It was one week and the only thing I could
hear from Raymond was the alert of the money he was sending to me for the
upkeep of the baby in my womb.
I missed him and it hurt that he had
completely forgotten about me.
As I pondered in the sitting room, someone
knocked.
I rushed to open it, expecting to see Raymond,
but it was Grace Craig.
Grace Craig looked worriedly at me as she
walked into the house and I locked the door behind her. "Have you tried
calling him?".
I avoided her eyes. "I don't care. As
long as he is sending me money for the upkeep of the baby, I don't care about
him sincerely".
"...but your eyes are not
sincere".
I frustratedly walked back to the sitting
room and bounced on one of the cushions. "Raymond doesn't love me enough.
If he does, he would have called me".
"In a relationship, two people have
their own parts to play and if one is not playing their role well, the other
will definitely be tired along the line". She joined me on the cushion.
"What role again?".
"Your love. Raymond needs your love.
Yes, you need to be loved. Raymond needs to be loved too to be sure about
you".
I held her hands in mine. "What if I
just sit and watch if Raymond loves me enough?".
She pulled off my grip. "Do you love
Raymond at all? Can you watch him walk down the aisle with another girl?"
I cleared my throat. "How far with Rosa
James and Paul Kings?".
"Paul Kings is suspected to be the
father of that baby in Rosa James' womb".
"Why did you say that?".
"He followed her for pre-natal care yesterday. I just need to meet
that doctor and find out everything".
"...and you think he will confess so
easily?".
"He will. He must. I will convince
Regina Donald to go herself. She will use her power to get the full
information. If I go with my journalism power, he might be more fearful, but if
Regina Donald goes with her power, he will eventually compromise".
"...but how come Raymond was convinced
that he had slept with her on the day she had claimed to be pregnant?".
"Everything still bounds down to that
doctor. The day she had gotten pregnant must have been pushed forward to suit
Rosa's scheme. The Paul Kings I know wouldn't take care of another man's baby
that way".
"You are right and we need to find
out".
That night, after Grace Craig had left, I
called my mother. "Mum, what's the update?".
"The doctor lifted my legs and observed
that my bones will automatically conjoin. How are you?".
"I am good mum".
"What happened? Is it Raymond or
Nelson?".
"Mum, I have nothing to do with Nelson
anymore".
"Has Raymond fixed a wedding
date?".
I didn't know when I burst out into sobbing.
It had been so long since I had cried to my mother.
The last time I had cried like that was
after Nelson had broken up with me five years ago.
"Mum, I had been so wallowed in the love of power, that I had forgotten how to love enough. Raymond
doesn't believe that I love him. No one does. I don't even know what is
happening to me anymore".
"What about Nelson? Has he called since
then?".
"Mum, Nelson was the one that caused
the rift between me and Raymond!".
"The right person will stay. If Raymond
is the right one, he will return, and if Nelson is...".
"Nelson can never be the right one,
mother!".
"Fine then. So, how is the baby? What
did you eat today?"
"I and Grace made yam and egg".
"Are you satisfied?".
"Yes, mother".
"Why are you still up? Thinking of
Raymond?".
"Not really, mother. I will go to
bed".
"Admit your feelings so that your love
can comfortably grow and if not destined, fade away. Take good care of yourself, and don't do that thing you used to do. Turn off the fan".
I chuckled. "Mummy, I will turn on the
fan and use a wrapper to wrap around my body".
My mother giggled. "You will never
change, you this girl. Goodnight and take care".
"Take care of yourself too mummy".
I disconnected the line.
I couldn't call my father that night.
That man had a special way of making my stomach churn and
aggravating me.
As I pulled into the bedsheets, my phone
rang.
It was Regina Donald!!!
I connected the line. "Hello, good
evening ma".
"Can you come to the company now? This
is nine thirty-two p.m. and Raymond is still in his office. He has been
overworking himself all through the week. Once he sees you, he might leave the
office and go back home. The foolish boy has not even been eating. If he was
somewhere drinking in Jickson bar, I would have been fine but overworking
himself will definitely make him slump one day".
