Too Many Traps

ELEANOR 

The car was parked in the lot of a compound I had rarely been to. Without being told, I was left with no choice but to plant a smile on my countenance, while I looked to my left where Raymond was seated—wondering at the same time what was going on in his mind. 

“I'll get the door—” It looked like he snapped out of his thoughts, saying a word or two to the driver who was asked to wait for us before hopping down. “Come on down, my lady—” it sounded very fake but I made do with it, taking his hand and then hopping down. 

“One moment,” Raymond mouthed. He stretched his hand and took out the baby basket where Michelle was kept. “You should take her with you into the house. I'd get the basket of fruits.” He mouthed once more and I moved, happy he at least, knew that I didn't want to be there. 

In a short while, I caught up with the front door. 

It was a beautiful, large compound. 

Now that I was standing there, I wondered if it was just the old man and the younger lady in the whole of this house. 

Snapping out of this disturbing thought, I knocked on the door. Then, I noticed the bell and rather, rang it. 

The door was opened in seconds. 

“Hello, ma'am,” a young lady, with the brightest smile I would see since today, urged as she opened the door wider. “Dad has been expecting you.” She added and opened the door wider than she already did. 

“Welcome to the house.” 

“Thank you,” walking further, I looked around. “How are you doing? And can you tell Dad about our presence in his abode? It is him we have come to see.” 

“There would be no need for that—”

That was the voice of a man. 

An old man. 

I looked to my left and there he was—walking in the direction of the living room with a smile on his countenance. “Look at you. You look so good, Eleanor. I am so glad to have you here.” Now, he was standing in the space of the living room, looking left before facing the woman who brought me into the house. 

“Do you want something, Dad?” She asked. 

“None that I can think of,” he settled on a couch. “How about you face the task I have given to you? My guests will be hungry in a short while.” He said and now, he faced me. 

“Where is he? The man you married, I mean.” 

“I am here—” the entrance door pushed open. Raymond stepped in and looked at me, before the old man. “Hello, Dad. It's nice to see you again, I must say.” Walking closer so that he could hug the man, the basket of fruits was dropped on the ground. “Look what I brought for you.” 

“Thank you, son. Come on. Take a seat. You don't know how much this visit means to me, or do you?” He looked at me this time and asked. “Can I at least have a look at my great-grandchild? How I wish your father-in-law was here to look at his grandchild. But as you can see, fate did it.” 

I looked at Raymond who nodded. 

Standing on my feet, I walked over to the other couch, and handed Michelle to him. 

“Thank you,” Old Jefferson mouthed. “She looks so much like you. I am yet to see a resemblance between her and her Father, but it will show soon. I believe so. You know, I was shocked when you said you wanted to come and visit. I didn't expect such a move. Not now or ever.” 

Now, I was more than confused. 

Who wanted to come and see who? 

What was the old man talking about? 

I looked at Raymond, realizing it could be him who had done it. “Oh, yes, Dad,” I flowed along with the lie. “I thought it'd be nice if we spent a day with you. We should make it two but my husband has work and I don't want to bore you with the tears of the child.” 

“Am I complaining?” 

In the next few minutes, Old Jefferson fixed his gaze only on the face of Michelle. It seemed to me like he was in search of an answer he would rarely have. And a part of me felt nothing but pity for the old man. 

If only he knew. 

For all that I knew already, there seemed to be a bond between myself and Old Jefferson. Something we needed was time to talk and connect more, but how could we do that when he faced just Michelle? 

I looked at my husband who nodded. 

Raymond now sat up. “Well, Dad. I don't think it's a good idea to face just the child and ignore her parents. Do you care to know how my wife feels about that?” 

Grandfather looked up. 

“I'm sorry, dearest Eleanor,” he let out. “I just cannot recall the last time I had a good look at a baby. Not just any baby but mine. Can you imagine that? Rhett didn't want to be married and at some point, your husband didn't want to. Poor man like me. What would they have me do?” 

Raymond chuckled. “Don't start.” 

“What?” Grandfather got on his feet. He walked over to my side and dropped Michelle back in her basket. “I am so glad to have the both of you with me.” 

Relaxing on a separate couch, he let out. 

A door opened. It was the lady who left us a while ago. There was an apron tied around her waist and she looked at Grandfather. “Food is ready, Dad.” 

“Oh, I see. Finally!” 

“Do I serve already?” 

Sarcastically, Grandfather let out. “Maybe you should eat all of it and leave us to ourselves. How about that?” Standing on his feet, he faced the woman. 

“My son brought a basket of fruits. You should keep it safe until I ask for it. Do you understand me?” 

“Yes,” she picked up the basket and let us be. 

“Come,” Grandfather urged my husband and myself. “You two should join me at the dining. Food is about to be served and I cannot wait.” 

When we were settled, and the lady had served the meal, Grandfather mentioned. 

“Shall we eat already? But while we're at it—” he looked in my direction. “I think Eleanor should tell me what she would love to do when she no longer is a nursing mother.” 

“Oh,” I heaved a sigh only I could hear. There were just many traps in this house. Right at that table. 

“I have always wanted to own a boutique of my own—even while working as a manager in my Father's company. Most times in the past, I wished that I could work for one, and on other days, I just wanted to own mine.”

“I see—” he almost choked. 

“I understand how fathers can be, you know, but did you decide to talk about it with him at some point?” His next question caused me to be deep in my thoughts, and the next moment, I was shaking my head. 

“There was almost no need for that, Grandfather,” I confessed. “The man had talked about his plans for me. How he wanted me to work in his company and the rest. There were just too many and I knew my wishes could not come into the queue so I kept mute about all of it.” 

“I understand, I must say—” he let out again. 

“But what about your family?”  

I almost choked on the chunk of meat. “How do you mean?” In order to be certain, I had to ask. 

Why was he asking after them? 

This was not a good idea. Coming here in the first place was not a good idea and one part of me would love to leave the table as soon as immediately.