As she left the hospital that day, her mind emphasized Sarah's mother's words, heart-sore words that left her shattered and worried.
"You should leave" she had instructed jerking her feet from her grasp, "I pray you never find happiness in your life, may you suffer double my daughter's pain" the mother bitterly cursed her. Thou her sister did the wrong she was getting the relocation of her actions.
"Why, why?" Kenita dropped her head on the steering wheel of her car as she wept her heart out. Thousands of guilts built as she recalls all the wrongs her sister did, how could she be so cruel and heartless?
When did she change? why and how?.
"Why did you hurt so many people? why were you so cruel?" Silent droplets traced down her cheeks, her lips pressed tightly together as her chest heaved with uneven breaths. A faint tremble ran through her body, faint sounds escaped her breath in the soft hitch.
Just there, the buzz of her phone got her snatching from the grief moment. Quick as summer wind, her fingers robbed off every piece of evidence on her cheeks and eyes.
"Yes" she responded the second the phone was held to her ear "What happened to her?" her voice anxiously came out as she took the steering wheel after a drop of her phone. Her legs instantly pressed on the accelerator and drove for home.
The front door creaked as she stepped inside, her hand lingering on the doorknob, in a deep sigh she led her steps within. Her keys slipped from her grasp and clattered onto the side table, the sound too sharp, breaking the quiet that had settled like dust.
She stood in the doorway, staring at the empty stairs. Her breath caught in her throat, tight and shallow, as if the walls were slowly closing in. Her dress felt heavy on her shoulders, yet she couldn't bring herself to take it off.
"How is she?" she asked Auntie Bintu, she had sent a call about Lisa's return she was mocked by her classmates for her mother's scandals and affairs.
"Not good" Auntie replied stalking her way from the kitchen, her eyes fell on the covered meal that was untouched, and her chest pained for the poor girl. She was a kid dealing with the consequences of her mother's actions.
"She didn't say anything?, one of her classmates informed me she was bullied by others on the recent news" Auntie continued "Sometimes the kids suffer for their parent's mistakes, knowing that you have a child and yet went out to do such illegitimate acts" she paused between, biting her tongue from saying any further. But how she wishes she could scold her mind to her, an urge to spank her hands and pull her ears for being so disgusting.
She has a husband who is wealthy and provides her with everything she needs, do what compels her to cheat?
She just could not understand girls of these days, she sighed softly, not intending to cross her limits as she was still her boss.
Up she went, her hand slowly took the knobs of Lisa's door. Inns deep sigh she let the door open, her mind evaded by guilt and shame, uncertain of how to confront the little girl.
What was she to say? how does she explain the situation to her?
Her first step was met with Lisa's body across the room, on the floor she sat with her back leaning on the frame of her bed, while her fingers tapped on the cold tiles with eyes fixed on the window.
"Lisa" she called while taking her backpack that was tossed halfway in the room on the floor, a reminder of the day that had unfolded.
"Lisa, sweetheart" again she called but this time a bit low, more of a concern about the child's mental state. Her footsteps were heavy and slow like each step weighed more than the last.
She wanted to ask how her day went, but the answer was already there, in the way her shoulders slumped forward, the small, tight frown she tried to hide.
"I heard what happened. sweetheart am very sorry"
"Your sorry is not going to fix anything, I just hate my life" her voice rants out, having enough of her mother. Yes she might have died but her actions were affecting her, she was not a good mother when alive and she wasn't better at her death either. No matter what she was hurting her but living and death.
"I know, I know my apology isn't going to fix the issue at hand but I just hope it eases down your hurting." Kenita calmly said, knowing the kid was going through a lot. Similar to what she had experienced as a child too, their mother back then had had an affair with her student which led to their parents getting divorced and her and her sister getting separated. She knew what it felt like, the constant whispers of your name and labels from friends as daughter of a cheater, the taunts of everyone is like a venom wrapping against the body.
How does she wish she could stop the Childs hurt and make everything right?
"Is it true that you and Dad are going to divorce?" Lisa asked with eyes filled with tears, her lips pouting with each second, "I know you ain't my mother but he does that, would he divorce you thinking you're here?" she was more worried about Loring her new mom, especially after getting to know her. She didn't want to be labeled as the kid with no mother, she needed both her parents, even if they weren't happy.
Of course, she knew she wasn't at fault, but she just couldn't help but be mad at her. Every taunt and splash of her classmate's words builts a fury of heat in her chest, their laughter and claps at her in the cafeteria had her running into tears.
