After the rituals of celebrating the dead with good wine, captivating tribute slideshows and heartwarming local songs, the Anderson family gathered together for a befitting feast.
The long rectangular dining table, pitched under one of the biggest open tents, displayed a wide range of local and intercontinental delicacies ranging from spicy roasted chicken and turkey to sweet corn, barbecued at, apple pie, mashed potatoes, gravy, carrot soup, scented curry soup, different yummy dessert, amongst others.
The happily chatting family all took their respective seats accordingly, with the grandparents at the head of the table and couples seated beside each other.
The children, who were indoors all this while were brought out to join in the feast. They were two boys and a girl, between the ages of six, four and three.
While Dylan and Jayden, the two adorable boys were Vera's eldest son's children, Sophia -the youngest and cutest of them all - was Vera's only daughter's child.
Little Sophia was holding a stuffed bunny in her hand and clinging to her pregnant mother seeking her attention. But the boys seed rather in a hurry to fill their small tummies and go back to whatever they were doing inside the mansion.
Alia instantly fell in love with the children when she laid eyes on them. She wished she could have those bundle of joy to call her own as she watched their parents helped them sit by the dining table.
"You can go say, 'hi' to them you know." Henry suggested, smiling.
Alia shrugged, "Maybe layer."
Alia's attraction didn't go unnoticed by her mother-in-law or by her secretly irritated husband.
Although Blaze adored his cousin's children, he didn't see himself as a father material. He didn't want to bring any child into his bitter world and have them suffer from a lack of affection. And the last thing he wanted to do was share a child with his enemy's daughter.
"Alia..." Blaze called her attention away from the children. "This way, dear." He moved her away from Henry's side, giving the latter a nasty glare.
Henry chuckled but didn't say anything.
"Let's share the grace," Mamo announced, signalling every to hold hands and close their eyes.
Standing between her mother-in-law and husband, Alia felt overwheld with emotions. The sight of beautiful children, the gathering of family, the holding of hands and the sll of good country food made her nostalgic and extrely happy. She missed her mum and wished for a second that her mother could appear to her and whisper in her ear.
As if in response to her prayer, Maria leaned closer and whispered those exact beautiful words her mum always said to her whenever they were cuddled together. It brought warmth to her heart and joy to her troubled soul, making her forget about her worries.
Alia felt her eyes moisten and her lips moved as she replied from the depth of her heart.
"I love you too."
"Huh!" Blaze's jaws dropped. He turned to look at Alia only to find her staring at his mom, both won smiling at each other.
Though barely audible, Blaze caught those four magical words. He was bemused and aroused by it, even though he knew they were not ant for him. He felt jealous. But this jealousy wasn't a result of his mom's unconditional love towards Alia. It was the fact that Alia was reciprocating that sa love back to his mother even when she knew their marriage wasn't real. And that wasn't all.
Deep down, Blaze felt a yearning within him. An infuriating yearning that was ssing with his head. He wanted to hold Alia, kiss her and make her feel like the most special woman in the world. And as awkward as it may sound he wanted her to say those sa words to him.
"Darian..." Mamo called his attention in a sowhat stern voice, eying his free left hand.
"Oh..." Blaze snapped out of his annoying thoughts and smiled as he gently took Alia's other free hand, interlocking fingers sensually with hers before closing his eyes.
"Our heavenly Father..."
The words of Mamo trialed as Alia opened her eyes, tilting her head to stare at her husband's side profile. Her heart was beating fast as she lowered her eyes to look at the way their hands moulded into one. It looked so perfect like they were ant for each other. She unconsciously squeezed his hands, forcing him to open his eyes and look at her.
"I'm sorry," Alia whispered, not daring to look up, afraid of what she might see.
"Close your eyes, sweetheart, we are praying," Blaze said in the softest and calst voice, leaving Alia completely speechless.
"Praying! Even the devil prays?" Alia questioned her thoughts, unable to think straight as she closed her eyes. She tried to focus on Mamo's tranquil voice, who was asking God to forgive and bless her family.
"...this and more we ask true Christ our Lord," Mamo concluded her prayer.
"An." The entire family chanted, opening their eyes.
"Let's eat." Luther clasped his hand excitedly as everyone took their seats.
"Allow ..." Blaze couldn't explain what was going on in his head as he served his wife her desired al while earning the admiration of his mother and everyone at the table.
"Blaze, that's enough." Alia patted him on the arm, slightly worried and confused by his affectionate behavior towards her.
She ate her portion of food happily as she watched the family interacting with one another; arguing, laughing and telling funny jokes. She wasn't treated as a stranger as she partook in the family argunt, siding with her husband sothing and her mother-in-law at other tis.
At the end of dessert, Alia was completely stuffed with enough goodness that could last her for a lifeti.
Over the next few hours, Alia sat beside her husband, resting her back on his chest, like a real couple and listening to Blaze's older and younger cousins share their childhood stories. She remained tangled in her husband's cuddly arms until Vera ca up to inform her that Mamo wanted to speak with her.
"Oh...okay?" Alia looked around the open field in search of Blaze's grandmother as she stood up.
"She has retired into the mansion," Vera said, gesturing forward.
"I'll co with her." Blaze rose to his feet, acting possessively around Alia.
"Mamo wants to speak to her alone," Vera stressed, grinning.
"She does?" Alia felt her heart skip a beat. She also observed that Maria was nowhere in sight.
"Yes, but you have nothing to worry about there. She just wants to interact with her granddaughter-in-law."
Alia gulped down her saliva stirring at Blaze.
"Don't worry, my dear. She doesn't bite." Vera chuckled.
" and the guys were planning to go down to the lake. I hope I can have my wife back before sundown." Blaze said reluctantly, unwilling to part with Alia. He was really beginning to enjoy her companionship over the past few hours and he hated to let her out of his sight.
"I promise, I will bring her back before sundown, in one piece." She stressed the last three words, winking at Blaze, before leading Alia away.
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