Redemption - Episode 31

 

I am on my knees asking for forgiveness for the late upload guys. Had something going on the last few days, I couldn't write. But I am back now so let's get right to it.
BTW this one is to you Mercy Egiri

Lucas:

"Where's the nanny?" I ask James while feigning disinterest. Benedicta has been avoiding me for two days now, ever since I asked about Luis . I have been quite busy with one of my artistes but today I have enough free time to get my answer.
"She's preparing the kids for school boss. They would be downstairs any minute." James inform me and I nod slowly.
"Okay. I am free for the morning right?"
"You boss."
"Cool. See ya then." I say and fly out of my office to the living room. I sit on my favorite couch which is at a corner of the sitting room and pretend to browse on my iPad while surreptitiously waiting for Benedicta.
"Don't run down the stairs Jason."I hear her before I see her and I can feel myself getting excited for no good reason. She's the enemy Lucas. Don't let her use her charms to get you to do her biddings. Concentrate on finding the truth from her. I peek at her as she walks down the stairs while holding the little hands of Daisy and Jason.
  They alight the stairs and start walking towards the door when I clear my throat loudly

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

. I can't help but smirk when I see Benedicta's form go stiff.
"Uncle Lucas!" Jason sees me and pull away from Benedicta to launch himself at me. I get off the catch to catch him and throw him up into the air, catching him quickly.
"Big boy! I see someone missed me." I tease and he grins. My eyes go to Benedicta who hasn't still moved from the same spot. She's still looking forward and not at me. I place Jason back on the floor and walk towards Benedicta.
"I think someone else missed me." I say aloud as I walk to stand in front of her. I see her face go from nervousness to horror and then embarrassment.
"What?! Pffft. Of course not. I mean I only asked James if you were home last night and the night before because umm I thought no I mean I didn't. I mean why will I miss you right?" I chuckle as she keeps rambling off. Maybe she did miss me. Didn't know she asked James of my whereabouts. Okay, why am I happy about that? Get your act together Lucas. I school my expression to look confused.
"Hey nanny! I was talking to Daisy. What are you spouting?" Her face go beet red as she looks above my head and not at me.
"Of course. You meant Daisy. Stupid Benedicta." I hear her mutter under her breath. I crouch down to Daisy's level and tweak her nose playfully.
"Hey star." I wink at her and she smiles.
"Hi uncle Lucas. Good morning." She greets and I smile.
"Thank you darling. You guys ready to go to school?" I ask
"Yup. I want to go with you!" Jason grab my trouser and I grin. Good boy.
"Come on Jason, your uncle Lucas is busy. Let's go now. James would drop us off at your school." Benedicta says and tries to grab Jason but I get to him first.
"Sure big boy. Let's go." I wink at Jason who is smiling as we start walking out the door.
"Come on Daisy." I call out to Daisy who is still being held by Benedicta. It takes everything in me to hold myself from bursting into fitful laughter when I see Benedicta shaking at head at Daisy not to go with me. The kid looks torn between us.
"You are going to be late Daisy. James is out of the house on an errand." I say. This gets to the kid as she pulls her hand out of Benedicta's and runs to my side.
"Good girl." 
"Hey nanny! Are we going to be waiting for you too?"
"No sir."
"Then move it." I instruct as I walk out with the kids towards my car. Jason sit in the passenger's seat while Daisy and Benedicta sit behind us. I don't say anything to Benedicta all through the ride to the school and I wait outside the school as Benedicta take them inside. It doesn't take long for her to come back out. I watch as she walks towards the car and how she looks in that uniform I made her wear. I must admit, no matter how shabby I made sure the uniform is, she still looks great. She waves at the gate man who smiles at her like a love sick puppy. Get a grip man, she's just a woman. I straighten my face to look bored as she gets to my car but when she starts moving towards the backseat of my car, I snap. Oh, she isn't avoiding me today.
"What do you think you are doing?" I grind out and she freezes yet again.
"Do I look like your driver?" I ask again.
"No. I__"
"I don't have all day, move your ass to the passenger's seat." My face tells her I am not bulging on this and she reluctantly carry herself to the other side of the car and sit beside me. She is currently perched as far as she can without falling off the car. I shut the door close and I hear her gasp. You would think I am going to eat her with the way she acting. I am sorry bee but I want your secret. I kick start the car and zoom out of the school vicinity before I speak.
