Chapter 53

In a month, we have grown very fond that Chris gave me a spare key to his apartment.
The weekend prior to Christmas, Chris called me to come to his apartment.
I got there and he was laid on his bed doing online shopping with his laptop.
What's up? I asked and sat on the edge of the bed.
Fine, Chris said.
I brought out my phone and scrolled my Facebook news feed.
I've bought a house, Chris said breaking the silence.
Wow that's beautiful. Does that mean you are moving out of this apartment? I asked.
Yes, Chris replied coldly.
I could tell he wanted to say something but didn't know how to say it.
I shook my head and continued scrolling my news feed.
You are a lovely woman, Chris said.
Awn, I blushed.
The break-up with my fiancee would have broken me down if not for you, Chris replied.
I'm glad I can help, I said.
Chris sighed.
I mean I like you, Chris said.
It's easy to like me, I replied.
Not like that. I feel good around you. You are caring, friendly, humble and social...
I'm just being a brother's keeper, I replied.
Chris heaved and closed his laptop.
Will you like to come and see my house? Chris asked.
Yes, I replied without looking up from my phone.
Christmas is approaching and my parent are coming to the city to visit me, I bought the house so that they can see my house when they come. And also, I promised to introduce my woman to them but I've broken up with my fiancee and you have been there for me and I can't fail to show them my woman because I promised them, Chris said.
I gave Chris a blank face.
Ok let me be blunt, Chris said.
Better, I replied.
I want to show you to my parent when they come, Chris said.
But I'm not your woman. Beside we have only known each other for a month and we are just casual friends, I said.
But I like you. You have tried for me the one month I've known you. Please act like my woman for my parent, Chris said.
And after the acting, what next? I asked.
I will lie to them that we broke up, Chris replied.
Ok. I wanna see your house? I asked.
Sure, Chris replied.
I stared as he Chris jumped up from bed and dressed up in a white polo and blue jeans with palm slippers.
I brought out my car key and gave it to me.
We left his apartment and walked to my car, I took the guest's seat and gave Chris the driver's seat.
I sigh when Chris droved into a familiar route.
Houses in this area are damn expensive, I noted.
Yes, Chris replied.
I gasped when he stopped in front of my house.
This is it, Chris said.
He opened the door and got down from the car, I followed.
Let's go in, Chris said.
You bought this house? I asked with shock.
Yes. I was looking for a house, my friend directed me to a lawyer who had a mansion to sell. The lawyer brought me here and showed me around the house. I just love it. Everything is intact, the sitting room and kitchen is well set and arranged, I won't need to buy furnitures and household gadgets, there are all there. I even wonder how someone will leave a house without packing. I was scared and demanded to see the house certificates so as not to buy someone's house and the lawyer provided them. I didn't waste time telling the lawyer that I will buy the house. I bought this house yesterday in preparation to show my parent when they come to visit me for Christmas. All the certificates for it has been handed to me and I'm planning to move in tomorrow, Chris explained with pride.
I want to ask you a question and I want you to be honest with me, I said.
Ok, Chris said with a nod.
Was Kimberly the friend that directed you to the lawyer and did Kimberly ask you to buy this house? I asked.
Answer to both questions is no, Chris replied.
Swear it, I said.
I don't swear. My yes is yes, likewise my no. Kimberly doesn't know I bought a house. You are the first person I told, Chris replied.
I looked at Chris.
Are you ok? Kimberly isn't my sister or a relative of mine. She is only a casual friend and has no right to tell me what to do and what not to you. I didn't expect this drama from you, Chris replied sternly.
This is my house, I blurted.
What? Chris gasped.
The house I told you about. The house my ex husband divorced and almost killed me for, the house that gave me a case in court, the house that placed my lawyer in the hospital, the house I must never step my feet. This is my house, I blurted.
Chris stared at me.
God!! I need to see my pastor, I said.
I grabbed my car key from Chris with a jerk. I immediately entered my car and drove into the street leaving Chris staring at the car.
When we leave our battle to God, he fights it perfectly, pastor Charles replied after I narrated the incident with Chris at my house to him. I didn't believe it when he said Kimberly didn't tell him to buy the house, I blurted. For I know the thought I have for you, thought of good and not of evil to give you an unexpected end, says the Lord. Pastor Charles replied.
Continue praying, God has started work and he will finish it, pastor Charles said.
Ok dad. I'll see you tomorrow, I said.
Pastor Charles gave me a nod, I smiled and walked out of his house.
I drove back to Kimberly's house.
The urge to call Chris and apologize for driving out on him at my house was strong but I resisted and kept my cool.
I spent the rest of the day with Raymond and Kimberly's family.
I was woken up the next morning by Chris's call.
Hello, I said.
Good morning, Chris greeted.
Morning, I replied and rolled my eyes.
Hope you slept tight? Chris asked.
Yes, I did. I'm sorry for what happened yesterday, I said.
It's ok. What did your pastor say? Chris asked.
He told me to continue praying, I replied.
That's the exact thing to do. Next tomorrow is Christmas eve and my parent are coming over so how are we gonna do since you can't enter your house now my house? Chris asked.
I giggled.
The door opened and Kimberly came in carrying Raymond.
Raymond is sick, Kimberly said.
I dropped my phone and limped out of the bed.
