BROKEN MIRAGE

CHAPTER SIX

I'm so sorry for the late continuation of this book. I hope my apologies are accepted. It was due to some occurences. Well, this is the continuation of The Broken Mirage. Enjoy!

It was like an arrow fired into my heart. I couldn't say a word. I watched as my brothers and my dad broke into tears. I just sat on the couch numb hoping to rewind time as my eyes went off to mom's picture on the wall with me standing beside her. I remember that day like it was yesterday...

***
"Helene!", mom shouted. "Won't you join me in the kitchen?". Lazily, I ran down the stairs and joined her in the kitchen.

"Sweetheart, today is a special day and we are going to make a special dish to celebrate it. Pass me the saucer".

"What's the occasion?", I asked giving her the saucer.

"Have you forgotten your sister's birthday so quickly?"

I sighed and said, "Mom, Marilyn is long gone. There is nothing anyone can do about it".

"But, she should still be remembered. If she were alive today, she would have n twenty

"I know mom", I said and sat on the kitchen cabinet folding my arms across my chest.

"You are the only daughter I have left, Helene. I can't afford to lose you too", she covered the pot and moved closer to me. "I promise to take care of you till you are grown and even beyond that. Marilyn might be gone but I still have you... and Marilyn's death will be the last untimely death we will ever have in this family. I love you so much, baby".

With tears in my eyes, I hugged her and she did too. She went over to the cupboard and brought out a camera.

"Want a shot?", she asked smiling.

"Sure"

She timed the camera and placed it on the cabinet.

"One, Two, Three.... " CLICK!

***
It was then I started screaming and shouting. I realised my mother was no more. She was never coming back. I didn't even get to see her before she left us behind. Now, I'm never going to see her again?.

"HOW?!, HOW?!". That was the only word I could shout. I was already on the floor pulling my hair which had already covered my face when Richard came. He lifted me and sat me down on the couch. He sat beside me and put my head on his shoulders where I almost cried life out of me.

"So, mom is never coming back?", I asked.

"No, Helene", Richard answered. I tightened my grip on Richard's T-shirt and continued with my cries.

Tinuke's mom came running down the stairs panicking. She almost missed a step on the stairs due to her panicks.

"Ki lo sele? (What happened?). I heard shouts from here. Hope nothing?"

Dad looked at her and shook his head. "You are bad luck, Bose".

"Ah. E ma so be mo (Don't ever say that again). Why the curse? Please, please, whatever bad luck that has befallen you is none of my... "

"Shut up!", dad ordered standing up. "Ever since you entered into this house, the atmosphere hasn't been the same. Now, my wife is gone, my dearest wife is gone". He broke into manly tears .

I took my gaze to him expecting him to repeat his last statement. Dearest wife? Was dad putting on an act here? .

"Why are you so concerned about her?", Tinuke's mother asked. "Weren't you the one who said she..."

"Keep shut!". He kept mute for a while and said, "I want you out this instance"

"O ti e da (Very good). Oh, you think I would beg you, Shola? Your wife might have done that but I will NEVER!".

"You know NOTHING about my wife!", he pushed her in anger. "And don't you ever say anything about her".

"Alright. I'll leave... Gbenga!, Tomiwa!, Tinuke!", she shouted.

"No!. You are not taking Tinuke with you"

She frowned and asked, "Why not?".

"Have you forgotten that she is pregnant, pregnant for my son".

Richard closed his eyes in shame and regret. Tinuke's mother laughed and retied her wrapper. I guess that's a normal act for Yoruba women.

"Shola, tell me. Do you think I'm stupid and desperate? Do you think I will leave my daughter here alone?", she scoffed and continued. "And as for the pregnancy, we will find something to do to it".

Richard's eyes shone in shock. He stood up facing her and said, "No one is going to harm that child while I'm still alive. No one, not even you".

Tinuke and her brothers descended the stairs looking surprised.

"What's going on here?", Tinuke asked as her brothers sat on the dining chairs.

"Go and pack your things. We are leaving".

"Leaving?"

"No questions".

"But, but... what of my baby?"

"Se o ma dake? (Will you keep shut?). Se oro baby la n so ni? (Are we talking about a baby here?).

"E ma binu ma (Don't be angry). I just grew concerned since I will be leaving it's father here".

"You are staying, Tinuke", father said while her mother laughed. "Yes! She is staying. When she delivers, she can go to you but for now, let her be with us".

There was silence in the sitting room until Tomiwa stamped his feet on the ground.

"This is not a graveyard, please".

I so much hated that boy. He always felt like he knew it all; Mr Right always.

"Mother, let's just comply. Afterall, Tinuke is still going to be with us. She is not staying here permanently", Gbenga said and I smiled.

Tinuke's mother sighed and faced dad. "This is a deal. After her delivery, she is coming back to us". Dad nodded. She looked around and sighed heavily. I knew she was going to miss this house. It was a wealthy home indeed not like the slums she came from. She obviously wanted to enjoy more of the wealth and riches so Iwas very sure that the thought of leaving hit her hard like a rock. How did she get father to marry her? She wasn't father's tyoe of woman. She is a dirty and deceptive person. All i knew was that there was something more to these strange occurences.

I took a glimpse at her again but this time, she wasn't looking around, she was looking at a particular spot in the drawer. I guessed I was the only one who saw her because others were busy moving about doing one thing or another apart from dad and Gbenga. Her face met mine and she gave a smile... My heart skipped. She turned around and gave her children a helping hand.

I thought within myself - Was it so easy to part ways without much of an argument?

Dad looked sick. He looked as if he had been ripped off of everything he owned. It was as if he was no longer in that body; like he had gone someplace else. Well, it was his fault to the best of my understanding. Nothing of these would have happened if he hadn't let go of mom.

Mom's never coming back, her replacement is leaving and we will never be the same.