Beyond the Frame Chapter 14

Eric wanted Victoria in his life. She was fun, her sense of humor fresh and surprising. She had quirky habits that left him laughing to himself when he was alone, like singing aloud to her favorite song when it came on. The song was not the problem. He could take a little Justin Bieber… the off-key, full-volume voice was the problem.

Victoria truly believed she was the next Beyoncé, except no one ever told her she was not. God help him if he said anything critical.

Victoria hid a temper. He discovered it the hard way. Visiting her house on a Saturday when she was doing general cleaning, he went to the parking lot to check oil levels in her car. When he came back upstairs, he entered the apartment still wearing his rubber shoes, stepping on her clean, pristine floors, and a monster was born.

She kicked him out, made him remove his shoes, while she cursed like a sailor, almost calling the neighbors to witness his offenses. He tried to take a picture of monster Victoria in action and almost got his eyes scratched out when she grabbed the camera out of his hand. She took a year off his life when she threatened to drop his baby. Her angry tirade lasted an astounding five minutes. Then she got over the anger quickly, turning into a sweet woman who then cooked him lunch.

Scary shit. She hid her temper well. He was sure she was a crazy woman!

He definitely loved her sweet side more.

Victoria, in an agreeable mood, was addictive to the point of madness and obsession. Her laugh was infectious. When she talked, it was with passion on the subject. When she listened, it was as though he were the only man in the world.

Sitting close to her, kissing her, and never going beyond that…

It was at those moments that he worried for his sanity.

“Eric.”

Linda touched his left arm, and he looked at his assistant. He was working at the studio today on an advertisement photo shoot.

“Are you up for another trip?” Linda asked. “We have a request for a shoot in Dar. Three days. Do I schedule it?”

Eric sat back, his gaze on the dummy food waiting on a table.

“When?”

“This weekend,” Linda said. “The cash is good. They accepted our quotation without bargaining.”

Eric frowned.

For the first time in years, reluctance to leave the city filled him. Victoria was busier than usual. The holidays were here. The Savon Hotel’s events increased. Eric did not want to miss her free time.

“Can we postpone it?” he asked.

“Are you sick?” Linda asked, pressing her palm to his forehead.

Eric brushed her hand away and shook his head at her teasing.

“Let’s do the shoot next weekend, Linda.”

“Why? Can’t stay away from Victoria?” Linda asked.

“She’s off this weekend. She promised to go see my house with me. I don’t want to cancel.”

Linda waved the quotation in front of his eyes, and he took it out of her hands. Reading the total amount, he groaned. The payout was very good.

“Damn it, I can do it midweek,” he said, still not willing to give up this weekend.

Eric really wanted to hear what Victoria thought of the house he spent years building.

Linda smiled and took the quotation.

“Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday sound good,” Linda said. “Victoria can do without you for three days, right?”

Eric smiled, standing. He picked up his camera and walked to the table full of fast-food dummy products.

The problem, he thought, is that I don’t want to do without her.

****

“Wait, taste this,” Olive said.

Olive held out a spoonful of strawberry and blueberry ice cream to Victoria. Victoria closed her eyes as the sweet treat melted in her mouth. She moaned.

“Mm… I’m going to get fat if we continue like this.” Victoria met Olive’s amused gaze. “Fat, Olive.”

“I thought you didn’t care.”

“She got a man,” Grace said, swirling her straw in her passion-fruit yogurt.

“Aki, Grace,” Victoria pinched her best friend’s right arm. “That’s not what I mean. I’m saying the ice cream is really good, and we keep buying more.”

“Don’t blame the ice cream,” Olive said, promptly taking a healthy bite of her ice cream.

Olive was naturally thin. She never gained an ounce, no matter how much she ate. Victoria was a tad envious. Staring at her apple-green blend, Victoria could not find the strength not to finish the treat, so she dug in.

“So… you and Eric?” Olive asked.

Victoria looked up, and Olive raised her brow.

“What?”

“Are you an item?” Olive asked.

“They better be,” Grace said. “He keeps hugging and kissing her around the hotel. I’m getting jealous.”

“It was one time,” Victoria said.

