3. Welcome Home

"Alicia, your husband's recovery has been exceptional, we'll be discharging him in a couple of days." The doctor was saying. "But there's a slight problem, he keeps asking for Tricia" Alicia's head jolted up. "He gets agitated when there's no positive results, then we've to sedate him."

"How long has this been going on, doctor?"

"For a while now, didn't your mother in law mention it to you?." He inquired curiously and she shook her head. "This is far worse than I thought, I'll see what I can do about it."

The doctor nod his head with a smile. "I've good news" he said and she looked up at him with a smile. "I know of how to get you into your house." He rose from his seat, "come with me let's introduce the two of you" he said making her heart jump in fear.

Guess it showed on her face, the doctor chuckled. "It'll be alright, trust me."

She nodded her head and followed him outside.

•••

After the introduction Alicia left the hospital and went to a restaurant. She greeted a lady behind the cash register and asked of someone, "She's in the back office." "Okay, how's business?" she inquired, "Excellent." the lady replied with a smile. Alicia smiled back and walked behind the counter walked through a door and walked down a hallway towards a door at the end of the hallway. she knocked and entered. "Hey girlfriend." a lady behind a desk, stood up to welcome her. "Hello Kuuks." Alicia sat in a sofa and her friend joined her.

"Hope there's no problem?"

"Hm"

"Is Nii's condition not improving?"

"He's doing very well. The doctor says he can go home tomorrow."

"Then why the long face?"

"He's asking for Patricia."

"What? I thought he lost his memory."

"He lost eight years of his life. He forgot everything about me and remembers Patricia." Alicia chuckled.

Her friend placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. "What are you going to do?" she asked, staring at her with comfort in her eyes.

"I've no idea. Do you know his mum was aware but didn't tell me?" a drop of tear fell from her eyes and she wiped it fast. Her friend embraced her. "This is just a face, it'll pass soon." "I pray so." She lost control and sobbed. Kuukua patted her back comfortingly and aloud her to bring it all out. After, she brought her a box of tissue to clean up. "Thank you" Alicia said. "That's what friends are for." she waved her off. "Do you think your mother in law is planning something?" "I feel she's already in touch with Patricia. I need to know what they're planning together."

"Then you have to find Patricia." Kuukua said and their gaze met and held. They seem to be communicating with their eyes for a while, then Alicia sighed, "I'll speak with Fosu." she said, "they're best friends, he'll definitely know how to find Patricia." she added. "Yeah. Let me call them to bring you a drink." Kuukua stood up and went for the phone on the table.

***

When Alicia and her husband entered their living room, his mum and sister gave them a surprise, "welcome home!" They exclaimed in delight, then embraced him in turns as she took his bag to his room.

Away from everybody, she wept her heart out, while staring at their wedding picture frame. "Alicia... Alice..?" She hid the picture frame under the pillow and wiped her face just when the door opened and her sister in law entered the room. "What are you doing here while we're celebrating your husband's return outside?"

"My husband isn't back yet" she said and fought back the tears, that threatened to fall. "Don't be silly, my dear." she took a sit beside her on the bed. "Memory or no memory, you're my brother's wife." Tears rolled down Alicia's cheeks and her sister in law gave her a comforting hug. "He'll remember all the beautiful memories you shared, you'll see."

"So where's he?" Alicia asked after the hug and wiping her tears from her face. "He's in the family room with the 'viper'" she whispered that part and they giggled. "He's hungry, though," she added.

"I asked Ruth to prepare something, it should be ready. I'll go and serve him."

Alice rose up from the bed. Then she remembered the picture and took it, "Naadu, Please keep it safe for me." She gave it to her sister in law.

"What happened to all the pictures on the walls? I wanted to ask?"

"Doctor's orders. We don't want anything that will stress him". Naadu nod her head and rose up too. she held both of her sister in law's shoulders and stared into her eyes, "I'm in this with you. You know that, right?" Alicia smiled and embraced her, "you've always been. Thankyou."

•••

Seeing Alice gave Braden mixed feelings which he couldn't understand. It made him feel frustrated and it infuriated him. Thus making him mistreat her.

So, when Alice came into the room to invite them to lunch, he couldn't help showing his displeasure. "Why're you giving orders in my house? Where's Ruth?!" He roared and received stares from the others.

