nilichoandika

Chapter Sixteen: Belinda

November 13th, 2017

Okwan and Maureen stopped by Belinda’s house that evening with two bottles of wine and cake. She ushered them into the living room where she’d already set the table. Maureen sat on the carpet beside her and hugged her. “Well, at least we have some good news.”

“What is it?” asked Belinda.

“You got the job and I know the HR will call you tomorrow morning because I happened to print out contracts and I was not snooping or anything but your name was printed at the top. She might call you in to review it and if the terms and conditions are okay with you then you can start working.”

“Thanks, at least that is something.”

“Why aren’t you happy?”

“She’s had a rough day Maureen, let her be.”

“What is wrong with you two? Life is too short to sit around moping and crying about what’s hurt you. My mother always tells me that cry but don’t bleed your eyes dry. Now, enough about the sad stuff, ehe...tell us, what do you think of your new life?”

“What new life are you talking about?” asked Okwan. She was sitting on the only chair in Belinda’s living room. Maureen looked at her and frowned. The woman took a plate and served some meat before dipping her finger into the stew and licking it clean.

“I don’t understand where you come from Okwan. It’s like the term ‘decency’ was a foreigner in your home!”

“Mesh, do not disrespect Okwan. Look, you are what…twenty four almost twenty five years old. This is your second job and you have no experience whatsoever with men and have not been married, so do not judge because it’s never happened to you.”

“I am not judging Okwan. Look at how she is eating all the meat while we are talking. Hand me a plate will you?”

Belinda handed her the plate and the bowl of meat. Okwan laughed. Belinda threw a pillow at her. Maureen clicked and Belinda turned to her, raised an eyebrow and said “see! you are judging again?”

“Look, I say things the way I see them. Okwan is beautiful and she makes her own money. She dresses and acts like she is an old woman but she’s not. It just pisses me off. Before you start saying that I have no experience, I got pregnant in form three, carried the baby to term but he died during delivery. My dad kicked me out of the house. My mom defended me and she too was told to go back to her home because well, she was the third wife and he didn’t care that much. So, yes, I judge, but don’t sit all mighty and righteous crying about something that’s already done. Get up and get moving is all I say.”
Chapter Fifteen: Jeff

November 12th, 2017

He went home early. He parked the car in the garage and walked into the house. It was four o’clock when he stepped into the sitting room. Hakeem ran up to him and hugged him. “Where’s Iman?”

“She is drinking juice in the kitchen with Auntie Mary.”

“Auntie Mary is here?”

“Yes, she bought us ice-cream but I finished mine! Sorry.”

“It’s okay, let’s go and say hello to Auntie Mary and get some juice too.” He lifted Hakeem and made his way to the kitchen where his sister-in-law was busy grating carrots with the help of Iman. They looked up when he entered the kitchen. Iman smiled and waved at him. Mary nodded and continued grating the carrots.

“Mami, go into your room with Hakeem, I’d like to talk to your Auntie.”

“Why? Did she not do her homework too?”

“Something like that mami, get off the kitchen counter and see what you can do as we catch up.”

Jeff waited until the kids had left the kitchen before turning to Mary. She smiled at him and continued grating the carrots. “Where’s Besh?” he asked.

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? She is your sister for chrissake!”

“She is your wife and you know what Christ has to say about that and being put asunder.”

“Mary, I am not in the mood for one of your games. Tell me where Besh is!”

“I don’t know. She called me this morning crying about something and asked me to be home when the kids came from school. I was shocked but seeing as I had no lectures today, I got into a matatu and made my way here from Maseno. Iman told me that she does not stay here anymore. I don’t know what is going on Jeff but given how you demand to know her whereabouts, I have a feeling that you did something to make her leave. What did you do? Wait, better yet, whom did you do?”

“Watch your tone Mary! You are in my house.”

“You are right. Listen, you can finish grating the carrots and check on the meat that’s cooking. I have other things to do with my life than live by your rules.”

“Mary, wait…just finish cooking, you can leave in the morning. Forget what I said, it’s been a stressful time for us. Your sister asked for time to think things through and I don’t know, maybe I was putting too much pressure on her to have another baby, she just snapped. I am sorry if I offended you. It was not my intention.”

