Chapter 22

I was preparing myself to go out for grocery shopping when my phone rang. I picked it and was shocked to see that it was my dad calling. We hadn't talked since my graduation in December except for a message he had sent me wishing me a happy birthday. That had been over a month ago. I received the call surprised that he had decided to reach out after so long.

"Mr."I breathed still in shock calling him by a nickname we had started when I was twelve.

"Miss."He replied and I nearly broke down crying.

I'd really missed my dad so much. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be the woman I was even though to some extent I didn't agree with his parenting skills.

"How are you? It's been a while."I asked clearing my thought to get rid of all the emotion clogging it.

"Yes it has. I'm okay. I was going through some old papers and I saw a note you wrote to me years ago thanking me for buying you new story books. When did you grow up from that tiny girl who left me notes under the door to a grown woman who lives on her own?"My dad replied with a sad tone.

"I'm still your little girl dad, just with a little more independence and at the age where it was time to fly out of they nest on my own."I explained.

"Time surely does fly. You're already twenty two now and I'm an old man."My dad lamented.

"Dad you're in your early fifties, that's not old at all."I argued.

"Okay fine. How are you though? How is city life?"My dad inquired.

I smiled when I realized I was getting my caring dad back and proceeded to talk to him about me. I definitely didn't tell him everything, just enough for him to know I was safe and doing okay.

"Your mother and I raised you right. Just make smart decisions and take care of yourself. Also never forget where your home is. When it gets too much come back, we never chased you away and we will welcome you back with open arms."My dad advised after we'd chatted for a while.

"I know dad, thank you."I said smiling at him.

"You're welcome and also do remember to come visit. We miss you."He demanded softly.

"I miss you too and I'll definitely come home when I get a chance."I assured him.

"Okay miss, I'll talk to you soon. Bye for now. I love you."My dad concluded.

"I love you too dad. Take care of yourself and mom."I responded.

"I will."He agreed and hang up.

I lay back on my seat and hugged my phone to my chest. That conversation had gone so much better than I had expected it to which made me glad. I texted my mom that I'd talked to dad and that I would fill her in on all the details of our conversation later. Still reeling from our dad daughter talk, I got up to finish getting ready to leave.

I was finally done with the graveyard shift and had two days off. I was going grocery shopping and hopefully would have enough money to spare for a new dress. Valentines day was coming and I needed the perfect outfit since I was performing at a five star restaurant. They were paying me really well to be sad and lonely on valentines but if my music could make others happy and pay my bills then I was okay.

My outfit consisted of an off shoulder white tshirt, long black skirt with a side slit and white sneakers. Feeling okay to leave the house, I grabbed my phone, keys, wallet and bag.

As I walked out of the house I saw the rose I'd taped upside down on the mirror next to my door and smiled. It was already drying having been a couple of days since it was given to me. I still missed Hunter and thought about him a lot but with time I believed that he would fade to a distant but treasured memory.

I locked my door and left the house running into Sonie who was leaving her house too.

"Good afternoon neighbor."I greeted politely.

"Good afternoon Nala. Headed somewhere?"She asked me.

"Yeah to the market. I have a couple of things to buy."I informed her.

"What a coincidence? Me too. Maybe we can go together."She suggested.

The introvert in me wanted to say no but that would be rude. I was also not completely familiar with the area quite yet and some company would be great.

"I would love that. The boys are still at school?"I asked even if I already knew the answer.

"Yes they actually have their midterms this week."Sonie informed me.

She locked her house and since the market wasn't that far she opted not to take her car and instead decided we should walk together. I didn't have any issue with that since I was planning on walking anyway.

"Brandon told me that yesterday. He was really nervous about his math test today but we talked and I reassured him. It's funny how such a trivial thing is such a big deal for him but for us it's the least we could care about."I conversed.

"It comes with age my dear. I love my two boys and I'm trying my best to do right by them. I just hope I don't mess them up somehow by not being so strict with their grades. I want them to do great in school but also know that education isn't everything."Sonie added.

"You're a great mom and the boys are lucky to have you. Don't let anyone teach you how to raise them, they are yours and yours alone."I advised.

"Thank you, feels good to hear that."She said smiling at me.

After that we talked about less serious topics as she filled me in on some gossip. I definitely didn't need to hear some things but it was entertaining. It was all well and good until we got to a topic I had been hoping to avoid.

"By the way Nala na usinichukilie vibaya tafadhali, sikudhani wewe ni msichana wa masponyo."She asked taking me by surprise.

By the way Nala, don't get me wrong but I didn't think you were the kind of girl to entertain sponsors.

"Unamaanisha aje?"I asked playing dumb even if I knew what she meant.

Want do you mean?

