Chapter 18 True Confession

Daniela was right. Dave thought, as he stretched his long legs out on his marble center piece. He had not been himself lately. It started the day he saw the news about Lewis running for governor. He had wanted nothing more than to hurt that man the way he hurt him. And the return of Brenda Lewis to town after several years did not board well with him either.

If anyone knew him it was his sister, and maybe his Aunt Cecilia but not as well as Daniela. He was grateful they were able to go out earlier in the day to spend their well needed time together. Dave smiled at the thought of her animated face, especially whenever he teased her and vice versa. She grew up so fast, he rubbed his eyes with thumb and fore-finger and sighed, remembering how he differed his admission, and worked so hard so that his smart sister could go to school. She did better than most of her mates and by eighteen years she was already in year two at the university studying estate survey, by the time she twenty-two, Daniela already bagged a masters in business and marketing. She was indeed very smart, and David did everything to ensure she had what she needed to focus on her studies without distractions, and she never disappointed him. Though Daniela was his younger sister by six years, she still somehow managed to mother him. That was why she was able to guess he was not happy, in fact, he s really sad despite all his achievements, what will give him joy is to see Lewis pay for his sins. He Stared unseeingly at the big screen suspended from the ceiling, at the center of his massive sitting room; his mind again on his past.

***

"Do you have a minute Dave?" Cecilia thought no time like now- when Dave was in a relaxed mood to divulge the truth. She walked towards him on the big soft sofa that could almost swallow you in to its depth. "I need to talk to you" she quickly added.

Dave sat up straight in his chair. He had ditched the club tonight to have a quiet evening relaxing and reminiscing, talking with Daniela does that to him- it puts him in a reflective mode and of course gratitude to God. They had turned out alright, both him and his sister, and for that he was grateful.

"Aunt, I didn t know you were here" he said tiredly. He patted the seat next to him on the long couch, "Please come have your seat"

Cecilia looked at Dave, He had gone through a lot to get here, and he had to grow up a whole lot faster than men his age; and now to dump another one on him scared the daylight out of her. She almost changed her mind, but it better to face your demon head on. Besides, Dave would appreciate the truth.

"You look upset are you alright" He asked her burrowing his lashes in worry.

"I m fine… but there s something I need to discuss with you" Cecilia launched into the story of how Desmond Lewis and Aaron Campbell became partners. And how everything ended, she also told him how she was Lewis girlfriend at the time. And now Desmond Lewis was hanging it over her head to marry him.

The wheel in Dave s head started turning, putting pieces of information together. He looked calm, but he was a dynamite waiting to explode.

Without so much as opening his mouth, he forced the words out through clenched teeth "So you are telling me Lewis was the root of my family s problem?"

Cecilia could only nod, afraid of what might happen next.

"And you were an accomplice?"

"No, that was not the case, I didn t know what he planned, and I only got to know later" Brenda responded shakily

"Yeah, right Aunt, I trusted you" Dave finally looked at Cecilia squarely "Why didn t you tell me?"

"Because I was afraid you were going to be this way" Cecilia moved to the edge of the sofa. "Dave I love you, and your sister, like my own children. I wouldn t intentionally hurt you guys. "

When I discovered what Desmond did I broke up with him, and became friends with your mother to help any little way I could"

"Oh! You did what you did out guilt" he interjected cynically

"Maybe so, but I couldn t bear to watch you guys go through all that and not help" Cecilia was desperate for him to understand her motives.

Dave was really frustrated, but he was also a realist. He could never overlook what Cecilia did for him and his sister. But he couldn t pretend he wasn t hurt by not telling him the truth sooner.

"And if I told you earlier, it will only make you bitter than you already are"

"Balderdash, you should let me be the judge of that" he snapped hitting his fist on the centre piece.

Cecilia jumped at his outburst.

Dave stood from the sofa, feeling suffocated. He walked towards the exit but stopped, his back still turned he asked "And are you going to marry him?"

"What?" Cecilia asked, confused

"Are…you going to marry him? He repeated

"Dave how can you even think that?" Cecilia was bewildered he thought so less of her to actually consider she would contemplate such a preposterous proposition.

"Well… are you?" asked wanting to know for his peace of mind. He couldn t bear the thought of his dear Aunt with the monster of a man. He thought he was bad, now he knew calling Desmond Lewis bad was like calling the Atlantic a river.

"No, of course not" Cecilia s tone rose a notch, scrunching her face up for emphasis of how indignant she found Desmond Lewis

"But you loved him?" He sounded more like an accusation but he was beyond caring.

"Yes! I did but that boat sailed a long time ago." she retorted indignantly

Dave was relieved. He released the breath he was holding, and then walked out of the room.

***

Cecilia watched his shoulder slumped, her eyes were watery, she was supposed to be helping him, and now this. But she was relieved that the worst was over. She worked herself up since that meeting with Lewis. Dave might be upset with him now but he will come around because he s always been reasonable person.

***

"I love this, it s all looking good." Brenda was glad she chose the colors. The sitting room was covered in a baby blue patterned wall paper, and the spiral pattern POP complemented the spacious room. She knew the house was good from the first time she took it but its looking better with each passing day. Thanks to the crew that Ella introduced her to.

***

She was swamped with work when she came by her office to drop the keys, and she complained about having so much to do. Ella had opted to help her find a good interior deco company and she even gave her some house mover numbers. Ella has been so helpful with the house; the girl sure knows her craft. She told Brenda that most of her clients are big shot and most of them don t have time to be looking for movers or even decorators; so she had struck a bargain with some decorators and movers. So every client she introduced to them she got a cut. The girl sure has a business mind. Brenda smiled, remembering her saying a girl got to do what a girl got to do.

Now looking at her gradually emerging haven, she was right to have trusted Ella s partners. She walked to the kitchen. It was tiled floor to bottom. The furniture had been put in place too. The kitchen looked cozy that she was already imagining inviting friends over, to enjoy her specially made delicacies with all the recipes she learned on Youtube.

"When will everything be ready for me to move in?" Brenda asked the foreman following her as she inspected the house and its progress.

"In a matter of two weeks at most, it should be ready to move into"

That s great because I can t wait to move in here." Brenda steeped into the master bedroom and her jaw dropped. The wall was covered with flowery pink and splash of green here there, presenting a picture of a beautiful garden. "This is good, really good"

"We aim to please" The man was glad at the pleased expression on her face.

They walk back down the staircase with shiny wood railings. "Thank you, I really love it"

***

Dave walked outside of the house towards the garden, allowing the cool evening breeze blow his heated face. He didn t know how much more he could take. He definitely needed to talk to someone. As difficult as it was to admit, he knew he had to talk to someone about the mess his life had become. Despite all he had something was missing. He couldn t place his finger on what it was but he would sure like to find out. Times like these he wished his mum were alive. She was strong, perceptive, smart and beautiful inside out. Daniela was a lot like his mum. The depression engulfed him in waves; he dropped to the beautiful carpet grass that looked nothing beautiful to him at the moment, and cried. He wept like a baby, for his mum, and for the first time he cried for his Dad. Many times he wished for a better childhood- like not having to grow up too early, taking on responsibilities he had no business taking on, a father who was available and responsible enough to teach him how to be a good man. If only he could undo the past. But he couldn t and he had to keep forging on. And sitting at the center of all his life chaos was Desmond Lewis.

He concluded to have Paul, his assistance get him a good professional to talk to, and maybe schedule an appointment.