Episode Thirteen: “She is still a mystery to me.”

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Vicky walked into the room and Rachel and Manuel turned to see him. Rachel got up but Vicky ignored her. “Vicky, what are you doing back here?” Manuel asked.

“Nothing, since Rachel is here why don’t we have lunch together?” Vicky said stoically and Manuel was surprised.

Soon, Vicky and Rachel sat in the dining table with Manuel, Juliana and Austin. They talked a bit but Vicky didn’t contribute.

After the dinner, Patrick drove Rachel and Vicky home. In the car, Rachel asked scared, “are you angry with me? Do you know why your father called me?”

“Whatever your reason was, it’s none of my concern” Vicky said and coldly and Rachel looked sad.

They arrived at home and Vicky didn’t join Testimony and Rachel for dinner. Rachel looked upset but Testimony quietly put a hand on hers. Rachel smiled.

“Rachel, when are we going to see mom?” Testimony asked.

“Soon, maybe on Saturday. Then we can spend the whole day with mom” Rachel said, “I’ve talked to the doctor, they said mom will be ready for surgery soon.”

“Good, then we can be together and happy again.” Testimony said and Rachel smiled. Rachel looked at her phone that was ringing, it was her dad.

Later, Rachel went outside to answer the call and her father’s hostile voice greeted her. “Why did you not answer my call?! I’ve been calling you since” Uche said irritated.

Rachel pursed her lips upset. “What were you thinking? Taking Testimony to Vicky’s house?!” Uche yelled furiously, “do you know how suspicious he will be?!”

“Dad…”

“Don’t dad me, bring Testimony to the house on Saturday. He can’t stay with you, we can’t risk anyone finding out” Uche said impatiently.

“Is that all you care about? Only about your wife and Bethany?” Rachel said tearfully, “you don’t even care about what son has been going through or how he is eating?”

“I know you never loved us but can’t you pretend to care? You sold me out for Bethany like I wasn’t your daughter” Rachel cried, “is it fair?!”

“Rachel, I don’t have time for your drama. Bring Testimony to me” Uche said in a warning tone.

“No! I won’t let you maltreat Testimony just like you did me. Testimony is fine here” Rachel said defiantly. “I will take care of him just fine.”

“Rachel–”

Rachel hung up the phone and stared at the night sky in tears. She walked to her room and watched Testimony sleeping. She walked away to Vicky’s room but she didn’t see him inside when she peeked.

Behind her, Vicky was coming from the living room and she cocked an eyebrow when he saw her. “What are you doing?” he asked and Rachel jumped.

Rachel turned and stared at him while Vicky looked at her lazily. “Why are you here?” he asked again.

“I wanted to…say, everyone cares about you, even Austin.” Rachel said, “we love you and want you happy that’s why we won’t force you to do what you don’t want. You choose what you want.”

Vicky stared at her calculatingly then surprised her with a playful grin. “You said ‘we love you’, I’m guessing that includes you” He said teasingly, “does that mean you love me?”

“What?!” Rachel exclaimed in disbelief. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just a generic term.”

“That hurts” Vicky said dramatically, throwing his head back with his hand on his chest. He was clearly teasing her. Rachel gaped unable to say anything again and just ran away.

Vicky raised his head to watch her run and he chuckled amused.

A few days later, Vicky was doing some work at home and came to the living room for juice. He passed by Testimony and saw Testimony’s cloth looked a bit worn out. He looked upset by the sight of it.

“Why are you wearing those clothes? They look like rags” Vicky said, “and haven’t I seen you wearing those clothes more than dozen times?”

“I don’t have a lot of clothes so I have to repeat them. And it is a bit rude to call people’s clothes rags” Testimony said blandly.

Vicky was a bit surprised at Testimony’s bluntness but he knew it was just part of Testimony’s personality. “You don’t have many clothes? Can I see your clothes?” Vicky said.

