Chapter 3

"I know you won't believe this Erica but it's the truth, mother took to drugs and excessive smoking when she felt hopeless about her mental sickness never having a cure, she lost control over it especially when dad didn't believe in psychiatric doctors being of any help and...."

Erica's eyes grew wide on hearing what Joan was saying, it was too hard for her to take the information down.

"Wait a minute..." Erica said looking confused.

Joan shurgged "you have any questions or are you doubting what I am saying?"

"Joan what the hell are you trying to say? You are saying that dad knew mum had mental issues and refused to help her get treatment for it? Are you indirectly saying that dad is the reason why mother was the way she is?" Erica asked.

"Exactly..." Joan answered looking mean.

Erica gasped.

"Joan can you listen to yourself? If mum's behavior was caused by her mental issues, why was I the only one suffering for it, her younger child while you were treated like a princess by her?" Erica asked with tears almost finding it's way out of her eyes.

"Erica I can't explain that but...."

Erica cutted in quickly looking upset "and she decided to focus her aggression on mutilating my skin with cigarettes and making life miserable for me?"

Joan sighed "you have no idea what our life was like when we left...."

Erica shook her head "you don't understand what mother made me go through...."

"But it was not her fault Erica, when would you understand that and forgive her?" Joan asked.

"You are always supporting her, you have always supported her!" Erica yelled.

"Erica she is still your mother, our mother...." Joan said.

"Well... sorry to disappoint you Joan, I don't have a mother" Erica said.

"Erica!!!" Joan called out in shock.

Erica looked away blinking her eyes severally, she couldn't believe that this was the truth, their father have never mentioned that their mother ever had a mental illness so what exactly was Joan talking about?

Erica knew that her father wasn't that heartless to deny their mother medical help, she has always known her father to be very kind and peaceful.

Erica turned to her "where is mother now?"

Joan shurgged "out of the states, don't worry she is fine now."

Erica was silent.

Joan grinned "I have missed you sister."

Erica didn't want the topic to be changed, she knew what Joan was trying to do but she decided to let go, she didn't want her mood to turn sour.

Erica have truly missed Joan and didn't want their first meet up to turn into a heated argument but she also realized that their friendship was smoother within technology, calling each other and sending emails.

Erica was beginning to feel very weird about Joan, like she was sitting with a stranger.

Joan fondled Erica's shoulder on noticing that she was absent minded "are you okay Erica?"

Erica nodded with an average smile "sure I am."

Joan ordered for a drink and they talked for a long while.

Erica lost track of time, she took a quick glance at her golden wrist watch and gasped.

"What is it?" Joan asked.

"I have to go now, I need to visit my boyfriend" Erica informed.

Joan giggled "you have a boyfriend?"

Erica nodded feeling very proud of herself "a hot one."

Joan laughed "now I am jealous sister..."

"Please don't be" Erica said.

"What about you Joan? Do you have a boyfriend?" Erica asked.

Joan laughed "not really, I haven't seen a good one yet."

Erica nodded "Soon you meet one as good as mine."

Joan chuckled nervously rubbing her hand behind her neck "I hope so."

"Would you be going back to...." Erica tried to say.

Joan cut her off before she finished her statement.

"I live here now" Joan.

They walked outside heading to Erica's car.

"I don't understand..." Erica took a glance at her while watching her steps.

"I just rented an apartment, so we are close to each other now Erica" Joan informed.

Erica smiled "sounds great! That sounds better."

"You stay alone?" Erica asked.

Joan nodded "you can come live with me if you want."

Erica was standing in front of her car now as she leaned on it fixing her hairs behind her ears.

"I wish I could come live with you Joan but I am fine staying with dad."

Joan gasped "you still live with dad?"

Erica nodded "is their anything wrong with that?"

Joan nodded "of course everything in this world is definitely wrong with it, you're a grown woman now so you deserve some good privacy or don't you like catching fun?"

Erica smiled "it does not matter Joan."

"Fine... if you say so" Joan sighed raising her hands.

"See you later Erica" Joan said giving her a hug.

Erica drove off in her car leaving Joan standing there with her hands folded.

Joan smirked fixing her gaze on nothing.

"Little Erica have grown into a beautiful lady I must confess, my father's love is doing alot on her" she thought aloud.

She grabbed her phone from her bag and dailed a number.

The receiver picked at once.

"I met her already and I am ready for plan "B" she hanged up looking thoughtful.

"Now let's see how well you have grown Erica" Joan said walking over to her car as she drove off.

Erica drove home, she wanted to have good bath before going to visit Liam.

Erica wanted to be sure she looked and smelt fresh, Liam paid alot of attention to these things.

Erica couldn't wait to tell her father that she met Joan today.

Luckily enough he was at home...

He was still very strong serving his country though he doesn't go to war or peace keeping anymore.

Erica greeted him with a warm hug...

"Guess who I saw today daddy...?" Erica asked.

"The president?" He asked fixing his gaze on the newspapers in his hands.

Erica glared jokingly at him "Daddy please be serious."

"I am serious Erica" he answered .

"Fine... I will tell you, I saw Joan today..." she informed.

"Who is Joan?" He asked lifting his eyes off the newspaper.

Erica gasped "Joan is my sister, your daughter....."

"Erica stay away from Joan" he said standing to his feet, he looked very upset and nervous.

For the first time in a long time Erica witnessed her father swing into a very unexplainable mood at the mention of his Joan's name.

Erica wondered if she heard clearly, she stuck her finger into her ears trying to wipe them clean.

"Father what are you saying?" Erica said looking totally dumbfounded.

"She isn't who you think she is Erica, you must avoid her" he answered.

"Joan is my sister and bestfriend father" Erica fired back staring at his face.

His eyes widened "since when??"

"We have been texting each other for years and we finally met today, I can't believe you are asking me to stay away from her?"

"It's for your own good Erica" he answered.

Erica shook her head "is that why you never told me that mother had a mental illness?"

He gasped "is that what she told you?"

Erica shurrged "do you have a better explanation for the bitter maltreatments I got from mother?"

Andrew was quite, standing there staring at his daughter.

Erica sighed "I guess you don't."

She walked away heading to my room.

Andrew scoffed running his hands throughout his hair.

"This cannot be happening..." he thought looking depressed.