CHAPTER ELEVEN

The MacKennys' sorrow was only beginning. The object which Mr MacKenny had been hit with caused serious damage to his brain. The subject was unconscious for days, and not being able to hold on much longer, joined the ghostly train.

"Derek, you never should have left me. Why did you leave me?" Tricia mourned her husband's death as she clung to the picture frame that once hung on the wall. She couldn't stop crying. Her girls couldn't stop crying, either, knowing truly their Dad was gone.

A knock came on the door as Tricia quickly wiped off her tears and rose to her feet. The door opened to reveal Lucille, as the grown lady looked at her mother with such pity eyes.

Poor Mum, she sighed. She's been skipping meals. Lucille's heart was sore seeing her Mom miserable and lean. She moved into the room and focused her eyes on her for some minutes before coming to her side. She hung her arms around her neck and placed her head on her clavicle spot. They stayed in this position until one of the maids came to inform them that the guests had arrived.

The finely decorated living room couldn't contain the people that came to sympathize with Tricia and her daughters. The whole place was packed, and even those who knew little about them came to sympathize.

Tricia was pained to know that she would never see Derek again-but was consoled by the thought that her husband was resting perfectly.

🏴 In our hearts... he will lie

In our hearts, he will stay

Your family... your people

Will never forget

Will n-e-v-er forget...🏴

Painful memories flushed Anita's mind as more tears came flowing. Her dad was gone; her hero gone but never forgotten. She was never going to see him again, but knew he was always going to be in her heart.

~ANITA~

Everyone was looking at me. I couldn't hold back my tears as they came rushing, wetting my cheeks. I lowered my face to my palms and sobbed in them, getting off from the mic area as warm hands encircled me.

"It's okay, Anita," I heard a voice. "I know your father's in a better place." I wept even more.

Father was in a better place, yeah. But he should have still been in this world if not for the dreadful incidence, I thought bitterly clinging to Samuel as he led me out.

Lucille sighted us from afar and walked towards us. I hated the fact that she was doing that, but I had no choice but to play nice.

I rolled my eyes disgustingly at her and left to get myself a drink.

There wasn't a day that went by that my hate for Lucille didn't get the best of me. I saw myself not able to love and accept her. And was ready to bear the bag of hate concealed in my heart.

~LUCILLE~

I could see Anita throwing me her usual glares. It was a good thing I'd gotten used to it and wasn't letting it make me uncomfortable, else I'd have left that place.

I smiled crookedly and placed my hand on the guy she was talking to. He looked no other than-

Samuel?

I gasped with eyes wide open. What is Samuel doing here? Who said that he could come?

Quickly taking my hand off him, I moved backwards, not wanting to have anything to do with him.

Sensing my fears, like I assumed, he took a step forward and stared deeply into my eyes as though he wanted me to see that it was really him.

My skin was already getting damp and my legs shaky from the shock. Our place was the least I expected him to be. Why would he even bother coming here?

Is everything alright?"

I sensed vibrations informing me that a statement had just been made.

Oh-oh!

I stood still with my breath held.

I could make no movement or turn, as my sister emerged in front.

S-M-A-C-K-came her five fingers on my face.

I didn't know whether to cry or walk away and not make a scene.

Daddy's funeral deserved better. I wasn't going to let Anita ruin it-my mind roared to life at the call-I have had enough of you, sister! I won't let you treat me like the lesser one! I raised my hand to slap her as it stood still in the air.

"Father?" Samuel's jaw dropped open.

"You didn't think I'd miss the fun, did you?" the man in black smiled and let go of Lucille's hand.

"The fun?" Anita repeated to make sure she had heard right.

"What are you doing here?" Samuel asked in a gruff tone as Anita moved to the side with arms crossed.

"H-hold on a minute. Did you say... father?" Anita unclasped her arms with eyes widened in shock.

The people who came to pay their respects left all that they were doing and focused their attention on them.

Tricia wanting to know what the commotion was about left to see what was going on. "Anita?"

Anita answered her name with bulging fiery eyes. "Mother-"

"What's it this time?"

Anita hung her fingers in mid-air as she answered, "You should ask your precious daughter... M-A-M-A!"

Her mother caught her wrist as she made to leave. "You had better behave, young lady, or I'll mak-"

"Belinda-"

＼（〇_ｏ）／

I stared directly in the face of the man that I didn't think I'd be seeing anytime; the man I'd gotten off my mind. He looked seasoned with his manly beards and nothing like the ruggish boy I once knew him to be. "J-James?" I stood shaken, the anger that had risen in me now compressed.

This fellow I had come to have so much disdain for, gave no other than a belly laugh, and then said, "You haven't aged a day, mi amor,"

I rolled my eyes at him, pretending not to hear. "What are you doing here, James? And how are you even here?" I felt the ounce to pounce on him right there. What right did he have to walk into my abode?

"You two know each other?" the boy who seemed familiar and looked a lot like him interrupted as a grin I could recognize anywhere sat comfortably on James' lips.

"You haven't changed a bit. Huh?" I asked not wearing a smile.

He grinned wider, gave his lower lip a lick, and went on to make me angrier. "Oh, don't you love the evening sunset, mon amour?" the words that escaped his mouth.