Testimony nodded and took Vicky to Rachel’s room. He showed Vicky his clothes and Vicky noted the few clothes Rachel and Testimony had.

“it’s so weird” he muttered in confusion.

Later when Rachel arrived from school, while she was eating, Vicky approached her. “How was classes?” Vicky asked.

“They were good” Rachel answered.

“You and Vicky don’t have many clothes. Testimony’s clothes are all worn out. I could count the number of clothes he has” Vicky said suspiciously. “Why haven’t you bought some clothes?”

“Oh, um, I’m a little tight on cash” Rachel answered awkwardly, trying to avoid eye contact.

Vicky stared at her suspiciously. ‘This is weird, what sort of excuse is that for a daughter of a Senator? It’s as if she doesn’t know how to spend money’ he thought.

“Okay, let’s go shopping together. You, me and Testimony ” Vicky said, “I need some new clothes anyways.

“Okay, when?” Rachel asked.

“Saturday, when we are all free? Is that good?” Vicky asked. Rachel nodded and continued eating. Vicky stared at her and smiled.

“You know, I keep wondering when we are going to start sharing a bed” he said and Rachel abruptly coughed out her food.

“Wh-What?” Rachel said, staring wide eyed at Vicky.

Vicky smiled mischievously. “We are a married couple after all. I was feeling a bit uncomfortable since we have a guest with us but” He looked at her smiling, “who says you can’t move into my room now?”

Rachel stared at Vicky in wide eyed disbelief. She couldn’t stop gaping at him. She was about to respond when Vicky suddenly started laughing. “Your face” he guffawed.

He shook his head and rolled away. Rachel looked at him closing and opening her mouth like a fish. She glared at his back once she recovered and stuck her tongue out at him.

At the university the next day, Rachel was telling Prieye all about it. “…that was such a mean thing to say. I could have choked” she ranted and sulked, “it was a terrible joke.”

Prieye started laughing and Rachel narrowed her eyes at her. “Why are you laughing? It wasn’t funny, he made a joke of me” Rachel said upset.

“You don’t get it Rachel. For someone like him, that was an invitation” Prieye said, getting over her amusement. “he was inviting you to his room, he wants to be like a real married couple.”

“Wh-what? Are you sure? He laughed right after he said it” Rachel said, unwilling to believe it.

“He probably isn’t the direct type. He wanted you to stay with him in his room but your reaction probably wasn’t welcoming” Prieye reasoned, “maybe that is why he pretended it was a joke.”

Rachel looked up thinking about it and grudgingly nodded. “Um, maybe, I was a bit shocked” she said, “he just mentioned it.”

“So, does that mean if he asked directly? You would?” Prieye asked interested.

Rachel balked. “What?! No way! It would be too awkward” she said.

“I see, I wonder what you will do when Testimony returns to your mom, it will be just you and Vicky” Prieye said smiling mischievously. “that sounds fun.”

“Shut up” Rachel snapped embarrassed.

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Two days passed and Saturday arrived. Vicky took Testimony and Rachel to the mall along with Patrick who was driving them.

They went to the teenagers section first for Testimony. “Pick the best clothes and pick a lot, anyone you like” Vicky smiled encouragingly.

“Are you sure? It might be too expensive” Rachel said worried.

Vicky looked at her like she was joking. “That’s a joke right? Go, help him pick” He said and Rachel reluctantly walked in with Testimony.

Vicky and Patrick watched Rachel pick clothes for Testimony through the glass window. “We should help her pick right, Rachel seems a bit restrictive when it comes to this” Vicky said worried.

“Yeah” Patrick nodded in agreement and pushed Vicky in the store. Vicky helped Rachel and Testimony and Rachel was momentarily impressed by the clothes Vicky picked.

“I knew I was right, you are huge fashionista” Rachel told Vicky as they left the teenagers section. “It’s pretty cool, you have an eye for stylish items” she finished.

“Thank you” Vicky said and they went to the women’s section. He smiled at Rachel, “since I’m such a fashionista, should I help?”

