Chapter Twenty Five

Joyce got home and started pondering about everything. She should just try to forget everything about her boss and move on. After all, she had submitted her resignation letter. She didn't need to go to work anymore but what would she do now? There is only one option and that is to go out and look for job. Philip, who could have been her other option, was now out of the game,all thanks to her amazing boss.

Something popped up in her mind and she was immediately filled with remorse. James's parents. She lied to them. She deceived them, made them believe she was together with their son. She touched the necklace that was given to her by his mother. She had to return that and reveal the truth. She could not bear keeping it from them, especially Mrs. Andrew. She was too nice, although somehow cunning.

She made a mental note to visit the Andrews the following day.

She exited her room and went to the living room and saw her mother watching the Big Brother Naija show on their Gotv. "Mum," she acknowledged and spanked on the chair beside her which almost made her mother bounce up from it.

Her mother's response was a slap at the back of her neck. "Idiot! Why don't you just kill me?"

"I will do that after you're old enough," she replied with a frown as she rubbed the back of her neck.

Her mother's eyes widened. "What!"her mother screamed,surprised at her daughter's outburst." You're going to kill me? What kind of a daughter are you?"

Joyce faced her mother and looked her in the eyes and said nothing.

Her mother eyed her in a 'what is wrong with this one?' way. She opened her mouth to talk but was enveloped in a warm hug.

" Come on, mum. You, of all people, should know what kind of a daughter I am." She released her mum and met her eyes. "You want to know why? It's because you are the one who gave birth to me and raised me," she added.

"You're s......,"she was saying but was cut short.

" Stupid? Yeah, I know, but I love you. Come on, mum,I was just joking,"she convinced with a sweet smile.

Her mum pushed her away this time."I know, so let me listen to what Big Brother is saying," she uttered and diverted her attention back to the TV show.

Joyce nodded at her mother and returned her palm to her neck,still feeling the elpain as if the slap happened that instant. "Mum, what did you put on your hand when you slapped me?"

The reply came as, "Go and ask your father's mother in the village."

***

James arrived in his parent's house and parked his new Venza in the garage and made the attempt to alight. It seemed he had been spotted because one of nephews ran from inside and hugged one his legs that he had placed on the ground while the rest of his body was still in the car.

"Junior, what's up?" he greeted the boy as he turned off the ignition, then reached into his pocket and gave the boy five thousand naira.

The little boy grinned and ran inside without bothering to give him a reply. James could only smile and shook his head.

He alighted with the car door still opened and his eyes looked around the compound. Few days ago, he had been there with Joyce for her mother's birthday. Every bit of those moments had been so special and would be planted forever in his heart. He must confess that he missed his P. A. He missed her so much. He had not called nor heard from her ever since she left his house that day.

He decided to call her once he got home. He just wanted to say hello to his parents because he visited a friend nearby and it would be so bad for him to leave just like that.

As he closed the door, he screamed and winced in pain and quickly open the door. He had just injured his right fingers with the door. How could he not realize his hands were there before closing the door?

He looked at his bleeding fingers and swore. "What the fuck is wrong with me? How could I be so dumb?" He nagged himself and started walking in after locking his car.

He got in and met Peter's wife. She smiled as soon as she saw him but it faded way too quick when she saw the blood dripping from his hand." Hi, sis,"he acknowledged her presence and then answered her unasked question because the mouth she had opened to say something had suddenly hung in the air. " This? It happened just now. I closed my car door against it. I'll go get the first aid box,"he said and had started walking toward the kitchen when the doorbell chimed.

" I'll get the door,"Cecilia said to him when he turned. "I will meet you in the kitchen,"she said in withal.

She opened the door and immediately cheered up and grinned. "James, you didn't tell you were with her," Cecilia uttered after hugging the person smiling at her at the door. "Come in," she cooed.

"James is here?" the guest inquired but Cecilia didn't seem to hear as she gave no response.

"Her? Who is 'her'?" James wondered as he peeped from the Kitchen to see the her. His eyes widened as he sighted who the 'her' was used for. "Joyce?" he called as he narrowed his eyes. His heart raced at the sight of her and his heart started screaming for joy.

Cecilia didn't seem to notice the awkward moment. She said instead, "Go and attend to him while I get mum down," addressing Mrs. Andrew's as mum. She was so fond of the old woman and one could easily notice that at how often she visited her.

Joyce looked confused, but before she could ask anything, Cecilia had dashed up the stairs and was no more in sight. She looked to where James had peeped and briefly saw him disappeared into the kitchen.

She sighed and walked toward the kitchen, wondering what Cecilia meant by attending to him. She got there to see him using his left hand to open the first aid box and the other in the sink, dripping of blood.

"Oh,my God! What happened to your hand?" She practically ran to him and took hold of his hand and examined it. Without expecting nor waiting for his reply, she opened the box and brought out cotton wool and methylated spirit, soaked the wool in it and started wiping off the blood.

James couldn't do nor say anything. All he knew how to do at the moment was to stare at the worried beauty queen before him. He felt less pain despite how painful what she was doing seemed. He curved his lips and smiled as her mouth opened up to say something and he knew for certain that he was going to be nagged. Knowing Joyce, that's exactly what she would do.

"How could you be so dumb to let yourself get injured, huh?" Joyce began.