Redemption - Episode 27

 

Benedicta:

The tunes of Talinah's latest single 'Purged' filters into my sleep and my sleepy brain realizes that my phone is ringing. I feel around for my phone sleepily and come up empty. I have to drag my body to a sitting position and open my eyes before I see my phone laying on the bedside table.
I quickly grab it when I see Cheryl's name flashing on the screen. I haven't heard from her since the night she left with her father.
"Babe." I say as greeting.
"Oh Benedicta . Tell me you got home safe that night and you are in your brother's house. Because I just managed to escape my father and when I got to the house you weren't here." She says.
"Yea. I am at Favour's." I tell her and I hear her release a relieved sigh.
"I am sorry for leaving like that. Dad showed up at the club with Damien and_"
"Wait, did you just say Damien?" I ask stunned. He's Cheryl's monster of an ex husband.
"Yea. He came back to Nigeria that day and the bastard went straight to my dad. They are back in cohorts to make my life miserable. My father just wants a grandchild and Damien is a manipulating fraud. Look we will talk about that when you get home." She sighs into the phone.
"Yea

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

. I will be there in about, wait. What's the time?" My eyes click on the clock and that's when it hits me. I now have a job and I am supposed to be there by 7am with my things!. It's already few minutes past six am. I won't have enough time to go back to my apartment, pack up the things I will be needing for the month and head to Lucas's house. God! I can't believe I forgot about such a big opportunity.
"Shit!" I say
"What's wrong?"
"I am late. Cher can you help me pack a suitcase? It's really urgent. Make sure of the necessities and a lot of clothes. I would explain when I get there. See you at the apartment in twenty." I say and end the call without waiting for her reply. I fly into the en suite bathroom and take a quick shower while I brush my teeth in records time.
I am out in less than ten minutes and I realize I don't have anything to wear. I just pull on the yoga pants Prudence lent me yesterday and a cute Polo shirt I used to wear when I stilled lived with them. I will get dressed when I get to my apartment.

   The house is mainly quiet so I try not to wake them up seeing that it's a Saturday. I tiptoe to Larry's room and my heart warm up when I see him spread out on his cute bed. Prudence helped design this room and it is just like what any five year old would dream of. I want to be able to provide this and more for my baby soon. We are all each other have in the long run. Favour and Prudence have been supportive, yes but soon they would want to build a family of theirs. I can already see the attraction growing between them. I wish I could make a family for Larry but it isn't likely to happen.
  I wipe the stray tear from my eye and take deep steadying breaths. I have to be strong for my baby. I sit down on his bed and peck his forehead.
"Mommy is going to give you everything you want soon honey." I whisper. Except a father. My traitorous mind jab at me.
"Mom?" Larry blinks sleepy eyes at me. I have to turn away to stop my tears from falling in front of my child.
"Are you crying?" I scrub my face of stray tears and turn to Larry with a big smile.
"Of course not. Mommy doesn't cry." I tell him.
"Don't cry okay? I know you have to leave again and I won't cry this time. You would come back soon right?" My little son has grown up beyond his age because of what he has to face with his mother always gone.
"Am sorry Larry. I would come back for you soon, and this time the both of us will be living together in a beautiful house." I tell him and he smiles. I can't help it. I hug my little boy tightly. I don't want to let go but I know I have to. I am already late.
"Okay baby. I have to go now. Kiss mommy goodbye." I bring my cheek closer to wink at him. I see the little brat roll his eyes before he pecks both my cheeks.
"I love you mommy." He says as I get up to leave and I smile.
"I love love you much much" I say and bend to smother his face with kisses.
"Mom!" He giggles and I know he enjoys the attention.
"Bye baby." I say one last time before I walk out without looking back until I close the door behind me.
"Please lord let mommy come back for me soon and I promise to pay all of my offerings in church tomorrow." I hear him say behind the closed door and I am nearly brought to my knees. My poor baby.

********

Lucas:

"So James, did you get the uniforms I told you?" I ask into my phone as I drive home. It's already few minutes past seven and I am already close to the house.
"I did boss. The nanny isn't here yet" he says and I frown. I won't tolerate tardiness from her. She would know who the boss is today. Maybe she backed down. N250,000 might be nothing for her with the house she lives in. Maybe I should have offered N500,000. Outrageous but I can totally afford that and more.
"How bout the kids. Have they woken up?" I ask him.
"Nope."
"Alright. I am already at the gate of the estate." I say and end the call.
Benedicta. Don't back down on me now.
  The security notice my car and the motorized gate is opened for me.
"Good day sir." One of them greets as I pass and I nod. My attention goes to the long figure dragging a huge suitcase just few meters away. I would know her back form anywhere. I smile to myself and press on the accelerator to get my car just beside her. She's so concentrated on her big luggage that she doesn't notice me so I honk my car horn. She startles and let go of her suitcase. She looks mad when she turns to my car and I see her roll her eyes when she sees me.
"Lucas." She says and I eye her up and down. She's wearing a cute gown. What a waste Benedicta. I already have a cute uniform for you.
"It's Sir to you and you are late." I say cooly.
"Oh. I am sorry. Sir." She actually spits the Sir out like it's acid.
"Don't be sorry. Just hurry up. You have just three minutes before the kids wake up." I tell her.
"Okay sir. If you would just open your car booth so I can put my suitcase and hitch a ride with you." She tells me and I raise my brow at her.
"Run like the wind Benedicta." I say as I press the accelerator and zoom off towards my house leaving Benedicta stun. Oh, this victory feels good. I look at my rearview mirror and see her dragging her suitcase as she tries to hurry. Hilarious.

******
Benedicta

  I am soaked with sweat as I drag my suitcase up the few stairs to Lucas's huge door. I can't believe the unlucky magnet! Ugggghhhh. I hate him!
  I take in steadying breaths but they do nothing to quench my anger. Think about Larry. Think about the money. Think about your career, maybe you could make him discover your talent and help produce your songs like Cheryl suggested. I tell myself but I know the last part is very unlikely. That guy and I are just like cat and dog. He's pure bad luck.
  I knock on the huge wooden door twice and the door is pulled open. The first thing I see inside the doors is Lucas standing just behind them with a stern look.
"Three minutes passed about five minutes ago Benedicta." He says and I bite down my urge to point out that I wouldn't be this late if he had been gracious enough to give me a ride.
"Did you lose your voice on the way here?" He asks rudely and I grind my teeth.
"No. I am sorry."
"Good. Now, go upstairs to the second room to your right. That's where you will be staying for the month. Your uniforms are on the bed and__" At the mention of uniforms my head shoot up and I frown.
"Uniforms? I_"
"There are rules in this house, Benedicta. First is, what I say stands and you don't get to interrupt me. You got it?" He asks and I nod.
"Good. Now, as I was saying, you must wear your uniform when you are working from 6am - 8pm which is their bed time. You wake them up, bath and get them ready for school, you also take them to school and pick them up. I might give you guys a ride on Monday so you know the way to their school. You help with their school works. The rest of their daily routine is in the document on your bed. There's also a form for you to fill.

Read " Falling For Innocence " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. You got that?" He asks and I nod again.
"Okay. Last thing. You also have to help around the house. I don't keep much staffs so you have to do some house chores when you are not with the children and whenever the house keeper isn't around.  That'll be all for now. Now, go change and bring my morning coffee to my room. I bet you can handle the coffee machine in the kitchen." He says before walking off to the other side of the house.
  Gosh. What a dictator. Make sure you do this. Make sure you do that. What a snob.
"Get moving!" I hear him yell and I snap into action. For the love of my son and that money, I have to endure his bad luck.