Chapter 16 : Ghosts of the past: pt 1
1112 Words
Heather's phone pinged twice and her heart fluttered expecting it was Kingsey, as they had somehow gotten into a routine of texting back and forth, especially in the evening after work, the daytime being dedicated to their work, but she was not opposed to doing it. He always made her smile with his jokes and interesting shenanigans that were happening at the station or during his rounds in the city and she never had enough of them.
Quicky wiping down her hands, moving away from the meal she had been preparing, she thought about inviting him over for dinner. Friends could do that, right?She could use some company for the evening.
Unlocking her phone, she was met by utter disappointment when she saw both messages.
Ella : We need to talk.
Derrick : I will give you your space for now, but we have to talk.
She could feel the panic slowly rising in her. Had they both spoken to each other and what had her cousin told Derrick?
She dialed Estella's number first, too anxious to do anything until she confirmed if both of them had conversed. It took just one ring for Estella to answer.
" If I knew that is what it takes for you to be responsive, I would have started doing this earlier,'' Estella spoke amused.
" What do you mean that we need to talk? Such messages just make me anxious and you know it,'' she replied, not feeling even slightly amused.
" Not even a hello? Who are you and what did you do with my loving cousin,'' she continued, and Heather could feel her patience running thin.
" You and Derrick just texted me the same thing at the same time.So pardon my lack of pleasantries and get to the point. Does this have to do anything with him?'' she asked and her question was met with silence confirming her suspicions.
" Estella?'' she called.
" Don't be mad at me. This is why I wanted us to do this face to face,'' her cousin's soft plea fell on deaf ears.
She was not surprised as the other had always had a soft spot for Derrick and they had become close friends during the course of her relationship with him.
Estella was scared but she did not regret what she had done, but her cousin's wrath was something she never wanted to be on the receiving end of. When she had gotten a cryptic call from her aunt to look out for her, after she had been home distraught, she had not put two and two together. She had attributed the call to her just being stressed about her case till she ran into Derrick and everything suddenly made sense.
That was followed by the fact that Derrick had later sought her at her home and they had a lengthy discussion about what had happened in the past. She had not gotten into the details of exactly had happened with Heather but she hinted that it had been pretty ugly on Heather's side. Both Derrick and Heather were the two most important people to her, especially since they had been with her when she had lost her parents. Seeing them like this did not settle well with her.
" Can I come see you and explain? Please?'' she asked quietly into her phone, hoping to get a response.
" Fine,'' she received the answer before the call was suddenly cut.
Derrick had just left her place and she felt relieved that the weight that she had been carrying over him had been lifted. Fingers crossed she hoped things would work out with Heather. She left her apartment and drove to Heather's residence, making it there in no time.
She was welcomed by a pissed-off Heather who had her arms folded and looked at her like an errant child. She could feel the non-verbal command to talk, especially by how she was being stared down at.
" I didn't tell him anything specific just that he needs to apologise and there are some things that only you are in a position to tell him,'' Estella hurriedly explained her side of the story, her cousin's glare feeling intimidating enough.
" What things?'' I have nothing to tell him, Heather replied.
" Don't be hard-headed. You, as well as I know he deserves to know,'' Estella replied, trying to reason with the other. She did not want to tick her off despite being pushy.
" Deserves? He left me and the right to know anything about me ended there,'' Heather spat out.
" His presence is already affecting you. You both deserve closure, especially you,'' Estella replied, her voice getting louder. She had been trying not to get frustrated , but her cousin could be more stubborn than a mule.
" Now, why are you lying? Do I look affected to you?'' Heather asked with her voice octaves higher. Estella could tell the neighbors were hearing them.
" Your mom called me,'' Estella sighed. Little did she know her response just added fuel to the fire.
" Can anyone in this family be trusted to keep their mouth shut? This is why I don't like telling anyone anything.'' Heather continued pacing back and forth.
" It's not like that. We just care about you,'' Estella replied, trying to approach the other like a wounded animal.
" Don't come closer. You are all just gossiping behind my back. I won't be surprised to wake up with my business plastered all over.Get out,'' Heather responded with finality in her voice.
Estella felt hurt. This was the first time Heather had spoken to her like that.She decided not to fight her and give her some space to simmer down .Her intentions were not to hurt Heather, but her cousin was beyond the point of reason anger clouding her.
After Heather heard the door lock behind her, her cousin having left, she sat down on her floor crying into her palms. She could not understand why Estella had gone ahead and done something like that. It was her story to tell in her own time when she felt comfortable enough. How do you just tell the father of your unborn child that you were responsible for the death of said child?
Taking her phone, she decided to text the one person who would understand familial betrayal best.
Currently free for that drink you promised :)
She had quit drinking five years ago,sticking to wine, but this time she would allow herself to pick it as an emotional crutch.
She needed to feel numb even if it was for a few hours.
- Writer
