Chapter 52
I was welcomed by the policeman which I assumed was assigned by the chief judge to keep watch on the house until a buyer was found.
After exchanging greetings with the policeman, I gave my boys my room key and the direction to my room with a strict order to pack everything in my room and in the kitchen into the delivery truck.
Only my room and the kitchen should be packed. Don't take anything from the sitting room and any other room, the house buyer will pay for that, I warned.
My boys nodded.
I waited inside my car and my boys went in to do my order.
My phone rang, I brought it out from my handbag and checked the caller. It was pastor Charles, I immediately answered the call.
Can you come to my house immediately? Pastor Charles asked.
Yes, I replied and pastor Charles ended the call.
Please when they are done. Give them this and tell them to unlock the garage and drive out the two cars there, I said and handed bunch of keys to the policeman.
He collected with a nod.
I will be back soon, I said.
I smiled as the policeman gave me a salute.
I entered my car and drove into the busy street.
The sun was shining brightly when I drove into pastor Charles's house.
I parked my car and went into the sitting room. Pastor Charleswas sitting on the sofa reading his Bible, I joined him on the sofa keeping a little distance from him.
Good morning Daddy, I greeted.
How are you Ama? Pastor Charles asked.
I'm fine. You told you to come, I said.
Yes. I've been praying for you, pastor Charles said.
That's nice of you dad, I praised.
Who is Raymond's father? Pastor Charles asked.
David, I replied.
Last night when I was praying for you, I had a revelation: I saw you, Raymond and a man. The three of you were holding hands and Raymond was in the middle, pastor Charles said.
Are you trying to say that you saw me remarrying? I asked.
Yes. And this time around to your soulmate and the father of your son, pastor Charles replied.
I broke into a wild laugh.
I need to mark this year as the craziest year in my life, I sighed.
I'm serious, pastor Charles said.
Raymond is David's son. And dad if you called me here to talk about marriage, then I'm sorry to say that I'm not interested. Marriage is not in my dictionary ever again, all I want is to make more money, tour the world and give the best to my son, I replied.
David isn't Raymond's father. In that revelation, the man I saw had a striking resemblance to Raymond. A mere look at him and anyone will tell you Raymond is his son, pastor Charles replied.
I looked at pastor Charles and shook my head.
My mind flashed back to Raymond's first birthday when I watched David carry Raymond and felt that David was carrying another man's child.
Everyday new event unfolds, who knows what will come up next, I thought.
I can't remember cheating on David, I said.
I will like you to think and think because the father of Raymond is your soulmate. He is your destined husband. You ended up with the devil "David" because you were not patient to wait for your soulmate, pastor Charles replied.
Oh, I gasped as a memory played on my mind.
A year ago, I was raped on my way going home from Kimberly's house. I was taken to a house and given to strange man that I didn't see his face and he made love to me all night. It wasn't rape, it was more like a one-night stand because I enjoyed everything that happened in that room, I blurted and kept my face down in shame.
That one-night stand is what produced Raymond, pastor Charlessaid.
A rapist? A man who takes women to a room and have raw sex with them? Is that someone you want me to marry and introduce to my son as a father? I asked and gave pastor Charles a glare...
Hmm, pastor Charles sighed.
How am I sure he hasn't had sex with an infected woman? I asked.
Whose house did you say you were coming back from? Pastor Charles asked.
Kimberly's house, I replied.
Go and ask her who is Raymond's father, pastor Charles said.
How is she to know? I asked.
Go and ask her who is Raymond's father, pastor Charlesrepeated.
This is serious, I said with a dry laugh.
When I got back to my house, my boys had finished the packing. I ordered them to take my cars to the warehouse garage.
My mind wasn't steady and as hard as I tried to take pastor Charles's words out of my mind, I couldn't.
How on earth is it possible for Kimberly to know the father of Raymond? I thought.
If she knows Raymond's father, why didn't she tell me all these days?
Is there a skeleton in Kimberly cupboard?
Several questions ran through my mind, I shook my head several times in an attempt to clear my mind.
