Jessica’s point of View.
“Am sorry Jessica for everything, am a changed person…”
“Hahahahahahahaha, you must be kidding me, you saw me in TV that’s the reason why you think you have changed? ”
“Not so Jessica, don’t say that, I….”
“Ahemmmm!!”
Grandfather cleared his throat loudly to draw our attention, I kept quite.
“Hello miss or Mrs whatever your name is, who do you say you are?”
“Am Jessica’s first aunt”
I was starting to have headache, I never knew that woman will come seek me out, we had bitter relationship and it’s one I never needed or wanted to remember at all
I felt Xavier eyes on me and I looked at him and he sends a small smile which I returned, he mouthed (are you okay), I nodded.
But that’s a lie, I wasn’t okay, this woman dealt with me more than I can ever bean, I know what it took me to stop having nightmares about the things I suffered at her hands.
“I ask again, who did you say you are?”
“Am Jessica’s aunt and only close family member at the moment ”
“Jessica?”
“Father ”
“Is she right?”
“Yes, she was my aunt”
“Was? ”
“Yes, we lost contact many years ago, so am surprised what she is doing here”
“Jessica, I…. I said am sorry, I really am sorry please forgive me dear”
Grandfather kept quiet with his hands clasped in front of him on the table, Xavier did not say anything because I never told him I have any family members alive but am sure he knew since he investigated me.
“Hummm, I will leave you two to discuss among yourselves, just so you know young woman, whatever she says will decide whether you will be staying here or leaving ”
My aunt nodded her head and looked at me with plea in her eyes, I averted my eyes away from her, she is a good actress.
“Xavier, come with me to the study, I have something to discuss with you ”
“Okay grandfather, will you be okay Jess?”
“Yes, I will be, just go”
He led his grandfather away from the dinning room towards his study then I focused my full attention to my aunt.
I know why grandfather still let her stay here and discuss with me, Xavier have told me once that his grandfather value family bond a lot, he believes in forgiveness except if it was extreme and I think my aunt is an example of extreme.
“So tell me what you said you came here to do once again?”
“Jessica, I know I did you bad, no evil, but am honestly sorry, I reg…..”
“Who wrote your script for you, no need to pretend, just tell me what’s on your mind, you can still stay here for a moment before I bundle you back to a hotel and don’t worry I will pay for a year stay at least you would have gotten something or a house before it elapses”
“Jessica, even if you wanted me gone without a dime am okay, am just really sorry for everything I did to you, you know, I was on drugs at that time so half of the things I do isn’t even intentional at all”
“You were on drugs? I don’t and never knew you were on drugs, you and your husband treated me like I was a criminal, you two…. Just get the hell out of my life, I don’t want to ever see you in front of me, just go, just fucking go”
“Jessica please listen to me, I did those things to you I wouldn’t deny it but it wasn’t intentional, I swear it please Jess….”
“Don’t ever call me that, don’t you ever call that ever again, you need money, fine, here take ”
I took out my unused bank account card, it has most of my savings in it, but I didn’t care, I just want that hateful woman gone, I threw it in her face together with my car keys and drove her out of the house.
I slumped down once I closed the door, my legs felt weak and I was feeling very sad, I broke out in sobs, crying loudly, I didn’t care if the maids heard me, I just wanted to cry.
I heard a running footsteps approaching me but I didn’t raise my head, I continued sobbing, a warm large hand touched me and i accepted the hand, I know it was Xavier without looking, he put his hand under my knee and the other under my upper back and lifted me up.
He didn’t say anything to me, he just carried me to our room and layed me down on the bed, he tucked me and wanted to leave to give me space, I held his hand immediately,
“P… Pl… Please don’t go, eh”
“Okay, I will lie down beside you okay ”
I nodded and he came onto the bed and lay down beside me, cuddling me from behind, I turned around and faced him, placing my head on his chest crying silently and wetting his clothes, he didn’t mind at all.
He didn’t ask me anything or try to use words to comfort me, I liked it that way, I don’t want to hear any consolation words now, his hands and body rocking me and caressing my back is more than enough for me, that is what I needed.
“Am…. Am sorry about your clothes, I didn’t want to stain it”
“No worries, you can cry more if you want, I don’t mind okay?”
“Uhm, am I a bad person for not listening to her and grandfather?”
“No sweetheart, you are not, you are just angry okay which is normal, once you are okay then you may or may not listen to her, it’s your choice ”
“Okay, I understand ”
He held me like that till I stopped crying, I fell asleep soon after, and the nightmare started.