Chapter 9

That Sunday evening Nana's father did not come back; Nana and Linda spent the whole night parking their belongings which was not much! Nana wondered what was going to happen to her, she didn't know where her father is taking her; either to aunt's place or back to the village.

Nana looked forward to seeing her mother, siblings and her friends in the village. She felt bad that her stepmother had fired Linda for no reason, she felt responsible for it. She wondered if Linda is also going back to her own village, she felt sad that she may see Linda again.

Very early on Monday morning, before everyone woke up, Nana's father, her aunt, and uncle came for Nana and Linda. Father went to Nana's room and told her to wake up and get ready, he told her to wake up Linda too. Aunt went straight to Nana's stepmother's room, she knocked on her door.

Stepmother opened with anger because Aunt Becky was screaming at her to open. When stepmother opened the door, aunt pulled her out to the lounge and told her to sit down.

Nana's father and uncle were already in the lounge. Stepmother and aunt sat down. Nana's aunt started talking with a lot of anger; she said:

"Who gave you the right to beat Nana? What right do you have to kick her out of her father's house? You managed to chase us away from our brother and we kept silent but now you have gone too far. My brother has been raising two of your children who are not his blood, he never complained and you have the nerve to kick his own child out!”

Uncle tried to stop aunt from talking but she refused. She continued to say that "if Nana is leaving this house, then Marcus and Altie have to pack up and leave this house too. Those children are not ours, even a blind person can tell who they look like."

Nana's aunt was still going on with her accusations until stepmother grabbed her by her hair and pushed her down; they started fighting while uncle and father were trying to pull them away from each other. Linda, Nana and the children came into the lounge to see what was happening. Everyone was dumbfounded by aunt's accusations; they were all looking in amazement.

Stepmother was crying, saying that she was sorry, that she never meant to hurt anyone. Marcus and Altie were also crying, asking their mother what she means by saying sorry. It was all chaotic in the lounge.

Nana's father said nothing; he stood up and went into his room. He came back with his suitcases full of his clothes. He told aunt and uncle to get up, he also told Nana and Linda to grab their luggage. Nana and Linda packed their stuff, the boot, jumped into the car and they left with Nana's father, aunt and uncle.

For a while, no one was talking, they were all silent. Nana's uncle was driving and her aunt occupied the front seat. Nana's father, Linda and Nana were seated at the back seats.

After a while, Nana's aunt started talking, she said: "Brother, I'm really sorry if I over did it but I have had enough with your wife. She has abused you for ages, I couldn't stop myself today. I know you tolerated her for the sake of your two boys but what about Nana? What about Nana’s siblings in the village? She took you away from your first marriage and look what she turned out to be."

“I didn't mean to let her children find out like this but it was too much for me to keep quiet after she has chased Nana out of your house. I have been silent for your sake but today, I couldn’t control my anger. Nana’s mother is not here to protect her so I had to step in and do the needful. I’m really sorry for overstepping on my mark!”

Nana's father touched on Aunt Becky’s shoulders and he said "Sister, I'm not angry with you, I just don't know what to think or do. I regret for abandoning my first family. I guess I'm paying for my past mistakes." Nana was not happy seeing her father and aunt unhappy.

Nana interrupted their conversation by saying that "Father, don't be angry, you are the best father I know. I love you father, what matters to me is that you gave me a chance to dream again."

“At my mother’s place in the village, I was always worried because I knew that my mother will not afford to fund my further studies but you came through for me. God has also blessed me with this scholarship; I'm going to make my dreams come true. I don't care whether I have to spend the whole day and night in my books, but I will never lose that scholarship father, you will be proud of me someday."

Wow, everyone in the car was amazed by Nana's little speech. Nana's father just hugged her and a little tear rolled down his eye. He said that he is already proud of Nana.

After a long drive, Nana's uncle turned the car to some house. Nana's father jumped out of the car and he opened the gate. Uncle drove inside while Father closed the gate behind him. They all got out of the car, uncle removed Nana and Linda's stuff from the car.

Father came close to Nana and he said "Nana, welcome to your new home, this is going to be our new home and Linda is going to take very good care of us as she has been doing. This time Linda is not going to be a housemaid; she is going to be your aunt too Nana, she will be with you in every situation. Please Linda; will you take good care of me and my daughter?” Linda shook her head agreeing with what Nana’s father has just said.

Nana jumped up and down, she was so happy to be in a new house where stepmother won't be around to always abuse her. Father opened the door and they all entered the house. The house was beautiful. They sat in the lounge and talked and praised themselves for having escaped stepmother.

Father told them that he has been with that house for a while; he said he bought it months back; that’s where he spent every Monday and Wednesday nights. He said that he needed some peace and he was not getting it from home. He decided to buy and furnish that house for his own wellbeing. He said he was not getting any sleep at home due to his wife's nonstop quarreling and it was affecting his health. Nana's aunt and uncle congratulated him.

The house was a bit smaller compared to the one they were staying in at Stepmother. It only had three bedrooms, one for Nana, one for Linda, and the master bedroom for Nana's father. It had one garage and a beautiful kitchen. Each room had its bathroom and a toilet, and it also had a small compound.

Nana loved her new room, it was beautiful and very neat; it had a huge mirror and a stylish bathtub. Nana's father promised to add in a reading table for her.

Nana's aunt and uncle bid farewell to the trio and they left. Nana's father told Nana and Linda to unpack their stuff and said that when they are done, he will take them to buy some groceries for the house. He said that he has taken a day off to settle into the new house.

Father told Nana that he will drop her to her mother in the village for holidays over the weekend. This made Nana very happy and she told Linda not to worry because she will bring her delicious fruits from the village.