Chapter 74
I was still on hot coals, waiting for the final decision of my saviors, wishing that Diana was here with me.
They might have sent the little girl away to sleep, but I was sure that she was the huge determining factor if I would stay with them here or go to the queen. Laura had mentioned it earlier.
Perhaps, If Diana was here, she would have helped me with the begging process. Probably, that had been the reason why Laura had sent her away. She knew her daughter the most, and knew that the little girl would have dragged her long skirt If possible to convince her to allow me to stay.
Since Diana wasn’t here, I only have to hope. The source of thɪs content is
Although I am curious about the queen, I don’t want to go to her yet, and I don’t even want to stay with her. I am already familiar with my saviors and would want to stay with them for now whilst plotting my revenge.
“You know what, Maya, I think you should stay here for now. But if the queen takes note of your presence, or if the villagers think it necessary to let the queen know of your presence-then whatever her decision concerning you, we will have to abide by that no matter what we want. Do you understand?’’ Laura asked after stating her decision on the matter, and immediately I nodded my head robotically, holding the smile threatening to break out on my lips.
Diana would love this.
“Thank you very much, Laura. I appreciate the goodwill that you and your family have bestowed on me. I thank you so much. Peter too.” I said, my mouth and words full of appreciation, a clear reflection of the gratitude that abided in my soul and heart. I was just so happy. Now, I could have a stable environment to plan my next steps.
“You are welcome, Maya. Now, come. Let me show you where you will be staying.” Peter said, giving his wife a short glance, before grasping me lightly by the elbow and leading me out of the hut into the night.
Just before I walked away, I turned around one last time to look at Laura.
The beautiful woman I’ve come to respect, was staring at me with skepticism in her eyes.
It made me wonder what exactly she was skeptical about. Did she think I was trouble?
Well, if that was so, I vowed to do all I could to please her, starting from tomorrow, even if it included learning farm work. I would do anything to prove my innocence to her. I would do anything and everything to make sure she never regrets letting me stay here.
Peter led me to another hut, just between the clinic and center hut where we had just eaten and talked. It was smaller and rounder than the rest, but still big in a way.
Stepping into it, I saw Diana on her bed, reading a book, a book that looked quite advanced for her age. What’s with this girl doing things that were more advanced than her age?
When she saw me, she screamed a ’yes’ before jumping down from the bed in a jiffy and running in my direction.
She hugged her father first, muttering a rushed ’thank you’ before rushing to me, and engulfing my legs in a hug.
I bent down then, unable to hold back the smile on my lips this time around, and wrapped her shoulders with my hands, holding her stuck to me, whilst Peter watched on and smiled.
I wanted to ask her how she had known of her parent’s decision-the decision of letting me stay here; but before I could do so, Peter was already speaking.
“I get that she is an only child, and gets lonely sometimes, but couldn’t she make it less obvious?” He asked, chuckling even as his attention was drawn to a newcomer that had joined us at that moment in the room. It was Laura of course.
The woman smiled for the first time since the negotiation about my place of habitation, on seeing the way Diana wrapped herself around me.
She must really love her daughter. I surmised.
Thank you diana. I thought to myself, happy that the couple had the child. If not, what would have been my fate?
“Now, now, Diana. It’s time to leave Maya alone so that she could settle in more properly. It’s late already. You can play catch up tomorrow morning with her, since it’s the weekend tomorrow.” Laura instructed, folding her arms around her chest, her smile still in place.
Diana disengaged then, but held my right hand, and led me to her bed. The bed was big enough to house us both. I didn’t have a problem with that though. The girl was so sweet that I didn’t care that I would be sharing a bed and a room with her.
“Forgive us about the little space. Tomorrow, after the meeting, I will construct a board that will divide the room, and get your own bed from my carpenter friend. Just make do tonight.” Peter requested, and I shook my head, trying to tell him that it was okay, that I could stay with Diana.
Diana thought so too because the girl had pouted her lips immediately after her father’s statement.
“No Maya…It is something that must be done.” Laura said, before I could say anything in Diana’s favor.
Laura’s smile was still there, but her words were firm, holding no room for argument.
Peter said nothing after that. He only wished us a good night, and left the room, before his wife.
Laura looked at me and then at her daughter two last times, as if debating on whether she was doing a good thing leaving her daughter with a stranger in the same room.
Her good side must have won, because she just let out a sign, wished us a good night, turned around and left the room.
Immediately she left the room, Diana pulled me to the bed, and after I sat down, she climbed the bed, and sat close to me. We stayed like that for a few minutes, different thoughts surely running through both our minds. She broke the silence first.
“I am glad that you are here, Maya. You are an answered prayer actually. Promise me that you will never leave my side.” She requested, looking at me earnestly with her wide beautiful eyes.
I opened my mouth to make the promise and shut it.
I won’t leave her side? Was that possible? Wouldn’t I leave sometime for my revenge?
I wanted to tell her that my stay was temporary, but taking in her large eyes that were looking up to me, I had no choice but to lie. “I promise Diana. I won’t leave your side. Now let’s go to bed. Tomorrow might be a long day.” I said, watching as she nodded, and drifted to the side of the bed touching the walls, leaving enough room on the bed for me to lay down.
“Goodnight, Maya.” She whispered, as I turned off the bedside lamp, and let the room get cocooned in darkness except for the tiny wisp of moonlight that streamed into the room from the open window.
“Goodnight Diana. Sweet dreams.” I responded, shutting my eyes, aware of Diana’s tiny hands searching, stilling and holding tightly when she found my hands in the dark.