Promise (the curse), Page 2

  CHAPTER 3

  They were standing in Lindsey home, alone in her room looking at each other. Laura’s eyes looking at her Ryder, she has so many questions for Ryder and Ryder knows that.

  He gathers his strength to say “I… I am sorry… I just don’t have courage to say… say you that I” Ryder’s head down. Laura’s eyes fill with tear it falls on floor, she run and hug Ryder. Ryder grabs her so tight then say “I love you Laura… I love you so much… don’t leave me… I can’t live without you”

  “I love you too Ryder” Laura said, she feels so happy.

  “Laura… what happened to you, you didn’t get fresh” Ryder asks as he enters in room.

  “Yes… I was waiting for you” Laura said putting her back on table. Ryder looks at her then he has a thought and get back to his work.

  He take out the towel from cupboard and said “here get fresh… dinner will be ready in half hour”

  “What if they don’t like me… what if they think I’m not good enough… what will you do?” Laura ask, she looks nervous which makes Ryder laugh

  “They are my family Laura, they are not college admission committees so don’t worry… you won’t get rejected… relax” Ryder said as he put his hand on Laura’s shoulder, she move to kiss him.

  He move and said “so you like my room”. Laura feels it but she didn’t show him. “Yes… but where is your closet” Laura asked. Ryder surprised and open a cupboard then said “I don’t have closet… but her ... you can put your clothes here” Laura feels that she should not say that to Ryder.

  “So get ready… I got something to do… ok?” Ryder said. She nod in yes and Ryder leave. She looks around the room her room was so bigger than it, it didn’t have closet or couch. It just has a bed, a cupboard, a mirror and a study table.

  She open bathroom and shocked. It was small, it have a washbasin, a toilet and a shower tube at the end. She remembers her big bathroom finely decorated with branded cosmetic. She tuck her head and say “forget that all Laura”.

  Ryder went in garage where his Uncle was still waiting for him. When he looks at Ryder coming, Ryder said “she’s… she’s fine”

  “Ok… well you suddenly have a thought that she’s calling you… but actually she’s not… right” Uncle Eddie said.

  They were talking before, and then suddenly Ryder has a feeling that Laura is calling him and Ryder run upstairs to her but nothing happens to her. It was the same moment when Laura was remembering how they meet.

  “I told you Uncle… I don’t know why I love her so much, it just… it just something I can’t define” Ryder said covering his face with his hands as he was so confused.

  “What happened when her daddy find out… you do know who they are… right” Uncle Eddie asked.

  “She’ll be 18 in two months then her father can’t do anything” Ryder explained to him.

  “And if something else happened… you know she’s young and… well do you plan something” Uncle Eddie said in broken words.

  “Don’t worry Uncle, I promised I won’t touch her till the right time I don’t want her to feel that she just only a girl for me… Uncle I don’t like what I did but he… he left me no choice, I really can’t live without her” Ryder said looking at his hand.

  “So she not just a girl” Uncle Eddie asked, Ryder looks at him and smile. “I just want you to hold yourself, you did the right thing. I am proud of your decision,” Uncle Eddie said, as he put his hand on Ryder’s shoulder.

 

  CHAPTER 4

  Laura was almost ready for dinner; she was wearing channel white top and trousers and jimmy choo white shoes. Her hairs was tie back, she wear sliver earring, and sliver Bvlgari necklace, which was gift from her Uncle on her 16th birthday. Then she wears it off thinking it would be too much.

  Ryder enters in room and shocked, he looked at her with wide open eyes. Laura blush as she thought, she look so beautiful. But Ryder stares at her because she was wearing all branded thing, from earrings to shoes.

  “How do I look? Do you think they will like me?” Laura asked nervously. “Yeah… but don’t you have some… you know normal clothes, I mean it’s your home now you don’t need to be formal” Ryder said.

  “They are my normal clothes, you don’t like it. I have all clothes like this, should I wear something else?” Laura asked in her innocence. “No… of course not you… you look beautiful” Ryder said as he smile at her. She looked at him with love.

