Thorny kind of Love

Chapter 13

Bell's POV

-Good morning...hope you slept well-

- Wishing you a lovely day-

The 2 messages from Ben wake me up and I smile as I reply.

-Good morning to you..thank you and I did sleep well...and hope you slept well too –

He doesn't reply, so I get up and put on the kettle for some coffee, I see Uncle Danny's blanket folded and I assume he is in the bathroom, I check in on my dad, he is still asleep. I softly close his door and make myself some coffee, I make a cup for Uncle Danny too as I hear him come out of the bathroom.

Uncle Danny and I talk a bit and then he leaves and I start by putting on the washing machine. By the time my dad woke up, I was busy hanging up the second load of washing on the line. I prepare some breakfast for my dad, only while I'm preparing breakfast, I realize how hungry I am. We sit at the kitchen table and have breakfast while we talk, I tell my dad of the engagement party and almost want to tell him about Ben but I stop myself. From what usually happens with the girls from our town, my dad will warn me that Ben only using for fun while he is visiting and warn me to stay away from him. It could be that my dad will be right in warning me, but for now, I love the feeling I have when I'm around Ben and it couldn't hurt to have this kind of pleasure even if it's only for a while.

I tell my dad that I have to show a guest around town tonight. I was just about to suggest that Uncle Danny should come over when my dad says, "Don't even think of asking Danny to come over." I laugh out loud and promise not to. When we're done I wash my hair, I decide to flat iron my curly hair and then I tie a scarf around my hair to keep it firm. I take a bath, dress, and go to the local grocer, I buy some needed items and slowly make my way home. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Aunty Wilma talking to someone and start walking a bit faster before she sees me.

As I enter the house, I hear a vomiting sound from the bathroom and drop the groceries. "Dad?" I call out running to the bathroom. My dad comes from the bathroom and looks pale. "I'm ok Bell, I was coughing and then some slime on my chest made me nauseous." I look at my dad and ask, "Are you sure?" Maybe I should cancel my date with Ben as if my dad can read my thoughts, he assures me over and over for about 5 minutes that he is ok, after I'm partially convinced, I go and prepare us a sandwich for lunch. Once we have done, my dad goes to his room to relax a bit and I start taking off the washing, fold it and pack away. I realize that I haven't spoken to my brother in a while, I pick up my phone to call him, and I see that Ben had replied.

-Of course dreaming of you made me sleep well-

-See you tonight-

I am falling for Ben and I shouldn't be, this is not going to end well, will I get over this thing we have once he leaves. Maybe I should just be up straight with Ben and end things before anything else happens, it might be ok for him to end things before he goes back and enjoys his life, but it will not be ok with me. I plan on breaking all ties between us tonight.

I call my brother and I become a bit emotional as I remember how frightened I was this afternoon when my dad was in the bathroom, I ask my brother to visit him sometime during the week. After I hung up the call, I open my cupboard doors and choose a casual outfit for the evening, I settle for my favorite short sky blue denim dungaree dress and a plain tight-fitting sweater too and slip into my white converse takkies. I take out my work bag to put some of its contents into my tiny black sling bag, and I see the silver chain, I put it on, apply some lip-gloss, I fill my tiny sling bag with some hair accessories just in case my hair gets a bit bushy, it happens sometimes, especially if I flat iron it.

In about 10 minutes Ben will be here I tell myself as I spray some perfume on myself. I go to my dad and he again assured me that he is ok, he hasn't been nauseous again after this morning. I had baked him some fish earlier and mashed some potatoes, he didn't want to eat, so I put it away for him. "Warm up your plate of food when you get hungry," I tell my dad as I leave his room. I hear the sound of footsteps, followed by a knock on the door. I open the door and see Ben standing there. He is the most attractive person that ever stood in my doorway I tell myself, the faded blue tight-fitting jeans and tight black sweater he has on makes him look like a fashion model, I smell the fresh mixture of vanilla and citrus on him. The sight of him makes my knees feel weak. "Are you just going to stare or invite me in?" Ben asks pulling me from my pleasurable thoughts.