chapter 2

Chapter 2

...Stella…

“answer me Stella” Benji demands with a raised eyebrow when i dont say anything even after a few mintues

“who do you think you huh?, why the hell did you send someone to forcefully pick me up?, did I tell you I needed help?” i ask back, the quickest way to avoid answering a question is being offensive and that’s what I do

“your mom…”

“I don’t have a mom” I say cutting him short

“you are the last person I want to see or have a conversation with Benji, do me a favor and stay away from me” I can see the look of disappointment on his face,

“am sorry Stella” Benji says but I grab my suitcase from his bodyguard and walk away. I manage to get a cab and shortly after reach the hotel, by then, Zoey is fast asleep, I put her on the bed when we reach our hotel room, I am about to go and take a shower when I hear a knock on the door, I wonder who it is since I didn’t call for room service. Upon opening the door, am surprised to see Benji standing there

“you followed me?” I ask angrily

“I just wanted to make sure you are okay” he responds, I mockingly laugh at his words, the audacity of this man

“are you kidding me?, just go away Benji”

“I will go but first, I need to know who the father of that little girl is” I find myself tongue-tied, I look away from his penetrating gaze

“that is none of your business, now if you excuse me, I have a funeral to attend” I close the door to his face and lock it before he says anything. Leaning on the door, I let out a deed sign. I didn’t think Benji would be this persistent to know Zoey’s father, things are getting complicated way too fast, I need to go back home as soon as the burial is over.

An hour later, I arrive at my parent’s house, I am hesitant to enter as memories of the last time I was here flood my mind

“what is it mama?, you are crying” little Zoey asks

“am fine honey, lets go in” I say wipping the tears off my face, i had not even realized I am crying, am about to open the door but change my mind and instead ring the door bell. When I hear footsteps approaching, I carry Zoey in my arms. Mom opens the door, I notice how she has grown a little older since the last time I saw her. If things were different, I would have ran into her arms telling her how much I missed her but no, that would never happen, the day dad throw me out of the house, she was there watching in silence, she went as far as closing the door while I was on the ground begging her to talk to dad. I was young and homeless for the first few months during which I had called her multiple times begging to take me back, I even told her I was homeless but in response, she hang up the call and from that day, her line no longer went through

“Stella” mom attempts to hug me but I push her way

“am only here because I love grandma not to rekindle old relationships”, grandma was the only person who had helped me, she couldn’t let me stay with her because of dad but she had given me some money which helped me leave new York and start my life afresh, If not for her, I don’t know how I would have survived, I walk past mom and enter the house where I find dad, some relatives and family friends and my little sister Maria.

Has I enter the room, I manage to get everyone’s attention, dad stands up in anger,

“what is she doing here?” he furiously asks mom,

“Stella!” Maria stands up and is about to hug me when dad yells at her

“go back to your sit, now!” she immediately goes back to the couch

“honey please, can we all talk after the burial is over?” mom suggests, dad is hesitant but when he sees the guests watching him, he nods probably avoiding embarrassment. i figure out mom was lying when she said Dad had changed and feel uncomfortable being here, deep down i know this was bound to happen.

In the next hour, we are all gathered at the cemetery, mom and Dad give a heart warming speech, grandma is then buried, as I watch on as the coffin is being lowered, I inwardly thank grandma for her kind heart, she was the only one that checked up on me until she got too sick. I am driven out of thoughts when someone hugs me from behind, upon turning around, I find out its Daisy, I pull the little girl for a hug

“oh my, look at you all grown up, I missed you doll”

“I missed you Stella” her eyes then lands on Zoey

“who is this?”

“this is my daughter Zoey” the two girls smile at each other

“wanna play with me?” Daisy asks, Zoey looks at me for approval

“of course, just don’t go far, we will be leaving soon” the two girls nod as they ran off. I let out a deep sign. After grandma is buried, everyone starts pressing flowers on her tombstone, I watch and wait until everyone is done before pressing my flowers and kneeing in front of the grave, for the first time, I break down overwhelmed by the fact that I would never see or talk to her again

“thank you grandma, I wouldn’t have made it this far without your love and care, am sorry death took you so soon, I remember how much you wanted to meet Zoey, she is here but you are not here to see her” I let out another deep breath as I blink away tears, just then I hear someone clear their throat, when I turn around, I find Benji holding a bunch of flowers which he presses on top of the tombstone

“can we talk in private?”

“we are alone here, you can say whatever it is you want to talk about” I say, i don’t have time to go anywhere just to have this conversation, if I was going anywhere from here, then its to the airport.

“Stella, I know you still blame me for what happened but I must know,  is that little girl mine?” I slap Benji hard across the face

“don’t ever think that one night would result in anything, I hate you Benji, and if I had my way, you would die by my hands” I say my hands clenched

“anyone with eyes can see that girl and Daisy have a keen resemblance, you never slept with Ben throughout your courtship, I was your first, for the love of God Stella, just tell me if she is mine!”

“fuck you Benji, I don’t know why your twisted mind would think that, you tricked me into sleeping with you, you knew it was me under that mask yet you continued to pretend you were Ben!” this conversation was making me more furious

“don’t you dare think Zoey is your child. Go to hell Benji and rot there” I grab my purse from the ground and begin to look for Daisy and Zoey, I manage to find Daisy with her grandma but Zoey is nowhere to be seen. Has much as I don’t want to talk to Ben’s mom, am forced to walk to her.

“Stella”

“hello” I say my head hang low, Since the night Ben died, Mrs Edwards seemed to hate me, maybe I reminded her of her son or maybe she blamed me for his death, I would never know

“Daisy, where is Zoey, we need to leave” i question the little girl. Daisy looks at me confused

“didn’t you send that man to pick her up and wait for you in your car? she asks looking confused, I hold Daisy by the shoulders in panic

“what man?” I ask as a wave of fear washes over me…