My boys came back in an hour.
I gave them Kimberly's house address and told them to take the delivery truck there.
After removing my things from the truck, I tipped my boys and sent them back to the warehouse.
I couldn't help stealing glances at Kimberly when she helped carry my things to the visitor's room.
Thrice I tried to tell Kimberly what pastor Charles said but felt very embarrassed and lost courage.
I had lunch and dinner with Kimberly and her family and pretended like I was alright even through deep inside me, I was scared and unease.
The next morning, I volunteered to bath and feed Raymond.
Hurray!!! Mummy will be preparing you for church today, Kimberly said and gave Raymond a peck.
I sighed and collected Raymond from Kimberly.
Raymond doesn't resemble David at all, I said with feigned surprise.
Are you just noticing? Kimberly asked.
You noticed it? I asked.
Is not today I did, kimberly replied.
And he doesn't resemble me either, I noted.
Hmm, Kimberly said and tried to leave.
I immediately blocked the way.
Are you ok? Kimberly asked.
I deserve to know the truth, don't I? You are my friend, you don't suppose to keep secrets from me, I said.
I don't get you, Kimberly replied.
Who is Raymond's father? I asked.
Kimberly flinched as if thrown off balance by the question.
It's David, Kimberly said.
You know he is not, I replied.
How did you come up with this? Kimberly asked.
I did a DNA using Raymond's hair, David isn't his father, I lied.
So who is his father? Kimberly asked.
Pastor Charles told me to ask you that, I replied.
You know what? I don't wanna be late for church. We will talk about this when I get back from church, Kimberly said.
But I want to talk about it now. I doubt you will come back from church and see me here, I replied.
Kimberly held my shoulder.
It hasn't reached such extent...
It has. How can you know the paternity of my child and keep it to yourself? You kept such important detail to yourself? I cut Kimberly.
I'm your friend. Everything I did, I did it for your good, Kimberly said.
I shook my head.
I allowed Kimberly to sit me down on the sofa.
I knew David...
Yes you knew him as my ex husband and what has that gotten to do with my son's paternity? I asked.
I knew David before you knew him. Before you met and married him, I knew him, Kimberly said and looked at me.
How did you know him? I asked.
He duped my cousin. David was my cousin's lover when she was in university. He duped her of a session school fee and disappeared. She had to sleep around to have money for her school fee...
How do you know David is the one? I asked.
My cousin told me everything and showed me David's pictures in her phone.
I was shocked when I came to your house with Jeremy and Martha and saw David. I didn't believe it was him, I thought itwas someone else that resembled him. I was very curious so I went back to my cousin and demanded to see the pictures of the guy that duped her. lo and behold, it was really the same guy I saw in your house.
I came back to your house to tell you everything but you didn't listen to me and you even ordered me out of your house. You were stubborn and blinded by love. You even branded me jealous, Kimberly said.
But you were happy when I told you guys that David and I were getting married, I said.
I didn't want to appear jealous. Beside people repent and I thought David has repented but the way he abandoned you after the wedding reception told me that David was up to something. I swore that he will not take anything from you and he must go to prison for his crimes that's why I asked you to inform your lawyer concerning your house.
Hmm, but who is Raymond's father? I blurted.
Can you please shut up and allow me to explain everything? Kimberly screamed at me.
Please Danny take the kids to church, I'm not sure I can make it today, Kimberly said.
Why baby? Danny asked.
I have an important issue to discuss with Ama...
Can't it wait until after service? Danny cut in.
Please Honie I just can't make it today, Kimberly begged.
Hmm, Danny sighed.
Allow my husband to take Raymond to church, Kimberly said.
Let him stay with me. Just go ahead and explain everything. I'm all ears, I replied.
My dear Ama, can you remember what I told you the day you came to me and complained about David maltreating you and your inability to have a child for him? Kimberly asked.
You told me that I'm not thinking with my head which is very wrong considering how rich a woman I am, I replied.
