Jailbird
Episode 19
Effe stares after Eyram’s car, and then she
sighs heavily.
She had believed Baaba, and she had been
mean to Chris the previous day!
He had spent two nights in cell ever since he
came out, all because she had been directly and
indirectly involved!
Does she really hate him that much? If indeed
she does, why hasn’t she still been able to tell
Steve and her family that Chris has finally signed
the divorce papers?
Why isn’t she overjoyed? Why can’t she forget
all about him and throw herself into her long-
overdue wedding preparations?
And why is she bothered that her own sister is
helping the only man who had ever set her heart
ablaze?
Why is she feeling jittery all of a sudden?
Why is the fact that Junior is so happy with
Chris and Eyram – and the fact that he has left
with them – bothering her so much?
Why is there a little thud of dislike in her heart
for her own sister now?
Is it because of the look of sudden gratitude she
has seen in Chris’ eyes when Eyram offered him
a place to stay?
Effe is comfortable. She is wealthy because she
is a very good lawyer with a long chain of
clients.
She is now a senior partner of the firm she
works for, and handles both local and foreign
cases.
She could have helped Chris, even if solely for
the sake of Junior, but she hasn’t.
So why is she detesting Eyram, in a way, for
helping Chris?
The Boys Quarters is quite apart from Eyram’s
bungalow, and yes, it is very close to Effe’s
residence. Junior can be near his father, and he
can be happy.
It should be a perfect arrangement, but suddenly
Effe finds herself going through a whole myriad
of conflicting feelings.
She knows that her sudden resentment has
started when she saw Chris and Eyram in that
very close embrace.
She has never seen anything like that before.
Chris has always steered clear of Eyram, and
although they had been very close, there had
been instances in the past when Chris had
deliberately avoided Eyram’s company.
But that hug!
It has really rattled Effe.
EFFE
(softly)
Chris Bawa! Don’t you dare do this to me
again! Please, for the love of God, don’t!
She walks slowly out of the parking lot to where
she has parked her BMW X6.
EYRAM’S RESIDENCE
The Eden Residential Hub, known as the ERH,
is a sprawling beauty.
Eden Hospital, considered as one of the biggest
and best hospitals in the world, takes very good
care of its doctors.
The ERH is more beautiful than many of the
luxurious community residences. It has many
entry gates manned by armed security men.
The bungalows are well-demarcated, and ranged
from simple but beautiful one-bedroom blocks to
fully-detached five bedrooms and Boys’
Quarters.
Eyram’s compound reeks of serenity from its
splendid green lawn, hedge-bordered driveway,
swimming pool and a parking lot.
The building itself is a four-bedroom beauty,
with its two-bedroom detached Boys Quarters. A
small garden with royal palms separates the two
buildings.
After parking the car, Eyram takes Chris and
Junior straight to the Boys Quarters.
Effe follows at a more leisurely pace, and when
she finally catches up with them she finds Chris
and Junior chatting in the kitchen whilst Eyram
leans against the wall and regards them.
EYRAM
I took the liberty of stocking the kitchen,
Chris. Should I prepare something fast for you?
You must be hungry.
Junior, quite elated and active, is trying to
wrestle Chris to the floor.
His father catches him, lifts him up and holds
him close to his chest. Junior folds his arms
around his father’s neck and puts his head on
his broad shoulder.
CHRIS
(smiling at Eyram)
Don’t worry. I’ll fix something for myself.
Thanks anyway.
At his words Effe’s eyes widen with disbelief,
and so does Eyram’s.
It is no secret that Chris hates cooking very
much!
When he had been married to Effe he had
always fled from the kitchen.
EFFE
(stunned)
You? Cook?
EYRAM
(chuckling)
Are you kidding me, Chris? Don’t worry, I’ll
fix you something fast.
CHRIS
(softly)
It’s okay. I’ll just cook some noodles.
JUNIOR
(disgusted)
Ewwwww! I hate noodles, Daddy! Something
else, something else!
Chris laughs softy in his deep voice, that
reverberating masculine bass that Effe used to
love so much.
CHRIS
First a shower. I really need a shower. And
then I’ll fix you noodles, Champ, and believe
me, you’ll love it!
JUNIOR
(laughing with happiness)
No, no, no, Daddy! Mom says you used to
cook horrible food, and secondly I don’t like
noodles! I think I’m going to vomit this
afternoon!
They both laugh, father and son, looking so
happy, so alike, so alive, that Effe and Eyram
exchange startled looks, and for a very brief
moment a look of poignant longing crosses Effe’s
beautiful face.
Just for a moment her heart reaches out for such
a setting: her, Chris and their son, together
and happy, but then memories came flooding
back to her, memories of Chris’ body on top of
Elaine, making love to her, raping her.
Effe turns away painfully, and closes her eyes.
EFFE
Junior, I’m going to Rammy’s place. Your
father wants to take a bath. Coming with me?
JUNIOR
(absent-mindedly)
I’m staying here with Daddy.
