An Efft-Up Love Story
By: Faren M
Tags: Attraction, Lovestory, Family Traditions, Romance, Romance Novels

Chapter 4

Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash

‘Are you nervous?’ ‘Should I be?’ ‘Turn left at the stop,’ Alison directs. ‘Well, my dad is a bit difficult.’ ‘Difficult?’ ‘Uh huh. My sister’s husband didn’t have it easy,’ Alison says and presses her lips. Lucious looks at Alison and takes her hand. ‘He’ll see that his baby girl has a real man,’ Lucious brags. Alison laughs at his confidence. She is nervous.

Her father was not impressed with the first boyfriend she brought home after her Matric year, maybe because he was not Christian.

‘The house with the black gate.’ Lucious exhales loudly. He parks in front of the gate. ‘Mommy, please open the gate.’

She looks at Lucious as they walk towards the front door. He holds her hand. To his surprise, she lets go off his hand the moment the front door opens.

‘My child!’ ‘Hello mommy,’ Alison greets her mom and introduces Lucious. ‘This is Lucious, my…’ ‘Please to meet you Lucious,’ she shakes his hand. ‘Please to meet you aunt Faith,’ he says confidently. ‘How was the road? I was telling your father, you should’ve come sooner, because the road will be very busy today.’ ‘It was very busy, but we didn’t have a choice but to leave today.’ ‘Kennith, the kids are here.’ Aunt Faith looks nervous, speaking properly and nicer than usual! They walk to the tv room where Alison’s dad’s sitting. ‘My girl! How’s daddy’s girl?’ They hug. ‘Hello daddy! I’m good thank you.’ She turns and looks at Lucious. ‘This is Lucious. Lucious this is my dad, Kennith.’ ‘Pleasure to meet you, sir.’ Her dad shakes his hand and nods awkwardly. ‘Sit,’ aunt Faith says and looks at Lucious. ‘Anyone for tea? Or Cold drink?’

Alison joins her mom in the kitchen to prepare drinks. She leaves Lucious in the tv room with her father. After serving cold drinks her mom enters with a plate. ‘My mom’s Melting Moments, you have to try them!’ she says trying to break the ice.

‘So, what do you do for a living Lucious?’ Uncle Kennith asks. ‘I own a hardware store,’ he answers confidently. Uncle Kennith looks confused. ‘I inherited it from my grandfather.’ ‘Oh!’ uncle Kennith answers quickly. ‘Where?’ Aunty Faith asks. ‘In Jo’burg.’ ‘It’s quite big now hey?’ Alison adds. ‘Yes, I extended the building two years ago.’ ‘There must be a lot of hardware stores around Jo’burg,’ uncle Kennith says concerned and unimpressed. It’s getting awkward. Alison gets up. ‘Let’s get the bags.’ They walk out and her parents remain sitting.

‘What’s your dad implying?’ ‘Nothing. He’s just trying to get to know you.’ Lucious doesn’t look happy.

They spend the afternoon with her parents until some of her aunties and cousins come over. They start cooking for Christmas lunch tomorrow. Aunty Faith makes her famous dessert, Trifle.

Lucious hangs out with Alison’s cousins. They brought a few drinks, they’re drinking secretly in the front yard. Every time uncle Kennith comes out to check on them or make random conversation, they hide their glasses underneath their chairs.

Alison is doing her hair and spending time with the aunties in the kitchen. She goes to Lucious every now and then so that he doesn’t complain about being neglected later on.

It’s almost 12:00, and the cousins are gathering outside. Lucious is far beyond tipsy. He doesn’t see Alison. He wants Alison. He wants her next to him.

He looks for her in the kitchen, but finds only aunties and the smell of ginger beer. Uncle Kennith, his suspicious stare and his brother-in-law are sitting in the tv room. ‘Alison!’ Lucious calls. He hears her voice down the hallway in one of the rooms. ‘Oh, here you are.’ She looks up at him. She’s sitting on the bed with her cousin. ‘Oh no,’ she says softly. ‘What?’ he asks obliviously. ‘It’s almost midnight. Let’s go outside,’ her cousin proposes and leaves the room. After she leaves Lucious closes the door behind her and falls on the bed next to Alison. He tries to kiss her. She pulls away, jumps up and looks terrified. ‘What are you doing?’ she whispers and opens the door. Lucious, looking very confused, asks ‘What’s up with you? Why can’t I kiss you?’ ‘Anyone can walk in.’ For a moment he is distracted by the noise her family makes outside. They hear hooters and people shouting, Merry Christmas!’ He looks at her, quickly gets up, shuts the door and presses her against the door. ‘Merry Christmas baby,’ he says, smiles and kisses her. She lets go of all her concerns and indulges it. His mouth is warm. She tastes whiskey. She actually loves this moment, having him all over her in her parents’ house. She puts her hands under his t-shirt, grabs his lower back and squeezes her body against his…