  “So let’s go… dinner is ready” Ryder said, breaking the moment. Laura nod and they move downstairs. They enter in the dining room and everyone was shocked when they look her.

  Ryder’s mother, his aunt, his step-sister and brother, his cousin and Sara they were looking at her. She smiled to them nervously.

  “C’mon Laura sit” Ryder’s mother said pulling a chair for Laura. Ryder’s mother Christie was blonde hair, black eyes middle-aged women, wearing blue check shirt and jeans. She looks very nice to Laura. “Thank you Mrs. Jenkins” Laura said and everyone sits for dinner.

  “She’s not Mrs. Jenkins, she is Mrs. Turner” Ryder’s step-sister Rose Turner said. She was 14 years old; she has golden hairs and eyes. She didn’t looks happy to Laura. “Rose” Ryder said as he did not like the way she talk to Laura.

  “Its fine… sweet heart my mother was Mrs. Jenkins” Christie said, Laura feels embarrassed but Ryder never told her that he take his mother name. “What are you wearing?” Ryder cousin Mark asked “Chanel… it’s my favorite” Laura asked smiling at him as she think he asked about her clothes.

  He stare her, then Sara and then they laugh.

  “He asked about your cologne” Sara said laughing at her, Ryder can feel Sara doing it on purpose because she is upset with him. His Uncle told him about her condition.

  Laura feels little stupid then she says “it’s Dior” everyone stop as they starting to stare her. Uncle Eddie who was sitting in the head chair pointed Ryder to control Laura. Ryder’s mother puts salad on the table, his aunt Jenny Jenkins was a black hairs and eyes, middle-aged woman. She was looking at Laura as she thinks she saw her before then asked “what is your full name Laura?”

  “Laura Margaret cr...” Laura was interrupted by Ryder as he says “Crane… Laura Crane” “and what’s your father’s job?” Jenny Jenkins asked.

  “Dentist… he is a dentist” Laura said, “What is his name?” Jenny Jenkins asked again like she wants to confirm something but before Laura says something Uncle Eddie said “Jen c’mon let the child eat something, don’t you see she’s hungry. Stop interrogating her for Heaven’s sake”.

  She look at the food on the table and remember her family gathering, her family dine. It was large table for more than a dozen people placed in their huge dining hall, decorated with fancy light. Her Uncles, aunts and all of her cousin were there.

  Her father sits on head chair, there are so many varieties of food placed on table Chinese, Italians and local foods and different desserts. She remembers that her father prays before the dinner.

  She closed her eyes put her hand together then said in her heart “thank you God for this meal, thank you for the bond in our family be always blessed on like this… amen”. Everyone stare at her including Ryder as he don’t know that her family prays. Laura opens her eyes and surprised as everyone looking at her then they get back on their eating.

  Mark look at her while she’s eating, it was the third time Ryder notice him as he sits next to her “you got something to say Mark” Ryder asked in annoying tune. Laura gets attention, she look at Mark.

  “Nothing bro… I was just looking at her bracelet, is it silver or platinum” Mark said. “Relax… Ryder not everyone wants high school girlfriend” Sara said as she trying to make Ryder notice of her upset mode by taking side of Mark.

  “Since when you taking side of him” Ryder asked in surprise. “
Since you…” Sara interrupted by Laura says “its rhodium, my daddy gave it to me when…” she stop to think for a moment then says “on my birthday” “rhodium… it is so rare metal and so expensive” Mark said in surprise and everyone looks at Laura. Ryder and Uncle Eddie gets scared as they think that their secret will reveal, Laura realize that everyone is surprise so she smile and says “of course it is silver… got you”

  “She got you boy!! Good one Laura” Uncle Eddie said laughing hiding his nervousness so as everyone laugh.

  They all talk about their personal matter at dinner, after dinner Laura feels awkward to stand there so she headed toward her room. Ryder was talking to his mother in private.

