Chapter 4

Eva's POV

"Common, little dude, your mother has to take care of a business and you are going to stay with Dad" Sam helped me out.

I am at loss for words to say to them, I have never spent one day without them even when they went to stay with their grandparents (Sam's parents) last holiday, I made sure I dropped by to say hello because they don't live far away from us.

It always takes me two hours to drive but what can I do when they kept asking of me and I feel horrible because I will fight to stay away for real.

"How long....will you stay?" Rose drawled moodily.

"She might spend three months depending on the level of service she will have to render but I promise, she will come back to us, okay?" Sam replied confidently.

"Three months is not three days o, it's long, and I...." Bob started but his father shunned him.

"What is your problem, Bob? Are you Kate that is still sucking breast or you are just trying to make things hard for her?!"

"Come here" I stretched out a hand to him and his two siblings jumped off their chairs and they ran to hug me "Sorry, cuties" I whispered to them.

"Wait, aren't you taking Kate as well?" Rose asked looking at me with popped eyes that threatened to fall out of its sockets.

"That's not happening because I know Dad can't breastfeed her or even....."

"Shhhh, don't worry about that, your Dad is the best when it comes to kids, he raised you guys, remember?" I stopped Bob from saying the obvious.

"We have planned out how everything will be when she leaves and it's just for a short period so it's nothing" Sam added as troubled as I know he is.

"That means Tyrone will have a whole lot of milk and cornflakes to eat for three or so months" Rose stated raising a brow at her younger brother.

He glared at her playfully and hugged one of my arms as I carried Kate with the other.

"Am happy you guys are quite alright with this and I promise to buy you goodies and take you to an amusement park when I come back" I said and hugged them again.

They went to their sits and continued eating but were not as happy as before. I pray all this works out and I can't wait to be with my kids again

Sam ate little out of his plate and went upstairs, when the kids are done eating, I cleaned the table and they helped me pack.

I didn't see Sam until I am ready to leave, he offered to drive me to a bus stop as I told him I will board a bus to wherever am going, I declined at first but I accepted, anyway.

I first rejected his offer because I didn't know what was going on in his head, he might take me somewhere else or it might give him a chance of knowing about my direction.

I have already called my friend who lives nearby and she has gotten a nearby place ready for me beside her house but I have to make it look as though it's far from here.

I accepted reluctantly while our kids were watching, after all, we had an agreement which I think will add fun to the game.

I invited our neighbor's daughter to look after them while we are away and I also talked to her privately to check on them regularly.

Sam was silent on the drive to the bus stop, but when we got there and I was ready to leave, he hugged me and told me to stay safe.

He bade me goodbye and drove away, I took a taxi and went to where I am headed, a saying made me stronger, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Samuel's POV

I have allowed many things to walk out of my life before but the thought of Eva living away from our home ever since we got married is the hardest ever.

It feels as if a part of me left my body and I was almost drawn to tears but I have to go with all this so she will realize her mistake and I will make things right again.

I won't go to work today because I have to set things moving well at home for the kids for tomorrow and next.

Adjusting to playing both parental roles in the life of my kids will take ages because I know little about my wife's duties and so, it will be hard.

*When I got home*

To begin with, the whole house is already in a mess even when Benita is doing her best to control them.

Bob and Rose are busy playing football in the parlor and that explains why the curtains are rolled up because the two doors opposite each other stands as post.

Tyrone has a baby powder all over his body, on the couch's and he is using it to paint the yellow wall which Benita is trying hard to take the powder away from him.

Meanwhile, little Kate is crying uncontrollably in Benita's arms as if she sensed the absence of her mother.

The only thing on my mind this very minute is to turn around and go back to that bus stop and take Eva home, she handles matters like this as if it means nothing.

Where do I start?

"Hey! What's going on here buddies?!" I cleared my throat and walked sluggishly into the parlor.

"Daddy's back!" Bob beamed and carried the ball with both palms when Rose kicked it towards him.

"I ...have been trying to stop him..." Benita trailed off and thought I would be angry with her over Tyrone's handwork.

"Don't fret about it, dear. I will take it from here, thank you very much for your kind gesture" I said taking little Kate from her.

"I have to go answer my mother, she has been calling me, I will come back later," She said and left immediately.

"Now, big man, let me have the powder" he was reluctant about handing it over so I snatched it away from him and went to place it on its usual position.

"It wasn't me, it's Bob" Rose replied when I looked at them in dismal because of the condition of the house.

"Me?! I didn't shift the couch, it's too heavy you know?" Bob said and that even brought my mind to the fact that the two couches are probably pushed to a corner to make room for them to play ball.

"Who told you that football is played inside a house?!" I yelled and that scared them, even Kate shivered and cried the more.

"Sorry, Dad" They mumbled and went to rearrange the couches to its normal settings.

Tyrone's mood changed at once, "I want to see my mom" he mumbled and ran upstairs.

I busied myself with controlling little Kate and closing the curtains.

"Dad" Rose patted my arm and when I looked at her, she gave me a toy that sings when a button is pressed, "it will help you calm her down" she said.

It helped when I pressed the button and a funny voice filled the room. She kept quite instantly and listened to it.

I sat down and took a deep breath.

Writer's POV

"That's why I always talk about you! Thanks babes!!" Eva thanked her friend, Sandra and took a sip of the chilled juice she gave her.

"I still don't believe you are actually doing this, how in God's name did you gather the courage to abandon your kids just like that?!" Sandra exclaimed.

"Point of correction, I didn't tell you that I abandoned my kids and I will never do that. I just left for a while to take care of something" Eva explained curtly.

"That's too dangerous, Eva. You might loose Sam out of foolishness, you two can settle your differences together as man and wife and not running away from it like teens"

"Loose Sam?" She laughed out loud cynically. "That's never gonna happen, we are like honey and bee, I know what am doing"

"Based on experience and logistics, I have seen marriages that crash like this, to you, you are doing the right thing but the outcome might come out wrong" Sandra advised.

Eva shivered, she saw the truth in her friend's words but she still believes and stands strongly on the grounds of their already perfect marriage, it's for their betterment. Simple.

What if she's right after all? That's the puzzle in the game. If things get out of hand, it's over for her.