JULIE
Although the initial plan was for Sandra to return to our mother’s place a day or two before she was due to return to school, a week before the term began, I was more than ready for her to leave the apartment.
While she was polite and friendly when David was around, she had an attitude that bordered on being disrespectful towards me when he was not, and tired of dealing with it, I finally told David that I needed her to leave.
“I thought things were getting better between you two,” he answered in surprise. “They aren’t; I think we both need a bit of space. Do you think you could possibly get me the money for her shopping and fees early?” I asked pleadingly.
“Sure; I’ll send it tomorrow,” he shrugged easily.
“Thank you; I really appreciate it,” I answered while hugging him gratefully.
“You’re welcome,” he smiled back, then gave me a quick kiss and changed the subject. “I think I have time for a cup of coffee before I need to go; is there still some in the pot?”
“I think so; if not, I’ll put a fresh pot on,” I answered readily, then standing up from the bed, headed for the bedroom door, David following close behind.
Sandra was in the living room when we got there, and while David sat down, I headed to the kitchen to make his coffee. I could hear the low murmur of her voice as I brewed the coffee, but when I returned to the living room with it a few minutes later, she immediately fell silent, and then got to her feet.
“I’ll be in my room if you need me,” she muttered.
Perhaps it was my imagination, but her hasty departure from the room had seemed guilty; like I had caught her in the middle of something. I turned to David for an explanation, but he seemed oblivious to what I was sensing.
Because of how normally he was acting, I told myself I was just imagining things because of the stress of Sandra’s and my problems. I mentally chided myself over and over again, but still was not able to completely shake the niggling feeling that something was off.
DAVID
I was not sure about just what was going on between Julie and her sister, but whatever it was, it felt like I was getting dragged into the middle of it; so, I was secretly relieved when Julie said she wanted her to return to their mother earlier than planned.
It was not that Sandra had said or done anything outright, it was more subtle; a glance here, an ‘accidental’ brush against me there, and of course the matter of the money I had sent her for their mother that she now referred to as ‘our secret’ when Julie was out of earshot.
Things were just as uncomfortable on the home front; Diane had continued to badger me for a car, and when she realized she was not making any progress, she had taken to ordering for cabs using the house upkeep money, twisting my arm into depositing more money on that account.
Having just paid the school fees, as well as fees for Julie’s siblings, not to mention the money I had sent Sandra, in addition to the money I had promised to send Julie tomorrow, I was getting drawn pretty tight financially.
The demands just kept coming; rent on the apartment was almost due and Julie would need money for her and Junior, and just that evening, Diane had sent me a text message saying she hoped I would be home early as we needed to go over the children’s school shopping list, which would no doubt end in another argument as usual.
Her lists always had numerous unnecessary items and when I attempted to cut them down, she accused me of being stingy and refusing to spend on our children, while spending on Julie and Junior.
I had no doubt it would be the same exact thing today, and as I left the apartment and headed home, I wondered if I should have taken something stronger than coffee for the fight I knew I was driving towards.
DIANE
I could tell from the way he strode in that David was braced for a fight that night, but that was fine with me, because I had an ace up my sleeve that evening that I had been saving for a moment like this.
“I’m really tired; so, pass me the list and let’s get this over and done with as fast as possible,” he grumbled irritably as he flopped down onto his favourite seat in the living room.
I was tempted to retort that it was his whore getting him tired and not me; so, I did not care, but it was too early to start the fight; so, I bit my tongue and silently passed him the list I had prepared for requirements for the upcoming term. Like I had known he would, within seconds of getting it, he was already objecting to the items on it.
“What do they need new bags for? They just got new bags last term!”
“One of the zips on Daniel’s is broken, and the girls’ are getting frayed on the bottom,” I answered calmly.
“Then have the zip fixed, and as for the girls, they can use them like that and learn to stop dragging their bags about on the ground.”
“No, the girls can’t use them like that, and Daniel needs a new one too.”
“They don’t need new bags! And what’s this about two pairs of sneakers for Daniel? What for?”
“The pair he has now is getting tight on him, and he needs two; so, he can switch between them and not wear one out. The girls need new shoes too.”
“This is ridiculous, and I’m not even going to argue with you over it; I’ll deposit a million shillings on the account tomorrow; use that.”
“A million shillings for three children!”
“It’s not a new school year, and for Christ’s sake, it’s not like they are boarders who have a whole slew of boarding needs! A million shillings is more than enough!”
“I think you’re mistaking me for your latest fling!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You sent a million shillings to some girl, and now you think your three children deserve the same amount?” There it was; my ace!
His eyes widened in shock and surprise, then narrowed angrily.
“Have you been going through my phone?” he snarled.
“Have you been sending some woman a million shillings?” I countered.
“You shouldn’t talk about stuff you have no idea about, and you certainly shouldn’t be going through my phone! I’ll deposit a million shillings on the account tomorrow; do what you want to with it,” he declared angrily, then stomped out of the room and up the stairs.
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