Well, I'm indeed quite happy because I never lacked financially. I have a business that is quite lucrative and has seen me through my difficult times, in terms of finance. That's just it! But, what about the other side of life? Life has been unfair to me, especially in my failed marriages. Thank God, I have a daughter, Stephanie. She is the only one that gives me hope whenever my heart becomes troubled.
Oh, lest I forget, I also have a wonderful friend, Melinda, she was my childhood friend and we remained great friends even though we have hit Mid-thirties respectively. Although Melinda's husband was no more, I believe she was better than me. Unlike me, she was never divorced instead, it was the cold hands of death that took her husband away from her but, luckily for Melinda, her union produced a son, Johnny. Johnny has always been handsome since his childhood. It was when he turned age 15, that I realised that his handsomeness was something that has come to stay in him forever.Back in those days before I left for the city to live with my ex-husband, I was fond of Johnny. Yes, that was 4 years ago. I can also testify to the fact that the lad must have had some kind of crush on me but, I never think much about that, since I consider that a premature thought and is not expected of me. Come on! Johnny was my best friend's son there was no way I could scoop so low to such an act. Despite my resistance, a part of me suddenly began developing feelings for him exactly when he turned 15. However, luckily for me, I moved in with my husband (who is my ex-husband now) in his rented apartment in the City. I handed over my restaurant in Kingston to a trusted individual who ran while I moved to Charlottesville, the City where my ex-husband lived.Although it was almost four years ago, I never stopped speaking with Melinda on the phone and neither did I terminate any communication with Johnny. I would ask of him anytime I speak with Melinda on the phone. Gracious Lord! Melinda would hand over her phone to Johnny and ask the lad to speak with me. We would talk about so many things. Most of the things we talked about were hilarious. Yes, such were they because I always hear Melinda laughing in the background. I would ask him about his girlfriend and he would tell me that he has none except my daughter, Steph. I never took him seriously because I thought he was trying to pay me back for messing with his head hilariously. We would just laugh it off and that's it!It was hard to believe that Steph would date Johnny because the two of them were not so close when they were kids. Back in their childhood days, I bring Steph along whenever I was going to see Melinda. I watch them as they seldom play. Despite all that happened during their childhood, Melinda believed that someday both Johnny and Steph would get along very well.When I left for Charlottesville, Steph stayed with my brother who lived in Kingston with his wife. I believed she will be safe under him while I move on with my newfound love, at least that was what I was hoping for.
One day, Melinda called and told me the new situation at hand. She told me that Johnny and Steph were dating. By then, both of them were twenty years each and were in college. I was surprised given their odd past. However, I was happy for Steph. I believed Johnny would be more handsome than five years ago when I saw him for the last time. My daughter must have been a lucky bitch. My marriage was already having irreparable cracks. I knew that it was a matter of time before we go our separate ways. Months later, we divorced.
The thought of heading back to Kingston town never left me alone. For me, I believed that staying in a place where I would be taken care of by my friends and families was a good idea. Melinda reacted excitedly when I told her that I was gonna touch now soon. She shouted so excitedely on her phone and told me, "girl, bring it o!" Melinda's cheering words gave me the confidence to leave Charlottesville and move on with my life. She was of the opinion that, the more I get to see my ex-husband who lived in the same street as me, the more I would be always forced to remember the pastt and that could have a negative effect on my mental health.Melinda was right, I was going through hell. I made a hasty packing and plan to return. No one knew the day I flew into Kingstown from Charlottesville. It was yesterday I touched down. Luckily for me, I met no one who had any acquaintance with me. I intended to surprise my daughter and most especially Melinda. Because I arrived in the morning, around 8 am, I had to hurry up with all I was doing lest I miss Melinda that morning. It was obvious she woke up on time every morning and goes to Kingston town highschool where she worked as a teacher.