"Of course not sweetheart, your father and I ain't getting a divorce," Kenita said in an assured voice while sitting next to her, her hands soothing taking Lisa's hands into hers. "I won't let you have an incomplete family" Well she was going to go so, just not in the current situation. Once her evidence was strong enough to prove that Kamara killed her sister she would have him sent to jail and take her to the States, where they would live.
"I'm sorry" Kenita sadly said with hands laid at her, she gently guided her head on her lap and caressed on her hair, hoping the weight of torment would decrease.
"I'm sorry too, I know you didn't do it but you're paying for your sister"
"That's okay, I guess that's the price of sharing the same face with your sister" A moment of laughter filled their lips before setting the rest of the evening in a calm and silent atmosphere.
***
Quiet settled in an embrace of the deep indigo sky as the last traces of daylight faded.
Kamara stepped out of the bathroom, his hair still damp, a towel loosely wrapped around his waist. His skin glistened with beads of water as he walked toward the dresser, oblivious to the fact that the door to his room had slowly creaked open. Without warning, the soft click of slippers echoed across the floor.
"Goodness" Kenita, hesitated at the threshold and froze mid-step. Her eyes widened as they locked onto Kamara, and she glanced away, her face flushed with surprise.
"Don't you know how to knock?" Kamara's voice said through a drop of his phone on the table.
"It not my fault that your ears ain't good" she retaliated in a scowl, his audacity to fault her out. She did knock but he didn't respond, that is why she entered thinking he was not inside.
"My ears are good, yours need fixing though" he was in the bathroom, how was he supposed to hear her knock and even if he didn't respond, why was she in his room? Now he knew she was his wife, but they ain't that cool nor in that type of relationship.
To put it simply they haven't seen each other bodies off clothes for two years in a row or more. They were just living under the same roof, while their marriage stayed in the name.
"Why are you in my room?" he asked, a little unsure if his question was appropriate.
"I'm here to accept your proposal of a press meet" he had offered a press meet to handle the scandals unfolding in their lives and clear things up, but she had refused.
"Why the sudden change of heart?" he asked a little curious. Was she doing it to clear her name and respect or for something else, either he was anxious to hear her reasons? As it wasn't every day he got to have conversations with her.
"For Lisa, she got bullied, and it was all because of me. If having the press meet would help her then am on for it" Her words were like a strike of electricity in his veins, taken and amazed at her change of character. She was too good to be true, his eyes stared at her for some moment, contemplating if she was his wife, cause the woman he knew as a wife was never that considerate nor that selfless.
But no matter what he was glad to have the new her.
"I'll have Alima arrange it for tomorrow, " he said grappling his phone that continued to ring, spiking a suspicious look from Kenita.
"Yes," he responded not wishing to give a hint to his conversation.
"It has been done" a tough voice informed from the other end,
"And the woman?" Kamara inquired, about his earlier orders.
"She too has been taken care of" the voice again spoke in assurance.
Having heard of his daughter being bullied, he personally met with three of the kid's parents and taught them a good lesson, one they would instill in their kids. He bought one of the kid's father's company and had his trip off his cash, the other father was charged with fraud on his instigation. Having provided all evidence of the crimes of the second child's father and the last father was fired from the executive position in the company he was working.
He was not going to let go of those who hurt his family, he knew how to get back at those who crossed his path.
"Good," he said, he grunted, as he turned to look at Kenita still in his room. "Anything else?" the phone was halfway pulled away from his ears while his brows raised in query at her.
"No" she quickly pulled herself together, her eyes drifting away from his chest that looked desirable.
Damn it Kenita, focus, don't get distracted.
She reprimanded herself to reality, he wasn't her husband, and shouldn't have such fantasies about his body. Before she could do anything crazy her legs hastily disappeared from the room while catching a frustrated breath.
"Be sure her presence is never seen" Kamara ordered before dropping his phone.
***
A low hum of murmurs rippled through the room as Kamara and Kenita stepped onto the stage, their bodies close but tensed, the air thick with discomfort. The morning was met with the press conference that Alima had set, having contacted a few selected reporters, she invited them. The hall was halfway occupied by the reporters, who anxiously waited for them to arrive and discuss the scandals.
A feeling uneasy or uncertain soon flooded Kenitas's mind as she took the first step on the stage, her mind raced, rehashing what she was going to say, how was she to respond to their question? what if she blurted out? The questions rapidly erupted in her mind causing her fingers to fidget.
"It's okay, am here" Kamara closed in with a whisper on noticing her shaking hands. With an assured glance from him, she took the hand that he had offered, easing the heat in her chest.
