Chapter One

Jesse Billion trudged up the stairs tiredly to his apartment with his sleeping daughter in his arms glad that he’d been able to avoid seeing the landlord today concerning his house rent which he’d not been able to pay for about two months now but he knew he had no such luck when he saw the man seated on a plastic chair right in front of his door waiting for him rather patiently and there was a huge padlock on the door.

“You’re here.” The man said. “Welcome.”

“Good evening Mr Godwin.” Jesse greeted.

“There is nothing good about this evening at all Billion.” Godwin snapped. “Where’s my money?”.

“Can I at least go in and put my daughter down first? She’s not feeling well.” He said. 

“So you’ll lock the door abi? I was not born yesterday Jesse.” He informed him. “Today is January 31, surely you would have been paid since twenty fifth.”

That was true but he’d used part of the money to buy drugs for his little girl – expensive drugs for her heart condition because without it, she was as good as dead. He was even still owing the hospital that he’d taken her to for treatment six months ago.

“I promise that I won’t lock the door.” He said. “You have my word.”

And because his little girl was very much loved by everyone in the building including Godwin, he was let into his apartment and carried her straight to bed. He undressed her leaving her in her tank top and shorts then he returned to the sitting room where Godwin was patiently still waiting. The man was known for his patience when it was time to collect his rent but impatient with other things.

“I have somewhere to be so hurry up.” Godwin said.

Jesse took out his wallet and pulled out the money then handed it to Godwin who counted it and frowned.

“This is five thousand naira Jesse. You’re owing me…”

“Twenty thousand I know.” Jesse cut him off with a tired sigh. “I’ll pay you the rest soon.”

“What do I want to do with this?”. Godwin demanded angrily flinging the money back at him. 

“Mr Godwin… please you have to understand that my daughter is very sick and I don’t even have money to treat her or buy her drugs.” He pleaded. “I promise to pay you the rest as soon as I have. I mean I’ve not owed you rent money before right?”.

“Well… no.” Godwin grudgingly agreed and accepted the money.

Jesse was his most loyal and paying tenant but after his divorce with his very horrible wife who made sure to milk him of every last penny he had and the fact that said wife got him sacked from his place of work… he was broker than a broken bottle so to speak.

“I’ve applied to different companies for a new job and I hope to hear from one of them soon. By God’s grace I’ll pay you every dime I owe you.” Jesse assured him.

“Very well.” Godwin said. “It is because of Guwen that I’ll leave you for now but please don’t take my kindness for granted.”

“I won’t. Thank you sir.”

Godwin excused himself and walked out of Jesse’s apartment.

Jesse’s daughter’s name was Guinevere who was named after his wife’s favorite actress in Merlin but since it was difficult for people to pronounce Guinevere, her name was shortened to Gwen and they still got it wrong so Jesse left them to it and didn’t bother correcting them.

Jesse stared at the picture frames on the wall above the TV and frowned when his ex wife’s smiling eyes stared right back at him.

He’d done everything he can to make Helena happy, going as far as leaving his family to marry her and his family had disowned him in return and now his mother’s words rang in his head everyday mocking him for being stubborn.

“I’ll get back on my feet.” Jesse promised himself. “I’ll do anything to keep Gwen alive. Anything.” Except to steal.

He stood up and walked to the kitchen to make dinner for himself and Gwen knowing that she was bound to wake up soon. He sighed when he opened the pot and realized that the leftover beans from two days ago had spoiled because he forgot to warm it.

“Great.” He thought, throwing his hands in the air. “Just wonderful.” He hung his head in despair as he wondered where he was going to get money to buy something for them to eat. He was unfortunately still owing the landlord’s wife for the food stuffs he’d collected on credit last week so he couldn’t go back to her.

“Daddy?”. Gwen stood in the doorway.

“Hey.” He looked up and smiled at her. “Are you okay?”. He walked over to carry her.

