Forty One

Chapter Forty One

“Or he was my father?” Hannah looked thoughtfully, ignoring the shocked looks on people faces, her eyes still on Jennifer. “I mean, he is dead, so I think the right sentence is; he was my father.”

“Ms Solver do you realize what you are saying right now?” Roberts asked.

“That Mr Lewis is my father? It is true.” Jennifer let out the breath she had kept unconsciously nasally, her head suddenly feeling light that she had to grab the edge of the table in front of her.

“Hannah Solver, do you know that making up tales can cost you more years in jail?” The Judge butted in.

“I know. And since I know, why would I want to make false claims? I repeat, Mr Lewis is my father.”

“Can you prove this claim of yours Ms Solver?”

“Uh…” She paused, looking in her lawyer’s direction for some seconds. “I… I actually lost my birth certificate in a fire when I was little. That should have been enough proof right?”

“Yes, it would have been if you were able to produce it right now and if it were already proven to be legal and legit. Otherwise, your claim is just words.”

“So, you are saying that, if I could prove that he is my father, I won’t be tried anymore?” Hannah smiled brightly that I made Jennifer’s stomach churn. To Jennifer, Hannah was at that moment being a very good, manipulative, selfish liar, and Jennifer didn’t work well with people like that.

“What on earth are you saying Ms Solver?” The Judge exclaimed, hitting her gavel on the desk in the process. “Ms Solver, do you even know why you are here?” The Judge had obviously gotten frustrated as her voice went stern asking the question.

“For trying to kill my step-sister?” Hannah flashed Jennifer another smile, Jennifer rolled her eyes.

“For trying to kill Jennifer Lewis. And for having a hand in mis-managing the company, exposing it to illegal activities.”

“Mis-managing my company! I own that company and I can run it how I want!” Hannah shouted.

“Ms Solver! I will not allow any stupid, senseless behavior in my court! You want to shout, do it elsewhere. Am I making any sense?” Hannah nodded, the outburst of the Judge making her look a bit remorse. “I need you to answer in words.”

“Yes, your Honour.” Hannah answered quietly.

The court room became very silent that a pin-drop practical would actually be successful. After what was like a minute, the Judge resumed her talk.

“Good. Listen to me, unless you can prove that Mr Lewis is indeed your father and that he gave you the company, you have nothing to claim. And even if all what you have been saying or rather claiming, happens to be true, you will still be tried for attempting to murder Jennifer Lewis.” She faced the court.

“I am giving Ms Hannah Solver four days to provide evidences to support her claims, if she fails to provide them, that is more jail years for her. This hearing is hereby adjourned.” She got up and left.

The court room became instantly noisy, people moving out, chattering incessantly mostly about Hannah’s behavior. Jennifer was still in her seat, still unable to process what had just been revealed by Hannah. If it were true, which she highly doubted, did her father know? Jennifer frowned when she reminded herself that there was no way she could ask him. So she was left with the claims coming from Hannah and the actual truth.

“I just heard someone say he could see the resemblance. And now that I look at you, I…” Jennifer glared at Silvanus who immediately shut up, and then her eyes went to Mark who sighed deeply.

“Listen Jennifer, at this stage, I wouldn’t advice you over think. You need to focus on what you plan to do when this is all over. And I promise you, it will soon be over.”

“It doesn’t seem like it Mark.” Jennifer gripped the edge of the table tighter. “One minute, I find myself in a strange land with no memory of how I got there. The next minute, I find out my husband is responsible. Next, my help is the mastermind of the whole plan and to top it, she is … my step-sister?” She faced Mark, confusion dripping on her face. “It doesn’t seem like it would be ending soon. Who knows, maybe someone is going to come and tell me my father is alive next.”

She looked away, her lower lip tucked in as her head was beginning to feel light again.

“She is not alright is she?” Jennifer heard Amanda’s voice ask.

“Nope.” Silvanus replied her.

“I have an idea and I can guarantee you it will make Jennifer feel a bit better if not totally.”

------------------------------------------

“Amanda, you amazing girl, you brought us to my favorite eat out joint.” Jennifer could not help but smile as the familiar trailer came to sight. Bearing a little signboard that said ‘DOMO’S EATERY’, beside it, the trailer also had a couple of table and chairs in front of it. They all sat down at a table, each of them, except Amanda checking out the environment.

Jennifer smiled again as soon as she sighted the owner who was cooking away in the trailer, his familiar ponytail which he always let her pull when she was still a little girl coming to sight. She grew up eating at the eatery every Friday night with her father, they never missed a Friday, well until things changed. As he continued cooking, blessing their noses with the combination of sweet smelling meals, he turned and immediately made eye contact with Jennifer.

Smiling widely, he gestured to someone to watch over the cooking and he got off the trailer. “I am so happy and relieved that you are not dead.” He opened his arms wide as he walked towards her. Jennifer got up, and hugged him tight. Like the city, he hadn’t changed much. His hair was still black and shiny with few strands of grey here and there. He was still taller than Jennifer despite his little fat addition, which Jennifer thought made him look better. The little fat made his previously tiny eyes more visible and that sort of delighted Jennifer in a weird way.

“Uncle Domo, I have missed you so much.”

“Me too bear, me too.” Others watched as the duo had their moment. After few minutes, they separated, facing others smiling.

“Uh… guys this is Uncle Domo, he is a wonderful friend to my family and also an amazing cook. Silvanus, you should try his pasta, trust me, you would want to travel here everyday to get it.” Silvanus chuckled and the three of them greeted him.

“Nice to meet you all. You can call me Dominic.” He faced Jennifer. “I am really glad you are alive, it was terrible what Francis was doing with your father’s company and now that you are here, perhaps things will become normal there.”

“Uncle Domo, once the trial is done and the two of them are in jail, I will make sure to restore the company to its former glory.”

He smiled and held her shoulder lovingly. “I trust you Jenny. You have got your father’s blood, so you won’t have any issue. Okay guys, grab a menu and order what you want, it is on the house.” He smiled again.

“I will be back shortly, I need to check what I am cooking.”

Jennifer watched him leave, the statement, ‘you have got your father’s blood’ , ringing in her head. She looked away to the other side, walking a bit further before stopping. She wondered again if her father knew about Hannah. If there was a chance he did, Jennifer asked herself why her father wouldn’t have mentioned it. Since it was just two of them after her mother died, they both formed a father-daughter bond that was very strong. Her father didn’t keep things from her and neither did she. But Jennifer wondered if Hannah was a truth her father failed to come clean about.

“Are you okay there?” Mark brought her out of her thoughts and she turned to face him, immediately replacing the confusion on her face with a smile.

“Yes I am.”

“You should eat.” Jennifer nodded , the advice Silvanus had given her the other day popping into her mind.

“Uh Mark?” He looked her way. “I have something to tell you.”

“What is that?” A breeze passed in between them causing their hair to fly in the air for some seconds.

Jennifer began to play with her fingers.“ I don’t know if this is a right time to say this, but I guess I would say it anyway.” She paused for a second, looking at him in the eye even though she was nervous as hell. “I like you Mark. I really like you. I like ‘like’ you. Gosh that sounded like teenage me. ” She breathed out in relief, chuckling nervously before closing her eyes, she then opened them, her eyes still on his.

He stood there and said nothing. He still kept his eyes on hers, but he was so unreadable.

“Mark, say something.” He blinked, his whole stance still unreadable.

“Hey guys, food is here!” Silvanus called delightfully.

“You should eat.” He simply said and walked back to their table.

Another cool breeze hit Jennifer who just stood there, watching Mark’s back, confusion written on her face and a heavier load on her chest.