Chapter Eleven

 SONIA

I took night flight. The plane left at exactly 8pm and touched down at New York at 1am. I wasn't surprised to see the city still bustling with activities at that time. 

I ordered an Uber which took me straight to my mum's house. The drive from the airport to the house took just twenty minutes. 

The security guard was surprised to see me at the house at that time. He looked different from Allen, the one I personally hired for my mum. It seemed Allen had been fired already. 

"Who are you please?" He asked. 

"I'm Sonia Gordon"

"You're Miss Gordon's daughter?" He asked, with wide eyes. 

"Yes" I said, with a brisk nod, holding onto my box and my handbag. 

"Oh, nice to meet you. I'm James. Come in" He said and assisted me with my luggage and locked the gate. 

As I walked in the well - lighted compound, I smiled at the elegance of my mother's compound. There was no doubt whatsoever that she had good taste. 

From the beautiful garden at the left side of the house, to the swimming pool at the right and the huge driveway at the centre, with flowers around the corners of the house, it really exhuded great wealth. 

I walked to the front door and knocked. There was no response. I thought of calling her and then remembered that I changed my phone and there was no way to contact her to let her know I was outside. 

I knocked again. 

At the third knock, the door opened slowly. 

My mother was in her favourite blue thick pyjamas and black bonnet. She wiped her sleepy eyes and looked up at me. She wiped it again and peered closely to be sure that she wasn't seeing a ghost. 

"Sonia??!!?!?" She called out calmly. 

"Mum" I said, trying very hard, to hold the tears that were threatening to drop. 

"Sonie baby! Jeez!!!" 

I don't know who moved first but within the twinkling of an eye, we were locked in a very tight embrace as we both started sobbing. 

"I'm so sorry Sonia" My mum started.

"No mum, I'm sorry" I said.

 LISA GORDON

A lot had really changed in five years. A whole lot. I'd become very close to Helen's kids and grandkids. 

I joined the local Christian community in Brooklyn society and started volunteering for children's and women's programs as well. 

In actual fact,my house was being used most of the times for women seminars, and it was indeed sweet. 

I reunited with Ryan and Ben Caldwell and also became very close to my granddaughter Catherine. She was being brought up in the fear of God and in love. 

She enjoyed visiting me most of the weekends and during school holidays because she'd then have access to plenty of grandma's special treats and cookies. 

Life had really gotten better and pleasant for me. I was no longer the cold, closed off, hard-headed Lisa Gordon. I was now a calmer version, never doing anything without seeking God's insight. 

After a long day of going to the park with Catherine and two of her friends who were spending the weekend with me, we slept off very late. 

I tried to study a few verses in the 1st book of Peter, and ended up falling asleep on my reading table, and then I heard the first knock. 

I thought it was just a figment of my imagination, and then I continued my sleep, but then the knock sounded again. 

I looked up at the wall clock, wondering who could be knocking at such ungodly hour. 

I also wondered why James would open the gate at exactly 1:27am for a stranger, because I obviously wasn't expecting anybody, except for Ben, who would be coming by later that day, after service to pick up Catherine, and Elizabeth Harper, Lily's and Rose's mother to pick up her kids as well. 

Lily and Rose were Catherine's best friends and their mother, Elizabeth, was a nice young lady. Her husband, the twins father, was working in Boston and he comes back once in two weeks. They lived just three blocks away from me and they enjoyed the weekend sleepovers with Catherine at my place. 

I was about to call James to ask who could be knocking, when the knock sounded again. I decided to go open the door. I trusted that James wouldn't open the door for just anybody.

I kicked the toys and books scattered on the floor in my living room and walked to the door. 

I stilled when I realized who was at the door. 

My Sonia.

 SONIA

"Come on in darling" Mum said to me and I walked in, not knowing what to expect. 

She switched on the white lights in the living room and I was horrified at what I was seeing. 

I stilled as I took in the appearance of my mum's once-composed living room. 

Toys lined the shelf, where books by Terrry Blake's and other life hacks books used to be. 

"Sorry everywhere is a bit scattered. The kids and I had a long day yesterday and I didn't even bother cleaning up before we all went to sleep" My mum said and sat down. 

The atmosphere remained very tense. 

I wanted to ask her whose kids exactly.

But I also knew she wanted to ask me a lot of questions as well. 

"How have you been mum?" I asked. 

"I've been doing great" She smiled. 

It looked like she wanted to say more, but she held on, and asked. 

"How have you been too, Sonie?" 

"Well, I've just been hanging in there" I replied and she nodded. 

"It's really so good to have you back. I'd have really wanted to grill you and let's involve in the long awaited conversation, but for now, you need to freshen up, settle down and relax. Catherine is a hands full and she's also a very light sleeper. So you'd have to be very quiet" My mum said and retreated into her bedroom. 

I stood up and walked to my old bedroom. I passed by one of the guest rooms and it had 'Catherine' written boldly on the door. I was tempted to open the door. 

My breath hitched and my throat became very tight, but then I refrained from opening the door. 

I went to my bedroom and turned on the light. The blue fluorescent light sparkled dimly, like it was brand new. 

The bed lay arranged and everywhere looked very neat, devoid of dust. 

It was obvious that my mum still came in here to do cleanup once in a while.

I had my bath, put on my yellow night gown and laid down on my bed to sleep, without even unpacking.