Chapter 13 Ghost from the Past

She locked the door behind her when she got in to her cottage, so much for going to the grave with her secret. She paced the room angrily throwing things at the wall. She hated herself for believing he could change his ways, she should not have gone to see him. Desmond had her fooled again. He was a good man if he wanted to be, but his obsession with money was intolerable to her. He doesn t mind stepping on toes or even climbing on people s head so long he got what he wanted and most times it revolves around money.

Cecelia was in love with Desmond. She met him a few years after his wife died. She was a clerk at the bank at that time.

Desmond came to the bank where she worked, along with his friend at the time to open a corporate bank account. Since his friend was an illiterate, he made Desmond a partner, and because he was a lawyer and he had an understanding of contract agreement. Cecilia ran them through the procedure and even signed as one of the referees. She didn t know that Desmond had an ulterior motive. The account was opened and either could sign to access the account. The partnership went well for a while but immediately the project was completed and the balance of the work was paid into the account, Desmond wiped out the money leaving his friend high and dry.

Despite they were seeing each other, she was not aware of his plan because she was not following up on them since she concluded account opening process for them. She didn t know Desmond was capable of such fraudulent act till Aaron who was the builder that executed the building project came to the bank for withdrawals but the account was wiped out and was trace to Desmond s personal account. But since they were both signatories to the account, no charges were pressed against him

Cecilia confronted Desmond about the money but he told her to forget about Aaron. He said that he only got what he was due; he had even said that if not for him the contract would not have been awarded to Aaron in the first place.

Cecilia remembered being furious about the disagreement between the two of them and they went their separate ways after that. She never heard from him again not even when Aaron died.

Poor Aaron Campbell was devastated, but there was nothing Cecelia could do to help him. Unfortunately he began to drink himself to stupor and transferred his frustrations on his wife.

Aaron and his family became Cecilia s neighbor when they moved in newly after he was awarded the contract. But when he was swindled of everything he worked for, he was so depressed and found solace in the bottles. Then gradually he began to sell everything he had to get more money for booze till they had nothing left. Meanwhile, Desmond moved to a new neighborhood with his daughter started his law firm and forgot all about Aaron and his family. It was unfortunate the Campbell s family ended the way it did but Cecelia was grateful she was able to do the little she could to make life easier for Dave and Daniela. How could Desmond now come into her life after all these years, wanting the impossible?

***

Dave felt like making Peppered Suya off Greg s finger- that finger he used lick something off Brenda s lips. He simply could not stand and watch the coziness between the two. He could not even face them to say good bye for his sister s sake. But he came home instead and made a mess of things with Rosie who left him to wallow in his misery alone. Dave went to his wine cellar and then he reached out for a bottle of Johnnie Walker. He poured the amber liquid into a cup, swirl it and half way to his mouth, he then remembered what alcohol did to his family. He had promised himself never to be like his father. He would never be the kind of man he was, which was why he worked his socks off to get to where he is. His discipline had been great so far, staying clear off spirits, he just had them stock for when he had visitors who might want to indulge. But his resistance was about to snap, thanks to Brenda, who always find way to crawl under his skin. God! The girl gets to him the way no one got to him ever. Dave saw his reflection in the glass shelves that housed his various when collections. He didn t see himself instead he saw Aaron Campbell looking back at him with a bottle of spirit in his hand. He screamed at the image and threw the glass in his hand at the reflection, shattering both the glass and the mirror shelve, he took the bottle of the Johnnie Walker and hurled it at the fragments of the mirror still hanging to the wine shelve.

Cecilia heard the shattering noise, she had dozed off and was startled awake from a fitful sleep. When she heard the noise second time she jumped off the bed, she ran to the main house.

"David? She called for him, are you home?

She didn t receive a response so she searched the house and finally saw him in his cellar surrounded by broken glasses; he was hunched on the stool his head bent.

"Hey! Are you alright?" she said to him in hushed tone, rubbing his back the way she always does when he was in this state. "Everything is going to be alright Boy, whatever it is you are going to get through this."

Cecilia pulled a stool closer to his, "what s the matter David" she was the only one that called him David.

She waited for him, gently rubbing his back. "Is it work?"

She waited for him to gently lift his head. A hunted look on his handsome features, "Aunt, I almost became that monster" he whispered, his eyes searching Cecilia s. "I almost became like him, what if he is inside me and just waiting to pounce" he started talking animatedly

"Ssh!" Cecilia took a look around her, seeing all the mess he made; she understood what must have happened to him. "You are nothing like your father, David" she put a hand under his stubble chin and made him look into her eyes. "Two people can t be further apart than you and your father." She held his gaze, willing him to understand what she was telling him. "I mean look at you David. I m so proud of the man you have become and trust me your mother would too, like I m saying for the thousandth time, you are nothing like your father"

She pulled him into an embrace like she always does to him as a boy, whenever he wakes up crying from his sleep. She wasn t sure but she guessed he might have outgrown the nightmare but another type of demon is still on his trail. "See what I m about to say might seemed preposterous but I will like you to at least consider it."

A questioning look on his face, he raised an arch brow.

Cecilia went further "I want to you to consider seeing a professional" she said cautiously. She didn t know how he was going to take it, but Cecilia felt the need to advise him to seek a professional help. He has gone through a lot in life and he bottled so much inside that he does not allow anyone to see except for glances like this once in a while. She felt he should speak to someone who is a professional with all these things.

"You mean I should consider seeing a shrink?"

Cecilia only nodded her affirmation.

He was silent for a long time, then he finally sighed, "Okay, I will consider it"

Cecilia rubbed his back comfortingly and gave a wry smile, "You should Son"

It was his turn to nod and return the wry smile.

Okay, that settled I will have this mess cleaned up" Cecilia said standing from her seat.

"Nope it s a mess I made, I won t have you cleaning it up" he followed her motion. "I made the mess and I clean it up"

"I m I lucky or what?" Cecilia said in a suprisisng tone.

"We are the Lucky ones aunt you took us in when none would. Daniela and I. I can t thank you enough for that."

"Okay, don t go all emotional on me, where is the Dave the handsome rogue CEO?"

He laughed out loud then, a genuine laugh. And the sound of his laughter melted Cecilia s heart. He doesn t laugh too often.

"Now, that s what I m talking about, you should do that more often but still I won t have you cleaning this place. Off you go to bed, come morning the cleaning lady will take care of it."

Dave looked at Cecilia with appreciation in his eyes. "Thank you Aunt" he hesitated, "For everything."

She knew he wasn t just referring to the house cleaning, "You made it so easy to do everything I did Dave, taking you and your sister in was one of the best decisions of my life. Because of you guys I have a family to call my own. So I should be the one thanking you." She patted his arm. "And that being said you should go off to bed."

"Okay, good night Aunt"

"Good night."