That was the first time I had heard Regina
Donald sound so helpless and worried.
I didn't even bother changing from my night
wears, I locked my house and hurried into my car.
I drove into the parking lot and rushed in.
Raymond was calculating some company records
and going through the company designs when I walked in.
He was shocked to see me.
He glared at me. "Why are you out by
this time of the night, stressing the baby out?".
I walked to collect all the files from him
but he held back at it.
We met each other's eyes. "I didn't
come here because I am worried about you. I am only worried about your mother who is worried sick when she is
supposed to be sleeping". I made eyes at him and snatched the company
files. "Go home".
He remained there and watched me.
"Are you not going to stand up?".
He obediently got up and walked to the door.
I followed him and cleared my throat.
"Raymond?".
He stopped and turned.
"I didn't mean to hurt you that day and
I regret the fact that I lied to you".
He didn't say anything.
He walked out of the office.
I followed him out as he headed into his car. "Don't ever come out this late
again". He said sternly.
I leaned towards him and kissed him on his
cheek. "I love you, Raymond". It was the first time I had said it and
meant it.
He stared at me for a while before he
started the engine.
I waved until his car was out of sight.
As I heaved a sigh of relief, I turned and
Regina was in her car watching me.
She beckoned to me.
I joined her in her car.
She observed me closely. "How is the
baby?".
I was surprised at the sudden question. She
was actually asking me about my baby.
I placed a hand on my stomach. "The
baby is fine"
She sighed deeply. "Do you also think
it? Do you also think that the baby in Rosa James' womb is not for my son?"
I was surprised that she was asking me that out rightly.
"You don't have to be modest. I know
that Grace is your best friend and she tells you everything".
I swallowed to myself. "I actually
don't want to jump to conclusions yet".
"I told you not to be modest".
"Okay, I feel that the Paul Kings I
know wouldn't follow a woman for prenatal care if the baby in her womb is not
his".
"You are right. I need to do a
paternity test but before that, I have to take my time so that Grace's life
won't be in danger".
I nodded thoughtfully.
"You can go home now since it is getting so late".
I woke up and rubbed my sleepy eyes.
My phone was ringing and I reached for it.
It was Collins, my brother.
I connected the line. "Hello?".
"Why weren't you picking up your calls yesterday? Nelson had an accident yesterday and he really wants to talk
to you urgently now".
"Accident? I am coming right
away".
Immediately I dropped the call, there was a
knock at the door
I rushed to open it. It was Raymond.
He was holding packages and he hugged and
kissed me excitedly. "Now, we are going to be open about each other from
now on". He carried me in his arms.
I chuckled. "I haven't even taken my
bath".
"That doesn't matter to me".
He carried me to the sitting room and held
my face in his hands. "So, tell me! How did you cope without me huh? Tell
me".
I hugged him. "Are you sure you won't
leave me again?".
"Never. This time, never"
He had bought so many shortbread biscuits.
As I ate them, I suddenly remembered the
distress call that my brother had given me about Nelson.
He read the expression in my eyes. "Did
something happen?"
I avoided his eyes. "Nothing at
all".
"I told you to never lie to me".
I sighed. "My brother called this
morning and told me that Nelson had an accident".
He gasped. "Accident? Take your bath
then, let's go together".
I was surprised at his reaction.
I was expecting him to be mad at me.
When we got to the hospital, the doctor
directed us to the ward where Nelson was kept.
My father and my brother were there.
My father glared at Raymond. "I thought
you guys were not together anymore".
Nelson winced immediately when he saw me.
I held Raymond's hand and walked towards
Nelson who was lying weakly on the sick bed. "How are you feeling
now?". There was a bandage wrapped around his right leg.
He reached for my hand and tears filled his
eyes. "I was worried about you after Raymond had left you. I knew it would affect your baby because of the stress of your heart. The way he had left you
and you were rolling on the floor, nearly hurting your baby, it was what had
occupied my heart and I was walking along the road pondering, not realizing the
car that had hit me". He winced again.
