ABUSED
Episode 36
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I can’t explain exactly how I feel at the whole revelation. Why is life this twisted?
So, Fr. Anthony my uncle and my own father is acting funny with me. The man that made me atone for his sins all these years.
I can’t explain the anger brewing inside of me as I think about him. Ella was surprised when she heard everything.
She urged us to tell Maxwell, but I just couldn’t bring myself to tell him that I met my father who is trying to flirt with me. He truly hasn’t changed from his ways.
Mother has been cold for some days, I tried talking to her about him but she doesn’t want to have it.
” Ruth, I feel the trauma of that day again. Look at me for goodness sake I have no life because of that man” she blurted out one time I tried talking about him.
Ella told me not to talk about him for now that she needs some time to herself.
I have expecting to see me again since the last time we saw but he’s yet to show up. Probably he has found out about me from Fr. Anthony and he feels terrible to face me.
Fr. Anthony said he will come by Thursday which is four days ahead. I just hope things would straighten out fine for peace sake.
I have been unhappy about the sudden turn of events; I try to soak my self in work to distract my self from the recent happenings.
I was having a busy time in my office when my phone rang it’s him.
” Hello”
” Hello”
” Good day miss Ruth. Trust you are doing well today?”
” Yes Mr Udok.”
” Hmm. I was thinking if you be free to have lunch with me. I.. I”
” Sure! Where?’
” Hmmm. Ok. I think the eatery where we first met would be nice. what do you think?”
” That’s great”
” Ok dear. 3pm then”
” It’s fine by me’
I could tell he was surprise I didn’t decline his offer from his tone. He did think it’s his luck day.
I am quite perturbed yet eager to talk to this man who made my life miserable for years. I couldn’t concentrate on work anymore as I kept looking at my watch.
I sat down on the sofa think of what to tell him. Should I yell at him? Should I slap him? How do I face him? What should I say? My heart is filled with plethora of questions regarding what to do? I feel restless and lost in thoughts
” Ruth!! A penny for your thoughts”
I jolted back to reality to face a puzzle looking Maxwell.
” D…ear. When did you come in?”
” What’s going on Ruth, you seems lost” he said looking at me intently
” Hmmm. I… I am tried Maxwell. You know… work has been hectic and….”
” Are you ok dear?”
” Yes. I’m fine😊.”
” Sure?” he asked looking concerned
I nodded with a smile plastered on my face
” Ok. Have you had lunch?”
Lunch! I looked at the wall clock it was almost 3pm
” Hah… Maxwell dear, ” I called out softly as I held his hands
” Yes”
” I need to see a client, it’s 3pm. I will call you once I am done”
” But you said you are tried. Can’t it wait. For some time now we haven’t spent time together”
” I know. This can’t wait dear, it’s important”
” Really! Important than me your darling?”
I laughed out softly😄
” Come on! Your trying to be dramatic”
” Seriously?”
” Ok. I promise to call you once I am done”
” Fine. Let me drop you off then I see your car isn’t outside”
” Hmmm. It’s at the mechanic. Don’t bother I will take Uber”
” You don’t want your client to see me😏”
he teased
” Oh Maxwell! Yes I don’t want them to snatch my fiance from me😌”
He laughed out loudly
” Oh! Now you are protecting your territory”
” Yes. I don’t want stories”
” Ok. Remember you calling me”
” Sure dear”
I picked my bag and we walked out of my shop to where his car was parked
” Bye dear. I’m waiting for your call”
” Ok. See you later”
He drove out while I placed an order, it’s few minutes past three already.
The Uber driver arrived not quite long after I placed the order.
I finally arrived at the eatery within fifteen minutes. I walked in, glanced around.
I spotted him sitting at the end of the hall, dressed in a black jeans and cream shirt. He looks younger by the way he dressed.
He waved at me, I walked towards him trying all I could to comport myself as each step I took towards him seems difficult.
He stood up and drew out the chair opposite him as I approach the table
” Thanks” I muttered
” You are welcome”
He sat down looking at me with a smile on his face
” How are you sweetie☺️”
I looked at him speechless for some seconds
” I’m fine”
” I can see that written over you. ”
He turned and signalled for the waiter to come.
I picked the menu flipping through the pages slowly. I was really looking through for something though
He tilted his head lightly
” You haven’t seen anything that your buds itch for”
I inhaled, turning to the waiter
‘ I did like chicken and chips and a pack of juice”
” That’s it?”
” Yes. I’m not really hungry”
” Ok then. Get me number 15 and….47″
The waiter nodded and left
” You look dashing Ruth. Your fiance is a lucky man”
” And your wife?”
He adjusted a bit, looked at me then shifted his gaze.
” Isn’t she lucky?”
