Breaking Point (Drew Ashley 1) (35 page)

I frowned. "We don't?"

"Our marriage is fake."

"I know it's fake, but you said it's still recognized by law."

"I didn't really marry you. I just paid someone to forge a marriage certificate."

I tried to judge whether Harvey was just taking me for a ride. "You'd better be joking."

"Why? Are you enjoying being supposedly married to me?"

"You lied to me."

"I didn't lie, I stretched the truth."

"What's the difference?" I ground out, feeling seriously hacked off. "You made me believe we were really married. I've been so stressed out about it, in case Kale found out."

"It's just a matter of time before you realise that you can do much better than Kale," Harvey said, matter of factly.

I shook my head. "Harvey, I can't believe you lied to me."

"Well, I'm telling you the truth now." Harvey glanced at the clock on his wall. "If you don't mind, I have a board paper to write. Unless you want to stay and help me write it?"

I glared at him.

His phone rang. He answered it and looked pointedly at the door. I went back downstairs.

A team of police officers and forensic scientists came in during the morning to collect my coffee mug and search for evidence. All day, my desk, Rosie's desk and the kitchen area were taped off. I had to work at a spare desk in the Finance department.

Tongues were wagging, but I refused to comment whenever anyone asked me about what was going on. If it turned out that it wasn't Rosie, there'd be no way to retract my words.

Rosie didn't turn up for work again on Thursday. On Friday, Harvey came down to tell my department that he'd received a resignation letter from her. He didn't give a reason, although we all had a pretty good idea of why she'd resigned.

That evening, a police officer called to tell me that she'd been charged, and that she'd be tried in court in September.

I was glad. Now, all they needed to do was get to the bottom of the car bomb and my vandalised room.

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Travis called me the following Monday at lunchtime. I didn't answer. I really didn't want to speak to him. He called all afternoon and it drove me crazy.

I decided to call him back when I got into a taxi at the end of the day. "You called?" I asked when he answered.

"Yeah, why didn't you pick up?"

"Because I was at work."

"Oh, you work at News24, don't you?"

"Yes."

"What do you do there?"

None of his business. "What do you want, Travis?"

"Just to catch up. You graduate soon, don't you?"

"Yeah, on Thursday."

"Can we meet up? I want to give you something."

"What is it?"

"A gift. I know how hard you've worked on that PhD, and I just want to celebrate your successful completion with you."

"Look Travis, I have a new guy, and we're engaged, so I don't think meeting you would be appropriate."

"You didn't tell me you're seeing someone else," Travis said. "Since when?"

"Since a few months ago."

Travis paused. "Is it someone I know?"

"No."

"Well, he should understand that I was there for you through all the sleepless nights when you were studying and doing your research."

I was quiet. Travis had no right to be jealous after what he'd done to me, and how he'd gotten engaged to Sharon so soon after our break up.

"I thought you don't want to have sex anymore," Travis said. "Is your new man happy with that?"

"Yes. He's a Christian like I am."

"He sounds like a sissy."

"Travis, if you think you can disrespect my fiancé, I'm going to hang up."

Travis laughed.

"Not every man thinks with his genitalia," I told him. The taxi driver's head shot up to look at me in the rear view mirror. I lowered my voice. "There are men who respect women and are God-fearing."

"Whatever, Drew," Travis replied, airily. "Anyway, I want to see you. I might even come to your church some time just to check out what it is that you do there."

"You're very welcome to come to my church."

"Yeah, I'll let you know. Brea told me what's been going on with your car blowing up and all that."

"Well, that's not even half of it," I told him. "But can we talk about something else, please? The season's started again now, hasn't it?"

"Yeah."

"How's it been going?" I hadn't watched any football since Rwibya.

"Do you care?"

"Would I ask if I didn't?"

I heard a female voice in the background. "I have to go," Travis told me.

"Why? Is Sharon there now?"

"See you later," he said abruptly and hung up. I clicked my phone off.

***

My dad came home on Wednesday evening—just in time for my graduation on Thursday. My mum was like an excited puppy, yapping at his heels and following him all over the house.

I tactfully went to stay at a hotel for that night. I knew my mum and dad would want some time alone. They might even want to do what married people did, and if I overheard anything, it might just scar me for life. Ugh!

Kale came over to keep me company and we had dinner in the hotel restaurant. "Is your dad nice?" he asked.

"Why?" I asked, relishing the creamy potato mash of my shepherd's pie. It was probably full of butter, but it was delicious so I was eating it anyway.

"Well, I'm a bit nervous about meeting him tomorrow," Kale confessed.

"Why?"

"Because he's your dad."

"If you can handle my mum, you can definitely handle my dad."

Kale dug into his steak and chips. "Why are you staying in a hotel tonight?" he asked.

"Because my mum and dad looked like they needed space."

"You can come to my place."

"For the night?"

"Why not? You can have my bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

"You sure?"

"Yes. I'd love to have you."

I wiggled my eyebrows at him suggestively.

He laughed. "I don't see why it's okay for you to spend the night at Harvey's place, but not mine. I'm your fiancé."

"That's why it's not okay."

"That doesn't make sense to me."

I stole some of Kale's steak. "You're more of a temptation because we're together."

Kale chuckled. "I really want you to come, but thanks for saying no. It wouldn't be wise."

