DEAR
JOCELYN
Episode 41
By: Faith Lucky.
Jocelyn’s Pov:
I woke up the next morning with Rodney still lying on the be-d beside me.
I yawned and itched my eyes and immediately, the door opened and mum c@m£ in.
“Whaat?” She skrie-ked at the sight of Rodney on the be-d with me and Rodney was f0rç£d to wake up.
“What are doing here?” She asked as Rodney and I sat up, dumbfounded.
“Nothing mum…”
“I’m sorry Mrs James; but she asked me to keep her company throu-gh the night. She said she was having nightmares.” Rodney ch!pped in
“Yes”.
She stared at us with her mouth agape.
Well, since we had clothes on, it was possible she’d be sure we didn’t do anything together.
“Why didn’t you ask me to keep you company instead, Jocelyn?” She asked and I folded myl-ips.
“Anyway, come out for breakfast” she added and left the room.
I heaved a hvge sigh of relief immediately she left and hit Rodney’s che-st.
“Why didn’t you leaveleave sooner? Do you want to get me into trouble? It’s a good thing it was my mum and not my dad” I said and folder my hands and he chuckled.
“Sorry love” he replied and pe-cked me on the cheek.
We left the room together and got to the dining where breakfast had alre-ady been served.
“Good morning dad” I greeted dad who was busy with his l@pt©p.
“Oh, dearie; how was your night?” He asked and paused to look at me.
“I’m fine dad” I replied and he took his attention back to the l@pt©p.
I was about taking a seat when the door opened and surprisingly, Megan c@m£ in.
Huh?
Even dad closed his l@pt©p immediately he noticed her in the room. All attention diverted to her.
She sauntered in and st©pped halfway to the dining. She looked chastened.
“Megan, what are you doing here?” Mum asked angrily and she quic-kly went on her knees, weeping.
“Im sorry mun” she said with a wavering voice.
‘plea-se believe me; I’m sorry for what I did. I was just un-der a lot of pressure and didn’t know the right step to take. But I’ve realised my mistake now and I’m asking for forgiveness. plea-se forgive me” she placed her hands together and wept.
“But how could you be so childish Megan?” Dad asked in his de-ep masculine voice.
“She’s your sister for God’s sake. How could you think twice about letting us know her identity?”
“I’m sorry dad. plea-se forgive me” she whimpered.
Immediately, I went to her and lifted her from the floor.
“Mum, dad, Rodney” I called calmly, still holding her hand.
“She’s sorry for what she did. I think we should forgive her”.
I drew her closer to where they were and joined her hand with mum’s.
Mum tried to ignore but couldn’t and slowly, she embr@ced her.
Megan’s tears increa-sed as she held her ti-ght.
“Thank you mum” she said in a weeping tone and mum ru-bbe-d her back.
“It’s okay. Sssh. It’s okay” mum consoled her and dad also joined in the hvg.
Then, I hvgged her afterwards.
“Thank you Jocelyn” she whimpered, still holding me and I smiled.
“You’re welcome Megan. I’m glad you’re back” I replied and tried taking her to Rodney, but she withdrew her hand.
It seemed she was scared of facing Rodney.
I took hold of her hand again and took her to where Rodney was. She wept and stared at the floor as she stood in front of him. He didn’t say a word.
“Rodney” I whispered and he looked at me.
“I thought we were having breakfast? I’m starving” he replied and took a seat, not paying a single attention to Megan.
*
*
Rodney, why don’t you try being a little easy on Megan?” I asked as I sat next to him in the car while he was driving.
Immediately, he turned on the FM and a song started pla-ying.
“Have you listened to words by Skylar Grey?” He asked and I sighed
“Hm?” He asked again.
“No” I replied and rolled my eyes. He was just trying to avoid any conversation involving Megan.
“By the way, what song will you be singing in tonight’s contest?” He asked and decrea-sed the volume of the FM.
“Why are you asking? Do you go around asking all the contestants the same question? Huh, Rodney?” I asked and he chuckled.
“Hm. What happened to Mr Rodney?” He asked.
