AFTER ALL THESE YEARS Episode 29

My mom has been pestering me to tell him the truth and that's why she called again, that i need to tell him

Lizzy, she’s right, what if he finds out after marriage, what do you think will happen. Have you thought about it or you think he’ll never find out There is no secret under heaven my dear, the best thing is to open up

I can’t, he won’t marry me, I’ve had him saying it a couple of times that he can’t marry someone who has a Child

You can’t be so sure, he might not mean it that way. Do you know I almost loose my relationship because of something similar to this, I summarized my own experience.

Really, you mean all this happened between you and Henry

My saving grace was that he heard it first from me and not from an outsider

 Henry, I don’t know what to do

Can you trust me and let me handle it

Yes she nodded.

I took my phone from my bag and placed a call.

Hi Sweetheart

Hi babe, how’s the shopping going

We are through with the shopping, we are coming over to your place

When did you plan that

Just now, it’s urgent we have to see you

We

I and Lizzy

Hope all is well

All is well. I’ll see you soon, bye I said and ended the call.

Did you just call Henry Lizzy asked

That’s the only person who can help us out, you know how well your fiance placed him so let’s make use of the person he would listen to

I know Mike respect him, but are

you sure this plan will work out

Let’s be positive Lizzy and lets commit Mike's heart into God hands, the bible says the heart of chiefs are in God’s hands and he turns it as the course of water. I’m sure God will intervene.

Lizzy sighed Henry I’m scared

I’m scared too because I know Henry won’t take it lightly, but he’s the only option we’ve got Lizzy drove down to the island, 45mins later, we were in Henrys place.

He opened the door for us, he hugged us one after the other as we stepped in.

What can I offer you he asked

We are OK, we ate not quite long I replied him.

So what’s the urgent matter that brought you here he asked

I and Lizzy exchanged glances. She signaled to me to do the talking.

I coughed out Erm erm..Lizzy

This must be serious. My girlfriend now stammer! Henry said standing akimbo.

I gathered all the strength in me to spill it.

Lizzy has a child and Mike did not know about it I said with my eyes closed.

What! He screamed. You guys are joking right

Henry, I have a son Lizzy said with her face bowed.

Lizzy! you dated a guy for good two years and hide something this big from him

I never mean to hide it from him initially but I got to know from him that he can’t marry a single mother Still, you should have told him, it’s up to him to decide if he wants to continue with the relationship or not

What do we do now I asked him.

Sincerely, I don’t know what to do, do you have anything in mind he asked me.

Em.. my own plan is that, you should help us talk to.

Excuse me, what did you just say. No way will I go to him and tell him such a thing

Henry please. I was trying to plead with him when he cut me off.

Lizzy! He called out facing her. Do you want my candid advice

Yes she nodded.

Where is your fiance now

He should be in his house

Good, then go to him right now and tell him everything. I know it’s hard but you have to do it yourself

Henry, I can’t I’m scared, what if he call off the wedding she said with fresh tears streaming from her eyes

Trust me its better he hears it from you

Henry I can’t do it alone Lizzy pleased with him.

I feel he will forgive her once you are involved. I said I know he respected me and all that, but the fact still remains that it’s not in my place to tell him. He loves her and that should give her an edge in all this. So Lizzy please do him the honors of telling him yourself he said calmly facing me.

He stood in front of Lizzy and held her shoulders. Hearing things like this from an outsider is embarrassing, you’ll make him look like a fool, imagined someone who thought he knows everything about you now realized he knew nothing about you but an outsider does!

Thank you very much Henry, I’ll go now and tell him everything she said and stood up crying and wiping the tears at the same time.

I stood up and hugged her.  Thank you she said to me.

I really felt for her. Can I go with her

Woman! Henry shouted at me.

I’m sorry I apologized hurriedly.

Henry gave me a wicked look.

I only said that out of pity, I can’t just watch her go all by herself in that state.

It’s ok, I will go alone she said and carried her bag.

Call me later and let me know how thing went, then I’ll know when to come in Henry said to her as she was about to step out of the living room.

OK, thanks

I’ll call you I mouthed and gestured with my hands.

For like ten minutes after she left we did not talk to each other. He stood up from where he sat and paced up and down the living room.

I pray Mike tamper justice with mercy he said

So he was worried for her I thought.

When are you going home so I could drop you off he asked.

I think I’ll wait till she calls you, I can only be calm here.

