Solitude – Episode 48
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SOLITUDE
_48_
‘Just business?’ I ask after him
‘We sorted out our issues a long time ago and everything that happened was just business. Nothing to do with you.’
I sigh
‘You dropped the charges against Chanda.’ I say changing the topic
‘I am tired of all this Nella, honestly I am. The firm has never really been mine, it hasn’t been my best bet and I think rebuilding it was just a way of apologizing to you.’
‘To me?’
‘I owe you, I do. I and my wife, what we did was wrong and I know we could never repay you or make it up in material things but I am hoping that giving you back the firm is a small token to show how sorry we are for everything.’
‘You could have turned this around, given me evidence to prove her being guilty. Watched as I threw her behind bars, bought the land from me because I couldn’t rebuild the firm and yet you built it.’
‘Smart right?’
I smile
‘Thank you.’
‘You girls need each other, and I hope throwing Chanda behind bars has taught her a lesson or two.’
I laugh remembering her grand entrance when the cops came for her
‘We are fine thank you.’
‘I am glad to know.’
‘And August?’
‘He is a good boy, just hungry for power.’
‘I still can’t believe that he thinks he can play us.’
‘And I bet your sister is falling for it.’
‘Hormones.’ I say laughing
‘What do you want me to do? I mean we could bring him down.’ He tells me
I shake my head.
‘Let him collect enough rope to hang himself, we are not going down that road. I am tired of fighting with people, with Chanda and Chibesa, with you and your wife, with August. I just want some peace and quiet.’
‘There is nothing better than inner peace, we all need it and you are smart.’
‘Just like your mother.’ He adds and I smile
‘I better get going, this has been a beautiful evening. I guess we can start on a clean slate.’
‘I am good company.’ He says and I laugh
‘Nella.’
‘Yes Mathias?’
‘Never forget to separate business from your personal life, when you are in that firm you are ruthless and untouchable. You get the clients and make things happen.’
‘That is why I would never allow you to take the firm, when I am in the firm I am above things but still kind, I get the clients, make them family and help solve their cases. It’s not just business, it’s people’s lives I deal with every day.’
He smiles
‘You are just like your mother in so many ways.’
‘The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.’ I say with a wink
**
‘Have you decided what name to give the baby?’ he asks me
‘Take a wild guess.’
‘Bentley?’
‘Damn right.’
‘You still love the name?’
‘Why shouldn’t I?’ I ask
He smiles, looking at me but I can see that the smile doesn’t reach his eyes
‘You and Chibesa?’
‘Not happening, I am raising this baby with Nella.’
‘Wow.’
‘Surprised me too, three months ago if someone had told me I would be here I would have laughed in their face but I guess life doesn’t throw roses in our path – we have to grow them.’
‘There is a maturity about you now that I didn’t see all the time we were together.’
‘You should have knocked me up.’ I say jokingly
There is a deafening silence between us
‘Bad joke?’ I ask
‘I would have loved to spend forever with you.’
‘I would have been a very bad partner, my heart was always in two places.’
He comes behind me and wraps his hands around my waist
‘I hate that I have become the person I am not.’
I smile
‘August you have got to let all the pain go, I am doing much better. You need to find your healing too.’
‘Sucks being the bad guy.’
‘I wanted to know how long you would keep it up.’
‘Did Nella know?’
‘She did, never mentioned it to me but I am sure she thought I was falling for you.’ ‘I know you, I knew you were just giving me enough rope to hang myself.’
‘I was just allowing you to feel good about yourself.’ I say and we both laugh ‘You do
n’t think I am a bad person, do you now?’ ‘Good people do bad things too.’
‘I guess I am done here, time to leave the country.’ ‘August you love it here.’
‘I never said I didn’t, but it’s time to go and find my own path. I need to learn to walk again.’
I turn around and face him
‘You are a good man.’
‘Of course I am, I put up with your ass for as long as I can remember.’ I open my mouth to say something but close it He laughs and kisses me on the forehead
‘Take care of Bentley.’
‘And yourself.’ He adds
The clearing of a throat has us turning around.
‘Sorry to disturb.’
‘I was even about to leave.’ August says looking at me lovingly
The two don’t say much to each other and I watch as he leaves leaving Chibesa and I.
‘It’s late.’ I say going to seat down
‘I had to see you.’
‘What’s up.’
‘Chanda I am sorry.’
I want to laugh and yell at the same time
‘For what exactly?’
‘Everything.’ He says
‘Chibesa I am angry, but also I am learning to find peace in knowing that it’s now me against the world. Me and my son.’
‘I am not denying responsibility.’
‘I never said you were.’
‘You and Katai will make such great parents.’ I say
‘Chanda.’
‘What?’
‘Don’t do this to yourself.’ He begs and I can feel the tears forming but I push them back
‘I didn’t mean to hurt you.’
I chuckle
‘Honestly I didn’t.’
‘It’s fine Chibesa, I will be fine. Somehow I will be.’
‘Friends?’ he asks stretching his hand
‘Co parents.’ I respond shaking it
I see the blood drain from his face and he leaves, when Nella walks in I allow myself to cry in her hands. This is it. It is done and there is no way I will allow anyone to hurt me again.
PRESENT DAY
‘How long has she been unconscious?’ the doctor asks worriedly
‘Five minutes.’
‘And the baby?’
The nurses look at each other
‘I asked about the baby!’ he yells
‘We lost her.’ One says
‘No we didn’t, that girl was alive. Give me back that child because I won’t allow you to rest.’
The patient wakes up.
‘My baby.’ She screams
‘Mrs. Chanda your baby is fine.’
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‘Give me my baby.’ She says and the doctor looks at the nurses
‘Bring her baby.’ He says
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