CHAPTER 7: A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS

I had finished eating now and Sandra and I were watching TV. She was lying on my laps and

from time to time, we kissed as we talked and laughed. Jane was sitting at the dining section of

the parlour, scowling at me. From time to time, I looked at her and made faces. Sandra had no

idea about the silent war that was going on.

Soon, Sandra said it was time to go home. So, I drove her to her house instead of giving her

transport fare like she had proposed. When I got back, Jane was still in the living room. She

made faces at me as I entered.

“What is your problem?” I asked.

“I don’t know for how long I can continue doing this. I find it difficult to pretend.” She grumbled.

“But you have no choice. I am putting a roof over your head, you and your daughter, and

feeding you both. In fact, I am your benefactor, your sole benefactor. So, it is for you to decide. If

you don’t want it that way, then leave. By the way, you are spending the night in my room

tonight.”

“Why? I thought your fiancée just left here?”

“How is that your business? If you ask me that foolish question again, you will hear from me,

beef.”

Jane and her daughter had lived in my house now for two months. During those two months, it

had been complete hell for her. I took advantage of the fact that she was helpless and used her

as I wanted. I was also very rude to her. She had no choice but to obey. She had nowhere else

to go and didn’t want to return to the village.

One day, she told me that her daughter was sick and needed to go to the hospital.

“How is that my business if your daughter is sick? Take her to the hospital.” I spoke

nonchalantly.

“I don’t have money.”

“What should I do? Do you think I am a bank? Do you think I am a tree from which money can

be plucked at any time?” I asked rudely.

“I didn’t say that. I am just pleading. Last night, I barely slept because her temperature was very

high.” She explained.

“Her temperature was high since last night, and you are just telling me now. You see your life?

Incompetent mother. Now, I understand why her father abandoned you both. I don’t have any

money to take her to the hospital.”

“John, you have been wicked to me, you have been unkind to me, but I have no choice.

However, I am pleading with you. Do not extend your unkind nature to Chloe.” She spoke and I

became incensed with anger.

“Who are you calling wicked? Who are you calling unkind?” I asked and angrily and moved

towards her. Before she could respond, I gave her two sound slaps and she fell on the floor and

started crying.

“My life is in your hands, John. Do whatever you want to do to me and Chloe even if it means

taking our lives. We are your slaves. Do to us as you deem fit.” She wept bitterly, crawling

towards her room.

“You are still talking? Wait, let me understand something. Are you talking back to me?” I asked,

enraged moving towards her again.

She realized that I was coming to deal with her again, and quickly ran to where her sick

daughter laid and carried her in her arms. Her intention was to use her as shield so that I

wouldn’t hit her again. But she was wrong, I still gave her two more slaps and then finished it

with a kick. She and Chloe fell on the bed and the baby almost hit her head against the wall.

They both started crying, making noise and disturbing the whole place.

Vexed and wondering what to make of everything, I left the house, got into my car and drove off.

When I got back late at night, the house was empty. I couldn’t find Jane or her daughter. I smiled

thinking that they had gone. My face fell when I went to the guest room and realized that their

belongings were still there. I got my phone and called her.

“Why did you leave some of your clothes behind? How can you leave without taking all your

stuff?” I asked.

“I haven’t left, John. I am at the hospital with Chloe. She has been admitted.” She replied.

“Who took you to the hospital?” I asked angrily.

“One of your neighbours. She saw us struggling and decided to help.”

“Struggling indeed, incompetent mother. Which neighbour is that by the way?”

“I know how your mind works, John. Don’t worry yourself. It is a female not a male.”

“Okay, which hospital is it?”

“Mount Mary.”

I stood for a while all alone at home, and I felt a little pity for her. So, I decided to go to the

hospital to look for them. When I got there, little Chloe smiled broadly when she saw me, and for

a moment, my heart melted. The neighbour who had been helpful was sitting on the bed beside

her. I stretched my hand and carried the child. With her head resting on my chest, I spoke.

“If not for your foolishness, this child would be alright. A child was sick all night and you couldn’t

tell me. What if something had happened to her? You are lucky that you are not my family, I

would have dealt with you, by the way, no family member of mine can be so foolish and

incompetent. If you don’t learn to be serious in this life, I will send you away to go back to

wherever you came from.”

While I was speaking, she was very quiet listening to me. However, she seemed to be warning

me with her eyes to stop talking. I thought it was because she felt I was embarrassing her in

front of the neighbour. I didn’t know that it was something else.

She had called Sandra and told her she was at the hospital with Chloe. I didn’t know that. While

I was busy throwing invectives, Sandra had walked into the room and I didn’t even notice.

“Hi John.” She called from behind me.

I turned around in fright.

“Sandra, you are here?! I asked, scared. “How long have you been here?”

“For a while, but you were too busy talking to Jane that you didn’t hear me coming.”

“Talking to Jane? You have been here for that long?”

“Yes, and I heard everything.” She grinned knowingly.

Oh no! If she had heard everything, that meant she had now known that Jane wasn’t my

relative. We had just been playing her. I was in deep trouble. We were both in big trouble.