37: Cramp the games

The sun was already going down and I've given Damien many kisses than I can count. We didn't only golf but barbecued. Rose came over and helped us with steaks. We found a shady spot with a wooden table and trunks like stools round the table. It looked man-made though but it was pretty.

"Thanks for the steaks, Rose"

Rose smiled at me and nodded before going back to the grill. Everyone was much too hungry after the games to even talk. Chloe of all people was stuffing her face with potatoes and steak at the same time.

"We should do this every weekday Dammy" Elle said. I cringed at the name she called him because once upon a time, Bethany had called him that and it annoyed the hell out of me. Still annoys me.

"Are you planing to stay here much longer?" Damien frowned and I hit his leg under the table. He stared at me and I mouthed be nice. He rolled his eyes at me and dug his fork into his steak.

"I'm not leaving until I see your child then I can leave" Elle said with a smile.

"That's very sweet of you, Elle but I'd hoped you'd stay longer. Or hoped something would stay you longer" I winked at her. She got the message and blushed red after stealing a glance at Joseph.

Elle wasn't the only one who seemed to catch what I said because Damien groaned out loud. I chuckled, covering my mouth.

"If you want me to stay longer. Who am I to refuse" Elle said right back and we both laughed.

Charles bursted the champagne opened and everyone lifted their glasses for fills except me.

"It doesn't hurt to take wine once In a while, Jay. It actually has health benefits" Charles said to me but before I could give him an answer, Damien spoke first.

"Tell that to your wife when she's pregnant again" Damien said and I covered my face to stifle my laughter. This was not going to end well.

"Why'd you bring me into this" Chloe pouted. She set her fork down and placed her hands on her waist.

"Blame your husband" Damien said to her and Chloe started rolling up an invincible sleeve.

"Why I oughta..."

"...guys!" I yelled and everyone was quiet except Danielle who was laughing.

"Are they always like this?" She asked me.

"Yes" I sighed and then poured myself water. Now Damien can relax. He didn't think I was actually going to drink did he?

"Well I wished I brought my camera. That show was funny and you can't get something that genuine in movie houses" Danielle joked.

"Well here's a joke for you..." Damien placed his fork down. "...Before tomorrow, I want you out of my house" He said and got up. We all watched him in awe as he walked away without even glancing back. What's got him all worked up so soon? He seemed fine a while ago.

"You and your brother don't seem to get along" Chloe said. Obviously. What's the matter with them anyway?

Right now, I'm stuck between going after Damien or just seating down here to enjoy the rest of the meal that Rose made. I tried to get up but Joseph stopped me.

"I'll go. Please" he said and ran after Damien. Why did Damien just swing his mood like that?

"What happened between you two?" Charles asked Elle. For the first time since I met Elle, she actually had tears in her eyes. Her manicured hands came up to wipe the tear that rolled down her cheek.

"Elle..." I wrapped my arms round her.

"I think I should really go, Jay. Damien really hates me. I thought he could forgive me but it's not happening. " She sobbed. Forgive her for what?

"Just give him some time ok? I'll talk to him". I whispered into her hair.

Rose came back with more steak but when she saw the change in the atmosphere, she started clearing up the plates. Our fun was cramped and now everyone was going home. Why? Because my husband decided to be mean to his sister at the wrong time. Actually, he should never be mean to her.

I let go of Danielle and started for the direction Damien went.

*****

There were angry shouts coming from the library and it didn't take me a second to realise that that was Damien screaming. I don't think I've heard him so mad before. Now I even fear going into that room.

But the moment my hands touched the knob, I was pulling the door opened. Damien was pacing round the room while Joseph was trying to talk some sense into him.

I shut the door and both men recognized my presence.

"Can we talk?" I said to Damien but he looked away.

"No. I can't talk to you right now" He walked to the window with his hands in his pockets.

"It won't take a minute" I was persistent.

"I said...no!" Damien said without turning around.

I clenched my fist as I felt my anger rise. Even if he was mad at Elle, he has no right taking it up on me and giving me some attitudes that I won't take.

"I'm going to talk to you Damien and you would sit down and listen to me" I said walking to him. When he finally looked at me, he had amusement on his face coupled up with surprise.

"Give us a minute" He told Joseph who left immediately. I folded my arms behind my back and stared at Damien.

"If this is about Elle, drop it. She's leaving this house"

"She's not going anywhere Damien. As far as I'm concerned, this house belongs to us. Not just you, it's time you stop thinking like a one man army and be a husband!" I yelled. I don't even know what I said just now. All I know is that I yelled and Damien was listening to me.

"You don't even know anything"

"I don't care!"

"Drop your voice at me" He said in a challenging manner but I was standing my ground.

"I'll keep yelling until you decide to listen to me. Don't my opinion in anything matters?"

He ran his hands through his hair and sat down on the nearest chair.

"It does, Jay. What you say matters but all I'm asking from you is to not interfere in this"

"Why don't you tell me what happened"

"No"

I frowned deeply. "Well then since you have no reason for her to leave, she's going to stay" I said and started walking for the door.

"I have a reason and she's leaving" Damien voiced out.

"Then tell me what it is. What's your problem?"

"I don't have a problem and if you keep talking back at me like that, we're going to have a problem. So stop acting like a nosey bitch and mind your goddamn business, goddamit!" Damien yelled.

I was stunned, quiet, shocked, scared. Call whatever awful name you want to call because I was all of that right now. I've never seen Damien so angry and he'd never spoken to me like that before. The veins in his hand and neck where standing and I was frightened. Not because he was going to harm me. He would never do that because he's too much of a gentleman.

I'm scared because he might actually mean what he said. We're going to have a problem. In all the years I've known Damien, he's not one to say something anyhow. He always had a point. Nosey bitch. There was never no name calling.

"You don't mean that" I felt my throat run dry and I was rubbing against it.

He was quiet. Why is he quiet. I felt my heart thumping. A phone started ringing. It wasn't mine but Damien's. It was seating on the table next to me. I looked at it and pain, and a whole lot of emotions flashed through me when I saw the caller.

Bethany.

My stomach constricted and I felt a pain at my lower abdomen. Cramps! Was it the baby? I placed my hand on my stomach as I knelt on the floor. Whatever she was calling for, she choose the wrong time to call and now I can't un-see her name in his screen again.  Damien rushed to me but I tried breaking away from him. It was useless. The pain I was feeling in my stomach was unbearable. But the words of Damien also hurt more.