” Ruth. I…I”
” Please don’t tell me you are unmarried. You have a good gene but I know you should be in your late thirties or forty…”
” Forty- nine”
” Wow. You don’t look it. I thought probably your early forties”
He smiled☺️
” I get that a lot you know”
” Nature’s bounty”
The waiter arrived with our orders, setting it before us carefully
” Thank you” I said to the waiter
” So Mr Udok, what do you want from me?” I asked taking a bite
He was taken aback by my question
” Well, you see I don’t beating round the bush. For a man your age coming close to me knowing fully well I am engaged surely must have something in mind” I explained
He exhaled deeply adjusting on his chair
” I like you. I know it’s sounds unreasonable but I do. Ruth, that day I met you here, I felt drawn to you. The thing is I can’t just explain it but I feel connected to you”
” Huh! What about your wife”
” I don’t want to talk about her😔”
” Do you realize you are old enough to be my father”
” Well, I have no child” he said with a tone of sadness
” Are you sure?”
” Ruth, I don’t know why I feel free around you. ”
” You don’t feel free around her?”
” Our marriage is failing apart. We are more like flatmates, it’s been miserable for us. She wants kids, I do too but it’s not forth coming. Michelle feels miserable, so do I. She says I am the problem according to her pastor or whatever… ”
I swallowed hard as I listened to him
” So?”
” I feel I am paying?”
” For what?”
” You won’t understand😩”
” If you don’t tell me”
” It’s a long story, how did we get here? I’m just reeling out my marital issues to you”
” We are only having a conversation”
” Tell me about you” he said reaching for my hands
” Look who we have here?” Adaora yelled dropping her bag on our table
” Adaora”
” Oh yes! It’s me. Huh, a leopard they say can never change it’s spot. Ruth you are a chameleon!”
” Young lady, excuse me” He said
” Excuse you! You are one of her clients who hasn’t had enough of her, right?”
” Ada! ” I yelled
” Oh please! I watched you both talking like lovers hungry for each other, he couldn’t hold it anymore. Look, the way he is holding your hands. Maxwell has been enthralled”
” This is a public place don’t create a scene”
” Well, I just want you to know I saw you. I know you! You are so deceptive. I knew you can never change”
I felt like hitting this girl but I held my peace
” You better mind your business lady”
” Sure. I’m leaving continue with your mistress” she bloated out
She picked her bag and stormed out of the eatery
” Who is she?”
” My sister in-law to be”
” Wow! What a sister in-law to have”
I chunked out a sizeable measure of chicken and filled my mouth chewing slowly.
” You are trouble because of me”
He barely touched his meal, he kept downing his drink
” Your past, do you mind sharing”
He blinked, picked his fork and took a bite from his plate. He munched quietly looking at me
” Aren’t you perturbed by her invasion?”
I shook my head in the negative
” Interesting! Well, Ruth I did something horrible I am ashamed of. I wish I could turn the hands of the clock back”
I took a sip trying to calm my nerves and itching for him to say more
” I think she placed a cursed on me. I have tried to reach her but to no avail. My lust for her consumed me. I’m paying for my sins. I don’t have a peaceful home, my life is falling apart, I am childless. I have to seek succour in the arms of other women in a bid to find peace and feel whole. ”
He stopped,
” So, what do you want”
” Peace Ruth. I want to be a father. I want to get my life together. I want to seek forgiveness from Dami, I ruined her life. I knew she was engaged like you when I met her. She is so sweet but I ruined her life and mine because of lust” he howled miserably
I have never seen a man in such state before – confused and miserable
” Where is she?”
” I don’t know. I came here hoping to find her”
” Why did you approach me then knowing I am engaged. You want to repeat history?”
” No. You are attractive yes! I felt drawn to you. Yes, I tried flirting with you in your office. See Ruth, I…. just can’t resist women easily. When I left your place I can’t just place it but you reminded of her. ”
His phone rang interrupting our conversation, he ignored it. It rang again
” That must be important”
” It’s my brother. I don’t know why he is calling. He has no idea I am in Lagos”
” Then, it’s must be important”
” What else if not for one sermon and….”
It rang again
” Listen to him”
He looked at me then picked up
” Hey! Anthony’. What? You found her! I’m in Lagos myself. What she has… Oh goodness! Anthony I am coming to your parish. I need to see her and seek forgiveness. You mean I am a father, oh good Lord”
I kept listening to their conversation. He was overwhelmed by emotions so was I but I had to hold myself.
The called ended. He was speechless and kept looking at his phone
” Mr Udok, I should be on my way”
” Ruth… I’m a father. How do I face her after all these years😩. How do I face my child? She would hate me knowing what I did to her mother. I feel horrible by what I did. I ruined a sweet soul life and now a child is brought into this world via such terrible act. ”
I stood up looking at him bitterly, I now understood mother’s pain. Her bitterness and cold attitude.
I walked out before my emotions betray me. My eyes were filled as I walked past the door, I didn’t want him to catch up with me. I walked briskly..
To be continued..
