บท 18: Curiosity Killed the Cat

"Is she always like that?" asked Bella as she placed a plate of spagetti with bolognes sauce and salad on the dining table. Reef had just emerged after changing into a polo shirt and jeans. Earlier, he had been speeding on his way home from work, because he remembered that Bella would be cooking dinner.

"Who do you mean?" Reef's forehead furrowed.

"Kylie. Does she always show up at your office?"

"Oh." Reef scratched his head. "Sometimes. Her appearances are often sudden and ignore the building's security procedures. Her habit of barging in is annoying. You see, Grace didn't even have time to prevent her from entering my office."

"Looks like she's not just your date." Bella kept a level voice, although she was actually very upset that Kylie's appearance ruined her fun moment with Reef. "She seems so relaxed with you."

Reef shrugged. "Kylie is like that. Kinda doesn't know the rules."

"I never saw her before I moved in. She's not from our high school, right?"

"No, she's not. Kylie's two years older than us. She moved from LA last year. Apparently her life there was a bit complicated. She divorced her drunken husband and bought a small house behind the shops. With her savings she opened a flower shop downtown, called Madame Fleur."

"You seem to know a lot about her. Has she ever been your steady date? I thought you were a one-night stand and changed women as often as you changed clothes."

Reef stopped spooning his spagetti. "Hey, what do you mean, where do you hear such gossip? You must be hearing it from a jealous man. Is that Tom Russell?" said Reef. His eyes shone with an amused look. "As a normal guy, of course I date, but within reason. I did go out with Kylie a few times, but outside of that we were friends. She filled the void of my life being without female affection for these eight years." Reef glanced at Bella meaningfully. "What's with your questions about Kylie? Are you jealous?"

"Jealous?" Bella's face warmed. "I'm not jealous. I'm just curious."

"Curiosity killed the cat, darling," Reef said casually. He took another spoonful of salad. "Are you sure you wouldn't be annoyed if you knew the details of my relationship with Kylie Wilson?"

"I'm not interested in the details."

"Fine. No more questions then." Reef chewed his salad voraciously, indicating that he no longer wanted to be bothered with questions about Kylie.

The problem was, Bella still felt curious. For eight years she had lost time getting to know the grown-up Reef. She don't know where this desire to make sure Reef's relationships with women are not deep came from. Maybe she was just jealous. Not just of the blonde Marilyn Monroe lookalike, but of all the girls Reef Davis had dated. And, she also realized that it wasn't fair to Reef, because she was keeping a bigger secret than just a one-night stand.

"What are your plans for tomorrow?" Reef turned his head, completely forgetting the topic of one of his dates. The contents of his plate were gone. That made Bella happy. Her cooking wasn't as good as Aunt Ruth's, but she tried. Aunt Ruth had left her recipe book for Bella to practice.

"I'm going into town. Brenda's son Mike has a birthday. I want to go buy a present."

"Oh, damned! I almost forgot. Can you help me buy a present on my behalf? I'll reimburse you later."

"Sure. What do you want to buy for him?"

"How old is he, anyway?" Reef's forehead wrinkled as he tried to remember the age of his friend's child. Bella laughed. "You're such an annoying friend. I heard you were the one who took Brenda to deliver Mike at the hospital because Charlie was out of town. How could you forget the boy's age?"

Reef shrugged. "Maybe it's because I've been fed too many dates of office meetings and client meetings?"

"Mike is six years old. What do you want me to buy?"

"He seems to like creative games. Can you find it for him?"

Bella smiled widely. "Sure. I know what to buy."

****

The day had apparently gone peacefully. Lying in her room, Bella felt relieved and happy to see Reef's calm and relaxed side. She no longer felt afraid to be around Reef, even though Reef's charm always almost sedated her. Bella sometimes found herself staring at Reef for too long, if he was smiling. She was amazed that the Reef of today was even more charming than the Reef who used to be her beloved lover.

She got ready for bed and was about to turn off the light on her nightstand when there was a gentle knock on her bedroom door. The door opened before she could answer, and Reef stepped inside. His tall shadow blocked the light of the lamp. Bella blinked and looked up at Reef's face who looked down at her.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "You're not asleep yet?" The digital clock on the nightstand showed almost midnight.

"I wanted to see you before bed."

Bella sat up and leaned back on her pillow. "Well, now you've seen me." She smiled.

"I just still can't believe that you're finally here. In this house with me," Reef said. The man sat on the bed. He was still wearing the same clothes from dinner. His face looked tired. How many meetings did he have to attend today? Bella thought with pity.

