A long walk to nothing episode 25

A LONG WALK TO NOTHING Episode 25

“Thought you’d ask me to take a cab with the girls” Eddy says to Liam on opening the door for him, it’s 5pm and he’s come to pick Celine and Glory

“I’m sorry I delayed, Eddy…. I should have called”

“There is nothing to be sorry about, the girls and I had fun…so much fun”

“Where are they”

“In the kitchen…”

“Daddy….” Glory calls from the kitchen door and runs to give her Dad a tight hug…..

“We are making something delicious” she says

“Hmmm! Careful with that, Celine can get burnt”

“I know”

“Where is she?” He turns and sees the girl standing at the kitchen door, he leaves his daughter and walks over to her, he squats down to reach her level somehow

“Hey Celine” the girl smiles and he hugs her

“How has been your day”

“Fine uncle…have you come to take us back? Where is Mummy”

“Mummy is home and yes, I’ve come to take you home” Eddy walks to them

“Can I have a word with you please Liam”

“Of course” he gets up

“Glow continue with what you’re doing but just be careful”

“OK Dad” he walks to Eddy who leads him to his room and he follows so confused

“Please sit down, I need your help” Eddy says and Liam sits

“This sounds like some serious deal….what’s going on?”

“It’s in times like this I really wish my Dad was available…. I mean it’s been a month of him abandoning us…but well I told him to stay away from us but I just thought he would make an effort to reach me….I really need someone I can talk to man to man, I have my mother but there are problems that need men to handle”

“Are you alright?” Liam asks pushing closer to him and he takes his hand

“I’m not a therapist of some sort Edmond but I can see you’re battling something and it’s not about your Father, it’s about you”

“Amazing how you can just read someone like a book”

“So I’m actually right?”

“Absolutely”

“Absolutely right or wrong?”

“Absolutely right, that’s why I would really use my father’s help but thank God I have one that only thinks about himself alone”

“You can’t blame yourself for his mistakes…..but guess what, i’m only but 35 but I can actually play your Daddy for today”

“Hahaha like seriously!…. What a joke”

“Hahaha what were you thinking? That you were coming to me as a friend or as your boss”

“May be the latter…..but here I am now Daddy, I need your help and please I’m serious about it”

“OK son….Hahaha” they both burst laughing and Eddy can’t seem to hold himself down

“Hey! Get serious Eddy”

“Hmmm OK Father… Here is the thing” now Eddy’s facial expression changes to serious

“Let me guess, this has something to do with…”

“I love Isabel” Eddy cuts him short

“Huh!”

“You’re surprised aren’t you”

“You better believe it….but where is this coming from”

“I confessed my feelings to her few days before her aunty and my Dad’s affair came to light”

“Aaaand…..I guess she said yes”

“Aaaahh! Not really but she came back and said something like that” now Liam takes a deep breath

“You do realize what this is right?”

“Absolutely and totally…. That’s why I needed to share this with someone before I explode…. Mum would go loco…and….”

“And do you plan on telling her”

“She’s my mother, the last thing I want is to lie to her but the one thing I can’t afford to do is to hurt her the same way my Father did, if she gets to know about this, She’ll die it will be like hammering the last nail….what my Father did was unforgivable and this is Africa…. Relationsh¡ps like this only happen in the movies and if they really happen, people hide them”

“But you’re sure you love the girl”

“I would never have talked about it if I wasn’t sure, Mum at some point was even pushing me to go for the girl already”

“And has she said anything about her after your dad’s betrayal?”

“No….that’s just where the wh0le problem is……it’s like Mum doesn’t even know about her existence, she has never spoken a word about her”

“And when exactly did you realise you still have hots for her even after what her aunt did”

“I have been thinking about her and the words I said to her and they made me feel bad, yet Moses my friend thinks I’m feeling like that because i love her” Liam takes a deep breath

“This is my humble advice, this is Africa like you said, the girl in question has an aunt who is tangling with your Father who left your mother for her and the girl knew about it….I’m not saying she’s been part of the plan right from the beginning but all I can say is conflict of interest was involved here. The girl knew about the affair and chose to keep muum because she had her aunt’s best interest… Now it’s your turn, your own interest is also involved because Ale who is a victim in this wh0le drama is your mother…. She’s now healing but she’s not yet there…..you’re only 19…. Forget about what your friend said and focus on your education, let the future play it’s game, if indeed Chabela is the girl God has ordained for you, it will happen automatically and you’ll not face any opposition….. I hope you get my point and it helps” Eddy nods

