Final Chapter - Let's merry, not weary

"Hey hey..." I exclaimed in panick, rushing forward to shield the Jamaican guy with my arms spread apart.

"Step aside bro" Andrew instructed under clenched jaw, placing his left palm under his right hand to steady his aim at the Jamaican guy whose hand was now gripping the revolver gun in his waistline.

"Chill.. can everyone just put their guns down!" I yelled, wincing slightly from the pain I felt on my jaw as I shouted.

"And why the fu*k should we do that?" Ramirez countered with his eyes still glued on the guy behind me.

"Because he saved our lives -- both of us" I answered plainly and looked at Andrew. "Trust me man, we would have been dead if not for him -- please, lower your guns down."

Andrew hesitated for a brief moment, inhaling deeply before lowering his gun down. Then he turned sideways to give Ramirez and Anthony a nod of his head which they obediently obliged and lowered their guns down.

I heaved a deep breath and lowered my arms before stepping aside to stand with Chloe who immediately wrapped her left arm behind my waist.

"So where the hell is Kelvin huh?" Andrew asked, his eyebrows raised in curiousity.

"He's dead -- he shot him" I gave a blunt response, turning to face the Jamaican who'd removed his hand from his waistline and stood erect with his jawbone protruding as he clenched his teeth.

Andrew licked his lower lip and sniffed, rubbing his nose with his right thumb before taking slow tentative steps forward and stood so closely in front of the Jamaican guy who without fear stared straight into his eyes.

"So um... We good about your brother?" Andrew asked in a somewhat cowardly tone.

The guy gave him a brief silent treatment that got me a little nervous with fear that Andrew's friendly inquisition might incite anger in the Jamaican -- especially when the subject was about his dead brother which he and his friends murdered!

So I slowly pulled Chloe's arm down my waist with my eyes still glued on them as they faced eachother and was about stepping in when I halted my resolve on hearing the Jamaican's voice.

"Mi gat nuh beef brogad... Liff by the sword, yhu die by the sword." He said calmly, extending his right hand to Andrew who exhaled sharply with a brief smile and shook it before retreating back to Ramirez and Anthony who were also stunned by the Jamaican's forgiving act.

"Hey so um... Thank you -- for saving us" I walked slowly towards the Jamaican who turned to face me with an acknowledging nod. "Do you need a lift?"

"Nuh" he objected with a brief shake of his head. "Just do yu ting -- and take care of yur hataz there. Zeen?" he added, gesticulating his head at Chloe who stood few metres behind me with her arms folded tightly - paying little or no attention to us.

I turned halfway to look at her, smiling sheepishly as I returned my gaze back on the guy. "Yeah... Zeen"

I didn't know what 'zeen' meant in Jamaican patois, but I just felt it was the right word to give to him as a response.

He chuckled in suppressed amusement and said. "mi see you likkle more then"

I nodded with a brief wave of my hand as I stood in relief, looking at the Jamaican who walked out of the rusty gate and left.

"Can we go now... I can't wait to see my parents" Chloe came and stood beside me with impatience in her stare.

"Yeah, um... Let's go -- am sure they are freaking out" I cleared my throat, chuckling briefly as I pulled her closer with my right arm wrapped over her shoulder.

"Aren't you two so cute" Andrew teased jokingly from where he sat in the driver's seat - looking at us from the door window as we approached and entered the back seat of the car -- sitting next to Anthony.

"So cute their love almost had us killed--" Ramirez chuckled from his front seat with everyone bursting into laughter at his joking comment. "But seriously, they kind of make me want to fall in love" he shrugged his shoulders and turned halfway to look at us behind with Chloe giggling before laying her head to rest on my right shoulder.

"I think am gonna call Anna on getting home" Anthony added with a laugh.

I muffled my giggling, shaking my head in amusement at their playful teases and said. "Can you spare us the teases and drive"

"Yeah --" Andrew chuckled and turned the ignition switch with the engine revving loudly as the car came on. "And oh, um Liam... Do you think I have a shot with Shelly?"

My eyes went wide in shock on hearing Andrew's purposeful inquisition as he drove for Chloe's house. The fact that he was vying on wooing Shelly was very funny.

"Yeah um... Shelly's a wild one so you have to proceed with caution" I answered, turning sideways to look at Chloe who smiled and lifted her head from my shoulder.

"I think you're a great guy Andrew -- all you just have to do is take her out on an official date and see where it leads" she added softly before returning her head back on my shoulder.

"Hey so I forgot to ask, how did you guys know where we were?" I looked at Andrew who was focused driving before glancing at Ramirez who turned to face me and said. "The hitman -- he revealed to us where she was being held. But we didn't know you'd be there too."

