Chapter 22: The Secret Mission

A new era had come, love was doing as love always does, and Ella Bradshaw’s perception was blinded by the feelings of love for the man presently in her life. Failing to see or to realize that he wasn’t much different than Banks. Corporal Banks who had forcefully and illegally taken her virginity.

But, would Ella Bradshaw eventually change her mind about Mr. Marshall, or, him about her?

Early Wednesday morning, Ella arrived at the crushing company, feeling quite empowered and strengthened that this place belonged to her man. She proudly open the gates and doors for the employees to enter whenever they arrived at work and went on to starting her duties in the office. Partially, trusting Ella with this position, Mr. Marshall came to work that morning a bit later than usual, once again. Somewhere around the ten o’clock bells. And finding his love interest smoothly in charge, fully operating his company like a professional, made him beam with pride and joy.

Two trucks had already come by, loaded up with crush stones and departed with them. And Ella had written up the receipts for their orders and collected their payments, which Mr. Marshall graciously thanked her, for confidently taking on such an undertaking without his presence being there to oversee it.

But, Ella had already come to the realization that if the company didn’t make money, there wouldn’t be any for her to obtain.

Nonetheless, before lunch break, Mr. Marshall was thanking her in more ways than one. Heisting her up onto his desk and kissing her while playing with the little girl between her legs.

That same weekend, Mr. Marshall, as promised, brought Dion and Devon to see their elder sister. It was over a month now that they hadn’t lay eyes on each other. For Ella, they looked well-nourished and cared for, that she could hardly recognized that it was them standing by the left and right of Mr. Marshal’s pants foot, when he dropped them off at that familiar address.

“Go guys, go and give your sister a hug!”

Mr. Marshall commanded in a daddy like manner while winking one eye at the teenager.

“I’ll be back, Sunday night or early Monday morning to get them for school!”

He continued as both his hands rubbed on the top of their heads.

But Dion and Devon stubbornly clung to the legs of Mr. Marshall’s pant, as though, their little fingers were saturated in crazy-glue and permanently fixated there.

“Come, it’s me your sister, Ella!”

Said, Ella, coercing them to run into her open arms.

“Don’t tell me, you both have forgotten all about me, already!”

She continued with a startling look on her face.

Mr. Marshal then intervened, forcefully encouraging them to run along and be in their sister’s arms. But, the more he inspired their hearts and minds with this decision of hugging their sister; was the more their faces dropped to their chests, their tears became many and their balling became louder.

Trying to appease them, their elder sister excitingly said;

“I have a Christmas tree inside, filled with presents just for the both of you… want to see?”

For a while that didn’t help, either.

However, as soon as Ella made mention of the fire truck and tea set as their presents, sitting under the Christmas tree; the countenance of both children lifted and changed to that of an inquiring curiosity. Ready to take a bold step inside the house to see this brand new fire truck and pretty-pink tea set, bought specially for them. Their tiny hands still tightly griping to Mr. Marshall’s pants leg, as they made baby steps into the familiar space they once called home.

Immediately, Ella plug the electrical cord into the socket, bringing about the twinkling lights to their fullest illumination. Somehow hoping that such would brighten the dull moodiness of those two siblings faces… the faces of family members closest to her heart. Even though, it wasn’t already Christmas day yet, Ella encouraged Dion and Devon to open the wrapped gifts she had purchases for them, except, those provided for their schooling.

Now, they were happily smiling with joyous surprises showing on their faces. Dion ready to set-up her tea set on the center table inside of the living room while Devon was ready to drive the red fire truck all over the living room.

Mr. Marshall, witnessing all this moment of happiness was now quite satisfied and ready to go about his business as he originally had planned… drop off the children by Ella and go run his errands.

Saying his goodbyes and exiting the house, he called Ella away from the kids, kissed her and kick-off running to his truck with a grin on his face. But with the truck off of her front yard, Ella closed the front door of the house, and immediately snatch away the toys from Dion and Devon.

“All your lives, you both spent here with me in this fucking house, with me diligently feeding and washing your asses! And only four weeks with this complete stranger and the both of you, come-up inside here, acting like I’m some dead rotting meat along the way sides on some corner streets in Cambodia… what the fuck the both of you think I am… dog shit!”