An angry look enters Effe’s eyes for a moment,
and she almost snaps at her son, but she
shakes her head instead and steps outside.
Eyram follows her, but stops and looks at Chris.
EYRAM
Oh, there are a couple or so of jeans in the
wardrobe, Chris, and some shirts and T-shirts.
Hope they fit. I bought them for you.
Both Chris and Junior look at her. Chris moves
towards her, and Junior frowns darkly.
JUNIOR
Aunty Rammy, you’re doing too much for
Daddy. Do you love him? I want him and
Mommy to be together.
Chris and Eyram stare at each other, startled.
CHRIS
(gently)
Your aunty is a good woman, Champ. She’s
being kind, ok? Thank you, Eyram. I’m really
indebted to you.
Eyram nods, tries to speak, takes a look at
Junior, and then she quickly drops her eyes and
follow Effe outside.
She finds Effe standing under a royal palm,
hands clenching and unclenching in an agitated
way.
EYRAM
(softly)
You still love him, don’t you?
EFFE
(startled)
Who, Chris? Of course not! I can never
forgive him for what he did to me. Never. It is
Junior I’m concerned about. He loves his father
so much, and yet I’m afraid Chris is going to
hurt him again.
EYRAM
(sadly)
Chris loves his son, Effe. You need to trust
him, at least where Junior is concerned. It
seems you’re highly strung-up, Ef, why?
Effe sighs and leans her back against the royal
palm tree.
EFFE
It’s Junior, Rammy. Suddenly, it’s all about
his father, and I must admit it hurts me a
little.
Eyram places a hand on her sister’s shoulder.
EYRAM
He loves you, Ef, you know he does. It’s just
that his father has been away for a long time,
and he misses him. You know they were
inseparable even when Junior was just a tot. You
shouldn’t be jealous. It is a natural bonding.
EFFE
I know, Rammy, I know. Just that it
complicates things a bit, doesn’t it? Junior has
never taken to Steve. I guess that’s one of the
reasons why I’ve waited so long to tie the knot
with Steve. If only my son could get comfortable
with Steve, I would’ve been Mrs. Hollison by
now.
EYRAM
(calmly)
Now that Chris is back, I’m sure Junior will be
a bit more relaxed and accommodating of Steve,
and you can get married.
Effe gives a shuddering breath, smiles and hugs
her sister.
They begin to walk towards the main house, and
when they get to the front they see that a black
Mercedes Benz has turned into the driveway.
The sisters pause and look at the approaching
car.
EFFE
(mischieviously)
Oh-oh! Love bug!
Eyram chuckles and pokes an elbow into her
sister’s side.
The Mercedes comes to a halt. The driver’s door
opens, and Rupert Henderson gets out.
He is dressed in an impeccable black suit, and
looks quite handsome.
He lives in his bungalow down the incline, a
short distance from Eyram’s place.
He comes forward with a gentle smile on his
face.
He stops in front of them.
RUPERT
(regretfully)
I just heard on the news that the lady lied about
being assaulted, Eyram. On my way to the
office, but I saw your cars and decided to stop
over and apologize for setting the cops on Chris
at the hospital.
EYRAM
That’s quite alright, Rupe.
EFFE
(gently)
It’s okay, Rupert. I guess we all took quite a
hard stance. Only Rammy had a different mind.
RUPERT
Thank you very much, both of you. And
whenever you see that man again tell him I’m
sorry, okay? I feel quite embarrassed for
coming down so hard on him.
EYRAM
Actually, he’s here. He’s in the Boys
Quarters. He would be staying here for a while.
RUPERT
Oh, really? Then I can personally apologize to
him. I don’t think I welcomed him well
yesterday.
EYRAM
Yeah, yeah. But come inside first, Rupe. Have
you had breakfast yet?
RUPERT
No, no. Thought I’ll grab a coffee at the
canteen later.
EYRAM
Then wait. Let me slip into something more
official, and then I’ll prepare us some
breakfast.
Rupert looks deeply into Eyram’s eyes, and
there is both warmth and admiration in his look.
It makes Effe clear her throat meaningfully, and
they all laugh.
RUPERT
(still smiling)
Okay, Eyram. I’ll wait.
They all walk to the main house and Eyram
disappears inside.
Effe and Rupert remain in the living-room area
and make light conversation.
Presently Eyram joins them in a fetching peach
trouser suit.
EYRAM
Sorry, folks. Realized I ran out of ingredients.
There’s enough at the Boys Quarters. Let’s go
over there and conjure up something to eat.
A moment later they enter the Boys Quarters,
and are met with the most exquisite smell of
something quite sweet and delightful.
Eyram stops with shock on her face.
RUPERT
(sniffing the air)
Wow. Something smells really good in here!
EYRAM
(stunned)
Don’t tell me Chris created this culinary nasal
masterpiece! They must be in the kitchen.
Come on,
guys!
The sight that meets their eyes stuns both
sisters.
Chris is wearing black jeans and a T-shirt.
He has shaved, and he looks so absolutely
stunning and so handsome that they stare at
him.
JAILBIRD continues
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