“Mr my foot” I replied and pu-ll-ed his nose and he laughed.
That was the Jocelyn he missed.
*
Soon, we got to our destination and Rodney parked in front of the exquisite two sto-rey building. I stared at it in amusement and was be-dazzled at the beauty of the house.
It was painted in white and flecked with a little purple. It was so pretty.
Rodney held my hand and took me into the house. The inside was so enchanting.
“You mean this is yours?” I asked as we climbe-d the stairs.
“Yes. I built it six years ago and I plan on ma-king it my matrimonial home” he replied and I glanced at him.
“Matrimonial home?” I asked.
“With whom?”
“Well, with a very lucky lady. Don’t worry, I’ll introduce you to her one of these days.” He replied and I rolled my eyes.
He showed me round the house and I couldn’t imagine living in It. It was so beautiful.
“It’s beautiful, Rodney” I told him as I stood, facing him at the balcony.
“is it?” He asked and wra-pped his hand around my w@!st and I nodded.
I thought of bringing up Megan’s issue again, but felt scared.
“Um…Rodney” I finally summoned up to talk.
“We were um…talking about Megan…”
“Well, I don’t want to talk about her!” He half-yelled and let go of my w@!st.
That was just what I was afraid of. He hasn’t let gone of this grumpy attitude of his.
I bent my head sadly and he sighed and took my hands.
“Look, Jocelyn, I’m…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you. It’s just that what Megan did is unforgivable. She tried to keep you away from me, Jocelyn, and It’s something I can never forget. So, st©p mentioning her name cause it’s driving me crazy” he said.
I kept staring at the floor and he held my cheeks.
“Okay? I’m sorry, plea-se” he said in an appealing tone and I nodded and rested my head on his che-st.
“Just give a thought to it” I said calmly, but he didn’t reply.
*
*
We spent the whole time together and when it was evening, we headed for the contest.
All eyes were on me as I arrived with Rodney and the gossips were all sounding clear to me.
Rodney wra-pped his hand around my w@!st as we walked in and he had almost taken me to the judges table, forgetting I was also a contestant.
“Rodney, I can’t go in with you. I’ll wait here” I told him as we st©pped walking.
“it’s…its not necessary, Jocelyn. You can still come in with me and when it’s your time to sing…”
“Rodney” I interrupted him and smiled.
“Go on; I’m not running away” .
“Fine” he replied and pe-cked myl-ips before leaving.
I took a seat next to the other contestants and they just kept throwing glances at me. Even Edith was gawping at me.
“Hi Jocelyn” someone walked up to me and said genially.
“Hi” I replied after a little reluctance.
She was beautiful and had a smiling face.
“Um…I’m Hannah” she said and sat next to me.
“Okay. Nice meeting you, Hannah” I replied and she smiled.
“So, you’re Mr Rodney’s Jocelyn? Who would’ve thought? You’re so lucky. It’s alre-ady confirmed that…you’re going to be winner of the contest”.
I rose my brows.
“Really?” I asked, sounding a bit surprised.
“Well, of course. I mean, who do you think Mr Rodney’s going to chose over you? He’s holding the contest in your name, Jocelyn. Who’s going to be a better winner for him?
“I’m happy for you; don’t think I’m not. It’s just that, I had so many dreams. But now, even if I had no idea whom the winner was going to be, I’m alre-ady certain I’m not the one.” I stared at her as she spoke and couldn’t even find the right words to say to her.
“Contestant no 10” the mic announced and I stood up.
“Good luck” she told me with a warm smile.
“Thanks” I replied and went into the stage.
I took the mic and stood in front of the judges. Rodney was smiling and staring at me.t
That was the contestant he’s been waiting for.
I did a causal greeting and cleared my throat to begin singing.
“Sorry, miss. What’s your name?” Rodney interrupted me and I smiled.
“Jocelyn James” I replied.
“Oh! Jocelyn. So you’re the Jocelyn I’ve been hearing about? What’s the title of your song?”
“I mentioned it before Rodney…”
“Sorry, what did you just call me?”
