Chapter 2 Two

Present day;

I wake up, standing to my feet slowly I am shaking and soaked, something that hadn't stopped for the past seven years. I take the bottled water from the night stand drinking great gulps.

I walk out of the room,I just want to clear my head of the images that keeps hunting me in my dreams. In the sitting room,I see Aunty livy who immediately smiles when she sees me.

'Honey another nightmare?' She gives me a sympathetic face.

'Yes it's worse.' I reply taking a sit beside her.

'Tell me about it' She says taking my right hand and squeezing.

I am not shocked,I have outgrown that stage. I never understood why she kept asking about my dreams when she knew she would get the same reply. 'I keep seeing him,he begged me to open that door,he cried and asked me to save him but i let him burn, i ran for my own sake.'

'No honey you were going to open that door,you stopped because you were thinking about Quinn,Malory,Crystabel,you were thinking about your family.' she sniffs and touches my face 'You knew there was too much at risk.'

'Too much at risk?' I yell frantically. 'He was my brother,I could have saved him,we could have fought together,I would have opened that fucking door.'

'Fought together?they would have killed us all,you didn't want that.'

I know she is right,I know we would have all died. You would think one would heal after a long time,I never did. I am in pain everyday,I never have a dreamless night cause I am hunted by memories of that night. I will myself to forget it all,to heal and move on but everyday I convince myself that I am making progress I close my eyes and see myself in my Papa study room.

Ever since that incident seven years ago,I have never cried I cut myself once but the tears never came. I sit back curling myself and Aunty Livy immediately hugs me. 'God the last good sleep I had was seven years ago,I remember I was so happy Miss Sarah delivered a baby girl and I slept dreaming of happy things before John woke me up'.

'Dont blame yourself,blame me.' she is in tears now, I shift to look at her.

How can I blame this woman,how can I blame a woman that took care of me and helped me heal. After we escaped,we didn't go to the station to report the crime,we had been so scared and had immediately made arrangements to leave the state. I spent two years of my life in the hospital,well,under the special care of Doctor Ben my Aunty once upon a time lover. He had taken a look at me,talked to me and didn't give up even when I didn't respond.

I had put them in pain because they had to live their own lives to favour mine. After two years,I finally spoke,I still remember the smiles on their faces. Crystabel we decided to name her that, she was already 2 going to three in few months when I came home. How can I blame a woman who has done nothing more than love me.

I stop talking immediately Malory my younger sister walks in. She is exactly like my mama with big blue eyes and long black hair. She is fair in complexion and doesn't act her age, you would expect every 18 year old to be a little bit unwise well not in Malory's case my sister had to grow up fast all thanks to me who refused to speak for two years. She walks up to us taking a sit beside me

'Wow I can't miss this little party'. She raises her eyebrow, something my mother used to do when scolding us. She waves her hand in the air like a magic wand. 'Eva you have a big day tomorrow,you should be resting your bones.'

Trust Malory to keep tabs on everybody life,she always complains that I work too hard and never rest. She looks at me frowning. 'I am really upset nobody told me Travis Scott has dimples.'

'Jesus'. It is all I manage to say while laughing.i have an appointment with Mr Travis Scott and I honestly had no idea,well I know nothing about my client.

'Malory' I say with my hands towards the heavens in prayer. 'You are 18,you shouldn't be interested in men'. I muse picking up my bottle water and taking a sip.

'Sis some people have a love life. Well I looked him up on the internet that man is so hot.'

'He doesn't have dimple' Aunty Livy says surprising me 'He just smiles real good.'

Okay I really cannot believe these two plus this is not the kind of conversation I want to be having few hours before a professional meeting. I am surprised this woman still happens to shock me every single time, trust her to run a background check on anyone who meets her girls.

'It is dimple'. Malory says frowning.

'You are obsessed with dimples.' I say laughing. She is like our mama,she once told me her love story. it was love at first sight for her cause my Papa had dimples which she really liked. Well her joy knew no bound when John was born with it too. Aunty Livy obviously too tired to start any argumentative session with Malory stands up. She kisses our faces before finally resigning to her room.

'You should go to bed,I will be up early to dress you'.

'Me?'. I ask confused 'Do I need to be dressed'.

'Well,my fashion sense is way better than yours and you can't wear those horrible things you call dresses to meet Travis Scott remember he is handsome.' she says the last part with a shriek.

I sigh 'No.'

'Eva,you are having a meeting with that fine man,he has his face on different magazines plus he is sinfully handsome,rich and single'.

