GRACE DAVID'S CORNER: LIBERTY EPISODE 4

EPISODE FOUR
Everything spun into focus, she gripped the table for support and nodded her head to put her mother in law at ease, “I am fine, just stress,” she croaked.
Mama Jane made her sit down, “I have to warn your husband, I noticed your cluttered schedule, look at how pale you look, let me get Jeff,”
Chide panicked and grabbed her arm, she didn’t want to create unnecessary furor that would lead to questions, questions she couldn’t answer.
“Do you have to bother him with something as inconsequential as this? I am fine; he is the one you should worry about,”
Mama Jane sighed, “he reminds me so much of Sam, consumed by their passion, I lost the battle trying to compete with God’s work and I see it repeating itself in your husband’s life, just pray my dear child and ensure he doesn’t drag you down with work,”
Chide was relieved that she had successfully redirected her mother in law’s focus and as she clasped the paper in her sweaty palm she shivered one more time at the thought of her nightmares coming alive. Even Mama Jane’s delicious vegetable soup did nothing to rid her mind of the frightening thoughts that plagued it. After dinner they made for their home to her relief, she needed sometime to herself to think. Who was the prankster that had sent her the note and why? Or could it be that…? She couldn’t even complete the thought, she wouldn’t.
Jeff kept casting furtive glances at her still form while inside she was raging like an ocean ready to break its shore. He did her the favour of not asking why she was so silent and thoughtful. Except when they were preparing for bed and her phone buzzed into life did he ask. She snatched up the phone only for the call to end before she had the chance to pick it, it was a private number. This time instead of shrugging it off she dwelled on it, it troubled her so much so that as she was handing Jeff a glass of water and his supplements she let the glass slip off her hand, crashing with a loud sound that brought everything to a stop. He could just stare as he asked, “Oh girl what is going on?”
She scurried out to get a mop, broom and dustpan but before she got back he had cleaned it up and was picking the shards of glass with his bare hands.
“How did you clean it?” she asked coming to bend down beside him with a dustpan and a broom.
“I used one of my dirty shirts,”
“What! You shouldn’t have done that, I sometimes have to wash your clothes with my hands you know,” she said frustrated by his nonchalance; the world’s nonchalance to her predicament.
“I am sorry it was spreading towards the rug,”
“Stop doing that,” she said thoughtlessly snatching a large piece of broken glass from him, the effect was a deep cut, blood and a loud yelp.
“Babe leave the mess for me to handle it, just sit here while I get the first aid box,” he ordered gently yet sternly and led her to the only armchair in their room.
She let the tears pour unrestrained as Jeff scurried around to clean up her cut and the floor. How like her life story – make a big mess leave the dirty work for others to clean up. Oh Jeff, poor Jeff. She kept thinking as she watched him hovering over her like a mother hen.
“Come to bed,” he urged and she obeyed wordlessly.
He gathered her in his arms and asked, “Why are you so tense, is it stress?”
She shook her head and looked into his eyes, her heart burned for what this man had come to mean to her, she would be nothing more than a hollow shell without him, she couldn’t afford to lose him.
“Jeff what if you had to leave me?” Her voice was nothing more than a hoarse whisper.
He looked down at her puzzled, “why would you even think that, did my mum tell you anything?”
She shook her head, “I just want to know, Jeff I love you to heaven and back but love is never enough, if you had to leave me Jeff would you?”
He held her gaze for a long probing minute then answered without flinching, “no.”
She felt relief enveloping her like soothing balm and she wrapped her arms around him.
“Because I am having those nightmares again, only that this time they are alive.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
Post By :Grace David