Exactly!!! You were not thinking with your head and as a friend I had to step him to save you.
That day at the restaurant, a mere look at you was enough to tell me that you are not happy in your marriage with David. You were pale and skinny, I was able to grab David's plan: His plan was to frustrate you to death so that he can inherit your properties and that's why I advised you to walk out of the marriage.
David had plans to kill you and take over your wealth that's why he tried to separate you from your friends so that when he kills you, nobody will suspect him or demand for an autopsy but you are loved by many and if he kills you, your love ones will demand for an autopsy which will make him rot in jail hence his decision to frustrate you to death instead of killing you, Kimberly said.
When you came to me and complained bitterly about David, I wasn't surprised because his plan was very simple.
He duped my cousin, he must not dupe my best friend so I came up with my plans.
The drink I gave you was drugged...
You mean you drugged me? I asked.
Yes, I added a sleeping pill to the orange juice I gave you, that's why you slept off immediately after taking the juice.
When you were sleeping, I called a friend of mine by name Chris and told him to come over to my house. He came and I told him to rape and impregnate you in sleep.
He opposed doing that, I pleaded with him and promise to pay him any amount of money he needs, he still refused. I had to open up to him about your condition before he accepted.
He refused raping you in sleep and my house. He said he will rent a room and you must be awake before he does anything. He told me to inform him when you are leaving, he will arrange boys to wait in the road and abduct you to the room to meet him. It was a nice plan so I accepted. I told him that nothing must be taken from you and you must come to no harm...
I don't get this, I cut in and Kimberly looked at me.
When I broke the news of my encounter with a strange man who made love to me a whole night to you, you acted surprise. You were also surprise when I broke the news of my pregnancy to you, I screamed.
It was my little secret and it was all for your good, Kimberly replied.
Not for my good please. What if he infected me or Raymond turns out to be sickle cell? I asked.
Chris is a trusted friend of mine and he has an AA genotype. I had nothing to worry about. I chose the most decent of my friend to do the job, Kimberly said.
I looked at Kimberly and shook my head.
You were not thinking Ama. The doctor said you and David are fine but you couldn't get pregnant for him as hard as you tried, a reasonable person will know that David doesn't want to impregnate you.
Your pregnancy was a hitch to David's plan that's why he became frustrated and hard on you during pregnancy. If you didn't take my word and leave the country, I doubt you would have given birth to Raymond. You would have either died with the pregnancy or had a miscarriage.
Your giving birth to Raymond shattered David's plan of inheriting you because Raymond became your heir.
If you gave birth to a girl, it would have been better for David but you gave birth to a boy and that shattered his plan completely.
That's why he had a change of plan and became nice to you in order to collect your house and to claim your Warehouse.
You ruined my plan by giving David your house without informing me, Kimberly explained.
I sighed.
But thank God he hasn't taken the house and your Warehouse, Kimberly concluded.
Can I meet him? I asked.
Who? Kimberly asked.
Chris. I want to see him, I replied.
For what? I cajoled him into it. He is innocent. Every anger you have, lay it on me and keep him out of it, Kimberly replied.
I'm not angry. I just want to meet him, I said.
Hmm, Kimberly sighed.
Please, I begged.
Kimberly thought for a minute and shook her head.
I will arrange a meeting for you and him, Kimberly replied.
I was in the office busy with the day task when Kimberly called.
Hello Kimberly, I said.
Are you chanced? Kimberly asked.
I'm as busy as a bee, I said.
Can you take a little break and meet me at the mall please, Kimberly said.
What are you doing there and what about the kids? I asked.
The kids are with their tutor. It's urgent, try and come fast, Kimberly begged.
Thirty minutes please, I replied.
Ok, I'm on the first floor, Kimberly replied and ended the call.
I picked my car key and left the office without a word to my secretary.
I arrived at the mall and found my way to the first floor. Kimberly was standing near the window, beside her was a young man that was busy typing on his tablet.
I walked to them with a smirk. I pulled a sit beside Kimberly and sat down heavily.
Welcome, Kimberly said.
