CHAPTER TWELVE

CATCH-UP

Leah sat down, whole the others surrounded her to get the full gifts. Everyone knew she was going to explain everything once she was done with the kids.

"I know I have kept you all in the dark but it was for my own good. I still want to thank you all for being there for me when I had nothing, you took me as your flesh and blood and treated me like a daughter and a sister. Never discriminated me like my own family did. Habmrboured me and till now you are still doing that for me and for my kids. If I didn't have you all, I don't know what I would have done. I'm grateful"... Leah said.

"You are giving speeches and epistles, I'm sure all this you said will full a whole book. I don't know what you thought we should have done. Throw you out?... Mrs Adams asked.

" No, she sniffed. I am just grateful. Two days for I left for Paris. I found out I was pregnant. That was the real reason why I left. I didn't know what to do or how I could disclose it to you all, my head was full, I couldn't think properly. I needed to just leave. I didn't want to put more burden on you all, so I left.

"It's fine, we understand"…. Mariam said.

"Hopefully, I met Smith when I got there. He accommodated me until I got a place to stay on my own. Luckily, my neighbor, Birdie was a good caregiver. She helped me through childbirth stages and now here are my boys, sleeping right there in the room".. she explained.

"While taking care of the boys, I was working and earning money to take care of them as well as relocate back to the city. It was tough but I made it through the stage. The boys were all grown and can take proper care of themselves so I decided we will come back to stay here"... Leah added.

"How do you plan on securing a job here after leaving paris?"... Mrs Adams asked.

"I will take care of that for her, I guess"... Mariam replied.

"No need, I did alot of research and I submitted my resume to companies. I already have two interviews scheduled for a job by Monday and hopefully I get one"...

"Thank goodness, I feel relieved"... Mrs Adams said. You have really passed through alot these past seven years, and I must confess you are a strong lady. I knew you were pregnant initially, that probably you didn't want anyone to criticize you about it. That was why you left right?..

" Yes, Mrs Adam's"... Leah replied.

"I understand, you did the right thing. Many people in your age would have aborted the pregnancy, but you took a wise decision of birthing yours. I admire you for that."...

Everyone nodded…

"Now, here that are making you happy, the closest family you could ever ask for. I wish girls your age then would really learn to make the right decisions"... Mrs Adams added.

"I am so glad you made it this far"... Grandma chimed in.

"I'd love to talk to your neighbor friend and Smith, they took care of my daughter, they deserve to be thanked… Mrs Adam's said. It's not easy to take care of a total stranger"...

"I am going to do that when I speak to my neighbor. As for Smith, he relocated about three years ago and I haven't heard from him since. But I know he will contact me anytime soon" Leah answered.

"Is ge alright?... Mariam asked.

"Yeah, I guess so. He got married and moved with his wife."... Leah replied.

"OK, that's goodness them. I called him a couple of times after I lost contact with you as well, it didn't go through. Maybe he changed his phone line…. Mariam said.

"I think so too"... Leah added. I will be going to check out my new house tomorrow, I'd love Mariam to tag along with me to see it"... Leah said.

"Sure, I will. It's weekend tomorrow. We have all the time before you disappear again. I can't handle it. If you repeat it again this time"... Mariam lamented.

Everyone had a little chit-chat with her before they retired for the night leaving the two friends to continue.

The two friends were still awake discussing and laughing, doing all the catch up they didn't the past few years.

"Hey, what's up. Thought you should be married by now, Mariam?.. Leah asked.

"Married? To who"... she replied.

"Your Mr. Right… of course"... Leah replied.

"All I have been coming across with is Mr. Wrong. I have been dealt with"...

"Really, tell me about it"... Leah listened.

"The major and most painful one was Jepperd. Could you imagine that I almost got married to a cheater. I caught him on bed with my friend. I went crazy and sick. Spent two weeks in the hospital and he never came to visit for once or apologize. I had to return the ring to him. He is a foolish man"... Mariam lamented.

"Wait you mean you caught him with your friend, got hospitalized for good two weeks and he never came to visit or apologize?... Leah tried to understand.

"Yeah, you heard me right… I wish I didn't give him my heart to play with with. I wish…"... Maria began crying.

" Hey, that shouldn't be the reason you are crying babygirl. Crying for a mere man, a mere disappointment. You know they are trash and scams. You know it. How they treated me unfairly too should have taught you some lessons buddy. So calm down. You will definitely find the right one for you. That I can assure you.

"Yes, I believe that"... Mariam said.

"Wipe the tears then, it's too precious to waste on a man"... she consoled her.

Leah already knew herself very well… Nothing will ever make her love or be coaxed into marriage again. She despises men alot. Love doesn't existpadlocks.

Except the love she gets from her boys. Apart from that, her heart is padlocked.

She already made up her mind a long time ago and that has been what she stood up for the last seven years even though men kept making advances on her.

She hasn't seen any man that would make her change her mind.

Except she finds the man who impregnated her.

After the discussions, the two friend went to bed.

Leah kept turning on her bed, couldn't sleep.

She thought about her past and how long she had come. Her friend Mariam and praying she'd be happy with a man soon enough. A person who loves and adores her.

Then, she didn't forget about the back-stabbers, her family. Wondering how those ones were faring.

Have they been living happily ever since she disappeared from their lives or Karma had caught up with them.

"I know they must have gotten married, had kids and all that".

"I still can't believe can't believe I was betr a year by the people I loved the most. Anyways, in this world, you don't have to trust no one but yourself!". She thought.

Mary, her stepmother totally became a different person after the death of her father.

"Alex, why must it be my sister that you got eyes for. Why not someone else? Is that even right in anyone's eyes?"....

I hope that their marriage is like a fairy tale love or I am going to turn to their nightmare as well as make fun of them…. Leah mused.

I tried all I could to be a better wife, all he did was go behind me and fuck my sister!...

These thoughts swirled in her mind, until she fell asleep.

O