CHAPTER 1

Whoever said it was possible to forget your past got to be joking because here she was going over hers. again!

She was raped in her fourteenth year by an unknown guy, and owing to poor communication between her parents and her she said nothing...they would not have known, if she had not gotten pregnant.

You idiot how dare you! Her father had yelled at her right in front of the doctor believing she gave herself willingly.

She was Ghanaian, born into a family of two, her father? Strict. Mother? Indifferent. Her only sibling and older brother, ten years older than her was too old for baby talks.

Her only companion, her Nana was the only part of her former life she never stopped missing.

Now in Lagos Nigeria, she was struggling to make ends meet with the help of her newly found friend.

Life was fair on her but it could get better, talking about which she had better go job hunting.

........

Job searching was not on her list of fun things to do, but she had no choice. She had roamed all around town today just like every other day and by the look of things this was going to be another fruitless day. She was just about to give up when she noticed a dimly lighted pub.

it would do no harm to stop by.

"Good evening" she called into the empty room.

"Good evening" a gruff voice replied seconds before the face behind it came out.

"Good evening Sir" she greeted again realizing he was an older man.

"How are you dear---" he continued without waiting for her response "What can I do for you?"

"Hmm, the thing is I...." Her legs were shaking from hours of trekking "Can I sit?"

"Sure" he said even though he gave her a strange look.

"Thank you"

"So?" He probed the second she sat.

"Actually---- I need a job" there, not so hard.

The man gave her a weird look "What can you do?"

........

Finally! She smiled at herself.

"I don't need a hand right now but I'll employ you" The man --- Oops! Her boss had said.

He might not need a hand, but he sure will be getting one, and not just anyone's but, RUFINA ROSE BROWN'S.

**********

"I got it! I got it!" Rufi shouted as she bursted into the two bedroom apartment she shared with her friend.

"you got what?" Maria Collins asked confused.

"Got a job girl!"

"Oh my God! Where, when, how?!" Narrowing her eyes "You are not pulling my legs are you?"

"Would I do that?" Rufi asked with her trademark chaste look.

"Come on don't give me that look" she laughed "What job did you get?"

Giving her a brief rundown of what happened she ended "So he is getting a hand....Ana-blaire?" She asked of het daughter

"Sleeping"

"Oh my!" Rufi yawned stretching out on the the sofa.

"Better not let the boss starve" laughed Maria standing up to fetch her food.

........

Later that night while Maria and Rufi chit-chatted, Maria brought up the issue that had lingered at the back of her mind all day.

"Ruf?"

"Hum?"

"The job"

"What about it?"

Choosing her words carefully she said "I don't think it's good for you" and held her breath knowing she was treading a dangerous path.

"I know Maria, but I have no other choice"

She understood Maria's worry, the fact that lots of men would be around and obviously they scared the shit out of her, because of her past, but she wasn't letting that one event change her life for the worst.

"Your boss too" she dared further.

"What about him?" He was male, alright, what else?

"Everyone here knows he's a womanizer, changes them as often as his underwear, I don't want you around such people"

Rufi huffed "I can take care of myself, no worries"

"OK! But promise me you'll let me know if anything gets out of hand"

"promise"

......

In bed Maria's words kept playing in her head "...changes them as often as his underwear" but she wasn't his under wear so he wouldn't even use her.

With that line of though she finally fell asleep way past midnight.

*********

At about 2am Ana-Blaire's umbilical cord issues started, keeping Rufi and Maria awake for the most part of the night. It was during nights like this that she felt incompetent, she hated herself for not being a better mother, for bringing a child into this world unprepared.

And as abruptly as it started it ended thanks to the drops the Doctor gave to them the next morning. After their visit to the Doctor's the girls went grocery shopping.

As they prepared to make dinner Maria brought up the issue she'd let go the previous night.

"So, when are you resuming?"

"Monday"

"What shift?"

"For now a double shift, morning and afternoon"

"And?" She inquired carefully.

"When Ana-Blaire is six months, I'll go back to school"

"You're serious?" Her face lit up.

"Yeah, why?" Rufi knew that statement carried an undercurrent.

"I've been thinking of how to bring up the issue of you going back to school"

"Hmm-un?"

"I was afraid you'll take it the wrong way"

Reading between the lines. "I was raped. On my way from school. My life was disorganized not destroyed! It was stirred off course and I plan to get it back on track! And I plan to do that as soon as possible. So if I decide to go back to school I think I've done no wrong!" She snapped not sure who or what she was snapping at, probably life itself.

"I'm sorry I made you think that." Maria apologized.

