Three hours later.
I was in a red polka-dot sundress that reached my knee and a pair of black slip-ons I found in the wardrobe, which was the perfect match. I figured Aaron had gotten them for me because they fit so well. I made my curly hair into a ponytail, and once I was done, I stared at myself in the dressing mirror one last time to make sure I looked okay. I did, and now I was waiting for Aaron to call for me.
Leaving gave me a bittersweet feeling. Bitter because it meant I wouldn’t have the Harts around me anymore, especially Aaron, and sweet because this was what I always wanted.
Not long after I finished dressing up, the male servant, Blake, came to usher me out of the room. I came downstairs for the second time in the days I’ve been here and found the three younger Harts standing close, waiting. It warmed my heart to know that despite the chaos I caused while here, they were still here to say farewell.
“Promise you I’ll visit?” I asked with expectant eyes as I stared at Sesi, who smiled widely. Our circumstances these past few days didn’t give us the time we needed. However, there was a lot I wanted to learn from her, and I wanted to keep her close and build our relationship.
She nodded, “I will. I can’t go anywhere, not when Zion already has my heart.” She answered, smiling and fondling Zion’s cheeks.
“And you?” I asked, staring between Damor and Ivan.
“Sure. You’ve got some balls, and I’d like to learn from you,” Damor said.
“Zion is the cutest Hart so far. So yes, I will visit.” Ivan answered with a broad smile that made his blue eyes sparkle.
“I never thought I’d say this, but it needs to be said, so thank you. Thank you for everything. You’re the best aunts and uncles Zion could have ever asked for.”
This made them smile. “Ready?” Aaron asked, returning to the living room.
I turned to him and nodded. “We are.”
Sesi handed Zion over to Aaron, and he balanced his son on his left arm. Zion waved at the three Harts, and I saw his eyes grow glassy, and it broke my heart. He probably believes he will never see them again, and I did not know how to begin by telling him that wasn’t the case here. I wish I could take them with me just for today.
“Can we come along?” Ivan asked as if reading my thoughts.
Aaron hesitated, but when he looked at me, I nodded, and he nodded as well. “Sure, come along, but no trouble.”
Ivan was the happiest, and he stepped forward, taking Zion from Aaron’s hands and heading out while the little boy giggled happily.
“Are you sure about this?” Aaron asked with a little scepticism.
“It’s what Zion wants, and, from the look of it, he is ecstatic.” I tapped his shoulder and followed Ivan and Zion out as well. The red Benz jeep was already waiting for us outside the house, and we all got in.
“Can I use your phone and make a call?” I asked Aaron, who now had the key in the car’s ignition. I wanted to reach out to Lionel and tell him I was coming home. I had misplaced my phone during Diya’s bachelorette party, and I haven’t spoken to or reached out to anyone since then. I knew they would be happy to hear from me and learn I was okay today.
Aaron handed me his phone without arguing, and I dialled Lionel’s number. He didn’t pick up, and I tried again. He still didn’t pick up, and I felt uneasy with thoughts in my head. I called Diya even though I knew I was interrupting her honeymoon. I had no other choice, and I hoped she would pick up and not be mad.
After the first ring, she picked up and said, “Hello, who’s this?”
“Diya, it’s me,” I said, and I felt her exhale sharply.
“Zera, my goodness! Where have you been? Lionel has blown up my phone in the past few days because he was worried sick that he couldn’t find you and Zion. At first, I thought he was joking around, but then I realised he wasn’t. I almost cancelled my plans for the honeymoon.”
“I’m glad you didn’t, Diya; I am fine. I lost my phone. How’s Greg?”
“He’s fine. I still passed out on the bed. I blew his mind out last night.”
I heard chuckling from the back seat, and I knew everyone in the car had heard what she said, even though the call wasn’t on speaker. Their hearing ability had made them listen to what Diya was saying.
I turned to Aaron and found him chuckling. “Is someone there with you? I’m hearing noises in the background.” Diya’s suspicious tone came up.
I shook my head, then realised she wouldn’t see me. “No one. Why did you ask?”
“Nothing.”
“Has Lionel reached out to you since yesterday? I’ve tried his number twice, and it’s unreachable.”
“He called a day ago to ask if you’d reached out, but I have heard nothing from him yesterday or today.”
“Okay, thank you. I’ll keep calling him then.”
“Do that. I’m glad you’re okay. Please take care of yourself and Zion, and stay safe. Send my love to him, okay?”
“I will,” I answered, and the call ended. Then I turned to the people seated in the car with me. “You do not listen to people’s calls. It’s not right.” I scolded them with a stern voice.
It was wrong, and I would know. I did that five years ago, and look where we are now. They all mumbled inaudibly, “sorry,” and Aaron wouldn’t stop chuckling. And that was getting to me. “Is something funny, Mr?” My brow shot up.
He shook his head. “No, ma’am,” he replied, just as expected.
I returned my focus to my phone and once again dialled Lionel’s number, and after a few rings, it went through.
“Hello? Lionel?” I called out, immediately relieved to have gotten an answer, “Oh, thank goodness you’re-”
“This is Shamsi,” came the unknown, feminine, and fragile voice of the stranger now in possession of Lionel’s phone.
“Shamsi?” I repeated it because the name didn’t ring a bell in my memory.
“Lionel’s girlfriend,” she added, to clear my curiosity.
Oh, he’s gotten a girlfriend within a few days. My brother is fast! I’d give him that. He said it, and he did it. Good for him.
“Who are you?” she demanded, snapping me out of my silly mind.
“I’m Zera Adams, his sister. Where is he?” And do not tell me you also blew his brains out.
“Oh,” her voice dropped in its tempo, “Lionel is in the hospital. He was involved in a crash on his way over to my place last night.”