A woman's dilemma - Episode 31

 

Claudia:

"We have been here for almost two hours. Are you sure this is the right address?" Daniel stands up from the hood of his car and tries to look through the tiny holes in the small gate we have been waiting in front of for hours. We have tried knocking to no avail. Nobody is in there.
"It is the right address. I got it from my father." i check the address my dad sent me just to be sure . It matches the number on the side of the gate. It is the right address.
"She still isn't picking your calls?" I look down at my phone and shake my head. I don't remember a time when my head didn't feel like it is splitting in half. Today feels like a whole year with all that is going on. I just want to go home now, sink into a cold bath and relax.
"You okay?" Daniel's hand snakes across my shoulder and pulls me to his chest as he comes back to join me on the hood of his car. I lean into him and we don't say anything for a long while. I just listen to the soothing thump of his heart.
"Can you hear that? It is calling your name." Daniel breaks the silence and a host of butterflies sing a chorus of hallelujah in my stomach. I swoon.
"Don't be ridiculous." i lift myself off him and rest more on his car.
"I'm serious! Can't you hear it

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-woman-s-dilemma

. Claw-dia! Claw-dia!" he taps on his chest with rhythm to a heart beat, making me smile at his antics.
"There you go. I finally got my smile." he says, his eyes drilling into mine. I release a long sigh.
"It's been a long day." I intone.
"If you weren't here by my side, I will be losing it right about now." his hand ruffles my hair playfully but our eyes don't break contact.
"You are the reason i'm not in a corner bawling my eyes out." my eyes water a bit at the reminder of everything this day dumped on the both of us.
"We will get him Claw. I promise you." he says with such confidence and i believe him. I catch his eyes flickering to my lips.
"I get the feeling you want to kiss me right now." My voice is a sultry whisper. The crooked grin Daniel blesses me with, makes the butterflies go into a frenzy in my stomach.
"I always want to kiss you." he tells me. Maybe he can kiss away the reality of the day. I prop myself up on my hands and bat my lashes at him. I hope i don't look stupid. This sort of thing is Amy's specialty. Okay, stop thinking about Amy when you want a gorgeous man to kiss you. I shake my head of all thoughts then notice Daniel studying me. I lick my lips and his eyes darken.
"What are waiting for?" Before I get the words out, I'm pressed into the metal of the car.
"Dan--" I was going to point out that we were outside but his lips pressed into mine formats every other thoughts from my head. I grab the front of his chest and ball it into my fists as i let his oh so talented tongue plunder my mouth. Every moan out of my mouth is caught into his mouth.
"Jesus christ!" Daniel and I jump apart at the sudden exclamation. I try to put myself in order while the teenage girl eying me up doesn't look away from me. I release a long breath when her eyes finally strays from me. My mouth practically hits the floor when she notices Daniel.
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" She squeals as she jumps on her feet. I roll my eyes at Daniel who is beaming at her.
"Hey little girl. What is your name?" Daniel's monstrous smile completely bedazzles the teenager. For the first time I see him as the star he is and I'm reminded of why we are together. It's not real. He needs me for his sister. Did he kiss me just for show as well? A frown takes over my face at the way I let him manipulate me. Not really manipulate, I did agree to do this. I'm the stupid one for thinking we have a connection.
"I'm Angel. Can I get a picture with you? My friends are going to be so jealous." She giggles when Daniel put his hand around her shoulder and smiles for her camera. Click. And another click. And another. This is completely annoying me.
"Hey Angela, do you-" I try to interrupt but get interrupted instead.
"It's Angel." She frowns at me. I can totally feel my hackles rising.
"Shouldn't you be in sch--" Daniel pulls me behind him when he notices my state of mind. He doesn't want me eating up his fan.
"Angel, do you know where the owners of the house went? We have been standing here for hours." Daniel asks the girl with stars shooting out of her eyes.
"Oh! They don't leave here anymore."
"They don't?!" Why doesn't my father know this?
"Yeah. It's a shame actually. Husband came home with his mother and they took the children away. Wife was thrown out into the street."
"What?!" That can't be my sister they are talking about.
"Maybe we got the address wrong." Daniel tries to console me but miss Angel here bursts both our bubbles.
"Isn't it Miss Cassandra? She was a teacher in my little brother's school. But after the incident, she quit her job and moved out of the area."
"Oh my God." My hands cover my face in misery.
"Hey, baby. Calm down. We'll get to the bottom of this." When Daniel's hand comes around my waist to calm me, I quietly move away. I don't need that drama right now.
"Why?" I ask the teenager who's eying Daniel's hanging hand.
"Excuse me?" She brings her eyes back to me.
"Why did her husband throw her out?" I repeat clearly.
"I'm not sure but my mother told my dad that Mrs Cassandra's pregnancy was found out to be a girl child." The girl stops like that explains everything.
"What the fuck!" I exclaim.
"I'm sorry." The girl squeaks out. Obviously scared of my outburst and I take my anger out at her.
"Three children and their blockhead father took them away from their mother?! How old are they anyways!" My heart breaks that I don't even know how old my sister's kids are.
"Where did that bastard take them! Tell me!" I grab the shoulders of the informant and shake her. I really need to know.
"Babe calm down. Don't--"
"Don't touch me! I can't right now. I can't." I drop my hands from the girl's shoulder and storm into Daniel's car. My sister has been going through all this and I was busy playing girlfriend with a movie star. I'm so selfish.
 Daniel comes back into the car but I don't look at him. I stare out the window while he turns on the car's ignition. The car purrs to life before Daniel says anything.
"No one knows where to find your sister. Her husband though, he's in the next town. With his mother and his kids." His voice is quiet.
"Her kids! Her kids. Not his!" I snap at him. He raises his hands up in surrender, his lips in a firm line.
"I should have been there for her. For Frances. I already let one down. I can't do this to my sister." I sob out. I don't want him to see me cry again so I bury my head in my lap and cry.
"We'll find them." Daniel promises but I'm too distraught to trust his words. I and I alone can get things done for myself. I wipe my tears. 
"What is it to you? We are nothing to each other after all." I say.
"Claudia I--"
"Shhh. Save it. My head is pounding too much right now. I have had enough of today. Just take me home. Please." Daniel's mouth clamps shut and so does his features but he says nothing. His ringing phone tears through the silence of the car. I look out the window. The teenage girl is nowhere to be seen. I'm sure she ran as fast as her leg could carry her away from the crazy lady.

Read " Star-crossed " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I don't blame her. I'm losing my mind.
"Hello. What?! Are you okay? Of course I'm on my way." I listen to Daniel's side of the conversation but remain quiet with my face pressed to the window even after he ends the call.
"I know you said to take you home but my mother just called. She is stuck in traffic. No one is watching Tina. I have to go to her."
"I thought she was at the hospital. What traffic?" I ask warily.
"Doctor asked for Tina's medical records. Mom went to fetch it but the traffic hasn't let up for an hour. Something about a spoilt trailer on the road. I promise to get you home as soon as my mother reaches the hospital."
"Yeah. Whatever."