Chapter 007

"Who was that man, Mom?" Dee was washing the dinner plates when she was startled by David's voice, which broke the silence of the evening.

She tried to hide the tempest that was brewing inside of her by forcing a smile. "Just a longtime buddy, my love. There is nothing to be concerned about.

With eyes too keen for his eleven years, David hovered at the doorway. You and him got into a fight. I heard you.

Dee looked at her son after drying her hands. "There are occasions when adults disagree. Please understand that this does not imply that you must become involved.

David's forehead furrowed as he pressed, "But it felt important." "Is he the cause of your recent lack of focus?"

Her heart tightened. Dee put her hands on his tiny shoulders and knelt before him. "There is nothing to be concerned about. I swear.

Despite his lack of conviction, David nodded and lumbered upstairs. Knowing that her pledge was as flimsy as a house of cards, Dee let out a trembling breath.

Later that evening, Dee had her laptop open on the coffee table while she sat on the couch in the living room. She tried to concentrate on her work, but Yemi's comments kept coming back to her. "I'll discover the truth on my own if you refuse to tell it to me."

The subject line of the email she had received earlier was still bothering her. "You cannot hide indefinitely." It was sent by whom? Was it someone else or Yemi who was attempting to make her feel uneasy?

She sat up when she heard a faint squeak coming from the staircase. "Is that you, David?"

No response. Putting it down to her vivid imagination, she shook her head and went back to her laptop. However, the sensation of being observed persisted.

Her cell rang. Anticipating another mysterious email, she grabbed it. It was a message from an unidentified number instead.

"Secrets tend to come to light."

Dee gasped for air. A shadow passed across the living room window while her fingers lingered on the screen. Her heart thumping, she sprang to her feet.

"Who is present?" Her voice was shaking when she called.

She checked the locks on the windows and doors and took out her phone when no one answered. Even though everything was safe, she still felt uneasy.

When Dee made breakfast the following morning, she made an effort to appear brave. David and Daniella, the twins, were chatting about school while seated at the table. Dee grinned at their naivety, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

David said abruptly, "Mom, will you ever see that man again?"

The skillet caused Dee's hands to freeze. "Why are you asking?"

He looked at his plate and shrugged. "He appeared to be important."

Dee sat opposite him and shut off the burner. People from the past can occasionally appear out of the blue, David. That does not imply that they are now a part of our lives.

"However, what if he desires to be?" David spoke in a low, almost uncertain tone.

She extended her hand to grasp his. Then, if it occurs, we'll handle that. But you and Daniella are the only things that count at the moment. Alright?

Although David nodded, it was obvious that his thoughts were racing.

Dee picked up the twins from school that afternoon. She saw a familiar face across the street as they made their way to the car. Yemi. Her heart fell.

Even though he didn't come close, she was startled by his presence.

"Who's that, Mom?" Daniella pointed to him and inquired.

Dee hurriedly responded, "No one," and ushered them inside the vehicle.

As she drove away, she made an effort to avoid Yemi's sharp eyes, but the tightness in her chest was too much to take.

Dee put the twins to bed early later that night. In order to plan her next course of action, she needed time to deliberate. It appeared like someone else was pulling strings in the background, but Yemi wasn't going to let this go.

A disturbance from above startled her as she sat in the house's silence. The twins were asleep as she rushed to their room.

"David?" she said in a whisper.

No answer.

After looking around the corridor, she turned to go, only to discover David standing behind her, his terrified eyes wide.

His voice was hardly audible as he said, "Mom." "Someone was outside my window," I said.

Dee felt sick to her stomach. Her mind racing, she drew him into an embrace.

She said, snatching a torch, "Stay here."

"No! David gripped her arm and begged her not to walk outside.

"I'll simply check from outside." After I leave, lock the door.

David reluctantly complied, and Dee went outside. The yard was covered in long shadows from the lighting, and the night was quiet. She swept the beam of her flashlight over the fence, the shrubs, and the driveway, but nothing caught her eye.

A man emerged from the shadows as she turned to return inside. Yemi.

Her pulse pounding, she shouted, "What are you doing here?"

In an urgent tone, he stated, "I need to talk to you."

She snapped, looking anxiously at the home, "Now isn't the time."

"Dee, it's crucial," he insisted, taking a step closer.

She extended a hand. "You can't just show up without warning. You're frightening the children.

His voice grew softer as he stated, "I'm not here to scare anyone." However, you must be aware that someone else is researching our history. Additionally, they won't stop.

Dee gasped in surprise. "What are you discussing?"

Yemi took out his phone and remarked, "I got an email." “I assume the same as you.”

He held up the screen to her. "The truth will come out" was the subject line.

Dee's thoughts were racing. The person responsible knew too much.

Yemi went on, "They're not playing games, but I don't know who it is."

Dee took a deep breath. "You must go. Right now.

"Dee—"

With a broken voice, she pleaded, "Please." "Just leave."

After a moment of hesitation, Yemi nodded and vanished into the night.

David was waiting in the hallway with his arms folded as Dee got back inside the house.

With an accusing tone, he questioned, "Was that him?"

With a sigh, Dee combed through her hair. "I told you—" David

"Stop lying to me!" he yelled, his eyes welling with tears. "Even though you keep repeating that everything is fine, it's not! Who is he? What brings him here?

The pain in his voice crushed her heart. He retreated when she reached for him.

His voice was shaking as he added, "I heard you arguing." "Is he—is he our father?"

Dee's blood ran cold as she froze. The question hovered in midair like a sword ready to cut.

She started to reply, but nothing came out. A loud knock reverberated throughout the home before she could summon the confidence to speak.

Dee's heart leaped into her throat as David's eyes grew wide.

She walked over to the door and said, "Stay here."

This time, the knock was more persistent. When Dee reached for the doorknob, her hand trembled.

There was nobody there when she opened it.

However, there was only one envelope on the doorstep with her name written in bold, strange script.

David showed up by Dee's side as she trembled while picking up the package. With a whisper, "What is it, Mom?"

Her breath caught as she read the note inside and ripped it open.

"You're closer to the truth than you realize."