THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 1 - 10 - Page 10 of 10

THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 1 – 10

EPISODE 10

“Why do you have a scowl on your face? Shouldn’t you check who is at your gate?” Ella asked as she walked over to the window to see who was outside, “Oh!” Was all she said and quickly closed the window blind when she saw Ken getting out of his car and heading towards the door.

Pete said nothing as he walked over to his wine cabinet to pour himself a glass of whiskey. He would be a liar if he said he wasn’t genuinely pissed off at Kenneth for setting him up in that manner.

Ken walked into the house and was slightly taken aback to find Ella lying on the chair and pressing her phone. He had seen the window blind move but he hadn’t thought it was Ella. So the car outside had been hers? When did she get here?

He felt a bit awkward since this was the first time he was seeing her after their brief ‘Entaglement’ not that Pete knew anything of it though, since he had been abroad when it had happened.

“Hi!” Ken said and scratched his head awkwardly as he turned to look around for Pete. He hoped Pete was somewhere around to save him from what he feared would be an awkward conversation. At this point Pete’s anger was going to be far better than Ella’s.

Ella could feel the awkwardness in the atmosphere and though she was still very mad at him and still felt very hurt because of what he did, she pretended to be okay. The last thing she wanted was for the bastard to think he had hurt her.

“Look who we have here! Our very own Femi Kenneth Adebayo, number one Lagos big boy and president of the Yoruba demons association.” Ella greeted with mock salute as she sat up to look at him, her expression betraying nothing.

“Ella…” Ken called in a soft pleading tone. He had been trying his best to avoid her for the past two years, how had he managed to walk in on her like this? He should have expected it since this was her brother’s house after all.

“Ba$tard!” Pete said as though echoing what was in Ella’s head at that moment, “How you could even find it funny is beyond me! You know me…”

Just great! Now he was stuck between two angry siblings, “Guy chill… I thought you said you didn’t want anything serious? Just flings?” Ken asked, and quickly realized his error when he saw Ella’s eyes flash with anger. Wasn’t that what he had done with her after all?

“How typical!” She muttered to herself, more angry with herself for ever getting involved with Ken.

“Can we speak in private? Abi you wan cast your guy for public?” Ken asked Pete who glanced at Ella and then back at Ken.

“Ella isn’t public! She is my sister, and she is here this early in the morning because half of Lagos already knows who I spent the night with, and that is thanks to you!” Pete said as he gulped down the rest of his whiskey and turned around to find Amanda standing by the passage door.

“Hey pumpkin!” He said with a smile as he stretched his hand for her to come to him.

“Where is Kat?” Amanda asked as she looked from Ella to Ken sleepily and then back to her father’s face.

“You have to teach your kid how things are done here. She needs to learn that in Africa respect is a big deal, especially to us Yorubas.” Ella said with a shake of her head.

“Sweetie you should say hello to your aunty and uncle.” Pete said softly to Amanda.

“Which one is hello? My friend, it’s Ekaro!” Ken said taking Ella’s side.

Amanda looked at them both with a displeased frown, as she got down from her father’s arms and walked over to Ella, “Ekaro, aunty Ella.” And she moved to Ken and did the same, before returning to her dad, “Where is Kat?” She asked again.

“Did you get a cat?” Ella asked curiously making Pete sigh.

“She means Kathleen, her caretaker.” Pete explained.

“Wait, you allow her call that grown up lady by her name? Kunle what are you doing with all the home training you were given?” Ella asked dramatically in a tone their mother would have used.

“Kathleen doesn’t mind.” Pete said before looking down at Amanda, “I think she’s in her new apartment fixing it up. You can go and check on her while I talk to your uncle and aunty.” Pete suggested as he escorted her out of the door to Kathleen’s apartment.

The moment they stepped out of the door Ken turned to Ella, “Bell…”

“Please don’t call me that, and don’t talk to me either. Pretend I don’t exist as you have been doing for the past two years.” Ella said as she stood up and headed for the door.