“Maybe” Rachel said shyly in a quiet voice and ran off.

Vicky smiled and turned to Patrick. “I’m going to search for some clothes too, watch the boy” he said and rolled off to the men’s side not too far off.

He picked a few suits and shirts and handed them to a store worker. He returned to Rachel and helped her. Rachel tried to hide her smile at how he was helping her.

‘Vicky seems more like a wonderful person the more I get to know him. Is this what he was like before the accident?’ She wondered and added, ‘I love it.’

Vicky returned to Patrick and asked Testimony to stay by Rachel’s side while Patrick pushed him away. He bumped into the owner of the store.

“Toyosi, Good afternoon” Vicky greeted brightly.

“Vicky, welcome. It’s so nice to see you” a older looking woman said, “I am so sorry I couldn’t make it to your wedding, I was out of the country. In fact, I just recently returned.”

“It’s okay” Vicky said.

“So how is your wife? I told you some things about her before the wedding” Toyosi said curiously.

“She is different from what you said. She is actually not the kind of person you described her to be” Vicky said, “she is quiet, nice and respectful.”

“Really?” Toyosi said surprised, “Bethany is nothing like that. That girl is downright rude and spoilt like her annoying mother.”

Vicky and Patrick looked taken aback. “You are mistaken, I didn’t marry Bethany” Vicky said, “I married her younger sister Rachel.”

“Younger sister?” Toyosi said confused, “what are you saying? Bethany has no younger sister. She is an only child. Where did you see this younger sister?”

Patrick and Vicky looked at each other puzzled. “What do you mean?” Vicky said. “she is here with me.”

He pointed towards Rachel talking to Testimony and Toyosi shook her head. “I don’t know her at all” she said, “I have known Senator Odili’s family for long and I know what I am saying. They have no other child apart from Bethany.”

Patrick and Vicky looked troubled by this revelation. “Um, then again, who knows” Toyosi awkwardly said, “excuse me, I have to go. Take care.”

Vicky weakly waved goodbye and Toyosi left. Rachel approached him and smiled. “We are done, I’ve taken the clothes I think are good” Rachel smiled.

“Oh, okay, let’s go” Vicky said, his mood now subdued. Rachel looked at him concerned but said nothing.

Later at the house, Vicky thought deeply in his room. ‘What did that mean? That Rachel is not Senator Uche’s daughter? But that is impossible’ he thought. ‘Why would they do that?’

For the next few days, Vicky was extremely quiet and it worried Rachel. She asked Patrick on the day he came to their house. “Do you know what is wrong with Vicky? He looks very upset” she asked.

“Miss Bea’s memorial service is coming up. Her death anniversary is a week” Patrick answered quietly.

“Oh…” Rachel said sadly.

A week passed and it was Bea’s memorial service. Rachel dropped Testimony with a friend and followed Vicky to the church for the service.

She looked around in the church and saw her father, his wife and Bethany. Rachel didn’t look happy to see Bethany but she didn’t say anything.

The ceremony ended and Vicky left without a word. Rachel wanted to follow but her family stopped her. Senator Uche and Bisola took her to a corner with Bethany acting as a watch guard.

“How dare you hang up on your father? You must bring Testimony to me now” Senator Uche demanded angrily. “do you know what risk you are putting us under?”

“So what? I will give you my brother?” Rachel said boldly. “just pay the bills, that is all I asked you to do in exchange to marry Vicky.”

“You pig, do you think that because you are married to a rich man, you can talk to us anyhow?” Bethany said derogatorily, “listen to my dad and just surrender that psychopath.”

Rachel gritted her teeth in annoyance. “My brother is not a psychopath so shut your damn mouth” Rachel snapped then turned to Senator Uche. “let me take care of my brother like you take care of your family.”

“All I need is for you to take care of my mother and brother’s bills” Rachel said, ignoring Bethany’s gaping look and Senator Uche’s annoyed look.

