Chapter 24
"Come in Ladi," Joyce said from the room. Pulse racing, I placed my hand on the door knob and twisted it gently until I heard the door unlock. I pushed the door open and saw Joyce sitting on the egde of her bed.
I didn't enter the room immediately, I just stood at the entrance with my eyes locked onto my feet.
"You wanted to see me?," I said, as I slipped a hand into my pocket.
"Come and sit here Ladi," Joyce said pointing to the highly expensive make up vanity stool in front of her mirror.
Leaving the door open, I walked over reluctantly, my mind filled with different thoughts. "What does she want to say?" I thought. In a swift movement, I brought out my phone from my pocket, opened the recording app and hit the record button before returning the phone back in my pocket.
I sat on the stool, still not making eye contact with Joyce. I was scared but I tried to mask my emotions as much as I could so she wouldn't use it against me. However, when she spoke her usual confidence was gone, replaced by desperation.
"Your uncle will be back tomorrow," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please... please don't tell him about Abu." Her hands trembled as she put them together. "He has a heart condition. It could kill him."
She took a shaky breath, tears threatening to spill. "I promise it won't happen again. I regret everything with Abu." Her voice cracked on his name.
Then her expression hardened slightly. "Besides," she added, wiping her eyes, "he's not innocent either. He's spending Christmas with his mistress right now, the one who already has two kids for him."
My eyes widened at the last piece of information she dropped, My uncle was also cheating? Or could this be her way of throwing me off so I wouldn't have to say anything to my uncle?
She broke down crying, crocodile tears, I suspected, repeating over and over, "After all I have done for Daniel, he's cheating on me?"