Chapter Fourteen

On Thursday evening, after closing hour,James took Joyce home to inform her parents of their plans for the weekend and how long she would stay at his parents' house.

      After much hesitation and persuasion, they allowed her to go but not before warning James against any harm befalling their daughter. He assured them and told them their daughter was in safe hands. He promised to take care of her till their return.

       They were to leave the following evening, so she was told to get her things ready for their departure.

       After closing on Friday evening, James took Joyce home to get her few things and get her dressed for the evening. They bid her parents goodbyes after so much hug as if she was leaving Nigeria for a long time.

     To say his parents house was large would be nothing but an understatement. The compound alone is enough to build the times three of Joyce's house. There were so many people in the compound. It was as if that day was the birthday and not the following day. They greeted as they come across people and those that were cooking. They met Peter and his wife and children and James introduced Joyce to Cecilia who hugged and kissed her cheek. She was really friendly.

       Joyce bent and greeted the two kids who hugged her. She wrapped her hands around the two with her generous smile. "My name is Joyce. What are your names?" Joyce asked,still smiling.

        The older one answered. "I am Johnson and my brother is Peter. He was named after our dad."

       "Wow! Smart kids. I love you two," she told them and stood.

        James took her inside the grand living room and introduced her to his parents and everyone else that were seated. "This is Joyce Donald, my P —"

        His mother rose to her feet quickly and hugged Joyce. "Your girlfriend, right? She's so beautiful," she complimented.

        Joyce greeted her cheerfully even though she was confused. Paul and his wife also welcomed her,not excluding James' father. She was elated that the family liked her but what was the girlfriend stuff? She was just his P. A. A friend would have even be better. She turned her head to James but he said nothing. She could only read worry on his feature.

       Now, she got the reason why he was actually weird when he wanted to invite her to the birthday. He had told his parents that she was his girlfriend.

      "You're welcome, my dear," his mother said again and again and again and all she could do was give her charming and heart melting smile.

       Later in the night,there were still so many people roaming the compound. The  following day would be the birthday. Joyce sat alone on a chair in the compound. She wanted to talk to James. They needed yo talk but he has been busy ever since. She saw him coming now,so she called his name.

        "Joyce,why are you sitting here alone? You should go inside,it's cold here," he said, pure concern in his voice.

      "James,we need to talk. Why do people think I'm your girlfriend? I'm confused," Joyce said.

      "I'm sorry,Joyce. I really don't know how to convince them that you're not. They won't believe me. Peter was the one who told them that you are my lover," James said.

      "What!" Joyce exclaimed. "Was he sick? Ohps! Sorry,slip of the tongue. Why would he say that?" She felt like beating everything out of Peter for putting her in such situation but she wouldn't do that. He was her helper and friend. God saved him.

       "I can't say,Joyce. But,you know what?" He said moving closer to her and leaned his mouth towards her ear so he wouldn't risk the chance of anyone overhearing what he was about to say. "Let's put up an act,please. As couples. For these few days,let's act as if we're truly in love," James suggested in a whisper.

        All through his talk,she could only feel tingles all over her body and her heart beat doubled.

         Mrs Andrew watched secretly at James and Joyce. "Wow! They are a perfect couple," she said to her husband who only smiled. "Wow,they kissed!" She exclaimed. She couldn't see them that well from where she was peeping by the window and could only think it was a kiss when James leaned in towards Joyce's ear.

       "Honey,come and have your seat and let them be," he husband uttered and she obeyed and sat beside him,smiling and uttered. "This will be the best birthday for me ever."

           Forgetting the tingles, his words registered in her head and had a seat in an uncomfortable place. "What! An act? What if the find out?" Joyce exclaimed. How could she be lying to the people who had been nothing but nice to her.

       "They won't find out,Joyce. They won't. This is for our own good. Just give in to everything they want you to do. We'll leave on Monday, anyway. Okay? Please," James persuaded and patted her shoulder. She nodded and he took her inside.

        Everyone had gathered in the living room and watched as they hold hands and sat beside each other. Joyce could only smile at them.