I knew Nelson. As serious as he looked, he
was a good actor and he was playing a prank.
Collins glared at Raymond. "No matter
what, you shouldn't have left my sister! You should have considered the fact
that she was pregnant".
Nelson sighed. "Don't bring up the past
again, Collins. The most important thing is that Victory loves him so no matter
what he does, it will all be in the past".
Raymond pulled off my grip. He was
obviously controlling himself. He turned to me. "I will step out for a
while. Don't take long, Victory"
"She will take long, Sir Donald. It is
better you start going home". My father replied.
I held back Raymond's hand. "We will
go together since I am already done". I looked up at Nelson. "Please
do take care of yourself".
"Are you considering the feelings of
someone who is perfectly fine more than someone who just had an accident? For
crying out loud, respect the accident he had at least!!!". Collins snarled.
Raymond smiled softly at me. "I will be
fine, Victory".
"Since Nelson is getting better, it is
fine". I answered.
"Nelson has always been checking up on
Mum but Raymond has never called her". Collins said bitterly. "Open
your eyes and choose right, sister. Don't be blinded by your love for
money".
"I love Raymond and I am happy that we
are back together. I am also happy that the accident is not worse than
this". I walked out of the ward with Raymond.
Raymond observed me closely and squatted.
"What are you doing?".
"Get on my back, let me give you a
piggyback ride".
I excitedly got on his back and everyone
looked at us as he carried me to the car.
He started the engine. "Call Nelson
tomorrow and check on him okay? You can check on him on the phone".
I nodded thoughtfully. "Thanks for
being so understanding".
He drove along the road. "Where would you like to go?".
I licked my lips. "How about a quiet
beach?".
We sat at the beach and watched the seawater flow towards us.
He placed a supportive arm around me. "Do you know the simple
definition of love?"
"What? Tell me?".
"Love is when a person makes you happy.
Love is when being with that person makes you happy, nothing else".
I nodded thoughtfully. "Is that why I
was not happy when you were away from me?".
He chuckled. "I don't know about
that".
We broke into laughter and for the first
time in my life, I could feel a man's complete love.
He turned to me. "When last did you
call your mum?".
"Just last night. I wanted to hear her
voice. My mother is the first person I remember any time I am frustrated about
life".
He nodded thoughtfully. "I am so proud
of you, Victory. You are such a good daughter to your family. You know that you
are a blessing to them right?".
I sighed indignantly. "...but my dad
doesn't acknowledge my effort".
"He does. He is just an open-minded man".
"I am sorry about the way they talked to you in the hospital".
"They were right. I had been so busy at
work that, I didn't even have time to take care of the people that would become
my family in the future".
"You did, but they rejected your
help".
"I didn't do enough and I am ready to
take back what belongs to me".
"What?".
"Your family. They are mine, not
Nelson's".
I was surprised at the determined look in
his eyes.
He drove me back home.
He parked in front of my house and hugged
me. "There will be a time that we won't have to say goodbye anymore
because we will be living together forever".
Tears filled my eyes. "I can't wait for
that day, Raymond. I miss you all the time".
"Me too. You are in my heart every
second. Can I sleep over tonight?"
I giggled and squeezed his cheek. "You
have a lot to attend to tomorrow. I love you so much".
"I love you more, Victory".
He longingly watched me as I walked out of
the car and waved at him.
It was Raymond's birthday. I had called him
at eleven fifty-nine p.m and had wished
him a happy birthday at exactly twelve o'clock in the morning.
We had talked at length and I had already
wrapped his gift when I heard the door.
Regina Donald was going to be celebrating
Raymond's birthday in a big way at the big hall where we had launched the pieces of furniture many weeks back.
I had dressed up for the event when I heard
the door.
I rushed to open the door but there was no
one at the door.
As I tried to lock the door, the person
appeared at the door...
And there was a man, wearing a mask, holding
a gun.
0 Comments