Chapter Thirty-five

"Melissa....."

Their eyes (Albert's and Valerie's) bugged out on seeing Melisaa approaching the door. That was unexpected. They didn't know what to do again.They immediately backed the entrance door. Melissa was just inches to the door when she heard someone call her.

"Excuse me, Ma'am." A sales agent rushed to Melissa. You left this." She handed a designed polyethylene to Melissa.

Meanwhile, immediately the duo heard 'Excuse me Ma'am', they tilted their heads to see who it was and luckily for them, it was Melissa. Albert grabbed Valerie and they moved swiftly back to their car, ignoring the weird looks from people around. 

John laughed all this while, from when Albert and Valerie hid, till when they rushed back, into their car. He covered his palms with his hands when Albert and Valerie came inside the car. The duo took a deep sigh of relief when they saw Melissa drive out of the supermarket. When they've regained their breath as normal, Valerie told Albert, " I can't go inside there. Don't want to look like a weirdo." Valerie told Albert.  

Albert's gaze went to the rearview mirror and he saw John's face. John was still trying to control himself when he saw Albert shot him a deadly glare, he maintained composure immediately.

" Take us out of here. Any other good supermarket can do, asap! " Albert commanded and John drove off immediately, out of the supermarket to another one.

Albert and Valerie picked some few things which they'll give Melissa.

They drove to Melissa’s residence and stopped a great distance from it. Albert and Valerie alighted from the car, took the things they bought for Melissa and trekked to her residence.

On reaching Melissa’s residence’ gate, Albert knocked. A security guard opened the gate and let them in. He was so happy to see them after a while. Albert tipped him and went in with Valerie. 

Nora ran to meet the duo. She welcomed them into the house and served them wine...

 "You mean Melissa is not yet back?” Valerie asked Nora.

“Yes Ma’am . But she should be back soon. It’s  been a while she left though. “ Nora answered. “I beg to take my leave now. “ Nora bowed and left. 

Valerie sipped the wine from the glass cup and looked at Albert, “What if she finds out?”  Valerie asked.

“She won’t.” Albert was so firm in his answer. The continued chatting before they heard the sound of a car horn blown outside the residence.

Nora with few other maids rushed out immediately to meet Melissa. Albert and Valerie maintained composure and continued with their chit chatting.

The gate was opened and a car drove in. Then the sound of the engine became dead. The thudding of footsteps were heard from a distance and soon it became clearer. Melissa walked into the sitting room and was surprised to see Albert and Valerie. 

“Look who we have here.” Melissa said smiling as she walked towards them. Valerie rushed and hugged her and they went together to meet Albert. Albert hugged her too.

They sat down almost immediately. “You should have allowed me to come and visit you. I mean the stress of coming here is what I consider. I know that the cost of public transport now is high. Poor you, I’ll give you the money you spent in coming here, but that will be when you’re going back home.”

“ Thank you.” The duo replied in unison.

“Take this.”  Valerie handed a bag to her. “We got it for you.” She looked at Albert and Albert smiled and said, “Yes we did.”

“Oh my, You wouldn’t have done that. But, thanks a lot.” Melissa collected it and called on a maid to keep it in her room.

Then, something flashed through Melissa’s memory,” I saw two people today at the supermarket.  Albert and Valerie exchanged glances. They really looked like the both of you. I wanted to take a closer look but, I didn’t see them again because a sales agent stopped me.” Melissa narrated.

“Are you sure you saw us?” Valerie said, laughing.

“ I’m not so sure. Maybe my eyes tricked me.

"It can't be us." Valerie said.

By the way, how have you been?”  Melissa asked.

“We’re fine.” They replied.

“You know, I really love the three of us together. So, why don’t we become siblings? Melissa suddenly said.

“Siblings?”  Valerie asked. She looked really uncomfortable with that.

“Why? Don’t you want it?” Melissa asked her. She noticed that Valerie frowned when she talked about siblings.

“Oh no. I think, that would be fine.” Albert spoke in an unsteady breath. He smiled a little to ease the awkward atmosphere. “So, let’s  start. How are we going to do it?”

“ I’ll be the eldest, you’ll be the second and Valerie the youngest.” Melissa happily announced.

