We Are Your Family
"We got evicted from the family condo," replied Mrs Haward, her eyes scanning the environment.
Her skin crawled at the very thought of staying in Jason's apartment. She didn't want to be there but it was the only plan she could come up with within a short time. Staying apart will not help in executing her plans. Jason looked at the luggage and frowned.
"What happened? I thought Dad, had that sorted out," Jason questioned.
"Well, the rent expired without us knowing and, as per the agreement, there is a period within which the renewal needs to be done, or we vacate the premises. Unfortunately, we missed the deadline. We tried to get it back but the amount involved was unreasonable," Mrs Haward said and walked inside. "So, I asked myself, why waste all that money, when I have a lovely son who has his own apartment," she said, and made herself comfortable on the sofa. "So we decided to move in with you but only temporarily. At least till we get a new apartment," she said with a smile.
Jason rubbed his temples. "Fine, you can stay here while I get the family condo sorted out," he said.
"Why do I get the feeling you don't want us here?" questioned Mrs Haward.
Jason, who had only taken a step towards the front door, froze in his steps.
"Mum, far from that," Jason said, turning to look in Mrs Haward's direction.
"That apartment meant a lot to Dad, and he left it for Mirenda. I know how much she loves that apartment too. I just want to get it back," Jason explained.
"Jason, we have all lost the most important person in our lives, and it is best we stick together as a family to heal each other's wounds," Mrs Haward said, and Mirenda rolled her eyes, knowing she was just saying it and didn't mean it.
"Jason, if you don't want us here you don't have to make excuses, but remember, we are your family," Mrs Haward said and awaited Jason's reaction.
She had lived with Jason since he was a child, and she knew how to wrap him around her fingers.
"I am sorry Mum; I didn't mean it like that. You are welcome to my home," Jason said. "But where is Grandpa?" he inquired, realizing he was not with them.
"Oh, he will come with James. The poor old man couldn't bear to leave the condo," Mrs Haward said and Mirenda rolled her eyes again.
Jason pursed his lips and Mirenda was unhappy she had to lose the condo for her mother's plan to materialise.
"And Mirenda needs a job, I was thinking she could work in your company," Mrs Haward said, touching her nails.
Mirenda looked at her mother. That was not what she wanted. She wanted to go into the entertainment industry but could not protest because that would be going against her mother. She lowered her head, frowning.
"Considering her course of study, she doesn't have the knowledge nor the experience to work in the company?" Jason pointed out and Mirenda smiled, but her joy was short-lived by her mother's next words.
"That is why you are the CEO," replied Mrs Haward.
Jason frowned but said nothing. He instructed the servants to prepare some rooms for them. He knew one thing that would happen that he wouldn't like, James was going to parade different types of girls to his apartment. He left for work after giving the instructions to the servants.
Tilly heard the voices from the living room and decided to come downstairs as she had never heard such in the house before.
"Oh! you are still here," said Mrs Haward upon seeing Tilly.
Tilly looked at the extravagant woman sitting on the sofa, and she knew that was someone she shouldn't mess with meeting her for the second time.
"Yes," Tilly replied.
"And who are you again?" Mrs Haward questioned as Mirenda followed one of the servants carrying her luggage to the room prepared for her and returned to join her mother in the living room as the rest of her things were being moved to the room for her.
"Matilda, a friend to Julia?" Tilly replied.
"And who is that?" Mrs Haward asked with a frown.
Tilly didn't know what Mrs Haward wanted, so she repeated her last sentence to indicate her relationship with Julia.
"What are you, a servant?" Mrs Haward questioned.
"No, I am here because of my friend Julia. I am just here to help her out," Tilly said, wondering if she should let her know Julia lost her mother, but before she could decide, she was rudely interrupted by Mrs Haward.
"I asked if you were a servant. I didn't ask for your life history. Anyway, how can you even be a servant? The servants here are even of a higher class than you," Mrs Haward said, and Mirenda looked away immediately when Tilly turned her gaze to her.
"Who is this woman and what has she got against her?" Tilly thought.
Tilly looked at Mrs Hward for a while and seeing the bags which were being moved into the house, she knew it was time to leave. Jason's home, which was her little heaven, was about to turn into hell. She just felt sad for her friend Julia, who had nowhere to go, even if Jason would allow her to leave. In her mind, she already knew that wisdom would tell you to run far away from women of Mrs Haward's calibre but, she decided to give her a piece of her mind before leaving.
