[STORY] PAPA LOVES HIS GIRLS (Episode 10)

Episode 10.

“Chi…Andrew” He said

” Chi…Andrew! I have never heard that before…” I said

He laughed…

” Actually, Andrew is what I go by here, but my birth name is Chima…”

” Chima! Oh! But I thought the woman at the reception said you were not Igbo.”

” I am Igbo, but chose not to be identified by that in public ”

” Ok, Mr Chima Andrew…Thank you. I apologize for taking your time. My regards to your family ”

” She will hear ” He said as he disappeared into the darkness…

” She will hear!” That kept echoing in my ears…

” I said Regards to his family, and He replied She will hear” I thought

” That means he has no kids yet, only a wife” I concluded. I suddenly felt ashamed and guilty for hugging another woman’s husband.

I planned on avoiding him, so by morning I placed a call to the reception.

” Hello ma”

” Mrs Nwosu, good morning ma. How was your night?” The woman replied

” Glorious, we thank God. Please ma, I would want a change of staff assigned to us” I said with

” I don’t understand..”

” I mean if my family needs anything, can you send someone else aside from Mr Chima.. I mean Mr Andrew”

” Oh! Is there a situation?”

” No, I have my reasons ”

” Ok ma, but we also have a challenge. He is the only staff we have”

” What?”

“The thing is, this is a Self service Guest house, so we do not see the need to have a lot of staff.”

” Wow!” I was beyond flabbergasted

That means I didn’t have the choice but to see him a few more times.

*****
Deliberately, I avoided him like a plague. There was no asking for anything from the reception.

*****
Eventually, the day of the burial came.

We were fully dressed when Joan called to ask where we were lodging.

I told her, I couldn’t tell her. She asked that we do a video call ..

” Please, Don’t tell me that is the hair you plan on rocking today…” Joan said

” Were you expecting me to braid my hair ? I came here to mourn” I replied smiling

“No, we are not mourning my Chike, we his friends are celebrating him. Let me send you the address to the Salon I used yesterday when I got here. Please quickly go there right away. We still have 3 hours to go.”

” I am not going anywhere ” I replied laughing

” Please…I beg you… Look good ” Joan ended the call and while still thinking over her words, I received the text message for the address.

” Mummy, I really want to make my hair like Aunty Joan suggested” Amaka said

I saw in her eyes that she wanted to look good.

“Ok, Let’s quickly get to the place”

******
We had finished our hair and I was indeed pleased with how we looked. We stepped out to get a taxi back to the apartment, fortunately for us, a taxi was waiting outside the Salon. We told him where we were headed.

As he drove us back to the apartment, he suddenly parked the vehicle and three men got into the vehicle. One man sat in front and the two came in through the two sides.

” Put your daughter on your laps” The man to my right barked at me…

” If I hear a word, I will kill you” The man to my left warned showing me his gun…

I didn’t need any one to explain who the men were. They were sent by those who killed my husband. However, I wondered how they knew my whereabouts. I concluded Joan definitely was an enemy.

Nonso and Amaka were already crying…

” Stop crying! God is with us!” I said to my children patting their back…

” God, I can’t die like this” I prayed within me…

To be continued….