★
^^ CLIFFORD’S CONDO ^^
“Missed me? I doubt you mean that” Clifford said as he stood up to pour himself a drink.
“Why do you say that? ”
“Really?” Clifford asked giving her a knowing look.
“Fine. I know you are still angry about what happen years ago, how I ended our engagement and…”
“Do we have to talk about that?” Clifford cut her off.
“Of course. I need to explain to you why I did that so you will stop hating me” Tamara said, coming to seat at his side.
“Our engagement was sudden. I mean we’ve grew up as step siblings a and then suddenly your grandmother says we are engage and all”
“I didn’t say a thing so as not to oppose her and you did the same thing too but you made things worse by being boring and dull. I wanted something more which is why I ended our engagement and left ”
“I didn’t think that it will take me years to return to my home land and now that am back and have seen you again. I realise that you are different now” Tamara said, looking at him with interest.
“There isn’t an ounce of dullness in you and you seem more lively and manly, you were never like this when we were together”
“Let’s just say that I h@ťěd the situation like you did. I also thought of you as my step sibling and bam, you became my fiancee. But all of that is in the past, we’ve both grown past it and we are living our lives separately” Clifford told her as he gulp down his whiskey.
“And can that perhaps be thanks to some girl? Did you meet someone new?” Tamara asked, already knowing about Susie.
“There is someone new and I think it’s time for you to leave, I have a lot of things to do tomorrow” he said walking her to the door.
“But I…we still have to talk” Tamara said as he slam the door on her face.
“How dare he slam the door on my face” she muttered, descending the stairs for her car.
Chen open the door for her and she slid into it just as her phone began to ring.
“What’s wrong?” Tamara said into the receiver while a crying Nina spoke to her.
“I just arrive today, meet me at Knight hotel, am staying there” Tamara said, ending the call.
*****
^^ KNIGHT HOTEL ~ TAMARA SUITE ^^
“She’s a selfish woman! So selfish” Nina said, crying her eyes out.
” It’s okay. Stop crying” Tamara said, handing her a tissue to use to wipe her face.
“This wouldn’t have happen if only you had listen to me. Have told you to leave her home for years now but you wouldn’t listen ”
“But she’s our grandmother”
“She’s not! We were adopted by her son don’t forget that mother already had us out of wedlock before she married Clifford father” Tamara reminded her.
“She has never seen us as her grandchild. We were just tools for her to use to help her grandson” Tamara added angrily.
“Wh@ťěver happen between us, let’s not blame Clifford for it. He’s also part of her scheme” Nina said quickly.
“I know. Just like us, Clifford was a tool for her and I have no intention to blame him. You know, I saw him tonight and he seemed different” Tamara said remembering his new look.
“Different? He seems the same to me” Nina said.
“He might for you but for me, he is different. He’s more manly and lively now, he’s not the boring and dull Clifford I once knew, he’s more attractive now” Tamara said.
“Woah, woah, woah! Take it easy sis, Clifford is no longer a single guy. He got married yesterday ” she whispered the last part to her, starring at Chen who was standing by the door watching them.
“I know. I did my research before coming back. But I doubt if that marriage will last ”
“Don’t jinx it!”Nina caution.
“Am not jinxing it. I know for a fact that it’s not going to work, you will see that I said so. Clifford is too good for any girl except for me” Tamara added, laughing out loudly.
*****
^^ HOPE ELDERLY HOME ^^
“Until when will you keep on staying here? ” Beatrice, a sixty year old woman and Susie’s grand mother ask.
“Until I get a place of my home. You shouldn’t complain since I came here to stay with you” Susie said, leaving the sofa she’s in to put the covers over her grandmother.
“Liar! I know something has happen which is why you’ve been staying here with me. You might as well book a room pretending to be a sick elderly lady” Beatrice said.
“I might just do that” Susie
“Susie! What’s wrong exactly? Are you staying here just so you won’t see your mom?” Beatrice asked.