I fisted my hand and grinned.
“Mr Rodney” I replied and he laughed and fell back on his chair.
“Okay; okay. Go straight to your song. Don’t waste our time” he said and I rolled my eyes and began singing.
It’s ha-rd to believe
That I couldn’t see
You were always there beside me.
I sang the first stanza of the song and rounded it up with the chorus.
“Wait; I thought the song had two p@rts? Why didn’t you sing the second p@rt?” He asked and I scoffed.
“Well, I didn’t want to waste your time, MR RODNEY” I replied huskily and walked away. *
*
“Come on, Jocelyn. I said I’m sorry” Rodney said plea-singly as he stood in front of me in the pool.
I was sitting on the edge while he stood facing me, still in the water.
“What exactly are you sorry for, Mr Rodney? Go away” I said churlishly and pushed him.
“Seriously?” He asked and scoffed.
“Fine! I promise not to do it again. Just give me one more chance”.
“There are no more chances, Mr Rodney. Go and work on that rude attitude of yours. How could you speak to me in that manner in front of those ugly judges?”
He smiled and t©uçhed my legs.
“Come on, Jocelyn…”
“Don’t let me punch you, Mr Rodney. Let me be!” I rasp and pushed him again and this time around, he fell into the water.
He started struggling and g@sping.
“Help…Help me,,Jocelyn. I’m drowning. Help me!” He struggled to say and I g@sped and jumped into the water.
“Rodney!” I called in fright and held him and he started laughing.
“Did you just call me Rodney? What about the Mr?” He asked and I g@sped.
“You lied to me! How dare you?” I said rather smiling and hit him on the che-st.
“Just admit it, Jocelyn. You can’t stay mad at me” he said as we both remained standing In the water.
He held me by the w@!st and I wra-pped my two hands around his shoulders.
We k!$$£d for a short time.
“Tell me what you want me to do for you, Jocelyn, and I’ll do it” he said and I smiled.
“Well, mummy told me not to accept things from boys. She told me she’ll always be there for me and will provide anything I nee-d” I replied and he laughed.
“Silly girl” he whispered.
He k!$$£d me again and slowly lifted his hands to my bo-ob s and pressed them lightly.
“Rodney!” I skrie-ked and pushed him away and he chuckled.
“Look who’s becoming shy” he told me and held me again, ma-king our foreheads t©uçh each other’s.
“So, when will it be?” He asked in alow tune and I pu-ll-ed a muddle face.
“What?” I asked.
“Do you really want me to spell it out?”
‘plea-se don’t. You’re such a spoilt br@t.
Anyway, that’d be when I get married”
“Hm. Story for the gods”.
“You think so?”
I laughed and k!$$£d him.
“By the way, Rodney” I said.
“Will you accompany me to see my mum tomorrow plea-se?”
“Your mum?”:he asked.
“Uhm…I mean, Mrs Salome. I really want to see her. Mum is alre-ady talking about getting her locked up. But I don’t want that to happen, Rodney. I don’t want her arrested. That’s why I really want to speak to her. So will you accompany me there?”
Rodney remained silent as he s£nt his f!ngersdee-per into my w@!st.
“Rodney?” I called calmly, hoping he doesn’t shout on me.
“Anything for you, my lady” he replied and k!$$£d me.
*****************
Megan stood behind, watching from a corner. It was dark, but the pool lights made it clear for her to see everything going on.
She watched tearfully and suddenly bec@m£ so bittered.
DEAR
JOCELYN
Episode 42
By: Faith Lucky.
Jocelyn’s Pov:
Rodney drove into Mrs Salome’s compound and found a perfect place to park.
He c@m£ out of the car with me and we ambled to the door.
I knocked twice on the door and Mrs Salome opened up after a little delay. Shock was large writ on her face when she saw me.
I also stared at her with surprise. She was looking pale and her eyes were heavy.
Rachel had told me she had been indoors the whole day and wasn’t taking care of herself.
It was obviously true.
“Audrey?” She called pathetically still holding the door and my heart melted.
“Mum?” I called tearfully and we held each others hands.