It was almost an hour later when I arrived at Melinda's house. The cottage in the middle district of Kingstown has never changed. The ornamental trees that were used to beautify the environment never changed except for some new small trees growing alongside. The garden not too far from the front also remained in place. Generally, There were no visible changes. Slowly, I approached the door. I was about to knock at it when all of a sudden it opened by itself. Behold, my eyes caught something I never expected. It was what most people would call lust at first sight.Late in the afternoon, I walked to the grocery where I hoped to buy some food items which I will be needing to make a nice meal for Steph, the next day when she comes back.No doubt, I was very excited to have her after a long time, although we do speak on the phone often for me, that was not enough. Simeon, my ex-husband could have adopted Steph as his Steph daughter but he wouldn't do that. His answer when asked, always remains vague. He wouldn't go straight to the point. Sometimes he initiates a cover-up! The one he often gives as his defence was that, Steph was an adult and that it would not make sense anymore to have her in his home. He suggested that my daughter should stay with any of my siblings, close relatives or even her boyfriend!'How dare Simeon!' I would rebuke him back then but sadly, I had no authority to decide what happens in our home. He is the head of my household and his final decision is mine as well even though, it may not be in my interest. I was following Si
I knew that there was something wrong because Melinda wouldn't have changed the happy expression on her face to a saddened one. There was absolute silence between us for a few seconds. I wondered what she was going to say next about Johnny, I hope it's not what I'm thinking.At last, he broke the silence between us by speaking up. "Johnny has been acting weird ever since he returned home yesterday. I tried to source a piece of information from him concerning his surly mood but, he wouldn't speak out. You know, Becky, I felt bad about that. I can tell you that it has been a long since I saw him in such a state of mind."I listened carefully to all she was telling me. There was no distraction whatsoever, I. Everything I got at that moment was on her as was speaking. Nevertheless, after her brief pause, I asked her a question. "Did you try to talk to him or just kept staring without taking any action?" "Yes, I tried Becky!" Said Melinda as she gets to her feet and walked across the liv
The corps that Melinda was calling on the phone never answered. She dialled the number for a second time, almost a minute interval. It was at that moment that I began getting suspicious of her. Was she really calling the cops on me or was this one of her expensive jokes? I couldn't figure out actually, what he was up to. I just remained in silence and watched as the phone kept ringing."Oh, shit! What happened to the corps today? Their line is not going through, I will have to call them again to come and pick up!" She was not laughing, all the smiles on her face had disappeared.I became worried at that moment because, obviously, this is not my friend. The Melinda I knew will never do such but, why is she behaving this way? Again, all these questions were not easy to answer. But then, she dialled the number for the third time. I could not take it anymore, I stood to my feet and began talking to her. "You are not calling the cops on me, are you?" "Of course, I'm calling the cops to co
I had a good time with the little boy called David. He was indeed fascinated by the sand hut I built. We talked about it for a long time before my cell phone began ringing unexpectedly. I excused myself from him to answer my call. Who else could be calling if not Melinda of course? Just the reason why she was calling at the moment was what I will find out when I pick her call."Hi, Melinda," I began with a sweet voice."Hello, Becky, are you there?" She sounded like she couldn't hear all I have said. Perhaps, a poor service network has a way of ruining things. Yes, I blamed the poor network service. "Hello, Melinda, can you hear me now?""Yes, of course, I can. Where are you at this moment?" She asked with a tone that I would like I classify as an excited one"Hey, I went for a walk, you know it's been a long time since I have walked around the neighbourhood.""Oh, that's true! No doubt about that. Take your time honey but, where are you exactly, because I'm standing right in front
What was supposed to be a source of anger and weeping turned out to be a source of happiness for us. Although her past was painful, according to what Mrs Moore told me, we laughed about it and pretended as if nothing happened.I had a more meaningful discussion with Mrs Moore before I left her to see my old neighbours in the other buildings. Only a few of them asked me about Simeon. Most of them felt happy when I informed them that I was not going back to Charlottesville. I enjoyed the warm welcome from everyone I came across in the neighbourhood. I left for Lakesharon. Nothing feels so good as going down to Lakesharon looking around and appreciating the beauty that nature has bestowed upon the lake and its surroundings.I trekked since I considered walking over a relatively long distance, a form of body exercise, which I was very sure that my body needed at that moment. I walked along the paved road that leads to the lake, enjoying the spectacular view ahead of me.I walked for abou
Mrs Moore fixed her eyes on me and almost ignored the existence of all other important things in the living room. One of those important things was her Television. Although it was news time and the anchor of the news station seemed to have some interesting event to report, Moore still ignored all and gave me her attention."Why did he choose to do that?" She asked"I have been living in a horrible marriage, Mrs Moore." My tears were still flowing although I have managed clean the greater quantity, the remaining tears were scanty around my eyes. "We found ourselves in a situation that we simply can't go on with. I have been enduring for years and Mrs Moore, those years were really painful, there was nothing good to talk about them. I kept hoping for a change in my marriage but, it never came rather, it collapsed despite all the sacrifices I made to keep it going." I cleaned the remnants of my tears again and resumed, "Simeon, began seeing another woman downtown in our district. At firs