“Aha…I see, so you can also apologize? Listen Jeff, she knew about the other women and it killed her. I don’t know how you could never see how much it hurt her when you lied to her face. I don’t like you but I am here because my sister asked me to. Besh, did not ‘just snap,’ she broke and for the sake of your life, I hope you get what’s coming to you. You don’t deserve my sister Jeff. You don’t.”
Chapter Fourteen…

November 11th, 2017

“Now, that is the reason why you need to go and sleep it off. I know your husband is a coward and he will come here trying to confront you. Listen, go home and rest and we can talk about your next move.”

“Mesh, what do you mean by my next move?”

“Belinda, what she means is that you have finally caught him and he cannot hide from the truth. He knows you can do one major thing and that is to take the children from him. He also knows that he has to act like he is saving his marriage in order to look good among his fellow men. You have started a war Belinda and from where I’m sitting, I want you to win.”

“What is wrong with you two? I just confronted my husband and his mistress. I haven’t been living in our marital home for two months. I might lose my children and worse off, it hurts that he cheated on me and you are talking about war and winning?”

“You are too good for this life Belinda. You should become a Pastor.”

“I know right? We can be ushers and help collect all the tithes. Belinda, listen, Mesh is right. You are too good for this life and look where it got you. You got married and you embraced the season of marriage so much so that you forgot about yourself. Your whole world revolved around Jeff and sometimes when you give people the title of “Perfect” without informing them, they let you down. You expected so much from someone who knew nothing of your expectations. It hurts and it won’t stop hurting until you decide to keep loving and embracing yourself. You are lucky he didn’t leave you seeking the casualty wing of a hospital.”

“Okwan, I didn’t mean to…”

“No, that is what I mean by it hurting. Women bear secrets that could drain this world of all the tears the creatures have. It took me five years to choose myself. In those five years, all the nurses at Russia knew me as the punching bag of my husband and whenever I came in, they’d say ‘the usual,’ and write on my visiting card that I fell down. You know, later on when I looked at those cards, I saw that I’d fallen down four hundred and fifty three times. Did you know that anyone with Epilepsy does not suffer that much number of fits? Go home and sleep. We’ll talk in the evening.”

“Thanks Okwan.”
Chapter Fourteen: Okwan

November 11th, 2017

Okwan knew something was wrong when Belinda came into the restaurant a few minutes after Maureen. She watched the skinny girl bite her nails as Belinda walked to the kitchen. “What is the matter with you two?” Okwan asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I am not your age mate Maureen! You do not answer a question with a question; now tell me, what happened before I stuff garlic in your mouths!”

“Okwan, listen…”

“Is it the interview? How did Belinda do?”

“It’s not the interview. Well, the interview went well and I am certain they will take Belinda. It’s just that on our way out we got caught up in our conversation and the next thing we knew, we were near the Victoria Hotel and Michelle was seated at a table having lunch with Belinda’s husband. She went to talk to them and I ran all the way here.”

“I see. You saw them first if I’m correct.”

“Yes, but that is not the issue, Belinda just went in there, like it was her right!”

“It is my right, Mesh! They were having lunch and holding hands like they had no care in the world! Do you know how much he’d pay for that lunch? All the money he spends on her could be set aside for the education of our children. In fact, he’s never taken me out to lunch or taken the kids out, but he sits there, holds her hand and eats with her like she’s earned it. Don’t ever tell me that I have no right Mesh, don’t you ever dare tell me that you don’t want drama when I have to live every single day with the fact that he would rather have other women but me, that he would rather spend his time and affection on other women but his own wife! Don’t you ever dare tell me a thing about drama when he rolled out the whole production plus cast and crew right into our marriage. I am an educated woman. I am a responsible wife and I love my husband and even go out of my way to make sure that he is seen as a good father and spouse. I have never demanded a thing from him. I have never looked down on him or made him feel like he was not loved and appreciated. So, don’t…”

“Sit down Belinda…yes sit down and listen, take the day off. I want you to go home and prepare supper because we will be coming over to your house tonight,” said Okwan.

“What?”

“Belinda, you are boiling with anger and you have every right to. If I were you, I’d have beaten the two of them. You have friends, people who care for you and if there is one thing I know about that kind of anger is that, you need to eat. You also need your friends around. Go to your little house, sleep, cry, clean or do whatever it is you want to and we will see you in the evening. Mesh, see to it that she arrives home.”

“I am not going home Okwan.”

