C10 CHAPTER TEN – LIVING AGAIN

It was a beautiful Friday afternoon and the sun was shining so brightly and lovely. Wright was at the back of the house mowing the grasses in the garden.

He had returned home from work earlier than usual today so as to spend some time with his daughter, Riona. He feels that it has been a long time since he had been home to welcome her back from school and so, he intends to do that today.

The school bus honked to announce Riona’s arrival from school. He left what he was doing and quickly washed and dried his hands on a towel as he wanted to be the one to personally open the door for Riona. After he was done with taking care of his hands, he left the garden to go open the door for Riona.

Wright was sure that this would be a surprise for Riona, and he so much desired to see the look of excitement on her face when he opened the door for her as she would not be expecting to meet him at home by this time.

In his excitement, he whistled as he entered the sitting room to go and open the door for Riona.

At the sight of her dad, Riona was surprised and at the same time was very happy to see her dad at home. She immediately jumped on him and he carried her.

“Hey dad good afternoon” Riona greets as she jumps on his body.

“Hello honey you are welcome back from school” Wright replied.

“You are home already. Is anything the matter?” Riona inquired.

“Aren’t you happy to see daddy back?” Wright asked.

“Of course I am. I would even want this to be a routine between us, I love it when you welcome me back home” Riona said in excitement.

“And I am glad to welcome my princess back home” Wright replied.

He gently placed Riona back on her feet and they walked into the house.

“So are you always going to be around when I come back from school?” Riona inquired.

“Hmn… let’s say I will always give you a princess welcome whenever I can spare some time to” Wright said.

“Really daddy?” Riona asked.

Riona was so excited to hear her dad make a promise to welcome her whenever he could and she silently prayed that it would be this way every other day.

“Yes Rio. What else makes me happier than to see the glow on my baby’s face?” Wright replied.

“That would be great dad. And nothing else makes me happy than seeing you around me. It gives me hope and some inner peace” Riona said.

“Talking about hope and some inner peace, what about I say we play games and watch movies the entire day, just you and I?” Wright suggested.

“Okay” Riona said as she tried to consider her dad’s offer.

“Come on Rio, don’t say no. tomorrow is Saturday and you aren’t going to school” Wright tries to persuade her.

“Of course I am not going to say no, my reply is a big yes” Riona exclaimed.

She finds it funny that her dad would actually think that she was going to say no when she would have given her all for this moment.

“So what do you say, would we do the movies here, or should we visit the cinema?” Wright asked.

“I would say been in-door would be just great. So I suggest we watch the movies right here, in our home and by ourselves” Riona replied.

“Okay, I vote for that too” Wright concurred to Riona’s suggestion.

“But right now dad, I am famished” Riona said and yawned.

“Is there something at home?” Riona asked.

“Sure there is. I made lunch already” Wright announced.

“That is great dad, let me quickly rush up to my room and freshen up. I will join you for lunch shortly” Riona said.

“Okay honey. I would be right at the garden by the time you return” Wright told her.

“In the garden, what are you doing there?” Riona asked.

“I am mowing the grasses” Wright responded.

“And why are you the one doing that, what about the gardener?” Riona inquired.

“Actually, I gave him the day off. I figured that since I would be home early, I could keep myself busy with that while awaiting your return” Wright explained.

“I see” Riona said.

Riona wondered why her dad would be going back to continue with his task at the garden if he intends to join her for lunch so she asked him about it so as to get some clarification.

“But if you would be in the garden, are we not supposed to do lunch together?” Riona asked.

“Yeah that is right. I never thought of it that way. Okay, let me quickly rush up with what is remaining and I would refresh up very fast I promise” Wright said.

Actually, Wright never averred his mind to the fact that he was supposed to join Riona for lunch and now he just has to be fast with mowing the grasses and quickly freshen up after that so as not to keep Riona waiting for long.

“Okay dad, I will wait for you” Riona responded.

Excitedly, Riona left Wright and she happily walked up the staircase while Wright in turn turned to go back to the garden to continue with his task.

……………………………………………

It was already night and Riona and Wright were already done with playing different games. So right now, they are watching a movie in their sitting room over two packs of popcorn and some sodas.

They are both watching an investigative movie, where a serial killer had been responsible for the numerous deaths in town and the Police were on the lookout for him.

Rio looked at her dad as he consistently checked his phone to reply to his chat and messages. From the look of things, she could tell that those were not just some random chats and messages, and the thought that the messages might be from Maeve caused her to have a little tumbling in her stomach.

However, she tried not to make her suspicion and anxiety obvious as she would rather not discuss the issue since she believes that most things stop existing when you don’t give them the amount of attention that they crave for. So she hopes that by continuing to ignore Maeve and act like she never exists, her dad would soon forget all about her.