The young man turned his head from his phone to me.
I saw him jerk, it was very fast that I wondered if I really saw it or just my imagination.
Staring at him, I felt like I was looking at an older version of Raymond. The resemblance was very striking that I needed nobody to tell me he is Chris.
This is Chris. Chris this is Ama my best friend, Kimberly said breaking the silence.
Nice to meet you, I said and stretched out my hand.
He reluctantly shook my hand.
You wanted to meet him, Kimberly whispered to me.
I need to ease, Kimberly added and got up.
She gave Chris a smile and walked toward the restroom.
Kimberly said you wanted to see me, Chris began.
Yes. Can you please stop pretending like you don't know me, I said bluntly.
He sighed.
Of course I know you. Your friend...
I understand, I cut in.
My eyes settled on his beard, I flinched as memories of that night in the dark room flashed in my mind.
Kimberly told me about your divorce. I'm sorry about that, Chris said.
It's ok, I replied.
Ok, he replied and kept his face down.
I'm a busy woman with lot of work to do so I've got to go. We can meet some other time properly weekend and have a drink or two, I said and got up.
Chris nodded without lifting up his face. I couldn't say if he was shy or ashamed.
Tell Kimberly I've gone back to work, I said.
Can I have your contact? Chris demanded.
Sure, I replied.
Chris stretched out his tablet to me. I collected it, typed my contact and gave it back to him.
I shook my head and walked out of the mall.
Impatient is a disease. I married David because he is cute but Chris whom pastor Charles said is my soulmate is cuter than David. If I had waited and prayed, I wouldn't be in this mess, Patient is really a virtue, I thought and entered my car.
That night, after dinner, my phone rang.
Seeing it was an unknown number, I hurriedly picked thinking it was one of my clients.
Hello, I said.
Hy Ama, Chris voice came on the line.
Good evening Chris, I said.
I dropped you a message on WhatsApp, can you please check and reply me? Chris begged.
I'm not a social media person but I will check right away, I said.
Ok let's go over there, Chris said.
I ended the call and logged into WhatsApp. There were many unread messages, I ignored them and replied Chris.
I expected it to be a short casual chat but I was amazed at how fast I flowed with Chris. We had a lengthy chat, I got to realize that Chris is a graduate of computer engineering at New York university and works as an engineer with Boom Engineering company.
I refused telling him about myself insisting to tell him when next we met.
We fixed another meeting at a near-by eatery plus it's weekend.
The door opened and Kimberly came in with Raymond.
Me and Chris are having a date at an eatery this weekend, I said with a smile.
Date? Kimberly asked.
What else did you hear? I asked.
Don't say date, maybe he just wants to apologize and make peace with you over what happened, Kimberly said.
But is it bad if I go on a date with Chris? I asked.
Chris has a fiancee and they are planning their marriage, Kimberly said.
Pardon? I gasped.
Weekend came, I lingered on bed throughout the whole morning as Kimberly's words rephrased on my mind.
Chris has a fiancee and they are planning to get married next month; hard as I tried to get the words off my mind, I couldn't.
Was pastor Charles lying to me? I soliloquize with a jerk.
I knew how annoying I will be if I keep Chris waiting at the eatery without showing up but I didn't have any interest in meeting him.
I wanted cancelling the meeting but Chris wasn't online throughout the week and calling him was out of option. It wasn't polite to just call someone and tell him to cancel a planned meeting.
With a sigh, I got up from the bed and dragged myself to the bathroom. I had a cold shower and went back to the bathroom.
I wore a flowing gown on a slipper. I picked my handbag and walked out of the bedroom.
Kimberly was in the sitting room watching Nickelodeon with the kids.
You didn't come for breakfast. Must you wait to be called for breakfast, Kimberly asked.
Good morning. I will eat at the eatery, I said.
Don't forget Raymond's 2nd birthday oh, Kimberly said.
No celebration. He will cut cake and that's all, I said and walked toward the door.
Hmm, I overheard Kimberly sigh.
