Episode 18

THE BrideGLOOM. Episode 18

(Yesterday evening, Kate got a friend to call her and tell her that her step mother was very Ill. This she did, so that she could be allowed a day off today to go and see Chioma.

Mr Ambrose obliged her and took a day off work to be with the children.

When she was about to leave, Mr Ambrose gave her fifty thousand naira to take her 'step mother' to the hospital.

Before then, she had bought lots of maternity clothes, undies, baby clothings and toiletries for Chioma and had left them at her friend's house.

On her way, she picked the items up from her friend's house and also used part of the fifty thousand naira to buy a bag of rice and a few other food items for Chioma and her mother, then made her way, using the direction Chioma sent to her via SMS.

as has been the case since Chioma left the house, the previous night was no where near peaceful, as Shasha Cried almost all night.

At 9.30, Patrick who normally turns up to work two hours early was no where to be found; so Mr Ambrose decided to give him a quick call to find out what was wrong. Patrick told him that he is no longer happy to work for him anymore, as he misses Chioma and would only come back to work if she comes back to the house.

frustrated, angry and knackered, he decided to read the kids some stories)

MR AMBROSE: so what story should we read today?

TATIANA: the homeless piglet!

MR AMBROSE: but we read that last night. Shall we read The Singing Bird?

TATIANA: daddy, what is this thing on your tummy?

MR AMBROSE: (struggling to keep his eyes open) it is called Birth Mark.?

TATIANA : who gave it to you?

MR AMBROSE: God?

TATIANA: how come mummy don't have it? How come nanny Kay don't have it? How come Shasha don't have it? How come I don't have it!!!!

Daddy!!! (Shakes him as she calls out)

MR AMBROSE: Yes, darling.

TATIANA: stop sleeping! Shasha says when can we see mummy?

MR AMBROSE: Shasha never said that. She can't talk yet. You kn-ow it's wr–on-g to…to tell lies, right?

TATIANA: but you lied to us that mummy was coming back and she never did! Daddy? Daddy! Daddy!

MR AMBROSE: (mumbles) Yes, my angel

TATIANA: are you a liar?

MR AMBROSE: Yes (falls asleep)

(When the girls noticed that the story may never happen, they decided to do their own things. About 40 minutes later, Mr Ambrose was woken by the sound of the electric kettle which Shasha had pulled down. Luckily, there was no water in it.

When he got closer to the kitchen, he noticed that Shasha had emptied the bag of rice on the floor and was having some good time distributing it all over the floor.

He quickly grabbed her and checked she was not injured and thankfully, she wasn't!)

MR AMBROSE: Jesus Christ!!! Tatiana!! Tatiana!!!! Mummy!!! Mummy where are you?

Shasha, where is Tatiana?

Shasha: Tatin door? (pointing to the direction of the door)

MR AMBROSE: Lord, please don't punish me more than you have done already! Tatiana!!! Tatiana!!

(Mr Ambrose looked everywhere on the street but there was no trace of her. He entered every property in their estate but no one had seen her. At this point he went back to the house to pick up his car to go to the police station.

On getting home, Kate was already in the house, so he quickly told her what had happened and left Shasha with her and made his way to the police station.

After giving his initial statement, the police asked if he had a reason to believe that anyone could kidnap his child, he told them that his wife could have done that to frustrate him for refusing to give her maintenance money.

So the police followed him to Chioma's house. When they got there, they met her eating some of the fruits Kate had bought her earlier)

POLICE OFFICER: Good day, madam.(holding up his ID) My name is Officer Ayodele. Could I ask that you come with us to the station for a brief interview over the disappearance of one Tatiana Chisom Ambrose, Please?

CHIOMA: eh??? Did I hear you right? Who's missing! Ambrose?? Who's missing. My own Tatiana or some other Tatiana??? Ambrose! Ambrose!!!! What have you done with my child? (Tries to attack him but was stopped by the police officer)

?????mama!! Mama!!! Ambrose has killed my daughter!!!

MADAM NKECHI: what is going on here. Ambrose, o gini??? Killed which daughter?

MR AMBROSE: Tatiana is missing?

MADAM NKECHI: (Picks up an empty can of Coke lying around and throws it really hard on his head) who is missing eh!???? the child that was left under your care is missing and you are here doing what??? Hieeee!!! Chineke biakwa o!!! (Runs into her kitchen and comes back with a bucket full of dirty water and baptised Ambrose with it???????????)

POLICE OFFICER: stop it madam!!!!! or I'll arrest you for assault!

MADAM NKECHI: shut up! Mechie onu gi!!! Come and arrest me!!

POLICE OFFICER: a child is missing and this is only going to cause delay in finding her if we would. Every second counts! Why don't you all cooperate and find this child then you can continue with your rage!

Madam get into the car please. I understand that you are heavily pregnant but I promise to make the interview as friendly as possible and you can always take a break when you need to. There is no need to worry at all.

My wife is pregnant as well, so i sort of understand how all these can affect you. But I'll make sure you are alright. Please get into the car.

MADAM NKECHI: I am going in too!

POLICE OFFICER: phewww! Madam, you are very troublesome!

MADAM NKECHI : you are yet to see trouble. This is only the tip of the iceberg. You are about to shake hands with a troubled widow! Ambrose okwa gi! I will deal with you!

Chioma, her mother and Ambrose got into the police car and made their way to the police station.