       "It's a minute to twelve, mum," Paul said. They were all with their various gifts. Joyce excused herself and went inside the room she had put her bag and that of James and brought out her own gift.

         At exactly twelve am,they sang for Mrs Andrew and she was so excited she could die without regret. After the song,they all presented her their gifts.

       Joyce faced her and wished her a happy birthday. "I'm sorry,ma,but I hope you can accept this token from me," she said shyly. It was a gold wristwatch. She had hoped she would like it even though she was certain she wouldn't be wearing that type of watch given their financial status.

         "Wow! I'm so grateful. I love it. Thanks a lot," James' mother said to her relief. "I will use it well,thanks. But next year,I want children," she added and winked at her.

        James and Joyce exchanged glances.

       "No, problem,ma," Joyce tantalized.

        Soon,the gathering dismissed as the went inside to sleep and await the main party. Joyce noticed the couples where given the same room. How could that be so? This mansion would have more that thirty bedrooms,so how could couples —? She would be sleeping alone with James? Oh,God! That wasn't happening. She glumly went inside the room with James behind her but he was drawn back by his mother who whispered to him.

     "I want children, okay? You understand what I mean as you're going inside there,right? Good night, dear," she said to his son.

       "Mum?" James called angrily but his mother only walked away.

      James got inside to see Joyce sitting and taking off her clothes. He quickly mumbled sorry and backed her till she finished putting on her night wear.

       "You can face here,now," Joyce informed.

        He nodded before turning around and facing her and stylishly stare at her from head to toe. His imagination started going wild but he got control of himself and sighed. "You can sleep on the bed,I'll just manage the floor since there's no couch here," James muttered and lay on the blanket he had spread on the floor and covered himself with another one.

        Again,how could there be no chair in this room when it was there some hours ago when they arrived?  Joyce thought. Could it be that it was removed just so the couples can share the bed alone? God,she's in trouble. 

     "Let me go and check what they are doing," James heard his mother's voice outside the window and footsteps drawing closer. He jumped to the bed beside Joyce who was startled and confused at his action.

       "My mum is coming to check on us. Let's act. What do we do now?" He asked,his brain too muddled to think properly.

        He put his hand around her waist and pulled her towards him. They became so intimately close there was no gap between. James could see his mother peeping and grumbling. "Joyce,she's here," he whispered and immediately Joyce covered them both with the duvet,not even their heads could be seen. 

          She whispered, "Let's play with the duvet," she suggested and the started punching the duvet lightly.

      "Are they fighting? Oh,these kids,"they heard this mother say.

        They slightly pulled the duvet of their heads and lo,his mother was still there. Why won't she leave?

        "She won't leave unless she finds us doing something intimate," Joyce figured out,obviously tired. She get everything now. His mother was behind the couples sharing the same room and the absence of the chair in the room. 

    "Joyce,I have to kiss you. I'm sorry," James uttered and leaned over her before she could talk. 

       She did not not respond as his lips grazed her tentatively. It was so tempting  it  took all her energy to not seem starving. But the energy was starting to melt into the caress of his hands on her body.

       "Good," James heard her mother say as she took her leave. Unwillingly, he stopped the job he had started on his luscious lips.

        He was about to get off the bed but it seemed someone wasn't satisfied as  Joyce wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled his face down on hers for their lips to meet in a hungry kiss. She responded eagerly now as she pulled him closer towards her so there was no space between them. He caressed her as she urged him on. She was turned on already. She let her hands stray to his hair as he kissed her neck,her bosom and then back to her gob. He devoured them hungrily and she moaned silently which made him smile against his lips. She was lost in him. Totally lost.

     That was no more an act. That was real,James thought as he found himself aching for her,wanting her. Every part of her. He gently released her lips and lay beside.

       His mother was gone, they both knew that but why did they continue? Neither of them said anything. While James kept looking up at the ceiling, Joyce was finding pleasure on nibbling on her lips.

      Soon,James went back to the floor and fell asleep, pondering on why he had done that but fell asleep before an answer could come to him.