“Audrey, you c@m£ for me”.
“What happened mum?”
We busted into tears and she embr@ced me.
*
*
Mrs Salome dropped the old picture on the table and I took it, taking a look at It.
I was sitting next to Rodney; while Mrs Salome sat opposite us on the other side of the table.
Rodney just glanced at the picture in my hand and took his eyes away afterwards.
It was a picture of a young pretty girl.
“That is my six years old daughter” Mrs Salome started.
“And her name is Audrey”.
She paused and looked at me and I also shut her a stare.
“She was the only thing I had with my husband and meant the whole world to me.” She continued in a more grieving tone.
“But she died in an accident and I lost her. I cried day and night and felt like killing myself with it because I had no other reason to live.
“But coincidentally, that same period, my husband found you floating in a river close by and he rescued you and brou-ght you home. You were still unconscious and I took care of you myself.
“I took so much time and effort taking care of you and I suddenly thought I was taking care of my own daughter.
“You woke up the next morning and the first question you asked was *where am I?* and I told you you were in a safe place. Then, I went ahead to ask for your name and surprisingly, you told me you couldn’t remember.
“I was stunned and asked you again and surprisingly, you told me you couldn’t remember.
“I was stunned and asked you again but you gave me the same reply. I asked after your parents but you told me you couldn’t remember either.
“Then, you bec@m£ scared and busted into tears, requiring to know what happened to you and in order to st©p you from crying, I had to tell you I was your mum.
“My husband suggested we took you to the police but I told him It might be dangerous since you didn’t remember anything from your past and you might probably be haunted down. So, I suggested you stayed with us until you regained your memories.
“You started calling me mum and bec@m£ so fond of me and suddenly, the pains of losing my daughter few days ago had began to vanish.
“You kept asking me for your name and after a moment of thought, I called you Audrey.
“you were so pretty and innocent and fun to be with. And gradually, I found myself finding solace in you. For weeks, you stayed with us and there was no news of your past. So,,gradually, I decided to adopt you – at least for the meantime.
My husband was just a fisherman and I was a housewife. So we didn’t get to go out a lot.
“It was almost a month later that we got to know who your real family were and that they were looking for you. I panicked as the thought of losing you flashed into my mind. I had become so fond of you and had seen my lost daughter in you and I was scared of the pains I’d have to go throu-gh losing two daughters at the same time. I know it was insane, but I had to do it. My husband was against It at first but he couldn’t oppose It for long.
“So, we took you and left for North America and that was where we based. I enrolled you into a local school and prevented you from having friends or going out freely. I was just scared of losing you, Audrey”.
She paused and wept.
“Few years later, your father died of an illness and things bec@m£ really tough for us. But luckily, Tessy found a job for me here and after much thoughts, I was compelled to return here. Besides, I felt It was long alre-ady and there was no way you could recognise any of your family members. But the tables began to turn around when the music contest c@m£ up”.
She paused and wept again, more bitterly.
“I’m sorry Audrey” she continued.
“I hope you can forgive me. I was just being carried away by my daughter’s loss”.
“Well, Mrs Salome, while trying to get over your loss with a poor innocent kid, you should have realised you were causing loss to someone else as well” Rodney said angrily.
“I’m sorry…”
“And what are you apologising for? Huh? The deed has alre-ady been done. You kept her away from us for nineteen years! Do you know what I had to go throu-gh because of that?” He said raucously and stood on his feet.
“No matter what you say, Mrs Salome; nothing can justify what you did.” He added and flounced out of the house.
I stood up immediately and ran after him.
“Rodney! Rodney, wait!” I called and caught up with him and he st©pped.
“Rodney plea-se…”
“I don’t nee-d any explanations Jocelyn. I don’t even want to be here. So,.come on; let’s go home. This place is driving me crazy” he said with a little anger in his voice and grasp my hand.
“Rodney plea-se, calm down and listen to me”
“And what exactly should I listen to, Jocelyn? No matter what you say, I’m not going in there to face that woman!”
“At least, just listen to me!” I said ruefully and busted into tears.
