Suspects: murder case

Chapter 57

Chapter 57

19: 00, I leave the office and drive to mum’s house. I was working late because I didn’t want to go home. When I pull up in front of her house, I step out of the car and walk to the front door and push it open.

‘’Mummy! Mummy!’’

‘’Yes baby,’’ she replies and I follow her voice into the kitchen.

She is standing by the stove cooking while Robert is sitting at the table cutting vegetables.

‘’Child of mine! Love of my life and the apple of my eye,’’ she smilingly exclaims and I walk over and kiss her forehead.

‘’My mother! The most beautiful woman to grace the face of this earth.’’

She laughs, ‘’’Child, flattery will get you everywhere. How are you?’’

‘’I am fine mummy, how have you been?’’

‘’I am good.’’

She eyes me from head to toe, ‘’Marriage seems to be treating you well.’’

‘’Why?’’

‘’You have gained but not in a bad way, you actually look very good.’’

I roll my eyes and turn to Robert, ‘’hey man.’’

‘’Child of ours! How are you?’’

I frown, ‘’I am fine Robert, how are you?’’

‘’I am great, you have been scarce, you haven’t uploaded any new content on the page for the last couple of days.’’

‘’I have been busy with work but I will be filming over the weekend, I have a few dresses I need to advertise for fashion world.’’

‘’Oh great, we your fans will anxiously be waiting.’’

‘’You are too dramatic Robert,’’ I place my bag on the table and sit down.

‘’And where are you coming from?’’ Mum asks.

‘’I was working late, I came here straight from work.’’

‘’And your husband?’’

‘’I am sure he is home.’’

‘’You are sure he is home? You didn’t talk to him before leaving work?’’

‘’Mum what’s with all these questions I need a breather please.’’

‘’So who is cooking for your husband tonight?’’

‘’The maid mum, the maid, isn’t it why we hired her?’’

‘’Child, find time to cook for your husband, don’t always leave everything for the maid to do. Men love to eat food cooked by their partners and I know you get tired but find time sometimes and cook for him.’’

‘’You used to cook for dad but he left you still,’’ I shoot back.

She shoots me a pained expression, ‘’you need to heal child, you need to heal.’’

‘’Whatever,’’ I stand up, walk to the fridge and get blueberries and ice cream. Then I get a bowl and a spoon from the drawer and fill the bowl with ice cream and berries, shoveling a heaping scoop of ice cream into my mouth, I close my eyes as I savor the taste of it.

‘’Won’t that ruin your appetite child?’’

‘’No, I am actually starving.’’

‘’I see.’’

‘’So how are things with Daniel?’’

‘’Things are okay mummy, Daniel and I are getting along very well.’’

‘’You are sure?’’

‘’Yes.’’

‘’Why were you working late though?’’

‘’I had things to attend to.’’

‘’Your father and his wife came through the other.’’

‘’What did they want?’’

‘’They want to sue me.’’

‘’Why?’’

‘’For marrying you off without his consent.’’

I laugh, ‘’that man is a joke, let him sue you and he will have me to deal with.’’

‘’You should have invited him to the wedding, like I told you too.’’

‘’Don’t ruin my mood mother.’’

‘’Your father is giving unnecessary pressure you know, he thinks I am the reason why you can’t forgive him.’’

‘’You should stop tolerating that man and his wife.’’

‘’You know I hate drama.’’

‘’Call me when next they come here and I will give them the drama they need.’’

She winds up with the cooking, sets the table and we gather to eat. She has cooked Nshima, Lumanda, r**e and T-bone. Filling my plate, I devour the food fast, emptying my plate within minutes. I didn’t even realize I was this hungry until now.

‘’Should I add some more food for you?’’ Mum asks.

‘’Yes,’’ I respond, my mouth full of relish.

She dishes up for me and I eat quickly emptying my plates within a few minutes. I finish eating and wait for everyone to finish before clearing the table. I am in the kitchen washing the plates when mum walks in.

‘’Is there something you want to tell me.’’

‘’Huh?’’ I shoot her a questioning look.

‘’Is there something important you need to tell me?’’

‘’Something like what?’’

‘’When did you develop such a huge appetite?’’

‘’Are you saying I ate too much? Are you monitoring how I eat in my own mother’s house?’’

She laughs, ‘’you know you can eat as much as you want in this house but--.’’

‘’But what?’’

‘’Are you pregnant?’’

‘’No! Why does everyone think I am pregnant?’’

‘’Are you sure you are not pregnant though?’’

‘’I am not.’’

‘’Okay.’’

She leaves and I finish cleaning the dishes before joining her and Robert in the living room.

‘’What time are you leaving?’’

‘’You want me to leave?’’

