Mended Hearts – Episode 8

Mended Hearts – Episode 8

© Jennifer Godwin

“Mr Johnson, she is stabled now, all she needs is some rest and lots of sleep then she will be fine” the doctor said wearing his stethoscope.

“Thank you so much doctor, I appreciate” Mr Johnson said looking closely at Margaret.

“And one more thing, nobody should remind her of the past, if there is any object, picture, or even someone that is capable of triggering those memories of the past, please it should be gotten rid off. her brain is not yet strong to carry the pain, she will get her memory in due time” the doctor continued peering closely at them.

“So what you are trying to explain to us is that Mr Johnson should stop coming around her”? Felicia asked getting angry.

” That is not what I really mean, he can be coming around but don’t remind her again that he is her husband, it could cause damages” he said not wanting to start an argument with the woman.

“Felicia calm down, the doctor knows what is good for her, and if she will get better if only I stop coming around then no problem at all” Mr Johnson said not liking the way Felicia talked to the doctor.

“No way Johnson, you have been coming around for the past eight years and she never had any crisis, the only problem we had was that she lost her memory. you can’t stop coming around, she needs you, we need you and I promise not to remind her of the past doctor but please don’t stop Johnson from coming around” she said breaking into a sob.

“Okay okay, no problem, he can come around her but make sure you keep to your promise” the doctor said leaving the room to avoid another dramatic scene, “Women can be so dramatic” he said letting out a breath, “Hello aunty, how are you doing?” he said immediately he answered his phone.

“How is she doing Paschal?” the person at the other end asked.

“She is fine, just the memory issue” he said not ready to start another round of argument with his aunty, she can be a thorn on the flesh sometimes, in fact women in general, he hit his hand on his head.

“Make sure she doesn’t regain her memory yet, in fact I want her to run mad, let me see if Johnson will still go to the psychiatric hospital to look for her” the person at the other end spoke batting her eyelids.

“Don’t you think she has suffered enough Aunty? since 8 years you make me do the same thing all over again, if I get exposed, I can get arrested and my certificate might be collected from me, please aunty let us free her, let her go she has suffered enough and am feeling guilty as well” he said fishing out the bunch of keys from his pocket.

“No way Paschal, I repeat no way, if we ever let her go Johnson will never come back to me, make use of your brain and do what I told you to do” she barked angrily.

“Alright aunty, she is unconscious for now, someone reminded of the past and she passed out” he said scratching his head.

“Take care of yourself Paschal, I will talk to you later” she hung up.

paschal shook his head, women and their dramatic characters, he wondered what they all saw in Johnson that is driving them crazy, he shook his head again.

“Johnson, I think we should transfer her to another hospital, am no longer at ease here” Felicia said holding the other woman’s hand.

“What do you mean feli?” Johnson asked confused.

“I mean she has been coming here for the past eight years but we have not seen any change at all, let us try another hospital” she said looking squarely at Johnson.

“Alright Feli, we will wait for her to wake up before doing the transfer” he said already getting tired.

___

Funmilayo’s phone rung, she picked on the third ring, “Hello nurse what is it this time around” she asked.

“Ma they are planning to transfer her to another hospital when she gains consciousness” the person at the other end said.

“We will have to do something then, and that is for us to make sure that she doesn’t wake up anytime soon until I perfect my plan” she said sipping her wine.

“Mom, what are you up to this time around?” her daughter asked coming into the living room.

“I will give you a dirty slap if you ask me any useless question, useless daughter” she barked.

“You don’t need to be harsh mom, I just asked a question” she said entering her room.

“Useless daughter, werey, oloriburuku, Ode” she cursed at her.

__

Kenny sat down in his office waiting for Mara as they have plans for lunch, he wondered what was keeping her, he picked up his phone to call her when the intercom buzzed.

“What is the problem Funmi” he asked scratching his head.

“Sir, miss Brenda Jones is here to see you” she said eyeing Brenda.

“let her in” Kenny said wondering what might have brought her to his office.

“Kenny, how are you doing?” Brenda said strutting into his office.

“Brenda, I have been fine and you? what a surprise visit please have a sit” he said pointing at an empty seat.

“Wow,” Brenda said looking around, “You have changed your paint and the decor of your office” she said admiring the new look.

