Broken vows(completed)

The in-laws

Fred was lying in bed, covered in his blanket. It was already morning, but, he did not feel like doing anything. Waking up was even a challenge for him. If anyone had told him he would wake up without seeing the happy face of his beautiful son, he would have said that person was lying.

The truth hurt him so much and he refused to face it. He had been crying throughout the night. He did not have enough sleep. Sleep was far from him. He pulled the blankets down, revealing his bare chest. How was it that he was sleeping bare chested, he could not remember. All he remembered was Linda walking him to his bedroom and helping him get into his bed.

He sat up, and leaned on the headboard of the bed. He closed his eyes, and a silent tear rolled down his eyes. Linda walked into the room, quietly. She saw how the tears were falling from his eyes and tried to get him to open his eyes. She stretched her hand to touch him, but retracted it quickly. She turned to leave, only to be stopped by Fred.

" What do you want, Lin?" Fred asked, still with his eyes closed.

" I wanted to see if you were awake, and find out what you wanted for breakfast", Linda replied, when she turned her attention to him.

" Don't bother yourself. I don't feel like eating anything", Fred said, almost in a whisper.

" Fred, you can't skip breakfast. You will be sick if you refuse to eat. Please, let me just make something for you", Linda pleaded.

Fred opened his eyes and wiped the tears away from his face. " Thank you, Linda. But I am fine. I don't want anything".

Linda nodded and sighed. " Martina's parents are here. They want to see you".

Fred's eyes widened at the mention of his in-laws. He had forgotten to tell them what happened with Martina. Maybe, he thought Martina would have the decency to tell them since she is the one who decided to divorce him. He blinked a few times and got out of bed.

Linda stared at his chest, without realising how close Fred had gotten to her. She looked up and saw him staring back at her, with a confused look on his face. She realised Fred had caught her staring at his chest. So, she quickly looked away.

" Where are they?" Fred asked, as if he had not caught her staring.

" They are downstairs, in the living room", she said, still looking away.

Fred walked away from her and headed straight to his bathroom. Linda used that opportunity to quickly get out of the room. She closed the door behind her, and leaned her back on it. She was breathing very hard. She did bring Fred to his room last night, but she had not taken off his shirt. This was actually the first time she had seen him without a shirt or singlet on.

She calmed herself, and went downstairs to talk to her friend's parents. Her mother was there too, to check on Fred. She sat beside her mother.

" Asantewaa, are you okay?" her mother asked.

" Ye- yes mom, I am fine. Why do you ask?" Linda replied, trying to avoid her mother's knowing gaze.

" Nothing", her mother shook her head. Linda pursed her lips, to prevent that little smile that was trying to appear on her lips.

Fred came downstairs a few minutes later and sat on the empty chair, next to his in-laws, after he had greeted everyone in the room.

" How are you doing, son?" Mr Wilson asked.

" I am fine, Da", Fred tried to smile.

" Well, I am very sorry that we came here without calling. We were even wondering if we would meet you at home. Anyway, we did not here from you again, after what you told us about Martina. So we came to find out how things were going between you two? And by the way, where is Martina?" Mr Wilson said.

Linda and her mother exchanged looks, but remained quiet. Fred looked confused. He did not know how to tell them what had happened in the last six months. And from what they were saying, it was apparent they had no knowledge of what had happened to their grandson. He tried to remain strong and collected before his in-laws.

" And where is Junior? Is in school already?" Mrs Wilson asked suddenly.

Linda stared at Fred, while Fred stared back at her. Fred tried to breath, but it was proving difficult. He did not expect the mention of Junior to hit him like this. Mrs Wilson saw the uncomfortable look on Fred's face and also saw the glances he and Linda exchanged moments ago. She suddenly became worried.

" What is going on, Fred? Where is Martina?" Mrs Wilson asked, with a firm voice.

Fred breathed in deeply. " She... Martina, she left. She left the house".

" Excuse me, did you just say, Martina left this house?" Mr Wilson asked.

Fred nodded. " She left six months ago".

" Wait! You are telling me, our daughter left this house, six months ago and no one deemed it fit to tell us?" Mr Fred said.

" I am sorry, Da. I really wanted to tell you. I just did not know how to say it. I am sorry", Fred's voice broke, when he said the last part.

" Why do I have a feeling that there is more tell us?" Mrs Wilson asked, narrowing her eyes.

Fred began to shake. He was trying so hard to prevent himself from crying. He covered his face with his hands. He was breathing so hard. Linda tried to go over to him and comfort him but Mrs Wilson beat her to it. Her mother held her hand, and lightly shook her head, making Linda to sit upright.

She knelt down in front of him and gently removed his hands from his face. Fred had lowered his head, and was sobbing quietly. Mrs Wilson touched his cheek and raised his chin up a bit, to be able to see his face.

" Fred, please tell me what's wrong? What is it?"

" It's Junior. He... He... Junior..." Fred cried out.

Mrs Wilson was more than worried now. She was now very concerned about her grandson.

" What happened to Junior?"

Fred looked at her with tears in his eyes. " He died".