[STORY] PAPA LOVES HIS GIRLS (Episode 13)

Episode 13.

We got into the cab in a haste. I gave him the address of the apartment. As we drove back to the apartment, I kept looking over my shoulder to be sure we were not trailed.

” Mum, what next?” Nonso asked the question I had been asking myself.

” We will get to the apartment, pick up our luggages and this time around we will take a flight out of this place, never to come here again.” I said with hot tears flowing down my cheeks. I was done with Chike and his family. Never was I going to have anything to do with anything Igbo, even my children must never think of marrying anyone with the Igbo blood in their veins.” I concluded within me.

Thankfully, we got to the Estate that housed the Apartments. I was sure that once we were inside , we would be safe.

However, a rude shock awaited me. The quiet Estate I left was now crowded with cars and people. From the look of things, a party was ongoing.

” Mum, is someone having a party?” Amaka asked.

” I think so…” I said

” Please park in front of that building” I said to the driver. I wanted to pick up the key of the apartment from the woman at the reception.

” Please sir, you will be taking us to the airport, please let me pick up our bags”

” Ok!” The driver replied.

As I got down waiting for my children to alight, I saw a black van driving into the estate. Instinct told me those were the Kidnappers.

I quickly rushed into the reception with my children.

The reception was empty, but I saw the office close to it open. Without thinking, I rushed into the office, pulling my children along with me.

The woman at the reception was relaxing on the sofa when we barged in…

” What is it?” She stood up fearful as well.

” Nothing!” I replied absentmindedly, instead I started closing the windows.

” Some men are after me and my kids, we just escaped them..” I said In a Rush..

” What do you mean? I hope you are not the kidnapper, and the real parents of these children are looking for you, because these children look different from you”

” She is our mummy” Nonso defended

” Mummy is our mummy, it is the wicked people that killed Daddy that wants to kill us too” Amaka added.

Amaka’s words touched her…

” Tell me what is going on, so I know how I can help”

I gave her a summary of all I had gone through.

” I just need the key to the apartment, pick up our things and run away from here..Is there a backdoor that can lead us to the apartment?” I asked

” You are asking different questions..The key to your apartment is not here..My son…I mean Mr Andrew is cleaning the apartment”

” Oh! Ok, but I told him not to bother cleaning our apartment… That’s not even important again, please is there a back door?”

” No back door…Besides, If those men are the ones who assassinated your husband, then you have no business going outside. This is the safest place. There is a party going on in our multi-purpose hall, when the party is over, it would be the best time to escape. I will tell Mr Andrew to bring out your boxes now and drive you to the airport when the party ends. If you leave now, it would be highly suspicious when they see people leaving now…”

Amaka was sobbing profusely, it was getting too much for my children. I couldn’t even console them, because I was weak likewise…

” Finally…” A man said after he opened the door forcefully…

” Look at you…Maureen, we meet again…Oh! I even have grandchildren”

My life suddenly felt scattered…

Who was this man?

To be continued….