Chapter 69

69 Revelation

Ella didn’t respond to the answer question immediately as she desperately itched for more of him. Their intimate regions were still locked in one another but Leon’s anxiety and jealousy got the better part of him. Holding her waist firmly on his to prevent her from pulling out, he questioned her gently.

“Am I hurting you? Is there someone from your past life that you need to tell me about? Who is Williams?” Leon softly quizzed her amidst passionate kisses and kneading of her boobs.

Breathing heavily, Ella responded to his questions as more tears flooded her eyes. “You’re not hurting me. I just miss my dad. His name was Williams.”

Finally understanding the reason behind her outburst of emotion, Leon started kissing her again hungrily. Moaning out loud, he thrust in and out of her until they were both exhausted. He showered her face with kisses and held her closely in his arms.

“Ella, I want to be everything to you.” Leon gazed intently into her sparkling eyes. “I want to be your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your aunt, your uncle, your best friend, your lover, anything and everything. Everything I have is yours. My soul is bound to you. You own me in this life and the next.”

“Leon, what about the contract?” Ella frowned slightly at the obstacles ahead.

“I don’t care about the stupid contract anymore. If you give me your words, we can destroy it together, when we get back to Amzone city.” Leon’s eyes burnt with fierce determination. “I want you and only you. I don’t want to ever dream of the day you would leave me.”

“Oh, Leon, how I wish things were that easy. How I wish both our mums approved of our love! How I wish no enemies were fighting against us right now. I really want to be with you and no one else. You are my heartbeat. A day without you would kill me.” Ella bowed her head in disappointment.

“Then if you love me this much, let’s fight for our love.” Leon lifted her chin to look into her eyes. “There is no true love without challenges. Every love goes through fire and like crude gold, it comes out dazzling after burning in the furnace. I can’t promise you that we won’t face tough times. There may even come days when you would hate me for my wrong decisions. However, remember that true love will prevail against all odds.”

.....

“I love you so much.” Ella kissed his lips and held him tight. “I will let you know of my decision when we get back to Amzone city. Right now, I’m feeling hungry. Can we eat those cookies?”

“Definitely, we can. I’ll go get them, just wait here.” Leon grab his wet clothes and put them on. He took a narrow path out of the cave and grabbed the snacks where he had safely kept them earlier. When he returned, Ella was already out of the water and dressed in her wet clothes.

“Babe, you’ll catch a cold on those wet clothes. We should have brought some dry ones along. How about we go back to the house.” Leon tried reasoning with her.

“No, not yet. Let’s sit over there and have some of those delicious cookies first.” Ella pointed towards a dry corner of the cave. We can keep each other warm. Moreover, we can also take some of Nana’s hot-flavored tea to keep warm.”

“Whatever you say, my love.” Leon gently led her to the dry spot, where they both sat down side by side.

“Yum! These cookies are delicious. Nana is a wonderful baker.” Ella complimented as she took a bite and munched on it.

“You can say that again,” Leon greedily took a large chunk into his mouth.

While they ate, Ella told Leon more about her dad and his sickness.

“I’m really sorry about his death. He was a true fighter to have lived longer than the doctors speculated.” Leon gently stroked her wet hair. “You know what, I’m certain that he’ll be proud of you wherever he is. You turned out to be a spitting image of him.”

“Thanks, dear.” Ella beamed with unquenchable joy.

After eating their snacks and chatting for a while, they both left the cave.

—-

The yellowish-red sun was setting by the time Leon and Ella arrived at Nana’s Esther bungalow. As earlier said, she wasn’t around. Hence, they quickly took a shower and change their clothes.

Leon led Ella to the kitchen and they were about to start making dinner when Nana Esther arrived.

“Hmm... This is a lovely sight.” Nana Esther commended the glowing couple. She cast a furtive glance at Ella’s stomach and smiled queerly. “I can tell you both had a lovely swim because the atmosphere smells wonderful.” Her eyes glinted with joy and satisfaction.

Leon and Ella stared at themselves in confusion, unsure of what Nana Esther was referring to.

“Miatisa, we are lost at your wise words.” Leon stepped towards his Nana and hugged her.

