scowling half smiling.
We all burst out laughing. I'm trying to picture how it'll be like watching my daughter or son do that. It's not the nicest, I concluded. Poor Aunt Bertha and Uncle.
Carmen joined us beaming. There's this man she's being seeing at church who got her smiling everyday. I can't wait for the wedding bells to ring soonest. She deserves all the happiness in the world having suffered so much at the hands of her abusive druggie husband. "Shall we go now?"
"Yeah let's go, what about you Ann? Are you gonna wait for Andre?" Aunt Bertha asked me.
I nodded my head, "yes aunt, I will be back in some hours."
They turned to walk away after pecking my cheeks. El was the last, "keep everything censored no X rated stuffs." She yelled out to me causing those around to look at me wide bulging eyes. Some of the older women looked at me with disgust muttering things under their breath. I heard something like kids these days and fornication from one of them.
I mouthed, I'll kill you to El who wasn't bothered. She laughed and shrugged her shoulders and got into the car.
I ignored the whispering people and busied myself on my phone. I scrolled through Instagram and liked the Nessa's post. It was a picture of her with two white girls in front of what looked like a church. Her captioned, I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord , confirmed it.
I jumped, startled when I felt hot air on my neck. I turned to see Andre laughing. I hit his hand and walked away from him feigning anger, "you almost gave me a heart attack and you're just there laughing."
He fell into it, he held my arms and turned me round to face him, I put on my best mad face. "Babe I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you."
I kept mute, my mad face still on. I wanted to laugh so badly but restrained myself, it was funny Drey couldn't see through my facade.
He kept bugging me with I'm sorry babe and when I didn't budge he said, "whatever happened to the sermon on forgiveness today? You're just a listener but not a doer of the Word are you not?"
I burst out laughing and walked to the car. "Pastor Drey save me the preaching, I'm a listener and doer of the Word , I was only joking, I'm surprised you couldn't see through it."
"I must give you the credit you're a great actress. I was shitting my pants when you refused to talk to me." He kissed my knuckles and reversed the car.
"This is news! The great Andre Archambeau shitting his pants because of a girl!"
He pinched my cheeks and laced our fingers together, "his girl love not just any girl, that's what you can do to me babe."
His girl. My heart leaped, oh yeah it felt good hearing those words from him. I'm his girl!
As if reading my mind , "yeah you're my girl, you'll soon me my wife." He winked at me.
That wink got me catching more feelings and falling deeper. If only I could alter the hands of time , I'll set the time to three years into the future where I can get married to Drey. Three years because I don't wanna combine the stress of school to marriage.
"What are thinking about?"
"About the future."
"I'm I present in it?"
"Of course Drey, you're part of me now."I drew circles on his thighs.
"We're one."
"Not yet. Not till the diamond is on my finger."
Andre drove into the garage. "I see you fancy diamond rings, this is the fourth time you've mentioned it."
"Ever heard diamonds are girls best friend?"
"Yeah I have."
"It's nature boo." I took my bag, rushing out of the car but failed. Drey locked if leaving me inside just so he can open my door.
He opened with a playfully scowl on his face, "don't even think about that again, lemme treat you like the queen you are."
I walked up to him and pecked his cheeks, he scowled for real this time, "you promised me a kiss remember?"
"I do."
"And you're pecking me instead?"
"Good things come to those who wait." I winked leading the way to the elevator. There was no one in it. Andre took advantage of that, pitting us in the position we were in, in the morning.
I was flustered, he had his hands on my waist pulling me closest to him, touching skin to skin save for our clothes. "Dârey we-uhm just got back from church stop it." It only came out as a whimper.
He stopped , smirking at me and licked his lips, "I know b."
The elevator got to whatever floor Drey was on. We exited hand in hand. He opened the door revealing a classy penthouse.
It was cozy and airy giving off a manly scent and appearance. Everything was either black or white except the chandeliers which were gold.
The living room was a modern wealthy bachelor's except his looked more prim.
"Lemme give you a tour of the place." He took my hand in his leading us to what was the kitchen, it was just like the one at home. Neat giving a homely feeling.
We went next to his library, a replica of his office, this was rather smaller and more calming. There was a bookshelf stuffed with books, trophies on the shelves and desk.
We left the library to his bedroom passing a hallway. The walls were decorated with paintings, antiques and picture frames. One particular picture caught my eye, it was of a younger Andre dressed in a football jersey, a medal around his neck, clutching into a football and beaming proudly to the camera. "You were a handsome kid."
"I still am now babe."
"Whoever lied to you?"
