Chapter 41

We finally got home and Alice came downstairs to hug me.

“Mummy!!! I’ve missed you!

“I missed you too, my angel.

“I thought I was never going to see you again.

“I cannot leave you here, my sunshine. How is your nanny treating you?

“She is nice, mummy; she helped me braid my hair.

Alice turned to show her mom her hair.

“Wow!! This is so beautiful, baby. Did you tell her thank you?

"Yes, mom, I did, we made something for you to eat. 

I was so excited at the mention of that. My daughter is so thoughtful; she is the most kind kid I've ever seen, not because she is my daughter but because she is so nice and kind to everyone else. I got inside my room and noticed that it was clean; it wasn't the way I left it. On the day of Ami’s collection launch, I scattered my wardrobe to look for the perfect outfit to wear. I turned and saw Nancy standing behind the door.

“Were you the one that helped me arrange my stuff?

“It wasn't me; it was Alice. I wanted to do it but she insisted on doing it. She thought you were still angry with her  over the last incident.

“What incident? 

“The night you were supposed to reconcile with Tyler and your phone went off, she thought you left the house angrily. 

“Oh my God! I cannot believe she would think that. I wasnt, i totally forgot about the whole situation. 

“Well, what are you doing to do about Tyler?

“How do you mean?

“You slapped him because you were upset; I think you should say sorry.

“But he said hurtful words to me.

“You still don't justify the fact that you raised your hand at him; the situation would have been worse if the reverse were the case.

“I’m just confused, Nancy. What do you think I should do? 

“Text him and talk about it; let him know how you feel about the whole situation.

“I will do that later; I need to sleep now.

“You have to do it now; do not postpone an apology; tomorrow is not promised; do what you have to do now. 

I was so confused. Nancy was right, even though I hate to admit it. I hate the fact that she was right, but one part of me was still hurting and I wanted to let it control me. I went into the shower and took a hot bath. I was not fully strong yet so I was just managing myself. 

I came out of the shower and I saw that Tyler was calling me. I stared at the phone for a little while before taking the call. I took the call without saying a word; I didnt say anything to him; I just left the phone on my ear as I listened to him talk.

“I know you can hear me Andrea. I just want to be sure you are ok. I know you are upset with me but you do not have to be. I was so foolish to be scared of my mother’s threat. Jackson is awake and I have sent the evidence to the police. They will have Amber in their custody soon. Please call me if you need anything. I'm going to send you some money so you can buy whatever you need. I know you spent most of your money on your studio opening. I love you and I would never trade our love for anything. Please take care of yourself and I will call you later at night. 

The call dropped, and I placed the phone on my chest. Our love was a tough one. With so many battles ahead of us and so many trials, I was so scared. What if my patience level doesn't take me to the final stage of our realationship? Tyler’s mother is so controlling and it is evident in the way she cajoles him to do things. What if he doesn't have a say in our home when we eventually get married? What if she decides to run the affair at home? 

So many unanswered questions filled my mind. I couldn't control my thoughts; they were controlling me and it wasn't funny. My heart was filled with so many negative thoughts. I moved closer to the window to have a view of the hustle and bustle of the city. Maybe it will take my mind off the worry I was feeling. As I looked out the window, I saw the city below, full of life and activity. People were rushing about, going about their daily business. The cars were zipping down the streets, and the pedestrians were moving at a brisk pace. I felt like I was a part of something bigger, something that was moving forward. I took comfort in the knowledge that the world was still spinning, even though my own world felt like it was standing still.

I took a deep breath, and I felt my worries start to melt away. I realized that no matter what happened, I would be okay. I had survived this far, and I knew I could survive whatever was to come. I would face whatever challenges were thrown my way, and I would come out stronger on the other side. I felt a new sense of strength and resilience, and I knew that I could get through anything. Tears rolled down my eyes when I remembered how I lost my parents. Maybe things would have been different if they were alive, and maybe I wouldn't have to go through life alone.

As I thought about my parents, I felt a wave of grief wash over me. I missed them so much, and I wished they were still here with me. I knew that things would have been different if they were still alive, but I also knew that I couldn't change the past. I had to accept the reality of my situation and move forward. I knew that my parents would want me to be happy, and I was determined to make them proud.

Even though I was alone, I knew that I wasn't really alone. I had Alice and Nancy by my side. My parents didn't have all the money in the world to look after me; in fact, we lived in penury. My dad was broke and we could barely feed him, but we were living happily. He died because we couldn't afford money for his medication.

My dad's illness had taken a toll on our family. He had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and the treatment was expensive. We had tried everything we could to get the money for his treatment, but we were barely scraping by. I remember how worried my dad was and how much he tried to hide it from me and my mum. He always put on a brave face, even when he was suffering. It was heartbreaking to watch. 

My mom tried all she could to assist with the medical bills but it didn't amount to anything because he couldn't cover the expenses. My mom did everything she could to save my dad. She worked two jobs, and she sold her belongings to try to raise money. She went to the hospital every day to be with him, even when she was exhausted. She was determined to do everything she could to save him. But it wasn't enough. The medical bills kept piling up, and we were running out of options. I remember the day the doctor told us there was nothing more they could do. The look on my mom's face was one of pure devastation.

That day, I felt like I had lost everything.

My day was brought home because we could no longer keep up with the bills; he died at home.  Losing my dad was hard enough, but losing our home made it even harder. We were forced to sell our belongings and move in with relatives. It was a difficult time, and I struggled to adjust to our new circumstances. But my mom was determined to keep us afloat.