CAUGHT IN THE 'MIXST'

RACE

CHAPTER TWO.

They met at the Crookston Campus and it was love at first sight. He was in his fourth year at the medical school then while Vanessa was in the college of design. Tall and exquisite, she could easily and flawlessly pass for a model with her blond hair. They started dating not long after and things seemed all perfect until she got carried away by her somewhat Savage and uncivil wild lifestyle which appalled him. All for the sale of love, he had overlooked her excesses.

Her father was a Mayor of Newsbury, Massachusetts while her mother was a judge. He had met her parents once at the start of their relationship and that was two years ago.

Daniel, being a book-worm and she had on several occasions complained aboutvnot getting much attention from him. He must have misconstrued the whole situation as he assumed she needed some time off. On that fateful day after a long stressful weekend, he had decided to pay Vanessa a surprise visit when he found a shocker. Something he would never forget in a hurry. It was very unusual of her to have her doors locked at the very active moment of the day. He had a spare key anyway.

Stepping in only to catch his girlfriend having s*x with Todd, the captain of the Minnesota basketball team. There were offences he would have overlooked but this was the worst. Her reactions were numb. Remorseless. How could he ever get over something like that? He called it quit and had avoided her ever since.

A couple of months later, it was his graduation day. He was now a certified and qualified doctor. He remembered how gracious and happy his mother looked. So also did he not forget the look of disbelief in his parents eyes when they realized he wasn't living in the estate his father had willed to him. His reply had shocked his parents and they couldn't help but wonder.

Checking his mail were a lot of congratulatory messages and texts from his colleagues and friends. He muttered. He remembered Timothy Maxwell, his childhood buddy who was now the branch manager of the company. He was the only person who knew him. He read his text aloud, ''come back home soon buddy, we miss you.'' He dropped his phone and squinted at the vague handwriting he had scribbled down on a plain sheet when he was a kid. ''How time flies.'' He whistled as he dropped the paper on his writing desk. He had something very important to discuss with his parents.

Mr. James Jordan, owner of JetLine Airways and chairman of JorFam beverage group of companies. A billionaire in his early 60s spotting only some little dots of grey hair. Active and still agile in his blue Italian suit and shoes to match. An all round classic man he was. He seemed to have been pacing about the verandah before heading in and sighting old man Burton.

''Mr. Burton.''

''Welcome back sir..''

''Oh..thank you. But can you tell me why my son decided to stay in the secluded part of Miami and I wasn't informed?''

''Personal reasons dad.'' Daniel replied before Mr. Burton could utter anything.

''Personal reasons like?''

Privacy.''

''Privacy? Privacy from what or who?''

Daniel hated discussions like this. There was something else bothering him and he was going to get it off his chest.

''...anyway..'' Mr James continued. ''I'm sure you can handle anything.''

''Dad.''

''Yes...''

''There is something bothering me.''

''Mr. Burton, a bottle of wine please. Merlot wine.''

''Okay sir.''

Mr. James turned turned again. Facing his son. ''What is it son?''

''Dad, I...''

He seemed to have been distracted by the noise from the door as it flung open and standing right there was Vanessa.

''Nooo...'' Daniel sighed with a palm covering his face. An hovering silence seemed to be in motion save for the intrusion of Mr. Burton coming in with the ordered wine.

''Here you go sir.'' He said dropping the wine along with two tumblers. Vanessa stood unperturbed. Staring down at him without uttering any word.

Mrs. Marah Jordan, Daniel's mum soon came in to ease the brewing silent tension which seemed to be a telepathic one. This was no war of words.

''Where is my baby boy? Oooh'' she stopped upon seeing Vanessa. ''You didn't tell us you were going to have a special visitor today.''

''Good day sir and ma'am''

''Good day to you too'' Mrs Jordan replied. ''Who are you please?''

''I'm Daniel's girlfriend.''

''Ex girlfriend.'' Daniel interrupted. Expressing disdain.

''Daniel, so many things I've done that wronged you but I never stopped loving you. I never stopped. I love you.''

She ensured she stressed the 'I love you' with a perspicuous tone for all to hear as Mr. And Mrs. Jordan looked on.

''You want me back so you can keep cheating on me? I'm sorry Vanessa, we are done.'' He stood up and walked away leaving her standing there like a telephone pole.

''What's your name young lady?'' Mr. James asked seeming a little curious than he usually was.

''Vanessa. Vanessa Jennans.''

''Wait... Is your father the Mayor at Newsbury?

''How?? Yes he is.'' A sudden wave of shock seized the moment..''how did you know? Did you know my father?''

''My dear, it's indeed a small world.'' Mr James said turning to his wife who seemed unperturbed by the situation.

''How do you mean honey?''

''Mr. Petkoff Jennans and I both schooled at...''

