Chapter 3: False Claims and Accusations

Both mother and daughter looked up to find Ken looking very angry and very conscious.

They wondered, for different reasons how long he had been conscious and what he had heard.

'Mirabel, I took you as my own daughter. Like the daughter that I had always longed for but never had. I came in here loving your mother. That was the wrong that I ever did you. You hated me.

I tried to show you by my actions that I am not taking your late father's place but wanted to fill the void that he left that you and your mother may not be lonely.

I admit that I had ulterior motives as well', he said and paused deliberately, so that his next words sank in and have the desired effect.

Mirabel who had been spell bound by what she had been hearing, felt a little relieved that he was about to confess to a vice of his that his mother may not have been aware of. She prayed that he exposed himself with his own words but the next words he uttered dashed her hopes.

'My ulterior motive was that I needed your mother's companionship because you see, I was also very lonely. I was glad that she accepted me and I loved her for that. Why then would I want to hurt her by violating her daughter - my daughter?'

Mirabel did not know what to say. It had been difficult trying to convince her mother about what Ken had tried to do but right now with what he had said and the sorrowful tone he had adopted, it was going to be impossible. Whatever she said was going to look petty.

The proof she had to show to her mother was not enough but she was going to try anyway.

'You are lying! You tried to take advantage of me last night. You must have got my mother drunk or laced her drink with something so that she would not wake while you are carrying out your sick games but your plans backfired. You were stopped somehow from completing your mission'. Mirabel had been about to say that her mother had been responsible for hitting him but she was sure that whatever he had heard, he didn't hear that part and he may have thought that she was the one who somehow got hold a bottle and knocked him unconscious. She wanted him to continue to believe that. She did not want to put her mother's life at risk by revealing that and her mother did not even remember doing it.

'Look at the bottle with which I hit you on the head yo stop you from havi g your way with me. Look how naked you are. That was because you had got ready to do something abominable'.

Her mother was looking really confused. She had thought that her daughter was making up stories. And she had said all she said to make her confess that no such thing happened but it was evident that it did happen and both of them were accusing each other. She did not know what to think and the headache was serious.

Ken saw her confusion and felt that he had to say something to tip the scale in his favour.

'Mira, dear, don't tell me that you believe your daughter over me? If that is the case, I shall leave right away. I shall not stay in a place where I am not wanted nor trusted'.

He made to start packing and Mirabel was filled with joy. They didn't have to leave their house for him. He would be the person leaving the house for them.

'Yes, go and look for another woman who will slave to keep you fed and clothed while you move around looking at you g girls lasciviously and taking advantage of those who will let you or do you think I do not know of your activities?'

This was too much for Mira and she gave Mirabel a resounding slap.

'Will you keep your mouth shut? For how long are you going to carry on this charade? You want him out of the house, now he is about to leave and you are throwing more accusations his way?'

'But mother, it is the truth!'

'Mira, please, do not raise your hand to her. I can endure anything she does to me, afterall she is my daughter. At their age, they rebel alot. So I am not surprised. I just did not think her rebellion would take this turn' Ken said looking at Mira inquiringly but as soon as Mira looked away, he smiled wickedly at Mirabel who wanted to throttle his neck. Now she wished that he had died last night from the impact of the bottle on his head.

She was filled with hatred for him.

As she looked at him with murder in her eyes,he suddenly changed his smile to an understanding one and Mirabel knew instinctively before she even looked round that it was just for the benefit of her mother who may be looking at him.

'Mirabel my daughter', he continued. 'I am sorry that I had to reveal all this. I had not wanted to but you gave me no choice. I had to defend myself. Had you just limited your desire for me that you masked as hatred to just looks, no one would have known because I would have just considered it your hormones acting up or the age of curiosity which is the stage you are in now but you went too far.

How could you have undressed me last night and got yourself naked and begged me to take you and do to you all that you hear me doing to your mother? And when I refused, you insisted and I decided to wake your mother by pouring water on her, you found an empty bottle and knocked me unconscious.

What happened afterwards? Did you now satisfy yourself with my manhood when I couldn't stop you because if my unconscious state? I mean you had all the time in the world and no one to stop you.

But dear daughter, that is not the best. I had thought that you were different from other girls your age and it had made me happy and proud to be your father but right now, I do not know what to think and I wonder what you get up to when you go to the places you call work. Do you sleep with your boss or your boss' husband's for more money or for pleasure?'

'Enough! Mira screamed. She could not bear to hear anymore. She was confused. Both of them sounded convincing. She had thought that she knew her daughter but what she was hearing and knowing the kind of neighbourhood they lived in, she was convinced that Mirabel had somehow been influenced. And living in a one room house did not help matters because though they always waited till she was asleep,she could have been faking it and secretly watching them while they tore at each other like animals. Now she had grown the appetite for such and had gone as far as trying to force Ken to have her.

She did not know if she should send Ken away so that she would not get more corrupt that she already was. She could meet with him some place other than the house but that would not be convinient. But what if she sent Mirabel away? But to where? They had no relatives that she knew if that would want to take her in.

What was she to do?

All she knew was that she was not going to lose Ken because of Mirabel's teenage tantrums.