Chapter 20 Out of Steam

Furious was an understatement, I mean who takes a disliking to a young boy, maltreating him the way her father did. She was pacing her room thinking of what to do next. She was boiling enough not to have the ability to stay or sit still. She was not going to sleep anyway, so she did what came to mind- that was to confront Desmond Lewis.

She hurried out of her room, headed to Lewis s room, not caring what time it was, but he was not in his room. She went to the next like place he might be at this time of the night- his library.

Brenda tapped gently on the door, and went in without waiting for an invitation.

Desmond Lewis sat on his soft leather swivel chair. His reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, reading from files scattered on his table. He looked towards the door, and was surprised to see Brenda in his study room. "Dad… I thought I ll find you in here"

***

It was a surprise when Dave saw Brenda entered his office. This can t be good. Just when he thought he had escaped for the night. "Hey, sunshine, what are you still doing up? Did you forget you have an early start tomorrow?"

"I didn t forget about tomorrow but this can t wait" she chose to stand. Desmond Lewis offered her a seat but she declined. "I m good" she mumbled and went for the jugular. "You know I guessed you were kind of telling me a lie earlier but … Dad why?" she forged on without waiting for an answer "I trusted you"

"Wow, will you just back up a little, what you are even talking about?" he scoffed.

"Okay, let s pretend shall we?" she scorned "how about the fact that you made me believe you lies all those years ago, or the fact that an innocent boy was punished for things you planted in his bag?"

"How did you know that?" He asked with a dazed expression.

"Oh forget how I knew, rather focused on the fact that lie to me" Brenda had fume coming out of her ears now.

"Okay, I lied, and then what?" Desmond shot up from his seat as if by a canon. "You honestly did not believe I will allow you throw your life away because of a good for nothing boy"

Brenda didn t know what she was expecting but his confession took the wind from her sail. Her voice dropped to threatening low pitch "But how could you?"

"You know what? Given the chance I ll do it over again" duplicating her low tones "I don t want you around that boy, and no other way to communicate that to you."

Tear swam in her eyes. She didn t know which was more hurtful; the fact that he lied to her or the fact that he was unrepentant. "Who are you? Really, because whoever you are… I don t even recognize who you are."

"Well, that makes the two of us; I don t believe the daughter I raised will talk to me in this manner" Desmond went for the guilt trip tactics.

"Don t even turn this on me, Dad. What you did was …. Barbaric and unfair"

He sighed; feeling very tired all of a sudden, taking a step towards her. "Whatever I did, it was for you Brenda."

Brenda took steps backwards "Really, I didn t need you protecting me that way, not then and not now. You times like this I missed mum so much and wished she was here" she wiped a tear that finally escaped her eyes with the back of her hands. She took a big breath like she wanted to drop a bomb shell. "Well whoever you I don t know what you did with my father, but I do know I don t want to be with you right now" she backed away till her back reached the door, turning she opened the door and hurried out.

"Brenda…" he called after her but stopped a few steps towards the door, clutching his chest to hold the pain he was feeling "I ve always been here you just didn t know" he whispered dejectedly, and then dropped into his chair. Desmond closed his eyes tight. He had managed to ruin his relationship with his daughter because of his dastardly behavior. And Dave Campbell was to blame for that.

Brenda wasn t sure what to do next but she knew she didn t want to be in the same house with him. So she hurried to her room blinded by tears. She brought out a suitcase and packed some clothes in to it. She took her hand bag and changed into a jeans and a top. She left the house not minding it was late. She just wanted to go as far away as possible from Lewis.

She didn t know who to call. She wanted to take the car but decided against it. She didn t know where to go but she wasn t going to stay under the same roof with her Dad even if she had to sleep on the street. She took her phone and called Ella. She was the only person that came to mind. She checked the time on her phone it was 10:30 PM. Thankfully, Ella picked on the third ring.

"Hello" she heard her voice

Brenda sighed. She hoped Ella would be able to help her.

"Brenda, are you there? Her voice came on again.

"Yes, sorry to disturb you this late. But I got kicked out, and as you know my place is not ready yet, I was wondering if…" she didn t even know why she called her but she knew she was the only person that came to mind to call.

"Say no more… where are you? I mean, are you okay?"

She gave a short laugh, "If you could call standing on the street not knowing where to go okay, then I guess I m fine… I just needed a bed and a place to stay she sniffled"

"Tell me exactly where you are, give me some minutes, and I will get you out of there"

Brenda quickly gave her location and ended the call… pulling her suitcases after her as she walked the dark street. She was looking around her, afraid. She heard a lot of news on how people got mobbed on the street of Lagos every other day. She was even afraid to call for the cab because of all the news she heard about people being kidnapped and all.

Few cars were speeding by her, one of them even stopped to ask if she needed help. But she declined with a 'nice but be on your way smile.

Shortly, a Lexus jeep pulled up beside her. "Hey beautiful" said to her from the car.

She didn t look but kept walking on and saying the same thing she said to the first guy, but his voice registered so she quickly turned to look into the car. She saw his handsome facial features bathed in the glow of the lamp from the car.

"You?" she uttered incredulously "What are you doing here?"

Dave smiled his devilish smile in the glow of the light from inside his car, looking all the more handsome. "good to see you too" he said sarcastically "But can you please hop in, and let s continue this pleasantries in the comfort of the car, it s really becoming uncomfortable talking to you… from here like that, If you know what I mean." He chuckled uncomfortably. "Wait let me get that" he turned off the engine and got out of the car to help with her suitcase.

"So how did you know I was here?" she asked when they were in the com fort of the car.

"I didn t, but my sister did call me to come pick you up. Apparently she was out of town and couldn t come to pick you up herself."

"Oh!"Brenda responded in comprehension. "But she didn t tell me she was out of town."

"She didn t want you to look to strangers for help, that s how she is."Dave smiled affectionately.

"But why did you? I know you don t like me and all, and you have every reason not to." She knew she sounded dejected but she was beyond caring plus she felt guilty for not standing up for him when he had nobody.

Dave observed she sounded different to her usual sanctimonious self. What changed? And the truth was, he wanted to keep hating but he simply could not. And tonight he was exhausted emotionally; he didn t even have any fight left in him for Brenda, but Lewis sure deserved whatever he dished out and he sure is going to fill that man s plate. "Well, my sister asked me to help you, and trust me I dare not say no, or I wouldn t hear the end of it." He darted a brief look in her direction.

"Well, thank you." She whispered.

"You are welcome." Dave smiled.

She looked at him, feeling very sorry for what she did. She was not ready to approach that, right now, they would talk about it much later. "That looks genuine" she said instead.

"What?" he asked confused.

"Your smile, that s the first real smile I have seen on you, since I got back"

"Really, thanks" Something is sure different with him. She didn t know what but she liked this new mood. It's like the old Dave was back, her Dave.