Chapter 26: Chapter 26

ETHAN'S POV

"Knock Knock" is the sound of someone knocking on the door. From upstairs I could hear the weak door crying out for help.

"Is anyone home?" the person he has anticipated for since yesterday was here. "Maryam!" I called her out.

"Coming Mr Rolland!" Maryam said.

"She's here!.. She's here Maryam!.. She's here!" I said quite excitedly.

"Who's here Ethan?.. calm down for God sake" Maryam said trying to calm me down. "Okay I'm calm" I said and breathed in.

"Hello!. is anyone home?" the person behind the door asked. "Am coming!.." Maryam declared.

"What should I do Maryam?.. What should I do?" I asked her because I was so nervous. "Act cool for Christ's sake" she told me.

"Knock Knock" the sound again from the door.

"Answer her already.." I told her and watched her walk towards the door, I immediately rushed to the couch and on the television in front of me, it's been long since I even heard the sound of a phone and to talk about the television it's been ages.

"Hello!" Cecilia said. "Hi" Maryam said faintly.

"Can I come in?" she asked and Maryam stood there looking dump in but nodded her head and moved aside for her to come in.

"Good day Mrs Rolland" her sweet innocent voice said and I couldn't help but laugh. "Oh my Goodness" Maryam said as she watched Cecilia walk.

"Mrs Rolland ha.. Just call me Maryam" she told her. "Oh OK, good morning Maryam" Cecilia greeted.

"Hi Ethan" she said smiling to me and I didn't know what to say next.

"Hello Cecilia" I replied to her and I couldn't help but stare at her in the face, we held our gaze for a few passing moments

"Uhm.. Uhmm" Maryam cleared her throat.

"Sorry... am so sorry" I said to the both of them standing so lost and worried about what was the cause of my behavior.

"Is there a problem?" Cecilia asked me.

"Oh not at all Cecilia, this movie is quite interesting and very funny, you should join me" I suggested.

"Oh no.. No thanks, I'll just get to work now" she said and walked upstairs.

"I told you Maryam, I told you Nuella was still alive" I said to Maryam the minute she disappeared from our sight.

"Maryam!.. I called her but she said nothing but stared at the blank air. " Maryam are you okay? "I asked her but she gave no response.

" I.. She is.. Oh my God.. Nuella is still alive... Or is she a ghost? "Maryam stuttled.

" I told you Maryam but you thought I was going crazy, am not lying awake to you, you see!.." I told her and began to walk away from her, I was going to help her with whatever she needed me to do.

"And where are you going Ethan?" Maryam asked. "To help her out of course" I told her.

"Ethan!.." she said and winked at me, and I giggled. "What Maryam.." I asked and rolled my eyes.

I walked upstairs, I was searching for her to see what room she was and there she was standing near the window of the room she had when we were still together, if only she knew, if only she could remember, she was on the phone with someone, I could hear her laughing so good, she seem to be happy with this person, I was happy she was happy, and I taped on the door to get her attention the minute she was done with the person she was talking to on the phone.

"Hello," I said.

"Hey Ethan, I am so sorry I didn't notice you," she said to me. "Nah it's fine" I told her.

"Yeah, I was on the phone with her with my son, he said he wants me to get him some ice cream on my way home, Ethan is an ice cream boy, Hahahahaha… mints are his favorite" she told me.

"Oh really" I asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Yes.. Ray and Mimi are always bullying him but to be honest, Ethan is my favorite child, I mean parents aren't supposed to have a favorite child but Ethan and I have this connection that I just can't explain"she said and began to take measurements and take notes of stuff.

"So.. tell me Ethan, are you married?" she asked.

"No.. but i used to have a fiance" I told her and gave her a hand in taking the set of curtains she wanted to place on the bed.

"Awwwn, you too aren't together anymore?" she asked me.

"Uhm.. She died" I told her and I watched as the excitement on her face died and turned to worries.

"Am so sorry Ethan, I am very sorry" she told me and walked closer to hold my hands.

I told her it was fine, we had a lot of conversation about her, and she told me about her son Ethan the most, we kept talking about how she had always loved to walk in a big store and how her husband had to open one for her after much persuasion.

"Wait!.. You're married?" I asked and those words came out in the most stupid way ever. " No.. no I mean I you have a husband?" he said stupid now.

"Hahahahaha yes Ethan am married with three kids, are you surprised I am?" she asked me. "Uhm. I.. I mean not really" I stumbled and that made her laugh.

I helped her carry the other curtain from the front door down to her car, I asked her why she came alone and she said she wanted to come check the house out again and be totally sure of what she was about to do.

She thanked me for helping her, the minute she was done, Maryam was done making some meal, Maryam asked her to stay for dinner, she refused but Maryam persuaded her to stay and she was left with no choice but to stay.

We had great conversations, Maryam told her she wasn't Mrs Rolland, she noticed everything I had been talking about, Cecilia ate a lot, she mentioned that Maryam's food reminded her of someone she used to know but she can't remember the person anymore.

Maryam went silent for a while and stared at Cecilia, dinner and was done in no time and Cecilia thanked us for our hospitality.

She left after waving us goodbye.