Chapter 22

“Are they meant to shoot me for touching the diamond?", I say “No, they are supposed to protect you”

“How?”, he pulls the ring off.

“For when you are in danger and you need help. I can locate you”, he says.

“I did say you have some soy tendencies”, I quietly added.

“Mmh”, he puts it into his hand.

“Wait, I love that ring”, I say “You do?”, I nod.

“You should get one too”, I grin.

He chuckles.

“And you should laugh more”

“You are not respected enough if you laugh”, I get from the couch and don my slippers.

“Come”, I grab his hand and head to one of the rooms downstairs.

We get inside.

“You don't have to be uptight you know. Smiling goes a long way”, I smile.

“Mmmh”

“And that as well. That Mmmh thing”

“Mmmh”, I shake my head.

He sits on the bed and pulls me between his knees and seats me on his lap.

“There is something about you. There are many lovely females out there but you...you just”

“I am?”

“Something”, I shrink away.

“Mmmh" *

* It has been a week since the whole incident for me and I would say I am still in a state of bewilderment. I am attempting to put together things that I can't piece at once. I don't know where to start. What to do or not to do. I wish things were easy but then again stuff in my life has never been simple. Just not this difficult that I am in this muddled frame of mind. I don't know. I don't know what to do. I have been told by the helpers that Thorne claimed he would be gone the whole day. I woke up with him gone and so I had breakfast alone this morning. It's a habit I have become used to.

NARRATED

Jason was waiting with expectation for Kaitlin to stroll into the police station one of the prior several days but it didn't happen. Instead, she didn't come at all. He wondered if maybe she was held up but with what? What may be holding her up? She simply emerged out of nowhere and became someone's wife. Not just someone but Thorne Nathaniel. Not because he had any head battles with the man, but he just didn't like him. He didn't sit well with his soul about him.

He had summoned one of his connections in the Department of Home Affairs to perform some probing for him around the system. He handed off Kaitlin's name and surname and asked to check for Kaitlin using Brown as well. It has been 2 days since the request and he hasn't gotten anything as of yet. Not till then when his phone ring while he was at his office focusing on his vision board. He had shut the door for a time only so that no one could come in on him and ask him questions. When he is stressed he generally goes and stays with his parents so that they might take his mind off things. It helps greatly and has been his coping technique since his parents don't question anything but his father appears more interested in his work than his mother. After Zonela went it seems like she fled with a piece of their mother. A portion of her that only could be restored by her being discovered.

“Hello”, he answers his phone.

“I have something about what you asked”, he turned his concentration from the board to the subject at hand.

“What did you find? They aren't married?"

“They are, there is even a signature and everything.”

“And her maiden surname?”

I inquire while strolling around.

“It doesn't show here.”

“How come? it should be”

“I am still digging but they are married and have been for some time. It's a recent thing. Probably a month ago”, I frown.

“Mmmh, okay. Keep me updated and thank you for this”

“Sure, no problem", he closes the conversation and lays his phone on the table.

“What is going on here?”, he grabs the black pen and forms a circle around Thorne's face and Kaitlin.

“Rather fail than not try at all right?”, he replies to himself.

He felt hopeful. Very hopeful about what he could uncover. Just when the light diminished it started sparking something for him to grip on and try to light things up with.

“I just have to get closer to them”

KAITLIN

The aide came towards me with the telephone in their hand and she stood in front of me while I was standing outdoors enjoying some fresh air for the day.

“Mr. NATHANIEL wants to talk to you”, she says.

“Oh, thank you”, I grab the phone from her and she goes off.

“Hello”, I hear him sigh.

“How are you?”

“I am okay and yourself?”

“Mmh I am okay. I wanted to notify you that you are departing today for some time" “To where?”

“You shall see” “Shall I come back?"

“Yes you will”, I sigh

“Trust me”, he continues.

“Okay, I will trust you”

“The helpers will pack for you. I will be there shortly”

“Okay then”, he hangs up.

I wonder where he is bringing me. Now I feel a bit nervous about this abrupt journey that I am taking. I walked back inside the home and let the helpers know what Nathaniel had said and they hurried upstairs and got right into it. Hopefully, it will be like a fantastic trip that I watch on TV. Vacation sort of a thing. We are allowed to acquire one right? Mmh.

The assistants pack up while I go and change. When I am done I am notified that Nathaniel is back and I get out of the bedroom and make my way downstairs. I go there and my suitcase is being relocated.

“Hi”, I say “Are you ready?", I sigh.

“Yes, I guess”

“Don't worry”, he grabs my hand and makes me lead the way to the car and I do so.

Everything is loaded inside and then I get inside the car and so does him and the driver. After everything is safe he orders the driver to drive off.

I am nervous, I truly am nervous. He puts my hand into him and I glance at it before I let out a deep breath.

“Calm down”, I nod.

Sometimes I can't calm down when my life is like this.

*

I slept much of the ride and I didn't understand where we were headed. Thorne was sweet enough to allow me to lay my head on his shoulder when I was feeling tired and I slept quite well. I opened my eyes when it was a bit darker outside and I stretched myself. I wasn't feeling even that hungry at the moment but it looked like there was some food here in the car.

“Where are we?”, I stared at him.

“Ibokun ”, he stares out of the window.

“Oh”, I am not sure where that place is in Nigeria.

The drive continues and after a while, the car stops in front of a gorgeous gated property the gate swings open and I look to the side and notice security patrolling the yard but then again there aren't as many as back at the house. The automobile parks in front of the home and it appears like the property is in a country-type region. Not a city suburban place everything I have been viewing. Thorne hops out of the automobile.

“Stay in here for a while", I nod and he moves towards the house. He stands there for a while before he is admitted to the two-story residence.

It's getting a touch cold so the driver puts on a heater while waiting for Thorne. After some time he gets out and approaches my door and unlocks it for me.

“Everything okay?”, I need to inquire.

“Yes” “Mmh", he grabs my hand and closes the door behind me.

We stroll towards the home with me thinking who lives here. We get into the home and it seems warm.