"I think this is for you, Toyin," Vicky said and I frowned. Vicky had gone outside when we heard a knock on the door, but when she opened it, there was no one in sight, only an envelope.
I went up to her to confirm and I saw my name capitalized in blue ink. Why would somebody drop me an envelope and walk away?
"What does it say?"
"I haven't opened it, check it," Victoria said, handing it over. "Open it, I want to know what is there. It could be from a secret admirer."
I snorted at Vicky's reply as I opened it, wondering why a pregnant woman like me would attract a secret admirer.
The white sheet was painted with six words and I instantly got goosebumps. Those six words shook me.
"What in the name of Jesus!" Vicky yelled and went back to check outside if she could see who dropped the envelope and she came back in before locking the door. The look on her face said there was no one outside.
I kept staring at the words that kept frightening me. It was a sentence.
I know where you are, Tosin.
From Henry.
My hand began to shake as I stared, thinking my eyes were deceiving me. Maybe we saw it wrong. How could he know where I was staying? How come? Why did he have to let me know just when I thought my life was getting better?
"Henry was the guy? Your boss, right?"
I nodded. It was unbelievable.
"How did he know where you are? How did he know my house? He is in the US, right?"
"I don't know!"
"Don't know? Don't know? You have endangered my life! What if he is looking at us from a high balcony before blowing us up?"
"He can't." Vicky had been watching too many crime movies.
"He can't? Can you even hear yourself? A gangster dropped an envelope at my doorstep and is probably lurking around the neighbourhood!"
I didn't know what happened but out of nowhere, I shouted. "Stop thinking negatively. You are not helping me."
"No, you aren't helping yourself either! You are the one thing in my house, so I'm also a target! How did he know you were staying here?"
"Vicky, please shut up."
"No, I won't. Not until you tell me how Henry knows we stay here," she started pacing, "because this is my life and my house. And it's scaring me."
"You are saying I told him intentionally? For what purpose, Vicky? I can't believe you're making me worse."
"Worse? I am on edge right now and I'm eight months pregnant and you are saying I'm making you feel worse? I am scared here!"
"I am also! Don't make me feel like the bad guy!"
"You don't have to feel like the bad guy if you know nothing about this."
"What nonsense are you saying?" I knew that wasn't Victoria talking. She was overthinking and it was driving me mad.
Why do bad things have to happen to me when good things are just happening in my life? Why is it that doesn't my happiness doesn't last long for me to enjoy?
"Who did you tell my address to?"
"No one... Wait..."
"Better think!"
"Faith?" I murmured.
"What? I can't hear you."
"Faith."
"Faith who? Wait, the girl that chews gum? The one in the Scorpion Group?"
I nodded.
"Oh, you've done great! Why would you do that? Why would you give a gangster my house address?"
"The group doesn't exist anymore!"
"What?" Vicky shook her head, "for real?"
"Yes!"
"But how did you know? How did you get in contact with Faith when you've refused to get a phone?"
"We met at the mall and talked."
"When was this?"
"Yesterday."
"And you didn't think of telling me? Were you hiding it from me?"
"I wasn't. I forgot."
"So Faith asked for my address and gave it to her."
I nodded. I was a dumbass to have trusted anyone.
"Have you gone nut? Now you've jeopardized our lives!"
Now I regretted telling Faith Vicky's home address when she was still in contact with Henry and Co. What have I done?
"We have to call the cops," Vicky started to get the phone.
"No, you can't." Where is the old Victoria that stood up to Seun?"
"Why not? Anything can happen to us, thanks to you."
"Calling the police will have me arrested or Faith arrested."
"Faith is a gangster."
"Was. So was I." Victoria shook her head and I was disappointed. I was hurt. "So you don't trust me enough, you don't trust me to protect you."
"How can I possibly trust you when two pregnant women are terrified by just six words? I have a feeling we would be getting more of this and that will be evoking fears into our lives."
"You just have to be calmed, Victoria," the tone of my voice was kinda begging her to think twice. I didn't like how terrified she was because it was scaring me.
"You have learned how to be calm in a terrifying situation, but not me. And trusting you isn't the issue now."
"It is! You don't trust me enough because I was a killer. I know you've been scared of me, but you just have to know I won't hurt you, I never will."
"We don't have to say anything concerning you to the police, just Faith alone."
"No, I won't do that. Cops aren't dumb, they will interrogate me and ask how I know Faith who you don't know but I do."
"I don't know Faith and I don't trust Faith."
"Nor me. You don't! Dammit! " I snatched Victoria's phone off the table and dialled her dad's number.
"What are you doing?"
"The food is burning, Vicky,"
"And you think I care about that now? I care about my safety!" She said and pulled the curtains together.
Mr Phillip picked up the call and I calmed down. "Please, sir, do you mind coming to pick me up, sir? I have something I want to do in Nigeria."
"That will be tomorrow, Tosin."
"That's fine, thanks," I hung up before he could further the conversation.
"You are running away and leaving me here?"
"No, but to do something."
"Nonsense! You are leaving me here alone to face it like you left Toyin,” Vicky's eyes filled with tears. "I don't want to die."
I swallowed painfully and felt shame washing over me. Why would she think I was leaving her? Was that how low she thought of me? Running away to save myself alone? How incredible!
The house phone began to ring and we gazed at it. None of us picked it up. The ringing ended and a thick voice filled the room. Henry's voice.
"Hello, Tosin. You did great running away. And hi, this is Vicky's residence, right? Hello Vicky, nice to see you. We will see each other again."
The voicemail ended and I swore, I unbelievably heard Vicky peeing as she touched her belly with tears trickling down her face as her peeing seemed unended. Victoria held the chair close to her and said, "You caused this."
"And I'm starting to regret living here with you in the first place."
I hated myself because my coming here didn't only make Victoria embarrass herself by wetting herself, but I had also disturbed her peaceful, gentle life.