Ella bellowed out angrily cussing.

That was the motherly sister they knew… the warrior, the defender, the no nonsense character who would stormed their asses with the palm of her hands, if they were acting foolish and cradle them, if they were wounded or afraid.

Hearing the angry tone of her voice, bellowing out at them, straight away, Dion and Devon drop their toys and went leaning against the sofa chair with fear blazing in their eyes.

Seeing them intimidated and frightful, told her, she was back in control of their lives and their only choice was to look-up to her and be submissive to her at the same time. Because, she was the only one who has actually mothered them since their mother had given birth to them and brought them home, from the labor and the delivery ward. Feeding them with bottles after bottles, changing their nappies, constantly washing and folding them, and putting them aside were oftentimes her responsibility.

This wasn’t what she had envisioned when Mr. Marshall told her that they were coming home for the weekend to spend time with her. She honestly thought, they would run into her arms, greeted her with joyful giggles, hug on her and excitingly pronounced to her how much they loved her and missed her; extremely.

She also thought, they would enter the house, see the Christmas tree which she had provided and spent hours diligently decorating it and wrapping gifts for them to start their early education classes with. But, their reactions were very far from her expectation.

Nonetheless, the atmosphere in the Bradshaw’s house was far from a jolly one, and being the eldest of the three, Ella knew that she needed to do some repairing and fixing of the relationship she has with these two little ones. Having them loving her and trusting her with their lives once again. Because, they were all the real family she has. Especially, since she had totally obliterated – eliminated her elder sister Hyacinth from her life completely, and annihilating – destroying her brother Philip, by sending him off to prison for a crime he hadn’t committed.

Desperate to forge and return some form of unity between her and her younger siblings, Ella seated herself on the floor beside their feet, and sobbingly became apologetic to them. She began begging them for their forgiveness and giving them explanations as to why they needed to love and cherish each other, although, Mr. Marshall had been kind and helping her with taking care of them.

“He is only a wonderful friend to us, but you and I are family; brother and sisters. All of us here have the same mother and father, and Mr. Marshall, has a completely different mother and father from us, making him only a good friend to our family, but not a family member to us!”

Ella explained, hoping that such idea would be stamped into their heads – reaching their little hearts and minds, allowing them to understand and act accordingly.

In this scheme of trying to find unity with her brother and sister, and showing them how remorseful she was for rudely shouting at them, she stood to her feet and excitingly exclaimed, asking;

“What shall we do today… shall we bake ourselves a cake or shall we go to the beach or the park instead?”

She wanted for them to do something that would be cemented in their little minds for a very long time, the joyful moments they had shared together. And how fun and very pleasant they could all be together as one family. Especially, since most of their immediate demons were either dead or gone missing somewhere, for one reason or another.

Dion wanted to do two things out of the three which her sister had mentioned; baking the cake as well as going to the beach. While her brother, Devon, was only set on going to the beach. And big sister, was willing to give them both; cake baking and going to the beach was now the order of the day.

Big sister and little sister took turns whipping up the cake batter before placing it into the oven. In this wonderful moment of family bonding, rallying together to accomplish a task, Ella enjoyed watching her two younger siblings dip their fingers into the bowl used for mixing the cake ingredients together and then lick them off, as though they were sugary lollipops.

It was a moment she and other siblings had shared with their own mother, years back. But for them, there weren’t any fun memories attached to it. Such moments for them were filled with buffing in the backs, shouts, and constant abuse; more like a master ordering his slaves around. Neither love nor any fun were ever connected to those moments in their childhood years. Moments which were supposed to be special, filled with joy and quite memorable in their youthfulness.

However, the cake was out of the oven, cooled and sliced into small pieces, which Ella packed into bags before leaving the house for the beach. It was a completely enjoyable and fun day at the beach, the same way Ella had envisioned it to be. And she knew, the creation of this day going and being at the beach would forever be imprinted into the hearts and minds of her two younger brother and sister.

How could they ever forget climbing upon her shoulders and diving hands first into the crystal clear water! Filling their mouths up with salty water and spewing it on each other at times, at other times, aiming their mouths and spewing the water from it to see who could go the furthest! Sometimes, Dion went climbing on Ella’s back while Devon tightly clinging to the waist of her shorts, improvise as her bathing suit; and pulling her down into the soft waves of the ocean water, goggling!