I returned home the next morning to get ready for my graduation. Two bouquets were sitting on my table. One from Kale and one from Destiny. If things were okay between myself and Jazz I might have had three bouquets, but I wasn't holding my breath. I hadn't heard from her since she left my house the day I got back from Rwibya.

My dad stopped by my room while I was curling my hair with a red hot curling tong. Seeing him in his old chequered pyjamas gave me a sense of comfort.

"Drew, I'm so proud of you," he said from the doorway.

"Thanks, Dad."

My dad looked well. The last time I'd seen him was when he came home in February to surprise my mum for Valentine's Day. It felt like an eternity ago. "You need to find yourself a job that doesn't take you away for months at a time. Mum's going crazy without you."

"I know." My dad's brown eyes twinkled. "But has she ever not been crazy?"

We both laughed.

"She updated me about your love life last night," my dad said entering the room.

I smiled. My mum and I had agreed not to tell him about the other things that had been happening until after my graduation.

"I never liked Travis anyway," my dad told me. "The only reason I accepted him was because you liked him." My dad chucked me under the chin like he used to do when I was younger. "I know what he did must have hurt, but I hope it didn't hurt too much."

"It hurt, a little. Do you know why we broke up?"

"You became a Christian and didn't want to…" my dad looked pained.

"Um, yeah." I never thought the day would come when my dad and I would talk about sex. I quickly latched on to the Christian part. "I got saved, Dad. I know you don't know what that means, but it's the best thing that ever happened to me."

My dad gave me a condescending smile, like I'd told him that the tooth fairy put five pence under my pillow, or that Santa put a gift in my stocking. "God is real, dad. I know what I'm talking about."

He nodded. "Your mum told me all about your new religion and your churchgoing, and your religious friends. I'm happy for you. I'm glad you chose a positive religion at least."

I turned to the mirror and curled another portion of hair. My dad wasn't going to take my Christianity seriously. He and my mum had probably laughed about it over a bottle of wine last night.

"When do I get to meet this fiancé of yours?" my dad asked, sitting down at my desk.

"He's coming over this afternoon." I would have invited Kale to my graduation ceremony, but I was only allowed two guests.

"I hear he's very nice."

"Mum said that?"

My dad nodded. "She says he's much better than Travis. Where did you meet him?"

"Uni. He's done a PhD, too. His graduation is in a few weeks."

"Good. I'm looking forward to meeting him."

I showed my dad my engagement ring and he smiled. "That's very nice, dear."

"Thanks. Now, you go and get ready, and make sure mum doesn't take forever. We have to leave at eleven on the dot."

My dad saluted. "Yes, madam."

I finished curling my hair then fixed my graduation cap over it. The curls tumbled out from under the cap just as I wanted them to.

"May I have the honour of helping you into your graduation gown?" my mum asked, entering my room wearing nothing but a towel.

"Aren't you dressed yet?" I asked anxiously, glancing at my watch.

"I'm going to dress up now," she assured me. "Don't worry. We won't be late."

I let my mum help me into the gown. "We're taking you out to dinner after the ceremony," she said. "I wanted it to be a surprise, but I have to tell you because I'm not sure if you want me to invite Jazz and Destiny or not."

"You've invited Kale, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"Well, let's leave them out of it then." I wasn't sure if it'd be weirder for me or for Jazz if Jazz came.

We managed to leave the house on time. My mum was wearing a bright blue dress that wasn't bad even though it was too bright. My dad's hand never left her waist throughout the ceremony. It was pretty sweet that they still 'had it', although there was a yucky aspect to it, too.

When we got home after, I changed into casual clothes then left the house, leaving my mum and dad admiring my PhD certificate.

I received a text from Harvey as I walked; congratulating me on officially getting my PhD. Travis, Eva from work, and a host of extended family had also been calling and sending messages. Even Alix and Candy had sent me a joint text. But I hadn't heard from Jazz. It shouldn't bother me, but it did.

I walked twenty minutes to a park and sat down, praying internally while people passed by and kids played on swings and roundabouts, enjoying the weather, which was lovely and sunny today.

I just felt fed up with the whole situation.
I don't like it, God. Should I have broken up with Kale? I don't know.

Did the fact that we both liked Kale mean that neither of us could have him? Did the fact that Jazz had liked him first mean that she should be the one to be with him? She dumped him, though. Who had made up the rule about not being with a friend's ex anyway? It shouldn't be a blanket rule. Some circumstances were different.

I tried to imagine how I'd feel if either Jazz or Destiny got with Travis. In all honesty, I didn't think I'd care. It might make things a little weird, but I'd get used to it. I didn't want Travis anymore so I had no right to dictate who he could start a relationship with.

I called Kale.

"Hello, princess," he answered. "How'd it go?"

"Good."

"I'm finishing work in ten minutes. I've told my boss I need to leave early. I'll come straight to your house."

"Okay," I said half-heartedly. "See you soon."

"Are you okay?" Kale asked.

"Yeah."

"What's the matter?"

I paused, wondering whether to ask, or just leave it. I decided to ask. "Why did you and Jazz break up?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because I know she still likes you, so it doesn't make any sense to me. Why'd she break up with you when she still wants you?"

"That's a question only she can answer."