''Yes.'' Vanessa gasped. ''That's my father's name. Did you know him?''

''Indeed I do. In fact, we both schooled at the university of Oxford.''

''This shouldn't be hard then. Our son must has found a wife already. Come over here honey.'' She stretched her arms towards Vanessa who in turn held her with so much grace.''

''Thank you ma'am'' she said as she sat on the couch.

''By the way, where is your father now?'' Mr. James asked.

''He's at the cathedral but he will be back soon.''

Daniel arrived back inside and it felt as if he was hallucinating. She should have been gone by now. He thought. What is she still doing here? And why is she sitting beside his mother as if they've known each other for years? What is going on?

There was a sound of a car horning from a distance.

''Oh my goodness! Mr Petkoff, I cannot believe it's you.''

''Mr. Jordan! Ahaha!'' They both warmed each other's arms in a tight embrace.

''It's been a long while. What are you doing here? Mr. Petkoff asked folding his handkerchief and tucking it back into his breast pocket.

''I came to celebrate my son's graduation from college. He is a doctor now.''

''Wow. That's amazing. My daughter also graduated from the same college. By the way, I want you to meet my wife, Angela''

Mrs. Jennans came over embracing Mr. Jordan. ''God bless you. What about your wife?''

''My wife is inside'' Mr. Jordan replied.

Daniel looked on through the window. As if in a trance. This had better be a dream. He hadn't asked them the questions he's been meaning to ask. It's either something comes up or visitors like these come over. He squinted his eyes as if to see clearly from the shades of the window. There was his mother, going to exchange pleasantries.

A secret he had sworn to find out. A secret that will change his life. A secret he may regret to have known.

''It is time.'' He sighed.

He watched as his parents walked into the living room, hand in hand...

''Vanessa is such a wonderful woman Daniel, you should forgive her.'' Mrs Amara complimented

Daniel didn't reply. Standing arms akimbo. They knew something he didn't.

''What are you hiding from me?''

''We don't understand. What do you mean?'' His father asked with a confused expression boldly visible on his face.

''Why don't you want me to return to Nigeria?''

''Daniel, not this again...'' Mr James sighed. ''Daniel, not this again. I thought we told you to drop this issue.''

''So you both thought or assumed I would never ask? Okay.. Tell me why i should. I feel stuck here. I feel trapped. Did you really think i would just go on living and playing by your own rules dad?''

''What do you mean? There are no rules whatsoever here.'' Mr. James replied wiping his slightly grey beards with his handkerchief. ''We are only trying to give you the best life.''

''This does not feel like a life. This...'' Daniel replied , flinging his hands in the air. ''...all these...don't feel like a life.''

Mrs. Amara who had been silent all along finally spoke out, wiping her eyes between sobs. ''We are only trying to protect you.''

It seemed as though she was trying to swallow a still beating heart. ''We are trying to keep you safe.''

''From who?'' Daniel moved closer.

''It is too hard for me.'' She tore out a toilet roll and sniffed into it. There were black liquid dots dripping down her cheeks. They seem to have made her eyes darker and moist. Maybe it could be as a result of the makeovers.

''From who mum?'' He asked again. ''Just tell me. I deserve to know.''

''Son...'' His father called.

''No...no dad. You will tell me what i need to know. And if you don't, I will find my answers myself and when I do, I will never forgive you both.''

He stormed off. Leaving the two behind. Gloom pitched its tent at the heat of the moment.

''James, we cannot hide the truth from him any longer. He needs to know. He needs to know what happened to his brother.''

Mr. James stood motionless. Memories he never wanted to relive. Something he wanted dead seemed to have risen from the very pit of nothingness to haunt him. A hurtful past.

''He needs to know about his late brother.'' Mrs Jordan continued amidst tears. ''The Calvary...''

Mr. James snapped. ''They are dangerous. We don't even know them. Daniel doesn't have to know.''

''Then what happens when our son finds out? What do you think will happen then?'' She queried.

''It is too painful to remember.''

''Craig...oh my son...'' One would assume a fresh wound had just been inflicted upon the couples. The tears, flowing freely from Mrs. Jordan's eyes without restraint.

''Craig Jordan, we miss you. We are so sorry we lost you.''

A sudden wave of unseen force surged through her. She stood up, biting her finger and pointing to the roof. ''May those who took you never have anybody to mourn their deaths.''

The door creaked and Daniel was back. He had left his phone on the couch.

''Daniel, please listen to us...'' His mother tried to plead.

''No mum... I just came to get this.'' He picked his phone and was off without saying anything further.

Talking about throwing caution to the wind. Truths unfolding. Something mysterious. Something dangerous. Something...evil. There surely were hidden reasons why the Jordans didn't want their son back in the country. Everything was wrong and nobody is safe.