❤️ Heart Robber ❤️
52
Abby’s un-derstanding of the whole situation is that her mom traveled and she had to stay back with her dad for awhile but awhile is gradually becoming too long
Since Aunt Marty took her to the house she hasn’t seen her mom and she’s beginning to worry . First they moved out of the big house and she was expecting to return back to her house but jimi brou-ght her to his house instead and her mom was not here either
So that Saturday morning after breakfast, jimi was busy on his laptop when abby came to next to him
“Daddy…. When do you think I can go and see my mommy”
“Baby I told you your mom traveled. We will go see her when she’s back”
“But why would she go anywhere without me”
“Honestly she didn’t want to leave you but it was an important trip and she’ll be back soon”
“Okay but can we call her so I can talk to her”
“Don’t worry she’ll call us as soon as she can”
“You said that before”
“Well she’s probably still busy”
“I just want to talk to her”
“I know baby, I know you miss her …. I miss her too”
She made a sad face and jimi dropped his laptop and turn to her fully
“Am going to keep trying to reach her, I won’t stop until she answers. I promise”
“Okay…. But can I go play with br@dy today”
“Of course princess. Daddy is a little busy now once am done we’re going to Uncle phili-p’s”
She nodded obviously not satisfied with his response
About two hours later, they got into Jimi’s car and drove to phili-p’s apartment.
Jimi hasn’t been here since that morning when Diana was packing up to leave with abby just before he figured out she was his daughter
br@dy rushed out to welcome them and Abby was actually smiling for the first time today
“Look who we have here” Phili-p walked out of the house
“Little princess Abby and her father” he emphasized on the Father part
“Hey man. So good to see you” they shake hands before leaving Abby outside with the dog
“Remember if you nee-d anything abby we’re right inside”
“Okay daddy” abby was too busy with br@dy to care
“Okay daddy” Phili-p mimicked
“Shut up” they walked into the living room
“Do you want something to drink, beer, wine vodka”
“Jesus Phil…. It’s 11 in the morning”
“And when has that ever stopped you”
“Well am a dad now I nee-d to get my priorities right.”
“Now you are going to make us sound like the bad guy…. So how have you been man”
“Great… But am running out of excuses to give Abby. She wants to see her mother”
“Pheew I knew it would come to this . They are both inseperable. I don’t know how she stayed this long”
“I nee-d to talk to Diana one way or the other”
“Mommy! Mommy!!” They heard abby screamed from outside and they jumped out to see what’s going on
Jimi was expecting to see Abby ban-ging her house door looking for Diana
But diana was actually outside coming out of a cab with her luggage.
She’s back. He almost screamed for joy
Abby ran into diana’s arms and it was beautiful seeing the mother and daughter embr@ce warmly
Jimi let them bond for as long as they nee-ded to, abby even went inside the house and they’ve been there together eversince
Then about three hours later.
Jimi couldn’t hold it anymore,he went to straight to knock her door
She opened and when their eyes lock, it was different from the angry glances and fireshot stare. This time she looked calm, relaxed and warm
“Hi” jimi was unsure of what to say
“Hi, oh abby will be joining you shortly she’s having a snack”
“No it’s fine I wasn’t coming to get her . I just wanted to talk to you”
“Oh okay” she stepped out of the house and they stood in the balcony
“How .. was your trip?”
“Wonderful”
“Good and Uhm how’s your Mom”
“She’s fine”
“Diana…. I can’t apologise enough for everything that has transpired between but I can never stand in the way of you being with Abby. Since you left she hasn’t been her usual cheerful self. Today she kept asking of you and I had already exhausted all my excuses bringing her here was just to see br@dy. It a miracle that you showed up at the time that you did that’s what being a mother feels like being able to connect with your child at all time.” He sighed heavily
“If there’s anything that I can do to somehow make this better for everyone I will. I spoke to my mom yesterday and she also wished she had a better son even if she won’t admit it. I have made alot of people suffer due to my negligence non chalant and reckless lifestyle.
Abby is a gift that I don’t deserve and I know someday when she’s old enough she’s going to wish for a better father and probably hate me for the pain that I caused you and your family”
“She’s not going to hate you” Diana answered softly
“You made mistakes jimi. Alot in my own defense but who am I to judge you . I try to use your feelings against you and that’s not right it doesn’t make me a better person.”