"The other day, I saw the expensive car parked outside your room. We haven't seen each other since then so I haven't had the opportunity to ask."She added.

I should have known talking and gossiping with Sonie would bite me in the ass but I'd still done it.

"You think I had an old man in there with me?"I asked laughing.

"Who else could it be? Only rich old men drive such expensive cars."Sonie reasoned.

She was definitely still living in the old ages where young people were thought to be broke. Sure Hunter was seven years older than me but that didn't make him an old man. There was nothing old about that 6'0 gorgeous hunk of a man.

"Sonie lakini si unapenda udaku."I teased hoping to distract her.

Sonie you really do like gossip.

"Ai sio hivyo."She laughed looking embarrassed.

It's not like that.

"Anyway usijali sio sponsor, mimi siwezini na watu wazee."I assured her.

Anyway don't worry, it wasn't a sponsor, I can't deal with old men.

"Haya basi acha nikuamini, maisha ni yako. I'll just advise you to be safe and take care of your girlhood. I might make single motherhood look fun but it's a hassle."She adviced.

It's okay then, I chose to believe you. It is your life after all.

"I would never trap myself like that. I have a plan for my life that no man can ruin."I assured her.

My goals in life were the reason why even if it hurt like hell, I'd rejected Hunter. As perfect as he was, I just didn't have time or room for him in my life or any other man for that matter. Maybe later when I'd lived my life to the fullest but I couldn't have asked Hunter to wait for me to figure my life out. That wouldn't have been fair to him. He would move on from me and find someone else worthy of him.

The thought of Hunter with someone else didn't sit right with me but I had no right to be jealous. I was the one who had rejected him so I had to deal with the consequences on my own.

The market we went to was pretty big with everything one needed . Groceries, clothes, shoes, household items like utensils, electronics and everything else all in one place.

"Where do you want to start?"Sonie asked me once we arrived.

"What did you need to buy?"I asked her to determine where we needed to begin.

"School books for the boys, school uniform because Brandon grows ten inches daily, some groceries and new work shoes for me."Sonie replied.

"Let's start with the uniform and books. Then we can get your shoes and a dress for me. We'll end with grocery shopping to lighten our load."I suggested.

"I like that idea. Let's go."Sonie agreed.

There were a lot of people so we had to stick together and even hold hands at some point to avoid losing each other.

I didn't want to live in the big city growing up. It was too noisy, dirty, congested without forgetting expensive. But it's where the business opportunities were and a chance for me to make a name for myself as a violinist so I had to suck it up and move there anyway. It was everything I'd thought it would be but it did have its perks too. Like pizza and vice presidents sons who gave me multiple orgasms. Yeah Hunter was still in my system and didn't seem to want to leave anytime soon.

I was helping Sonie chose a pair of shoes for the boys when a very familiar voice caught my attention. I turned to where it was coming from and was surprised to see Max and his girl Yvonne arguing over shoes.

It was so odd seeing Max in such an environment especially since he stood out more because of his height. I wanted to look away and pretend I hadn't seen them but I was too late.

"You know what, let's just get a second opinion to break the tie."Max demanded.

"Okay fine."Yvonne agreed.

"Miss which one do you think is better?"Max asked turning to me since I was the only one closest to them.

"Nala?!"He exclaimed in surprise when he recognized me.

"Giraffe."I responded with a smile masking my panic.

Was it a good sign running into your one night stands best friend after agreeing to never see each other again?

Definitely not.

"Fancy running into you here."Max added with a polite smile.

"Definitely, didn't peg you for a shopping kind of guy."I teased.

"Oh believe me, I'm not. My wife here dragged me on my day off. Babe you remember Nala."Max recalled turning to his lady.

It was so cute he was referring to her as his wife even if they weren't legally married. But in Kenya they had been together long enough and even had kids so even in the eyes of the law they were husband and wife.

"Yeah I do. The one with the voice."Yvonne replied smiling at me.

"Best thing you could remember me with. And you are the queen that manages to put up with Max. Kudos to you girl."I praised her.

Yvonne was a beautiful goddess standing at approximately 5'8 with beautiful long dark hair, brown eyes, a caramel skin tone and the most welcoming smile.

"Oh thank you. It's a task but I manage."She chided making me laugh.

"Hey I'm right here."Max protested.

"Oh shush. What are you doing here at a kids clothing store?"Yvonne asked me.

They both looked at my now flat stomach since I'd stopped my menses and I rolled my eyes at them.

"Guys stop, I'm not pregnant. I'm here with a friend. She's buying shoes for her boys."I defended remembering a similar situation with Hunter a few days before.

"Oh good. I would have killed Hunter for not telling me you're pregnant."Max commented.

"And I would have killed him for making me pregnant."I added.

I really was too young to become a mom.