“You know this is the one place that I will definitely run into mom even if I try to avoid her”
“Then why are you here?”
“Just to…take a few days from things” Succie said, a sad expression on her face.
“Fine then. Take wherever time you want but get a check up, you look pale” Beatrice said.
“I already did that yesterday. I only have to get the test result”
“Then go and get it” Beatrice urge her on.
Down at the lobby. Two male doctors stood together talking and at that moment, Succie showed up.
Walking past them to enquire from the nurse where she can get her test result.
“Will you stop looking? Don’t make it obvious that you are into her” Willow, one of the doctor caution his friend.
“Was I starring too much?” Marco, the second doctor asked shyly.
“Way much. She’s the granddaughter of that old foggy Beatrice and from what I can tell, she must be involve with someone, so I suggest you let this go” Willow warn.
“I don’t think I can” Marco said, watching Succie walk out of the hospital.
Succie on the other hand was headed to the cafeteria on the other street when she saw her mom.
Not wanting to talk to her, Succie ran back into the hospital.
Heading straight to the elevator where Marco was in already but it was too late since her mother also got into the elevator.
Succie stood hidden behind Marco, hoping her mother doesn’t notice her but her behaviour kept earning glances from her mom.
“Are you still feeling shy sweetie, you don’t have to” Marco said suddenly, pulling Succie into his arms, hiding her away from her mother gaze.
“Give me a hug, you shy little thing” Marco added pulling her closely while Succie stared at him.
“Will you two get a room? This is a hospital for the elderly!” Succie heard her mother snap before getting off the lift.
Marco let her go immediately, clearing his throat loudly.
“Am sorry, I just wanted to help you” Marco said.
“I know and thanks. You just saved me from answering numerous questions ” Succie said to him.
“And she is…”
“My mom. It’s nothing serious though, I will get off here, thanks a lot” Succie said, flashing him a smile before the elevator door slid shut.
Marco stood thinking about her voice and smile when he notice a folder on the floor.
He recall Susie had a folder with her when she ran in to the elevator.
“She must have drop it” he muttered, pulling out the sheets in it to read it’s content.
And what he read got him feeling shock and sad.
*****
Succie got back to her grandmother ward to see her mother waiting.
“Now that you are back, it’s time we talk” Jennifer said, the moment her daughter walk in.
“Not now, mom. I have…”
“You have to what? What have you been doing with your life? You left town for the city claiming to want something better but I don’t see you doing anything. So why not just stay here and marry Saint. He’s definitely going to take care of you”
“I won’t marry him! How many times do I have to tell you that. You haven’t stop this habit of trying to sell me off to the highest bidder, when will it end exactly?” Succie ask.
“Until I know that you are settled with your life”
“And that’s by marrying me off to any rich guy that comes along?”
“Succie you know…”
“Stop it mom! Have heard enough and I won’t marry any rich idiot you choose for me”
“Is it that you have someone you want to marry? Tell me about him my baby, is he rich? Handsome and most importantly, will he be able to bear the weight of all these?”
“Why do you only talk about money, mom? Is that the only thing you can think of?” Succie asked and left the room before her mother could give a reply.
“Just let her be. Must you always pressure her into marrying a rich man?” Beatrice said to her daughter.
“But she has to. It will get us out of our poverty stricken life. Do you know if she’s dating someone?” Jennifer asked her mother.
“I don’t but I do think something happen back at the city. She keeps brooding all the time” Beatrice replied.
“Then I will have to find out, something tells me that it’s going to be very interesting ” Jennifer said, pulling out her phone.
*****
^^ EVENING ^^
Succie had spent the rest of day in the park hoping that when she gets back to the hospital, her mother would have gone.
But instead, when she got to the hospital, she was shocked to see Clifford waiting for her.
“Your hiding is over and let me tell you that if you disappear again, I won’t ever forgive you” he said before walking towards her to pull her into his arms….
➳ TBC ➳💙🤍🧡