BEHIND THE SMILE - Episode 15

He knocked on the door before going in
“Hey honey… how’re you?

She looked up from her phone and stared at him for sometime before replying

“I’m alright. What do you want…?

“Nothing, I only wanted to know how you’re doing. I…I miss you. I know alot have been going on but we can’t continue to live like this. Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary, can we atleast do something together. Maybe eat together or if you don’t mind we can go out for dinner in your best eat out joint…”

Dorcas head remain bent over her phone. She did not reply
Benny was quiet as he waited for her to speak but when she did not he continued and moved closer to where she sat

“…How long will you continue to be mad at me? Is almost two months and you’re still not ready to let it go. Honey… I’m innocent and have never touched another woman ever since we got married. I understand you had your fears… fear of me falling for another woman. I assure you that such thing will never happen. You’re going to be the mother of my children and no matter how many times we fail we will continue to try and someday God will perfect it all. This whole thing have made me drift away from God but this morning I asked for his forgiveness and promise that I will continue to trust his will for me and my family. Please, can you return back to our bedroom. I’m tired of living like a stranger with you. I miss waking up beside you, I miss holding your hands and thanking God for his numerous blessings. I miss kissing my baby girl, my loving wife, my kind partner… The only woman that understand me. The love of my life…I miss you…so much…”

He bent over to kiss her Dorcas turned and said
“What are you trying to do? So all this boring cheap talk was so that you can convince me to return back to the master bedroom…? no that’s not happening soon. I’m doing my findings and until I confirm the truth in this whole saga I’m not believing anything you tell me. You have to wait until then Benny…”

“I don’t know how you’re going to do your findings but you should be careful. I don’t want you exposed to any danger. I’m already on it and Charles, a friend of mine that also works in the school called to inform me this morning that he has been able to unlock the blackmailer’s account and working towards linking it to the man behind the crime. He said he will sort it fully out by tomorrow. I will be going over in the morning to see him in his office. I will do all I can to find out who is behind all this and to truly prove to you that I’m innocent. I suggest you don’t do anything please. You don’t know who this person is and why he is after me…”

Dorcas did not reply as she return her full attention to her phone.

Benny stood and started moving towards the door.
Dorcas looked up and said

“You know why all of this isn’t affecting you like it should is all because you haven’t gone through the pain I go through each time I miscarried. My body is now like a laboratory dorm. I lay there like a sacrificial lamb while tears rain down my face. And each time even in pain all I think about is you as I wonder why I’m not lucky like other women and fear that you may someday leave me because I can’t get give you the very thing you pray so hard for. Well, that has been my concern until this last one, as I lay there in the hospital, all I wish for is just to… to disappear to a place I will never set eyes on you again. I hated you, the sight of you, your shadow and everything about you. Is all because of you I lose my angel. my baby would have still made it to nine months. By now we will be approaching my last trimester. But you allowed the devil into our home and lives. I try to believe you Benny that you are innocent of all this but the evidence keep pointing to another direction. Although I have come to agree that I’m on a cross road and that’s why I want to personally do my own findings and hoping is all lies like you said it is. I don’t know how to pretend like everything is well… I’m a broken woman Benny, a shadow of myself because of this whole thing…”

She wiped tears from her eyes. Benny returned to her, he tried to hold her but she refused while tears continue to run down her face.

“, I’m sorry…so sorry honey. I deserve the hates but I’m pained because I’m innocent of all this. I love you and will never…ever hurt you. For the past eight years have I ever giving you reason to question or doubt my love or commitment. All we got is Love and trust. Please… you need to trust me, when I say I’m innocent that is what it is. By tomorrow I will show you evidence of my innocence…”

She didn’t say anything as Benny bent over again and try kissing her. She didn’t pushed him away this time rather she relaxed back in his arms.

The following morning Benny left to see Charles after having breakfast with his wife for the very first time in months.
He even gave her a present for the anniversary.
He promised to come back with evidence which will help them in apprehending the person and proving to her that he is innocent
He can’t wait for all of this to be over so that they can move on with their normal lives.

Benny drove off to see Charles but he wasn’t in his office which was unlike him.
Benny was heartbroken when he was told that Charles was shot last night and nobody knows if he’s dead.

Benny went back home deeply troubled.
Dorcas asked him about the evidence that he promised to return back with.
Benny told his wife what happened.

“What do you even take me for Benny? You assured me this morning that you will prove your innocence to me only for you to come back with another pathetic tales. Or…I must be a fool to have believed you or even allowed you touch me last night…”

Benny try to explain she shut him off and lock herself in the room.
Dorcas called Bianca again and she picked up and told her that she can’t make it to her place she should rather come to hers
Dorcas agreed to do so.
Bianca sent her an address.

Dorcas informed her that she will come over within the week and will call her any day she decides to come.

On Wednesday, Dorcas try calling Bianca but she wasn’t picking up.
She decided to drive to the address that Bianca gave her

On getting to the place, she walked into the gate and knocked on the door of the house.

A young lady startled the moment she opened the door and saw her

“My name is Dorcas, I’m here to see Bianca…I believe this is her place…”

“Yes ma’am but she’s not around at the moment.

“Well, can I sit and wait for her”Dorcas asked the young lady who seems unstable with her presence.

“Sure ma, although I don’t know when she will be back but please come inside”

She ushered Dorcas into the well furnished sitting room. And offered her drink but she declined and asked for water instead.

Dorcas couldn’t help but notice that the lady wasn’t comfortable with her presence.
Her hand was shaking as she brought the water. She was even stuttering with words. She was not comfortable looking into Dorcas eyes.
As an experienced lawyer she knew something was up.
She looked around the house but couldn’t see anything suspecious.

“Are you alright?
Dorcas asked concerned.

“Uhmm yeah. My name is Geni… I’m Bianca’s friend. Not really friend… she is accumulating me. You are Prof Benny’s wife… Right?

“Yea. Is there a problem…? Dorcas asked

“No.. no problem. Geni replied and quickly rushed off.

She appeared again and try to say something but turned back instead.

Dorcas called her back and asked her why she was acting weird.

She didn’t say a word but it appears she had alot to say but something was holding her back.

“Not really ma’am. I will like you to check around the house. Bianca’s room is where most of the answers lie. trust me ma’am, the answer you seek is right in this house. Quickly do so before Bianca returns please. I will step out. Stand outside to know when exactly she will be driving back then I will rush in to inform you, that’s if you’re still around but I suggest you hurry up and be on your way before she comes back…”

Geni pointed at the door before stepping out.

Dorcas stood, not knowing what to expect.
She walk to the said door and opened it.

Bianca’s room holds the answer she is seeking, that was what Geni said and how does she know what she seeks?

Well, she will have to find out

Dorcas does not know what awaits her, she became afraid of the unknown as she walked into the room.