“Be patient my boy.” Nana Esther gently tapped Leon’s cheek. “In due time, you will learn all the beautiful secrets of life.” She turned her scrutinizing attention to Ella and smiled even more. “Two great worlds are about to be made. Pumpkin, after we have had dinner, I will take you to a special place. I have a gift for you.”

“Okay, Nana,” Ella’s eyes shone with excitement at the new pet name Nana Esther had given her. She felt so special in Nana’s presence. She wished Nana could extend her magical touch to Maggie and Marissa. It would make everything perfect.

“Miatisa, how was your visit to your friend? Leon asked as he rejoined his wife in the kitchen. He took the washed vegetables from Ella and started chopping them in bits.

“Oh, he has peacefully gone to the world beyond.” Nana Esther smiled as she took a seat in the kitchen. She happily watched Leon and Ella work as a team while preparing dinner. Looking beyond the happy couple, she foresaw a lot of obstacles and misery. This made her face dampen for a split second. However, when she saw their beautiful end, warmth and joy crept back to her face.

After having dinner together, Nana Esther encourages Leon to go to bed. She promised to return Ella on time to tuck him in before he slept. Before they left, she whispered something into Leon’s ear which he happily nodded to.

Nana Esther led Ella by hand to a small wooden cabin house at the far side of her bungalow. The air inside the cabin was filled with a very strong and overwhelming fragrance. They both sat down by a huge center table with was covered with different colorful substances.

Ella gawked in awe at the bottles of substance on the table. She was so captivated that she didn’t notice that Nana Esther had been scrutinizing her with eagle eyes.

“Pumpkin,” Nana Esther called softly. “I know I have asked you this question before, but I will ask you one final time. Do you love my grandson?”

“Yes, Nana, I love Leon with all my heart.” Ella’s twinkling eyes confirmed her genuine response.

“I’ll tell you something I believe Leon has never shared with you.” Nana Esther’s gaze was intense. She told Ella at length about Ruth. When she was done talking, she smiled at Ella’s alarmed and empathetic look.

“From this story, I just shared with you, Leon has found his Ruth reincarnated in you. So, promise me that you will never abandon him, no matter the mistake he will make or the challenges both of you will face. Before you make any promises to me, think it through.” There was a warning hint in her voice. “If you want me to give you some time to think about it, let me know.”

“I don’t need to think about it, Miatisa.” Ella proudly called Nana Esther by her Islafub’s name. “I love Leon with all my heart and I will never abandon him even in the face of death.” Ella’s determination was resolute which made Nana Esther’s eyes shimmer with happy tears.

“Oh, George, she truly loves him. I can join you now in peace.” Nana Esther placed her right hand on her chest and held Ella’s hand firmly with her left hand.

Although Ella couldn’t understand Nana Esther’s last statement, she didn’t say anything. She just stared in awe at the priceless gray hair woman before her.

“I love you, Pumpkin, and I will always be in you to guide you through any decisions you make.” Nana Esther took a silver necklace with a Jade green dazzling amulet off her neck and wore it around Ella’s neck. She leaned closers and kissed Ella on her forehead. “Finally, you must never confront either your mum or Marissa. No matter what they do, love them unconditionally. With time, they will come back to you and beg for your forgiveness.”

“Okay, Miatisa.” Ella hugged Nana Esther tenderly and sobbed quietly in her arms. “I love you so much.”

“I know you do and I love you too.” Nana Esther kissed Ella’s head tenderly.

Before they both left the cabin for the bungalow house, Nana Esther gave Ella three bottles of the colorful substance on the table.

“These are the extracts from my rare and precious flowers. I want you to always take a drop and apply it on your forehead every morning.” Nana Esther instructed.

Ella entered the bedroom and joined Leon on the bed; who had been patiently waiting for her. Cuddled in each other’s arms, they slept off peacefully.

At about 5:00 AM, Leon gently slid out of the bed and went over to the sitting room where Nana Esther was already seated and waiting.

“Good morning, Miatisa. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.” Leon hugged his Nana and took a seat beside her.

“Not at all, Bubble. I am an early bird.” Nana Esther patted his chin. “Leon,” She called him by his name which she rarely did. “You are my one and only grandson, and I love you so much because you remind me of my husband. What I am going to tell you will hurt but you must be strong.”

Leon’s cheerful expression quickly dampened as he feared what Nana was about to say.

“Your father is dying. He has barely a few months to live.”