Chapter 20: Between Clouds and Earth!

"Morning Danni!" 

Ada came to my room in a red robe, she sat beside me while I sat up

  "Morning Addy! Are you ok?" I asked instead

  "...how can I? I'm concerned about Danielle" a tear rolled her cheek "he texted me the day after he2 engaged you.....its frustrating. I don't want imagine it" she wiped off her tears

I held her in my arms instead, seriously my tears were closer than I expected

  "I lost him to the clouds....I warned him about it, I did but work was more important and now?.......let's ju--just try to get over it, Ada." I tried to console Ada who couldn't help but cry over and over then she left.

I stayed in the room without working on my routine, everything rendered me useless especially for the new life I anticipated.

A maid walked in abruptly, I guessed she expected I was out like the others

  "I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't know you were in...." She started with her head down

  "Its ok. You could knock next time" I kept it simple leaving the room with my cell phone as company

I walked past the hallway leading to the living room where I found Madam Carol discussing, it seemed like they had finished talking when I interrupted. I turned to take another route then she called which I expected

  "Danielle!!! Please come over, I want you to meet our lawyer, Preston."

  "Nice to meet you"

We shook hands nicely

  "Nice to meet you too!" Preston nicely replied

  "I thought you were asleep, here are some properties Hunter left behind and I think...." She stirred up as Preston brought

  "I'm sorry madam Carol, I don't think I'm prepared that yet! Excuse me" i left

Really? I don't think I'd be over Hunter and here she comes with Will statements, this is unbelievable.

Carol followed me in the garden where I sat remembering the first time Hunter handed me a white Handkerchief then she interrupted

  "Danni, I didn't mean to rush into reading wills but I couldn't ignore the fact that he acknowledged you in it." She sat too

  "I understand. I really don't think i'm ready just yet, its really hard to let go, mother!" I expressed myself politely

  "...I fully understand. I'm his mother, don't you think it hurts me terribly?" She asked

  "It would but we were going to get married that's the difference between both of us. Y'all didn't have to hide this from me from the start.....even from the press team" I added

She turned and continued

  "We were scared to tell, your reaction was what we feared the most" she explained

I knew she was telling the truth but I really needed to ask questions

  "How did it happen?" 

  "They started off well but along the line it turned bad.." She sighed

  "I've never met a man so heavenly as Hunter, seriously Carol how did you raise three lovely people?" I teased her to keep a smile on her face

  "Oh c'mon! We did what we could!"

  "They are lucky to have you!" I added

  "I can see you're still keeping the ring regardless!" She pointed and smiled

  "I wouldn't take this off, never! I love it besides it quite a fortune...I won't let go."

We laughed , I could tell that she was proud of me. 

  "I'd need you to shake off, come alive again. And about the properties, perfect me to process them. You really can't say no to Hunter's wishes i guess!"

She left after she had dropped a kiss on my head.

Weeks on,

I dressed in a black high neck mini gown that this circular opening on the back coupled with a black bottom heels, my braids was wrapped in neat ponytail. I walked to the governor's study and knocked

  "Sorry for intruding, Mr governor...."

  "Dad!" He insisted

  "Dad!" Maintaining a smile "I'd be leaving in minutes" I blurted

  "Oh Danielle, so soon! You could work from home you know!" Carol suggested

  "Exactly Carol!" He concurred

  "I'd love that but I'm really not used to staying home while my company...."

Pete interrupted

  "I'd buy it so you could forget about work or something" 

He teased but I knew haven't every word perhaps. 

  "I know dad but i really need to go coz I have a lot to handle, it's an emergency Back there. Thank you for letting me know nothing but your love, even without Hunter you treated me the same and even better!" 

This speech was from my heart. No one played the villain.

  "I don't see you as his fiancee, i see you as his wife instead. It don't matter if y'all didn't married, everyone knows the wedding was on the way. This is your home no matter what, the doors are widely open to you. Accept every gesture from us, see it as a gesture from Hunter." Pete ended

  "Yes. Always come by, I'd always Wait" Carol added

  "Thank you, dad. Thank you mother!"

  ".....Hunter be proud of you..." Pete finally said

  "And lucky to have you!" Carol added

We hugged then I left the study. Carol would miss me and I'd ask well no doubt. Sabrina and her husband left already while Ada and Eric lived with the governor instead, pete insisted stayed around for many reasons, I guess Eric and the governor blended perfectly. Adam and I already said goodbyes before she left for work while Eric remained at the moment

  "Leaving without goodbye?" He approached

  "Still not over the fact you played dirty." I added folding my arms

  "Gorgeous!" He complimented

  "I wouldn't want Ada hearing that....By the way...." 

He interrupted immediately

  "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it, I want you to know that i didn't feel good about it, your reactions that day took me unawares then imagine what if i had told you earlier, that would be a spank!" Eric added

I smiled sheepishly coz he obviously shut my mouth

  "Its all in the past---kinda. I gotta go ok, I have yo see Tommie in hour.." I concluded

  "Jamal's dude!" He said in sarcasm

  "Yes Jamal's dude!" I repeated in sarcasm

We hugged then I turned to leave

  "Slow and study, Sam!" Eric told the chauffer

  "Count on it, boss!" Sam replied

  "Silly ass!" I teased

We drove while Eric waved from behind.

