SHATTERED

╣TWENTY-NINE╠

     As early as 6am on Saturday morning, Ethel and Eliel took the first flight going to London. Immediately they arrived at London, they boarded a taxi cab to London state prison.
“I know who you're talking about ma'am but, it's been years since he was set free.”
The police officer she met there told them after Ethel had explained her reason for coming.
“Where can I find him?” she said, pleadingly.
“Is there any issue?”
“The man in question is my dad. It's been eighteen years since I last saw him.”
“Wait a moment, let me put a call through to my boss.”
After some minutes of speaking on the phone with his boss, he told them to go into his boss's office.
“Good afternoon sir, I'm Detective Ethel Clifford, the daughter of Mr Logan Clifford and this is my boss Detective Eliel Moore.”
“You're welcome. I'm Officer Steve Hartford.”
“Governor you mean.” Eliel said and officer Hartford laughed.
“I heard you are the owner of this prison and you also control other prisons worldwide. So, you're a governor.”
“Well, I prefer to be called Officer. Officer Hartford is fine.” the aged man smiled, humbly.
“I respect your humility.”
“Thanks. Mrs Clifford, am I correct?” officer Hartford said to Ethel.
“Miss Clifford, I'm not married, yet.”
“Oh, I thought you two had tied the knot.”
Ethel laughed and Eliel face turned red.
“On a serious note, Mr Eliel you better listen to that still small voice.” He pointed a warning finger at him. “Um, speaking about your father, he is a very good man, and a devout Christian. He spoke so much about you, he told me that he was going to look for you and your mom when he is free and I'm sure he's doing that now. I have his current information with me.
“When last did you call him sir?” Ethel asked
“Last weekend.”
“Can you put a call through to him? I want to hear his voice.”
“Sure.” Officer Hartford said as he looked for Logan's number. “It's ringing.” He told her and Ethel smiled waiting for her dad to pickup but the programmed voice spoke instead.
“I am sorry, I'm sure he'll call back.” Officer Hartford said.
“Since you have his phone number now, you can call him later.” he told her.
“Alright. Thank you sir. We'll be on our way now, Eliel?” she looked at him.
“Yeah,”
“Is like you aren't ready to leave, you look so relaxed. Let's go, we have more places to go to.” Ethel said and  stood up immediately.
“Officer Hartford, when he calls back, text me.” she said before leaving the office, walking briskly, it was when she exited the premises she realised Eliel wasn't following behind. She exhaled sharply tightening her grip on her shoulder bag.
“I am sorry I kept you waiting, I had to collect his number.” she said.
“Why?”
“For information.”
“Shall we?” he said after he flagged down a taxi.
“Sir, do you know where Rhino restaurant is?” Eliel asked the taxi driver as soon as they go into the vehicle.
“Rhino? Yes. It was a  popular restaurant.”
“Wait, why are you asking? That's not where we're heading to.” Ethel tapped Eliel on his laps and whispered.
“Are you not hungry? Maybe you're not. Look, this guy right here is famished.” Eliel muttered.
“Why isn't it still popular? That was the restaurant my friends and I used to go to during my college days” he continued his conversation with the driver.
“Law of marginal utility set in. So, the restaurant manager had to lay off some workers, I guess. Sir, is that where you're going to?”
“Yes and you can as well drop this lady off at the nearest hotel so she could lodge in.”
Ethel laughed at how he addressed her. “Lady? Well done.” she clapped her hand. “No need to worry, I'll also stop at the restaurant.”
“Woo hoo!” Eliel yelled. “Her stomach gave in.”
“To what?”
“Never mind.” he chuckled.
Ethel shook her head, blushing in embarrassment.

                ➰➿➰

     Hamburger was what Ethel ate before going to sleep that night. They had found a nice hotel and paid for two rooms,  she slept in one and he slept in the other.
She laid on the bed subconscious, after a good sleep. She had just had a funny dream about a wedding. 
    The bride was excited as she prepared for her wedding, she wore the most beautiful gown ever sewed in history. Her make-up and hair do was on point.  It was done in bohemian wedding style.
     The groom stood at the altar waiting for his bride who was being led by a horse to the altar. The groom stretched forth his hand to hold his bride's hand and the pastor said the marriage vow and the groom said ‘I do’ and when it was her turn, the bride realised she only wore a bra and pant to the altar
“I… I am sorry. I thought I had my dress on. My dad forgot to buy my dress and my mom forgot to bring the wedding cake.” the bride cried and ran out of the barn.
“Ethel, don't keep the groom waiting!” 
That was the weird dream she had before she woke up and this was the third time she was having this dream Each time she had it, she laughed when she woke up and rejected it. But, this time around, she got pissed off. She sat up on the bed, asking herself  “Which groom am I keeping waiting? God, I don't understand. I have turned down the men that have come my way and I know they are not the men for me. Make me understand.” she prayed. She picked up her phone and checked the time, it was just 4:19am. She dialled her dad's number to see if he'll pick. She didn't expect him to be awake by this time but, she tried her luck.
“Hello, may I know who's on the line?” the baritone voice said from the other end.  When Ethel heard the voice, she immediately recognised it.
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how are wonder what you are, up above the world so high like a diamond in the sky.” she sang whilst sobbing.
“I am sorry, daddy. This is Ethel Clifford, speaking.”
“Ethel?” she heard him say her name again. “I want to believe this, like where are you right now?”  she heard him breathe heavily.

Could he be crying too?

“I am in a hotel in London. I came to look for you.”
“I am in Cambridge, how can we meet?”
“Don't worry daddy, I'll take the first flight to Cambridge today.”
“Ethel, my little star. I'll be expecting you.” she hung up and cried uncontrollably.

Is he married? Is it still the same daddy I know?

She called Eliel after a while and informed him that they were living immediately but he was insisting  that they stay a bit to gather more information but she refused.
“You know we got here by this time yesterday?” Eliel who was still against her decision said after they were seated in the airplane which was about to take off. Ethel kept on eating the potatoe chips she had bought on her way to the airport without answering him.
“Did you inform Officer Hartford we're leaving the city?”
Ethel looked at him and then back at her chips.
“I…” his mouth was stuffed with chips as he wanted to speak. He starred at her for a while and ended up chewing the chips when he didn't know what to do.
Ethel winked at him and smirks.