“Yes you are, besides don’t you think that your husband will look for a way to confront you after what you just did? Wait, before I even get ahead of myself, what did you tell them?”

“It doesn’t matter; those two will not stay away from each other. I am tired of all this Okwan. I deserve better.”

“What doesn’t matter matters and sooner or later it becomes a huge matter no matter.”

“Uh? What are you some tongue twister, lyrical restaurant owner or something? Would you speak some sense, please?”

“Look at you making fun of me yet you ran here instead of standing up for your friend. Sugarcane legs!”

“I can run faster than you and in heels!”

“Are you two going to bicker like babies or will you listen to what I told the other woman?”

“I thought it didn’t matter?”

“Oh, shut up! I told her to get an HIV test because my husband had been with so many women. I also told her that I hope they have two kids just like he did with me.”

“Jeso! You did not! And then, what did she say?”

“I did not wait for her answer. I pushed back the chair, got up and walked out of the restaurant.”
Chapter Thirteen: Belinda

November 10th, 2017

Belinda was ready to respond to her friend’s statement when she saw her turn. She looked around and then saw that Mesh was biting her finger nails. “Mesh, what is it?”

“Look, I will talk to you later on. I just don’t want drama.”

“What drama are you talking about? I swear you are the only Drama Queen I know in my life.”

“I am not joking Belinda. Look, you see the lady in that green maxi dress?”

“Where is she?”

“Look through the window of the hotel and you’ll see her.”

“Okay, but she is far from us. Who is she?”

“Belinda, look, let’s just leave. Please.”

“I am not leaving until you tell me why you don’t want her to see you.”

“I am not being a child Belinda! She is Michelle!”

“Well, let’s go and join her for lunch.”

“Wait, what? I don’t want her to see me. She will get ideas and I cannot fight her. Belinda, God did not bless me with fighting skills. Look at me and then look at her, I’m like a pole she can lean on, please, let’s just go. She is not worth the drama.”

“Okay, we are not going to fight. We will talk and I want to introduce myself. Look at it as some form of enlightenment. I have to face the woman my husband is having an affair with.” Belinda walked into the restaurant and headed straight for the table where Michelle was sitting. Maureen stood her ground and remained where she was. Belinda pulled a chair and looked at the man having lunch with Michelle.

“Excuse me, we are having lunch,” started the lady.

“Hello Michelle, my name is Belinda. You are having lunch with my husband. I believe I have every right of being here. Jeff, this is the Michelle I asked you about three weeks ago. Do you now know her?”

“Besh, please, don’t do this…”started Jeff.

“I am not doing anything Jeff. I was passing and I saw you holding her hand across the table and thought she must be very important to you. She is beautiful. I like how progressive you are with skin tones. I never liked Molly or the secretary you couldn’t stop taking to Mombasa, but with this one, I have a feeling she’s nice.”

“Besh, this is not the place…” started Jeff, but Belinda turned her attention to Michelle and smiled once more. She said “If I were you Michelle, I would get an HIV test. My husband has dipped his hand in many pots here in Kisumu and you two make a wonderful couple. I hope you have two children just like he did with me. Kids are awesome. Enjoy your lunch.” She pushed back her chair and strutted out of the restaurant and made her way to Okwan’s restaurant.
Chapter Twelve: Maureen

November 9th, 2017

“You can take the children for a while and spend time with them,” said Maureen.

“I live in a one bedroom apartment. You’ve seen it and it is not the kind of place they would enjoy playing around and all that.”

“They are kids. They only care about the attention you give them besides, you will get this job and that means you’ll have a better place if you so wish.”

“Maybe…”

“Belinda, can I ask you something?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Have you thought of going back to your house?”

“You mean the house?”

“Yes, I am talking about the house where Jeff and your kids live in. It’s the house you left and haven’t been sleeping in for the past one month. It’s the house that your kids call home and where their school bus knows to stop every morning and evening. Do you need me to clarify some more?”

“No, I know what you are talking about. I am not ready to go there.”

“What about Jeff?”

“I am not ready to talk to him. I know I was hard on you at first about Michelle, but there are many more women like her out there. It’s Michelle this time but there have been others and the more I act like a fool, the more I feel hurt. Look, if there is one thing I have learned over the years, it’s that there’s more to life than playing the perfect wife. I always thought that if I took care of everything at home then it will be great. It was for a while and then he started acting different and I started asking myself questions. I got what I was looking for and now…just don’t get into something and forget yourself Mesh, no one’s ever worth all that loss and pain.”