I headed straight to work, they were excited to see me Looking all sound. I couldn't wait a minute to see Tommie, he was waiting at Jersey hotel.

  "Sorry I came late! I had to run some errands real quick" I coldly said forcing smiles

  "I don't have a problem except you pull up with that psychopath you Call a friend. Jamal told me about....plus you were a crazy though!" We laughed

  "You keep saying that! Be honest Tommie, where's Jamal?" 

  "I really don't know...." He shrugged

  "Help me search for your friend Tommie, what the hell, man! Do something!....seriously you seem relaxed, I know you" I added

I really suspected Tommie knowing about Jamal's hideout. He seemed calm and reluctant, even if he's mostly careless about life itself, I couldn't stop trying and asking. Seriously i wanted this last quest to be a success, besides I had nothing to live for. I didn't imagine Jamal and i reuniting coz I was fed up with love in essence.

  "Seriously, why do you care? I know you still love him" he assumed

  "Even if I did, its not the reason why I'm here?"

  "Then why?" He leaned over

I had just two options right now, accepting its re-up or spilling the truth to Tommie about Dr Khaleefa, I couldn't risk it coz I knew the noise was going to create. Tommie wouldn't shut, in as much as he sounded noisy, he was influential. I would I explain to the McClure's that I knew about but kept shut, I would paint myself black and they feel hoaxed as well.

  "....its because I still love. I want to talk to him so bad, Tommie. Do you even know where he's at?" I tilted my head for response

He scribbled down a number on a paper from his note pad then passed it across to me

  "Its a clue. I might be right or wrong, just maybe! Don't get your hopes higher than a tree though!" He snapped

  "At least I got a positive response" I added then I stood into leave when he called

  "Danni?" He was serious

  "Yeah?" I sat down to listen attentively

  "My condolences! Hunter McClure!"

My heart skipped a beat, I couldn't believe our relationship was out in the public, like being in with the governor's son, what was I expecting then i continued

  "Oh Hunter! Thank you so much. I didn't know you knew about it" I grinned

  "C'mon Danni. Its the governor's son, man!" He laughed hitting the table slightly "I'm pretty sure someone might jealous, like for real!"

  "Who could that be? I mean there's no one on deck for that!" I shrugged

  "Obviously, Mr Khaleefa?" He pointed

My was rolling my eyes left and right 

  "Oh Jamal! He's moved on, pretty sure" 

  "You don't know and you never can tell....ain't true after all" he smirked

  "Whatever Tommie! Thanks for the clue!! You're angel" I gave him a peg

  "....Not as Angelic as you are.....a'ight take care!" He finalized

  "You too, Man.....and Ana!" I walked out briskly

  "Yeah whatever, Danni. I will" he screamed from behind

I entered my car sitting in it then I decided to dial the number Tommie gave me. I was unlucky as always then I texted

               *Can we talk?*

I really didn't know why I drove to Hunter's, but I wanted peace in excess. Hunter handed me a spare key against my will coz he felt it was could be necessary even in terms of emergency. Walking into his room I could perceive him, his eloquence and his presence. I sat on his bed remembering good old times coz i never had a bad time with Hunter and as emotional as I was tears rolled down, I couldn't hold it no more I just had to cry out, that was exactly what i wanted to do, just cry it out. 

Madam Carol strongly advised that I maintained the house but I preferred not to live in it, but better I stop by visiting. I drove home finally still silently sobbing I walked to the mirror after throwing my purse on the bed and my shoes to a corner. I looked at Hunter's ring on my finger staring at my reflection. I remembered the gifts from earlier, some boxes were unboxed. I looked inside then I found some customized jewelry, it glowed. I couldn't explain how Hunter got this all fixed but knew I was lucky to brim then something caught my eyes, it was a piece of royal blue paper that had some writing on it, then I read it out myself: 

            'Sometimes I wonder how suddenly i

            grew to love yo, its a fact i can't denu 

            but do you know what, I love it. I love 

            to wake up seeing and seeing before

            bed. I wouldn't say much but one 

            thing I wouldn't stop saying is how 

            badly I love you, Danielle Chris!'

That instant, tears was just a subtitle of what how I crumbled. I resolved to my solitary, my bath tub. I slid into it almost burying my face into into the water there, I felt comfortable expressing myself.

  "Hunter! I know you can hear. Why on earth did you have to go away like I meant nothing to you.....like our dreams had no meaning, had no future. I lost you to some summit...some recognition....I lost you to the clouds" I exhaled with tear drops rolling

                             ******

Jamal ran towards me hastily trying to revive me. I never knew I fainted in the process, I could remember suggesting to myself that I follow Hunter, absurd right? That was my aim, to meet Hunter again.