Riona was not even done with her thoughts when her dad called her attention.

“Rio” Wright calls.

“Yes dad” Riona responded.

“Riley was asking if she could come over to study with you” Wright said.

This question confirms Riona’s suspicion on who her dad has been on the phone with all along. However, Riona still decided to play it cool with him even though she was already boiling furiously inside of her and was ready to get the phone off his hands.

“But her grades are okay, so why does she want to join me?” Riona asked.

“Come on Rio, it’s always good to study with someone” Wright said.

“Okay dad, tell her she can’t come, that I don’t need her” Riona replied.

“Is it that you don’t want to study with someone, Rio, it helps” Wright inquired.

“I have you dad, then what more can I ask for?” Riona asked.

“But it is never the same when you study with your peers” Wright said.

“Of course I know dad, studying with you is way better than that” Riona replied.

“I am talking about…”

Wright was still speaking when Riona cut in.

“She asked for my permission, dad and I already responded that I am not disposed to such an arrangement” Riona said.

“Okay, if that is what you say” Wright responded.

“Thanks for your understanding dad. Now let us concentrate on this movie, it is beginning to get more interesting” Riona said.

Wright knew that there was no need trying to drag this topic with Riona, so he decided to let it be and instead focus more on the movie showing right in front of them. Riona on her part was glad that the issue has been laid to rest and so she continued with the movie.

After some time, Riona turned to Wright to ask about the movie that they are watching.

“Dad” Riona calls.

And Wright responds “Yes honey”.

“Do you think the killer would later be discovered?” She asked.

“Of course he would” Wright answered.

“But I don’t think he left any evidence behind, nothing to link him to the commission of the crimes” Riona said.

“Yes it may look like he left no tracks, but there is no perfect crime scene. Always remember that” Wright replied.

“Is that a truth or just a myth?” Riona asked.

She had never heard that all crimes would be uncovered as there were no perfect crime scenes like her dad had just said. She believes that the actor in the film was too good at covering his tracks and might never be found.

“It is the truth dear. Unless the investigators are not looking well enough and at the right places too, there is no perfect crime scene” Wright emphasized.

“Does that explain why my aunt Kyra is seen as one of the best private investigators in the country, because she looks well enough and at the right places too?” Riona asked.

“Exactly dear, now you get my point. The main issue here is having a resilient spirit and refusing to stop until it is unraveled” Wright agreed.

“You know I had once dreamt of being an investigator too, just like my aunt Kyra and maybe someday work in her investigative company. But right now, all I want to do is to be a medical doctor” Riona said.

“You know you would have made a very good one, Rio. Nothing passes you by and that is one of the investigative spirits” Wright said.

Riona thought about what her dad said for a few seconds before she responded to him.

“You are right dad, and I can still be one even without going to study for it” Riona replied.

Hearing what Riona had just said, Wright chuckled and replied her “And I doubt if any company would want to hire you”

“Things are changing, and very soon the world would dwell more on knowledge and less on certificate” Riona said.

“We would wait until then darling, for now, a certificate still goes a long way to show knowledge” Wright replied.

“Or maybe we are just saying the same thing dad” Riona said.

“You think so? For me, I see no semblance” Wright laughed.

Wright continued to chat on his phone as his attention was divided between the television and his phone. But even though Riona noticed this, she felt it was better to completely ignore him and focus on the movie.

After some time Wright calls out to Riona.

“Honey”

Riona turned to look at him and said. “Yes dad”.

“Maeve just said that she and Riley are going to the museum and some other fun places on Sunday and she was wondering if you might join them” Wright announced.

Right now, Riona felt like bringing down the roof with her voice. But she however decided that it was better to remain calm and respectfully decline the offer.

“Maeve” Riona repeated.

Ironically, Wright tries to explain who Maeve was to Riona “Of course Maeve, Riley’s mum, your classmate”.

“Don’t you remember her?” Wright asked.

“I don’t want to know or remember her dad. And please remind her that she cannot afford what I crave for” Riona replied.

“Rio, why would you say such a thing, where is your manners?” Wright asked.

“Are you not bothered with the fact that the time that you are supposed to spend with me, has been used on the phone all day long, or is that your own definition of spending time with me, on your phone all through the day?” Riona asked.

“But Rio…”

“It’s okay dad, if you are no longer interested in either the movie or in staying with me, please at least remain quietly by my side and allow me to watch this movie peacefully” Riona said.

Riona's outburst made Wright finally come to the realization that he had actually been on his phone for most part of the day. With this, he felt that he had been completely inconsiderate towards Riona and this made him feel so bad.

The truth is that Wright had been on the phone with Maeve, and while on it, he had also been replying to other messages from friends and business partners.

Having realized how Riona felt about the attention that he is giving to his phone, he immediately switched off his phone and continued with the movie.