Penny

That vacation was her going to visit Penelope,or Penny,as she loved it,in Murang'a,where she lived. She was the woman basically behind her success. She had left her her tailoring business then moved upcountry to start life with her husband. She'd been so nice to her. She treated her as her daughter and Lexy in turn learned so much from her. She wanted to grow under her wings that's why it broke her heart when she decided to pack and leave.

"I am going back home,Lexy. This is clearly not my calling and no matter how hard I try, I keep having setbacks. Besides,I have kids to take care of and there's nothing I'm doing here. But, I want you to take over. You're young,brutal,energetic and,God,very talented. I want you to become the best of the best,you hear?" Were the words she told her on her last day in the little shop in downtown Ngara.

It became twice as hard for her after Penny left. She had no idea it would be that hard because that was the part of the business Penny had not exposed her to. The part about the people.

Customers took advantage of her kindness, making her work both monumental and unnecessarily costly. They made orders but never paid her on time and when they did it,they would do it only partially which was dangerously unprofitable. Lexy had asked her to stop being so kind but she said it was like asking her to stop breathing,that it was embroidered into her heart like a butterfly on a duvet. Sure,she didn't use those words but she meant the same thing.

"But, I am here for you. Call me when you need anything," she said then walked off.

Lexy constantly perstered her but she didn't mind. Sometimes she called her in the middle of the night while crying, complaining about how people did her dirty and Penny would patiently listen. The tantrums eventually toned down but the communication stayed. She sometimes went to see her in her home and Penny would welcome her like she was her own.

Today was no different. She went to see her like she was going home. She would have gone home to her mother but that woman lived in her own little world together with the villagers. She was forever happy as if nothing else mattered. Sure,she was still a salonist,and a good one at that,but she mostly did it for fun because Lexy supported her financially. She'd even built her a mansion, (it was worth mentioning she built one for Penny too, although her mother's was much more regal) which was basically a second church because everyone was welcomed.

She would have shared with her how her life was in shambles but her best advise would be,"come home,Lexy. You've already made enough,you don't need more. You can come home and serve the Lord." How was she so contented while Lexy was eternally not? She must have gotten it from her unknown father.

Penny welcomed her into her arms when she got to her house. She was waiting for her outside the gate. She ushered her into the house then prepared a bath for her. Lexy felt calm just by being there. Sure,she was more of by herself than lonely,but she loved being in the presence of those she loved. Like Penny,for instance.

She came out of the bathroom and exchanged pleasantries with Penny's husband, Matthew,who was just as wonderful to her. She also interacted with her children,some of whom were not home.

"Maryanne,your mother tells me you don't come to visit her often," she condemned playfully,on the phone,to Penny's eldest child.

"Sorry Lexy. But you understand that I got that from you. You are my role model,you know."

"Oh,low blow, Maryanne but,nice save with the role model thing. You're right, though, I have been away for very long. But I am here now. Won't you like to come home now?"

"If you promise to take me with you to London,or Paris or those places you go to."

"You've become manipulative. I love that for you. I always love a woman who goes for what she wants," she said. They went on talking while Penny was just grinning at the background. She was very proud of Lexy. She had watched her transition into the woman that she was while she still maintained her humble nature. She didn't deserve to lose it all with a snap of the finger.

That night before she slept,she went through her socials. Nick had sent her a direct message in her Instagram after he saw her posts with Andi. She was sure he did that because she had blocked him. She decided to call him and he picked on the first ring.

"Lexy? Hi," he started desperately. She had missed him. She wasn't sure how much till she made that call. "I'm sorry about what happened,I really am," he begged. He must have thought that she was mad that she cheated,but no,that was what stroke the match of the gasoline that was how he betrayed him. He still believed she had no clue about it.

"Nick, please..."

"No,you listen, please."

"I'm the one who called..."

"Because you've been ignoring my calls!"

"I have not recharged airtime,something which I have to do now,as I was kicked out my own company so if you waste it and this call disconnects,you might not here from me again." He gave a resigned sigh.

"Fine." She went silent for a few minutes.

"Nick,you betrayed me. It still hurts me and hearing your voice has reminded me just how deep you stabbed me. Yet you were all I had when I lost everything. Please,just give me a chance to heal at least,okay? I can't have you even when I want to but,you need to give me some space for the wounds to heal first. Stop calling and texting me every minute. Give me time," she begged with a few tears.

"Where are you now,Lexy?"

"If I tell you,your psychotic ass would drive over here and kneel before me like a drama queen so I can't tell you." He sighed again.

"Yvonne's pregnant with my baby," he dropped. She said nothing to that. She only cut the call then blocked his contact again.

"Tell me what happened,Lexy. How did you end up here and how reckless and incompetent were you that you ended up here?" Penny asked her when she got the chance. She had been aching to have the talk with her but she had been purposefuly slippery. She had been in her house for a month now but she never said anything. All she did was spoil her children by taking them out to local fun centers and buying them little gifts.

Lexy sighed because she was finally cornered. She saw him at the corners of her eyes everytime she offered to help Lucy with her homework or when she was unremittingly advising Brian about girls, university and nothing in particular. She was hiding behind her children but she finally caught her.

"I have let you down,aunty," she said. She started calling her aunty when she realized that she would be in her life for as long as possible.

"Really? How?"