As they sat, Kamara leaned into the microphone, his voice firmed as he began to speak, "Good morning and thank you all for being here" he continued "As you all must be aware, this meet is called to address the scandals going on about my wife"
"We are aware, what we want to know, is the scandal true? Did your wife cheat on you?"
His eyes fell on the reporter who sat at the front roll, his hand held a small device, probably a recorder.
"I wouldn't say she cheated, she made a mistake which we all do" he responded distinctively, he was a businessman who understood how conferences like that operate, he knew what to say and how to say it. One wrong word and the media would use it to their gain.
"A mistake, you mean her having affairs with several men?" another asked a female whose disgust wasn't hidden from her voice. The disbelief of his defending his wife even after her betrayal was beyond the reporter's comprehension.
"I don't care about the past, I only care about the present and future. The mistakes of our pasts shouldn't affect our present, my wife knows her wrong, and am willing to start over with her" The gasps and murmurs of the reporters were all heard and seen as they didn't try to conceal it.
Was he an idiot? no. Not quite, besides the benefits that came from him presenting himself as good to the public, he wasn't the type to hold on to the past, he was free will with a heart of clarity and calmness even if it didn't show on his face.
"Mrs Kamara, what do you have to say ?" the first reporter directed his gaze at Kenita as he sent the question to her.
"I don't have a memory of my past, but I would still like to say how deeply sorry I am. My past actions haven't only affected my life but also my family as well" Her sentences broke with occasional pauses as if the weight of her guilt hung on each syllable. But of course, she had to envision that apologetic frame to the media, that way she would gain more sympathy.
Even if Dge was sorry about the past wrongs, it wasn't hers though.
Kamara nodded solemnly beside her, playing the part of the supportive partner, though his eyes rarely met hers.
Every word they spoke seemed rehearsed, polished for public consumption, yet there was a palpable undercurrent of discomfort, the audience unsure whether they were witnessing an apology or a performance.
"What you are saying it okay for you to cheat on your husband, is that what you want the young girls to learn from you?" another reporter's annoying voice came out causing a moment of flinch in Kamaras's face, his jaw clenched as his gaze darkened at the stupid reporter, whom he could easily make to lose his job snd life.
What type of reporters did you hire? his eyes snapped at Alima who stood at the back of the room they were in. Certain he had instructed her to select reporters with small mouths, yet those in front of him were annoying as fuck.
"I'm not saying any of that, I wouldn't want the young ones to follow such roots"
"But yet you did it, don't you think they would follow your steps as an influence in society "As much as she would love to be annoyed, she understood his question and concerns.
"I accept my wrong and I deeply apologize for it all," Kenita said with a bowed head.
"That's it, no more questions" Kamaracut in, silencing the lips of the first reporter "My wife has said everything, she is sorry and I have forgiven her. I love her and will always love her" Caught in the moment, he turned to Kenita with a soft, spontaneous smile. Without a word, he leaned in, gently cupping her face, and pressed his lips on her. Her eyelashes fluttered, the faintest intake of breath escaping her, as her lips parted just enough. The space between them vanished. His lips met hers, soft and warm, the gentle pressure causing her hand to instinctively rest on his shoulders.
Fast as time clicked, Ksmara pulled away, leaving her baffled and startled at the same time.
What just happened?
Her hands gently caressed her cheeks that was heated up.
"Nothing is getting between my wife and I, I hope this clears the misconceptions of us getting a divorce" Kamara stated to the reporters exchanging glances, sensing they've just witnessed something special and unscripted.
With the reporters gone, Kenita's eyes flinched at Kamara in anger, her knuckles balled as just like that her phone rang stealing the moment from her.
"Yes," she responded to the person at the other line.
"This is Sarah's husband, I just called to say thank you" the man gratefully said. After her visit that day, she had David transfer the daughter to a better hospital and foot all their bills, including a cheque of millions to help them start afresh.
"It's nothing, I just want to correct my mistakes," She said, that's all she could do to make up for all the past wrongs of her sister.
"My wife did not hire that man, a week ago she got a call and left home. She returned with some money that we used to pay our daughter's hospital bills. Someone paid her to confess to the crimes" Sarah's husband said confirming her suspicions.
"Do you have the number of the person who called that day?"
"Yes, if you want I'll have it sent to you" he offered.
"That would be much appreciated" Her eyes steadily stared at Kamara as a message piped into her phone, she glanced to see the number already sent.
Now she was going to know who the real culprit was, yet somehow her heart was in distress.
What if her suspicion was right and Kamara was the culprit?