Chapter 67: Deborah
I walk out of the room down the stairs to see my dad getting ready to go to the office. He was dressed in all black.
"Good morning dad?" I greeted moving closer to him. Dad turned to stare at me as he smiled...
"Deborah! How are you?" He asked me while I stared at him with a funny look on my face.
"I'm good, where are you going to dress in black?" I asked him, going over to the fridge to take water.
"I'm going to the office from there to the funeral, "Dad replied as he turned to look at the mirror on the wall while trying to knot his black tie.
"Who's Funeral?" I asked him, seeing the way dad was excited. I'm hoping it's Nina.
Since yesterday I've been trying both Xavier and Austin's numbers but none of them is reachable. I wonder what's wrong with them?
"Austin's funeral? "I choked out the water from my mouth and nose as I heard dad's replied I couldn't believe Austin was dead and I haven't heard anything about the funeral on social medial, Everywhere was quiet as a graveyard.
"Austin but how?" I asked dad, turning to look at him. I still can't imagine how Austin could be dead. Isn't he supposed to kill Nina? I hope Nina's dead too.
"He was shot dead yesterday by one of the policemen. I'm glad you left there earlier " Dad replied with a smile on his face. I couldn't help but smile too. Thank God dad had informed me on time, I wouldn't want to imagine what would have happened today.
"But one thing is still bothering me, dad," I told my father who was through with his tie and was now gathering files into his briefcase.
He paused as he turned to stare at me "What could that be ?" He asked, staring at me for a while before going back to the files on the table.
"Why isn't Michael saying anything about the kidnapping. And what about Nina?" I asked him. I thought by now, the police should have been carrying out their investigation and the social media should be posting ill of Austin but everywhere is quiet.
"I think Michael had decided to drop the case since Austin is dead and as for Nina, I heard she's in the hospital receiving treatment," Dad told me. I could see why dad was excited about Austin's death. It means I'm off the hook for now. I hope Nina doesn't say anything until after the wedding.
"I will be going now, Deborah. Are you sure you don't want to come along?" Dad asked me again but I refused.
"No, dad. I need to go to the hospital for my check-up "I told him as he nodded and stepped out of the door.
"As soon as I heard his car pulled out of the parking lot. I rushed into my room to pick up my phone. I quickly dial Xavier's number. Relief flooded me as soon as I heard the phone ring.
"Hello, Deborah " Xavier's tired voice greeted me on the other line.
"What's going on? How did Austin die?" I ask him frantically pacing to and fro my room.
"I don't know either. I left as soon as I heard the police siren that night. I'll suggest you lay low for now. I'm glad Michael had dropped the case, let's just hope that Nina doesn't say anything " Xavier called into the phone.
"Okay. But I'll still need to meet you, how can we meet?" I asked him, there's a lot I would like to ask him. I'm scared as my wedding is almost near and these are happening.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Deborah, "Xavier told me from the other line. I bit my lower lips contemplating how to convince him to meet me.
please Xavier, I
"Let's meet up at Austin's funeral. I will call you as soon as I get there " Xavier replied cutting me off. He was about to hang up when I suddenly remember that I needed to be at someplace today.
"Wait! I need to be at the hospital in the next thirty minutes for my check-up. Let's meet up in the next one hour" I called frantically into the phone hoping he would accept my new condition.
Fine" Xavier greeted in response as the phone went dead in my hands. I dropped it on the bed before going over to the shower.
I was glad that Xavier had agreed for us to meet. I need to make sure that he's ready to do any dirty job for me again. I stepped out of the bedroom and dressed hurriedly as I was getting late for my check-up at the hospital.
I stepped out of the door with my car key. Safely in the car, I pulled out of the driveway and drove to the hospital which was a twenty-five-minute drive to my house.
I turned over to the Hospital and pulled my car into the parking lot. I locked the door and rushed into the elevator that will take me to doctor Sander's office.
"Nice to see you again, Mrs. Melton " Doctor Sander greeted me as soon as I entered her office with a smile on her face.
"Nice to see you too Doctor" I replied as she motioned me to the chair across from her. She had rushed through my examination today and was busy scribbling on the file in front of her.....
Doctor Sander raised her head to look at me with a smile on her face "Your baby is growing very well, Miss. Melton. In a few months from now, you should be able to hold him in your arms " She told me with a smile on her face. I wish it was as easy as she had imagined. I wish it was Michael's baby in me. Now this baby is fatherless.
