4 Bringing you home, love (2)

They were silent on their way back to the house. She was a bit surprised how he knew where she lives but she guessed that her father gave it to him. It was already dark when they reached the house.

Joseph opened the door for her and extended his hand. She took his hand which was warm and soothing.

She hurriedly went inside the house and Joseph followed behind. She leads him to their small living room. She could feel his eyes fixed on her back and it is making her nervous. Her heart is beating faster and faster; her hands are trembling slightly. She thought she had moved on and forgot him but she was mistaken. Now that he is here, she can't seem to calm herself. But she hid her feelings too well.

"Please sit down", her voice trembling slightly and she hoped he did not notice.

He sat on the couch opposite her. She tried so hard to avoid his eyes, afraid that he will be able to see through her. His intense stare is giving her goosebumps.

To distract herself and avoid the awkward situation, she stood up and took out a pack of cigarette and a lighter from one of the drawers in the living room. It was left by one of the visitors last night. She doesn't really smoke but to keep herself busy and to show that she was not affected by his presence, she lit the cigarette and started smoking while leaning on the wall opposite him.

He looked annoyed looking at her smoking. She ignored him and continued to puff the cigarette even if her lung is about to explode. As a model, she is so careful with what she puts into her body and smoking is not one of them.

Joseph stood up and took the cigarette from her hand and threw it out the window.

"Old habit die hard, eh", he said looking intently at her. She saw concern in his eyes but just a second and it was replaced with contempt. She must be dreaming; he would be the last person to show concern toward her.

"What brought you here, Jo?", she stammered a little. His friends and family call him Joseph but she used to call him Jo, it was kind of endearment for her.

"I am here to take you home", he said as he sat down again on the couch.

"I am home", she said and rolled her eyes at him. He must be joking.

"Mom and Jackson had an accident", he explained but did not answer her question. He looked intently at her, waiting for her reaction.

She opened her mouth but nothing came out. "Dad had an accident", it resonated in her head but she can't seem to understand it.

"What?", was all she said.

"Mom made it but Jackson did not"

"What do you mean he did not make it?", she asked with a trembling voice.

"They were on their way to go to a friend's farm but they encountered burglars along the way. They shot Jackson and raped mom". He said clenching his fist.

"He was dead on the spot and they left mom half dead. Bikers found them and sent them to the hospital", he continued to explain after not getting any response from her.

It was the shock of her life. She has not seen her father for 5 years and this is what she hears from him. She buried her face in her hands and started to cry. Although her Dad chose Celine over her, she knows that he loved her and she loves him. Celine gave him a new life and happiness that no one will be able to give. She wanted him to be happy so she agreed to leave and go back to her grandpa.

She stopped crying after a while, wiped her tears and looked at him. It started to sink in that she is now officially alone. She has no more family left with.

"We had the funeral last week. I sent someone to inform you, unfortunately, you were so busy", he said defensively when he saw her glaring at him. It was that time when her grandpa was not doing well and she had to take care of him.

"I had so much to do with the funeral and taking care of mom. She was devastated and have been not herself after the accident. She is physically and mentally unstable right now", he said in a hoarse voice. He seems to be controlling his emotions.

"I guess there's nothing I can do now", and she stood trying to catch some fresh air. The room feels suffocating. She leaned at the door jamb trying to absorb everything.

"Thank you for giving dad a decent funeral", she turned around to look at him. His face is void of any emotion.

"I am taking you back to D City", he declared and stood up, walking toward her.

"What for?", she asked impatiently.

"I need help in taking care of Claire. As I've said, mom is not herself right now and she needs more attention but I don't want Claire to be left to the nanny especially at this stage", he explained.

"Who is Claire?", she asked and imagined, it must be his daughter. He might have married already. And the thought of it makes her sick.

"She is our sister. She is just 4 years old and she needs attention now that she lost her father and technically her mother", he casually explained with his hands inside his pocket.

'So I have a sister and this is the reason why he wanted to take me back to D City. But what else could it be? Am I hoping for something else? Part of her wanted to decline, she cannot be with him again. But part of her also wanted to go. Not because of him but because of the innocent soul that needs care and attention".

It must be hard for him to take care of all of what is happening. He has a company to take care of, his mother is ill and he has his sister to look after too. She just sits there contemplating what to do.

"I have already arranged a chartered plane for us, you just need to pack up.", he said his eyes not leaving her.