Chapter 61: Chapter 61

Chapter 61.

The home is full. There are guys ubiquitously. Tabby and I are robed like nuns with our black veils covering most parts of our faces. We don’t wanna cause any chaos here, not when my mum is supposed to be laid to rest in eternal peace.

‘’What should we do, Clara?’’ Tabby asks but since I have no idea, I shake my head at her. ‘’I will go get my mum so that we ask her how to go about this.’’ I nod.

We cannot just get out of the car because that will be risking too much.

‘’Please. Don’t get lost because we could be leaving anytime soon, okay?’’ I have no idea what dad could be up to.

‘’I am coming with you darling,’’ Luke tells Tabby who seems a bit uneasy about all this. Luke and Alvin are seated in front with Luke shotgun while Tabitha and I are seated at the back. I roll my eyes because that was mum’s idea. She said that whoever is driving should concentrate fully and sitting with their girlfriend would lessen the much concentration. I tried telling her that Alvin and I aren’t in a relationship but she said a blunt no and asked me to keep thinking like that.

‘’I don’t wanna be seen with you! Remember we are nuns and nuns shouldn’t be seen around men who aren’t priests.’’ Alvin and Luke burst out laughing and I smile at Tabby when he says that. That was so funny.

She then opens the door and turns on her heels without another word, walking towards the homestead. Luke signals us as he decides to follow his girlfriend. Those two like each other so much and my mum even decided to hire Tabby in her company. She was fired because she was spending too much time with Luke. She moved in with us and she and Luke are living happily.

They’re the most perfect couple I have ever placed my eyes on. No issues at all and when they arise, they are sorted with immediate effect.

I remember when Tabby came across a packet of condoms in his pocket and she was mad. She was locked up in their room for hours that day, no talking to anyone. She, later on, went out unnoticed and disappeared for days. No one knew where she was. She never told me anything and I was really pissed off.

We had always been each other’s confidant so, her disappearing without opening her heart to me, was like was our norm, really pissed me off. When she finally showed up, she packed her things and was about to leave when I caught up with her and begged her to stay.

It had to come to the parents’ attention that they had altercations and they had to be called into a serious meeting. She only talked about that when Emmy and I forced her into it. Well, since she and Luke loved themselves so much, she had to forgive him and they moved on.

That was the first time she was getting broken and the agony she felt was mammoth. It took her time to trust and she told me it’s gonna be really hard to trust him again. I called Luke and spoke to him. We had the big sister small brother talk and we both agreed that Tabby didn’t deserve being done to that.

What all of us were worried about is that even Luke had no single idea where the packet came from. He unpretentiously insisted that someone was trying to malign him. I believed him but who was doing this?

I feel Alvin’s warm hands on my shoulder bringing me back to the present and I smile despite myself. I didn’t realize that he came out of the car. Alvin is one human being who is not willing to stay away from me. I have him anytime I want and he keeps telling me that he is willing to do more than just being beside me.

‘’Thank you for being here, Alvin,’’ I say turning slowly to look at him in the eye. My outfit is quite interesting because the only part of my body that can be seen is my eyes which are covered in very dark sunglasses.

‘’You are welcome, anytime.’’ He says with a smile on his face and moves closer to me. ‘’I want you to feel safe and secure. I want you to know that I care for you and I will always do.’’

I feel a sweet smile engraving my lips. He has always been very princely with me, very ready to lend a hand from the first day I met him and very great as a person. Good personalities, a good and a big heart. He usually has my best interest at heart.

‘’You are smiling.’’ He notes courteously and scrupulously. ‘’You look so beautiful when you wear that sweet and genuine smile. I wink when he says that. I know he cannot see that because of my dark tinted lenses.

‘’Thank you.’’ I mouth with a blush.

‘’You cannot believe who is coming our way.’’ He says worriedly and I turn swiftly to follow the direction of his stare. Dad is coming our way and without thinking, I break free from Alvin’s hold and I open the door then charge towards dad without a second thought. I don’t care if he doesn’t love me, I just want to show him that I do care about him so much. That I am here for him, and that I feel him during this hard time.

He opens his arms and I fall comfortably into them. I feel the warmth of a father. I wonder why he was turning out to be evil when he isn’t in the first place. My dad has always been a good man, I don’t think he ever wanted me to know that he wasn’t my real father because he wouldn’t have been good to me the way he was from childhood.

He gave me shelter, food, and education. He clothed me and made sure that I was taken care of by a good doctor whenever I fell sick. I love dad so much for that. Unlike other fathers who would hint, or maybe abuse you with your background. He was a complete opposite of that. May God bless him always.

I hear a sniffle and it hits me that he is crying, it could be the pain of losing mum or something else that only he knows.

‘’I am … I …’’ he breaks down before he finishes his statement and the pain that cruises through my stomach is unexplainable. I cannot let dad feel this bad because of me. I pull away to look at his broken self and I bow my head because of the shame.

‘’Relax, dad. It is well.’’

‘’Forgive me, my daughter. I never intended to make you go through this, I didn’t want you to step feet inside my compound I have felt so bad when someone just approached me asking why I am doing this to you. I know you loved your mum so much, I also know that you weren’t gonna stay away from his burial. I am so sorry.’’ He says and I think it is the very first time in life that I have seen him so devastated. He looks genuinely broken and I will not let that happen to him. He should mourn his wife in total peace. ‘’It It wasn’t your fault that all these happened. You are innocent, my daughter. You are a victim and taking it out on you isn’t fair. Welcome back home.’’

‘’Dad?’’ I call him with a smile on my face.

