TOXIC ATTRACTION

TOXIC ATTRACTION EPISODE ELEVEN

After I left Susan's house I got to Richard's house but the door was locked and so I had to wait for him outside. I did not want to call him but I wanted my coming home to be a surprise to him..why was I even back to such a marriage?.. I felt guilty for leaving a helpless man and in seconds thoughts, seeing him begging by the roadside made me realize if I became a supportive wife, maybe help him look for a decent job as I did the same, life didn't really have to be that bad. I wanted to try and make the marriage work because, in my state, not even Davis would want me back. I could not afford to rent my own house and I couldn't bank on living with friends for long lest I got thrown out yet again. I wanted to try not because I loved him but because I pitied him.

After waiting for close to half an hour I heard his voice. He was talking to Tosh who was tolling him into the compound with his wheelchair. When they got to the door, they were surprised to see me and my suitcase and I could see the joy in him portrayed by the smile on his face. It almost seemed like he was expecting that I would be back.

Me: hey...

Richard: hey...

Tosh opened the door and helped take my suitcase in and then I helped push him in on his wheelchair.

Tosh: anything I should do before I leave?

Richard: maybe you can buy us some dinner before you leave. I want to prepare a special meal for my wife.

Tosh was excited for his friend. I didn't know what it was in it for him but the smile on his face was quite evident that he was genuinely happy for him. Mark and Tosh were the only friends I had seen so far and they had proven their loyalty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Tosh left and the room was awkwardly silent for a few seconds with one of us wanting to start a conversation. Did I want to tell him about having seen him begging in the streets, no? I didn't want to be the one to start an argument and I didn't want to be thrown out of the house. Richard looked like the type that had no time to beg because he never bothered to ask me to stay even after he had seen me drag out my suitcase. Not that I would have stayed if he asked but that's what men did if they loved a woman, they begged her to stay. He should have but clearly he did not love me too. The feeling was mutual and maybe, just maybe we could find a way around this forced marriage.

Richard: you came back...

Me: yes.

Richard: should I ask why?.

Me: no. I realized I'd rather be here than out there.

He nodded..he didn't seem to want to say a lot of things because, in his pride, he could not admit that he was glad I was back.

Things still got awkward between him as I still had to walk on eggshells around him being extra careful with whatever was to come out of my mouth.

I settled in and gave Susan a call to let her know that I had gotten to Richards in one piece. We talked for a bit then ended the conversation when I heard Tosh's voice..he had come back with the dinner and like Richard promised he was going to take care of it and of cause I was going to help. Tosh had to excuse himself and he told Richard he would come to pick him up the following day in the morning. I watched Tosh leave and launched myself on the couch helping with the ingredients as Richard prepared to cook. It was still awkward being in the same house the two of us not knowing what to tell each other.

Richard: it's been a mess here since you left. I haven't been able to do much.

Me: that's okay. I'll get the house in order tomorrow.

He went to the bedroom and got changed into comfortable clothes then came back to help me slice the chicken that Tosh had bought. It was indeed a treat because I had never gotten to eat chicken since I started staying with him...

Cleopatra was worried since she visited Juliana. Everything Juliana told her was not what her daughter was like. She sat quietly in her chair thinking as she waited for Robert to get home. She tried calling Robina again but she did not get a response. What bothered her most was the fact that Robina was with another man who could have gotten her pregnant...

It wasn't long since Robert walked in and when she saw him, she got up to receive him. She took her coat from him and also took his bag and took them inside their room. Robert loosened his tie and then switched on the TV as he took a seat waiting for Cleopatra to come back and serve him dinner.

Cleopatra: you look tired.

Robert: I am.

He didn't look at her during that conversation. Whenever that happened, Robert had a bad day or someone somewhere had pissed him off. She tried to avoid Cleopatra's questions by asking her to allow him to watch the news.

Ronald had had another encounter with Nerea who called him that evening just a few minutes before he left the office. Nerea told him that he needed to get Robina back to Richards's house or she would send debt collectors to go clear off everything from that house and make sure they were on the streets. He couldn't tell Cleopatra that because he did not want her to worry. He needed to find a way.

Cleopatra warmed his food and then served him. He sat to eat and his wife sat with him at the table. She had already eaten but was always her norm to keep her company.

