C3 Three

Tracy

"Hey!, Tracy, why the rush?" Martin asked and I sent a little prayer for patience to God

"Hello Martin." I said flashing him a smile

"Hello Uncle Martin" my children said sending him a smile

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" He asked and I sighed, telling him no would be rude, but then I didn't actually want to talk to him. Martin was just someone I know from church, last year he decided he is the only one who can tolerate my state enough to court and marry me, which doesn't sit well with me.

"Sure." I answered anyway, hoping it won't take too long

"Michelle, Micheal would you stay in the car while I talk to uncle Martin?" I asked and they nodded moving into the car.

"How are you doing?" He asked, looking at my face like there was some kind of gem on it

"I'm fine thank you."

"How is everything?, I've not seen you in a while, and you left before I could talk to you on Sunday."

"Yes, I was busy." I replied getting tired of the talk already.

"Um so, Tracy, I want to ask if you've considered my proposal." He said putting his hand in his pocket

"I have."

"And?" He asked, no mistaking the hope in his eyes, unfortunately, the hope was overshadowed by pride.

"Like I said Martin, I'm not interested, not interested at all and In case you don't know, I'm still a married woman." Well until Alex comes back and we prepare and sign the divorce papers.

"Tracy, please, stop it, you are as good as not married, almost six years ago you came back pregnant, but without a man, how am I supposed to believe you are married?, look here, I don't mind if you made a mistake and gave birth out of wedlock, I don't mind I'd take you like that." He said and heaven knew if my temper was fire, right there Martin would have been burnt to ashes, he clearly didn't believe I was married before I got pregnant with the twin, I was really pissed but then I was paying the price for eloping.

"Martin!, how dare you say I made a mistake, even if I made a mistake it is definitely not my children's birth and news flash I'm actually still married." I said then got into my car, he was trying to apologise but I didn't want him to, Martin was partly right and like they say, the truth is bitter, his apology would only make me feel bad.

"Children let's go to your uncle's." I said and my children started jubilating, I felt a little guilty that we are going there not because I want them to see their uncle but because I needed company.

Once I got there we went upstairs quietly and we rang the doorbell, my brother's wife opened the door and once we entered and my brother saw me, he quickly hide something behind him.

It was quite suspicious but I didn't say anything, we exchanged greetings and the children went off to play.

"So, how are you doing?" He asked for the third time since I got there and I knew my brother was hiding something from me, he has never been the type to hide something for too long so I was rest assured that I'd know what he was hiding soon.

"Cole, like I said I'm fine, thank you." I replied and he shifted, I was not blind, I could see him communicating with his wife even though they were not using their voices.

We chatted for a while and at a point we started arguing about how good my brother was in school.

"Stop arguing Tracy, I was every teachers favorite in school and do you know why?, Because I was the best in almost every subject!, I had As in almost every tests too, I had very few Bs"

"Oh Cole, there is no way, tell me you didn't have Cs." I challenged

" Seriously, he was actually very good in school. " Rose his wife said sincerely

"I know he was good but there is no way he could have gotten A in almost every test." I said and he scoffed

"Oh Tracy, now you'd see what he is going to do." Rose said dramatically

"How about we place a bet, if I show you my results where I got As through my senior year, you'd have to order pizza, if I can't produce it I'd have to order the pizza." He said, I knew it was possible he would provide evidence but then I still want to see it.

"Deal" I said and he stood up, it was then I saw what he hid behind him, it was an edition of magazine his wife subscribed to.

"Oh no!" he exclaimed but he didn't make move to stop me from taking the magazine. It was no wonder my brother tried to keep it from me, on the front page was Alex's picture with a woman who was looking glamorous and beautiful.

I dropped the magazine and turned to my brother keeping a straight face.

"The deal is still on." I said like what I saw didn't matter. He hesitated but eventually left to get the test papers.

He brought the test papers and of course I ordered the pizza, we played different games and we enjoyed ourselves, at least they all enjoyed themselves.

Throughout our visit I tried to keep a cheerful face, laughing really loud in contrast to how loud I wanted to cry, I was thankful when it was finally time to go home.

Different thoughts were running through my mind as I drove us home, what if my parents here this?, What would the people say when they find out?, How would my children feel when they find out what is going on?, Those questions were running through my mind, and I was loosing it, regret was biting through my thick skin and I had an headache. My children must have noticed the change in my mood because they kept quiet through the drive home.

Hot tears was threatening to fall but I didn't succumb to tears until I tucked Micheal and Michelle in, it was after then I surrendered to the body rocking sobs.