"Calm down, little brother, she's just helping out."

"Why do you keep defending her Naa?" He inquired curiously. "She's a very important somebody in my brother's life." He rolled his eyes, "she's just a nurse" he muttered and his sister grinned, "We'll see."

They all went into the dinning room, took their seats and waited to be served. When Braden's elder sister, Mrs Gifty Naadu Affenyi, realised that Alicia wasn't with them, she asked the house help.

"She's in the kitchen, please. She said she's not hungry." Naadu then asked her to call her to join them regardless of her brother's disapproving eyes.

"And why are you forcing her to eat?" Braden inquired. "In this house guests are treated well." was all she said.

Alicia came in first then Ruth followed her with a plate in hand. Naadu shifted to the next seat and created space for Alice to sit beside Braden, to his fury. "Sit Alice. You can eat a little, if you're not too hungry." Ruth secretly smiled as she left the room after putting the plate on the table.

They said a word of prayer, and his mother gently pushed her chair back to get up and serve. "Alicia, serve us please." Naadu said staring hard at her mother.

When Alicia finished serving Braden, "What's this? Why am I eating this food?!" Braden bellowed with displeasure on his face. "Ruth!" He yelled.

"Don't worry the poor girl, Brad. This is good for your memory. Go back to your chores, Ruth." Naadu turned to the girl who had rushed in. She left them alone again. "What's there to remember anyway? I remember you all. Even this insufferable nurse." He insisted.

"Enough Nii Lantey, just be quiet and eat your food." His mum ordered and he obeyed.

He enjoyed the meal more than he thought he would and finished everything in the plate.

He pushed his chair back, but before he could get up, Alicia was right beside him to help, "I can get up on my own, thank you," he snapped. "Let the lady help you up" his mum said surprising Naadu and Alicia. Braden obeyed and placed his arm around her neck as she led him to the living room and into a seat, then went for his drugs.

She returned with Ruth who came with water, and he took all his drugs. "I'll be inside if you need me." Alicia said and turned to go. He secretly stared at her back as she left the room and at that moment had a flashback. But it was as quick as lightening, so he brushed it off, took a phone from its cradle on the table beside his seat and dialed a number. He tried several times but it didn't go through.

"Who're you calling?" His mum inquired. "Tricia, she hasn't called or visited me. Isn't it strange?"

Naadu shook her head, "To me, it's not. 'cause, I haven't lost my memory." She said and excused herself from the room.

***

The ray of sunshine that illuminated the room when Alicia pulled the curtains away from the window caused Braden to groan in anger. He turned his face into his pillow to prevent the sunlight from blinding him.

"Good morning, Mr Lartey." Alicia greeted with a secret smirk on her face. She knew he hated being woken in that manner but she couldn't help it. It was a way to get back at him for his rude behavior. She also did it with the hope that, maybe, it'll tickle his memory. "How was your night?"

"Scary, I had a nightmare that I'll see you when I wake up." He turned his face up. "Guess I'm going to have a bad day," he added holding her stare. Although his words hit her hard, she didn't show her hurt. "Too bad, I'll be here for a long time. Accept my apology for all the nightmares yet to come" she said and entered the bathroom. He chuckled and sat up. "Your bath is ready, but brush your teeth and take your 30minutes before meals so you can eat right after bathing, it's almost noon." She returned to the room and brought his clutches to him.

After brushing his teeth and taking his medicine, she handed his towel to him, "wrap it around your waist so I can help you with your trousers."

"I'm not undressing in front of you." He put the towel on the bed and she rolled her eyes. "You won't bath till your leg heals?"

"I'll bath, even if I've to do it with my cloths on but not in your presence." He stated and Alicia took in breaths to calm herself down, "If you continue to put pressure on your leg, you'll be stuck with me forever." She walked away from him.

After bathing and eating his meal, Alicia gave him his drugs, which he took quietly and handed the drinking glass to her. "Alicia, to save us all from embarrassing situations like this morning's, kindly help me get in touch with my fiancée."

She dropped the glass and it broke, "I'm so sorry." She bent to collect the broken glasses, "I'll clean up immediat -" "Stop it, That's what maids are for!" He yelled and she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

This is what he said the first time she came to the house and tried to mop water from the floor.