“Thanks a lot boss…..what would we have done without you, you have not only been a great help to my mother but me too…..you’ve actually challenged me in a good way though because how would I have done it with school and my problems”

“It’s my pleasure”

“Allow me to thank you on my mother’s behalf….I never imagined someone who barely knew my Mum would care so much about her to an extend of sacrificing his time to make sure she’s fine…..sometimes I actually feel jealous because it feels like you’re taking my place”

“Silly…. Hahaha” he hits Eddy with a pillow and the girls enter in on them

“Daddy can we go now please” Glow asks

“OK babies….we should get going”
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After dropping Celine off at Alexia’s, Liam and Glow came straight home because he received a call from Richærd telling him he’s waiting at home, it wasn’t long before they got home and Richærd waits for them by the door

“Hey Bro” Richærd greets Liam when he steps out of his car

“Sorry for keeping you waiting Buddy…but you never said you were coming, you’re getting too comfortable with these thing” Liam says but Glow walks over to Richærd and gives him a hug

“Welcome home Darling”

“Thank you Uncle Richærd” they walk in,side together

“I’ll be in my room” Glow announces and she runs up…. her father watches till she disappears, he turns to Richærd

“Long time no see…..how have you been Bro”

“Not bad, work stuff” Richærd answers

“I don’t even remember the last time I saw you Richie”

“How would you when you don’t even make an effort, I’m always the one seeking you out when I want to see you so I gave upon you”

“How come I can’t even argue with you on that?”

“It’s because Liam….. you know I’m right……. and by the way….I’m super hungry….is there food in here, this house looks dry and malnourished”

“Thanks for the insult…..I don’t have ready food but I do have something I can fix for dinner, let’s go to the kitchen if it’s not a problem”

“Like seriously?….Every time I come here, it’s just the same old story Liam”

“You can’t blame me there is no woman in here and the only one I have is only Ten” by now they are in the kitchen and Richærd poses to look at his friend and smiles

“What’s it?….why the face” Liam asks

“Speaking about a woman…..Liam are you in love?” Richærd asks

“This is coming from where exactly?” He decides to answer with a question

“Answer it Bro…. Are you in love…a simple Yes or No would do”

“Yes…. with myself…. Hahahaha of course not, what’s up with you”

“I’m serious” Richærd complains getting mad and he wets his hands on Liam who still can’t seem to control himself and his laughter

“Why should I answer that question when you know very well the last woman I had anything to do with was Crissy”

“Who is even talking about her….I’m not talking about Crissy”

“Now I’m confused”

“OK sit” he pushes a stool for Liam and he sits down

“Huh! Now this looks serious” Liam says

“It sure is…..” Richærd sits down too

“Now tell me something…. How do you feel when you’re next to Alexia.. Or better yet how do you feel when you don’t see her at all”

“Wait! You didn’t just say that right Richie?”

“I’m serious!…..”

“Are you trying to say that I…”

“I think you like her”

“Who wouldn’t like a woman like Alexia! You like her too”

“I’m not denying that but this is not about me, it’s about you and the fact that I’ve never seen you this happy and careful in a long time….the Glow in your face, it wasn’t there when I met you, I didn’t even see it when Crissy was in your life”

“Is it that obvious?” He asks touching his face

“I don’t know if it’s only me who sees it, but I’m sure people who knew you before now can say the same thing, you’re in love my friend” Liam let out a sigh of relief and nods

“So it’s true?” Richærd asks

“To be honest Richie, I was only not sure about it all, I needed someone who knew me at all to say something to me about it”

“Easy! So does she know?”

“Are you loco? How can I do that….”

“Easy! I’m sure Alexia likes you too….she’s how old again?”

“Can you believe it, she’s 37”

“Only?”