“What about yesterday when he dropped you off in the morning? He gives you a ride to work even when you have your own car,” Grace said.

“It’s called carpooling. We are doing our part to save the earth from global warming.”

“Uh-huh,” Olive said with a laugh. “I’ll be sure to thank Eric for his eco-friendly thoughts when he shows up at your house to live with you to reduce emissions.”

Grace laughed.

“Okay, enough, you two, stop.” Victoria raised her spoon, using it like a wand. “I did not tease you like this when you and Clifford were getting together. Or you, Grace, and the hubby who walks on water.”

“Did you do it yet?” Olive asked, not listening to her.

“I’m not answering that question.”

“They haven’t,” Grace answered, winking at Olive.

“Hey,” Victoria punched Grace’s arm lightly.

“Wow, Eric is looking more and more like a saint,” Olive said, amused. “Hasn’t it been a month?”

“Almost two,” Grace provided.

“No way.” Olive stared at Victoria. “Is he normal?”

Victoria frowned. “What are you on about?”

“Well,” Olive shrugged. “Let’s be realistic. In this day and age of ours, relationships start backwards. Sex seems to come first, and then getting to know each other later. You two not being together that way after two months is weird.”

“Who decided waiting is weird?” Victoria asked. “Besides, two months is not that long. Jeez, I’m glad Eric is not like Ronald. If I had stopped to think with Ronald, I would not have been running for health tests the way I did.”

“I’m just saying,” Olive said.

Victoria stared at her ice cream. Truthfully, she knew Eric would prefer not to wait. There were times when she was alone with him, when it felt like it would be all right to give in, but then…

She remembered that he was a man who was still in love with his best friend’s wife.

How could she—?

“Vicky,” Grace said, squeezing her left shoulder, making her look up. “It’s okay to wait. You need to be sure of him, and waiting is important to you. Don’t second-guess yourself.”

Taking a bite of her ice cream, Victoria shrugged.

“It will happen in its own time,” she said. “We’re both adults. I like Eric. He’s fun, considerate, and I love spending time with him. If we do end up—”

“Let me stop you there,” Olive said, cutting her off. “I started this, so I’m sorry I teased you about the no-sex relationship. We don’t need to hear you justify yourself. I totally understand your insecurities with that hottie. Eric is a wild card, and who knows how long it will last? Take your time, Vicky. I get it.”

“Could have fooled me,” Victoria sulked. “Argh… can we stop talking about my lack of nookie?”

Grace burst out laughing and almost spilled her yogurt.

Victoria reached out to right the bottle. Olive grabbed napkins to wipe the little that spilled on the table.

“Excuse me.”

They all looked up at the same time to find Anita, the concierge, standing a few feet away. They were in the hotel’s second-floor snack bar, enjoying ice cream after a long day. They chose the place because of convenience. Olive was due at the hospital in thirty minutes. Grace wanted to head out to meet her husband for a shopping spree.

“Yes?” Grace asked, her tone uninviting.

“Can I talk to you, Vicky?” Anita asked.

“You can talk here,” Grace said.

Victoria met Anita’s gaze and nodded. She did not intend to be anywhere alone with Anita.

“Fine, whatever,” Anita said, taking a step closer to the table.

Thankfully, there were only two other people in the dining space.

“What do you want to say?” Victoria asked the younger woman.

“I want you to stop making trouble for me with Ronald. He said he would fire me because of you.” Anita’s expression was bitter. “If you couldn’t make him happy, I don’t see why you have to take it out on me.”

Victoria gaped.

“Aren’t you out of line?” Grace asked. “Victoria is not your sister, Anita. You can’t come here to carpet her over a relationship you started on your own.”

“It’s not my fault Ronald chose me over her,” Anita snapped. “All I’m saying is that she shouldn’t use her position to get me fired. I have a family to support.”

“Are you implying that I’m trying to get you fired?” Victoria asked in shock.

“Yes. I know you did this—”

“Who told you?” Victoria cut in.

“Ronald,” Anita said. “He said my presence here annoys you. So—”

Victoria got up, forgetting her ice cream.

