Because he loved him..

8. Heartbreak

*Amay's point of view*

In the morning, Karim dropped us outside the nursery and started reversing it for parking.

Arlo was jumping with excitement. It was hard not to get affected with his infectious energy.

I beamed at him but the smile on my face disappeared when I saw Mrs. Clay and dad walking out of the nursery.

Lord, give me strength!

I wanted to run and hug them but my legs just won't move. Mrs. Clay spotted me first.

I averted my eyes and held Arlo's hand tighter but she walked over and shouted,

"How could you, Amay?"

"I---" I started.

"You just used him! All this time, you had all of us fooled," her voice broke. She sniffed and continued.

"Well, you will be happy to know that he has been selected and is acing his training." She smirked.

I tried to keep my relief from showing in my eyes. Apparently, it bugged her.

"Do you know what he said when I told him about you?"

I looked up and felt heat on my cheeks. Tears had found their way across them. I turned and started walking back towards the car.

"He asked if you were happy!" she shrieked. Dad finally walked up to her and tried to comfort her.

"I raised you better than this. God, I wish you were never born." He spat. I gave an involuntary sob.

"You will not talk to my husband like that!" I heard Karim threaten them and looked back.

When did he get here? Why is he standing up for me? I didn't even hear him coming out of the car.

Arlo just kept looking between them and me. He also looked close to tears. He did not leave my hand even when we got back in the car.

Tears were falling freely now. I didn't even bother wiping them off.

After we reached home, Arlo reached out to wipe my tears off. I gave him a shaky smile.

Wait, when did I start calling it home?

Karim bristled and asked Arlo to go to his room. Then he led me to his room and banged on his bedside table.

I had never been in Karim's room before.

"I am going to tell them the truth. Your father was one thing, I had a row to pick up with him but I don't want others talking shit about you. They must know the truth." he said.

A row with my dad? No wonder they hate each other.

"Please, I don't want them to. Otherwise Samar won't be able to move on. If he hates me, it will be easier for him to move on and besides, I don't want anyone trying to hurt you either."

"Me?" He started laughing. It was a bit unnerving.

"Just what are you Amay? I blackmailed you into marrying me and you are still concerned about me?" He shook his head.

"Since we married, you have been nothing but kind to me. You bought the compund for me and even stood up to dad today. You even helped Samar get through the training like you promised. I don't have anything against you, Mr. Merchant."

He huffed angrily and punched the wall. A picture frame fell off it and broke into pieces.

I flinched and warily approached him. I didn't understand what was making him this angry.

I bent down to pick up the photo frame and gasped.

It was Myra! It had been years since I last saw her. She was like a sister to my dad and when mom passed away, she was the one who was there for us.

What happened to her? She was a regular to the church but then she stopped and dad forbade me from asking about her.

"Mr. Merchant, is this Arlo's mom?" I asked.

Karim snatched the frame from my hand and put it gingerly on the table.

But Arlo's mom was dead. "How?" I managed to ask. He seemed to shrink in on himself. Guilt. He felt guilty.

"It was not your fault." I asserted.

"How do you know that? It was all my fault." he rambled.

"You judge yourself too harshly, Mr. Merchant but you should remember that even you are only human and we are allowed our fair share of mistakes."

He turned swiftly and cupped my cheeks. I involuntarily brought out my hand in front of my face and his eyes found the promise ring.

He gave me a blazing look, I gulped and he pushed himself back.

"Get out!" He bellowed suddenly. I winced and he shouted again louder this time.

"Get the fuck out of my room!"

I scrambled out to my room. I realized I was shivering. Did I say something wrong? Why did he become so angry?

I went to drink a glass of water and heard light snoring from my bed. Arlo was curled up against my pillow.

Arlo was Myra's son! I will take care of your family, Myra like you took care of us when mom left us.

He must have fallen asleep waiting for me. A watery smile came up on my face. He needs a soft toy.

I walked over to the bed and tried to make sense of all that had happened today. The nursery, Mrs. Clay, Dad, Karim and Myra; it all kept replaying in my head.

Days went past. I was told that the paperwork of school was taken care of and our school was ready to go. They had even hired a principal, a couple of teachers and the staff.

For now, we were planning for primary classes only and the admissions had already begun.

The day I heard that about 70 children had taken admission, I cried. It was not just about my dream, it was about the village.

It didn't have any schools so the children had to go out to the town leaving their friends and parents behind.

My life might not be what I planned it to be but at least my plans for them wouldn't suffer.

I rarely saw Karim after that eventful day. Arlo told me that he had gone out of the town and wouldn't return till the day after tomorrow.

*What do you think? Karim growing up on you, yet? *