“You need to sort things out with Jeff.”

“Wait, are you telling me that I should forgive and forget?”

“Ehe! Yes, that’s what I am saying. Before you start lecturing me again, hear me out. Listen, you need to iron things out with your husband. You chose to stay away from him and it’s reminded you that you can always get up when you fall down. You did not take his money or live under his shelter but you managed and he knows that, in fact, it probably scares him that you could walk away. All, I am saying is that you need to talk to him, yell at him or something, just to get everything off your chest and after that, you can decide what course of action to take.”

“Where is this sudden enlightenment coming from?”

“I have been reading this book by some woman in America. You know the divorce rate is pretty high there and their courts make more money settling divorce cases and all that. She talks about ‘the hurt you give’ in one of her many chapters about healing. I just tried it out on you and it seems to have worked.”

“Can I read the book once you’re done?”

“I can send it to you via whatsapp!”

“It’s a pirated book! Mesh, now you are hurting the woman’s efforts, just give me the title of the book and I will go and look for it.”

“I forgot I was talking to Saint Belinda. You need to go out, get drunk and wake up with a hangover or something.”

“There’s no way I’m going out with you Mesh. I’m too old for the club scene.”

“I know this rich friend of mine who knows how to have a good time. I’ll call her and make plans this Friday, and while we are talking about going out. Okwan is not invited. I like her, but she’s way too off in my squad.”

“You’re mean. How about we invite her and let her decide whether she’d love to come or not?”

“If she comes, she’s your headache, not mine.”
Chapter Eleven: Belinda

November 8th, 2017

The meeting was scheduled for ten o’clock in the morning. Belinda hated being late, but not as much as being unprepared, which she was. She looked at the time by her wristwatch and let out a shaky breath. Maureen waved at her as she approached the reception and smiled, “You are not late, don’t worry, I delayed the interview as much as I could.”

It had been two months and Belinda had found it impossible to stay away from Okwan’s restaurant. Okwan was hesitant about diversifying her client base but with Maureen and Belinda’s endless pleading, she’d given in and allowed them to set up a whatsapp group. They shared the weekly menu and received orders for deliveries via the network. Okwan would watch as Belinda neatly served the food, arranged the plates and took many photos only to share one of each on the platform.

They agreed that Okwan would receive the money while Belinda made all the deliveries to schools and offices within the town. Maureen offered to share her marketing skills to help them reach out to more people. They shared the profits.

Maureen waited for Belinda right outside the office building. She walked on ahead of her and Belinda followed. “I did not want them to know that I knew you. Our HR can be such a pain sometimes. So, how did it go?”

“They asked me a lot of questions and said they will call me when the time is right.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, why are you surprised?”

“It’s just that the position needs to be filled immediately and I thought they would tell you whether you got it or not. It’s not like they interviewed the whole world for it!”

“Do not stress yourself. If it’s meant to be my job, it will.”

“I do not believe in that. If you want something you go after it with everything you’ve got. You do not leave it to the universe, if I did that; I’d not be where I am today. Ehe, tell me, how are you holding up?”

“I am fine. Jeff stopped asking me about my whereabouts. He pretends not to notice me when I am in the house. Schools are closing soon and I don’t know what I’ll do.”

What six years of publishing on Smashwords mean to me.

November 7th, 2017

Yes! Six years…

Image result for let's celebrate gif

It’s been six years since I started publishing on Smashwords. I am taking part in NanoWrimo this year and could not stop but look back at my writing and self-publishing journey over the years.

Here’s a break down of the titles published in each year and the number of copies that have been downloaded:

Year

Titles published

Downloads

2011

Dear Yellow

Dear May

1045

752

2012

Say You Love Me

If time is all I have

Ethan & Richard

The Absolutely Boring Life of Mya

Made for You

Last Heart Standing

From the Heart

The book of Abel

Dear Brian

I love you this much

Never forget me Leila

December

2652

185

648

2105

3435

1137

693

590

601

13511

710

1170

2013

Pieces

I wanted to tell you

Only time will tell

The Single Diaries

Anna

Memories

1009

619

594

995

899

542

2014

Choose me

21 Days

What happened to us?