Anita froze where she stood, her expression one of fear.

Victoria sighed and moved around Grace to stand before the younger woman.

“Don’t worry about your job, Anita.”

“You don’t want me fired?”

“Why would I?” Victoria asked, shocked that anyone would think of her this way.

Anita blinked.

“Aren’t you mad about Ronald and me?” Anita asked.

“Goodness, no,” Victoria said, realizing it then as well. “Anita, Ronald is a bastard. If you want him, he is all yours.”

Turning to Grace and Olive, Victoria smiled.

“I have to go upstairs and straighten this misunderstanding. Call me?”

“Don’t punch him,” Grace said, winking at her.

“I love this hotel,” Olive said, taking a bite of her ice cream. “You guys have way more drama than we do, and I work in a hospital.”

****

Victoria headed to Ronald’s office, spurred by annoyance. She had avoided facing Ronald for two months. Even if they worked so close, it was surprisingly easy to go weeks without seeing him. Entering his office without knocking, she stopped before his desk, annoyed by his nonchalant expression. Fighting the urge to smack the knowing look off his face, Victoria stood her ground.

“What brings you to my office, Vicky?”

“Stop bullying Anita,” Victoria said.

“She’s not a good worker.”

“That’s crap talk,” Victoria said. “You’re not being fair to her. She did nothing wrong.”

“If I don’t fire her, will you come back to me?”

“No.” Victoria flashed him a smile. “I will, however, start thinking of you as a human being.”

Ronald scoffed.

“I see you’re still deluded by the photographer. What can he give you?”

“His time,” Victoria said. “If nothing else, at least Eric is honest with me.”

“I was honest too,” Ronald said, cocking his head to the side. “We had it good, Vicky. Dump that rough boy and come back to me.”

“I’m not here to talk about me, or us.” Victoria placed her hands at her waist. “You’re the manager of this hotel. I work for you, and so does Anita. Keep things professional, or I’ll be forced to go above you with this situation.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Ronald scoffed. “You would lose your job.”

“Try me, Ronald,” Victoria snapped, annoyed by the man’s arrogance. “I’ve never slacked on my job. The most I would get is a reprimand for bad judgment. I’m willing to give it a try if you push this further.”

Ronald’s expression dared her to try and report him, and God help her, it worried her to tangle with her boss this way. She did not want to lose her job. After all, she needed to pay rent. There was her car payment, water, electricity, and future projects… her job was important to her. She kept her gaze on Ronald, unwilling to step back.

A minute passed, in which Victoria thought she was losing her fight, but then Ronald let out his breath and sat back.

“Fine, Vicky,” Ronald said, his tone cold. “Anita can stay. Don’t expect anything else from me.”

Victoria sighed in relief.

“I never did, Ronald.”

Victoria realized her attachment to Ronald was superficial, as she left his office. The fear of loneliness kept her clinging to him, holding on to a partner who cared nothing about her.

She smiled as she entered the elevator. She was no longer afraid of being alone, and it felt good. There was nothing wrong with being single. Despite her mother’s wishes or what everyone around her thought, it was pleasurable being by herself.

There was confidence in that knowledge. On her way down to her office, her phone buzzed with a message, and she saw a reminder from Eric. They were visiting his house this weekend.

She smiled, as there was pleasure in having plans with Eric, too.

****

Saturday dawned sunny and beautiful. The light, a golden yellow, turned the yard behind Eric’s house magical.

Eric, for once without a camera, carried two rose plants, one white and the other pink. The plantlets were in black bags, ready for transplant into their new home. He hurried to Victoria’s side, where she was crouched in the flower garden, making sure the holes they made were deep enough. He stopped beside her, placing the plants in each hole.

“How long until they bloom?” Victoria asked. “I’ve never known how long.”

“A few weeks,” Eric said, crouching beside her. “Which flowers do you like, Victoria?”

“Lavender,” Victoria said with a smile. “You can use them for a whole bunch of stuff. It’s a multipurpose flower.”

Eric chuckled. “Typical.”

“What?”

“You always need to justify why you like something. Say, you like lavender flowers. Leave it at that.”

“Fine, I like lavender flowers.”

