CHAPTER I – upendo Story

“Uhm…Mom?” I started hesitantly as my mother turned off my bedroom lights – on her way out of my room.

“Yes sweetie?” She crossed the length of the door to my kitanda in a tiny fraction of a millisecond. She turned on the bedside lamp as she gracefully sat on the side of my bed. The pale yellow light of the lamp made my mother’s face hauntingly beautiful.

“Mom, I’m wondering if wewe would tell me my inayopendelewa story again?”

My mom raised her perfectly shaped eyebrows. Humor twinkling in her lovely golden eyes.

“Haven’t wewe had enough of THAT story yet?” She asked – a smile slowly spreading on her lips.

“Nope!” I alisema laughing

She took a brush encrusted with tiny rubies and diamonds. The precious stones arranged to form a solitary butterfly, kipepeo perched on a flower, its wings half closed. It was part of a vanity set – every piece bejeweled lavishly. It was a gift from Aunt Rose. She always bestows me with lavish, beautiful things – feminine things. Mom always shook her head at Aunt Rosalie’s gifts.

My mom started to brush my curly hair. It reached my waist now. Aunt Alice regularly sets a salon appointment for me twice a month. She also brought every hair product available to keep the frizz away. Much to her delight, my hair doesn’t need them. It grew smooth and silky. Aunt Alice is crazy about my hair. She nearly growled at Mom when she suggested a shorter haircut.

“Where do wewe want me to start?” She asked, still brushing my hair.

“Of course, from the very beginning. The very first time wewe laid eyes on Daddy.”

She smiled ruefully. I knew if she was still human her face would have been deep red up to the roots of her hair.

“It all began when I transferred to Forks. I was seventeen years old….” She started to tell the story I now knew kwa heart.


***

‘Aw, Mom! wewe edited out the good parts.” I complained, now lying in bed. My mom lay beside me. I would definitely miss this when I leave for college.

College….I sighed.

“I think at my age, there’s no dignity left in gushing over first upendo – even someone as good-looking as your father.” My mom alisema sheepishly.

“You’re not that old, Mom.” I scoffed. I stared intently at my mom. Nothing has change. Lovely as ever. People, who don’t know us, would often mistake us as sisters. Sometimes we would pretend to be – easier to pretend than to explain the whole “adoption” press release, though that one is a lot easier compared to explaining the whole truth.

Even Gramp, Charlie, still doesn’t like to hear all the details. We’re still on the need to know basis. But I’m pretty sure he has finally put the pieces together but decided not to say anything about it.

I yawned as Daddy opened the door and walked inside my room.

“Hey…why are wewe still up, Angel?” He asked as he kissed my forehead and smoothed out my curls which are the exact color of his.

I looked up at my father’s perfect face. It was like staring at my very own reflection – except for the eyes.

I grinned at him.

Just trying to make Mom swoon and sigh over you.

He tried to suppress an amused grin. My Mom switched her eyes back and forth to the two of us.

“What did I just miss? She demanded.

“Can’t we have a father and daughter talk?” He asked smoothly. Then, he winked at me.

I couldn’t help but giggle. Mom rolled her eyes.

“Angel, can I borrow your Mom now? I miss her already.”

“Sure. Sure.” I alisema rolling my eyes.

Lovebirds.

My Dad placed his arm around Mom’s shoulder.

“Some things never change.” He alisema staring deeply at Mom’s eyes. I swear if Mom could just blush…

She went to me and carefully tucked me in, embarrassed kwa my Dad’s unabashed onyesha of affection.

“Aw, Mom…I think wewe can now quit this. I’m practically adult now.” I complained.

“Says who?” she teased me as she kissed my left cheek first, then my right.

I groaned.

My Dad chuckled then he too kissed me on the cheek.

“That’s it! Out of my room.”

They both laughed heartily.

Parents!

“Sleep tight my darling.” Mom crooned.

“Night, Mom. Night, Daddy.” A smile trying to break free from my lips.

They took one last look at me – upendo shining through their eyes - then closed my bedroom door softly.

I sighed. I couldn’t help but admire my parents’ devotion to each other.

Such depth…Such passion…

No one could compare to my parents, I thought.

I looked at the framed photograph on my bedside table. This photograph’s frame stood out from all the silver, intricate and jeweled frames that housed my family’s photographs. (Of course, the frames were aliyopewa kwa Aunt Rose. I did say they were bejeweled right?). The particular frame I now held in my hands is made of a reddish, brownish wood. It stood out also because it framed the photograph of the man I upendo with all my heart.

I stared at the handsome face that could make my moyo skip a beat.

Ebony black hair – now almost to his shoulders, warm, laughing eyes, his perfectly shaped lips parted into a soft loving smile.

Could our upendo be compared to what my parents have?

Could it be as deep..as boundless?

Could he now upendo me – in the real sense of the word? Not merely as a best friend, not merely as a younger sister.

Does he even realize that I’ll be officially an adult in two weeks? – taking to consideration my Mom’s insistence that we count my age based on normal human years.

I’ll be eighteen in two weeks.

“Soon. My Jacob. Soon.” I murmured, kissed the handsome face and gently placed it on my mto beside my head.