I collected Raymond from Kimberly, his skin was hot and few rashes on his neck.
Call your doctor, Kimberly suggested.
My doctor has travelled for Christmas break, I replied.
Then call a nurse in your clinic, Kimberly said.
My clinic doesn't operate on Sunday and I can't tell a staff to work on her day off, that will be very unfair...
Drop the business woman in you after work. Around your son be a mother. Your son is sick, call a staff and tell him to come check on your son, Kimberly screamed in anger.
But...
Shut up. What type of a mother are you? Kimberly asked.
Hello, my phone startled us.
I flinched realizing I had forgotten to end the call with Chris.
I picked the phone.
Hello Chris, I said.
My doctor is chanced, I will bring him to Kimberly's house to check on your son, Chris said.
You don't have to bother...
Give me an hour and I will be there, Chris replied and ended the call.
I threw my phone on the bed and placed my hand on Raymond's back.
Was that Chris? Kimberly asked.
Yes. I was on a call with him before you came in. I forgot to end the call and he heard everything. He said he is coming with his doctor, I replied.
And you agreed? Kimberly asked.
I can't call my clinic staff and I'm not ready to drive around looking for a clinic that operates on Sunday so it's best he bring his doctor, I replied.
Suit yourself. Let me hurry and take Danny and my kids to church before he arrives, Kimberly said.
Make sure he leaves before I come back from church, Kimberly added.
I nodded.
Kimberly shook her head and left the room.
Two minutes after Kimberly's family left for church, Chris called and told me he was at the gate with his doctor. I went outside the house and told Kimberly's gateman to open the gate.
Chris's doctor drove into the compound and parked beside the front door.
Welcome, I said after they got down from the car.
Where is he? Chris asked.
Inside, I replied.
I lead the way into sitting room and pointed at the sofa I laid Raymond.
I'm Dr Raphael and you? Chris's doctor asked.
I'm Ama, I replied.
Sweet name, Dr Raphael replied.
Dr Raphael set to work, he dropped his bag on the center table and brought out his instruments.
I turned to see Chris staring at Raymond with agape.
Sit down please, I said.
Chris was startled.
He gave a smile and sat on the sofa.
It's nothing serious madam, just fever, Dr Raphael said after checking Raymond.
But what about the rashes on his neck? Chris asked with concern.
That caused by heat. Some nights let him sleep bare body, Dr Raphael replied and looked at me.
I nodded.
Dr Raphael brought out a pen and pad and wrote down some drugs and handed it to me.
Thank you very much, I said.
You are welcome, Dr Raphael replied and packed his instruments back into his bag.
I noticed Chris couldn't take his eyes from Raymond.
Dr Raphael was ready to leave but Chris was still staring at Raymond.
I tapped Chris gently and flinched that he was startled.
I will give you a call in the evening, I said.
Ok, Chris said and got up heavily from the sofa.
He looked at Raymond and turned to me, I threw my face away.
Bye. Chris said.
I nodded without looking at him.
I looked at Raymond looking cute in sleep and smiled.
Kimberly's family came back in the afternoon.
How did it go? Kimberly asked.
It's fever. I was waiting for you to come back so I can go buy drugs, I replied
Better oh, Kimberly replied and wanted to walk away.
I held Kimberly and waited until Danny and the kids were out of sight.
You needed to see the way Chris admired my baby, I said.
He knows, Kimberly replied with a sigh.
Knows what? I asked.
That Raymond is his son, Kimberly replied.
Because you told him to release inside me when he makes love to me, he will assume...
This is not an assumption matter. A mere glance at Raymond is enough to tell Chris  that Raymond is his son except Chris doesn't look at himself in a mirror or doesn't have a picture of himself, Kimberly replied.
How? I asked.
Raymond is a total replica of Chris. Chris pointed nose, round forehead, pink lips and deep eyes are all exhibited in Raymond. How stupid of you not to have thought about that, Kimberly added.
I gasped.
I was confused and anxious to know Chris thought about Raymond. My anxiousness grew when I chatted with Chris and he didn't mention or ask me anything about Raymond.
Maybe he doesn't know Raymond is his son, or maybe he knows and isn't interested in Raymond, I thought.
Or Could Chris be planning on how to claim Raymond? I thought.
I hardly concentrated on my work.
From the office, I drove straight to Chris apartment without bothering to inform him that I was coming.
I heaved with relieve when I knocked on his front door and Chris replied with "come in".
I opened the door and walked in. Chris was standing in the sitting room wearing a white single on a blue trouser.
To whom do I owe this surprise visit? Chris asked and walked to his room.
I follow him without bothering to answer him.
How was work? Chris asked and laid on his bed.
I sat on a chair heavily.
Work was fine. How about yours? I asked.
Stressful!! I came back minutes ago, Chris replied.
Raymond is feeling better, I said.
That's good to know, Chris replied.
And his 2nd birthday is next week, I said.
What!!! Chris gasped and sat up on the bed.
He is a December born, I said with a smile.
He needs to meet my parent? Chris replied sternly.
Meaning? Meet them for what? I asked.
Keep the pretense aside. I know Raymond is my son...
I know you know, I cut in.
He must meet my parent before he turns two, it's important. Whatever your ex-husband did in your house stops you from entering the house and not Raymond.