"Doctor Sanders, about the true paternity of the baby could we keep it between us just as we've discussed from the onset," I asked her again to be sure. Even though she had promised me that it was against her ethics to tell anybody her client's information. I still needed to hear it from her again.
"Yes, Miss. Melton. My promise to you still stands. No one will know that the baby is not Mr. Thompson's" She replied as I smiled at her.
"Thank you so much, Doctor. You don't know how happy I am to hear you say that " I told her standing up to leave after she had scribbled some things for me to get for my baby.
I paused at the door as soon as I remembered that I had not invited her to my wedding. I rummage through my bag searching for the spare invitation card. I handed it to her with a smile on my face.
"I'm inviting you to my wedding this Saturday. I will be very excited if you could make it " I told her as she smiled back at me.
"Sure, Miss. Melton, I will be sure to be there " she replied as I stepped out of the door prepared to meet Xavier.
I walked down the steep cemetery to where Mrs. Thompson stood conversing with the Walkers. After making sure that Michael was not around, I made my way down to them...
"Oh! Look who's here " Mrs. Thompson exclaimed, she lifted her hands to guide me slowly past the stones.
I smiled at her, before turning to stare at Austin's foster mom who was glaring at me "I'm sorry about your loss, Kathryn " I told her in a tearful voice.
She ignored me and didn't say anything rather it was Diana who speaks " I'm sure you are surprised by the death of Austin seeing you both used to be closed"
I smiled as I avoided Diana's eyes, hoping she changed the topic. Which she did after some time " I heard you went for your check-up today"
"Yes," I replied knowing that my dad might have told them. Speaking of dad, my eyes scan all the mourners for him but he was nowhere to be found I guess he had left already.
"How was it?" Diana's voice brought out of my reverie as I turned to smile at her while searching for Xavier with my eyes. Where was he?
"It was okay other than the normal procedures. She wrote something for me to get. I will do that with Michael after the wedding " I told her forcing a smile on my face. Right now I needed to see Xavier and get this over and done with. "Did I tell you Kathryn " Diana's voice rang out to where Austin's mom was conversing with both her husband and Michael's father?
Kathryn turned to stare at Diana, waiting for whatever it is that she wanted to say "Deborah and Michael will be getting married this Saturday. Since we've settled our differences, I'm extending the invitation to you and that goes to you too, Simone " Austin's father smiled as he turned to pull his wife close who was on the verge of tears. I guess she's thinking that if Mia wasn't dead, she probably might be preparing for her wedding with Michael now.
Well if for anything, I'm glad that Mia is dead. It was troublesome having to watch her get close to Michael each day ever since we were kids.
"Congratulations! Deborah. I hope Michael will be able to change you" She told me causing me to glare at her.
And to Mrs. Thompson, she said "I'm so happy. We'll be there to witness the happiest day of Michael's life".
I couldn't wait to listen to Diana's reply. I had seen Xavier standing at one end of the tree. He signals for me to come.
I started walking over to meet him while also looking around to see if I was being followed.
We stopped at an empty building, Xavier opened the door and dragged me into the room. Which reveals where Xavier had been hiding all this while. It wasn't far from the cemetery.
"What do you want to see me for? Speak right now " Xavier commanded as he walked over to the kitchen to gulp down a glass of water.
My eyes scan the empty room which was bare safe for a sofa and a table before coming to rest on him. I gulped as soon as I saw him staring down at me intensely. Now that Austin is dead I couldn't help being scared of Xavier. He had the power to kill me now without thinking twice about it.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" Xavier said, strolling over to sit on the edge of the table.
"It's about Nina," I told him slowly, his eyes shot almost immediately to glare at me.
"What about her?" Xavier asked like he couldn't entertain any thought above Nina.
"What should we do? What if she decided to tell the police about us?" I asked him, shuddering from fear from the thought of Nina already telling everyone my involvement in her kidnapped.
"We do nothing," Xavier shouted. "That's for you to convince her that she shouldn't talk and if she does, we do nothing. You hear me " He said glaring at me.
"Nothing?" I asked him, looking at him in shock as I stood up from the sofa. I can't believe he said we should do nothing to Nina.
"Yes I don't know about you but I'm tired of having to kill Nina over and over again. Can't you see it? That girl has too many lives to live"
As I was driving home I couldn't help pondering about what Xavier had told me. We shouldn't do anything to Nina. Well, I don't want to do anything to her either. Hopefully, she doesn't talk.