Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Driving down the route for the first time in about ten years, Noni allowed the cool breeze to pass through her face. once upon a time this smooth lane had being an everyday routine. that was more than ten years ago. she had left home when she had turned eighteen and had never returned until now.
She wondered why her father was so desperate to see her he had left multiple text emails and even calls that she had not been able to ignore. she was just gonna go there and see what's up then get the hell out she wasn't gonna spend a night in that house where she had never felt welcomed.
Stopping the gate of the ever so familiar mansion, she waited for the security man to come.
"Hi good evening ma, may I know your name?" the security man whom Noni didn't know asked. they changed guards. what? did she expect to might the old security guard, it's been ten years, she thought to herself?
"My name is Noni and I have an appointment with the owner of the house," she answered
"Oh my God, sorry ma I didn't know you were the one, the boss's only daughter, you are different from what I was expecting. forgive my ignorance I will go open the gate now," he said and ran to open the gate without waiting for her reply.
Different from what he expected? what was he expecting? she thought smiling to herself.
As she got down from her car, she looked around the big mansion, everything looked the same yet felt so different. She didn't want to waste time so she asked to be taken to her dad.
"Noni!" someone called. the voice so familiar. she turned and saw Elizabeth her nanny running towards her. she ran and hugged her.
Elizabeth it's being a while I thought I won't meet you here again." she said hugging her nanny tighter. her familiar scent washing through her.
"You would have known I was still here if you had kept in touch Noni," she said wiping tears that gathered in her eyes away. Noni felt herself tearing up too.
"I am so sorry nanny, I couldn't keep in touch." she apologized.
"It's okay, girl, I am so happy to see you you have grown so much. so well and so pretty too."
"Thanks, Elizabeth, I missed you," she added.
I missed you too child." Elizabeth replied.
"Could you please tell the old man that I am around," she asked the guy who has been standing behind them grinning.
"Yes ma, though they have turned in for the night as they weren't expecting you to show up today. I will go get them now," he replied moving into the main house.
Don't worry Robert I will do that myself."Elizabeth said.
"Okay, no problem," he replied as he walked by towards the gate.
"Let's go in Noni. I will go get your parent."
"Okay,"
she answered following her nanny to the main building.
Entering the main house memories hit her. this place where she had spent her childhood. the all so familiar smell of the house filled her nostrils. as a child, she had gotten everything a child could have, all except the love and attention of her parent. Being born as a daughter in a home where the male in the family had been prioritized. she had been left in the care of her nanny. she didn't know who her mom was until she had been old enough to distinguish between a worker and a family member. Her dad has been pretty much MIA most of the time and her mom who should have been her best friend had been too busy taking care of her brothers.
Noni let go of the thoughts of the past. it only made her sad so she pushed it to the back of her mind.
"They will be here soon," she heard her nanny say. she didn't even know she had gone to call her parents.
Can I get you juice or wine?" she asked.
"No, Elizabeth I am okay, thanks for offering."
"You are welcome dear," she replied.
See her nanny again after ten years Noni felt guilty for not keeping in touch with the woman that had been her only safe place in this whole house.
"I am sorry I didn't keep in touch nanny," she said apologizing again.
"No need to apologize, just don't run away again without keeping up." her nanny replied
"I won't I promise." She answered.
"You just sit, I will go and get the maids to prepare your room while you talk with your parent," Elizabeth said walking out of the living room.
Noni didn't want to make her sad by telling her she won't be spending the night so she just nodded and watched her walk out of the room.
"Noni,"
she heard her mom call as her parents walked into the room. her parents looked different her dad has gotten older as his white hair was now the very visible same thing with her mom.
Hi, Mom and Dad." she greeted.
"We didn't expect you to show up this night." it already late her dad said in return to her greeting. he sounded concerned.
"I was in the area for a business so I decided to drop by since you have been asking to see me," she answered.
"Oh," her mom said looking at her with a weird look that made Noni's stomach jump. she didn't hate her parents she just couldn't stand them most of the time. that's why she had left. she felt they didn't want her and that she had been a mistake.
"You have been wanting to see me, dad, what's this about? she asked wanting to get whatever it was done with so that she can go back to normal. cuz she was feeling strange.
"We will talk about it in the morning why don't you go to your room and freshen up I will have the maid bring something for you to eat." her mom replied and her dad nodded in agreement.
"I don't plan on spending the night here I need to get back to town today," she replied.
"Noni, even if you don't like it here can you at least put your safety first? it so late already and before you will get home its will be the early hours of tomorrow why don't you spend the night here dear." her mom said in a pleading voice.
Noni wanted to argue but she didn't have the strength to so she just agreed.
"Okay, I will. but first thing tomorrow morning you will tell me why I am here," she said. "We will." her dad responded.
"Noni, your room is ready," she heard her nanny say when she walked in. thankful for that she stood up wished her mom and dad a good and followed her nanny to her room upstairs.
"Thanks, Elizabeth," she said when they got to her room.
"you are welcome, now go and rest dear, you look like you would fall off your feet any moment from now." her nanny replied and left her room.
The room was the same way it had been ten years ago. all her posters, pictures clothes everything was still intact. she tried not to dwell much on it and just took her bath and went to sleep. she was tired so she had fallen asleep almost immediately.