And how could any of them ever forget, the scrumptious and juicy cake they sat on the shifting sand devouring; claiming how good it had turned out, in which, the hands of both sisters had spent time making?

No questions ask, there was a huge turn-around presently taking place in the lives of the Bradshaw’s family; and Ella hoped that this unity of brotherly love would continue on forever. Because, the splitting apart – the drastic separation of bloodline has been many in this dwindling family. Even though, she too had contributed to such despicable and evil actions, Ella hoped and pray for a better tomorrow in her life and that of those two whom she knew to be her brother and sister; her family.

Fervently wishing that either of them wouldn’t end up taking their own lives like their sister Lillian had done. Or wickedly betraying her, the same way Hyacinth had done; stealing every red cent she had snatched away privately which was meant for pushing both her and them, forward in life.

But, would Ella be granted the desires of her heart… obtaining the full eradication of violence, physical and verbal abuse, and even the act of murder, in her own little family?

Returning home from the beach, Ella certainly felt as though, she had obtain a notch on her belt, figuratively speaking. Compared to earlier on in the morning when she felt scorned by the two children who had practically grew up in her arms and whom she would have done just about anything for, under the sun.

Nonetheless, after they all had taken their freshwater wash under the showerhead, Ella prepared dinner for all three which they sat at the table and peacefully enjoyed. And just after taking their last bite and washing their hands, big sister tucked the two little ones in bed before taking her moment of relaxing and reflecting. Her thoughts were mainly about how well their day had turned out to be overall and how she hope; whenever Ronald Marshall drop them off at the house again to see her on weekends, they both would be in good spirts and much happier to see her the next time around.

Time was rolling along, the years were catching it up it seems and thankfully, two years had come and gone, and for the most part, Dion, Devon and Ella were fully in unity with each other. And as they all grew, in more ways than one, they knew weekends were for seeing their big sister and they happily looked forward to it. Unless, one of them were feeling terrible ill. Or if, Mr. Marshall had set some special time to be with his fulltime girlfriend, Ella.

Ella, who for the most part had done very well in sitting or taking her three national exams in Mathematic, English and Science. And then went on to sit two additional subjects; information technology and the topic of Social Studies, preparing her for working in any entry level positions and also for higher learning in any college or professional schools of her choice. Being already employed by Mr. Marshall, was already a plus for her, and getting good money for running his office there at the crushing company, she needed not to look for another job and opted for attending one of the colleges in the city.

A move in which he had fully assisted her with, presuming that such would allow her to be independent – standing on her own two feet. Especially, when he broke the sad and possibly frightening news to her that their secret relationship has now finish its journey.

Because, in the back of his mind, he totally believed, Ella had save enough money, would be educated enough to function and survive in the world of work, on her own. Not only that, but she could now easily take on the important task of helping her younger brother and sister in their upbringing and educational pathway as well.

How would Ella swallow this abrupt news that her Good Samaritan, her lover, her blessed angel, her good-good man was over and done with her?

Would this sudden information – this shocking news, causes the tyrant living inside of her, to suddenly emerge once again?

The past two years in the Bradshaw family had been happy ones. There had not been any violent flair-ups in the home; no physical or verbal abuses, and most importantly, there weren’t any killings.

Still, closely working under Mr. Marshall’s wings and also bedding him, Ella decided on studying Business Administration in college. Completing three years of study and feeling quite proud of herself, the young girl, now an adult, had the priorities of her life shifted to that of obtaining an engagement ring from the man who had occupied her heart, mind and soul for the past five years.

Which, she had boldly commented on that idea to the man who had pulled her out of many deep waters and the stinking gutters which had been swallowing her up.

“One more year of College and you can finally divorce Egypt and tie the knot with Miss America!”

She giggling said in Mr. Marshall’s ear, in a slurry voice tone, after spending an evening of passion lovemaking with him in bedroom.

But, Mr. Marshall lacking much confidence in such an idea, had a stern countenance on his face; and neither said, hay nor nay, in regards to her comment.