Relax, things might not look good tonight, that’s a certainty, but I believe he will come around with time

Did you just say time, the wedding is just two Saturdays away. Dee! you have to do something about it

I’ll try my best

Thanks

Like two hours later, she called Henry. He picked he picked the call and put it on loud speaker.

Henry he threw me out of his house and said he’s canceling the wedding she said weeping bitterly

We looked at each other Cancelling the wedding! We both chorused.

Calm down Lizzy, everything is going to be fine, I knew things will get ugly tonight.

Let’s give him time to process it, then I’ll talk to him later, your friend is still here, talk to her Henry handed over the phone to me.

Lizzy, it is well, Henry promised to talk to him, I believe he’ll listen I said

I pray hell listen, you need to see him, he was something else Lizzy stated still crying loudly.

You know what I’ll come over now. I’ll past the night at your place

Thanks, I’ll be expecting you I ended the call and picked my bag.

Where are you going Henry asked

I can’t leave her all alone, you know she stays alone

I know, but at least hold on, let me get my car keys and take you there he offered

Thanks I said

We set out almost immediately. In the car, I put a call through to my mum, I told her I will be staying at Lizzy's house, I had to tell her the situation on ground, because I don’t sleep out.

Henry stopped in front of a boutique. I gave a why did you stop the car look.

Wait in the car, I’ll be back in a jiffy he said and alighted.

I watched him walked into the boutique. Few minutes later, he was out with a plastic bag.

He entered the car and handed the bag over to me.

What’s this I asked before checking it out.

Youll need a change of clothes he said with his gaze fixed on the road.

I opened the bag, he bought a peach color knee length gown and underwears. He knew my size from clothes to shoes, even underwear.

I looked at the amazing man sitting next to me.

Thank you I smiled.

You’re welcome

This guy is good at thinking ahead. I myself did not think of what to wear the next day, all I want is just to be with Lizzy.

We were almost at Lizzys house when Henry got a call from Mike. Mike told him his coming over to his side, but Henry told him not to come, he sensed he might not be in a right state of mind to drive. He assured him hell come over to his place.

I’ll have to pass the night at Mikes place too Henry said when he ended the call.

He dropped me off at Lizzys place, but he decided to check on her before leaving. We went into her apartment; she sat on the tiled floor sobbing. She doesn’t look like the Lizzy I shopped with some hours ago. I was moved to tears when I saw her.

Henry gave her words of encouragement and reassured her he’ll try his best to ensure things get better.

I saw him off to his car, he told me not to leave her side.

And stop crying, you need to be strong for her he said

Ok

i nodded

Good

Sweetheart I’m not happy, why is all this happening to our friends I said.

He drew me closer to him and took me into his arms for some seconds. They will be fine

He released me from his grip. I have to go now I Mike needs me too

He left and drove down to Mike's house.

I went back into the house, I told Lizzy Henry is passing the night at Mikes house, so she could know she’s not the only one in this difficult situation.

I forced Lizzy to take a cold bath. She showered and I prepared noodles for her which she barely ate.

Henry called and told me the situation of things at his side.

How is he I asked

Mike is not in a good shape, the news really broke him he replied.

"Eh ya! I feel for him too

I can’t talk with him now, I’ll have to sit and watch him till he sleep

Same here, I’m trying to get Lizzy to sleep too

Let’s just hope for the best

Have you called Papilo I asked

Yes, I told him not to wait up for me and instruct him to lock up everywhere.

OK, then

 Make sure you get some rest too once Lizzy is asleep

I will, thanks

Good night, I love you

I love you too, good night

I ended the call and sighed.

I tried to make Lizzy sleep but she didn’t until like 2am. I took my bath and slept quietly beside her.

The next morning, I prepared a light breakfast, I told her to take her bath and dress up for church.

I’m not going to church She said softly.

Why Are you mourning, you better dress up and lets go to church, its only God that can help us in this situation

She carried herself reluctantly to the bathroom. I took my bath too and wore my clothes, courtesy Henry. God bless him for me.

By the time we came back from church, her mood was a bit lighter. Henry called me and told me to come over to Mike’s house with Lizzy.

I told Lizzy we have to go to Mikes house, she was scared to face Mike but I told her she can’t run away from her challenges, she just have to face it. I drove Lizzy’s car, I can’t trust her behind the wheels. I know her mind is far from here.

The truth is that I was scared too, but I just hoped the issue will be resolved.

We entered into Mike’s sitting room and we exchanged greetings.