"You really have some nerves coming here," My forehead wrinkled as I said, "I could call the cops on you, if you don't know." My brows laid furrowed, still, not relaxing.

I had completely forgotten that we were surrounded by people. We were really making a scene and I knew for sure.

"You've grown tough over the years, I see?"

The blood in my veins boiled. "Who invited this man here?" I demanded with face turned in the opposite direction, asking not anyone in particular.

Gosh!

The young man next to us had a clasp of James' hand. "Dad, let's go,"

James made no attempt to leave but rather made to hold my hand. He does really think I'm joking, I scoffed and rubbed my tongue against my upper teeth. "Now you listen," I began. "I ask that you leave my house this instant, or have yourself wishing you never came!" I hoped my threats would sink and not fall on deaf ears.

I wanted to be anywhere but not with this man, and wanted nothing other than to have him thrown out of our house. My past and everything that had to do with it was never meant to come in front. So, why now?

"W-wait. Hang on," Anita spoke behind. "Did you say... James? As in 'Mom's James'?" she emphasized.

This was what I didn't want happening-my two daughters meeting a walker from my past.

"James, please leave. I am asking you nicely. Leave." I had no idea what I was doing. All I wanted was to not be in this same place with this man, and to be far away from mocking eyes. If only Derek was still here, I lamented inside.

"Dad, c'mon-"

"Don't you see, son? Now's our chance!"

Anita and I froze. "Our chance?" We quoted.

"What chance?" Anita went further to ask. "What are you two planning?" she asked with shoulders raised and arms crossed. "Did you know?" She arched a brow. "Have you known all this time?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," he dared not look at her.

"Your Dad just made a statement, Samuel. What is he talking about?"

"Nothing!" he shot back with an angry stare.

"Oh, hell, it's something! It's always something whenever you're concerned." Anita slammed her foot on the floor, not taking her eyes off him.

"You have to trust me, Anita. D-don't listen to him."

James chuckled and hung his arm around Anita's neck. "You see, Princess, real feelings don't exist..."

"Dad!"

"Wha-at? I'm trying to save you the stress of telling her that you never loved her for real."

I watched as tears dropped from my baby's eyes. "You two are so unbelievable!"

A loud laughter erupted as Anita glared at father and son.

"S-so that's why you wanted us to get back together? Huh? So you could break my heart all over again? Is that it?"

"Anita..."

Anita yelled-No-and gave him quite some distance. "Don't come any closer. Don't come any closer, or I swear to God I'm gonna punch that face of yours!" she said in all seriousness as all eyes were on us-and every phone in position to have us all over the internet.

The shame-

I could bear it no more; I couldn't bear millions of people watching us, and my daughter being in pains.

... and Lucille? I also couldn't bear the fact that she just stood there, not being able to defend her sister. Not like it was her fault.

I feel this is God's way of punishing me, I thought to myself. This is definitely his way of punishing me for every sin I've committed-I looked back at my youthful days, reminiscing about the past. I asked myself several questions, feeling awful that I wished the ground would just open up and take me in-nothing less.

I was snapped out of thought as I heard; "And to think I could trust you?" a laugh tainted with sourness overpowered Anita's lips, and I made to hold her.

"Let me be, mother," she stopped me.

I sighed faintly, crawling back into my shell, as she spoke through clenched teeth. "...and to think I could let you back into my life and not have you repaying me with something worse!" her aggressive side rose, as pity eyes I owned got weary seeing all that was going on.

Emotions reeked-painful tears flowed like a river, with hatred getting the best of the day. If only one knew a day planned for a funeral would go by with the presence of just one guest. If only we could tell the intervention of another would cause so much trouble for all.

"I regret the day I met you-" sudden coldness erupted as dry lips moved. Anita left the room, exiting the house completely, as I followed, seeing her on the swing with her face lowered like a sad, little child. "I need sometime alone,"

I nodded slightly and granted her wish, moving back inside with back partly turned, as I watched her disappear into the far side. "Where are you going?" I called to her, but got held back.

I turned around to see James. He had his mean face on, while I wore a frown.

"What do you want?"

"We have to talk." he said hoarsely, "I know you've been mad at me… in what seems like forever—" he paused and looked at me, then asked. "Have you been listening?"

I came to realize that my mind had wandered off.

"Trish?"

The call of my name brought me back. "I'm sorry, were you talking?" I asked in a mocking tone as my lips curved sideways.

"I was saying…"

I chuckled as he made to continue, and shook my head as I spoke further; "You really are something James," a scorn broke out on my lips, as it quickly disappeared on calming myself. "I wish you wouldn't pester me but let me be."

My statement must have sounded funny, as though I'd cracked a joke. "I'm sorry, did you not hear me well?"

He smiled and rubbed his not-so straight nose. "You're still that daring girl everyone loves."

His remarks got my brows raised. "Everyone?"

He affirmed, making to talk as I gave him no chance.

~JAMES~

Tricia's really changed. She looked ravishing and even more beautiful—what more would make me not want her?

  If there was anything I wished for—it'd be having Tricia as mine—and all to myself...

***TO BE CONT'D***