Janet has been furiously working her brain up thinking there has got to be something about Mel she can use to blackmail, she will turn Monica to her side and together with her help Mel shall be history, she has asked people around and no one seems to know anything about Melanie until when Someone directed her to her former house, it’s after work she decided to pay the area a visit, she came close to the small house that used to be Melanie’s, she makes a good use of her smartphone by taking a picture of it, she walks over to the neighbour and finds a woman seated alone “Good evening Madame” the woman looks at her studying her properly and then says nothing, this did not discourage Janet because she proceeds to sit down next to the woman ” I have never been to this area but I’m here looking for someone” “Someone?… doesn’t he or she have a name” “She does, actually she has been my long time friend in high school but we parted ways when I travelled to the eastern part of this country…. I remember her name was Melanie but I can’t remember the other name, someone directed me saying she lives around here” “Melanie used to live around here with her mum and just recently they were joined by and aunt but they don’t live here anymoreOh my God! I can’t believe all my efforts in trying to find her are all nothing…..do you know where I can find her” “I don’t know, but a young man has been visiting her here ever since her failed wedding” “Failed what?…. Mel had no boyfriend when we in school” “Apparently she fell in love with a rich minister’s kid, the boy used to come here and everyone knew about their affair, everything was going on fine until the day of her wedding, she was left at the alter in the middle of saying their vows and that was it, she never came home for three days but when she did, she was accompanied by another rich kid and this time it was not long we got to know she was pregnant” Janet is loving this tale even more “Do you remember the name of that man, I mean the minister’s son” “Ronald something….. I don’t know the other name, maybe I forgot or I never really paid any attention to it” Janet starts to think more, she remembers she heard a similar story some months back, she must have read this somewhere, she even had the paper “Miss….are you alright” “Yes yes I’m fine…..thank you for this information, i need to be on my way” “Wait…you didn’t even tell me your name” “That’s not necessary” she collects her bag and walks away “So you’re not a saint after all Melanie….. hmmmm there is a huge possibility that Tobi not the father of that baby, I’m going to find out more about you……I still have that news paper somewhere so let the game begin”……… Melanie, her mother and her aunt have already spent a day in the Akankwasa residence, they are still trying to fit in the lifestyle and also get used to Monica’s mood swings, they had spent the whole day in their rooms with their breakfast, lunch and evening tea served there….. Tobi had not been home because he needed to take care of something urgently, it’s already evening and almost time for dinner when he arrived, he found Lisa in the kitchen but instead of calling her like he always does, he walks over there to talk to her ” Good evening sir…..I didn’t hear you call” “That’s because I didn’t call when I got in….how are you””I’m fine Sir, dinner is almost ready, I’m already setting the table but I don’t know how many people are eating at the dinning” “What are you saying….. don’t you know how many people are in here…..how did you serve them lunch” “They all ate from their rooms” “And why is that” “Your Mum didn’t come down for lunch and she asked me not to set her dinning table, so I had no choice but to serve your wife and those two in their room, they all ate together” Tobi’s anger is on the highest level “That should be the very first and the last time you ever do that…..those people are a part of this family but if mum doesn’t see it that way, then they are my family….. set the table and you know how many we’re” he walks out and Lisa is so confused “Oh God whose order should I follow in this house?….. I’m going to run mad” …………. Tobi had planned to go a see his people as he chooses to call them but on hearing what Lisa just told him, he decided to go to his mum first, he didn’t even bother to knock so he just opens the door and finds his mum reading a novel “You’re back, how did it go with the client” “That can wait mother…..I’m here for something else” she puts her novel down and faces him “About what huh!