The perfect love story

Confessions of time spent with humans

1348

779

1732

1112

490

2015

Silence & Shadows

Mist

325

604

2016

Roses and Lies

The place you call home

284

If you are into numbers, my basic math tells me that it’s 40,653 downloads in a span of six years and if you’d have told me that it’s the number I’d be seeing years later, I would have not believed you. 2012 was a good year for it seems I wrote and published the most! After 2013, my ebook titles took an abstract turn and I ventured forth into other genres, taking a break from romance.

Since then I have ventured forth to Createspace, Pronoun and Amazon Kindle.

However, forget the numbers or the numerous platforms that have since then come to the reach of authors across the globe. This is a personal milestone for me. I am nowhere near where I envision myself and I struggle with getting there.

I struggle with Grammar, punctuation and hanging clauses…and in the blogging world, I struggle with getting the right headline and traffic. I post and let it be. It is something I started doing way back in 2011 and still haven’t grasped the subtle art of marketing.

Whenever someone tells me they love reading my blog or that they enjoyed reading a book I wrote, I simply nod and smile. I leave it at that. Honestly, it’s uncomfortable being praised and one percent (1%) of me feels great when I receive a compliment but the other ninety-nine percent (99%) wants to run and hide.

Have you been publishing on Smashwords?

Do you have an online platform that you can say was your first step into self-publishing?

I mean like seriously, I went from designing my ebook covers using picmonkey to canva and adobe creative suite!

One of the greatest challenge for me has been the distribution of my books especially those that I set out to be in both print and soft copy. Most of the readers, friends, or enthusiasts here in Kenya insist on getting the print copy. Since publishing in 2015 on Amazon, 5 people have bought the paperback copies via the amazon site. The rest are hesitant to go online and get the books shipped. I do ship copies but they are booked and paid for even before they arrive, mostly by strangers. Yes, it is true, family and friends are great support, but when a stranger invests in your work and loves it, you get even more people investing in your work.

I have a long way to go and maybe come the end of this month, my next book shall be available in both print and ebook versions.

Here are six things I’ve learned about self-publishing:

You’ve got to write before you publish. This is the most important thing that has kept me going. Writers write there’s no shortcut.
Self-publishing is not an automatic key to millions. It may take a while o be noticed especially on smashwords because a lot of people write and publish every second.
Do not give up. Cliche right? Well, it’s as old and sound as gold, you keep pressing on.
There are so many options when it comes to platforms for self-publishing and you’ve got to figure out which one to take. Do your research. Read through the comments, reviews and FAQs before you pick on one.
If you are on facebook, twitter, instagram, or google plus be sure to share links to your work. There is a lot of information on the internet, so save your audience the time, and make it easier for them to get access to your work. Sharing is caring.
Free is not always the best option.

Today marks six years and I have no clue as to what tomorrow holds for me, all I know is that I am glad that I went beyond the class compositions and project papers and actually created worlds using words.

Happy anniversary to me and a big thank you to Smashwords and Mark Coker for taking the initiative to create such a platform. You helped a Writer out and you continue to do so!

Chapter Ten: Jeff

November 6th, 2017

He waited until Belinda had tucked the kids in bed before handing her a cup of tea. She looked at him and then reached for the cup saying “thanks.”

“How have you been Besh?”

“Fine, thank you.”

“How is work?”

“It’s great.”

“Where do you stay?”

“In a house.”

“Where is this house?”

“It’s here in Kisumu.”

“Who are you staying with?”

“No one.”

“Are you safe?”

“Yes.”

“Look, is there any way I can come and visit?”

“No, thank you.”

“So you are still insisting on staying away from us? It has been three weeks Belinda. You are like the day time maids in your own home. You come in the morning, at four in the evening and leave by seven thirty; does that seem alright to you?”

“How is Michelle doing?”

“Who?”

“Exactly, so, it seems just fine Jeff. I am taking the time I need to sort out my life and you do not get a front row seat! Thank you for the tea. I’ll be on my way now.”

“Besh, you can’t keep doing this.”

“I know, but when I get tired of doing it, I’ll do something else Jeff. Goodnight.”

He drew the curtain in the sitting room slightly so he could watch her walk down the street into the night. The cup of tea in his hand was still warm. She looked younger, stronger and there was something in her eyes, something he saw the first night he took her out on a date. He walked back to the leather chair he’d been sitting on and settled in with the remote in hand. She wanted time; he was going to give it to her. He however did not know which version of Belinda would return to him, if ever she returned.