"I feel the same way." Bella admitted. "Being with you at the Red House, it feels like a dream."

"If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up."

"Reef, if you don't wake up, who's leading those meetings?" Bella laughed.

Reef smiled. Her hand reached out to stroke Bella's hair that was tangled on her shoulder. "How many times did you laugh today? It feels like going back in time. Back then, you were always cheerful like this even though your father often pressured you with many rules and demands, you also had to take care of your sickly mother and face your aunt's fussiness."

"I was young then. So naive, so helpless. So I didn't know how to go against my father's will. But I had you and my good friends by my side. You accepted me unconditionally, unlike my father. That's what used to make my life feel light."

"Have you dared to defy your father now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Bella, you understand what I mean. I still love you. I wish you were with me forever."

"Reef, I don't know. I just wish you weren't so angry with me and my dad. Don't jump to conclusions, I've only been here for two days. Like I said, you haven't made peace with the past. Neither have I."

Reef's eyes dimmed. "I don't like hearing you say that. But, you're probably right. I still get angry when I remember that day. The day I woke up and realized you had left this house with your entire family, without saying anything to me. Before you came, there wasn't a day that went by without remembering that day with a heart of misery and hatred."

"Is that what made you who you are now? Mariel said that a year after I moved out you finally went to college and got your degree in industrial engineering."

"Yes. My father finally recovered and was able to work again. I left home to pursue my dream. Anyway, now I'm no longer the ignorant lowlife your father once said I was."

Bella's hand reached out, grabbing Reef's hand to hold it wholeheartedly. The hand was large and firm, once making her feel safe when facing the world. Reef moved closer, his body only inches away from Bella's as his hands moved on either side of her and pushed her against the headboard, caging her with his arms. He looked down, kissing the curly red hair at the top of Bella's head. "Your hair smells like flowers and sun," he murmured. "Exactly how I remember it."

Bella's throat tightens before responding to Reef's words. "I've never changed my perfume brand since forever."

"Good." Reef's voice was hoarse. "I like it. This scent is synonymous with you."

Every part of Bella's body rippled, acutely aware of the closeness of her body to Reef's. The warmth of the man's breath touches Bella's neck. His hot and strong body that confined her body was getting closer, so there was almost no distance. Bella realized that the body was hard with passion, as Reef looked down and his mouth touched Bella's ear.

"What are you going to do?" sighed Bella hoarsely as she realized his body wanted to get even closer.

"I want to have you," Reef replied. "Can I? I want to have you completely."

"No." Bella gasped.

"Don't you remember what it was like back then, when we were together? We didn't make love then. Not yet. But I loved the moments we kissed and made out. We are adults now, Bella. We no longer have to fear the consequences of a deeper relationship."

Yes, of course Bella remembers those fun loving days. It was the memories of her time with Reef that prevented her from loving another man. Even Carter who married her earned nothing but respect as a life partner and comfort as a best friend.

It's not that Bella doesn't want to do more than just kiss Reef. Every cell in her body is screaming to welcome whatever Reef has to offer with desire. However, she still had a bit of a moral conscience. Until that moment, she was still Carter Wilford's wife. Reef did not know that.

"Why not?" Reef's voice sounded urgent.

Bella looked up. Her lips kissed Reef's gently, then released them with a regretful smile that was puzzling in Reef's eyes. "Didn't I say that we should learn to forgive each other's past first? I'm not unwilling, Reef. I'm just not ready."

Bella could feel Reef's body slacken, as the disappointed look on the man's face. Reef's lips thinned. He moves to release Bella, his hands clenched at his sides in frustration.

****

The next day, two hours after Reef left for the office, Bella's red city car also left the house for the city center. Yesterday, while shopping for groceries, she saw a large toy store. Eight years ago, there was no such thing as a toy store. Bella was grateful that she didn't have to drive far to find a birthday present for little Mike.

After choosing two Lego toys - a spaceship and a roller coaster - Bella decided to buy some coffee. As she remembered, there was a small coffee shop behind the block. Carrying her bag of toys, she walked towards the place.

A cheerful, melodious voice called her name as she stopped to look around in front of a pretty shop painted light green with flower containers lining the veranda and storefront. "Hi, Bella! Nice to see you here!"

Bella looked up to find Kylie's Hollywood smile directed at her, and a sign above Kylie's head reading Madame Fleur.

****