And with the stone cold look on his face, far from enthusiasm, Ella knew that he wasn’t in favor of her comment or suggestion. But with Dion and Devon still spending time under his roof during the week and returning home to her on weekends. Ella thought it a great idea that they were old enough to give her information about Mr. Marshall’s wife, the layout of his house, the daily tasks of his wife, and whatever she liked splurging on as food. She was quite ready to put them to work to accomplish another one of her evil and vindictive mission.

A vicious mission which involves, totally getting rid of the Good Samaritan’s wife.

But, would she be able to pull this one off without being caught?

Would Deon and Devon facilitate her in this dreadful scheme?

Or, would she die from learning the truth?

The subject of marriage was like a contagious disease spreading around on Monroe’s National Collage, since many of the females in Ella’s cohort, were often gossiping about this subject matter. Young adults just like her, and some even older were blabbing about the topic of being engage and tying the knot soon after graduation. And some who were similar positions as her, had male partners in their lives, assisting them with obtaining their degree and were often making serious mention of this matrimonial subject.

Desperately, Ella wanted this act of marriage to be her story too and was willing to go through any length to make it happen for her.

But, who on earth, can ever beat a dead horse, and forcing it to go galloping around the race tracks; or in Ella’s case, force them to walk her down the nuptial aisle of a church?

Nonetheless, attending collage had been teaching her many things, and strategic reasoning and putting on the charm was one of them. Like a cobra, Ella was putting on her charms under Mr. Marshall’s skin, the best way she knew how. Granting him many unnecessary favors, sexually and otherwise, in the hopes that such would soften his heart a bit, and have him giving into what she wanted from him; a ring!

She was now making many of the sexual initiations whenever they were together. Giving him full body massages, foot rubs, offering to do his laundry, and even reaching for the large nail-clip for clipping his toe nails when his toes didn’t even needed clipping. Harboring the intention in her mind that she would be showing him what great a wife she could be to him in the near future.

This, she wanted more than anything else in the world, right now!

This matrimonial act would have sealed the deal of their friendship partnership; and their love for each other!

This would be the icing on the cake, the blooming of the barren garden and the bright morning star in her life!

And as the months crept closer and closer to the date of her college graduation, Ella intentionally became nicer and nicer to her lover Ronald Marshall. But whatever she tried digging out of her brother and sister’s little minds, was useless because they honestly couldn’t give any serious or concrete information on the woman running the Marshall’s house, and who was supposed to be her boss’s wife. All they could tell her was that they were living in a very large house, had their own rooms and the woman running the Marshall’s house whom they have been referring to as, Aunt Sissy, only slept at the house periodically.

This wasn’t only pertinent – significant information, but also a very puzzling one as well, which now had Ella wondering; what was the actual deal that was taking place with Ronald Bradshaw and his wife?

But this wasn’t a topic area she wish to go about inquiring from him. Because, she still wanted to keep-up with all the shenanigans pertaining to her being the perfect potential wife for him. And now Ella wanted to carry out the difficult task of plan-B, scope out the community and property where Mr. Marshall has been residing.

She was now planning on taking off from work on a day when she knew the office was utterly busy and he would have no other choice but to stay inside the office and oversee all the daily operations there. Her excuse for leaving the office would have to be medically incline especially, since he already knew the facts about her collage scheduling at this point. Such a day would have to be on a Thursday when several constriction workers and their trucks were driving in and out of the compound like heavy waves; just coming one after the other, loading up their tons of gravels for constructing large buildings around the island.

Her secret plan was to quickly catch a cab to his house, stalk out the place he calls home, to see what Mrs. Marshall looks like, and then return to the office and finish up with her duties.

The troubling problem was that she didn’t know the exact address to Mr. Marshall’s house and had to wait for the weekend to come so she could obtain it from Dion or Devon’s mouth. The community where he lives was one she knew pretty well, because it wasn’t too far from where she had been originally attending school. And even though, she had made suggestions on more than one occasions to her boss, lover, and also friend, about bringing her to his house and relating his address to her. He has done nothing but turned a deaf ear to that idea… being totally stubborn as a bull, about following through with it, and making her privy to such.

Regardless of the various scenarios she had painted for him to view or grasps as to why she should know where he and her siblings were living.