I found myself on a hospital bed with drips on and some medical machines surrounding me like I was cancer-sick. The doctor insisted that I rest instead, I was weak and giddy. Jamal came forward dragging a seat to sit. He was about to talk then I interrupted

  "Don't....go there! Did you get my text? If yes...(I sighed then continued) then I guess no time to waste....." Almost a whisper

I took my phone then i texted Mustapha to come around with an address coz I recognized the hospital.

  "Can I explain myself?" Jamal asked politely

  "Can you not see that I'm sick? Mustapha ion the way, just kindly hold on" I turned away

I knew I wouldn't be so excited to see him maybe for fact that we ended u lol roughly to my surprise and everybody's. He looked even more handsome than I imagined with the fashion i always knew about. Within some time of silence, Mustapha rushed in my private ward.

  "Jeez Danielle. What happened, you tried the DON'T DO again, didn't you?" He scolded, then i smiled

  "Musty! I was in the tub when i zoomed next thing,  I didn't know how I got here" I briefly explained

Immediately, Jamal walked in bringing over some small boxes of chocolates

  "He's here!" I motioned Musty to see Jamal

He turned in accordance with a surprise look

  "Jamal?" 

  "Mustapha! I didn't know you were coming over...."

Mustapha didn't let him talk more, he hugged him

  "We all thought you left or died or something terrible went wrong?" Mustapha explained

  "....not at all." He simply said to Mustapha

They all turned to me at once and sat

  "Good thing we all are here" I sat up struggling as Mustapha helped me up "Thank you Musty! Uhmmm, to Jamal who wasn't there the whole time...." My voice depicted slight anger

  ".....Danni?" Jamal interrupted

  "Danielle please! Jamal! Can we all respect our boundaries in here, this is a hospital not our house please" Mustapha scolded again

  "I think you should head on, I might just not respect those boundaries....as expected" I said to Mustapha

There was an awkward silence for few seconds then he continued

  "Jamal! I'm really sorry to break it you but before then, Danni could you pass the...." 

I took off the locket around my neck then handed it over to Jamal himself

  "What's this?" Jamal looked lost

  "He...He instructed that I give you, I guess you know what to do with it" I added

  "And my Dad?" Jamal added

He figured that something was wrong

  "I think we should visit after now..." Mustapha tried to twist, then I interrupted. There was no point hiding the truth, Dr Khaleefa deserved better treatment 

  "Cut it, Musty....." I flared " Dad is dead! Are you happy now? We lost him Jamal, if only you were there, maybe he wouldn't have to die a dad man....." I yelled

Jamal looked at me not believing his ears

  "He died?" Jamal asked again

  "Do you need a podcast for that? You know what I'd prefer you get the hell out, like right now!"

  "Danielle, are you even serious? Can you listen to yourself? I should have known you'd always be the same!" He fired

I stood for a second then continued

  "Known what exactly? How you screwed with Lola and you fell as bait or how you killed your own father all in the name fleeing? You messed up, you really did. It wasn't enough reason for you to just go, leaving your father to his detriment, you suck!" I argued

  "Judge me all you want, Danni that's what you do, judge!" He walked away

Mustapha looked at me in disappointment

  "You suggested we shouldn't take it out him right now, what happened? You are not the only involved in this, we got affected" 

  "I respect a lot, I don't want you lose it just yet. Can we talk later?" I laid on my side looking at the other corner of the ward, Mustapha left without a word.

I woke up hearing some joyful noises, I couldn't explain what exactly it was. Carol and Ada were seated beside me

  "Mother? Addy! I'm so sorry you had to see me like this, I had a little headache that's why..." I tried the hide it

  "Cut it, dear. This is a hospital not some theater. I think you need maximum rest right now" Carol added

  "Yes dear! You do! Did you try to drown again?" Ada asked guessing right

I scoffed

  "I saw Hunter's note in a gift box, I just couldn't help but cry again" i defended

  "....so who found you that early?" Carol asked

  "I think its Jamal! I found myself on this bed for crying out loud, it happened so fast!" I added again

  "Oh there!" Carol expressed herself

I knew she felt some type of way

  "Good thing you survived. I think you should see Mrs Brownie, Danielle. You're overly stressed"

  "Yes I'd be fine!....How's Eric and Mr governor?"

  "Busy with work! Eric is doing just fine. He seem to like politics" Carol added

  "That's great, Addy!" We smiled

Carol stood into leave after receiving a call

  "I should leave you two, i got a meeting right now!" 

We hugged them she left, Ada drew closer sitting on the bed

  "Silly girl! You keep punishing yourself over and over bringing up the past you present"

Ada had a very good point right there

  "Yeah I know. Its hard getting over someone who did nothing but love for you, hello Addy? Do you know that?" I pointed too

  "Yes maybe I understand. My brother was that romantic huh?!" She teased and continued "And Jamal, how Did he appear from the woods? Jeez! You are a hell of a drama right there" she reminded

  "I don't know! I found myself here, and there! He stood right there! You know what I'm not letting no shit happen. It was only important he had to come by, no strings attached" I defended like a child

  "Ok Danni! Your first love is back on deck so you can't run though!" She teased

  "Get out jeez!" She teased

We laughed