MARINI'S POV

My thoughts wandered everywhere on the drive home from Church after a very powerful service. My sisters both had separate afternoon plans so I decided to head back home and have a quiet afternoon in. Maybe I'd throw on my bikini and get some sun by the pool. I hadn't done that in a while.

Then I remembered my new house guest. I didn't think he would mind, plus it was my house and I was free to do whatever I wanted. It had been very weird for me when he had showed up yesterday but I had covered it up with a smile so as not to scare him away. His presence was something I needed to get used to. He was actually a decent human being and his dog was very likable too.

When I woke up that morning they were still asleep so I'd just gotten ready and gone to church not wanting to disturb them. I didn't know if Isaac was a church person or not so I didn't want to overstep my boundaries by inviting him to church. His files did say he was a Christian but that was as much as I knew. He was also a gentleman and had good manners. I had expected to find dirty dishes in the sink when I woke up but he had cleaned up after himself. Seems like we weren't going to have any issues when it came to tidiness.

Things were still tense between us and I had to find a way to bridge that gap because of the amount of time we would be spending together. I didn't expect us to become best friends but I expected us to be acquainted enough to carry on a decent conversation whenever we were alone instead of sitting in awkward silence. Now what could I do to change that between us?

"Ma'am were here." Josiah informed me cutting through my train of thought as he stood by the opened door.

I didn't even notice us getting into the compound.

"Thanks Josiah. Have a lovely afternoon." I wished him getting out of the car.

"You too miss." He replied closing the door and getting back into the driver's seat.

He was going to park the car in the garage and take his small Toyota. I'd gotten it for him when I noticed he took a taxi home after dropping me off. When I asked him why he didn't his use my car he'd said that it was too large and he felt weird driving in it alone. I didn't like that so I got him his own car, a smaller model. He'd refused at first until I told him I'd be cutting it off his salary every month. Of course I didn't do that and he never asked so we never talked about it. I always got what I wanted in the end without having to make such a huge fuss about it.

I got into the house and found Isaac in the kitchen wearing an apron very busy cooking. Kim was in the living room lying on the carpet. When he saw me he got off the floor and walked fast towards me. I held out my hand for him which be nuzzled his face against and licked a few times. He had to be the most adorable dog ever, I was so glad he was house trained and clean because a lot of things in the living room were white and I wouldn't want those ruined.

"Welcome home and just in time for lunch." Isaac exclaimed noticing my presence too.

He looked kind of funny in my kitchen wearing an apron and cooking but I didn't comment on it. Men and women should after all be equal and given the same opportunities. If I could cook so should he.

"Thank you. It smells amazing." I complimented shedding off my coat, shoes and bag and leaving them on one of the sofas leaving me in another one of my Ankara maxi dresses. I believed in dressing decently always but even more for church.

"You're not going to comment about a man in your kitchen." He quizzed.

I laughed at how confused he looked.

"No because I believe in equal rights and responsibilities for both men and women." I replied taking a seat in one of the kitchen stools.

"Quite the feminist I see."He said.

"Yes I am. Got a problem with that?" I asked with an eyebrow raise hoping he didn't say something macho.

I didn't want to fire him too soon, he was the only person I had actually found that was very well qualified for the job.

"No no no." He defended quickly noticing my expression before he continued "Don't get me wrong please. I was just teasing and I actually applaud you for standing up for the girl child. I've travelled in so many places where I've seen women be degraded because of simply being female. They lacked voices to speak up for themselves and having someone like you who is courageous enough to speak up for them is something this world needs."

I looked at him with a smile on my faze and my brows furrowed in admiration. This man had actually said words to me that very few men would have the guts to say. He'd definitely risen up the ladder in my respect for him. Not many people liked the fact that I was a feminist and fought for women's rights but I didn't actually mind them. The fact that Isaac was all for it made me see him in a different light. I wasn't going to fall for him or anything but he was definitely saying all the right things and actually meant them. He wasn't saying that just to please me. Believe me I could tell when someone was bluffing.

"Thank you for saying that and I do hope some day I can make a real difference." I replied.

"You're already a role model to so many young girls out there so I think you're already half way there if not already at your destination." He responded.

"Been looking me up I see." I quizzed.

"Not my proudest moment but I had to know who I was working for." He admitted.

"It's okay. You'd be a fool not to look me up anyway." I said and he laughed turning around and opening the fridge.

It was stocked up so I assumed he had gone shopping when I was at church.

"You went shopping?" I asked.

"Actually no. I didn't want to intrude by using any of your cars without permission plus I don't know my way around that well so I just ordered the stuff online from the Glovo store. Those guys are actually quick and brought everything I wanted." He explained.