Cleopatra: what happened that you came home this beaten?

Robert: I'm fine. Just a long day.

She watched him eat wondering if she was supposed to tell him about his new findings...

Robert: you don't look too good yourself.

Cleopatra: I went looking for Robina today. I asked Julia if she knew her whereabouts but she has no clue where she could be.

He did not say a word. He ate in silence and when Cleopatra realized there was no conversation between them, she left for their bedroom...

That night as we were cooking, there was a loud knock on the door and I told Richard I would get it thinking it was Mark since those were the only visitors we had. I opened the door and Diana pushed me aside and made her way in. I knew her from the photo album and I could tell that she was the sister everyone in the family did not like so much.

She walked in and dumped her suitcase on the floor and went to hug her brother completely ignoring me by the door. I didn't bother to pick up her suitcase and left it right there where she had left it.

Diana: excuse me, that's my bag..pick it up and put it inside the room somewhere.

I didn't move an inch and I didn't say a word to her.

Diana: I'm talking to you.

Richard: Don't talk to her like that, she's my wife. You pick your things and take them where you want them.

Richard sounded so authoritative that Diana had no choice but to do what he had commanded.

Me: your sister was coming over and you didn't tell me?..

Richard: I didn't know. Diana never tells her plans to anyone, she just does whatever she wants. I don't even know how she got here. She knew the old house.

Diana: mum gave me directions and I took an uber to get me here. Wait, you don't want me here?

Richard: we do, but you can't just show up without saying, Diana.

Diana: and since when did you have a problem with me visiting is it because of her?

Richard: she's my wife and you should accord her some respect.

She rolled her eyes and found a seat and sat with her arms crossed to her chest staring hard at me. Diana and I were meeting for the first time and I already disliked her from the word go. She was rude and very controlling.

Diana: why is my brother cooking when you are seated?.. can't you sympathize with him...

Richard: if you don't shut that mouth, I will make sure you board a bus back to Busia, or better still why are you here when you have your own apartment?

Diana: why are you talking to me like I've said something wrong?.. am I not allowed to ask questions or say anything in this house? This woman has changed you and she is up to no good.

Me: I have had enough of your disrespect, now how about you leave my house?

I said getting up and pushing the table aside. I grabbed her by her arm and she put up a fight. I slapped her as she rained slaps on me and when Richard came to separate us, no one let go of the other. I beat her up where I could because it had become hard dragging her out myself.

Richard: stop it both of you. You are behaving like animals.

Richard said after he managed to roll his wheelchair between us and now Diana's slaps were raining on his head. I pulled back and Diane stopped. She started insulting me telling me how my father was desperate to sell me to his brother because I could not attract any man for myself. She told me I had been bought like a cheap goat-headed for s*******r and I did not deserve her brother. What had I done to her to hate me so much yet she did not know me that well...

Diana: you are a witch who has come to separate a mother from her son, you threw my mother out and you think you will do the same with me?..

Richard: please sit down, I will handle her

Me: no. I'm not sitting down, in fact, I want to beat some sense into your sister and then gladly take myself to the police station. It will be quieter there. I said looking for something that I could use to hit her.

Diana: try me. Try me, you witch...

Richard grabbed her arm and pulled her down to her seat and he asked me to stop whatever I was doing and listen to him, I did.

Richard: you need to stop fighting. This back and forth is not doing any of us any good.

Diana: she attacked me...

Me: listen, Richard, I did not come here to be insulted by your family. It's either she gets out of my house or I leave right now.

Diana: go, you gold digger..no one will miss you anyway...

Me: what gold am I digging in this filthy place, you should be glad that someone is willing to stay with your brother.

Diana: or maybe you are staying so that you can have s*x with Mark.. does he know you are a w***e too?..

Richard: what did you say?..

Diana: ask her. wife indeed.

Richard: Robina, what is she saying?

He turned very fast and looked at me. he had this expression of anger on his face and I was dumbfounded when I heard those words come out of Diana's mouth.

Me: I don't know what she is talking about.

Richard: what is going on here, someone should start talking before I lose it on both of you... Diana!

Diana: don't ask me, am I the one who slept with your best friend, ask her.

Who was this Diana psychopath?..