"I have been a fool. I have taken your name and dragged it on the ground! I have lost everything!"

"You have?"

"Aunty,I was kicked out of my own company," she cried and Penny only lifted her eyebrow. She went on to tell her everything that happened. Including the gory details involving Nick and Yvonne.

"I do agree with you,Lexy. You have been a fool! How could you let a man use you like that?" She admonished as she got up on her feet. Anthony Muli told her the same thing but it hurt more when she heard it from Penny.

"I know and, believe me,I condemn myself everyday for it," she cried.

"How much did you spend on that boy? I need a figure," she asked again.

"Uh... According to my bank statement, I spent...ten million on him,plus the car..."

"You even bought him a car?"

"I loved him,aunty,okay?"

"Yeah? Well,how did that turn out for you? Listen to me, child. I have never been a business magnate like you have but there are some basic principles to govern you. First of all,you are a woman,a young woman in this business. You're not just an envy to many, you're a threat and what do people do to threats?" She asked and Lexy only blinked. "You eliminate them. That man, Anthony Muli. He saw you as a threat. How he easily found your loophole and his son,how he easily benefitted from it. You fell victim to the most trivial stunts,Lexy! Those are traps for naive people! What's the point of being in position like yours when you're going to act like a street vendor? She yelled. By then Lexy was sobbing. "Go get some rest. You're stifling me with your tears," she culminated and Lexy took off.

"Lexy," she called, waking her for her nap. "Get up. We're still talking." Lexy got up and gathered herself to the corner of the bed,far away from her. She was scared of her condemnation. She should have gone home to her mother. She would have hugged her and told her everything would be alright,God is in control,after praying with her. She would have made her favorite meal and if she told him about Nick,she would have told her that man was sent by the devil and God would deal with him accordingly. How pious that woman was!

"You cannot possibly give up like that. You're not like me. You're more tenacious. You have given birth to something very beautiful. I see your name in the news everyday and allover the internet and you have no idea how happy that makes me. Are you going to give up your baby just like that? Why? Because of a boy who still depends on his father? I need you to compose yourself and then get back what's yours," she insisted and Lexy only nodded. She wanted to ask how but she figured her curt response might not help much.

She stayed with Penny for another month and for some strange reasons,she felt more exasperated than she came. This woman was gasoline to the little candle of rage that was dimly burning inside her. She turned it into her furnace to a point that Lexy was scared that if she couldn't tame it,it would easily consume her to ashes.

That was why she felt that it was imperative for her to go see her mother who stayed in Vihiga County,in a small village where everyone knew everyone. She always felt nostalgic everytime she went there. Everyone seemed a little occupied but not enough to miss out on free gossip. She also missed the fresh from the farm roasted maize and her forever favorite; sugarcane.

She only had one vendor she trusted and she always stopped by his stall before heading home. He was one hardworking man that everyone knew as Kivash,whose full name was Kivayiro,who owned a grocery store. Kivash was fond of her mother,thus fond of her. Over the time,she grew fond of him as well because he was not judgemental and he was friendly. He was the closest thing to a father she ever had. That was why she always had to see him.

She got her roasted maize and sugarcane then left after exchanging pleasantries with him and his close neighbors. He also prepared a basket full of fresh groceries for her to take to her mother.

Just as she had dreadfully foresaw,her mother stifled her with love.

"Oh,Lexy,my darling, you've finally come to see me," she said ever so sweetly as she showed her off to her friends that were seated on the terrace she had the contractor specially design for that very reason;her mother's neverending list of guests. "I keep telling you this, sweetheart,your life is not in that company." Lexy begged to differ. "I in fact,thank God that he's taken it from you. You can now go out there and actually meet people,you can also spend time in the village with your mother and I won't have to beg you to squeeze me into your tight schedule," she said with emphasis on squeeze,complete with facial expressions. She resignedly sighed as she let her mother speak to her fill.

Her mother was too loving that she felt like she was starting to undo everything Penny had done and choking the life out of her need to retaliate all with her interminable sweetness. While Penny was gasoline,her mother a fire extinguisher. She had to get away.

"Mama,I love you and you know it. And I love staying with you whenever I get the chance. But,just as I am your baby,House of Lexy is mine. And everyday you try to convince me to forget about my baby. I cannot do that," she said to her before leaving. "Would you do that? Would you give me up just because?" She asked again. "I hear you,mum,but you should listen to me too. You remember you gave me your blessings to go become someone? You should be scolding me for wasting my life like that," she continued with a chuckle.

"Oh,fine, fine,just go. Go do what you do best. Who am I to stop you? Just... Don't go away too long,okay? Please come visit more often."

"I promise,mum. And you know I'm one to keep promises."

"Yes,I know that. I love you,okay?"

"I love you mum. I will see you," she culminated then left. She bade Kivash as she passed by his stall before taking off.

"Ah,my dear,leave me 'ka-something'," he insisted and she laughed.

"I don't have 'ka-something', Kivash."

"You? Lack 'ka-something'? Oh,Lord,take me because I have seen it all." Lexy laughed at his irreverence.

"Fine,I have some few change here. I could have given you more if you'd have let me get home first,just saying."

"You could still do that."

"Oh,you made your choice. Bye."

"You should visit more often!" He yelled after her as she drove away. Had it been that long since she came back home?