"What am I?" She asked, still squatting, "You're not a maid, you're my nurse. Now get away from the glass before it hurts you!" He ordered, took the phone and called Ruth to come clean up.

Alicia stood up and turned away from him as the tears finally trickled down her cheeks.

"So, will you help me find Tricia?"

Alicia had her back facing him. she wiped her tears and was about turning to face him when Ruth knocked and entered. She took that opportunity to excape from the room, she passed her sister in law in the hall way but didn't even notice her. She watched her go and went into her brother's room to find out what happened.

Ruth passed her with the broken glass on a collector, her eyes followed her out and then gave her to brother a questioning look. "The nurse broke a tumbler accidentally," he informed her. "What brings you here to visit me finally?" he inquired. "I've a family of my own,you remember?" she uncovered the bowl on the table just as Ruth returned, "you ate everything." she smiled. Ruth took the bowl with a tray and left the room.

"Yeah I want to get well quick and get rid of that irritating nurse."

"You, little brother, are irritating." she sat beside him in a couch and took a magazine on the table to read. "Don't you think she's pretty?" she flipped through the magazine.

"What?!"

"Alicia, isn't she pretty?" she looked up at him.

"I know who you're talking about. But why will I look at her if I want to get rid of her?" he looked at his sister.

"Because she is beautiful inside out, and I know you. You can spot that from character from miles away." she said still focussed on the magazine.

"Naadu, what are you saying? I can't get close to her. Do you want mum to behead me?"

She looked up from her reading and stared at her brother with wide eyes, "hello Mister, where's my brother? What did you do to him?" he stared and grinned then Naadu chuckled and pinched his left cheek. "We never walk in mum's shadows, she's always in her own world where she's superior to everybody." They both giggled, then, "I'm here for you, you know that?" he nod his head in answer.

she smiled and they shared a hug. she replaced the magazine where she took it from and patted his shoulder. "I'll be in my room." she left him to his thoughts, which was now filled with Alicia.

***

Alicia walked from the counter to a corner of the restaurant and joined a lady on her table. She sat across her, "Hi Alice" the lady smirked at her, "Hello."

They stayed silence for a while then, Alicia spoke while fidgeting with her phone. "So, what'll it be?"

The other lady just shrugged her shoulders. "To be honest, I don't know why I should help you when you threw me out of your house some time ago."

"I still don't want you anywhere near my house, but my husband wants to see you, so the decision is in your hands." She winked at her. The lady watched her keenly, "You still have an attitude. What if I refuse your offer?" She asked and Alicia stared with a cynical smile on her face, "Ooh How I wish you would."

Alicia pushed her chair backwards and rose from her seat, "I'll tell Nii I got in touch with you and that you'll visit him before the week ends." She winked at her and the lady chuckled. "I'm not doing it for you."

"Neither am I, Patricia." Alicia said and walked away, while she stared at her retreating back. Patricia took her phone and dialed a number, "... very very well, ... We can meet up tomorrow or the next day. ... hmm hmm... later then." Patricia called off the line with a broad smile on her face. "Alicia, Alicia, Alicia, you're in for a shock of your life. I'll break you." She scoffed and finished her drink.

Driving home, Alicia couldn't help but think hard about the decisions she's been making of late. She wandered if she was doing the right thing by inviting Patricia into her matrimonial home, knowing very well how badly she hurt Nii in the past. She was an opportunist who couldn't be trusted and she'll have to be very vigilant.

She drove into her compound and parked, but didn't alight. She placed her head on the steering wheel and tried to calm her emotions. "I have to do it to keep Nii's mind at rest." she muttered to herself trying to justify her decision. "Lord, please help me to get my husband back." She took in a long breath and then let it out slowly. she raised her head and steeped out the car, locked up and walked into the house.

"Where have you been?" greeted her immediately she entered the living room. "Out." She walked into the hallway, "You left him alone and went out?!"

"Stop shouting Esther." Alicia paused in her strides, "I took care of him before I went out. You were home, so he wasn't alone" she added and turned to walk away but she held her shoulder and turned her to face her, "I missed an important meeting because of you. I came to visit not babysit."

"Go Esther, go!" Alicia yelled.

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