Fated Mate

How They Met

“Guys, breakfast is ready!” Martha shouted from the bottom of the steps. Her husband, Dave, walked into the kitchen holding Alice and placed her in her chair before he took his seat at the table.

“I’m going to count to three. One, two…”

Dave chuckled when two doors slammed shut as Jayson and Merilee came racing down the steps. He always wondered what would come after two, but Martha always got them to do what she wanted before she reached the dreaded three.

Dave looked around the table at his family and smiled. They were a close nit African family. He and Martha had gotten married young and moved to America when Dave got a job immediately after he finished varsity. They were happy and had three beautiful children to show for it. Jayson ten, Merilee five, and Alice had just turned three.

They had made it a point to have their meals together. Dave worked round the clock to pay off the house loan. The extra hours and the normal workload kept him very busy and left little time to spend with his family. Martha wanted a house outside the city-for the fresh air, peace and quiet, not forgetting the huge backyard the kids would play in-like the one she grew up in, in Tanzania. So, he did everything in his power to get it for her. It was an hour’s drive into the city, but it was still close enough to the kids’ school and Dave’s work, and very worth it.

Once breakfast was done, Dave dropped the kids off at school and went to work. He was having a good day; his family was wonderful, and he had just closed the biggest deal that would surely earn him a bonus.

Life is good, the loan is as good as paid and we can finally loosen the belt at home. Thank you, Lord! He leaned back in his seat and started daydreaming of how he would spend the extra money and the more time he would have with his family. A long family vacation was definitely in the cards.

“Dave, Dave, Dave!” His secretary yelled, pulling him out of his daydreams.

“Hmm?” he answered lazily, swinging the chair to turn to her.

“The big guy is calling you.”

Finally! “Thanks Tracy.”

Dave walked to his future with a big smile on his face ready for another life changing door to open for him. He checked himself out in the window’s reflection before he knocked on his boss’ door. It was a losing battle, but he tried his best to hide the excitement that was bubbling inside him and was now showing on his face.

This is it; I’m finally going to get the recognition I deserve, he thought as he opened the door and walked in. “Sir, you called for me?”

He smiled when he saw the full room. This is going to be better than I thought. All the partners are here.

“There he is the man of the hour! Sit down, boy genius!” His boss bellowed happily. He looked like Santa Clause, his big belly moving up and down as he laughed. Too bad he scared the hell out of Lee.

“Dave, you did a great job, and greatness should not go unrecognized.”

He paused for a moment, like one of those annoying game show hosts drawing out the suspense when they were about to announce the winner. And it was working because the suspense was killing Dave; he was now at the edge of his seat, literally.

“The partners and I have decided to give you a new office.”

What? That’s it? Dave thought, his eyebrows drooping with disappointment.

“Of course, with added benefits, a bonus and a fatter pay check.” The man’s grin grew larger exposing all his teeth.

Wait, was I…

“Congratulations Dave, you just made junior partner!”

Dave was shocked and speechless. This was more than what he expected. He was pulled up on his feet, shaking hands with the partners. The only words he could manage were ‘thank’ and ‘you’.

Life wasn’t good, it was great!

* * * *

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Dave stood impatiently at the door, elegantly dressed. He was taking his family out to dinner to celebrate and had no intentions of getting there late. He had booked a table at Café la Blue in uptown New York and had to pay a little extra, after begging for the late reservation. Losing their table after all that would be a major pain.

“Come on guys, chop chop!” he yelled, pacing with his watch held out in front of him.

“Will you calm down? Guys, let’s go before your father wears out my floor!” Martha walked toward her husband holding Alice’s hand. She then picked up the kids’ coats and helped them put them on as they walked out to the car.

Dave strapped the kids in their seats then ran round to his side and got in. “You all look great,” he blurted out, started the car, and drove off.

The restaurant looked fancy and expensive, even the menu echoed sophistication. And the best of it, he didn’t have to sweat as he looked through it; he had a huge bonus to cover the expensive prices of a half a plate of food.

“How do you guys like the food?” Dave asked half-heartedly. He was halfway done with his plate. He wasn’t looking forward to finishing it and by the looks on their faces neither did the children, but Martha seemed to be enjoying her dish.

People pay top dollar for this? He thought to himself as he forked the food around his plate.

“Daddy, do we really have to eat this?” Jayson asked him with a tortured look on his face. Merilee echoed his question with the same look. Her lips were now curved downwards in a harsh pout and her eyes were bigger, begging her father to say no.

“Kids, your dad is spending a lot…”

Before Martha was done, Dave turned to her with the same puppy look Merilee had. All of a sudden, she looked relieved and exhaled as if she had just put down a heavy load.

“Thank God, I was contemplating shoving the rest down my throat. How about, we have pizza for dinner?”

“Yeah!” the kids screamed, already heading for the door. Dave gave a low chuckle and paid for the meal that was barely touched.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Alice put down her spoon and held out her arms for Dave to pick her up. “You know, we should have just stuck to what we are used to.”