Jimi was relieved diana was being to let loose
“Abby is so happy that you are back. I mean I am happy that you are back” diana smiled literally melting his heart
“Maybe she can spend the night with you. I mean you both have alot of catching up to do”
She giggled “thank you Jimi”
“No thank you for all you’ve done. You’re an incredible and irreplaceable mother”
He shook his head
“Is it ok if I take Abby to Disneyland after new year. I did promise to take her”
“It’s fine you’re her dad, you don’t nee-d my permission to take your daughter anywhere”
“Oh yes I do. Although am sure she would be thrilled if you come along with us”
“Nah . I don’t think that’s a good idea. You both have to get along without being there. You’re already a great pair just some father and daughter bonding time”
Jimi was grinning from ear to ear
“I am never going to love anyone as much as I love you Diana and maybe this is the punishment that I deserve
Maybe all we nee-d is time, time to heal, time to grow and realize it”
“I know
I love you
But it not enough
My heart can’t take it twice
You already robbed me once
Am not gonna let you do it again
We can’t be together Jimi.” She admitted and Jimi couldn’t argue further
He just made peace with it
#
6 Months later
Marty watched Diana walk into the waiting lobby, she looked different, must be the haircut but better than expected, diana looked alive, they hu-gged each other and exchange pleasantries before heading to the car
Diana studied Marty as she drived alot has happened in the last couple of months, they had lost touch and regain their friendship somehow, for what its worth, she was so glad she didn’t lose such an amazing friend
When Marty called about a month ago that she is getting married and Phili-p finally proposed, it was the most wonderful news she had heard in a long time and she had been genuinely happy and then when Marty asked her to be her chief bride’s maid, she was short of words but her happiness was all she could think of as she gladly said yes
After all that happened, Marty still considers her as her best friend, even though she didn’t deserve it, she wished she had done things differently and because Marty is has been a blessing to her
“When did you learn how to drive”
Marty giggled
” Phili-p talked me into taking weekend clas-ses a while ago and sometimes he’d help me himself”
“That’s wonderful,”
“I know right…. Nice haircut didi . You look very beautiful”
“Thanks, bettys handwork”
After her closure with jimi she decided to go back home and just try to rebuild her life. Lagos obviously wasn’t much of an option for her so she went back to Benin and got a job as a restaurant manager
“Everything suits you, You are a natural beauty”
“Thank you but am so so happy for you. ”
“Thanks babe, You know I wouldn’t have this if it wasn’t for you*
“I didn’t do anything, I only broke your trust and pushed you aside”
“Hey… Don’t say that, I’ll admit I was de-eply hurt but then I remembered how we met in school, You were that beautiful girl that was always on her own, everybody wanted to be your friend but you just weren’t open for that. You just restrict yourself from everyone else”
“I didn’t realize I was that popular”
“More than just popular, You remember Joseph osagie, The one that had a hu-ge crush on you”
“Yeah I remember him” she chuckled
“He sent me a friend request on Facebook, he asked after you, he even asked for your number”
“I hope he’s living fine”
“I guess so, I mean he’s working with Chevron, You know the guy has always been a br@iny”
“Yeah I’m glad he’s doing.. Ok”
“You never kept in touch with any of our friends from Novena”
“That’s because I only had one friend and she’s sitting next to me”
Marty smiled
” I know you miss her, she misses you too”
“I can’t wait to see her infact am dying to see her”
“. You are going to see her, if you want I could call jimi to drop her over… Am sure he wouldn’t mind”
“No that won’t be necessary”
“Didi don’t tell me you’re still avoiding this guy and holding a grudge, it been six months . he keeps reminding me that if you ever want to see her or spend time with her, he will always be willing to let you have that”
Diana let a tear drop
“Do you think I was being selfish for leaving her like that”
“No sweetheart.not selfish at all but You better come up with something reasonable to convince her for leaving her, coz Abby is my little bride maid and you will be seeing her real soon”
Diana looked throu-ghthe window
“My little princess”
“She’s not so little anymore…. So when is momsy coming”
“A day before the wedding, she’ll be coming with Betty”
“Oh Betty how is she”
“Heavily and easily irritated, every time she keeps asking me if Dorcas felt this way when she was pregnant…. The truth is I don’t really know how it feels to be pregnant but she expects me to give her some kind of answer I don’t have”
“Don’t worry, You will have your own fair share of the cake, we will all have it”
##
THE WEDDING DAY
All throu-ghthe morning they had been busy getting ready for the church service which starts by eight
There is so much to do, and a little time to get it done, Marty was having her make over right now with the rest of the train
Marty’s careless cousin had left the bride’s purse behind so diana had to rush back home to get it
As she was rushing into the hotel to their room she heard a voice that killed her tracks immediately
She turned and there she was standing by a lady, wearing a gorgeous white baby ball gown, with her hair in a beautiful pony tail, her little angel, her princess Abigail Osawema
In a twinkle of an eye, Abby was running towards her, she bent to catch her in a big hu-g as tears roll down her cheeks, thank God she has not done her makeup, Marty would have skinned her alive
After hu-gging her like her life depends on it, Diana pulled back slowly, it felt like forever since she’d last seen her, she studied her properly, she was definitely taller in those shoes, and her face fuller and beautiful above all she looked healthy and happy
The lady Abby was with moved closer to them and Diana stood up
“Look at my beautiful princess Abby”
” Abby has been dying to see you she really misses you” simi smiled at them
” I hope we are still on time with the bride”
“Yes she’s upstairs”
“So I guess I’ll see you at the wedding, I know she’s in safe hands”
“Thank you….”
“Am simisola, jimi’s younger sister”
“Am Diana”
“Oh I know who you are, abby’s mother. Have heard alot about you” Diana smiled
“Okay Bye Abby. See you in church”
“Bye Aunty simi”
She waved and walked out of the hotel
“Mommy where have you been”
“Oh Abby, I went on a trip”
“Another trip….To where”
“Somewhere not so far”
“Why didn’t you take me with you”
“Because your daddy had to take care of you, am sure you had fun with daddy”
Abby nodded
” lots of fun” she grinned
“Oh tell me all about it don’t leave any detail out ”
diana carried Abby in her arms as they head to the room