Valerie furrowed her eyebrows at what Melissa said. “She really looks funny.”  Melissa bursted out, pointing at Valerie’s face. Albert followed suit. That really pissed off Valerie.

“What’s funny? Well, the both of you will take responsibility for me as the youngest. At least, you both should know that I need to be pampered, so prepare to carry your medicines about because of me. Hahahahaha!” Valerie laughed.

Melissa was amused the more and she broke into an uncontrollable laughter. Albert smiled looking at her. “She has this part of her that makes me smile.” Albert thought to himself.

They discussed few things before Melissa suddenly spoke up, “Till now, i don’t know who you really are. At least, I should get to know you better because I’m now you’re elder sister.” 

Albert coughed hard. “Go get him water to drink!” Melissa ordered a maid. She rushed and came out with a table water.

“Thank you.”  Albert said when he had drank to his full and had quenched the cough.

“Big Sis or should I say, elder sis… ?”

“Either of them is okay. “ Melissa responded him.

“I’m  Albert as you know. I’m  a son of a small scale business man. My Dad has a shop where he sells  foodstuffs. My Mom sells provisions and that is how the family is sustained.” Albert said confidently.

“Wow. That’s good.” Melissa said nodding.

Albert sent an eye signal to Valerie to answer smartly when she’s talking about hers.

“What about yours?”  Melissa asked Valerie.

“My Dad has a coffee shop and my Mom bakes.”

“You bake too?”

“Yes I’m  an expert in the kitchen. “ Valerie spoke happily.

“Oh… “ Melissa’s  mind flew back to when Valerie was leaving with her

.

~ Flash back ~

"I love cooking."

" Can I join you?"  Valerie asked.

" Sure" Melissa responded.

Valerie never cooked all her life. Melissa chuckled at the way Valerie struggled with just cutting tomatoes. "

"You seem to be a novice in this area."

" Yes." Valerie affirmed. 

Melissa didn't want to go further in asking her questions so she kept quiet. The whole preparation was successful but not without throwing up questions and cracking jokes.

~ BACK TO THE PRESENT ~

Melissa smiled wryly at Valerie. She knew something was fishy but she remained silent and played along.

“ So, welcome to my residence  my wonderful siblings.” 

“ Thank you.” The duo responded. 

After a while, Albert and Valerie was ready to  leave.

“Oh no. You can’t  leave alone. I have to protect my siblings.” Melissa said to them.

“ No we’re  fine. “ Albert responded. “We can go alone.”

“I insist.”

The duo had no choice than to agree to Melissa’s  decision. Melissa ordered three of her guards to take Albert and Melissa home.

Albert told the chauffeur a different place to take them to. While in the car, he sent a quick text to John to go back home.

“Thank you.” The duo responded as the alighted from the car. They walked into a residence unknown to them. Luckily its gate was open, so they went in boldly.

Moments later, Albert called John to come and pick them up. John arrived within minutes and they left the residence back to their home.

SMITHS RESIDENCE.

“How is she?”  Smith asked Albert and Valerie. They went to meet Smith as soon as they arrived. 

“She’s okay, Dad. “ Albert answered.

“ She must be a nice person.” 

“Yes she is. “ They affirmed.

“Go and freshen up now. “ Smith told them. Take a rest too. “  He said after them.

“We will.” They responded in unison.

The duo discussed on their way back to their rooms.

“Thank goodness, we escaped all these. “ Valerie said, breathing in a sigh of relief.

“We’re going to be in the biggest problem drum. Because we lied and it might not be easy to escape it all the time. “ Albert said in a low tone.

They pondered in their hearts about this new family they’ve formed. 

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

"You've been this way since that night. What actually happened between you too?" Annie asked Eddie.

Eddie continued to blush. " Well, we kissed." Eddie pillowed her head on her laps smiling.

"Really? Why didn't you spill the bean all these while? Congratulations to you Dear. I told you it will work. You pretend like you don't want and slowly he will come back to you. Why don't you thank me for a job well done. Oh my, for tutoring you well. This calls for celebration. Baby girl, we're going to cook now."

Annie dragged Eddie and they went into the kitchen. As they walked joyfully to the kitchen, Eddie's phone rang. A quick glance at the name flashing on her phone, Eddie's face suddenly turned dim.

"Are you ok?"