Chapter 7

• "Father Ryland said you did excellently well in today's class, Hailey."
• I nodded still frowning at grandma. She was yet to have told me where she had gone to this morning.
• "Why the frown honey? You did not enjoy yourself?" She asked me worried.
• My excuse of a friend scoffed, "There's nothing to enjoy in that boring place."
• Granny turned her piercing eyes to Susie, "Indeed. I was told of what an excellent orator you were today."
• Susie grinned, "You know you can always count on me granny to make you proud."
• I rolled my eyes. Soon she would realize that granny was making a mockery of her.
• "Yes," Granny nodded, a glint in her eyes, "Proud enough to have been excluded from all conversations."
• Right, grandma did it.
• "Granny, I wasn't excluded they just didn't want to talk to me," Susie sulked.
• Granny turned to me ignoring her, "What is the problem, sweetie?"
• "Where did you go to that was so important, granny?" I inquired curiously.
• I saw something flash across her face then it disappeared immediately. Was it pain or anger? I don't know but her reply gave me a clue.
• "I went to your mother's grave."
• I stilled for a moment. She had gone to see mom because—
• "Yesterday was my mom's anniversary!" I covered my face in shame as tears spewed out of my eyes dribbling down my cheeks.
• How could I have forgotten my own mother's death anniversary? I felt so ashamed of myself. Yesterday, I was with Duncan while granny had been in tears yesterday and I hadn't known rather I had been upset with her.
• "It's not your fault," Susie said soothingly hugging me. One of the reasons I love her so much, she was always there for me.
• "Yes," Granny nodded genuinely in agreement with Susie, "You are getting married soon and you've got a lot of things on your mind, that's one of the reasons why I didn't tell you."
• I shook my head. I was furious at myself, "I should have known."
• Then granny said something that scared and surprised me. "Don't beat yourself up, you barely know her."
• I was shocked but I knew it was true. But that doesn't change the fact that she's my mother.
• A mother you've never seen. A tiny voice in my mind.
• It doesn't matter! I yelled at the unseen voice.
• Oh darling, you and I both know that it matters. You've been visiting someone whom you had no idea existed. What if she's fake?
• "Leave me alone!" I yelled loudly. I didn't mean to shout but I was just irritated and the voice had been annoying.
• Granny quirked her brow at me, "Go and rest, come out when you're well-rested."
• I walked into my room with Susie hot on my heels only to get stopped by Grandma, "Leave her, she needs to be alone right now."
• I smiled inwardly. Granny knows how I feel. Sitting down on my bunk bed in my room. I examined the pink painting on the wall and saw that it was now faded and some side of the wall was already losing its paint. I made a mental note to repaint my room whenever I was chanced.
• My thoughts drifted to my early childhood days. I had been raised by my grandma and I haven't seen much of my relations either from my mom's or dad.
• The only person I knew was my granny but it didn't stop my first word from being "mama" and "papa". Granny had been delighted when I made those words and with time, I had pronounced "granny" also.
• I didn't know anything about my mother and my father was a different case also. Granny had said that my parents had died before I could utter my first word and we've been visiting their graves ever since then.
• The more I mulled over these things, then I realized I wasn't at fault, I can't mourn someone I never had a connection with and I decided to let bygones be.
• My door creaked open and Susie poked her head in.
• "Sup?"
• I smiled at her. "Come in, doll face."
• Rolling her eyes, Susie strutted into my room. A look of concern was visible on her face despite her playful attitude. "Hey, are you alright?"
• I smirked at her, "Will I be let out of the deal, tonight?" I gave her a hopeful smile and a pout.
• She laughed, "No way, bitch. Tonight is the night you rebel!"
• I glared at her, talk about making a deal with the devil. "You're supposed to cut me some slack!"
• "I'll leave you now to think about how you're gonna pull it off," she winked at me, "I'll meet you outside by 10 pm. Don't be late."
• Fuck you was at the tip of my tongue instead I settled for, "May the devil awaits your soul in hell!"
• My stupid ass friend grinned, "If the devil is as hot as Mr. Lowell then I'd willingly spend eternity with him."
• Gasping at her word, I watched as she strutted out of my room, her heels clicking on the tile floor.
• But the mention of Lowell, had me thinking—what does he want from me and Duncan?