"And what about the hitman?" I asked immediately, looking at Ramirez who cast a look at Andrew.

"We've taken care of him -- and he won't be a problem anymore" Andrew answered bluntly in place of Ramirez who turned to face forward.

I totally understood what he meant by the hitman not being a problem anymore.

THEY DROPPED us off at Chloe's house and drove off.

"Hey, are you sure you don't want to come inside?" Chloe urged, holding my hands as we stood in front of her house entrance.

"No" I whispered to her face with a warm smile. "I don't think it'll be a good --" I paused instantly to look at Chloe's mom who rushed out of the house - followed by her husband behind.

"Oh my baby girl" she exclaimed cheerfully in pleasant relief and pulled Chloe to a long tight hug.

"I missed you so much mom -- dad" Chloe whispered to her mom and smiled at her dad who came to join in the hug.

I was relieved seeing them reunite after a week without their only daughter, and without anyone noticing my presence -- I turned around and took slow steps to leave.

"Liam" Chloe's dad voice sounded behind and jerked me to a sudden stop. Then I gulped hard and turned slowly around - struggling to steady my gaze on his as he approached me.

"Thank you for today" He said, extending his right hand for a handshake.

"Um... It's nothing sir" I shook his hand, glancing briefly over his shoulder to look at Chloe and her mom who stood side by side few metres behind him, staring gleefully at us.

"Am just glad she's safe and back home" I forced a nervous smile and looked into his eyes before pulling my hand from the handshake.

"Listen Liam, I uh..." He started to say, clearing his throat awkwardly while unconsciously rubbing his forehead with his right hand. "Am sorry I was too quick in my judgement. I was -- selfish, and made a mistake thinking Kelvin was right for my daughter."

"No uh.. um, you did what every father would have done" I countered rather politely with a forced smile.

"No --" he chuckled immediately and shook his head in doubt. "I would have done better than that" he heaved in a remorseful tone, turning halfway to look at his wife and Chloe retreating slowly into the house before facing me again.

"You have my approval and -- I don't want to stand in the way of you two" Mr Williams added with a fatherly smile that warmed my heart - causing the smile on my face to broaden even more, despite my efforts to suppress it.

"Am -- am grateful Sir" I stammered, sounding very excited.

Mr Williams chuckled and placed his right hand on my left shoulder and said. "Do you mind staying for lunch?"

Although his offer sounded very welcoming and all, but yet, I wasn't willing to give in so easily -- even though it would have gone a long way in bonding us.

"uh.. maybe next time sir." I declined very respectfully and retreated a step back. "I need to get back home -- my mom could be worried sick about my whereabout"

"Right -- but feel free to stop by anytime you want" He replied with a concluding nod before turning to walk back into the house - leaving me smiling sheepishly to myself after he'd gone inside before I turned around and left.

*** SIX MONTHS LATER, 6:50pm at home ***

"Careful, you don't want to strain your back" My mom cautioned with a wide smile, moving around the dining table to collect the tray of roasted turkey from Chloe's hand.

"No, am perfectly fine" Chloe chuckled to my mom and turned to face me as I approached.

"Babe... You should listen to her" I teased, giving her a tender kiss on the lips before pulling back a chair for Chloe who lowered and sat on it.

It was 24th Dec -- Christmas Eve and my house was busy with chatters of merry filling the whole room. A lot had happened in the past months with my mom seeing reasons to accept Andrew into our home now that he was officially dating Shelly who to my utmost surprise was madly obsessed with him -- Infact, they both were and couldn't stay a day without eachother!

As for Chloe, she was seven months gone with her tummy heavily protruding from the gown she was wearing -- very visible to be noticed by anyone.

"Are you sure the food will be ready soon -- seeing that Andrew is inside the kitchen with Shelly" I rolled my eyes in playful frustration and sat down on a chair beside Chloe who giggled - looking at my mom who laughed.

"Who's hungry?" Shelly announced in a cheerful voice, holding a large bowl of fried rice as she came into the dining room, followed by Andrew who was holding a bottle of beer in his left hand. Then she leveled it on the table

"Finally" I sighed in relief, looking at them as they chuckled and sat down next to each other.

"Liam -- can you say a brief word of prayer" my mom said, looking directly at me from the opposite end of the table. I wanted to protest, maybe direct it to Shelly or Andrew but I nodded in acceptance; after all, I had so many things to be grateful to God for -- life, family, friends -- and most especially, my beautiful darling, Chloe!

So I cleared my throat and slowly reached out to hold Chloe's left hand - squeezing it tightly in affection before bowing my head down to pray, saying. "Heavenly father, thank you for gathering us here today in love, good health..."

THE END...