"You babe, you can't be checking out an ugly man love." He opened the door to his bedroom.
Just like the living room the walls, curtains,sheets and everything else was white and black.
I sat on his bed, it was comfy asf. I wanna trade my bed with his. "I can Drey, I checked you out on Friday", "you have a very beautiful place Drey, I love it."
His eye lit up, he sat beside me and held my hands, "so do you consider moving in with me?"
What Drey, that's so soon. "No boo, it's too soon and you know my religious background doesn't accept unmarried couples living under one roof."
"It's not too soon babe, it's as if I've known you since forever and yeah I do know and accept that rule too, it's for the best."
"Thank you Drey, someone else would have gotten ticked off if in your place, I love you boo." I gave him a quick kiss and got up, "I'm hungry love."
Andre claimed my lips, smiling against it, "I thought I will never hear that name from your mouth."
What name is he taking about? I went over what I said , it's a simple I'm hungry love, oh yeah! Love. I smirked at him, "you'll be hearing more of it."
"I can't wait babe." He winked at me and encircled his hand around my waist, leading me down the hallway we came from and down the flight of stairs which were longer than ours.
We got into the kitchen. He looked through his cupboards and fridge before turning his attention to me, "what will you eat?"
What will I eat? I'm not picky when I'm hungry, anything goes as long as it's edible and tastes normal in my mouth. "Anything babe, sandwich, Mac and cheese, pasta, anything I can get to eat in minutes."
"You said on Friday you will love for me to cook you a French dish , how about I cook it today?" He brought out groceries from the fridge and stock.
"Sounds great, what have you got in mind?" I stood beside him, ready to learn whatever he's going to cook so I can cook it for him sometime.
"Coq au vin, it's chicken braised in red wine,lardons,mushrooms and vegetables that's if you like." He brought out a saucepan, poured wine into it and placed the pieces of chicken in them seasoning them with salt, thyme and parsley.
"Can I chop them please?" I offered when he took out a chopping board to chop the carrots and onions. He extended them in my direction with a smile, "thank you."
He went ahead to pour the stock into a saucepan and placed on fire. He took out the pearl onions and already chopped mushrooms and put them on a plate. He instructed me to add the chopped carrots and onion to the chicken in the wine .
Drey took out a diced bacon like thing , he heated a pan with olive oil and arranged them on it, frying them to golden brown. "What is that thing in the pan?"
"It's lardons, they're made of bacon." Drey answered and took them out of the pan onto a plate. He took the pieces of chicken from the wine and dried them with tissues and towels and put them in the pan with the oil. Sieving the wine mixture , he poured the wine into a sauce pan , putting it on fire, he mashed a table spoon of butter and flour and added them to the stick in fire for it to thicken.
He added the chicken pieces to the stock together with the carrots and onions. He stir fried the lardons and mushroom together and added them to the stock with the frozen pearl onion. He poured the wine and put them on fire for some minutes before putting them in the oven for about twenty minutes.
While we waited for the chicken to get ready, he cooked rice in the pressure cooker. He turned to look at me, "where would you like to eat love? Here or the dinning hall?"
"Errm here." I answered him, "can I help set the table, I've been useless through out the cooking."
Drey shook his head no, I drew nearer to him and pecked his lips and pouted, "please love."
"How can I refuse you babe, please be careful." I threw my hands around him, happy, "lemme take out the plates and cutlery for you from the top cupboard."
He gave me the plates and cutlery, I set the table and took out wine and glasses. Searching around, I found a candle and lit it placing it in the middle of the island.
Drey took out the coq au vin from the oven and set it on the table. I also dished out the rice form the pressure cooker into a ceramic bowl and set it on the table.
He pulled me in for a kiss and sat me down, "babe this is the best lunch ever, the candle tops it all." Drey said a prayer, dishing out my food before his.
We dig into the food. It was delicious! I never knew Drey was such a good cook. I ate all and went for a second round. He sat watching me smiling. I wasn't bothered or shy hit if the food is good, eat to your satisfaction. Food is meant to be eaten not worshipped.
After eating , Drey got up form his seat to the refrigerator and took out a bowl from the fridge , "it's crème brûlée , the desert we forgot to eat at the beach, their manager passed by and handed it to me."
"That's nice of him." I said and took a spoonful into my mouth, "it's creamy and sweet, I love it!"
"French deserts and foods are the best Ann." He said taking a bite of the strawberry garnish. He fed me the rest. We sat there talking and arguing about our home cuisines, in the end I made a promise to Andre to cook a Ghanaian dish for him, just so he can see how relishing our food is.