“Now excuse me, I have to go” Rachel said and walked away. She bumped into Patrick on the way. “You didn’t go with Vicky?”

“No, I can’t find him” Patrick said worried. “I’m sort of worried. Boss has always disappeared like this, attempting to drive because of the accident.”

“What?!” Rachel exclaimed worried.

“Relax, he can’t actually do it” Patrick allayed her fears. “but it’s disturbing. If he has left, I know where he is. I can take you there.”

“Then let’s go” Rachel said and followed Patrick out.

At a cemetery, Vicky was on the ground, staring blankly at a grave in front of him. Written on the gravestone was Beatrice Aiyedehin.

Rachel rushed in and saw Vicky on the ground. She stared at him sadly and quietly approached him. She sat next to him on the ground not minding her dress and held his hand.

“I let her down…I couldn’t protect her” Vicky said dazed. “it was my fault, I should have been more careful. I should have been alone in that car, then maybe–”

Rachel gripped his arm and dropped her head on his shoulder. Vicky began to sniff. “It hurts, I just wanted to see her happy. I didn’t want to lose her like mom” he sobbed. “she was my everything.”

“I’m sure she felt the same about you” Rachel said, “and I’m sure she doesn’t blame you for anything. No one could have seen it coming. Your father and Austin don’t blame you either.”

Vicky didn’t look like he believed her. “Haven’t you thought that they might have blamed themselves for the accident too?” Rachel questioned, “just because they look happy doesn’t mean they are.”

“Deep down, they feel bad to see you like this because they care” Vicky looked at her tearfully and Rachel continued. “they may look like they hate you or are against you but I think they feel they are guilty of your unhappiness.”

Rachel added, “they feel they could have done something and they blame themselves.” She looked up, “I know you feel guilty and you hate yourself but imagine, what if you had died and Bea felt guilty? Would you want her feeling guilty? Would you like to see her suffer because of that?”

“No” Vicky shook his head.

“Then I’m sure Bea is the same. She must want you to get up on your feet and be the man you used to be” Rachel said confidently. “things have happened that we can’t change but we can choose to make a better future.”

“Making a better future doesn’t mean forgetting them, it means moving on to remember them with a cheerful heart” Rachel said smiling, “so they will be more of a painful memory than a painful burden.”

“Do you think Bea likes to be remembered as a painful burden?”

“No” Vicky said, shaking his head.

“Then get up and move on, to remember her as a wonderful person and not like a burden” Rachel said and Vicky hugged her sobbing. Rachel consoled him and Patrick watched them from a distance.

Days later at a hospital, Vicky was talking to a doctor and Patrick was in the room. “…Your legs have healed considerably since the accident so there is hope for you” the doctor said cheerily, “I will talk to my colleagues and we will recommend the best doctor to treat you.”

“Okay, thank you” Vicky said and Patrick pushed him out of the office.

“What changed your mind?” Patrick asked smiling.

“Nothing much” Vicky answered. He was about to say more when he saw Rachel pass by another hall. “Rachel? Patrick, did you tell Rachel I wanted to receive treatment?”

“No sir, of course not” Patrick answered confused.

“I saw her here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, come” Vicky said and started rolling his chair. He found Rachel and saw her enter a ward.

“Did she come to visit someone” Patrick asked puzzled.

“How would I know?” Vicky snapped and they both went closer to peek. They saw Rachel talking with her mom.

“Mom, Testimony is doing very good in school. He is really very smart” Rachel said.

“Both my children are smart, just look at you. You will be a doctor soon” Angela said pleased. Rachel smiled brightly and Vicky and Patrick stepped back reeling from what they heard.

“Mother?”

“Children?”

Patrick and Vicky exchanged looks then Vicky looked grim. “I didn’t want to do this but…Patrick, investigate Rachel and her family. There is something going on and I want to find out.” He said upset.

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Rachel is about to be found out, will she lose everything she has gained with Vicky?

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