Chapter 19 Veracity

***

"How's it going at the office?" Desmond Lewis asked his daughter at the dinner table.

"It s going great and I m really hopeful. I sent out some introduction letter to some producers. I received some positive response already." Brenda scooped a spoonful into her mouth, savoring the delicious taste of the rice, frittatas and gizzard and plantain sauce made by her Dad s house keeper. She will sure miss her dishes when she finally moved to her new apartment. She might be lucky to persuade her to come in once in a while to make something for her, not that Brenda couldn t cook, but she sometimes enjoys someone else cooking especially Becky s, like she fondly called her.

I m sorry I have not been able to check on you guys, I mean see for myself what you are doing with the place" Lewis expressed his regret.

"It s Alright Dad, I m doing great, if I may say so myself. And Angelina has been a great help too, together with other staff members."

That s good to know.

Brenda dropped her cutleries on her plate. She looked seriously at her Dad. "I have been meaning to ask you something,"

Desmond rested his back on his chair, giving his daughter his undivided attention, thinking what Brenda was about to ask that s making her so uncomfortable. "I m all ears, hit me"

"It s about… she hesitated, and quickly continued to quickly get the word out. "... Do you remember my last birthday before travelled?" gauging her father s expression who was looking more tensed by the minutes. She launched on without waiting for response. "Please tell me…did Dave really steal those items?"

Desmond cutleries clattered on his plate. His expression was that of a child s who was caught with his hands stuck in a cookie jar. He quickly recovered and opted for indifference.

"What does it matter? If he did or not, it was a long time ago and everyone has moved on from that unfortunate event. And besides, those items were found on him." Desmond looked everywhere except at his daughter.

Brenda guessed… scrap that, she knew her father was not telling the truth. His expression was everything but he blatantly denied the seemingly obvious truth. Brenda looked frustrated. She was desperate to know the truth which his father was not willing to supply. Dave s parting remark the day he came by her office rang in her ears again.

She tried again. "Dad I sincerely need to know the truth"

This time Desmond opted for anger to cover up his lies. "Are you saying that I m a liar? Now, you believed a stranger above your own father? Wow! Brenda"

"Dad I m not saying you are not telling the truth" finding it difficult to say the word Dad and liar in same sentence, that s how much she revered her Dad. She sighed; she tried a persuasive approach instead of the direct approach that was obviously not working.

"I need to know the truth for my peace of mind. I might not be able to forgive myself if…." She was saying but she concluded with-"Well I just needed to know" the operative word is "needed…Dad"

"I just told you the truth. There s nothing more to tell. "

"It s okay Dad if you say so" she said unconvinced. Brenda resumed eating her meal. Her attention drawn to the massive television set. She watched unseeingly listening to its hum.

Desmond Lewis resumed eating his food, but never allowed his eyes wavered towards his daughter, only a sneak peek. It was easy lying to a thirteen year old girl, but lying to a twenty- eight old lawyer was another matter. Whew! Desmond reasoned as Brenda concentrated on her food and never asked him again for the evening. That was close!

***

Brenda bid her father good night, muttering something about wanting to have an early start tomorrow; she lay on her bed and sleep was elusive, even ever present novel that was on her bedside failed to draw her in this time; she kept scheming the same page reading it over and over again. She kept playing back her conversation with her Dad. She felt lonely and wished she could talk to someone. She was keeping her distance from Greg so as not to give him any encouragement, even if she wasn t she possibly could not call him up and start chatting with him about Dave and their unfortunate past. The only person she could call was Ella, and even she was Dave sister. Maybe she could get a dog, if she had a dog she could at least talk to the dog, even if it was only in monologue, someone would be listening.

How pathetic she said to walls. She read somewhere that it s an act of desperation for an unmarried single to own a dog, specifically if you were not originally a dog lover. But was that even right? She made a mental note to get a cute dog when she moved to her own house. She turned and tossed on her bed, not even the thought of dogs brought her sleep sweet oblivion. She checked the time to be 8:30 pm

A slight scratch, like a paw scratch on her door brought her from her thought. Okay! Maybe all her thoughts about dogs are bringing imaginary scratches on her door, she thought hilariously. She chuckled and then went back to reading or not reading the decorative book in hand. The scratch came again but now more like a slight tap, someone must be at the door. Maybe it was her Dad, coming to tell her something. She jumped off the bed, she opened gently. It was Becky at the door.

***

"Can I come in Brenda?" she asked agitatedly looking around like she was trying to avoid being seen by someone.

"Sure!" Brenda was surprised; she wasn t expecting her and not this late. She stepped aside making way for her to come in. Becky only comes to her room to clean, and deliver a message. Brenda was very friendly with all the domestic staff, in fact they all loved her. She even brought gifts for them when she was coming from New York. But coming in this late without summon had never happened before. And that got Brenda worried.

"Are you alright?" Brenda asked scrutinizing the woman.

"First, I m sorry for coming in to your room this late and uninvited. I waited for Mr. Lewis to go to his room before I made my move." she wrung her hands together and quickly continued

"I m also sorry that I eavesdropped when I was serving you and your Dad at dinner earlier" she looked at Brenda nervously and quickly add "I know it was unprofessional of me, but I couldn t help but listened when I heard that Dave Campbell s name."

Brenda was curious "Okay?" she looked at the woman that has been their house keeper for as long as she could remember. Becky was a young lady of maybe twenty years if not younger when she came to work for them. And they have gotten along well, sometimes acting more than a housekeeper.

"Well…l I have been feeling guilty all these years." She had the mind to feel ashamed.

"So?"

Dave was innocent. She rushed on before she could stop. I was the one who placed the items in his bag.

"What? "Brenda was shocked.

So you were the one who stole and you allowed another person took your fall?

"No. Not like that at all, I will never steal. I was thought better than that. But Mr. Lewis…" Becky stuttered "Mr. Lewis gave me the items to put in Dave s bag"

Brenda s hand shut out and landed on Becky s left cheek. "How dare you… say such about my father Becky?"

Tear pulled in Becky s eyes, rubbing her stinging cheek, "I promise I m saying the truth. I have lived with the guilt of that act all these years." The tears were coming from her eyes now. But Brenda could see the relief in her eyes too. She took a brave stance looking Brenda straight in the eyes, her stinging cheeks forgotten "See if you like believe me. But I know I told my truth and I m finally free. Do you know how I felt when they were beating that boy like he was a criminal and detained for something he didn t do?"

Becky scoffed. "I had to run after him and gave him water. A little way to assuage my guilt at the time" I shouldn t have done what I did but I needed my job. But right now, I chose the truth and not my job." Becky continued, "I m ashamed of what I did, and if losing my job is punishment, then I accept that, but at least, I will be able to sleep at night." She turned and left the way she came, closing the door gently after her.

Brenda s mouth was agape the whole time. Becky wouldn t be brave enough to talk to her like that if she wasn t telling the truth. Why would she want to lose her means of livelihood if it was a lie? And what does she have to gain for lying like that? It must mean that Becky s words were the truth. She was expecting anything but not this- Her father intentionally planting his own items on a fourteen year old because he hated him for what? Being friends with his daughter? This is simply hare-brained, she thought.