Eric shook his head.

“What now?” Victoria bumped his shoulder with hers.

“Now you’re saying what I want to hear.”

“I’m going to throw dirt under your shirt.”

“I’ll stick earthworms in your hair.”

Eric lifted one out of the soil.

Victoria fell back on her butt, letting out a strangled scream.

Eric laughed and brought the wiggling, fat earthworm closer to her face.

Victoria screamed and scrambled away.

“Why are you freaking out? You had your hands in the same dirt minutes ago.”

“Stop torturing tiny animals,” Victoria said, getting to her feet. “Eric, put the worm back in the soil.”

“Bribe me.”

“With what?”

“A kiss.”

“Fat chance I’m getting close to you right now.” Victoria pointed at the squirming earthworm. “It looks too disturbing wiggling in the air. Drop it in the soil, Eric. Come on.”

“Say please,” Eric teased.

“Please?” Victoria begged, her eyes so wide and pleading, and he dropped the earthworm in the hole they made for the roses.

“Babe, you beg prettily.”

Victoria scoffed and came at him. She grabbed a handful of dirt and poured it down his shirt before he could react. She ran off with a happy laugh, as he tried to shake the dirt out of his shirt.

“Victoria!”

She giggled and raced toward the hosepipe fitted on the tank by the house.

Eric ran after her, removing his T-shirt and throwing it on the grassy lawn. He caught her just as she picked up the end of the hose. She started to spray water on him, but he pulled her close and kissed her hard. She dropped the hose and clung to his shoulders.

The compound was private thanks to the live green fence he planted years ago. There would be no one to interrupt them. Eric smiled and kissed Victoria until she was breathless, her arms locked around his shoulders.

She broke the kiss first, burying her face into his shoulder. He held her trembling body against his, thinking his control was slipping.

Then, Victoria gasped, her fingers digging into his skin.

He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Victoria tapped his shoulder, doing her best to step out of his embrace.

Eric turned to see what had her so panicked. He gaped when he saw his four sisters standing a few feet away in a row. All he needed was his mother behind them, and the family would be complete.

How did they enter his compound again?

“Eric?” his youngest sister said.

She was fresh from high school.

Eric cleared his throat and took Victoria’s hand when she started to edge away.

“Mimo,” Eric said, pasting on a wide grin. “Hi, this is Victoria. I was removing an earthworm from her hair.”

Victoria groaned when his sisters burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“You couldn’t have come up with a better excuse?” Victoria whispered. She scowled at him, and he smiled.

“This earthworm must have been tiny,” Waceke, the oldest sister, said.

“The size of wheat grain, he was searching so hard,” Njoki, the second-oldest sister, said.

Christine laughed the hardest at this comment. She was the third-born sister, always so amused, but the easiest to conquer.

Eric looked to her for support. He gave her a pleading gaze, and she giggled, hurrying to his side.

“Oh, look, you have soil on your back,” Christine said. “You’re working hard, Eric. Hi, Victoria, I’m Christine, the third sister on the line. Hope you’re now free of earthworms.”

Victoria scowled at Eric and then smiled at Christine.

“Thoroughly free,” Victoria answered.

Mimo launched herself at Eric, and he braced for impact; she hugged him hard.
“What are you ladies doing here?” he asked, not willing to give up the privacy he carved out this weekend.

“Mom bought veggies at the market for you. She said to drop them off,” Njoki explained. “We didn’t think you would be home at this hour. It’s so early.”

It was only nine-thirty in the morning. Eric pulled Victoria out of her house at eight, wanting to spend the day with her. They went to buy flowers along Ngong Road, then came straight to his house after. He had hoped to have a lazy breakfast with her.

“We started early,” Eric said, locking his arm around Victoria’s waist. “Want to share a late breakfast with us, since you’re here?”

“Yes,” Christine said. She moved fast, pulling Victoria out of Eric’s arms.

Christine led Victoria to the house.

“Why don’t you wash up?” Njoki said, giving him a small smile. “We’ll get breakfast started.”

Before Eric could protest, his sisters had gone to the house, leaving him alone with the hosepipe.

***