jilted episode 89

JILTED
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Sequence 89
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Ambrose POV
"Uncle, I have been calling you now" Apollos jumped at me immediately I arrive the house. I stood at the entrance door wondering what the problem is.
Sammy ran towards me, I guess Eugene just heard about Mrs Ima's death so she decided to pay us a visit.
"Any problem?" I frowned throwing Sammy up in the air.
I had to leave my phone on silence today, I wouldn't want my phone to ring loud in a hospital environment or at the station where investigations is on going.
"Ambrose" I heard Eugene's voice.
Holding Sammy to my chest, I walk straight to the sitting room so that I would see Eugene.
She came running down the stairs sweating and panting.
"She left" She announced.
I am lost, Who left?
"Who left? Mom?"
"Your wife, I met her packing her belongings when we arrive this afternoon, she left in a cab" Eugene announced.
My jaw dropped.
Left to where? She didn't tell me she would be going anywhere.
I put Sammy down and ran all the way to our room.
The room is totally empty, she left with all the boxes that contain her things and my daughter's.
We have packed our boxes in preparation of our relocation, she moved everything out except the ones containing my belongings.
Sweat covered me, what's this?
I reach for my phone, 32 missed calls.
Mom called.
Eugene called.
Haira called once.
Apollos called too.
I dialed her number, it rang till eternity but she didn't answer it.
Why would she leave the house? Why? For what exactly? We had no issues before I left this morning.
I check the drawer for our travel documents, Her visa is gone.
This woman is likely to have gone to Dubai on her own.
I jog down the stairs, Eugene pace up and down trying to put a call across to someone.
"Where did she say she was going?" I faced Apollos, she became teary.
"She didn't say anything to us" Apollos responded.
I stood behind the couch Sammy sat, this is unlike my wife.
"I called you continuously, we tried stopping her, she left in a cab and she was very bitter, what happened between you two?" Eugene asked raising her voice. Her eyes is red and swollen.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing. We had no issues" I defended.
"Where's mom?" I asked standing upright.
"She left too" Eugene announce.
My eyes bulge, left again? Why are they all leaving?
"To where?"
"Ibadan" She said dropping into the nearest couch.
"What's all this? She wasn't suppose to leave till next month" I yell.
Grabbing my phone, I dialed mom's number with shaky hands.
"Mom, why............"
"Ehn ehn ehn, I though I gave birth to a son, I never knew you were a dog" She hissed ending the call at once.
I stare at the phone, mouth fully opened.
What's going on?
"Eugene is she answering your calls? I mean my wife?" I asked not knowing where to go from my standing position.
"She's not picking up, I am worried, Ambrose look for her please" She said.
I nod.
Without another word, I jog out of the room and got at the wheel.
I have to check at her parents house first, I think she's still upset about her mom's death, she might have gone back home to mourn Priscilla.
If Haira went to mourn her mom, what about mom leaving the house suddenly?
This women wouldn't kill me.
It's not too long a drive down to my in law's home.
I drove into their compound and jump down from my vechile.
Turning the knob of the door without knocking, my eyes behold my father in law kissing and fondling a middle age woman.
Maybe in her late 30's.
They don't notice my presence, I had to slam the door to get their attention.
Chief Ima quickly slid off her body, taking a sit on another couch.
She sat up doing the button of her white short sleeve shirt.
This man didn't even wait for Priscilla to die before bringing his secret lover home.
"Mama Queen, that's my son in law, the one that married Haira, I am sure you have seen him in papers, his wif, my daughter is a music star, though she haven't sang for a while now" He introduce in his long boring speech.
She flash me a smile.
I force back a dry smile.
"I am mama Queen, his wife" She introduce.
I nod.
"Mom, I seriously don't know why we have to move out of there, I mean I was getting along with our neighbors and now I have to live in this gigantic building just with the both of you? You gonna ruin my social life by bringing me to this silent place with so many rooms, I might get trapped in one of those rooms someday"
I turn around to feed my eyes with the owner of the voice.
Very beautiful teenager, around age fifteen.
She's so beautiful and looks like the Ima twins.
I saw a younger Haira in her.
She's so innocent. I guess this is Phillip's third daughter from the wife he married outside his home.
"Look Queen, you would always have someone to play with. About the house? It's your home, in a very short time you would be so use to it moreover your older sisters would want you around them, aunty Haira is very accommodating and you can always go to her every weekend, I would give her a call right away, she would love to meet her sister for the first time after sixteen years of birth" He grin dipping his hand in his pocket.
Haira isn't here?
"And dad, I still find it hard to believe Haira the super star is my sister, I would only believe you when she confirms that" She added jumping into a couch, the one very close to me.
She's a spoilt brat, it's obvious.
Depending on your definition of spoilt brat, she's cool but a talkative, I am sure Phillip spent a whole lot on her just like I intend spending on Lina. She seems picky and intelligent.
Queen is just the Aje butter breed.
