ESCAPE

Chapter 9

We were driven to the parish house in a police vehicle , funny enough the parish house was the only place I felt safe now.

As we arrived at the parish house there was an awkward feeling in my stomach like I should not be here, like I had no right to return after all the trouble I had caused, after what I had done. I wondered in what mood i would be welcomed, if I would be welcomed at all and not sent away. I thought of how eventually I would have to see Wole's father and how would I face him?

The officer parked his car at the parish house and we got down. Waiting outside was Father Patrick himself, his black hair lustrous as ever, and his cassock as white as snow. His smile gave me serenity. As we alighted the vehicle he walked quickly to me and hugged me, slowly his smile faded away and I could see worry and concern on his face.

'Where have you been? We thought you were dead. What happened to you?' he dusted my shirt and my hair and hugged me over and over again.

He didn't mind that I smelled like a gutter in human form or that my dirty shirt might stain his finely ironed cloth. I felt too loved, too missed. I should be slapped, cursed, punished. Why this? I was ignorant of the tears that were rolling down my cheeks until my vision was blurred by the liquid gathering around my eyes.

'I'm Mr Ayo.' the officer extended his hand to Father Patrick.

'Forgive me, where are my manners?' Father quickly got up and shook his hand. 'I'm Father Patrick.'

'We should go in.'

'Yes. Yes.' he turned, 'and what is your name princess?'

'Chidimma sir.' she said smiling.

'You have a beautiful name. Let's go inside.'

We went in the house, and took our seats on the couch. Then the officer not wasting anytime began to speak.

'I understand that he has been staying with you since the incident at his house.'

He said incident with a stress.

'Yes.'

'Good.' he touched his pockets, 'The detective handling his case has been contacted, he should be arriving soon.'

'Yes.'

'Father I want to thank you for what you are doing for this children, you're a good man.'

Father smiled and said, 'We should thank the Lord.'

'Chidimma's mother has also been contacted, she should be coming from Enugu soon to pick her up, but until then I want to thank you once again Father for letting them stay here.'

Father nodded.

The police officer got up abruptly and stretched his hand towards Father.

'Well sir, I should take my leave. I believe they are in safe hands now.'

They exchanged hand shakes and smiles and Father Patrick thanked him, and soon he was gone.

'Alex, you've been through a lot. I'm really happy you're alive.'

I was quiet. He turned to Chidimma and gave her a long pitiful stare.

'My dear, you will both be fine. Ok?'

She replied with a nod.

'You both look like you've been through hell.' he smiled like one who had said something that was meant to be a joke, then the smile precipitously disappeared just as quickly as it had arrived on realising that no one else got it. 'Alex, I believe you recall the way to the room?'