‘’It’s getting late, I don’t like it when you drive at night.’’

‘’What if I am spending a night here?’’

‘’You can’t spend a night here, you are a married woman.’’

‘’I am a child before I am a wife.’’

‘’What is happening between you and Daniel?’’

‘’Nothing mum, I think I should even leave you suffocating me,’’ I grab my bag.

‘’Kristy!’’

‘’Good night mum,’’ I exit the house slamming the door behind me.

‘’Kristy!’’ she calls but I ignore her and get into the car and drive off.

*

Daniel

Pacing the living room back and forth, I dial Kristy’s number for the umpteenth time and once again it takes me straight to voicemail. I throw the phone on the couch impatiently this is surely driving me nuts, I haven’t been able to get through to my wife for the last couple of hours and it’s getting late, I got off work early today so I could do something special for her as a way of apologizing for what happened I got her some flowers and a necklace, I have also prepared dinner for her.

I sigh in relief a moment later when I hear the sound of her car driving in, walking into the house, Kristy walks past me and heads for the bedroom, I don’t hesitate to follow her, I walk in right behind her and sit on the bed as she changes her clothes.

‘’Hello.’’

‘’Hey.’’

‘’Where have you been? I was worried about you.’’

‘’I was at mum’s house.’’

‘’And you didn’t think of telling me.’’

‘’Am I supposed to report my every move to you?’’

‘’No but--.’’

‘’But what?’’

‘’Nothing.’’

‘’I thought as much.’’

After she changes into her pajamas, she gets on the bed and slides under the covers.

‘’I prepared supper.’’

‘’I am okay thank you.’’

‘’I got you some flowers and this,’’ I hand her the pink box.

‘’Thank you,’’ she puts it on the table without even attempting to open it.

‘’Stella I am sorry.’’

‘’I am tired Daniel, allow me to rest.’’

‘’Can I sleep here tonight?’’

‘’No.’’

‘’Please.’’

‘’Leave me alone.’’

Defeated, I say goodnight and leave the bedroom, I don’t know what else to do for her to forgive me.

The next morning, I wake up feeling sick to my stomach. I would have loved to call in sick but I have an important meeting. Forcing myself out of bed I head to the bathroom and take a quick shower. I feel better after bathing, whatever has been coming down with when I woke up seems to be passing. Standing n***d in front of the mirror after applying lotion, I notice I have truly gained weight like Jada and mum are saying- My breasts have also become fuller and my face softer.

Well, I don’t think I can be pregnant, I have been taking birth control pills, I guess I am gaining weight because I haven’t been working out, getting dressed, I make a mental note to contact my former trainer so we can schedule a program. I am standing in front of the mirror, brushing through my hair when Daniel walks in, he has a towel wrapped around his body, he is probably here to get his clothes, I haven’t moved them from my room maybe I should so he should have no excuse for coming in here.

‘’Good morning!’’

‘’Hey morning.’’

‘’How are you?’’

‘’I am fine, you?’’

‘’Perfect.’’

There a brief silence between us before he says, ‘’you look beautiful.’’

‘’Thank you.’’

‘’I am really sorry about what happen Kristy, this issue is killing me, can we please talk and iron out things between us?’’

‘’This is a business arrangement Daniel, please let’s keep it that way.’’

‘’But how can we forget what has been happening between us just like that?’’

‘’What’s been happening? It’s been casual s*x and I am done, I realized my mistake I don’t want to do this again.’’

‘’You can’t tell me this was just s*x Kristy.’’

‘’I have a meeting in the next hour, I need to leave, I grab my bag.’’

‘’Run! Run because this is what you always do, pretending as if you don’t know what’s happening, run I am not holding you back anymore, you are Stella Msizi, you are tough and strong nothing can break you I guess.’’

‘’And then? What the f**k is wrong with you?’’

‘’I have no problem, I just want you to be truthful to yourself and allow yourself to feel what--.’’

‘’Daniel, I will see you later,’’ I cut him off mid-sentence afraid he will say something I wouldn’t want to hear.

I walk to the door without giving him a chance to respond but before I even walk out, he grabs me, kissing me deeply as he presses me against the wall, I know I should push him away from me but I don’t, I kiss him back slipping my arm around his back and drawing him closer, I didn’t realize how much I missed being this close with him until now. The kiss deepens, need sweeps over me and at this moment, I am willing to be late for my meeting.

I am about to pull off his towel when he suddenly withdraws from the kiss, ‘’you should get going, you will be late for your meeting,’’ he says. And with that he walks towards the closet and I am left there wondering why he would do that to me.

‘’You think you can play me? Is this a game?’’ I snap.

‘’Let’s continue when you are ready to be truthful with yourself.’’

‘’Whatever!’’ I yell before leaving