THE BROODER

42

THE BROODER

42.

***CONNIE***

I see the shoes on the eavesdropper and I know I might I have gotten my person, MY INFORMANT!

Mama:"I don't know any Isisa!"

"Oh! Maybe I should invite Isisa to find out."

Mama:"I don't want to have any of those cursed people in my house. I'm leaving for church"

Immediately she walks out...

"Come out now, naledi"

She smiles at me as she comes out ashamed.

Naledi: I wasn't eavesdropping...I didn't mean to "

"I know. You were just listening on our conversations. It's a good habit, I assume?"

Naledi:" I'm sorry auntie. Please don't tell on me"

"It depends solely on your information box. I need you to let me on an important details."

Naledi:" Wait, you wanna use my skills?"

Wait she called eavesdropping a skill...what is this generation turning into?

"Young lady, it's so unladylike to call eavesdropping a skill. I'm going to swoop you if you say such again."

Naledi:" I'm so sorry auntie "

"Now you tell me, what transpired last week Sunday? When the prince visited?"

Naledi:"I... don't

"I bet you know. You know how you do know. So tell me nothing but the truth"

Naledi:"Grannie is going to...

"Not know I promise. She won't know you told me."

Naledi:"He said he's looking for his mother"

"Who said what?"

***ASHLEY***

I was staring at the moonlight at the rooftop. The moon reminds me of my strong girl, "moon". She didn't cry when I gave her the mark.

He takes a seat close to me...

Richard:"What's fascinating about the sky?"

"Everything is."

Richard:"it's the same old night"

"It is different for me. I stayed years without seeing it."

Richard"oh!"

"I named my first daughter after the Moon. She's so calm as the peaceful night. She didn't cry like the others. She's so strong and I miss her. She should be nine now"

We were quiet for a long while. I don't think he knows what to say. He just holds my hand and sit with me in the dark rooftop.

Richard:"The information you gave to Jordans is not enough to trace them all. We've got tolls of Saga's...many with a boy child too. The organization is really secretive and I assume they all go by fake names... like saga"

"Did you search for Ten years boys with the name Sun? I can recognize him. I know how he looks, saga had shown me his pictures."

Richard:"I'll bring all the list we have on that. But for the meantime, I want you to think for yourself. Be selfish and find out more about yourself."

He is right but I don't know where to start.

Richard:"you can start by going out more. Meeting more people, you can even return to school and I'll support you financially."

"I don't have matric"

Richard:"You can attend adult school and get your matric. You can still achieve a lot now"

"Okay."

Richard:"You don't have to live in fear anymore. You have me and the children. I can protect you so you should just live your life"

"Why?.."

Richard:"Why what?"

"Why are you helping me?"

Richard:"Honestly I don't know."

"What's in it for you? There must be a reason"

He cups my face and we share a gaze.

Richard:"I don't have any reasons. You obviously don't have money to repay and I don't have any reasons to ask for repayment. We share custody of the twins, our children and I just want you to be happy and free around. I don't want you living in fear and losing out on things. I told you before and I'm saying it again, you are your own person. I don't own you. You can go any place you want and you are free to leave either."

"Thank you. I never thanked you for saying me. I know I must have cost you a fortune "

Richard:"You're worth saving...I mean, you gave me those cuties, our children. It's only right I unite my children with their mother "

"Thank you once again. I'll be forever grateful to you."

Richard:"I didn't know my mother. I grew up in the orphanage with no parent's care. I don't want that for my children. I want them to grow up loved, like I didn't get."

"But your father?"

I've met the man once...

Richard:"I only get to meet him recently. My stepmother separated me from my parents from birth. We only found each other months ago "

"Oh! That's terrible "

And yet, he said he's got no reasons for saving me. This is a lot of reasons to.

Richard:"I want you to stay...with me and our children"

I never planned on leaving anyway. I like it here. I move closer to his body and rests on it. We are now sitting like those kdramas lovers.

"I have a question. You mentioned your father earlier but you didn't mention your...mo.ther"

Richard:"I know her. I have seen her. She works in my firm unknowingly."

"Why didn't you tell her?"

Richard:"Same reason you didn't enter your family's house last week."

"Hmmm"

Richard:"It's getting cold. Let's go inside."

He grabs my hand and takes me inside. We checked the kids at their cribs before we get to my room door...

Richard:"Don't cry tonight, pl..ease"

I shyly smile "I won't"

Richard:"okay, go on."

I move to hug him and he takes longer to release the embrace. I feel his breath on my neck. It took a little while before he releases the embrace and I feel cold again. I open the door and enters my room.

I smell like him. His warm breath on my neck lingers in my mind. I smile as I think of the naughty things I'd like to do with him.

I'm definitely taking a bath again. I don't feel sleepy tonight and I know it'll take a long time to sleep tonight.

Wait ...how did he know I cry myself to sleep? Creepy tho!