There’s a knock on the window. They stop kissing. She didn’t close the curtain yet! They freeze and she hides behind him. ‘Shit,’ she whispers and puts off the light. ‘Who was that?’ Lucious asks. ‘It could be anyone,’ she says and opens the door. Alison is annoyed. Lucious is too drunk to give a damn!

Alison feels too awkward to go outside. She tries to pull herself together and go out hoping it was one of her silly cousins knocking. Lucious walks carelessly behind her. They start wishing the people as they go, waiting for someone to say something about what just happened. No one looks guilty or upset until she sees her dad’s face standing next to his brother in-law, right in front her room’s window. Her energy drops to her heels. Her inner self jumps up and down and buries her head underground!

She is reluctant to go to her dad and uncle to wish them a merry Christmas. Lucious, on the other hand, walks over to them. Alison holds her breath and analyses her dad’s reaction. ‘He looks…upset,’ she thinks. Lucious stands and converses with them. ‘You have guts…’ she says softly while walking towards them. Her dad looks at her, they kiss and hug. It was him.

She is not like Lucious, she leaves immediately. Lucious forces conversation with her dad and uncle until her cousin’s husband calls him.

The sky is colourful and sparkling as the rockets whirl across the sky. The whole neighbourhood is celebrating. Alison and her family are gazing at the beautiful view. ‘It’s the Abrahams. They spend roughly R6000 on firework every festive season,’ Alison hears her dad telling her uncle.

After a while all the old people go into the house for tea and biscuits. The young people are doing what they do best, drinking undercover. The people start to leave. Alison and Lucious greet the last people and walk back into the house. ‘Can I have some of you?’ Lucious asks and kiss her neck while locking the door. ‘No,’ she whispers and giggles. ‘You scared we gonna wake your parents?’ he mocks. ‘Lucious stop it,’ she whispers and tries to steer clear of him while walking down the hallway. She goes to the bathroom. When she comes back she finds Lucious lying on her bed. She panicks. ‘You’re sleeping in the guest room.’ ‘Why?’ Alison pauses. ‘Where are you sleeping?’ ‘Here, in my room,’ she says. ‘Are you telling me that we are going to sleep apart?’ Alison presses her lips and nods. Lucious is agitated. ‘My parents won’t allow…’ Lucious gets up, ‘If I knew this I would’ve rather partied on.’ He leaves the room and Alison feels stupid.

Alison gets up early. She didn’t get much sleep after her boyfriend went to bed without saying good night. She makes him breakfast. When he wakes, he looks happy to see her. He pulls her closer, holds her and sleeps a while longer. She wiggles herself from his grip and wakes him.

Christmas lunch is the best, there’s always enough food for an army. The tables are packed with various drinks, snacks and desserts. Alison loves the family time and the yummy food but the amount of dishes waiting is enough to send her back to Jo’burg right now!

The young ladies sort out the kitchen. Some of the old people rest their eyes while the young ones chill outside. ‘I would give anything to just take a nap next to you right now,’ Lucious whispers. ‘I know, me too.’ ‘Will it be wrong of me to ask you to leave tomorrow?’ ‘On Boxing day? No, we can’t.’ Lucious sighs.

Late afternoon everyone leaves and the house is quiet. Alison and Lucious join her parents in front of the tv. ‘Your sister says the kids had a blast on the beach today,’ aunty Faith says to break the silence. Lucious takes part in the conversation until aunty Faith excuses herself. Her parents go to bed early. They finally have some alone time, they snuggle up and watch a movie. A few hours later Lucious starts kissing Alison. She gives in for two reasons. One, before he puts her in the car and rushes back to Jo’burg. And two, she wants to.

They stay for two more days. Lucious is okay with that now, as long as they can watch late night movies…

They leave for Jo’burg and Lucious is not bothered about uncle Kennith’s obvious dislike of him.