He thought about Michelle and felt his heart take a leap. How had Belinda known about Michelle and why didn’t she wreck havoc over her?

He finished taking his tea and then went to bed later on. If he would have taken time to mull over Belinda’s question, he would have known that the storm she’d raised was gaining momentum. He would have run after Belinda into the night and begged for dear life, but being the man that he was, Jeff could always say that he never saw it coming and that would be the only truth he ever uttered in his life.
Chapter Nine: Maureen

November 5th, 2017

There were things that haunted Mesh: Lies, truths, black heels, four-in-one leather handbags, Nivea body lotion and men who cheated on their partners. It is the last of these that prompted her to go see Belinda the next day. She knew that Belinda’s husband was still seeing Michelle. The Facebook updates and whatsapp chats with mutual friends informed her courage. If her man was cheating on her, she would love to know. She held her bag closer to her chest as she approached Okwan’s restaurant. She greeted Okwan and asked if Belinda had reported.

“Belinda told me that you helped her collect money from your colleagues at work when she delivered lunch, is this true?”

“If she said so, then it is. Why do you ask? Don’t you trust her?”

“You ask too many questions in one breath. Belinda has gone to make some deliveries. She should be back any time soon.”

“Sure, I’ll wait for her then. Can I have a soda to drink while I wait?”

“Which brand will you have?”

“Coke please.”

“Have a seat.”

“Thanks, and listen, can I ask you a question?”

“About what?”

“About who? I would like to know how Belinda is doing. Is she happy here or does she seem like she is miles away when she is at work.”

“Oh, I see, so he sent you!”

“Who sent me?” asked Maureen.

“The husband! Look, this is not Telemundo! This is a restaurant. I make food and people pay to enjoy that food. Sitting and eating is what people do here and occasionally the broke ones like you drink soda, so go and tell that silly husband to keep his drama away from this place.”

“Have you met her husband? What does he look like?”

“Are you trying to tell me that you do not know how your employer looks like? What are you smoking you skinny thing?”

“First, let’s get something straight, I do not know her husband. Second, I am not working for anyone when it comes to Belinda’s well being. Third, the only thing I chase and grind for is a clear note the largest value in print being one followed by three neat zeros!”

“I like you! So, what do you want to do about Belinda because she clearly has a lot going on, and from what I gathered yesterday, she left their home.”

“What? Already? Maybe she knows.”

“She knows what?”

“Her husband is cheating on her and that’s why I came to talk to her.”

“I see, and you know this because?”

“It so happens that the girl her husband is seeing is a friend of my close friend.”

“She is someone you know.”

“No, she is someone I have seen and heard about, but I don’t really know her.”

“You came here to tell Belinda about this and also maybe show her who the other woman is.”

“Yes, I came here to let her know.”

“If you just arrived and were quick to tell a stranger like me about this affair, do you think you are in a position to share this news with Belinda?”

“What? I told you because I feel as though you care for her. Stop trying to twist the situation to ease the guilt within you, besides everyone at Winmart knows you are jealous because she has hips to die for!”

“You are still too young to understand what life is. How old are you?”

“None of your business!”

“Less than twenty four I see. Look, Mesh or whatever you call yourself, don’t go around starting little fires that you cannot put out. It is Belinda’s life and marriage. She has been sleeping beside the man for more years than you could ever stay with a man. Before you break any news ask yourself whether it is worth breaking.”

“What if seeing her makes me feel guilty?”

“Guilt is a good reminder that we need to mind our own business. Let Belinda sort out her problems. If she comes to you for help, give it, don’t think about it, just give it and let everything take its course. Are you married?”

“What? No way.”

“Exactly, you have to be in the sea to know exactly where the sharks swim.”

“Okwan, what happened to your marriage?”

“I left it all behind at midnight. The things I had on me were my Identification card, five hundred shillings, the clothes on my body and one red slipper on my feet. I washed off the blood and saw to the bruises at my cousin’s place.”

“I’m sorry, but didn’t you go to the police?”

“He was the police. Now, enough of this, would you like some food as you wait for Belinda?”

“Sure, how about some chapati and beef stew?”

“So, you had money but were busy coating your tongue with soda just so you could pester me with endless questions!”

“I like you too, Okwan.”

“I like your money better.”