 

  CHAPTER 5

  “You are not going to eat anything? You haven’t eaten anything for 2 days” said Stephanie Craft, blonde hairs, blue eyes, tall and beautiful. She was Laura’s mother, she a silent nature person. She said to Kevin Craft in the dining hall, Kevin Craft middle-aged man with black hairs and eyes and French beard on his face. He is the elder son of famous business tycoon Marvin James Craft.

  He is a dentist, his younger brother Edwin Craft runs their family business they are renowned in the whole world. “I am fine… did she call yet? Kevin Craft asked anxiously. She looked at him while setting his plate then down her head and says “no… she did not” “I can’t believe she did this to us… to me… I mean she has everything in the world here but she leave all of this pleasure for a boy… how could her!” Kevin craft said pushing his plate away.

  Stephanie Craft sits on her chair and takes a deep breath then says “we knew that this day will come… one day she has to leave us so why are you upset?” Kevin Craft look at her and takes off his glasses then said “it is not time yet and even if it is, I won’t let anything happen to my daughter… understand” he said that and leave.

  He move toward Laura room, while Stephanie Craft put down her plate too as she is not hungry. The behavior of Mr. Craft with his wife shows that there was no love between them but some reason that bonds them together.

  “Why are we here? I want to go home” Laura asked. Ryder takes her to show an apartment which he take on rent “because we are going to live here” Ryder said putting his arm around her. It’s a one room apartment with attach bath and hall with kitchen in the start of the apartment.

  It was on ground floor in two story building. She looks at him with surprise.

  “And also my university and restaurant are close to this place” Ryder said.

  “But you said your Uncle bought that house so you don’t have to live in hostel… now what happened?” Laura asked.

  Ryder hesitates then moves toward the window to hide his expression from her and says “Laura we need our own space I can’t put my family in danger if your father showed up” “but I like there, I like living with your Uncle, aunt and Mark” Laura said move around the room.

  Ryder gets angry as he crushed his teeth inside his mouth “they are so friendly and helpful, Aunt Jenny makes so tasty food. Who’s going to cook here… and Mark he’s so funny and help me unpack my bags and it is too small, I don’t like it here I want to go back” Laura said.

  Ryder roll his eyes then hold Laura hand and says “Laura we can’t live there, we need our own space… our own house. I know it is not too much” he take her face in his hand then continue “and I want you to be brave and bold… I know it is not enough but I promise I will make thing better… soon but I can’t done it without your help” “I never live alone Ryder… I” Laura interrupted as Ryder says “you’re not alone… I will be always with you” and he hugs her.

  “Now you are changing house Ryder” Uncle Eddie said both hand in his jeans pocket looking at the sunset, standing in his house trace. He’s very upset with Ryder for leaving the house. He looks at Ryder who is standing next to him, head down facing the floor.

  “And the reason is… her?” Uncle Eddie said. “I don’t know that she is the reason for it or not Uncle… she likes here but I… I don’t” Ryder said in broken words like he want to say something that will hurt his Uncle and he cannot say it.

  “I change houses for you Ryder… you know I love you more than mark, how can you do this to Jenny. I mean she care for you more than your own mother for Christ’s sake” Uncle Eddie said.

  He feels that there is something Ryder is not saying to him so he asks “what is the real problem Ryder… speak up boy!” Ryder looks at him then put all his strength together to say “Uncle she… she talk about Mark since she met him… about how he is funny, she likes his company… I can’t stand all of this; I don’t know I feel like I’m old”.

  Ryder face expression shows that he is saying all of this with so much pain. “Mark… Mark is your brother Ryder” Uncle Eddie shouts “for her… you are doubting on Mark” “I know Uncle that’s why I don’t want to leave a reason to doubt on her… if she stays here I can’t concentrate in study or in my job… please try to understand” Ryder said his eyes fill with tears.

  Uncle Eddie wants to his hand on his shoulder to calm him but he takes away his hand. He was confused for Ryder that he doing right or wrong.

