TOO FAR TO REACH 37

 

TOO FAR TO REACH 37

I had just finished setting breakfast when aunty called me from the living room, she asked me to join her in her room. Nancy had taken long with her bath and we stole this time to discuss a little.

“I had to call you here” aunty said.

I listened attentive while I sat at the edge of her bed. She had a serious look on her face.

“You know I am concerned” Aunty begun

Pumulo listened attentively wondering where everything was going.

“I overheard Jacinta whining on the phone near my bedroom window, I am sure she did not know I was in the bedroom. It seemed like she was talking to Mosha”

“Mosha?” I asked wonderingly

“Yes Mosha, isn’t she the one who was engaged to Jeff?”

I posed a little as I got lost in thought.

“You know my daughter, get rid of this girl immediately.. this is your home and the last thing you need is stress.. get her out of this place and enjoy your home”

I battled many emotions at once, does it mean Mosha had been to this house before? What was going on? If she had been here before it meant this duplex was not so much of a secret after all. So why did Jeff make it seem like we were so safe? How did Jacinta get Mosha's number?

As I was analyzing everything Nancy got done with her bath and she called after me.

“Your sister in law is calling, go and eat with her… we will finish this conversation later”

Uncle opted to shower and rest a little before he could eat. I felt he also needed Nancy and I to talk things off. There was an awkward silence as Nancy and I settled at the dining table, I did not want to say much but I had to make her comfortable.

“please” I said as I signaled her to begin plating the food for herself

I wanted to have a conversation but I realised Nancy was indeed serious about making peace. She was so composed and ate quietly, I could see the respect she had for me as she spoke to me with high regard.

“I am so sorry about the babies” she said.

I swallowed hard, an intense pain overwhelmed my emotions. Did she say she was sorry? Sorry that I lost the babies anyway. She must have been glad I lost them without her doing anything, I was so hurt and bitter but regardless of how i considered it to be, her intentions looked pure. She seemed truly concerned.

“We leave everything to God” I said

Although I was looking at my plate of food, I noticed Nancy take a long glance at me. It’s like she had something to say.

“Mosha isn’t pregnant” she said.

I nodded my head as my folk played with my food, I could not look at her. I gently stabbed the beans on my plate. I had barely touched my cereal or the baked beans.

“I am so sorry… I thought I was doing everything in the best interest of my brother, he… well I guess I just had a hard time accepting that he could make rational decisions”

I still did not look at her.

“I was aware of your wedding, Jeff told me himself and his coming here with you was a decision he made openly to me. He disowned himself from us to be with you. I mean from me really, my husband had no issues, he however was not invited to the wedding. I felt bad that everything came to this.. my husband wants a divorce”

I quickly looked up and she extended her hand from across the table.

“Please help me save my marriage”

I was short of words.

“Jeff said so much to me before the wedding, he told me so much..” she said emotionally.

“I just didn’t know when the wedding would be but I knew it would happen… he told me.. he told me I can never be half the woman that you are… I raised Jeff but he insulted me like that” she said as tears lingered in her eyes.

“I was not trying to harm you, I was protecting my only brother… I had been through so much with him I needed a break”

I looked at Nancy and watched her cry, I wish I could say I felt pity for her but I did not.

“Pumulo take it from me, I do not hate you… this had nothing to do with you or anybody else.. it was me.. I just needed to accept Jeff was mature enough to have his own path.

I listened quietly, I had no idea what to say. The awkward silence was stopped when Jacinta walked to the dining room and impolitely told me someone was looking for the owner of the house but she had tried to ring Jeff and he was not answering.

“So why are you telling me?” I asked

“Well because you might know..”

I said an internal prayer asking for strength.

“who is she?” Nancy asked me

“Jeff’s maid” I replied.

I knew Nancy was concerned about her attitude.

Jacinta left my presence swinging her waist and showing off her figure.

“Excuse me” I said to Nancy.

When I got to the door, I was surprised that it was a news paper delivery guy. The man even said he did not ask for anybody, he just wanted to deliver the newspaper.  I thanked him and got what I needed .

I followed Jacinta in the kitchen where she was cleaning up.

“Jacinta pack your bags.. your services are no longer needed” I said.

I had never found myself so courageous but I had enough stress, Jacinta was not going to be part of the stress.

Jacinta burst out laughing

“I’m not employed by you, I’m employed by Jeff, and until he says I’m not needed, I’m staying”