Night had fallen over Shekina. Jimmy stood alone on the porch of the fieldstone house enjoying the sounds of laughter and reunion drifting through the screened door behind him. The mug of coffee in his hand had granted him hazy reprieve from his mounting exhaustion, and yet he sensed the reprieve would be fleeting. The fatigue in his body went to the core. "You slipped out quietly," a voice behind said.He turned. McEwan's grandmother emerged, her silver hair shimmering in the night. Jimmy gave a tired smile. "I thought I'd give your family some time together." Through the window, he could see McEwan talking with her brother. Sophie's grandmother came beside him. "Mr. Jim, when I first heard of Esquibel's murder, I was terrified for McEwan's sake. Seeing her standing in my doorway tonight was the greatest relief of my life. I cannot thank you enough."Jimmy had no idea how to respond. Although he had offered to give McEwan and her grandmother time to talk in private, she had asked
Jason was receiving an award for his book that he'd published and Jimmy was in the city, so he did the best thing he could before running off to Florence. It has been a long time since he'd been around but the event that had unfolded recently had taught him to spend more time with family. Encaenia took place in the Sheldonian - a long and rambling ceremony conducted in Latin for six distinguished persons though, in Lola's mind, this was a celebration mainly for Jason. At last, he was receiving the recognition he deserved. After the ceremony, she stood and watched him with pride as he mingled with guests. She had met Jason briefly before the ceremony and they had hugged, but hardly spoken; too many people and not enough time. She thought at first that it was perhaps the way it should be, with no time for sentimentalism, but no, she decided that it was not the way it should be. They needed more time. "Do you know all these people?" Malik whispered."No." Lola shook her head, even tho
Chapter OneA knock was heard and the door was opened.Lola smiled."I thought you said you wouldn't be around for my engagement party."Emelia laughed and sat."Why would I miss such for anything in the world?.Anyway,Chris sends his regards.He has to be in Chicago tomorrow so he wouldn't be able to meet up.""He texted me already.Let me get you a cup of coffee before we talk."She gave a quick smile and walked to the coffee machine.Emelia gazed at the picture frame on the table and her expression changed. Lola noticed it. "Emelia,is there something you aren't telling me about Steve?. You get uncomfortable when I talk about him or when he is around me."Lola stretched out the cup to her which she took."Well, you and I know I never liked him from the start.He isn't just suitable for you and my instincts tells me he is just playing around with you. I don't think he really loves you.""You think so?.Then why are you getting excited about the engagement?."Emelia laughs."You know I have al
Chapter TwoGetting home,she puts off her clothes and walked straight into the shower. At least, she could have a good bath before death comes. Finally dressed up after the bath, she walked into the sitting room just to see her mum. Taken aback a little bit,she tried to smile. "Steve called.Why aren't you picking your calls? And what's all these I heard from him?."Lola shrugged."Mum, did you come to my house to argue with me about Steve or you came to see me?.I have got nothing to say about him and besides let him keep ranting.Maybe I sounded or looked too desperate for him that's why he thinks getting married to me seems he is doing me a favor."Her wet hair hung on her face.Mrs Xell stared at her daughter as if she was crazy."Lola,do you realize the implications of everything you might be scheming up in that mind of yours?.What else could Steve be doing to you than favor,huh?!.At 26,you still can't decipher the situation at hand. You had better do as Steve wants or else..."Lola
Chapter ThreeThe kiss came to an abrupt end as Emelia screamed.Chris held her tightly as it was obvious she could beat them up if let go. Lucy blinked twice."Who brought that thing into this place?And how did she know your name?. "Steve's expression was like as of nothing even happened."Just one of them,you know. Let's just get out of here quick. I am aching to have you more. "He licked his lips seductively and winked at Emelia who was obviously very pissed off at the scenario before her. Chris finally let her go as they left already."Was he the one?.""Yeah and..i am upset!.I just knew he wasn't suitable for Lola at the very beginning.What do I do to stop this,Chris?.Steve never loved her from the start and it's very obvious now. What do we do?."Emelia said, almost crying. How could she ever tell Nora what she saw today?."Hey babe, be calm. We are gonna find a solution to this. Just be calm".Chris's words soothed her nerves as she embraced him. *******************************
Chapter FourLola's bag fell off her hands as the two continued with their love making even after they saw her at the door. With trembling hands, she turned to leave without taking her bag when Lucy grabbed her by the collar and pushed her off to the bedside. Taking a rope she walked towards Lola."W.. What are you trying to do?.Let go of me!.Let go of me now!"Lola screamed but it seems her pleas went just on deaf ears as Steve seem to enjoy her scream."Steve told me a lot about you and even how you can't please him, so make sure you watch us real good then maybe after I am satisfied,then you can go home. "Lucy winked at her devishly and walked up to Steve on bed. Lola couldn't stop the tears flowing from her eyes. Could she had ever expected this from someone she called her lover?."Did you ever loved me Steve?.Did you?!."Steve laughed."I guessed you know the answer already.You are just trying to make me speak and I will.I could never have loved such a boring and unattractive lad
Chapter FiveContinous rings on her phone,Lola knew it was none other than Emelia, her mum and those who were expecting her at the engagement party but she wasn't ready to be scolded or insulted.She had decided to do one thing and that is.... Picking up her bag, she headed out. If she said she knew where she was going to, then that was a blatant lie but what matters more was going to a place where no one would notice her presence. Stopping at a shop,she had wanted to ask for a place to go but recalling that her mum would have possibly done things to search for her by all cost, Nora kept on driving. *****************************************Mrs Turner walked up to Emelia who just came in with Chris. Looking at the huge crowd in the hall,her heart sank. "Your friend knows she has to be here even before 7am.Dont tell me she is trying to defy our family rules. ""Ma,Listen to me.Lola caught Steve cheating on her just yesterday and since the time we talked last, I can't seem to find
The gunshots triggered her heart condition, so bad that she fell but she regained her balance as she looked at the boy. The footsteps continued as she tried to make it out of the building, following the door by the left side of the last floor trying to escape. "Don't worry little guy" she said. As Jimmy was struggling to make sense of his site. Remembering the thud she just heard it was clear to her that whoever kidnapped Jimmy is angry and has changed his mind about any peaceful negotiation. With Ronald dead, the boss issued a command that Jimmy should be captured before his father gets to their location. Not knowing someone else is with Jimmy. Lola was a few minutes away from her car as Jimmy started grunting, she put him down and assured him he was going to be safe. "Boss, I think the boy has left the building" "Well, check outside, he could have gone far he's just a boy" "Okay Boss" The guard ran outside with his Gun pinned to his chest, his finger on the trigger in cas