RISING FROM MY PAST

Family

RING!!!

"who is this?" I asked casually as I hadn't checked the caller before taking the call. I suddenly wished I did, because if I had checked, I wouldn't have taking the call at all

"Ella, don't you have my number? It's me, Sam"

"what do you want from me?" I asked nonchalantly but she chuckled, which suggested that she didn't do now Calvin and I were divorced. But I guessed wrong, it's not that she didn't know Calvin and I were divorced, she just didn't know the reason we got divorced

"we have to talk Ella" she continued, but I turned her down

"about what? If you have nothing important to say, I suggest you hang up"

"no need to chase me away. Calvin told me you two broke up" she blurted out

"we didn't break up. I divorced him" I corrected her plainly

"why would you do such a thing. Calvin would go over the moon for you. Did you have an argument I didn't know about?" she asked making me regret telling her everything that had to do with my marriage

"if you're so curious, go ask him yourself. Why bother me with your nonsense. Get the f**k off the phone for me" I hung up in annoyance

"how dare she question me regarding my own marriage" I asked myself as I fumed in anger. My previous self would have been so gullible as to tell her everything, but my new self isn't gullible at all

RING!!!

I got another call while I was still fuming

"why the hell are you disturbing my peace? I told you if you wanted to know the deets you should ask him yourself. Go spoil another person's night Sam" I blurted out without even checking who the caller was

"Sam? I don't remember ever bearing that name"

Unfortunately for me, the caller wasn't Sam, it was dad

"hi dad" I said guilty

"so it's true, you reall got an annulment of marriage" dad was being sarcastic

"dad, it's called a divorce. Stop being mean" I managed to smile

"it must have been so hard on you. Your mother's not the one who got divorced but she has been weeping all day"

"you wouldn't dare divorce my mom, dad" I joked with a hint of seriousness

"I have no reason to do so. Even if I did, you kids wouldn't let me off the hook" he joked and we both laughed.

Dad might be a disciplined politician and a strict father, but he has always had this tender side towards his kids

"ah my child. I have to thank you so much" I could feel the sadness in his tone

"for what dad?" I asked

"for realising the difference between good and bad in time. When are you coming home? Your mother plans on making your favourite today"

"then, today it is. I've missed mom's cooking" I chuckled

"good, I'll have Marcus come pick you up"

dad ordered

I had cars of my own and had a driver's license. What could go wrong?

My nausea began again and I had to rush to the bathroom to throw up.

I guess father sending Marcus to pick me up was a good idea. I don't know why parents seem to know what's best for their children

I got dressed and awaited Marcus's arrival. Though he is the oldest child, he's the one I'm closest to

"pennies for your thoughts sis"

"What's on your mind, sis?" Marcus asked me as I was already lost in thought.

"nothing much brother, just thinking of what next to do" I smiled in response

"your going home today is for you to relax. Leave disturbing thoughts aside for now" that was more of an order than a request

I knew they were just looking out for me.

We got home in less than an hour, and mother's warm hands welcomed me

"mommy, have you been weeping?" I wipe the tears off her face

"let's go in, don't catch a cold". Mom had always cared for me, some might say she spoiled me rotten

"you're home" Lucy, my eldest sister-in-law hugged me so tightly that I thought I'd explode

"you're choking her" That was Annabelle, Maximus' wife, who saved me from Lucy's grasp

"it's not my fault, I've missed her that's all" Lucy chuckled

I suddenly felt guilty, they all welcomed me back so lovingly after all the way I behaved with them

"auntyyy, you look so pale. Did you bring me some candies?" Lacy, Marcus' daughter clung to me

"you don't expect your aunty to bring home candy every time" Sofia, Mark's daughter reproached

"but I haven't seen her in a year aunty" Lacy defended and I couldn't help but chuckle

"I'll be sure to get you some when next I come,okay?" I said, carrying the little bundle of joy in my arms.

"where are Claudette and Max?" I asked looking around

"Claudette has an antenatal check up today, Max escorted her" Lucy responded

"oh, I see" due to my previous misbehaviour, none of them bothered about telling me.

Just as I was about to ask after Marie and John, Maximus' and Mark's children they busted out of the kitchen. It looked like Anna had punished them

"auntyyy" they both threw themselves at me

"children, who gave you permission to stand at ease?" Anna reproached them so strictly but so lovingly

"it's fine Anna. I'll take their punishment okay?"I winked at her

"you can't indulge them you know" Anna sighed and left, she knew she couldn't win an argument with me.

"y'all are having fun without me qui?" the heavily pregnant Claudette entered the room with Max closely behind her

"it's fine Max, I can walk by myself"

"Marcella, how are you? Don't mind my belly, I can still take a hug" she teased me and I hugged her tightly

I imagined myself in her shoes in some months time

"you girls seem to be having fun without us huh?" Maximus sighed and we all laughed

"we are doing just fine. But we could use an extra bit of fun"I winked at him

"dinner's served children" mum echoed from the dinning room and we all headed there

Dinner was fun, I felt so happy spending time with my family again. And felt so relieved that they didn't hold my past actions against me

"auntyyy tell us a story" John urged and the other children concurred

"Marcella McAllister " dad called me from his study

"kids run along now. I have a meeting with grandpa over there. I'll be sure to tell you a story later okay?" I winked at the kids and headed for dad's study

"Ella" dad started

"your brother's informed me about your thoughts and requests"