…. perhaps, I’m the one who has questions that need answers but since it’s you who came to look for me, I’m going to give you this Chance so go on…. what’s eating you up” “Mother, I have had it with all your pretense, I don’t know what you’re up to but let me warn you, you should be very careful with how you do what you do” “You haven’t even told me my offense but you’re already warning me” “As if you don’t know…… you have been acting up, you pretended that you wanted your grandchild next to you, you shopped and fixed a room for her and yet since yesterday you haven’t set you eyes on her And I don’t intend to…..you really think I was accepting this futureless relationship, I was only protecting you because you have no idea how many calls you would be receiving from those low lives had they gone back to that house of theirs, the mother would call, Grandma would call, and aunty with different problems all throughout the day, even after the baby makes two weeks, calls would pour claiming the baby wants to eat this and that….. that’s how poor people operate so since they wanted rich life, money, let them have it here….let them eat it with the rest of us but that’s how far it goes….non of them is receiving and hard cash” Tobi shakes his head so unbelievably “I’m so disappointed in you mother…..I came here to warn you, from this moment henceforth they are my family and therefore deserve to be treated as one…..whether breakfast,lunch, evening tea or even dinner, they all shall sit at that dinning” “I can’t share a table with those opportunists….. ” “Then it’s your problem…. I’m sure it won’t be a big problem for Lisa to serve you from up here” he turns to walk out of there “I’m going to carry out a DNA on that baby, I’m so sure you’re not the Father” he maintains a straight face “Be my guest… do it, go on carry it out….do it fast” he walks out shutting the door up so loudly and Monica is very speechless…………. Tobi’s next stop is in the nursery where Mira is sleeping soundly and Mel is watching her and talking to her, he was about to open the door but when he heard her speak, he stops to hear what she was saying “Hi Angel…. I’m so ashamed to call you my Angel but yes you’re…… I never thought I could love you this much but yes I do, yet I don’t know how I managed to…..you’re my love, I so much love you and will always do…..you came out before your time but thanks to your Dad and uncle Mac, you and I are alive….. I didn’t even get the chance to give you a name but Dad already gave you one……. he says you’re his miracle but guess what, he too is my miracle….. help me tell him that Mum loves him so so much would you” she continues to pour her heart out and didn’t hear the door open………. Tobi comes in very quietly….. Mel is putting on a mini black dress and in Tobi’s eyes, she looked so attractive and so beautiful, he sneaks behind her and hugs her from behind, she rests her head on his as he kisses her neck, this is the very first time he’s doing this and she feels so excited “My love…. I know it’s you” she says and he turns her slowly to face him, resting her back on the baby’s crib…..he knows she’s still not healed but he couldn’t control himself so he pulls closer and uses his left arm to support her back….. they are feeling each other’s breaths as they stare in their eyes “How are my people doing….. how was the day” he’s almost whispering “We are fine…. the day was fine but not better since someone so important was missing” she weakly responds and this time their nose is touching and lips so close “Now that the person is here what can he do for his people” “This time he has to say his person….the other person only needs a goodbye kiss and that’s it” she says biting her lips and her eyes are almost shutting “What if I start the kiss with my favourite person…. Am I permitted” he teases her but before she could respond, the door opens so wide and they are busted “Oh forgive me ….. I didn’t know you were both here” it’s Mel’s Mum and she wants to close the door back but Tobi assures her it’s OK “You don’t have to apologize Mum, you can come in” “I didn’t know you were back” he looks at Mel who takes her gaze away immediately “I had just arrived a few minutes back, I needed to check up on Mira….. anything the matter” “That Lady… she’s called who?….. she came to say food is ready so I was looking for Mel so we can eat together” “Then call aunty Jessy….. we’re all eating down stairs” Mel’s Mum walks away and Mel follows but Tobi pulls her back slowly though “Hey hey not so fast miss…..we were just getting started” “Naughty boy” she hits his chest and walks away smiling, Tobi longingly watches her walk away and he lingers around long enough to kiss Mira a goof night and then run after Mel……they come down for dinner hand in hand, they find Ofelia and Jessica still not around but what surprises Tobi is finding his mother is the first person at the table “Welcome my children…. I have been waiting for you” she looks so happy and Tobi is not even fooled by this fake appearance, he sees through it……
To be continued…