“Yeah! And I’m 35 which is not even a problem but i don’t know if indeed she feels something for me, if it’s there maybe it’s just feeling of gratitude for how I’ve been a great help to her”

“Even so, people don’t fall in love for no reason, and people don’t start feeling something for others out of nowhere…..there has to be a reason, you have been a wonderful help in the past weeks”

“Funny isn’t it? Hmmmm how did I even get here”

“Love doesn’t ask how…but Richærd can ask how soooo….”

“I know what you want to ask”

“Glad that you can read my mind so say it, how are you going to tell her how you feel”

“She’s still married to her husband speaking of which, he sent the papers”

“What papers…… Divorce papers?”

“Yeah he did and you better believe it”

“And what did she do”

“She tore them into pieces and it broke my heart, sometimes I wish I could just make her understand he’s not coming back”

“But are you sure he’s not coming back? Because sooner than later that sneaky snake as you wish to call her will drop her like a hot pan and the next thing he’ll come crawling on his feet asking her to take him back”

“Don’t even joke about it… It’s not funny”

“Then do the needful…. Let her know how you feel and I’m behind you, don’t rush though but for now let her feel your presence, let her miss you and crave to be with you and in the end it’s going to fall into it’s place”

“Bad boy” Liam says and gets up and Richærd gets up too

“I care about you, so I’m gonna start Saving for my wedding suit….I hope you still have in mind I’m the best man, no one takes that away from me ”

“In your dreams” Liam walks out and leaves Richærd alone in the kitchen laughing out loud

“Dreams do come true Buddy”
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Alexia emerges from the shower with her towel wrapped around her body, she walks over to her dressing table and sits down smiling to herself, ever since she sang that song, she has been feeling like a big weight has been lifted down from her shoulders, so light and so happy

“Ale Ale…..why have you been punishing yourself for a Man who is not worth it?” She asks her reflection in the mirror…. She then turns and sees her phone lying on the bed and she gets up, walks over to the bed, she picks the phone up and dials a number

“Donald…… Sweety come see this” Cecilia runs to the living room where he’s busy typing some reports from work

“What’s going on?” He asks in confusion

“You were right, I guess she can’t hold it anymore she’s calling”

“Who Alexia?” She hands the phone to Donald

“Put her on loud please…I need to hear the drama”

“Ssssshhhh” he puts his finger on his l-ips and she sits down next to him

“Hello Alexia”

“Hello Donald…. How are you doing” her voice sounds so calm and relaxed, it’s so surprising to him

“I’m fine Alexia”

“Well I’m fine too Donald….”

“I talked to my lawyer and he…”

“Donald…..” She cuts him short calmly

“I called you for two reasons…. One is I want us to agree on one thing, it concerns our children especially Celine who is so little that she can’t understand what’s going on”

“I don’t understand”

“I’m still talking Don….I want us to get along especially for the sake of this young girl who wants to feel her Father’s love yet can’t have it, she’s gonna be asking me questions I can’t seem to keep lying about”

“Are you in any way saying we should be friends Alexia?”

“Not really, I want us to look at incoming calls especially from either of us with no suspicion at all, it will be about the children….let’s try and have a casual relationsh¡p just for their sake”

“And what’s the second thing again? You said they were two”

“I’m sorry for what happened earlier today with your attorney, could you please have Mr Kelly to bring the papers over” Donald wasn’t expecting this, he turns to look at Cecilia who is equally confused

“Does…..does it mean that you’re now ready to sign the papers?”

“Just have him bring them over…….I might take days to read through but I’ll definitely sign don’t worry…. Sorry for calling you at this time” she ends her call and Donald for a moment can’t move, he looks at his phone in confusion

“What’s with the face?” Cecilia asks

“Did you hear that?”

“I did but I know that tone, that woman must have collected the remaining of the papers she tore and read through whatever you were ready to settle and compensate her with and who would turn such a big offer down when the man in question wants nothing to do with her” Donald doesn’t say anything but gets up

“Where are you going?”

“Alexia is not a luxurious woman, she’s not greedy either….. at least that I know about her”

“Suit yourself but at least she’s gonna sign the papers and set you free….wasn’t that what we both wanted?” Donald looks at Cecilia and shakes his head

“Excuse me” he stands up

“Good night” he walks out of there heading to the room….

.to be continued