Nonetheless, that weekend in which Dion and Devon were to return home for the weekend was coming up soon. And if, they were unable to furnish her with information to Mr. Marshall’s property where they were staying during the week, Ella already concluded that she would simply have to resort to plan-B.

Covertly, she wanted to pay someone… one of those taxi drivers whose car was bent out of shape, a decent amount of money to follow Mr. Marshall straight home. And it would be done on anyone of the Sunday evenings, when he had come by the house to collect her siblings and bring them back to his house.

Carefully, she thought about which of the cab drivers would be trustworthy enough, to carry-out such a task. She needed a driver who wasn’t popular on the streets just yet; one on the desperate side of the tracks where money is concern, because, his car must be so much on the shabby side, deterring passengers from taking it, and one who wasn’t quick on his mouth either.

She would be his merciful angel and he would unknowingly be her tour guide to her troubles, and secret keeper to her scheming ideas. And since Christmas was around the corner, she knew, she would be having extra money in the pocket to furnish such a task. Because she was aware as always, Mr. Marshal would be giving her a hefty bonus – additional cash for the work she had been doing in the office and also in her bedroom.

Which, was now going to make some poor taxi driver, very happy!

And from Wednesday to Saturday evening, Ella patiently waited to execute the plan firmly concocted in her brain.

Dion ten and Devon nine, and both had certainly seen a lot in their young lives. And now in their metaphorically, heavenly and coveted position, were not going to allow not even their dearest big sister to interrupt their lives. Especially, since their guardian and provider had already sat them down, giving them stern warning, not to bring their sister Ella at the house because such would cause them great trouble. Because, although he loved her, he also knew, she could be very dangerous.

It was just after ten Saturday morning, when Mr. Marshall dropped off Dion and her brother at their sister’s door-step with their little nap-sack hanging over their shoulders.

“See you guys tomorrow evening!”

He shouted at them as they made their way towards the front door of the house with Ella standing there with folded hands across her belly.

With her plan already well organized, she excitingly ask;

“Who cares for ice cream?”

“Isn’t ice cream for dessert after having dinner?”

Dion responded with a puzzle look on her face.

That was knowledge she had learnt from both Aunt Sissy and Ella herself, now all of a sudden, this information and rule was being changed.

“Yes, dear! Ice cream is usually for after dinners, but sometimes, we just have to take a lick of it, before dinner, especially when the time is hot like right now!”

Ella informed her smiling.

Devon was quite ready for dipping his lips into the soft folding of ice-cold sugary cream, but Dion on the other hand, only wanted to settle for some apple juice.

A blue cup of ice cream in hand, Devon took his position onto one of the smaller setter chair while his younger sister sat opposite to him. And although, there were few other vacant seats inside of the living room, Ella purposely went and squeezed herself beside her brother, Devon’s body. Anxiously presuming, such closeness to him would allure him to believe, she was in favor of him than his sister, and then would make him spill the beans about the address to where they were staying with Mr. Marshall.

Dion could already size-up that something sneaky was going on with her elder sister. But quite clueless about what it was until she opened her mouth to inquire about the address to where they were living.

Looking straight into Devon eyes while stroking his head, she said; “You know, I totally have forgotten about the street or the number on the house to where you guys have been staying with, Ronald!”

A strange appearance came over Devon, suddenly, while he tried slowing down on the speed at which he was sucking on the scoop of ice cream in his mouth. A questioning look came upon his face as he try recalling what Mr. Marshall had said to him and Dion about not allowing Ella to have access to the address of his house and the consequences that would follow, if such had occurred.

“Your sister can become very dangerous at times, and I don’t care for her ruthlessness in or around this house.”

Devon recalled his guardian saying two years back.

Dion and Devon were now flashing questioning stares at each other coming to terms with the consequences that would follow, if they should ever be the ones who divulge such an information to their big sister.

“When Uncle Ronald comes to pick us up tomorrow evening, ask him for it! Because neither of us know it and it’s not painted on the walls holding up the gates!”

Dion blurted out before eagerly putting the cup of apple juice back to mouth once again.

The response from her younger sister, gave Ella the chills, having her wondering if, her undercover scheming and plotting were being written all over her forehead.