"I wasn't angry at you, why would you think that"

"You sure? For a moment there I felt like you were"

"Maria" she groaned walking over to her "I'm sorry, I really am, i didn't mean to make you feel that way.This sounds cheesy but, You saved me from destruction, stopped my crashing, you were the one who gave me hope when I was alone, you welcomed me when I was rejected, how can I ever be angry at you? I forever will thank God for bringing you my way"

That was the most Maria could take as her waterworks started. She embraced Rufi "I love you little sis." She stroked her hair "You are the sister I never had"

"I love you too big sis"

***************************

Up and smoking very early Henry McKenna was thinking about the girl that came to his pub days ago, it wasn't his first time thinking about her since that day.

"Sweet little chick, shouldn't be more than 17, and a perfect catch for an old man like me" he smiled

He poured himself another glass of whiskey as the wicked grin kept spreading across his face "little Chick for an old man hahaha!

She would be on her back faster than she could say Jack Robinson"

......

Smoking as usual, henry boasted of his 'new catch' to his employee

"she is a chicky little package" he laughed "when she starts working...." He stroke his chin then guffawed loudly instead of finishing.

Henry's employee was not surprised, everyone had to know Henry is and forever will remain a womanizer.

Still this 'girl', no 'girl' ever works at Hen's. Only whores.

"How old is she?"

"Don't know" Henry shrugged "Shouldn't be more than 17"

"17!"

"Give or take a few years"

What the devil would a seventeen year old need from Henry, someone had better warn her about what she was leaping into.

"When is she resuming?" He asked passing Henry another bottle of whisky "To celebrate your new catch" he added quickly.

"Thanks man"

"So, when is she resuming?" He pressed knowing Henry had next to no common sense when drunk.

"Monday" then more to himself "Monday it is...."

Not if his plan worked.

"Do you have her address?" He refiled Henry's glass.

"Address?" He slurred.

"Yes, her home address" more whiskey.

"Oh! Address!" He laughed hysterically "I forgot the meaning of that word" another shot.

This guy was close to passing out, I'd better get this info out of him. Fast!

"Henry, the address, think"

"Hmm" he scratched his brows "I remember"

"What is it!" his patience was running out.

........

Getting directions from a drunk wasn't in any way pleasant, but after asking around he finally saw the old fashioned building.

No descent child deserved a boss like McKenna, he would warn this one off. His father's word rang in his head.

Never disrespect a Lady or allow her get disrespected.

As he got to the door he suddenly felt unsure about knocking. What if she was asleep? It was past eleven.

Never the less he knocked. He was a Dervis. They don't back out. And definitely not Victor Dervis.

.......

Seated across the table from Maria, Ana-Blaire in her arms, Rufi watched her favourite soap round up for the day.

"What do you think will happen on Monday? you think she'll confess?"

"Con-what? not her"

"She'd better ..." Rufi was cut off by the knock on the door.

"Who could that be?" Maria questioned, they hardly get visited and definitely not that late into the night.

"There's only one way to find out" she walked over and threw the door open.

"Hello!" She greeted with a smile

Victor couldn't bring himself to answer, if this girl before him was Rufi, little wonder Henry called her 'chicky little package' she had to be the epitome of beauty.

"hello?" She frowned at him.

Get it together Vic!

He managed to ask her if she was Rufi before he got another dose of beauty as another lady emerged.

"Hi! Good evening" he smiled "May i?" He made a gesture into the house.

"Oh! Yes, I'm sorry" she made way for him.

"You may seat" Maria added.

"Thanks" he looked around. The living area was spotlessly clean but homely with simple decorations here and there.

"What can we do for you?"

Taking that as his cue, he explained the reason for his visit.

"Thanks so much for taking it upon yourself to come warn me forehand, believe me i would not have accepted his job offer if i had other choices" she smiled at him as she led him out "I really appreciate"

"You're welcome" he smiled at her "Goodnight Rufina"

"Goodnight Victor"

************

"How do we cope with Ana-Blaire, Do we hire a baby sitter?" Maria asked.

"Then have her take both our salaries? No way!"

"what to do then?"

"How about we check with Mrs Wellington?"

Mrs Wellington was their next door neighbor and Ana-Blaire had stayed with her once before.

"You need not ask me that Ruf, you know I'll always be here for you girls" was her response when she went to her.

"Settled" she told Maria when she returned to the apartment.

"She said yes?"

"Positive"

"Good"

........

Rufi dropped Ana-Blaire at the Wellington's before going to work.

"Be a good girl OK?" It was her first time leaving her baby for so long.

Her life had been wrapped around her Nana before Ana-Blaire. Now, she lived for her baby. This child will have the best in life, she was sure 'cus there are better days ahead.

Opening the door to Hen's she greeted "Good morning!"