?
?married
To
VICTOR
Stephen
episode, 26
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As Mr Phil!pwas driving us back home, we br@nched the shoprite near by, while Mr. Phil!phelped me with the things we nee-ded to buy. I remembered a line in Betty’s card to Daniel. Do you have new shoes? re-ading that card, I realized I haven’t bought anything for the boy, and immediately, I called the woman who supply my children’s clothes and shoes to get me new shoes, and clothes for a nine year old boy.
As I was talking to the woman on phone, a Lexus car pas-sed, and that made me remember my Dad. He had told my sister and I he wanted a Lexus car for his birthday gift. My sister as usual laughed about it, saying Dad was just joking, but I knew he spoke out his mind. He truly wanted a Lexus. When I was young, papa James never had two cars. Just one, and the moment he sees a car he likes, he would sell his old one and buy a new one.
Just ad I dropped my phone, another call c@m£ in.
Papa James!
As if he knew I was thinking about him. I smiled to myself, picking up his call immediately. Been a week we talked last. “Another papa James is a counterfeit!” I greeted with my usual rhyme causing him to reply with his sweet laughter. My Dad now smiles, and laugh a lot. de-ep down, I was glad he was living his old age happily. Like some old days, I wouldn’t dare talk to my Dad like that, talk less of him smiling, and laughing, but regardless of everything, I love him so much. He didn’t joke with my education when he had the chance to train me. Thank you to him, and every man who stayed to train their children, helping them to build a beautiful future.
“That’s my girl!” He replied. He might have laughed, but his voice sounded weak, like there wasn’t much life in it. “Dad are you okay?” My smile was gone instantly.
He laughed slowly. “Dad is always fine sweetheart,” he sounded better, and I relaxed, back to my cheerful mood. “Don’t worry Dad, we will storm abuja very soon for your sixty nine birthday. Trust me, is gonna be a ban-ga! We really can’t wait till you clock seventy. And guess what, your Lexus will follow.”
He laughed, full of gladness in it. “You girls are spoiling me,” he coughed, and that took him more than thirty seconds to die down. I bec@m£ worried again. “Dad, are you really okay?”
He coughed, and stayed silent for a second. “Dad is always strong,” he said, but his voice wasn’t as lively, strong, cheerful, and full of life like I used to know. The week he called last, I noticed that too, but all he told me was… He is fine.
“Why I called you is because I will like you to visit me at Abuja. Your sister is here, and I hope you will make it on time before the end of this week. I know you are still nursing the twins, but it’s very important we see,” he said. “So that we can start planning how the birthday will be a ban-ga,” he added to make Me smile, and I did even though I knew something wasn’t right.
“I love you Dad.” I blew him a k!ss.
“That’s my girl,” he chuckled lightly before he hung up.
Immediately I dropped my phone, I couldn’t think of anything else but the call. Something was wrong? My sister could not suddenly leave for Abuja without telling me.
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I told Victor about the call I received from Dad, and how unsettled I was after talking to him. I couldn’t help thinking about Dad, and tried many times to make a lot of guesses on what might be going on. After four days of preparing for my journey to Abuja, I decided I was going to board a plane to Abuja, which will take me not less than three hours to reach there. But during those hours on plane, I could not possibly think well. I was full of many worries, and my mind was far away because none of my family was picking my calls.
I could feel my whole b©dy shaking with fear. But fear of what?
The taxi dropped me at the front of my parent’s new house. It was a gift from my sister and I to them. I could not compare their joy to any. In tears, Mom prayed for my sister and I. My Dad only made one s£ntence… ‘Train your children at all cost. If
you have to be ha-rd on them, they will thank you
later.’
When he said it, my sister and I shared a familiar look, and smiled. I couldn’t help but remember our life back then with Dad, but all in all, it paid really well, and truly everyday I see how successful I’ve become, I couldn’t help saying a short prayer for him, and Mom. I always thought my Dad was lucky to have a woman like my Mom, but no! My mom was such a lucky woman to have a man who stood by her, and trained their children together. Many fathers today, are nowhere to be found.
Thank you cannot be enough to those two for all they did for my sister and I. They spent all they had on us. They did their best to be a good parent, and above all… They didn’t joke with our future, but followed the best option by pursuing our future with us. Suzy Stephen being one of the best, and intelligent Doctors. While sister Blessing doing well in her business with two br@nches born alre-ady. She was becoming famous in her business, and just last month, she moved into a new house with her family at Victoria Island.
Because of their solid foundation, both my sister and I are living our dreams. I hope some parents are taking their children’s education serious with them. The moment I stepped out of the taxi, memories of what happened the day we brou-ght Mom and Dad flooded back.
“Mom, what do you think of this house?” Sister Blessing asked.
Mom smiled genuinely. “It’s so beautiful,” she said. I faced Dad, unable to hide my smile. “Daddy…” I called, and he smiled in return.