He t©uçhed his forehead and took in a de-ep breath. Then he held me and cleaned my face.
“I’m…I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry” he said remorsefully.
“plea-se, I didn’t mean to act that way”.
“I know what she did was wrong” I said amidst tears.
“But she’s still the one that saved me and took care of mean. She didn’t put me in danger, Rodney. Isn’t that enough to be a little grateful?
“I know you have every reason to be mad at her. But at least, for my sake; forgive her”.
He kept silent and stared away.
“Will you do it for me?” I asked and he looked at me and after a little reluctance, he nodded.
I smiled and embr@ced him and took him back to the house and there we met Mrs Salome, crying her eyes out.
“Mum” I called and rushed to her, helping her from the floor.
She continued crying and I embr@ced her.
“it’s okay, mum. plea-se st©p crying” I consoled her and ru-bbe-d her back.
“I’m sorry” she whimpered and I took her to Rodney.
Rodney was at first, reluctant; but I gave him a prodding look and he f0rç£d himself to embr@ce her.
It’s obvious he was just doing it to make me happy.
*
*
A lot of preparations were going on at home when I returned. Lots of chairs and tables had been arranged outside and flowers and decorations had taken place.
Good looking girls and boys dressed as waiters and waitresses were seen around, setting and adjusting. It was all in preparation for my home coming p@rty.
I returned with Rodney and Mrs Salome and went into the house to look for mum. I was really hoping mum would go a little soft on her.
I found her in the sitting room, talking to the event planner when she turned and saw us coming In.
“What are you doing here?” She asked immediately in an enraged voice.
“How dare you set your filthy legs in my house? Someb©dy call the police!”
“Mum!” I called and ran upto her, holding her.
“Mum plea-se, calm down”.
“And what do you mean I should calm down? She took you away from me, Jocelyn and I’m going to make her pay for it”.
Mrs Salome quic-kly went on her knees, alre-ady in tears
“I know I’ve wronged you so much” she cried.
“And I’m sorry for the pains I made you go throu-gh. I was just being a desperate mother. plea-se forgive me”.
“Seriously? I should forgive you?” Mum asked and scoffed angrily and I held her hands.
“Mum plea-se, for my sake. She explained everything to me and I perfectly un-derstand with her. plea-se, show a little clemency” I pleaded and she looked at me with surprise.
She paced tho and fro for a short time and turned back to Mrs Salome.
“Listen to me; the only clemency I can give to you is withdrawing the court case I’m alre-ady pu-lling one you. But as for forgiveness, I’m not so sure of that” she said churlishly and walked away.
Megan’s Pov:
I locked the n£¢klace around my n£¢k and had a final perfunctory stare at the mirror. I was good to go.
I sighed and remained standing in front of the mirror, feeling a little reluctant about leaving the room.
I was feeling dizzy and kind of weak and If not that mum wouldn’t permit it, I’d have preferred abs£nting myself from the p@rty.
Edith was having some family issues and couldn’t be there with me. Nob©dy had time for me as they were all busy with Jocelyn. I was so despondent.
I finally left the room, taking slow steps as I did and immediately I got outside, the first person I saw was Rodney.
He was coming out of Jocelyn’s room and when he saw me, he halted for a while but resumed walking away.
“Rodney” I called carewornly and he st©pped.
He didn’t turn to look at me as I stood behind him.
I bent my head and searched for words.
“What is it?” He asked and I f0rç£d myself to speak up immediately.
“I…I just want to apologise for what happened. We haven’t had time to discuss things after the incident. But I really want you to know I’m sorry for what I did. I hope you can forgive me” I said ruefully and sniffed.
“You know, Megan” he said.
“I’ve just been a little curious and I only have one question for you. If I hadn’t found out the truth, would you had really kept it all to yourself? Would I still be in pains by now? Not knowing you were swallowing the truth down your throat?”
He finally turned to look at me and my heart gave a mighty leap.
“I regret all the moments I spent with you. Those were the worst moments of my life. So get them off your mind” he told me and left and I busted into more tears.
TBC.