Chapter 67: Chapter 67

Chapter 65: The havoc

Besides Merri almost taking her life, a lot happened that day. On her way home, Faith was stopped by Thomas. It was nearing six, she was glad Mrs Cunningham had let her go early. She felt a tad bit annoyed by his presence but none the less she stopped to hear what he had to say. They had not seen each other much, it was mainly her fault. Faith did not understand what was going on with her. She had wanted Thomas for so long and now that she had him... she did not want him. She had forgotten that she was carrying his child. Remembering how desperate she had wanted to fall pregnant made her feel ashamed of herself. Perhaps her mother was right. Merri got the valuable diamond while she was fighting for a worthless stone. He greeted her with a smile, she was quick to cut to the chase.

"I wanted to know if you're alright and if there is anything you may need from me as the father of your child?" He told her, the sounds of crickets... present as they merely stared at each other in the dark not too far away from the commune. Where people where chattering with their plastic plates waiting for food.

"There is nothing you could ever offer me Thomas."

Not expecting that sort of aggravated response from her, Thomas furrowed his eyebrows. He assumed she was in a horrid mood and that it was all caused by her frustration for having to work hard while being nearly four months pregnant.

Realizing how rude that sounded, Faith lowered her tone. "I'm sorry, it has been an awfully exhausting day. I had to make soup for Princess Merri. Ma'am knows I'm the one who is pregnant yet, Merrigold does nothing except dine with them."

"But Faith... Merri has had her own share of atrocities this past few months." Thomas defended. "For goodness sake try and sympathize with her."

"I'm only pitiful, for the minor fact that she is barren. Other than that, she needs to work like the rest of us."

"I understand that, truly."

"Yes."

"I haven't seen you in a while, how are you? How is our little growing bundle of joy?" He said clearly excited.

She sighed.

"He's okay, hasn't caused me too many problems like the first few weeks." Faith was already using a pronoun in hopes in would be a boy.

"That's good." Thomas said awkwardly. He did not know how to further the conversation. What else did they have in common? Besides badmouthing Merri and talking about his offspring that she was carrying. What else could he talk about? They did not have much in common, this proved to be hard but he was willing to try.

"I hope you get enough rest..."

"Thank you, Thomas."

"I also wanted to tell you something that has been on my mind for a while now."

"Could it possibly wait..." She questioned crossing her arms.

"No, I need to do this, it's the right thing to do."

"Oh..."

"Faith, I'm sorry about how ignorant I was about your feelings through out the years. I will not lie and tell you that I've easily forgotten Merrigold and gotten over her so quickly but what I will tell you is, I want to try. I want my child to have two loving parents. As an orphan, I always wondered how that must have felt. I'd like to try, I'm capable of loving again, I know I am. Even though my entire life I assumed I'd be with one woman, date proved me wrong. I've accepted that maybe it's not meant to be and I should not force it to work."

"I did not hear anything except your endless praise for Merri?"

"We should try Faith, and be together." He paused. "For our child."

She had always wanted to hear this come out of his mouth but now... she did not feel fulfilled or as satisfied as she thought it would feel. Faith felt adjusted, for someone who had wanted this for so long. It did not move her, at all. Not after she had seen Austin creep into Merri's room and cuddle up with her. That had not sat well with her. For two people who claimed they hated each other, they did not act like it. It confused Faith, how they had came from their walk in silence... as if they had settled their differences. Faith felt aggravated with Thomas proposal, this had to be a banter. Was he serious? He had merely brought cheap words with no profound gift or gesture. This was all pity and Faith did not want it. She wanted it to be genuine, not him suddenly wanting her because he can not have Merri.

"I see..." She muttered. "Well, it upsets me that I have to be your second option as always."

Thomas was quiet, he did not want to lie. He still loved Merrigold, he would not deny his love for her just to make Faith happy. He would not say anything.

"I just knew it, I'm your second option." Faith laughed cynically.

"We need to be united for our child."

"All this foolery is making me tired."

"I will leave you to rest." Thomas told her.

"Thank you." With that she walked away. Thomas was not so pleased with the way the conversation had went. He did not like to sleep with unresolved issues hanging over his head.

—

Bertha Cunningham would never forget the day she received her twin brother's letter. Drunk Scribbling, he had forgotten he even sent it. Austin had written it out of anger, after his father had thrown harsh words at him that day. He could not sleep that night. He felt broken, he felt ashamed and battered emotionally. Seeing his father that enraged, shocked him. His father was the most calm man there is. He handled everything in a low tone, he resolved everything with composure. Bertha never understood her brother but they had always been close. She had decided to cut him off because of his actions. She had made it clear that he was not someone she considered family anymore. Bertha felt ashamed, having been the one to introduce Harriet, she shouldn't have. The poor girl was hurt for no reason. After reading Austin's letter, Bertha felt over protective of her brother. Her husband, Edward had told her to calm down and collect her thoughts. She tried but she could not... it had bothered her so much. She ventured to Henry's home with the only intention of causing havoc.