“Yes, Amarachi didn’t like the former paint, she said I should use white and blue instead” he said smiling at how Mara made him change the painting of his office, while he was dating Brenda she never convinced him to change it, but he just did it for Mara, he loves her so much.

“Who is Amarachi?” Brenda asked wondering how the person convinced Kenny, something that she tried getting him to do but she never succeeded.

“Amarachi is my girlfriend” he said smiling “she is the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with” he completed.

“Wow, she must be a lucky girl for you to take her advice on changing that your ugly office decoration” she said rolling her eyes.

“No, Brenda, am the lucky one, am the one lucky to have her, she is a rare gem” he said feeling proud himself.

“Alright, I will like to meet her, she has changed a lot in this office and I hope she changes your life too so that you can stop traveling incessantly” she said twitching her lips, Kenny’s travelling is something else.

“Actually am working on that Brenda, and you will meet her today because we have plans for lunch” he said hoping that he would reduce the way he travels.

“That aside” Brenda started, “I came to talk to you about something,” she said sitting upright.

“go ahead Brenda, what is it?” Kenny asked leaning forward.

“My fiance owns a big restaurant in town, so he was telling me that he would like to start ordering for DALENA bottled water directly from the company and not from the marketers” she said relaxing back on her seat.

“Okay, which restaurant is that?” Kenny asked.

“The sweeties bite” Brenda said trying to fish out the complimentary card from her bag.

“The sweeties bite along Mbari street Ikenegbu layout? you mean your fiance owns that place?” he asked surprised

“Yea, he owns it” Brenda said stretching forth the card to him.

“Well no problem, you will have to get him through to me, so that we can talk extensively” he said looking at the card in his hand.

“No problem at all, I will do that” she said smiling.

“My love” Mara called coming into the office, she doesn’t permission before to come in, Funmi already knows who she is.

“Sweetheart, you are finally here” Kenny said going for a hug.

“Am sorry for keeping you waiting, I had to go home to prepare” she said feeling sorry.

“That is okay baby, this is Brenda my friend, Brenda meet Amarachi my heartthrob” He said smiling sheepishly.

“She is really beautiful, nice meeting you Amara” She said giving her a hug.

“Amara”, another name, Mara smiled, what other name will the next person she will meet call her, she wondered. ” the pleasure is all mine Brenda you look beautiful too” she said complementing her.

“ladies, why don’t we go for lunch and talk very well there? Brenda you are coming with us and no question” he said wearing his Jacket.

“yes sir” Brenda said giving him a mock salute which they all laughed to while leaving his office on cue.

___

Agness was sitting all alone in the sitting room lost in thought, ever since she met with Funmilayo at the hotel, she has not been herself, Funmilayo was not the type of woman to joke with revenge, “how did she find Mara?” Agness asked herself retying her hair scaff. “No, I won’t let Funmilayo push me out of this house, what I worked hard for can’t go down the drain like that, I know I came into Johnson’s life as a housemaid and I will prove to them that a housemaid can turn into a housewife funmilayo should wait and see” she said nodding her head as she sighed in relief.

“Good morning mom” Mara greeted pecking her mom on the forehead.

“Mara my dear, morning, how was your night?” she asked patting her back.

“it was fine mommy, what of yours?” she asked straightening her skirt as she sat down on the sofa.

“my night was fine Mara, are you heading to the shop.” she asked wondering why she sat down with her.

“Actually mom, I want to discuss something with you before heading out” she said tugging at her skirt fearfully.

“What is it Mara?” Agness asked turning to look at her very well.

“Mom I was thinking if you would please release one car for the family, even if it is the smallest” she said shifting far from her mother, her anger can be something else.

“We won’t touch any of those cars until your father comes back and give us a reasonable explanation for leaving” she said eyeing Mara.

“Mom, it has been eight years already, do you think Dad will ever come back to us? I mean if he wanted to come back he would have done it since. you have been holding yourself for long Mom, it is time to free yourself” she said shifting closer to the woman.

“Mara don’t ever say that again, your father will come back to us soon, I have the feeling already” she said punching Mara on the laps.

“ouch mom, that hurts” she said batting her lashes.

“That is what you get for been negative, now get going young lady” she said trying to dismiss her.

