Ichabod - Episode 18

 

The light that came on disrupted his sleep and he opened his sleepy eyes, forgetting where he was until he saw Harmony looking at him in shock. She was still in her pajamas.

“What are you doing Ichabod?”

Ichabod stood up immediately and trying not to show how embarrassed he was.

“You are really taking your job seriously. First, the toilet thing and now, you are babysitting my daughter . You shouldn’t. Seriously.” Harmony said, walking to where her daughter lay on the bed.

“Forgive me. I must have slept off.” He mumbled the words together.

Harmony said nothing but instead proceeded to wake her daughter up. Meanwhile, Ichabod was about taking his leave when Harmony said. “Is that my tab?”

He turned around and realized he had left the tab on the floor. It must have dropped when he slept off....when Odin slept off. Wait, Odin slept off?

“What is my tab doing beside you, Ichabod?” Harmony demanded, looking a bit displeased.

Ichabod was tongue-tied. “Well, I  er...”

“Sorry mum, I took it from your room. I must have left it there.” Tracy said immediately, standing up from her bed.

Harmony looked from her daughter and then to Ichabod before standing up to pick up her tab.

“Anyway, hurry up Tracy, you will be late for school. Ichabod, please get the car ready.”

He nodded and left the room while mother and daughter went to the bathroom.

“Ichabod looks so different this morning

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/ichabod

. Or maybe I had a dream about him.” Tracy said, removing her pajamas and climbing into the tub.

“Why did you say that?”

Tracy shrugged. “He looked so different in my dream and I thought I saw that his fingernails were....never mind, it was just a stupid dream.”

**

Some hours later, Ichabod was at the driver’s seat, Tracy was behind him, giving him the direction to her school while Harmony was busy making some calls at the back seat. Within a few minutes, they got to the school and Tracy was getting down from the car but stopped and turned to Harmony.

“Mum, are you sure that daddy will come around this evening for rehearsal?”

Harmony was quiet, she had been trying to get across to Michael since morning and it was no use.

“Baby, I promise, he will be there...”

Tracy sighed and climbed out of the car. Harmony waved at her but she didn’t bother to look back.

“Should I take you back home?” Ichabod asked, looking at Harmony through the rear mirror.”

“Hold on.” Harmony said before dialing a number on her phone. “Vivian, did you get Michael? Okay, send me the address, I’m, coming there right now.” She said and ended the call. Shortly after, her tab chimed and she opened it.

“Ichabod, start the car and follow my direction.”

**

Hours later, Harmony was still standing beside her car, waiting for Michael. The car was parked in front of MTN Company. According to Vivian, he had just been made an ambassador and was still dealing with the paperwork.

She had thought of entering but she thought it was best to wait for him outside. So she stood outside with Ichabod who excused himself some minutes ago.

Harmony had to do everything to make that idiot go for their daughter’s Harmony. If he refuses to show up, she would tell him never to show up at their house again. If he knows he wants to be a father, he must be ready to do everything that comes with the responsibility. She was really angry.

“I thought you may need this.”

She turned around and realized Ichabod was holding a plastic chair in one hand and a bottle of cold soda in another.

She smiled. “Where did you get these?”

“Well, I got the soda at the shop over there and I requested  for the chair,” Ichabod replied.

Harmony chuckled, “that is so sweet. Thank you.” She said, reaching out a hand to collect the drink from him. By so doing, their hands came in contact and for a while she felt something go through her entire body but she immediately collected the drink and cleared her throat.  What the hell was that?

“There is a shade over there, is it okay sitting down over there?” He asked and Harmony nodded. Together they ran towards the other side of the road which looked conducive enough for chilling. Ichabod put the chair on the ground and she sat on it.

“Are you not going to sit?”

“No, I’m a bodyguard, what kind of a guard would I be if I sit while you sit?”

Harmony smiled but said nothing. She gulped down half of her drink.

“You are really sweet Ichabod. Thank you.” She said with a smile.

For a while, none of them spoke until she realized it was getting too awkward and she realized she didn’t know much about this man.

“So tell me, where are you from Ichabod?”

**

Well, Ichabod had been getting ready for this question. “Well, I’m from here and there.” He replied with a chuckle but Harmony only scoffed.

“Your  CV says you are from Baltimore, but I’m just curious, why Nigeria? Why body guard?”

He smiled. “Well, I will answer you if you answer me this.” He said.

“What?” She asked, giving him that sweet smile that made him fall in love with her centuries ago.

“Why did you hire me?”

**

Harmony was surprised when he asked that. That was really a serious question.

“Well, I...I don’t know. There was something about you that drew me to you...” she said, trying not to sound awkward. “You have this mystery surrounding you and I got intrigued.”

“Well, let’s say that was why I came to Nigeria, to find you....and to protect you...”

Harmony knew he was probably joking about this and wasn’t serious about saying all these, Maybe he was toying with her but the sincerity in his eyes and the way she was feeling as if she heard these same statements before and....what the hell was happening.   She was looking at him with so much intensity and then she looked at the ring on his finger...it looked so much like...

“Have we met before Ichabod?” She asked with a puzzled look.

“Do you think we have met before?” He asked.

“Why do you keep asking me the same questions I keep asking you?”

Ichabod chuckled. “I apologise but no, I don’t think we have met before.” He replied looking so sweet and adorable and....oh God! Harmony looked away. She really needed a man in her life right now, she couldn’t believe she was beginning to like a man that seemed so familiar and yet so strange.

“There he is,” Ichabod said, standing up. Harmony did the same and truly Michael was coming out of the company, all suited up and alone. Harmony walked up to him as he was about to get into his car. Ichabod watched from afar.

**

“Baby...” He started as he sighted Harmony.

“Shut your trap Michael, I am here to tell you that if you fail to go to her rehearsal tonight, you lose every chance of getting to be her father.

Read " The Curse Of Cain " by the same author ( Tobi Loba )

. This is your last chance and don't

ever ignore my call again.” She threatened.

“Hey, calm down, I was busy okay? I just got this major deal. Look I am doing everything for the both of you, I want to retire and stay at home to take care of the both of you...” He said, moving closer to her but she stepped further back.

“Do not even think about touching me. I came to give you this warning, please, it means everything to her.”

“I will be there.” He said soberly and she turned to leave.

“What exactly is that guy doing for you?” He asked, referring to Ichabod who was looking at them.

“None of your business and get a costume!” Harmony replied before walking away.

**

Ichabod kept looking at her from the rear mirror, she looked so angry and he wanted to do something to make her smile. He was driving to where she directed him, he didn’t know where they were going actually.

“Are you okay?” Ichabod asked but she sighed.

“You must be feeling so sorry for me.”
“Not at all. I think you are a wonderful mother and you are doing everything to make your daughter happy. You must be proud of yourself.”

Harmony smiled. “You are really sweet Ichabod.” She said. “Thank you.”

Ichabod nodded and concentrated on his driving. She was looking for something in her bag.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yea. I just remembered I found something in my room when I woke up this morning, I don’t know how it got there. Did you come to my room last night? Is this yours?”

Ichabod looked up in the mirror to see the black bottle of Monogen in her hand....Oh no!

** **

SO IMAGINE YOU ARE ICHABOD WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY LOL