"Bertha... what a nice—"

"Move out of my way!"

"That is rude, this is my home." Stella pursued her lips.

Bertha harshly slapped her. She was surprised by her own actions. Stella stumbled back a bit with her hand on her cheek. She had a decent relationship with her sister in law, Stella did not understand why she would do that.

"You deserve more for everything you did to my brother."

Stella's eyes bulged out a bit stunned. Austin told them? He told them? Stella did not think he would ever, not after—

"HENRY!!!" Bertha yelled on top of her lungs pushing Stella aside.

"HEN—"

"I'm here, what is it with all the noise?"

"YOUR WIFE NEEDS TO LEAVE!"

Stella quickly ran to Henry. "She is acting mental, I do not know what is it with your siblings."

"She is a rapist, she raped Austin... all those days she offered to host him for the holidays. She is a disgusting pig!"

Henry laughed.

"Does that sound funny to you?"

"How do you rape a man? Don't be ridiculous. Stella was nothing but kind to Austin and he took advantage of that."

"He was a boy not a man! Stop sounding so ignorant. Henry, your wife is a snake. She even has a child with Austin."

"That is a lie!" Stella countered.

"Bertha, calm down.... did Austin put you up to this because I will not be having any of this. I'm afraid I will have to walk you out if you keep falsely accusing my wife."

"You're an moron, Henry. How could you say something so insensitive? Austin wrote to me and told me everything."

Henry rolled his eyes. "I was right, he put you up to this?"

"No no no, listen to me."

"No Bertha, i will not let you and your twin brother bully me into oblivion. My marriage will not fumble because of your jealous ways or whatever you have against my wife."

Stella laid her hand on Henry's shoulder nodding. Angry and losing hope, Bertha walked up to Stella and grabbed her blonde locs. Both falling onto the tiled floors of the living room. Bertha hit Stella on the face countless times, it took Henry a while to react. Shocked with his sister's behavior. He pulled Bertha off Stella whose sensitive nose was now bleeding heinously.

"What have I ever done to you?" Stella cried, as Henry gave her his handkerchief.

"I will never understand why your family hates me Henry, all I have done is try to please them."

"YOU—"

"Out!" Henry hissed pushing Bertha towards the door. He was so glad his boys were not present to witness this.

"Listen—"

"Out Bertha And never return. You have disrespected my wife and I. You and your twin should never step foot here again. I hope you know how disappointed I am in you. I thought you were better than Austin but you proved me wrong. You're both the same. Spiteful trouble makers who never want to see people happy. You either like my wife or you leave her alone. There is absolutely no reason to make up lies about her. Austin was never raped, he is a compulsive liar and everyone is well aware of aware. I'm disappointed that you believed him. He is playing you for a fool."

With teary eyes, Bertha felt hurt. Hurt for his brother, this was what he had to go through all this time? People labeling him names and not one person believing him or trusting him. No wonder he gave up trying to please anyone, it seemed everyone was already disappointed. "You're the fool." Stella cried. "I hope you're happy, you witch!" She pointed at Stella who was releasing crocodile tears. Henry was too angry to say anything, he closed the door shut in her face. His worst fear creeped in, what if Bertha was right, what if— No, Henry refused to believe that foolery.

—

"What is wrong with you?" Faith hissed at her fourteen year old brother. He was out of breath and his nose wouldn't stop bleeding. After throwing up a ton in the bucket next to his bed where he helplessly laid.

"He is feeling sick." Faith's eight year old brother muttered.

"Its probably a minor fever, he has been having one since this afternoon. He will be fine." Their mother muttered.

"What did you eat?"

At this point her brother was shaking hysterically. The bleeding from his nose wouldn't stop and there was trauma to the nose, it had merely started out of no where. He had never had a nose bleeding problem his entire life. He couldn't speak. Sweating a ton and shaking, Faith thought he was throwing a tantrum to avoid work. Since he had started helping out at the plantation. He was always complaining.

"Mrs Cunningham gave us soup and bread, it tasted funny... so I gave Kabangu all of it."

Faith's heart almost stopped as her younger brother told her this. Her ears seemed to be blocking out all the words being said by others. She was watching everything pass by infringe of her. She did not know what to do, if she told her mother... maybe she would know how to save her brother but she would be painted horribly. Faith decided to keep quiet.

"It's a fever, he will be fine by tomorrow." Faith's mother said reassuring everyone. They switched off the lamp, and all went to sleep in their single room that they called home. That night Faith occasionally woke up to check on her brother. Checking if he was still breathing. She knew if she did not speak up, it would not last long before his pulse stopped. Afraid, she still remained quiet.

Austin hugged Merrigold closer, watching her sleep. Kissing her cheek, she moved closer into his embrace without knowing it. He tried not to touch her in any way that she wouldn't like. It prevented him from feeling her belly bump. Oblivious to it all. He felt there was no place he'd rather be.