From her view, it appeared that they were kissing.
Mrs Johnson was very furious… She turned and went to wait for her in the living room.
Juliet and Mike parted ways after they exchanged hugs in a friendly gesture. Juliet then quickly headed to the living room only to see her foster Mum sitting on the sofa with an angry look.
Juliet: ” Good evening Mum”
Mrs. Johnson: “So it has gotten to this! You have the guts to let him drive you to my house!!!!
Juliet: ” Mum, he only came to drop me off since it was getting late.”
Mrs. Johnson: “Oh I see, since when did Mike start driving you home? Wasn’t that the responsibility of James?
Juliet: ” Mum, yes it is. I tried reaching him all evening but his phone was off.
Just as she was trying to explain herself, James arrived from nowhere.
James: “Whose phone was off? Liar!! Mum, I have been waiting for her at the church premises for over an hour only to later realise she had gone out with her so-called friend”
Juliet: “James, I did call you several times but…..”
Mrs. Johnson: “Will you shut up!!!! Now, this should be your last warning. I don’t want to see you anywhere around that guy or you will see the other side of me. Let me remind you of your place in this family, don’t forget where you came from.”
Juliet: “Mum, I’m sorry” she said and began to sob.
Mrs. Johnson: “Hey, what did I just tell you? And stop all these “mum, mum” thing you are doing. James and Ben are my sons and as far as am concerned, I never carried you in my womb for 9 months. Get out of my sight before I lose my temper!” Juliet ran into her room with tears in her eyes.
“Can you imagine?! I need to discipline this girl before she brings shame to this family” Mrs. Johnson said to her son James.
Juliet laid on her bed and cried all through the night. The only thing she could think of to do was pray to God. Somehow, she felt that she had done nothing wrong to make her foster mother so angry. The most hurtful thing was when she reminded her that she’s an orphan. Ever since she was born, she had never set her eyes on her biological parents. Whether they were alive or not, she had no idea. The only people she knew was Mike and the rest of the orphans back at the orphanage home. Ever since the Johnson family adopted her, she had taken them as her own family and had fitted in perfectly until Rev. Johnson passed away.
When the sudden incident occurred, it seemed Mrs. Johnson was ready for it. It was if she had been expecting her husband to die. As much as she looked sad, she didn’t shed a tear over her husband’s death. The thought among church members was that God had spiritually comforted her.
Juliet heard a knock at her door just as she began to pray. It was Ben.
“Hey Ben, come in” said Juliet as she opened the door.
“I heard Mum from my room yelling at you. What was the problem?” Ben asked as he sat near his foster sister on her bed “Ben, I really don’t know. Mike my friend came to drop me home but Mum didn’t like the idea. She even said I should keep my distance from him. But how can I? Mike is like a brother to me. We grew up together and know each other well.” Juliet said.
“You know how difficult Mum can be but I will talk to her. Just give her some time, I’m sure she will come around” Ben advised.
“Thank you so much brother, you have been so helpful” Juliet said, truly grateful that she at least had someone in the family on her side.
“By the way, you should be checking up on Mike to find out if he has gotten home rather than thanking me” Ben suggested.
“You’re right, let me call him” Juliet said, reaching for her phone. She tried calling several times but no one was answering. She got a bit concerned and was going to stop calling at the fourth attempt, then the phone was answered. To her surprise, it was a lady’s voice on the phone.
“Hello, can I please speak to Mike” Juliet asked.
“Madam, the owner of this phone was just in a terrible accident and he is in a critical condition at the moment” The lady said.
“Oh my God!!! Madam, please where is he right now? How is he?” Juliet panicked and asked.
“We are at the General Hospital but as to how he is faring, I really don’t know. He is being attended to at the moment in ER,” said the lady.
“I am coming over right away” Juliet said and hung up.
Watch out for Episode 3