Scars - Episode 13

 

Day 28

Esmeralda woke up rather happy. She couldn't say why she was singing. She was to be brooding her life out, no love,  no family. But then this joy, joy unexplainable.
She meticulously got ready for the day's hunt, this was operation find mama. Not like she has any clue, today would be another round of walking the streets.  She bowed her head, said a little prayer. She stood to leave the hotel room, it was 8:00am, with her shades on, she left for mama.

She was hungry, there must be a human being living in her stomach . Sighting a restaurant she doubled up, time is vital.
"What would you have ma?" asked the waitress.
"What do you have?" Esmeralda asked
"We have jollof rice, fried rice, coffee, tea, snacks, swallow, egusi, ogbo.."
"I'd have jollof rice and chicken meat. Thank you".
Esmeralda ate her meal with little or no zeal, her teeth, mouth were not responding well. She beckoned on the lady who served her.
"Do you know Mrs. Belinda?"Esmeralda asked.
The waitress responded in the negative.
"Thank you" replied Esmeralda.
Hope was lost. She hasn't seen her silver lining yet

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

. She would leave the country.  She's had enough. She has tried.
Having eaten as much as she could, she paid but sat still, waiting for her legs to be strong enough to carry her. Finally,  she walked to the exit and left.
"Excuse me ma"
She turned only to meet the face of the waitress.
"Yes, how may I help you?"
"Mrs. Belinda, some persons in the kitchen say they know her"
Hope filled Esmeralda and her face beamed a huge smile.
"Thank you. Please where can I find her"
Noticing the huge change in Esmeralda's countenance, the waitress was ready to shoot her shot.
"You'd have to grease my palm with oil,  so the word could flow freely."
"How much do you want?"
"#3000 only"
Esmeralda counted #8000 and gave the girl.
The girl smiled, she had hit a jackpot.
"You see eh, Mrs. Belinda is my madam, this is one of her outlets. I have never seen her since she is one busy woman. I here she is never seen without an appointment. You see that blue roof, house number 153, that is where she lives. But, neither I nor anyone here told you were she lives. Her full name is Belinda Kayode".
"Thank you so much. God bless you"

Mama didn't change her surname, she still bears "Kayode", papa's name. How didn't she think of that all the while.
Stopping a taxi, she headed to house 153.

*********

George had taken in to drinking. Esmeralda had made him stay off alcohol, she couldn't bear the smell, now she was gone, what was the need being a good boy?
Nicolette worked in time to see him looking funny.
"George, put the bottle down. You are ruining yourself. What if Esmeralda walks in this minute and finds you looking this drunk, do you think she'd love you more? You have every right to be sober but not ill-mannered."
"What are you doing here Nicolette?" George asked.
"I brought news about Esmeralda, but you are obviously in no state of mind for such news"
"My Esmeralda, where is she?"
"Before I tell you anything, you'd have to take your bath, brush, look responsible and then you could digest all I have to say".
George tried standing but couldn't, he was drunk. Nicolette called the gateman to help George to his room. He was to sleep well and be fed like a king.

Nicolette couldn't thank her stars enough. Unknown to her, her husband too had joined the search for Esmeralda. It was him who brought news about her.
"Esmeralda was seen at the G.R.A this morning at 8:30am in a restaurant." Her husband had said when he came home to pick a file.
She was shocked and happy.
"Baby, how did you, why didn't you call me to come meet her?" She asked with tears swelling in her eyes.
He was moved,  this was his wife, he had hurt her for over three weeks.
"We all are searching for Esmeralda. I got a call from the State Security service I hired,  he said she was at a restaurant and he didn't know when she left.  I too am worried. I know how much you love Esmeralda,  I want us to find her. I am sorry I have been harsh with you, but you know you wronged us all. Relax, we will have Esmeralda with us soon."
Her husband was the sweetest, he too was searching for Esmeralda, her life just felt an inch nearer to happiness.
"Thank you darling". She said.
He pulled her close, hugged her and whispered "Nicolette, you are my life, my sun shine, my wife. I love you, always, everyday."
"I love you too, so much".
Standing to leave for the office, he said; "You should check on George, I heard he is being had on himself."
"I'd do that"
"Bye"

****************

Here she was, house 153!
She knocked on the gate.
"Good morning" said the gate man without opening the gate
"Good morning.

Read " Ada " by the same author ( Helen Nnamani )

. I came to see Mrs. Belinda"
Having a closer look at her from the little opening at the gate he said;
" How do you know my madam? Where you not the one asking of Mummy Elda yesterday?"
" I am. Today, I have come to see Mrs. Belinda Kayode."
She has been here, she has been on all the gates of the G.R.A
  "Do you have an appointment?"
"No"
"You can't see her"
"Tell her Elda came to see her"
"Yesterday, you were looking for Mummy Elda, today, I should tell my madam Elda came to see her. What of younger?  Abeg, leave this place."
"I am here blabbing with you. If you don't tell her this minute that I am at the gate and she gets to find out later that I was here and you asked me out, then you can as well kiss your job bye. I work with the Presidency, and I have come to give her a contract for one occasion and you ask me out. Good!"
"Anty, wait let me call her."

Esmeralda had no idea where that lie came from. Desperate times, deperate measures.
"Hello ma"
" Yes, what is it?"
"One woman came to see you"
" Henry, I told you no visitors till it is 12pm"
" She is from the Presidency ma"
" I don't care!"
" She said her name is Elda"
"Elda?"
Mrs. Belinda was shocked. She knows only one Elda, her daughter,  thoughts filled her heart"
"Hello ma, hello, hello"
"Yes, let her in".

She was going to see mama again.

IG@ellen_lenny

This thing called destiny.