'Of course I know all this' Well I didn't know any of this and how the hell does she. I am sure she turned the internet sideways digging up everything on the poor man.

'I love you okay,let me dress you up in the morning'.

I know it is very difficult to win an argument with Malory,plus I am too tired to start one now. 'I love you more'.

'Uh uh that is my line,and you know I love you more'.

'I said it first,so I do love you more.'

'You wanna argue'. She replies hugging me.

'No no,sleep tight' I reply standing up.

***

'I think the purple fits you more.' I roll my eyes sitting exhausted,Malory had come into my room this morning and had half dragged me to my closet and for almost an hour I have been given different clothes to try on.

'I have tried the purple,you said I looked like a Christmas tree,I am pretty sure they aren't purple'.

'well,don't blame me can't remember when I last saw one'.

I sniff guiltily,after that incident,I couldn't bear the thought of christmas. As always,my family has been nothing but patient, following my wishes without complaints.

'I try Malory,I wish I could do it,at least for Crystabel.'

Malory immediately hugs me. 'I know honey,I know how much you do for all of us,you built a company on your own to ensure we don't have any financial problems.'she shoves my shoulder playfully. 'Well, except in the relationship aspect you know.'

I laugh,a full belly own cause I don't think Malory would ever stop surprising me with the things she says. 'Oh please shut up.'

She stands up,back to playing fashion designer. 'Hmm wear this'.

I breathe in, collecting the cloth. 'What about the one I have on.'

'No,it's not revealing enough,this colour makes you look like a yoke,you look like a normal worker not the boss'.

'Okay make up your mind,I need to leave already.'

She pouts 'Don't be like that Eva,you are meeting Travis scott ...'

'Okay' I interrupt her before she begins her love session. I sit down defeated watching my sister mess my once upon a time perfect room. She laughs at my green undies and widens her eyes when she sees my Barbie gown. After what feels like forever,she stands with a red suit.

'Wear this,then we change your makeup.' she begins to clap her hands , dancing and singing.

Malory has great fashion sense,the suit trouser is a perfect fit and it hugs my every curve. I am not slim like Malory I am a size 8 my hair is longer and straighter than when I was younger,my eyes is brown like my father's. I have a small mouth and a dimple in my left cheek- well Mother would argue that it shouldn't be called one cause it only appeared when I laughed. I am tall,unlike my Mother,I have only one piercing on each ear. My father would describe me as a beautiful woman with the face of an angel.

Malory hands me a silver necklace without the earrings.

'I think the earrings would be good.'

'No,let them guess about you in one.'

Confused at her remark I sigh. 'Why would anyone.'

'Eva'. she puts her hands towards the heavens. 'It gives you this sexy bossy look'.

An hour later,after changing my makeup thanks to Malory who insisted it looked so wrong,I smile at myself in the mirror.

'I look so beautiful'.

She let me gush over myself without interruption. She turns towards the door and smiles.

Crystabel jumps on me and I would landed on my ass if Malory hadn't balanced me.

'My sweet bunny.' I plaster kisses all over her face making her scream in delight. 'You didn't dry your hair?'

'Mama will you take me to school.' she gives me her sweetest face,the one that always keeps me on my toes.

'Honey you have Mr Benson for that.' I say referring to the driver.

'Mama, other kids come with their mama or papa.' she looks teary now.

'You know mama has to work.'She is crying immediately, wrapping her small hands around my neck.

'Take me! Gloria asks of mama alot,she is laughing'.

I have had so much stress in just a few hours and I most definitely don't have the strength to deal with Crystabel tantrums.

'Gloria laughs alot,she isn't right now' I say correcting her. I steal a glance at my watch and I almost let out a scream. Crystabel is not a demanding child,If she is like this today,then she must really need me. I am sure she is hurt that I have never dropped her off at school. I look at Malory hoping to get some help only to see her shrug her shoulders. I immediately try another technique.

'Take me,take me mama.' Her screams are louder now, Malory rescues me by transferring Crystabel to her lap.

'Please honey let Malory take you' I say standing to find my car keys.

'Sorry Eva I have exams today I have less than one hour and I need to prepare.'

And I have a meeting in less than an hour I almost fire back. I take Crystabel back to my lap. Resigned I kiss her head. 'Let Mrs Thelma dress you up.' I say referring to her nanny of three years now.

'Dress me Mama,I want you to dress me up.' she is on my bed instantly.

I look back at Mary with teary eyes. 'I am going to be late'.

'Shu' she replies 'Be a boss today'.

.