"Look, I don't have your kind of money and definitely can't afford the kind of luxury you have, but there is something I have that you with all your money cannot and will not be able to buy, humbleness," Tilly said.
"Huh! Surprisingly, it is not that expensive, yet you couldn't afford it," Tilly said with a chuckle and left the living room, leaving Mrs Haward in shock at her words.
"What arrogance, what nonsense, she dares talk to me like this?" Mrs Haward said angrily. "I would have this girl sleep in prison tonight," she said, pulled her phone out and dialled a number. "Hello, can you come to Jason's house quick, someone just assaulted me," she said and Mirenda looked at her shocked.
"Sure, thank you," Mrs Haward said and disconnected the call.
"Mum, are you going to use your contacts to get her arrested," asked Mirenda, surprised.
"We didn't come here just to take what is rightful ours but also to get the fleas out," Mrs Haward said and Mirenda shook her head in disbelief.
After a few minutes, Tilly came downstairs carrying a small suitcase and, without saying a word to them, headed for the exit, but before she could open the front door, it was open, and an officer walked in. Tilly moved back a couple of steps to make way for the officer looking at him with questions on her mind.
Mrs Haward, who was staring at the suitcase Tilly was holding, stood up to meet the officer and, pointing at Tilly, said;
"There she is and not only did she verbally assault me, but she is also stealing from my son," Mrs Haward said, pointing at the suitcase Tilly was holding.
"Officer, Mr Haward gave this to me. My bag got spoilt the day I arrived here, and he gave it to me," Tilly defended.
"Prove it," said the officer, and Mrs Haward smiled.
"Fine, I will just leave it," Tilly said, not sure how to prove Jason had given her the bag.
She didn't have Jason's contact, and she was sure they would not call him to verify it even if she suggested that.
"Officer, take this thief away," Mrs Haward said to the officer and turned to look at Tilly with a smile of achievement plastered on her face.
"What is that you said again earlier? I can't afford humbleness?" Mrs Haward said, laughing.
"This is what it means to have power. Can you afford it? Let's see how your cheap humbleness can fight against my expensive power," Mrs Haward said and walked away as the officer took Tilly away.
"Good luck getting out of prison with humbleness," Mrs Haward said over her shoulders laughing.
Tilly kept pleading with the officer that she didn't steal that bag but the officer wouldn't hear it as he drugged her out of the building into his car. The security man opened the gate for the officer to drive out taking Tilly with him.
Julia was sleeping by then so she didn't know what had transpired earlier and was unaware her friend Tilly, had been arrested. She sat on the bed for a while before stepping out of the room. She walked towards the living room and ran into Mrs Haward who was also heading for the living room.
"Oh dear God, more fleas?" Mrs Haward said and looked at Julia again and recognized her as the woman Jason had brought home the other time as his wife.
Julia looked different and her beauty was so evident. Mrs Haward realized she didn't see how beautiful Julia was because her mind was focused on something else. Mrs Haward quickly snapped out of her thought of admiration.
"Oh, you are an upgraded flea," Mrs Haward said looking at Julia.
Julia stared back at Mrs Haward not saying a word.
"Sure, looks like this flea is mute," Mrs Haward commented and pushed Julia aside making her way to the living room.
Julia lost her balance and almost fell but she quickly supported herself by holding the stair railing. She said nothing but just proceeded to the balcony and resting her hand on the balcony rail, she looked at the city which was slowly lighting up.
"Why can't Jason let her go? After all, this is a marriage they both never planned so why does he want to keep her in his house in the name of marriage," Julia thought as she looked at the beautifully lighted city but her heart seemed to be in pain.
"Jason's presence already scared her and now he had brought the entire family in," Julia said and decided she needed to run away.
Jason walked in a few minutes later. He decided to come home earlier because his family was around and he knew what his mother was capable of when it came to people who were not on the same level as her. He was only keeping Julia in the house because of the letter from his father but for some reason too, he didn't want her to be treated badly.
"Welcome home," Mrs Haward said and Jason replied with a thank you.
Jason was going up the stairs when he saw Julia standing on the balcony looking down. He stood there for a while watching her.
Mrs Haward watched the two, her eyes moving from Jason to Julia and vs versa.