Chapter 7

TANNER

Counting my steps and movement as I paced in the sitting room waiting for her arrival. 

I was worried and restless. I've been sober for two days and when I might have avoided shutting off my thoughts, sometimes, it gets hard. 

But now, my mind is starting to go places that are forbidden. I want out. I need a beer. I yearned for it. It's the only thing giving me peace. The only thing keeping me sane.

I heard movements outside, and I knew I would be her. I waited patiently for her to come inside. Glancing at the baby, the child is still sleeping peacefully.

She entered the house and walked closer to me, I notice her face was having mixed feelings. Happiness. Sadness. Fear.

"How was the job hunt?" I asked curtly.

"I got the job." She answered softly, walking to her baby to take a closer look at the little life. 

"Good."

Her eyes found me from across the room. "I don't know how to thank you...I don't know how to express my gratitude for all this..." She gestured her hands everywhere.

"It's nothing." My voice was hard and edgy. I looked briskly at her figure before facing the door and proceeding to leave. 

I walked quietly to the door when I heard her speak. It was low but I heard every word she said. 

"Will I... see.. you again?" she asked softly.

I stayed silent for a while wondering the answer to give. I almost said yes but then again, I might be lying. She needs to move on. She needs to be able to take care of her baby without thoughts and worries.

"No," I stated curtly.

Silence. "Oh." She whispered at last.

"Take care of yourself and your baby, this will be our last time seeing each other so make such to stay safe. Goodbye, lady." I said, walking out into the streets to get drunk so I'll be able to forget. 

More beers. No worries.

TWO MONTHS LATER. 

LUDALE MACCULLY

This girl is playing with fire and she didn't know anything, he thought.

He had obviously been cool about her escapades all those times she had tried to escape and that was why she was obviously still doing it. He can't wait to get his hands on her. 

Looking at her room makes me want to chop off her head. Oh! She was playing with fire.

After all the allowances and properties I had given to them is this how their daughter choose to repay him? 

He had every right to do what he wanted with her. She was bought and paid for...still being paid for! She is his property.

Her mother Doreen goes shopping more like she owns my money and her father had become a house owner all because of his daughter's marriage to him. 

They never cared about their daughter and he cared less because he wasn't the one to show her love. 

He never loved her, he only loved raping and hitting her at any intervals which he came across. 

He tightened his fist as he remembered the little and harmless blow which he had thrown at her and regretted not making him faint and stretch for my mercy. 

Oh! Jasamina, you're finished. 

Any minute I lay my hand on you I'd make sure I suck all blood connected to your veins.  

Why hasn't she been found!? He took his phone and called the police, in one ring it connected. 

"Commissioner of police." Came the gruff male voice.

"It's the congressman, Ludale McCully," I said losing my patients. 

"Oh. Good day, sir."

"There's nothing good about the day, Mr commissioner. My son and wife are still missing!"

He heard the man clear his throat. "Yes, sir, we are still in search of your wife, but it hasn't been easy on us. The last two calls we had received concerning your wife had been prank calls and the only one we thought was leading to her was a groceries shop, but they said their CCTV camera hadn't been working for months now." The Commissioner said, the fear in his voice apparent.

Ludale snorted. Same old story.

"Mr. Commissioner, I would not want to hear this story by next week, I won't be taking this anymore. What sort of incompetent sergeants do you have working for you? I asked for a small favor and it's taking so long to be accomplished. You know very well the kind of havoc I can wreck for you all if you can't find my mentally sick wife and poor baby." 

He hung up, unwilling to hear the incompetent commissioner anymore.

That girl, Jasamina, has turned me into a fool and dragged my name into the mud by making me the talk of the whole damn town. 

"I would so crush you," he said out loud to the empty room, his eyes blazing. "I'll beat you to hell and after you've been raped by all my men, you'll beg for mercy but none would be granted. You kiss my foot and lick the ground I walked on!"

Stupid ingrate!

*****

JASAMINA

Arranging books to their numbered shelf was not quite an easy job for me but I was totally happy with what I got. 

Jaime had been a really good baby ever since he started feeding well, he had grown so beautiful and his color was now lighter and smooth. He was a cheerful baby and that made me happy for myself at least for having the courage to run away because if I hadn't my baby would have not been feeding well and my breast milk would have become sour for the baby to feed from. 

I climbed up the wooden ladder and arranged the books to their rightful place before climbing down to get some more books when one of the frequent customers came for. I walked gracefully to her front to attend to her. 

She was a chubby woman and seems nice but I don't care much. Everyone might look nice but only the mysterious drunkard was really nice to me. 

"Good afternoon ma'am." I greeted her politely. My new signature smile was always intact for them to see. 

"Oh Mina, how are you?" She asked me smiling as always. Sometimes I wonder if she had any worries. 

I shortened my name to Mina, instead of Jasamina so no one will recognize me.

"Fine, so what book would you be reading?" I said changing the topic. 

"Oh! Well, I won't be needing any books, for now, just came to return these" She said handing me the books and turning to go before saying again. "And thank you, I enjoyed your recommendation," she said as she left. 

I went back to my work and continued from where I had stopped. And my mind drifted to things that had happened lately. 

In these past two months, a lot had changed, I had dyed my hair from black to blonde and I had started dressing Jaimie like a baby girl. I told people her name is Mia. 

Our names were now Mina and Mia. Seems fitting.

All these disguises because I don't want to be found. I don't want to be connected to Jasamina McCully and my baby to Jaimie McCully.

Sometimes my mind had wandered about how the drunkard was faring after giving us his house. Where would he stay or would he continue wandering around the streets? Guess it's the latter.

He was a blessing in disguise to both me and baby Jaimie. If he hadn't helped me, by now I don't know where I'll be. Probably back in the hands of my wicked husband, Dale. 

If not for the drunkard we would have starved to death and by now my breast would have been a forgotten food for my baby. 

"I hope you're well, wherever you are," I whispered, my mind to the drunkard. 

I looked at my baby sleeping on his bassinet and smiled calmly. We will keep on surviving, I vowed before walking back to my work load of arranging books.