"If I'd known we were low on groceries I'd have had my housekeeper go shopping."

"No it wasn't that bad. I just needed some beer and ended up ordering some other stuff too." He replied getting a bottle from the fridge and a bottle of wine which I guessed was for me.

"The other bottle please, I don't drink alcohol on Sundays and you're free to use any of my cars."I corrected.

He returned the bottle and took the correct one. I got off my stool and grabbed myself a glass since I was closest to where they were.

"So what are we having for lunch?" I asked him when I sat back down.

"Ugali, wet fried beef and kachumbari." He replied as he turned back around setting the tray he was holding on the counter top.

"I thought you just moved to Kenya a few months ago. Where did you learn to make ugali?" I asked.

"I'll have you know I was raised in Kenya by my grandma for the first ten years of my life and she taught me to make every meal possible." He answered proudly.

"Well let's see if you remember."I teased getting to wash my hands as he set up the plates.

When I turned back around there was a fork and knife next to my plate.

"What are these for?" I asked pointing at the cutlery.

"Umh.. For eating..."He answered unsure of his reply.

"I know what they are for but wait...."I trailed off. "Sit down let me school you." I requested in realization.

He sat down on the other side of the counter with the food between us.

"Let's pray first." I said.

He bowed his head and put his hands together for prayer. A praying man is a good man. I smiled at that before doing the same and saying a short prayer for the food.

"Okay so I think you've been gone too long because you've forgotten your traditions." I jabbed lightly at him.

"Educate me then." He invited with a smile.

I took our cutlery and put it away.

"Ugali is best enjoyed with our hands not with cutlery." I informed him before serving myself and digging in with my hands.

"You eat like that in public." He asked with a smile.

"I always analyze my surroundings first. Not all groups are accepting to our traditions but when I'm at the comfort of my home I do what I want." I replied taking a bite and appreciating Isaac's cooking.

He laughed softly at my reply and after contemplating the situation a little he threw caution to the wind and joined me in eating ugali the correct African way.

"You're grandma taught you well." I complimented.

"Thank you." He replied and we sat in silence enjoying our lunch. It wasn't exactly comfortable but it wasn't awkward either.

He was definitely a good cook and I wouldn't mind enjoying his cooking every once in a while. He was good at more than one thing, I wondered what more he had under his sleeve.

After we were done with lunch we cleaned up and I helped him with the dishes before we moved to the living room.

"Tell me more about yourself. I want to get to know the man who will practically become my shadow better." I requested.

"What do you want to know?" He asked turning to face me.

"Everything." I replied.

"That's a broad topic." He said with a laugh.

"Okay how about you start off by telling you about your family." I suggested.

"The hardest topic huh?" He chuckled.

"You don't have to." I consoled.

"No it's okay. I just have a very complicated family." He started.

"We all do." I replied and got more comfortable.

He relaxed too and began telling me about his family. From him mom who abandoned him as a little kid to his grandmother who raised him. He told me about his dad and his step family. He even told me all about his life in the military and about how his brothers and sisters in arms became more family than his dad's family ever was. He then told me about his grandmother's passing and about his extended family here in Kenya. I thought my family issues with money hungry relatives was an issue but Isaac won the gold medal when it came to a messed up family.

"Why didn't you move back to the States after your grandmother's burial?" I asked him.

His life would have been so much easier because his dad seemed pretty well off.

"The only time I ever lived my own life was when I was here in Kenya or in the military. I couldn't go back to the military after I promised my grandma I wouldn't so Kenya was my second option. My dad is very controlling and I wanted to live my own life." He explained.

"That makes sense." I said with a nod.

"Now your turn to tell me something about you. Things that I can't read online."He asked.

"I walked right into that one didn't I." I said with a laugh.

"Let's see. Where to start? Okay so, before my parents died they were devout Christians and after they passed I carried their teachings on and raised my sisters and I to believe in God." I began.

"So you were in church today?" He asked.

"Yes I never miss a service unless I absolutely have to." I replied.

"Next time I'll be sure to join you." He implied.

"I'd like that." I agreed with a smile.

"Tell me about your sisters." He suggested and I smiled fondly.

That was a wide topic that I didn't mind talking about because my sisters were my life. I told him a lot about the three of us. Even a few embarrassing stories that had him howling in laughter.

We spent the rest of the afternoon getting to know each other and sharing our pasts and dreams for the future. By the end of the day we discovered our similarities and differences and actually felt closer to each other. I think it was safe to say that we were friends now and it would be easier working together now that we had bonded. I was looking forward to seeing how the rest of our work relationship would unfold.

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Look at that. They are now friends. Just wow. See y'all in the next chapter. 

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