I shook my head and walked out of the door.
I drove into the eatery and parked at the car park.
I got down from my car and found my way to the first floor of the eatery. I located a seat near the window where I could observe the street and sat down.
I requested for a bottle of non-alcoholic red wine, I didn't bother ordering food. Chris will order for that when he comes.
I sipped my wine and stared at the busy street.
Two hours went by and Chris didn't show up. I went online, there was no message from him, I dropped him a message and waited for a reply.
When another hour passed and Chris didn't come, I decided to call. I called four times and the call was unanswered.
I shook my head and dropped the phone on the table.
I sipped my wine and stared at the street expecting Chris to show up.
I didn't know how long I sat but was startled when I picked the bottle to refill my glass and realized that I've finished a whole bottle of wine.
4pm!!! I gasped after checking the time in my phone.
I picked my handbag and left the eatery feeling frustrated. I had the urge to block Chris's contact but resisted the urge.
I went to check on my brands and returned back to Kimberly's house late in the night.
The next week, I was on my way to work when Chris called. I busied the call but he continued calling. I was forced to answered.
Hello, Chris voice came on the line.
Couldn't you have been more honest with me? You kept me waiting at the eatery like I had nothing doing? I asked.
I'm sorry, something came up, Chris replied.
And you couldn't inform me? I screamed.
Can we meet today? Chris asked.
I'm driving to work. Monday is a busy day so I doubt I will be chanced, I replied.
I can come to your office, Chris insisted.
Is that necessary? I asked.
You sound very angry. I just want to make it up to you, Chris said.
Ok. I will text you my office address, I said and ended the call immediately.
I stopped at the traffic, texted my office address to Chris and threw my phone on the car seat with a sigh.
A knock on the door distracted me. Come in, I said and lifted my head from my laptop.
The door opened and my secretary came in with Chris.
Please ma, you have a visitor, my secretary said.
That's ok, I said.
She gave a nod and left.
I scanned Chris, he looked shabby and somehow different from the Chris I saw the previous week. He wore an oversize black shirt on a blue jean and a black shoe. His eyes were swollen like he hasn't been sleeping and his hair wasn't well combed.
Good morning. I wasn't expecting you to come, I said and pointed Chris to the settee.
I wanted to come, Chris replied and sat heavily on the settee
I'm not as angry as you thought, I said.
It's fine, Chris said coldly.
So aren't you working today? I asked.
I took a break to get myself together Chris replied.
Is everything alright? I asked.
Yes, Chris replied with a jerk.
I feel that "yes" isn't sincere. You look cold. Believe me your secrets are safe with me, I said.
I'm depressed...
You don't have to be. What's the problem? I cut in.
It's my fiancee. She went back and cheated on me with her ex again, Chris blurted.
"Again" she has been doing it before? I asked.
Yes. They broke up before I met her but She keeps running back to him. Once I took her shopping and the guy was there. She left me and went to him, it was very embarrassing but She came back and apologize and I forgave her. On the guys birthday, she posted pictures of them in a mail and ended the post with "I love you baby" without caring that I will see the pictures and the post, when I questioned her she said it was only a post. I engaged her and we were planning to get married next month. Last week, I visited her uninformed only to catch her pant down with her ex, Chris explained with a sigh.
Some girls, I spat.
I'm just sick and tired, Chris replied.
Isn't it clear that she is confused? She really loves her ex and she knows he won't settle down with her, that's why she is with you, I replied.
I've called off the marriage. I love her but I can't marry her, Chris said.
That's the best decision. Broken relationship is better than a broken Marriage. It's a sign she is not yours, I said.
Chris shook his head.
I got up from my chair and walked to the settee.
You will be fine, I said.
I bent and gave Chris a warm hug. It occurred to me how much I needed a hug....
Despite my busy schedules, I made sure I was there for Chris. I called him during break at work and chatted with him at night before going to bed. On weekends, we hanged out and some weekend, I spent in his apartment helping him with chores.
I kept everything between us casual to avoid appearing desperate.