Chapter 34
Third POV
“Is this the place?” As the car came to a stop right in front of Onu’s house, Caesar Leed, her driver, asked. They had driven to the neighbourhood where she lived before fate took a turn on her years ago.
Four years ago, after settling in Madrid, she closely monitored Onu and his family. The last thing she wanted was the same fate that found her befalling them. She received a report that they had moved–not very far, but they had put the old house up for sale six months after her disappearance. Perhaps the memories that came with it weren’t ones they could bear. They wanted to have a change, but not too much because this was where Godiya grew up and had her fond memories. It was a perfectly thought–out plan, taking into consideration everything important.
She nodded. “This is it.” She answered, and before he could get down and open her door, she helped
herself.
As she stared at it, the memories returned. Getting grabbed at the front porch and dragged into the house, then tied up and assaulted. Elena walking in and having a heart attack from seeing the inhumane act being done. Then leaving for Harvard days later to share the news with Oliver, but never returning
home.
She wanted closure for Elena’s death and never found it; if justice had prevailed, she might have found it,
but it didn’t.
This house bore memories she wasn’t ready to let go of yet, which was why she bought it four years ago.
She didn’t stay long; the destination was the new home of Onu and his family, not the old one. She entered the car, and they drove five more minutes before arriving at the new house. It was smaller than
their old place, but since they were desperate to move, they didn’t really think much about comfort. This
new home, however, had closer neighbours as compared to the old.
Once again, she helped herself down from the car before Ceasar could open his door, and she helped
Ocean down as well.
She didn’t need to be treated differently here; this was home once.
“I don’t know how long I will be here, but I will call you once we finish.” She told him and took Ocean’s
hand into hers.
“Okay, Ms Garcia.” He nodded, started the car, and drove off.
“¿Dónde estamos, mamá? (Where are we, mama?)” Ocean’s curious voice came through, and she broke her gaze on the new house and moved it over to him.
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Chapter 34
“Mama’s home once.” She replied, “Venir, (come).”
They came to the door, and she rang the bell while waiting for it to open. The door opened moments later, and out came Godiya. The young girl stared at her with eyes that told Imela she couldn’t remember her. It’s been four years; a lot has changed since then. Godiya was older and much taller than when she was twelve, and she looked completely different in a good way. Footsteps followed behind her immediately.
“Peep through the hole, Diya; do not open the door; how many times do we have to tell you that?” Onu said as he came up behind her.
Godiya looked back at him with an apologetic gaze and stepped away. Onu’s eyes came to rest on Imela, and after a brief second of confusion, they grew wide with surprise.
“Imela!” he exclaimed, and before she could say another word, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her tightly. “Oh, Imela.” He whimpered weakly, “Praise be God!”
The noise at the door must have gotten to Maria, too, because she came to the door just as Onu let go of
her, and she stood stunned with her hand covering her mouth. “Imela, how?”
She had a lot of questions, but she stepped forward and hugged her just as tightly as her husband did.
You
She pulled away, and her eyes dropped to Ocean, whose hand was in Imela’s, and they welled up.
both survived.”
Onu came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders to comfort her. “I’m just so happy
to see you two.”
Imela smiled and said, “I am happy to see you too.”
They entered the house, and Maria and Godiya moved to the kitchen to get more plates as ordered by Onu, while Onu led her to the dining table. The new house had a different interior, giving it a modern look as compared to the old one, which was traditional.
“We looked everywhere for you. We thought you were dead,” he said, offering her a seat at the table. “We didn’t want to believe the rumours that you were dead, but after six months of searching, we had to give up,” he said, and there was guilt in his tone.
“You did your best, Uncle Onu, and I truly appreciate it.” She told him.
Maria and Godiya returned from the kitchen with extra food and plates.
They served the food, and they all ate quietly. Luckily, their dinner today was a boiled potato and sauced egg, and Ocean wasn’t a stranger to that, so he ate away. We finished, and Onu helped Maria pack up the plates and take them to the kitchen while Godiya and Imela rearranged the table before going into the living room.
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“What is his name? Onn asked, and his eyes stayed fixated on the boy as he drew closer to hy they now sat in the living room
Godlya took permission and left for her room.
“Ocean Garcia.”
He looked surprised by that surname name, and she moved on to narrate how the last four years had gone for her.
“Even after everything. I couldn’t return; I knew I would never be safe. Elena lot her life hecase of me, and I couldn’t do that to the three of you, so I stayed away,”
“I am sorry we kept the truth from you.” Onu said, and his head dropped remorsefully, “The truth was, we didn’t know him. Mama saw him after you were born, and that was her first and last time. When things got difficult, she tried to reach out through his business contact but never found it. I never meta to keep you from your father, but after losing Otaria, Elena didn’t want to let go. I am sorry I never said anything, but the truth was, we didn’t know who he was; technology wasn’t a big thing back then in Port Harcourt, and there was so little to no way of finding someone from another country for poor people like us. I was seventeen at the time, and I saw how happy she was with you. It felt as if she had her daughter
back.”
Onu didn’t have to explain. “Tate destined me to meet my father, and I did, and I am glad I met him inten
I did, not sooner or later than I did.”
He smiled. “I am glad too. I know Mama would be so glad wherever she is right now.”
“Are you back to stay?” Maria asked with expectant eyes.
She left Madrid on a temporary basis because she told Marcel she would return as soon as they found a foot on the ground in the state. That wasn’t meant to be forever, as much as she loved being here. Besides, the headquarters of the Garcia Group was in Madrid. Everything she had come to love was also there.
Yet her goal was here, and she would not achieve it quickly, not with all the plans she had in place. It would take time. She had all the time.
“For now, yes,” she smiled, giving nothing away.