I waited for Phillip to dial the number, I might have the chance to speak with her if she answers his call.
"Switched off" He hissed feeling disappointed.
My heart raced, I am sure we didn't have issues before I left this morning so what the hell happened? She disappeared just like that? Where's she? Where did she go?
"Ambrose, why is her phone switch off?" He asked facing me.
Do I tell this man his daughter and my daughter are missing?
He just lost his wife, well maybe not grieving but I know how much he cares about Haira, she's his favourite amongst Priscilla kids.
I shrug.
"She have been mourning mom, I think she need rest so she turned it off" I lie.
I felt discomfort inside of me, my tummy burnt, it felt like my organs left my entire body, I don't know Haira's where about.
"Sit now, what should I offer you?" My step mother in law tried to be nice.
"Nothing really, I came to say hi, I would just leave" I push a dry smile.
I turn to leave when I heard bags rolling behind me, Bobby walk down the stairs weeping.
He rolled a black traveling box behind him.
"Dad, I am ashamed of you, what are you teaching me? I am scared there's another son from another woman and you are just waiting for this swollen bread to die too so that you can bring the other mistress and her illegitimate child in too" Bobby roared. This is actually the first time I have seen him cry this much.
During his mother's burial, he didn't cry as much as this.
"Phillip, warn your son oo, who's the swollen bread?" Mama Queen roar.
I just took a second look at her, she's truly swollen or chubby.
"Bobby dear, there are two sides to every story, listen you my side please" Phillip pleaded.
"There's nothing to listen to, mom is dead and she's not here to tell her own side, if I listen to you, won't I be judging a one sided story? I know mom was a virago, a fish wife or whatever you classify her as but she was the best wife maybe not to some extent but she have never for once done anything to hurt this family not even you, how can you bring in another woman with a sixteen years old daughter just two weeks after her death?" He spit venom.
I forgot my own problems and feed my eyes with the family drama.
"No Bobby, your mom did a lot of damages beyond repair, she didn't tell me a lot of things she was suppose to say until it was too late. If only she had told me what the problem was early enough, I wouldn't have gone out seeking comfort in another woman's arms, everything just happened, I am sorry boy, you remain my heir"
I pity the man sha, Priscilla fuck up big time, her behavior towards her family and people surrounding her is still not justifiable. Communication is key in every relationship, she should have spoken to her husband about her past.
"I hate you man, I love my mom and I wouldn't be a part to this shit, enjoy!" Bobby concluded.
We left together and I drop him at his hostel with my car.
He's in his finals, he would become a legalized lawyer in a bit.
When I drop him off, I remember my own problems, I called her line, switch off.
I started calling my mom, she wouldn't answer my calls.
I don't know where my wife and daughter is, I wouldn't shut my eyes tonight if I don't hear a word from them.
Where do I take it from? Laura is in the cell so she can't possibly know my wife whereabout.
It's not even a kidnap sef, she left home on her own and with her belongings. What I don't know is why? To where?
We never had issues.
My phone beep, I angrily glance at the text message thinking it was one of those services SMS.
Behold, Haira just withdrawal a sum of five million naira from our joint account.
I check the time of the alert, 3:10pm.
The bank is still working and she withdrew cash. She probably took our check book along, all of the pages are signed by both of us already just in case one of us isn't available and there would be a need for emergency withdrawal.
I called her like again, it rang.
"Thank God" I exhaled waiting for her to pick up.
No answer.
I tried again add what I heard was "Switched off"
What's all this drama now?
I parked properly and continue with my mom, she must pick oo.
Finally, she did.
"This boy, what's it? I would switch off my phone o" She threatened.
"Mom, I am sorry for disturbing you with calls, why did you leave? Is Haira there with you?" I asked.
She went silent for a while.
"You are such an ingrate, so after all she have been through with you? You still went on to sleep with Hanna to the extend of impregnating her? Ambrose, I am ashamed of being your mother" She slammed at me.
I sat up right, Who told her? Definitely not Hanna or Anthony.
"Mom, how did she get to know? I didn't do it intentionally I swear" I defended.
"I am sorry boy, you have lost that woman" She hang up on me.
Laura's words came echoing in my ears, she actually said there wouldn't be any home for me. It's happening, the home I have been fighting for has crashed.
Where do I go from here? Mom wouldn't answer my calls again.
Where do I go now?
*
After a fruitless effort searching for her all day, I retire home.
Eugene was able to reach her, she said Haira would be flying to Dubai by noon tomorrow.
I quickly call my travel agent, I need to fly too.
He said there's no more Dubai ticket until a week. The geologist think the weather wouldn't be conducive to fly to Dubai after tomorrow.
"Get me on board tommorow, I would pay any amount please" I pleaded hoping that there would be one last ticket even if it's economy.
"All sold out, sorry" He apologize.
I fell into my bed.
Whatever it would cost me, I would have my family back.
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TBC