CHAPTER NINE.

 Gina shifts her position, draws closer and tries to pass her hand around her husband in an embrace but can't feel his presence. Slowly, she opened her eyes and all she saw was a vacant space. 

"Darling," she calls out and she is responded to by quietness.

"Where's he? Of late he's acting weird." She mutters and gets out of bed to check in the shower cubicle.

It was so quiet that she would have heard a pin drop. Her face frayed into a temper.

"I hope he hasn't left for work already." She puts on her slippers and struts across to the closet.

"I won't listen to his excuses this time."

 She grumbles and fumbles to put on her bathrobe and sluggishly walks down the stairs as she calls out his name, 

" Richard, Rich…"

 She notices the light in the living room and heads in the direction with an impression that she would find him there. 

"He isn't here either! “She pouted in anger and muttered, '' Richard, you are testing my patience this time."

 In a moment, she could distinctly hear noise in the direction of the kitchen. His hoarse laughter could be heard from the living room. 

Esther stood close beside Richard as she watched the eggs simmer on the frying pan.

"Sir, why did you put garlic in?" She asked with a bubbly face.

"For flavour."

"I understand." The smell of fried eggs almost made her mouth water.

"I can see you are craving to taste."

He said after stealing a fleeting glance at her, patting her shoulder lovingly. In a moment, she had a distinct impression that someone was watching her.

 When she turns, she sees Jina poised at the entrance, her forehead contracted furrows which made her appear more like a crone. The gesture on her face was alarming.

"Do you want a bite, want to taste?" Richard asked for a plate. Esther is quiet and nervous.

 Jina clears her voice to attract her husband's attention.

Richard turns in her direction immediately and the latter feigns a smile.

"I can see you two are having precious time in the kitchen," she said and glanced at Esther with scorn.

"There's no doubt about that." he gave an amiable smile and resumed. "Would you like to join us, honey?"  The tone in his voice brooked no argument. 

 She chuckled to hide her anger and gave Esther a stinging stare. The latter moves an ounce behind Richard and would have cowered under the breakfast bar or behind the kitchen door, but for fear of being thought a nuisance which to Jina would be a clarification of her perpetual ridicules towards her, she didn't. "The ground should pity me and swallow me into an abyss." She thought and looked down on her trembling feet in speculation. Jina took breakfast tea with biscuits. She hardly uttered a word at the table but kept peeking at Esther with a resentful look. The anger in her heart could have inhibited her from taking the eggs.

 "She wants to corrupt my family with her innocent face. I won't fall for your trap, you swine. I will have to talk with Mrs Wabua about the matter. Perhaps she will advise on how best I can deal with you." She thought and ground the biscuit in anger and bit her tongue. She swallowed the gyp of pain down her throat and clenched her first and promptly went to her room.

When all the rest of the members enjoyed the meal, she was surging with inward anger. The declarations of discrimination against the poor were tendered in her heart.

 Richard, after a heavy breakfast, went to the living room and lounged on a couch and read a newspaper that had just been delivered. 

Mercy stood at the entrance and watched him for some time. It was unusual for her father to be home at that time. She advanced and stood over him.

 "Dad, are you not going to work today? You look relaxed."

 Mercy asked and sat beside him.

The tidings in his heart were concealed to himself alone. This would be a special day for his anonymous discoveries in his seducer. His anticipation to behold the blazing fire which would nourish and burn his heart made his body tremble. 

He stroked her hair smiling and replied, 

"I had a tiring day yesterday. I will head to the office later after I have dropped mummy off at the boutique."

"I am happy that after a long time, you have resolved to take care of yourself."

"Why do you say that?" He asked with a frantic look.

"Work has always been your priority, and of course us." She lifted her head and smiled and then leaned on his shoulder. His daughter's utterances provoked guilt in his conscience. He was quiet for some time until he had Jina's voice.

Jina took breakfast tea with biscuits. She hardly uttered a word at the table but kept peeking at Esther with a resentful look. The anger in her heart could have inhibited her from taking the eggs.

 "She wants to corrupt my family with her innocent face. I won't fall for your trap, you swine. I will have to talk with Mrs Wabua about the matter. Perhaps she will advise on how best I can deal with you." She thought and ground the biscuit in anger and bit her tongue. She swallowed the gyp of pain down her throat and clenched her first and promptly went to her room.

When all the rest of the members enjoyed the meal, she was surging with inward anger. The declarations of discrimination against the poor were tendered in her heart.

 Richard, after a heavy breakfast, went to the living room and lounged on a couch and read a newspaper that had just been delivered. 

Mercy stood at the entrance and watched him for some time. It was unusual for her father to be home at that time. She advanced and stood over him.

 "Dad, are you not going to work today? You look relaxed."

 Mercy asked and sat beside him.

The tidings in his heart were concealed to himself alone. This would be a special day for his anonymous discoveries in his seducer. His anticipation to behold the blazing fire which would nourish and burn his heart made his body tremble. 

He stroked her hair smiling and replied, 

"I had a tiring day yesterday. I will head to the office later after I have dropped mummy off at the boutique."

"I am happy that after a long time, you have resolved to take care of yourself."

"Why do you say that?" He asked with a frantic look.

"Work has always been your priority, and of course us." She lifted her head and smiled and then leaned on his shoulder. His daughter's utterances provoked guilt in his conscience. He was quiet for some time until he had Jina's voice.