Pete rolled his eyes when he stopped by the door with Amanda and heard Kathleen praying inside the house, “You can join her inside.” Pete said, and turned to leave, but saw Ella coming behind.

“What now?” He asked Ella with a scowl.

“Did I say anything? I just want to spend sometime with Amanda and her nanny so you can have all the privacy to speak with Ken. Let’s talk after he leaves.” Ella said before walking past him into the house. She paused by the door when she heard Kathleen praying, “Did you know you employed a spirikoko? Or it was by mistake?” Ella asked in amusement.

“Mehn, I don’t know what to do about that.” Pete said with a shake of his head as he returned to the main house.

Although Kathleen was praying she wasn’t deaf. She could hear the movements and conversations outside the house, as well as the sound of her door opening, so she quickly rounded off her prayers and opened her eyes to see Ella seated on one of the couches with Amanda who was looking at her with curious interest.

“You’re awake!” She said to Amanda with a cheerful smile before glancing at Ella, “Do you want something?” She asked with a polite smile.

“Yeah. I want us to be friends and I want to get to know you better.” Ella said with a wide smile.

“Friends? Me and you?” Kathleen asked looking at herself and then back at Ella who was nodding her head with enthusiasm.

“Yes. Why are you so surprised? Because you’re her caretaker and I’m your boss’ sister? Or because you think I’m too indecent to be your friend?” Ella asked the two questions that were actually playing on Kathleen’s mind.

“I don’t just understand why you would want us to be friends.” Kathleen managed to say.

“It’s simple. My spirit agrees with yours. So tell me about yourself. You just moved in here today I suppose?” Ella asked when she noticed the box beside one of the couches.

“Her house got burnt because she spent the night with me.” Amanda said with a guilty frown making Kathleen shake her head as she hurried to Amanda’s side.

“Don’t be silly, darling. That wasn’t your fault. Besides, it’s thanks to you that I now get to live in such a beautiful home.” Kathleen said with a cheerful smile.

“So you’ll live here?” Amanda asked hopefully.

“Only if you want me to…” Kathleen said with a teasing smile while Ella watched them both with interest.

“I want you to live here, please.” Amanda added.

“You’ll have to promise to be a good girl then.” Kathleen said.

“I promise to be good, so will you?” Amanda asked making Ella roll her eyes. Wasn’t it obvious to the kid that Kathleen was living here already? She had moved in with her box for crying out loud! Ella mused as she watched them.

“Okay then. For your sake I’ll stay.” Kathleen said making Amanda look up excitedly to embrace her.

“So you moved in here because your house got engulfed… hold on a second, that was your neighborhood trending on Twitter this morning?” Ella asked with round eyes. She couldn’t imagine what it must feel like to lose one’s home and properties overnight.

“Yeah. My neighbor was able to save the box containing my credentials.” Kathleen said when she noticed that Ella was looking at the box.

“Really? Your neighbor must be a really nice person. So I’m assuming you don’t have clothes? They were engulfed by the flames too?” Ella asked looking her over.

Kathleen had a distressed frown on her face when it occured to her that she would need to get new work clothes at least, “Yeah.” Was all Kathleen could manage before covering up her worries with a smile.

“I think we wear the same size of clothes. I was going to change my wardrobe next week. How about I bring you the clothes? Or I could just take you over to my house instead, so you pick the ones that suit you.” Ella offered making Kathleen look her over.

What clothes did this one have that she wanted to give her? Bum shorts? And other indecent wears? Kathleen wondered.

Ella watched as Kathleen eyed her with disapproval, “Don’t worry, I have pretty decent clothes that you can wear.” She assured her, knowing someone like Kathleen would have her reservations.

“Then I guess I’ll really appreciate it.” Kathleen finally said with a relieved smile.

“Try not to wear your heart on your sleeves. Your face is too revealing and I can tell what you’re thinking when I look at you. It might end up getting you in trouble.” Ella advised as she stood up and signalled for both Amanda and Kathleen to follow her. Hopefully by the time she returns to the house Ken would have left.