Consequences

Chapter 52

   Although it was a quiet dinner, my heart was pounding hard through my chest like it could dash out any moment. I was tense just thinking about what Nancy had told me. While nothing happened the first day, in the following days, my mother started looking at me quite strangely.

Breakfast and dinner had started becoming moments in which I was constantly tense.  But nothing happened in the following weeks and she never asked me any questions. I regularly got in touch with Nancy and she told me that  Ola was feeling much better. While I was happy everything went well, I was about to have the biggest shock of my life.

A month had passed since I fainted while I was about to sign the papers that would give me Ola's shares of properties. My father didn't make mention of it again. It was a Monday morning and while in my office, he sent one of the staff to call me. When I went to see him, I didn't see the father I had hoped to see. He seemed bothered by something and I couldn't tell what it was.

"Is everything okay, dad?" I asked feeling worried.

"Tola, since the last time you fainted you haven't asked me about the papers you were suppose to sign." A sudden frown engulfed me and I felt withdrawn. I had nothing to do with Ola again and  this meant signing those papers was of no use. I had to tell my dad that I wasn't going to sign them.

"I mean the offer is still valid. And it's something me and your mother are hoping you accept."  I saw desperation in the way he said it. What was going on that he refused to tell me? Were they in financial difficulties or what?

"I hope there's nothing wrong dad?"

"No, nothing. So what is your decision?" I sighed, as what I was about to say, could perhaps devastate him and eventually my mother. But I had to say it.

"Dad, I've given up on so many things. And I'm not sure I should bother myself anymore about signing those papers."

"So are you saying you are not going to sign them?"

"Dad those papers are still a reminder of the answers I couldn't get. I want to have enough peace in my life right now."

"That's a definite no, then?" I nodded.

"Fine then. In that case I will let the Segun family know you are not interested." He quickly got on the phone and called his friend and right where I was sitting told him I was not interested. When he finished he stared at me.

"You better prepare what you are going to tell your mother." I rolled my eyes. I knew that my mother would make a scene out of it. But I had already taken my decision and wasn't going to change it. I knew I wasn't going to have an easy time with her, but I had to confront her. I got home surprised that my dad had come home earlier than usual.

I greeted them and went to my room and closed the door.  I was nervous and held my breath while I closed my eyes. Soon my mother would shout my name, I told myself. And sure enough, she was punctual.

"Tola? Tola?" I came out of my bedroom and went to the sitting room.

"Sit down." She told me. I sat down and waited for her to tell me what I didn't want to hear.

"Tola why are you refusing to sign those papers?"

"I don't see any sense in signing them."

"Why? Don't you want a better future?"

"I do, but not a future that reminds me of answers I couldn't get or will never get."

"So are you still looking for answers? Is that why you are refusing to sign them?" I nodded. My mother took a deep breath. I could see that she was boiling. She was about to get angry.