Chapter 98: Chapter 98

CHAPTER 98

SARA

“I can’t believe you recorded everything Miranda said last night.” Ariel uttered in awe, and Sara just smiled ruefully.

“I did record it. I brought out my phone when she was talking, and I put on the sound recorder. Everything she said is in here, and I hope to convince Christian with this proof today.” As she finished speaking, she saw Ariel’s facial expression change from awe and surprise to something indescribable, and her heart clenched.

“Don’t you want me to go talk to him?” Sara asked softly, blinking back the tears that gathered at the pool of her eyes and beneath her lashes.

These pregnancy hormones! Damn, but they made her want to cry every second, and she just couldn’t hold it back.

Sniffing, she shrugged her shoulders and waited for Ariel to say something but her friend was keeping mute.

“Ariel…” She drawled softly, her hands going to her cheeks, wiping incessantly.

Instead of replying as expected, Ariel just took a step towards her, pulling her in for a hug as she wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

Sara had no idea why the gesture had been made, but well it made her nostalgic all of a sudden and she burst into minimal sobs, trying her possible best to stifle her voice so she wouldn’t attract the attention of kids passing by the hallway.

“Sara, I’m so sorry you have to go through these.” Ariel said softly, a whimper escaping her lips as she added, “I want you to know that whatever decision Christian makes after hearing this, I would still be by your side.”

“Oh Ariel…” She cut in but her best friend wasn’t done yet as she continued, “If Christian continues to be an asshole, then I have no option but to storm his house and make him see reasons with you. Surely he isn’t that foolish.” She finished and a chuckle rose up Sara’s throat as she began to laugh.

“Surely you don’t mean that.” She mumbled as Ariel joined in the laughter, amidst their tear stained faces.

“I’m freaking serious Sara. I wouldn’t even mind looking for Miranda and taking the bitch ahead with me. Pfft…”

At the mention of Miranda’s name again, Sara felt some kind of anger and maybe pity course within her.

When she had confessed last night, Sara had been so angry she barely said all the things she had in mind, leaving Ariel to take care of the uncouth traitor, but now as she stood in the hallway, she wished she had said more.

She was angry that Miranda had kept such information from her, and knowing how her breakup with Christian would have been diverted had she known about this, it made her furious all the more. But then... There was this underlying feeling of pity that she discerned too.

Sara could only imagine the amount of threats Dinah and Tessa must have said to her, that made her keep quiet for so long, and it brought her back to the bugging query in her head. One she had no answer to.

Why had Dinah done this to her? Were Dinah and Tessa, the ones behind those ominous bloodied letters and warnings she’d been receiving some months back? If they were the ones behind it, why did they do it? Just why?

Dinah was a well known bully, but she never went to extreme. So why had she chosen her all of a sudden? Sara pondered.

Well… She might never get the answers she sought at all, but she could still save her broken relationship, and gripping her cell phone in her hands, Sara sighed slightly dragging her thoughts back to the present.

“I think I have to go now. I don’t know if Christian is at home now, and since he’s packing obviously and preparing for his leave to Seattle, I guess I should be fast with whatever I want to tell him.”

“Yes you should.” Ariel agreed and added, “Come, let me escort you outside.”

With a nod, and clasping their hands together, Sara and Ariel started to make their way out of the shelter building and towards the gate.

Taking a leave of permission they both walked, hand in hand passing by matrons, with most of them checking on Sara and asking her about her health. With each question however Sara was subtly reminded of the fact that the hospital was yet to inform the shelter about her pregnancy.

Chill arose on her skin, as she tried to imagine what would happen if Mrs Patrick got to know about it. Well, before then she would have reconciled with Christian, and he would come to claim the child as his, and take custody of her welfare.

A small sad smile flickered Sara’s lips, as she imagined Christian holding her tightly to him, while he stood up to Mrs Patrick.

Now more than ever, Sara was duly convinced that she wanted to stay with Christian and build her future with him.

She might have had the doubts before, but now she didn’t anymore. All she wanted was for him to forgive her now, let bygones be bygones and she would even forgive him for all the harsh things he said to her.

At least his actions were justifiable, and he had acted out of anger.

They would work things out, she was more than sure of that now.

“Sara…” Ariel called out, waving her hands in front of her face as she added, “I’ve just stopped a taxi for you.”

Sara shook her head slowly, a look of gratitude on her face as she watched Ariel settle the driver and tell him where she would be going too.

“It’s all set. I already paid the t-fare too. You just go meet Christian, and settle this once and for all. You got this girl!” Ariel finished, fist bumping Sara on her shoulders, and she could all but laugh amidst her weariness.

“Thank you so much Ariel.” She said softly, leaning closer and placing a kiss on her best friend’s cheek, squeezing their intertwined hands at the same time, before slowly cutting of the hold.

“You’re welcome sis…” Ariel mumbled, and then added, “Now get in the taxi. The driver’s becoming impatient, and you don’t have time on your hands anymore.”

Sara only nodded and stifled back the giggles rising at the base of the throat, as Ariel pushed her into the cab, locking the door shut.

As the car’s ignition started, and she settled in her seat, a wave of dejavù filled Sara, as she noted that she’d been in this same position so many times these past few days.

Always in the cab, going somewhere, or coming to the shelter even and she could all but wonder at the seeming coincidence.

The cool breeze blew into the car stiffly, and with a groan she pushed herself out of her seat, winding the windows up. She shot a glance back at the shelter and at Ariel’s lone figure some miles away but this time she wasn’t alone.

Someone was standing close to Ariel, waving at the cab as if telling her to stop, and her brows carved, Sara instantly recognized the lanky figure as that of Daniel.