 

  CHAPTER 6

  “What… school” Laura yells when Ryder told her that she gets in school to complete her last year of high school. She get in school because his aunt Jenny, she is teacher in that school.

  “Yeah… what’s with that reaction, you don’t want to study more. I thought you’re a smart student” Ryder said as he put her book which brought. “Well because it is in my gene... in my family, even my cousin Grey tops in his school… who didn’t concentrate in his studies whole year… so it nothing astonishing about me get good in studies” Laura said as she was sitting on couch in their new house.

  Ryder was setting the house while Laura observing him. Ryder knows that Laura never did anything on her own in her house so he did not force her to do anything now but he was showing and telling her how to do it.

  “Laura… try to understand it” he came near to her and sit on couch taking her hand in his then continue “you are not normal now… not in your house with your father, now you are my responsibility and… and I don’t want you to be ashamed in front of your father that you didn’t choose the right guy… I want you to be happy like your mother”

  She looks at him with surprised eyes, as she think that “how Ryder sees love between her parents as she never see love between her parents”. She remember that her youngest Uncle throw a cruise party on his 21 wedding anniversary.

  She remember who much he and her aunt Clarisse love each other so she ask her mother when she’s getting ready for party, her mother was helping her “mom can I ask you something” “yes Laura sure” Stephanie Craft said, she was wearing Alexander McQueen’s one stripe purple gown with black heels and her hairs tie back. She was wearing white pearls necklace and tops.

  “Why you and daddy celebrate you wedding anniversary?” Laura asks in her innocence. Stephanie Craft gets shocked with her question she look in the mirror then without eye contact with Laura she said “you know that your father don’t like parties… and me too”.

  “But mom…” Laura tries to say something but her mother interrupted as she says, “we are getting late Laura… get ready” then leave her alone in the room.

  “They were on the cruise, Laura was standing on the edge of cruise staring in water, and suddenly someone call her name. She turns and smiles as she sees her cousin Connor; blue eyes, black hairs and dimple on his cheeks makes Connor so handsome. It was his parent’s anniversary. Connor loves Laura so much like his little sister. He was very sensitive about her.

  “What are you doing here sister” Connor asks. “Nothing… I was just staring to water… what else I can do?” Laura answered. “So you are getting bored here… well I am too!” Connor said. She looks him surprisingly then asks
“why Connor your parents are so lovely… and they really love each other… not everyone’s parents love each other” Laura said.

  Connor sense that she is upset about something so he change the subject by saying “do you remember I told you about my research on our family… well it get burn”

  Laura looks at Connor with wide eyes and says “get burn… what do mean… I mean how it gets burn?” “I don’t know… last time I put it my dining table then I look it in my garden burning, you know Laura it was three month work… my college grades depend on it and it all gone” Connor said putting his hand on table as they were sitting on dinner table.

  “So it was true Connor… your project gets burn by itself” said Ronald Craft son of Edwin Craft. He was the same age as Connor and in same university. He has black eyes and hairs, which falls on his forehead. He was tall and bold but not a person of good personality.

  “Hello Ron … we were missing you just right now” Connor said try to change the topic. “Of course… you may need my help now to get ready your new project… is that right? Ronald said.

  “Oh yes…but you know, you are the least person I ask for help… unlike your brother I really love my studies” Connor said. He was the student of archeology in Oxford University. “Why you always hate me Connor” said Grey Craft, black eyes and blonde hairs. Grey was very proud on his money as he was the elder child of this family.

  “I would never do that Grey, you are my brother… pathetic but still my brother” Connor said and Laura smile. “Really Laura… I didn’t know that I was a joke” Grey said as he feels his insult. “And Connor why didn’t you tell her about your research… that you did on her” Grey said, Laura looks at Connor who was so angry on Grey.

  “What about me Connor… what is Grey talking about?” Laura asked. “It’s nothing Laura… you know him, he is always talking bullshit” Connor said. “Of course tell her Connor, our little sister has a right to know the secret of her family” Grey said smiling.