Her original scheme now flapped, directed her to start mapping out Plan-B. Big Sis, had no intention of ruffling any feathers around the house that weekend. All would go smoothly around the house like all the other weekends prior to this one, while she carefully figured out or calculated in her mind how to strategically orchestrate this conspiracy theory.

The upcoming week was going to be a very special one, because the wonderful Christmas Day was going to be here, and it would be falling on Tuesday of that upcoming week. Therefore, Ella decided on taking Dion and Devon to see some of the Christmas decoration in the center of town and also by the park. Instead of going to the beach or sitting around the house and doing homework from school or chores their big sister wanted both of them to carry-out around their house. And those three evenings of festive moments, admiring decorated displays in the store windows, snacking on sweet treats, and giggling with other children, clowns and Santa Clause, was indeed a joyful time for all three of the Bradshaw clan.

Obsess with finding out more about the life her man was having on the other side of town, Ella used her time of holidaying to hire Leon Maurice, for safely driving her to the vibrant festivities in the center of town and bring them back home after they had gotten enough excitement for each evening. Tipping him generously at each trip.

Unluckily for him, he was clueless that she was only buttering him up for much bigger undertaking.

She knew, he was very appreciative for every extra single dollar she had gently place in the palm of his hands and he would never forget her either.

How could he, after she had kept on running her mouth about her likes and dislikes in men while driving her back and forth on every trip to the Christmas festivities?

Ella now had her target sealed and had given him little hints about what their future holds, but he was completely ignorant to the facts of her suggested word. Until, after the great Boxing Day Holiday, when the Christmas festivities were starting with it shimmering down to lower pace and she had spent most of her morning, waiting for him to past by her house. By the side way of the road she stood, eagerly flagging down his vehicle like a race car conductor. And when he did stopped, Ella leaned the top part of her body into the car and with eagerness in her voice, said to him;

“Leon, I’m going to need you for a little job, Sunday evening!”

“Anything for you lovely lady… anything for you!”

Leon pleasantly responded, still pressing his foot firmly on the breaks pedal.

“But, if you should ever see a big red truck park in my front yard when you arrive here, just make a circle around the streets and come back soon afterwards. Or, you could just wait down by the street until you see it past by your vehicle and then come back and get me. Because, I’m going to want for you to follow that red truck to wherever it is going… I don’t want you doing anything else but following it! You understand me?”

With bulging eyes, Ella questioned.

Staring through the windscreen of his rickety car and out of space, as though, reflecting on the words which had just been preached to him. He suddenly jolted back into reality, looked into Ella’s eyes and began nodding his head as he softly uttered;

“I got you… don’t worry about it… I’ll be here for you!”

“I’ll treat you right!”

Ella then uttered.

“I know you will, my lady, I know you will!”

Responded Leon with a cracking of his lips showing his evenly pearly whites.

“Good!”

Ella uttered as she bang on the side of the car with the palm of her hand, indicating that he could go now.

Two quick and short tooting of the car horn blasted in the air while his foot shifted from the breaks pedal to the gas pedal and soon, he swiftly sped away.

Her plans were slowly taking shape, and returning to the house, Ella locked herself inside her bedroom, not wanting Dion or Devon to see what she was doing inside there. And there she removed the head board from her bed, and then counted from the snatch of cash she had hidden there, five big ones – five thousand dollars. Folding the money into think rubber band when she later stuff into one of the deep pocket of her jeans pants, she was now set and ready for the activities for Sunday evening to come.

When Sunday morning came along, Ella got out of bed early, fed her brother and sister twice for the day, help them with the packing of their bags, with their clothing and Christmas gifts alike. And then the moment came for her to only wait for Mr. Marshall to show up at the house and get the kids.

Feeling jittery inside, Ella kept running to the kitchen where she pulled bottles of water from fridge and kept pouring them straight to her mouth, one after the other.

Pawn!!!! Pawn!!! Pawn!!!

Came the loud horn as Mr. Marshall rolled into the front of the yard of the Bradshaw’s property with his big red truck; happy to see Dion and Devon come dashing through the front door of the house to greet him with big smiles on their faces.

“Holy fuck… it’s now nor never!”

Ella could hear herself saying.

Soon she was standing at the front door with a smile on her face while watching Dion and Devon take their position on the back seat of the tuck.

