"I will not see her," I responded stubbornly, after gathering my calm. "But she is not saying anything," Detective Michelle reminded me. "And if she does not say anything, there is no way we can continue with the case. There are hardly any leads and we must take on anyone we get.""I doubt she will be of any help either. Can you ask around the hospital my father was admitted in before he died? They should be of help," I evaded. She was silent a while, "Yes, ma'am. But I would advice you see that woman. She could hold information that will be helpful to the case."My palms formed fists and I growled lowly. "Just do as I say.""Yes ma'am," she hung up.I seethed in anger, puffing out white hot anger in breaths through my mouth. How dare she? What effontery did she have to request to see me? After she had abandoned me for years? I felt my head banging and I needed to go out to inhale some fresh air. I staggered to my vanity, knocking down my personal effects in the process. My visio

Jide carefully put me down after he noticed my shocked expression. I blinked severally to try to clear the confusion I felt. How was she a HIV patient and I had no idea about it? What other secrets are there that I did not know about? A splitting headache was forming and I cradled my head in my palms to balance my heavy head. I felt Jide's strong arms circle around my shoulder and lead me into the entrance to the reception. "Good afternoon. How may we be of help to you?" A pretty petite red hair nurse asked, flashing us her white pearls. "We would like to see Mrs...?" Jide zoned out, looking at me to provide the rest of the information. I gulped and wheezed out, "Rebecca. Rebecca Stone."The girl's dark eyes filled in recognition and she gasped in astonishment. "You looked too familiar. I knew you had to be the famous Ivory Stone. It is so nice to meet you personally. Can I get your autograph? Can I get a selfie?"I was gobsmacked. "How did you end up in a hospital? You are not

"The doctor concurred that Mrs. Stone paid them heavily to cover up the autopsy carried out on Mr. Stone. She asked them to record it as a heart attack. But there is an original record," Detective Michelle revealed to me. It was late in the afternoon and I was in the painting room. I admired my almost finished work as my mind rummaged on the information I got. "Where is it?" I asked her. "Locked away in the hospital's archive," she informed me. "Hope you got a record?" I inquired. "Yes, I did and I have sent it to the police. They are working on it as we speak," she informed me.I nodded, "Good. Let us talk when something new comes up, okay?"When she replied in the affirmative, I hung up and returned to my painting. "She looks just like you," I jerked at Jide's sudden voice behind me. I calmed when his huge palms rested on my shoulders. "You gave me a jump," I squeaked, my throat suddenly going dry. "Sorry," he whispered and jerked his head to the painting. "I am sure she wa

JIDEIt had been three days and Ivory had not awoken. I could not help but be terrified. Sitting by her bedside, I watched all the tubes that connected her body and the machines they were connected to. How much longer was she gonna be on this thing? Doctor said to give it time. How much more time? Was she going to spend the rest of her farm test here? Would she have to spend the rest of her one year here? This was so much to take in. Her father had died. Her mother had less than three years to live. And now she had a year? The doctor said it was a probability but damn it was scary. I had not returned to the farm since she was brought here. I had not changed out of my compost drenched clothes. I knew I was stinking but I did not care about me at the moment. I was more worried for Ivory. I had asked Kevin to inform her family, it was the right thing to do. I hoped they would not sue our farm. We did not want any trouble.I had sent a text to Jessica requesting that the children pu

IVORY I was able to convince Jide to return to his farm duties as I was sure they were only piling up for him. Nurse Lily came visiting later that night and I was dosed with some sedatives so I could rest a bit more. Waking up today, the doctor said my heart was showing signs of improvement and that was a good thing. I was served spaghetti bolognese which I enjoyed to my fill. I was dosed again and woke up later in the afternoon. The routine the hospital was already setting for me had begun to irritate me: lie, eat, sleep. It was tiring and boring. I missed the farm and the life there. It had been a while I actually missed something this bad. I missed Jide. I found my phone on a tray by my bed and I stretched to get it, pulling some wires along. When I got ahold of it, I swiped it open and scanned through my contact list. I felt bored and needed someone to talk to. The only people on my contact list was Grandma, Aunt Joan, Cassidy, Detective Michelle and some business assoc