"So, are we done hiding?" I ask while looking at her.
"I wasn't hiding. I just never talk about that part of my life. Like ever." She says this silently but I hear something in her voice. Is it pain or regret.
"Why don't you? Did something happen? What did you do?" I ask and I see her shake her head in my peripheral vision.
"I don't know. Sometimes I think I did something that made all those things happen to people I loved. I_I_ I was so young and I made wrong decisions but believe me, I never meant to hurt him. I mean anyone. Why am I even telling you this?" She ramble and I groan as I see her wipe her eyes with the hem of her uniform. Why does the thought of her tears making me feel like my heart has been ripped right out of my chest. I find myself rubbing my chest with my left hand while I drive with my left.
 I am more than confused right now. She sounded so hurt. Wasn't she the one who left Luis? Luis said she was cheating. Remember how Luis also accused you of cheating with her back then? Maybe Luis had it all wrong.
"Your fingers are red." I hear her say silently and I look at my hand which is gripping the steering harshly. I didn't even realize this. I bring my left hand back to the steering and release my grip.
"You sounded like you got hurt back then." I say and I hear her sigh.
"I got hurt, yes, but everyone else did as well. Can we drop this please?" She looks pale and I decide to drop it.
"Yea. I am sorry for prying."
"Thank you." She says and looks out the window. I can see her jaw's tight. She's probably grinding her teeth. My eyes goes down to her hands which are clutched into fists on her lap.
"Are you crying?" I ask silently and she shakes her head without looking at me.
"Come on Bee. Look at me."
"No." She states like a petulant child but her voice is shaky. I made her cry
 What could have happened between her and Luis. Now, I am determined to find out and not just take Luis's word for it. She could also be a victim in all these. I don't want to punish an innocent person. Hell, I don't know if I can hurt this woman who has always had a way to make me want something I can't have. You couldn't have her then because of Luis, now she's here. With you. You can take this opportunity to be with her. My mind tells me.
"Please, stop crying." I try to use one of my hand to turn her to face me but she fights me off but I catch her wet face before she turns it back to the window. Damn it!
"I am not crying. Something just flew into my eyes." She starts scrubbing her face.
"Ice cream or pizza" I say after few minutes of uncomfortable silence in the car. 
"What?" She turns confused eyes to me. Even though there are no more tears, I can still tell she was crying.
"It's a game. Just to cheer you up. You have to pick one out of two things. So think fast! ice cream or pizza." I ask
"I don't see the essence of the game but I would pick ice cream over almost anything" She says and I grin.
"Ice cream it is then." I take the u-turn and speed towards the ice cream house just few minutes drive from here.
"Hey, this isn't the way to the house!" Benedicta notes few minutes later. I grin when I see the sign post telling me, I am in the right place.
"Ta da. Welcome to creamy goodness!" I stop the car and watch as her expression turn confused
"Why are we here?"
"You said you love ice cream.

Read " Stolen innocence " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. They make those here and their cupcakes are just muah!" I kiss my fingers and wink at her. That gets a smile out of her and my chest goes warm.
"You brought me here to cheer me up?" She asks me and I feel kinda shy with the way she's looking at me. I just bite my lip ring and laugh nervously.
"Does this move me out of mean boss territory?" I ask and she nods, chuckling.
"Dang it! I liked being the mean boss." I say playfully.
"You can't turn back now because nothing can stop me from going in there." She states as she pushes the open.
"No! Get back in here. I want to be the mean boss." I try to grab her but she slips away and run out of the car.
"Come back here, you ice cream freak!" I yell as I alight as well and run after her. Her laughter sounds like pure melody as it is carried past me by the wind.
 This musical laughter is doing things to my brain right now. It's goading me to take my chance with her. It's goading me to be selfish this time and fight for what I feel for her. It's telling my heart that fate brought her back to me to give me a second chance. Could this be true?

Thanks so much to all of you who have been following this story so far. I want you guys to comment if you want it continued because, truth be told, I have so much to do this period and I am thinking of dropping this. Your comments might help me decide pls.
Thanks