Mr. Marshall exited his truck, made his way towards Ella, standing at the entrance of the doorway with folded hands.

Gently, he kissed her forehead, presuming that Dion and Devon’s eyes were watching him.

“I’m coming back for my Christmas present, tonight!”

He whispered into her ear while kissing her on the forehead. He then slowly stepped away from her and began making his way back towards his waiting vehicle.

The wards rolled off his tongue stung into Ella’s heart and now balls of sweat began pouring from her skin as though, she had just ran a fifty-mile marathon.

Meanwhile, nervously gazing out on the streets wondering if Leon was ever going to show up now!

Knowing that he needed every red penny to put a new ride on the road, he was there… just after Mr. Marshall drove off the property and turn the corner, he was right there in the yard, pounding on his horn with middle of his hand.

Hastily, Ella came from the inside of the house, slamming the front door behind her. In her full disguise, black wrapped her head and pointed all the way to the heavens, as if she was the leading queen of the Nyabinghi dreadlocks movement.

“We have to step on it…. he says he is coming back to the house soon after dropping off my siblings at his house!”

Said, Ella, anxiously.

“Well, just pray, this car don’t breakdown anywhere on these roads before he leaves out of that house!”

Leon replied.

The car giggling away, as if every screw holding it together was about to fall by the wayside, Leon tried his best stepping on the gas until, Mr. Marshall truck was in full view!”

“There it is, follow it… don’t let it get out of our sight!”

Shouted, Ella.

“Not at all my baby… not at all… I’m on it!”

Responded, Leon, in a mesmerizing and obsessive tone of voice as he jammed his foot on the gas pedal and handled the gear-stick, as if, it was granting him some form of sexual pleasure.

The distance between them now being approximately four cars away from Mr. Marshall’s truck, Leon elevated his foot from off the gas pedal. While, his eyes still kept a closetful watch on the truck as it turned left into a residential community.

“Easy on the gas!”

Ella bellowed out as she shifted her shades from over her eyes onto the bridge of her nose.

The truck made another left turn, then stopped three houses away from where the turn was made.

Leon had no choice now, but to pull over on the opposite side of the street, drive past Mr. Marshall’s truck and then parked his car two houses down the street.

The review mirrors now became quite handy and Ella used them to see all that was taking place behind.

She could clearly see her brother and sister coming out of the truck, entering through the massive iron gates and Mr. Marshall following right behind them.

“Reveres a bit!”

Ella advised her driver, anxiously wanting to get a better picture of Mr. Marshall’s house and also to see, if there would be any female coming at the door to greet him.

There were none! But moments later, a female did exited the gates with aprons tied around her waist, came and open the passenger side door to the truck and removed a bag from there.

“Is that his fucking wife?”

Ella could hear herself saying while her eyes peeped over her dark glasses on her face.

“She doesn’t look like his wife she looks more like his housekeeper!”

Whispered Ella to herself.

“But Dion nor Devon never made mentioned that a housekeeper was working inside the house… they certainly would have told me, if such was the case!”

Ella continued with wonderment written all over her face.

Soon, she ask Leon to turn the car around, drive up to the gate of the house and slowdown exactly in front of the house; so she could take a much closer look at both the woman attach to her man and the front of the house. Because, she wanted to have a mental picture of them register on her mind.

But sightseeing of the house or the woman wouldn’t last for too long, because there came Mr. Marshall, barging through the front door of the house, patting on both sides of his neck with his hands, as if, he was spreading his cologne there. Shortly afterwards, he was seated around the steering wheel and starting up the engine to his truck.

“Where the fuck is he going now!”

Ella said out loud.

The truck slowly began moving away from the well-manicured curb and then started heading east bound, towards the direction where Ella was living. Completely, she had forgotten that he had made mentioned to her that he would be returning to her house for his Christmas present.

As the red truck move away into the distance, the words he had spoken to her, hit her memory like a steel truck.

“I’ll be back for my Christmas present!”

“Holy Fuck, Leon! He is heading back to my house!”

Ella shouted.

“You have to overtake him… you have make it back to the house before he fucking gets there!”

Continued Ella, loudly, while hastily removing the black disguises from both head and face, and then stuffing them into her large maroon color, tote bag.

“This son-of-bitch!” She then uttered.