‘’Yes my daughter?’’ he responds back politely. ‘’Please remove your veil. I want you to stay here normally. No need to hide.’’ I smile and do as told.

‘’Whatever you did, you had a right. I wasn’t going to force you into anything. I am grateful that you are here right now because this to me is the best time.’’

‘’Really?’’

I nod. ‘’Really, dad. I am not dwelling in the past because despite the fact that I wanted to witness mum’s ever last ceremony on earth, I was yearning for us to make some peace between us. I love you, you are a great man and one of the persons I will never overlook. You took care of me and I will not let a one-time behaviour lead to me forgetting every beautiful and unforgettable thing that happened in the past. Okay?’’ he smiles.

I know he is literally forcing the smile but the fact that I have seen him do that in my presence gives me hope and joy in my soul. I haven’t seen my siblings but my heart pulsates so hard when my eyes catch Carly walking, almost running towards us. She shouts my name, I am sure that she literally has no idea what is going on.

I move away from dad and go down before the excited little angel. She probably got excited because dad asked me to remove the veil that was covering my face. She touches my cheek with her little virtuous fingers and my heart leaps with joy.

I love this little angel.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and when I turn, dad is standing there looking c happy. ‘’Let me know when you are free to bring back the baby. I want to give you both my blessings.’’ He says politely and I just nod. One word from my mouth and I will just break down. I am pretending here to be strong but that’s not the case.

‘’Baby,’’ I call Carly who is all smiley. ‘’You look so beautiful.’’ I tell her when I cannot say more words.

‘’She does, for sure,’’ Alvin says holding Carly and throwing her up the sky. Her sweet deep voice fills the air and I cannot explain how happy I am.

He holds my hand after catching the little girl mid-air and I smile honourably at her when he does that.

Dad says goodbye and walks away without looking back. Tabby comes back looking all beautiful and with Luke sprawling meticulously beside her. Alvin places his hand on my shoulder with Carly still held on his arms securely and caringly.

‘’Did he come looking for you?’’ Tabby asks once she gets to us.

‘’Who?’’ I ask wondering who she is talking about.

‘’Harry?’’ she says with a slight smile

‘’Harry was here?’’ I ask almost panicking.

‘’Jeez! Don’t get a heart attack! I am just kidding. I meant your dad.’’ I heave a sigh of relief when she corrects her error.

‘’That wasn’t funny, you know?’’ she nods, ‘’Dad was here and he was …’’

‘’Remorseful?’’

I nod. ‘’How did you know?’’ I ask raising an eyebrow.

‘’You just confirmed. Again, I know parents regret a lot after doing shit and I also know that he would have looked for you later to apologize. My uncle isn’t that evil. And lastly, we spoke earlier and I directed him to you.’’ she says patiently making me shrug carelessly to dismiss the situation.

‘’Let’s go,’’ Alvin says and we all nod in agreement with him.

We walk slowly, in calculated steps towards the house and when I finally get a chance to view my late mum’s body, I break down but I am grateful that Alvin never leaves my side. I lean on his chest and cry my heart out. I am happy when he lets me do it without any meddling. He is there holding me steadily and I am happy because he is there with me.

The ceremony is over several hours later, my mum has finally been laid to rest. May her soul rest in eternal peace. Alvin tells me that Clare is looking for me. That she wants to share something very important to me. I don’t object.

I let Alvin leads me to her and I am glad when we see a strong young and very beautiful girl. I love my little sister so much and I only wish her all the best.

I run fast towards her direction as she runs towards me. We meet halfway in a tight and a sisterly hug. ‘’You will be fine, sweety. Just cry it all out, okay?’’

I feel her nodding on my shoulder. She sniffles and I motion Alvin to give us a few minutes. He is incredulous about it but he does it, anyway. Something about mum warning him against leaving me alone.

She and I talk for about fifteen minutes. I finish by promising her that I will give her a job once I get my own place. I feel indebted to take care of my siblings and I think getting her a job will let that move.

I wonder if dad will let her come to the city but maybe he will.

‘’Listen, Clara. Mum left this with me and I have been holding onto it dearly. I didn’t want anyone to get a hold of it so I never put it down.’’ I look at her stretched arm and a nicely sealed DL envelope is held in her hand.

‘’Hello, girls,’’ a familiar voice calls and we both turn to look at the door. Mum! She is here. She came. I am so happy to see her.

She has a team behind her and I swear to God I have never felt happy. Emmy and her dad too are here. I become happier when Ian smiles at me and I smile back.

These people are the best.

I quickly grab whatever Clare is holding in her hand and I stand up to go hug my mum. Fresh tears fall from my eyes when I wrap my arms around her. ‘’I didn’t know that you would be here. Thank you.’’

‘’I wouldn’t miss such a special time for you baby girl. You needed someone to stand by you.’’

‘’Thanks, mum, Alvin, Tabby and Luke are all here.’’

‘’I know, but there is nothing as special as your mum and the whole family gracing the moment by their presence, I love you.’’

‘’I love you too, mum.’’ She pulls back and hugs Clara. I love how warm she is with me. I take the opportune moment to go hug my little Ian. Dad will have a moment with him before we leave.

She hands Clara an envelope telling her that she can start off from there as she checks on something else for her to do. Clara is a big girl now and she will be delighted to support herself as well as the family when she can.

She explains that Marcella, my late mum was her cousin and the best she can do is to take care of her little children left behind. That she may have committed the offense but that doesn’t mean that her love for her dies.

She’s right because she tried all she could but life is a cluttered muddle sometimes.

She swears on her late sister’s grave that she will bring the murderers to book.