“I’m okay but I’m hungry.” She said.

“What will you eat?”. He inquired.

“Rice and plantain.” She smiled. “From the restaurant down the road.”

“Okay.” He nodded. “That’s all?”.

“Yes.”

“You’ll have to stay with Susan and her mother okay so I can go and buy your dinner.” He carried her back to the bedroom and dropped her on the bed then searched in her bag for a change of clothes.

“Daddy?”.

“Hmmm?”. He pulled out a long sleeved shirt and jeans for her.

“When is mommy coming back?”. She questioned. “I miss her.”

Jesse sighed inwardly as he thought about how to break it to his daughter that her mother had left them for good and she was never coming back.

“Daddy?”. Gwen called impatiently.

Jesse turned to look at her. “I’m sorry baby but… mommy is never coming back.”

“Why? Doesn’t she love us?”.

“Not anymore. She still loves you.” He added quickly when he noticed the sad look on her face. “I’m sure she still loves you.”

A blind man could see that Helena Johnson only loved herself which was why she shacked up with the first rich man that came her way. A man old enough to be her grandfather but of course it was none of her concern as long as she got something out of the relationship. It was a miracle that he’d been able to have her for seven miserable years before she cut the final cord and walked.

Jesse put on her clothes for her and her shoes then went to get a food flask from the kitchen and they left.

“Jesse hello.” Susan’s mother Abby greeted when she opened the door and saw them. “Hi Gwen.”

“Hello Mrs Adams.” Gwen waved.

“Can she stay with you? I have to get dinner for her.”

“Sure. Come in Gwen.” She stepped aside and the little girl ran in. “Let me guess…”, She raised a brow knowingly.

“Yeah.” Jesse looked embarrassed. “Mr Godwin collected the last money I had on me for rent.”

“Well you’re in luck.” Abby grinned. “Come in.”

Jesse hesitated but went in and she closed the door.

“I’ll be right back.” Abby said and rushed off.

The Adamses were the only ones living in a three bedroom flat in the apartment. Her husband Ruben Adams worked in an oil company as an engineer and earned twice the salary Jesse used to receive in his former place of work. Safe to say that Ruben was the envy of every man in the apartment building.

“Here.” Abby returned lugging a small bag of rice, a litre of groundnut oil while her youngest son Ruben junior carried a bowl of pepper. “Ruben’s brother sent these for us but we can’t eat them all so you can have them.”

“I possibly can’t accept this.” Jesse shook his head.

“A man must have his pride and all of that I get it but he’s also not an island. You’ve helped us when you could so just see this as payback.” Abby told him.

“Abby…”

“I love you like a brother Jesse.” Abby said. “We’re best friends so please accept this or you’ll break my heart.”

Jesse and Abigail had known each other all their lives, their mothers were also best friends and it had been concluded by their mothers that Jesse and Abby would get married and they would end up being in laws but that was not so as Abby met and fell in love with Ruben Adams freshman year of high school and they’d been together ever since.

Jesse used to tease her that her love story with Ruben was a match made in heaven while his was thought up by someone who didn’t know what he was doing and they would keel over with laughter.

“Okay.” He sighed. “Thank you.” He accepted the gifts.

“I already made dinner so Gwen can eat here instead. I prepared rice and plantain with goat meat.” She smiled. “You’re free to join us for dinner.”

“It’s fine.” He shook his head. “I have to clean up the house.”

“Okay but offer’s still open.”

Jesse smiled. “Sure.”

“Can I stay daddy?”. Gwen can back to meet him.

“Sure but don’t stay too long so you can do your homework.”

“Alright.” She said and hurried off.

“You should rest.” Abby said looking concerned. “Please.”

“Yes Mom.” He rolled his eyes and turned to leave.

Abby grinned. “Need help with that?”.

“Now you’re bruising my ego.” He grumbled making her laugh. “I got it.”

“Okey dokey.” She waved and closed the door behind him.