Chapter 39

Maria Hall who had been so engaged on the beautiful family occupying her favourite spot, didn't notice when Lyra walked towards her.

“Ma'am?” Lyra looked at Maria Hall half bent.

Maria Hall now turning her attention to Lyra. “Yes?”

Lyra gave Maria Hall a wide smile. “I was welcoming you to the restaurant and offering you the menu”, she said, stretching the hand the menu was in, to Maria Hall.

“Thank you” Maria Hall said pushing the menu back to Lyra. " I won't be needing it today”.

Lyra stood shocked.

“Please, just get me my usual" she added returning Lyra's wide smile.

Lyra could almost not believe her ears. “Ma'am, are you sure?”, she asked offering Maria Hall the menu again.

Maria Hall looked at her surprised at the question. “Yes, I am sure”

As Lyra turned around heading for the servers to inform them of Maria Hall's order. Maria Hall called after her. “Thank you".

Lyra turned her face and gave Maria Hall the sweetest smile she had ever seen.

Maria Hall scoffed. “You're just lucky I'm in a good mood” she muttered.

Laughing inwardly, she thought. I don't just have the strength right now to follow up my usual routine.

Lyra thought Maria Hall hadn't seen her facial expression on getting to her table and was grateful for that.

The woman might not be so bad after all, she thought, smiling to herself.

Finally getting what she had ordered, Maria Hall was ready to dig in. She was so hungry and had forgotten all her etiquettes as she started at the food like one who hadn't eaten in days.


Maria Hall had to reduce the pace at which she ate when she realized that so many eyes were now staring at her.

Just what I needed, she thought, munching slowly.

Maria Hall had now returned her gaze to same family from earlier on. She watched how happy they were, eating and laughing like the world was all theirs. She stared at them and soon was enveloped with contempt. She watched with raw jealousy as the Father played with his kids and made some jokes. She sat there feeling left out.

Raw raging anger piercing through her soul as her mind wandered back to how life was for her while growing up. She had never really known what love was. Little wonder, she tried to ensure that everyone felt the way she did. She never went out with her family, they never laughed or joked about anything, they would only seat on a table to argue and complain about one thing or the other. She never really had a happy home. She remembered the abusive years, the traumas and hates she got from people around her.

Her eyes glistening with tears, she tried to shake it off. She was a strong woman as she wouldn't let her mind wander in self pity and self denial. She was making a move now, doing something to make lots of money.

With money, there'll definitely be happiness and love, she thought.


Maria Hall smiled as she watched a man dressed in a fancy suit, make payments and then drop a whooping tip for the server as he made for the stairs.

Soon, she thought to herself.

The server barely able to contain her excitement as she moved to the next table, tripped on one of the legs that was stretched and within split seconds all they had ordered came crashing down on them.

It was a sight to behold indeed. She watched as the father stood up in great disappointment, almost getting angry at the clumsiness of the server.

Yes! Let out your hidden demon, she cheered, already getting excited.

He was about to say something to the server when his beautifully endowed wife, stood up and held his hands. She clearly didn't want a scene. He looked at his wife and his expression softened. Taking his wife's hand and squeezing them gently, he looked at his children and gave them a broad smile.

Looking back at the already kneeling server, he asked that she stood up and lended her a hand as he lifted her up.

Maria Hall couldn't get a word of whatever it was they were saying. She could only tell from their gestures. She noticed when the man said something to the poor lady and she had rushed in and in what seemed like few minutes, she dashed out of the kitchen with some wipes. She offered the man the wipes, her head lowered in shame. The man collected the wipes and helped his wife and children clean up. Afterwhich, he reassured the lady and she eventually left with the now used wipes.

“Ugh!” Maria Hall exclaimed, her face now in an ugly squeeze. She wasn't satisfied by the outcome of the event.

That was definitely her cue to leave.

She smiled, knowing fully well that the lady would eventually lose her job and that would add to the list of jobless women like herself.


Hurriedly eating what was left on her plates, she gulped down the water near her and dropped the bills. It's time to head home!

Leaving the restaurant, she made to stop a cab but she felt like something was watching her. She stopped to check her sides to know if there was truly anyone watching her but seeing no one asides the passersby who were just three, she tried to wave off the feeling.

Finally stopping a cab, she held the handle of the cab and pulled forward to let it open. She stepped into the cab, a mixture of uncertainty and doom filling the air.