CHAPTER 6

Michael's father's house was the second biggest in the town, after Mr Edwards. It had six big rooms, and a store, accessed by its own door. The latter had been Michael's room from age ten, and he still lived there even now when he was an adult.

Michael's life had run smoothly in spite of what life had taken him through, especially after the death of his father. His father, Joseph Peter's was an industrious man, a founder of EPSOM CONSTRUCTION, the company now solely owned by Mr Edwards.

Mr Edwards had bought out his stake only a few days before his death. Where he took the money nobody knew and Michael always suspected the two events, the buyout and the death of his father. With no prove to suggest foul play, he had accepted and moved on.

He made enough money from small businesses in the city to feed the two ladies and himself and still at the back of his mind was Diana Brown. He knew he had only to say a word and Diana would come running, with all she would own when her father died. Diana was a wonderful cook and a fine housekeeper and her nature was pleasant although he'd heard rumours that she was quick to temper.

What bothered him was her looks, her big bulk. Yet he had told himself that time and again, that such women generally made good wives and mother's.

Then he had seen Amelia, and from the first moment when he had interacted with her and looked at her, so young, so lovely, he had known he would never feel the same again. And as he watched and heard how she'd fought for her brothers, her quest to hold her family together, his love for her had rolled away with him, like four brand new tyres on his truck.

After the time he spent with her that morning, he knew he should stay away from her, it wasn't fair, since nothing would come out of it. But first he had to see her brother's education went on unhindered.

That Sunday, after driving his mother and aunt to church, he went home and sat thinking of nothing else except Amelia Simmons.

After dinner he walked to his truck and as he was about to drive away the headlights shone on his mother, who he'd thought to be asleep.

Mary Peters was as tall as her son but very thin. She had no love for her son for she saw nothing in him from her side of the family. She thought he resembled his father, who she hated even in death. Now her son was doing something his father had done, and she was plagued by the tall girl who had just been evicted by Mr Edwards.

“You're going to see her, ain't you?" She asked him.

He got out and went towards her. “It's not your business where I'm going, I'm an adult, and I'm different from my father." His voice was unemotional.

She moved slightly back from him. “You are a fool. Do you hear me? Any man would jump at the chance that's being held out to you. All those businesses, and schools. It will serve you right if another man comes along and snatches Diana Brown from you."

“They will be doing me a favor."

“Yo are obsessed with a woman with two kids and her grandma, crammed in a single room? You're mad!"

“Where else would she take them? Tell me, where else?"

“There are places." Her mouth was grim and her eyes narrowed.

To this he responded, “There are places indeed as you say, places like our house. Now be careful what you say as I might bring them all here, it's my inheritance."

On this he drove his truck towards the gate, forcing her to step aside. She stared after the disappearing truck, her expression a mixture of fear and fury.

The following day he was driving home when he saw Amelia and her brother walking towards their new home. He stopped his truck and noticed that she was carrying her kid brother in her arms.

“What is it?" He asked them.

He had stopped his truck and rolled down his window.

“Thomas had a fever, we're from the hospital. He's been treated." She said.

“Get in the truck," he told them.

“But we're almost home."

“Just get in, all of you. There's something I want to tell you."

They all fitted in well, Amelia holding the baby and Willis between them.

“I've managed to talk to Mr Brown." He said as he drove towards their house.

“He's said it's fine. Willis can go back to school once the holidays are over."

Even the ever silent Willis managed to scream with glee.

She gazed at him as if he were God. “Oh Michael." She stretched her hand and touched his, but he drew it away. The truck was parked outside their house.

“I have got to go now, but I'll be back tomorrow. Have a great evening."

She watched him drive away before walking into the house.

When he reached home his mother was waiting for him.

“What happened? You seem deep in thought?"

“I'm fine. I went to talk to Mr Brown. He's taking the young boy back to school, but he won't be paying any fees." He said, just to infuriate her.

The conversation he had with Mr Brown hadn't been easy. He knew that the old man loved money so much, but he loved his daughter even more and Michael used this as his bargaining chip, you do this for me and I'll do all that you have always wanted me to do.

“I'll have her arrested. I'll tell the government that she's in no state to raise minors." She said angrily.

He moved towards her and stopped only a few inches away and with a bitter voice he said, “you lift your hand on her and I'll walk away as if you have never been. And I'll leave you and your sister to fend for yourselves, then I'll take Amelia and the kids and settle them elsewhere."

As he walked to his room he knew he could do just what he'd said, but he won't.