“Someone stole the plan to my dream house,” he glanced around, and stared at my sister and I. We both laughed, and immediately Sister Blessing brou-ght out the key to the house hanging it in the air. “Well, we are both sorry,” she smiled at them. “But we are here to return it fully built.” She handed the key to my Dad. Both Mom, and Dad bec@m£ speechless before Mom’s tears expressed how happy she felt.
Man would always behave like a real man, because instead of Dad jumping up with a scream, he drew us closer to him, and said… “Your children will remember you when they become successful.” It was an important prayer, so I said Amen with my Faith. Then, both my Emmanuella, and Emmanuel just clocked two. After that, Mom hvgged us, and started her unending prayers.
It was close to four years now, and I was fulfilled we did it. Each step I take, I take it closer to the door. I could hear the beating of my heart fas-ter than its usual speed. I shunned the gateman from shouting, and walked towards the door. Everywhere was quiet, and silent, but I wasn’t sure if it was peaceful or not. I tried calling their numbers again, but none of them was picking. On reaching the door, I couldn’t count the number of sandals, sli-ppers, and shoes at the door step.
Could it be any better if I didn’t see that? I didn’t know where the tears c@m£ from, but suddenly, they spilled down, burning my cheeks. I rushed in with a burry eyes. “Where is he?” I could not even recognize my own voice. My sister met Mr on the way immediately trying to st©p me.
“Suzy!” She dragged me with her.
“Where is he?” I repeated. “How could you leave without telling me? How could you not tell me what was going on?” I accused her, unable to hold my tears. “Why him? He doesn’t deserve any pain. Sister Blessing you know right! He should be eating the fruit of his labour, and not packing to leave us,” I cried!
“Suzy calm down,” she tried to hold me down, but I f0rç£fully re-lease myself from her, and headed straight to Dad’s room. The moment I opened the door, my whole b©dy bec@m£ weak, and slowly, I counted to steps backward to get a good view. I couldn’t believe, and accept the situation I met him. He was laying lifelessly on the his be-d, living in pain. He turned around and faced me with a beautiful smile on his face, while h0t tears found their way down to my precious cheeks.
“Dad…” I couldn’t believe that voice was mine. It was shaking, scared, and totally lost its cheerfulness. I moved closer to him with my teary face. “Dad, are you really leaving us?” I brou-ght myself to ask knowing I couldn’t allow it. He smiled at me again, and demonstrated with his hands for me to come. “I’ve been waiting all day for you,” he said in pain, tou-ching my cheek. “You will always remain Dad’s little girl,” he chuckled slowly. “Do you wish to tell dad anything?”
I nodded, as I bur-st into another fit of tears. I gr@bb£d his hand, and squee-zed it. “Do you know you’re the best Dad in the world? Do you know I love you so much, and I can’t bring myself to say goodbye?”
He smiled slowly, and gently wiped my tears with his hand. “Some years back, you wouldn’t have said that to Dad.” That made more tears rolled down.
God! I couldn’t lose him. He was right, but still, I’ve always loved him. I nodded, admitting. “But now Dad, I realize everything was for our best. You didn’t give up on us, no matter how we disagreed with you. Thank you so much Dad.”
He laughed wearily. It was obvious he was totally tired, and weak. He squee-zed my hand as well. “Be the best mama in the world, and don’t give up on your family.” His eyes shut closed.
“Suzy!”
“Suzy!”
Hearing that voice caused me to jump up in fear, looking around me. I saw Victor, and not my Dad. I looked around again. It was Victor, and not my Sister. I jumped out of the be-d, and looked carefully around again. This time, the room I was belongs to my husband and I. Not my Dad.
“Suzy, are you alright?” I rushed to my phone, ignoring Victor. I couldn’t believe I just had a terrible dream.
The first ring…. He didn’t pick.
The second ring…. Caused the beating of my heart to change tremendously
The third ring…. Made a tear to rolled down my cheek.
“Suzy!”
The familiar voice made me bur-st into tears. “Don’t tell me he’s gone!”
“If you’re talking about Dad’s dog, Jerry died last night,” sister Blessing said, and I cursed the dog silently.
“This one that you call very early, did you hear the news?” A smile brighten up my teary face, and graced my cheeks with tears of Joy the moment I heard that voice. “Dad, it’s really you!” His voice sounded much more better than before. It sounded like an everlasting life was resto-red in it, and I couldn’t help laughing.
“Dad was a little bit down, but he’s back as a strong general,” hr said, and I laughed again, unable to contain my happiness. “Are you still coming over this week,” he asked. I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “No rope can tie me down this week,” I replied, and his lively laughter healed my burning heart that could have turned into a scar.
I ended the call, and turned around facing Victor, dressed up in a colour he never liked at all. Black colour. “Is everything alright?” He asked, and I nodded on reply.
“Okay then, wear a black dress, and meet me downstairs. We just lost Betty,” he announced, and left the room. My mind went straight to Daniel, the poor boy. And I couldn’t help but thought about when Kunmi lost her Dad too. I might never survive experiencing such, but I believe God knows best.
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Next Episode loading✔
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I’m laughing at someone who actually thought
Suzy’s Dad died ???
Sorry guys, we won’t see such again.
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