This time he wasn’t the only one waving at her, but Ariel too and now Sara was more than confused. She dragged her gaze away from the window, as she convinced herself that she was most likely overthinking, and they were just waving her goodbye.

“That is it, and nothing else.” She muttered softly, and reclining her back, she made herself comfortable on the headrest.

Gripping her cellphone which was the only evidence she had tightly, Sara could only hope that whatever happened today, turned out for the best and not the opposite.

She then closed her eyes tightly, letting out a string of motivational assurances to herself and suddenly began to pray.

…….

CHRISTIAN

The ride to Seattle, took maybe four, five or six hours, Christian didn’t count actually. All he knew was that by the time they arrived at the small station, where they would alight from, he was famished, tired and worn out too.

His younger brother Kevin, was fast asleep and strapped in his arms as he snorted lightly, and as he stepped down from the train, he turned briskly and watched his mother and sister get of the blaring vehicle too.

Finally, they had arrived at their destination, and Christian had on a weary smile on his face. He was now in this new city which held the promise of dreams, and worldly accomplishments for them all.

It had not been easy, but amidst the hurdles he’d gone through, the difficulty he had whilst moving, and the things he’d left behind at his former city, Christian felt a bit nourished and hopeful once more.

He looked up at the dusty sunset, the cool breeze whipping past carrying with it an aura of warmth, but even with all the sublimal assurances he seemed to be giving himself, a harsh reality hit Christian.

Yes, he was a bit happy to be here finally, but then he wasn’t sure if he could call this place home so easily.

The scary truth that he might be stuck here forever, hit him yet again and Christian shut his eyes briefly, as he blinked back the tears threatening to spill down his wet lashes.

No, he wouldn’t think this way, he tried to compose himself but still he wanted nothing more than to go back to Sara. There was no place in the world he’d rather be, than with her, with Daniel, and with Ariel. They were his safe haven, his happy place and they provided him the comfort he longed for now.

He…

“Son… We’ve been given our luggages. Would you see to it that we get a cab quickly, and get out of this busy place. Do you still have the address of the apartment building you got for us?” His mother questioned, her voice cutting through his thoughts and blinking twice Christian shot a glance at her and just nodded softly.

Remembering that Kevin was still in his arms, he gave the boy a light shake, a chuckle bubbling up his lips as he whispered in his ears, “Kevin, come on dude! We’re finally here! You have to wake up, so we can get going!”

Kevin began to stir, his eyelids fluttering open slowly, and as he slowly lifted his eyes, his large brown orbs looking around curiously as he adjusted to the new environment, he yawned and rubbed at his eye.

Once his vision seemed to have cleared and he was able to focus a little, his gaze locked on Christian’s amused one, and suddenly his lips burst into a wide grin, his face showing excitement at the sight.

“Are we in Seattle, brother?” He asked and Christian all but nodded as he dropped him down, clasping one of his hand at the same time, holding gently.

“Yes we are. Hey…” He called out, as he noticed his brother’s wandering eye and then he added, “I know you’re looking for mother and Bianca, they are over there.” Christian finished, pointing at a corner of the station, where they seemed to be checking the luggages.

“Okay okay.”

“Good, now let’s go get a big empty cab outside.” Christian urged again, and dragging his little brother, the both of them began to walk out of the station.

“Wow… These city is so big!” Kevin exclaimed in awe, and his eyes scanning his surroundings too, Christian also took note of everything.

Indeed the city was big, just like Kevin had noted. The blaring sounds of cars, the hustle and bustle of the streets amongst other things, highlighted the earlier made statement.

There were tall buildings made of brick or other woods, some of which had metal roofs, with their windows covered up with glass, and looking up towards them, Christian admired the way the light bounced of every pane of glass, lighting up everywhere even in the dimly lit environment.

Suddenly he started to also feel some kind of vigor, within him and he laughed softly to himself saying, “Oh shit, I am literally standing right outside of the fucking Federal Building.”

“Yeah, you are.” Someone said from behind, and whirling around Christian came face to face with his mother and Bianca who literally had wide smiles on their faces too.

They must have been done at the station, because they had the luggages strapped on their backs and his mother asked again, “Have you gotten the taxi yet?”

“Ermmm…” Christian began but he didn’t get to finish his sentence as a a car horn sounded off instantly and they all glanced back to the road.

A random taxi had pulled up beside them, and with a smile the elderly man driving the car proceeded to ask if they were looking for a ride, and Christian all to willingly obliged.

Without wasting any more time, Christian got to work ushering his siblings and mom inside the vehicle, and arranging their luggages at the trunk of the car. When he was done, he stood still for a while , glancing at the busy street once more and mumbling some words to himself he then entered the car.

He quickly mumbled out the address of where they were headed too, to the driver and nodding the man started the ignition while Christian glanced away.

His siblings were busy chattering away, whilst they pointed at the streets in awe, and as for his mother who sat close by, he felt her hands sneak around his, as she squeezed gently.

He turned to face her, and that’s when he saw a single tear fall down her cheek. Before he could even say a thing, she wrapped him up into a hug, and with just that touch he lost it too.

He clutched onto her tightly and buried his face into the side of her neck, feeling her do the same.

“Finally we are here mother…” He cried against her, and whispering against his hair, she replied with a sob, “Yes we are, and I’m so proud of you son. I love you so much, and thank you for being so hardworking and relentless ever since your father passed away. Thank you so much son. Thank you.”

He didn’t say anything in response anymore, instead he cocooned himself in his mother’s warmth, even after they disentangled from

the embrace, and the car drove smoothly ahead.

This was cheers to a new beginning, maybe even the first step to happiness for them all.