“Mom what about the car?” Mara whined like a baby.

“What else will you tell me to do after giving you the car?” she asked rolling her eyes, “you might even tell me to cash the 5 million naira” she added hissing.

“Mom please stop rolling your eyes, it doesn’t suit, you are an old woman” she said throwing her head backwards in a fit of laughter. “and secondly Mom, I won’t tell you to cash the cheque because we don’t need, but we will really need a car in our home, please mom, release one car” she said clutching her hands together in a praying manner.

“So I shouldn’t roll my eyes because am an old woman abi? oya come and carry car let me see you na” she said trying hard not to laugh.

“No mommy, you are not old oooo, in fact you are young mommy, the youngest mother in town” she said kneeling on one knee.

“Okay, okay, get up please, you can carry the smallest car in the garage” she said throwing off her hands in resignation.

“Thank you so much mommy, I love you” she said running off towards the garage.

“Please be careful my child” Agness shouted after her, she loves her daughters so much and she won’t let Funmilayo or anyone else destroy her family, she hopes that they can find a space in their hearts to forgive her when the truth finally comes out, because with Funmilayo around, the truth is bound to be revealed.

_

Inspector James, inspector Tobi and Gabriel had gone to Mr Kehinde’s office. after much argument between James and the D.P.O, he was forced to include Tobi in the investigation which he wasn’t happy with, but he had to obey the superiors.

“Good morning young lady” James greeted the receptionist.

“Good morning sir, how can I help you?” the lady asked still typing away on her computer.

“Am inspector James” he said bringing out his identity card. “and these are my colleagues” he said yet again pointing towards Tobi and Gabriel. “And we here to carry out investigations in Mr Kehinde’s office” he completed hitting his hand softly on the desk.

“No problem sir, I will take you to his office, just follow me” she said leading the way.

“Alright sir, I will like to take my leave now, if you need anything you can come to my desk” she said immediately they stepped into the office.

” No problem, we will call you if we need anything ” Inspector James said looking round the office.

“We will start by opening the drawers, checking all the files” James said to the duo.

An hour later

“Did any of you get something tangible” James asked sighing in frustration, they had searched virtually everywhere but didn’t see anything, he sighed again leaning against the wall, they just wasted their time coming to this place, he hissed. they were about to take their leave when he felt his back pressed on a Wood like object, he turned his back, all he could see was a wall, he felt it with his hands, it felt like a wooden surface.

“Wait” he said to the retreating figure of Gabriel and Tobi.

“What is it” Gabriel asked confused.

“get me a knife” he said not removing his eyes from his discovery.

“here is the knife” Tobi said handing him a per knife he brought out from his trouser pocket. “it is a good thing I brought my knife along with me” he said giggling.

James took the knife, hit the wooden surface with the head of the knife and it sounded more like a wood than a wall, he stabbed the knife on the wood, he found out that it wasn’t just an ordinary wood, instead it was made of plywood and was painted alongside the wall. he cut open the plywood and found a hole in the wall, he saw a big book stashed away in a corner, he brought it out and set it on the table. the book was an old long note but had new books gummed together with the old one probably because the old one got filled up. He opened the first page and saw list of names of different people, he studied it again to understand more. what he saw was”

Name year Age country

Joyce balogun 1992 22 Brazil

Grace Ike 1992 24 Brazil

Sylvia mark 1992 20 Brazil

He kept on reading and turning over to a new a page until he got to the last page where he saw something that got his attention.

Name year Age country

Chinaza Baldwin 2018 20 France

Gloria Fashola 2018 25 France

Anny Mathew 2018 26 Escaped

James stopped there looking at Gabriel and Tobi for answers but none was forthcoming. “They all have something in common which is, they are all ladies within an age bracket” Tobi said giving James an awkward stare.

James moved over to a piece of paper attached to the back of the big book, on it was written

“Anny Mathew, born 17 march1992, stays at 35 Madumere street west end Owerri, daughter of a lock smith in a remote area, escaped from the keeping room by picking the key lock, please the matter should be reviewed in the next meeting, Spark take note”

James looked up at Gabriel and Tobi cocking his head in confusion, “There is only one person that can solve this problem for us, and that person is Anny Mathew we need to find her” James said holding his head in confusion.

To be continued

 

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