“That may be dangero…” the friend pulled Temwa but had to pause her words as they were getting louder to call attention from a few people that surrounded them.

“Let’s go outside,” she further instructed.

“Why don’t you let me meet my mom?” Temwa was getting mad at her friend.

“Look,” she pulled her steps further away from the door, “Your mother always comes with a female friend here. She has never come with that man. I’m afraid he could mean trouble.”

“My mother loves me so much. She can…”

“Really, T? Why then did she not tell you that she was back?” she asked her.

“She told me last week that she was coming,” Temwa defended.

“Then you said she called you to say she was not coming as her holiday was cancelled, remember?” she reminded Temwa who got the reasoning.

“Okay fine. I have to go then,” she said and Lynn who was just a year older than her, gave her some cash.

“Take this. At least I should feed you before your first salary,” she joked and they both laughed for the first time in their conversation.

“Ms Jokes! Thanks though. Call me again if something else happens,” Temwa said and left.

A week later, Temwa got her first salary. She decided to give a quarter of it to her dad and another quarter to Tito.

“Family first!” she screamed upon withdrawing it from Kamuzu Malawi Savings Bank.

It was around 7:30pm when she stood in front of her father’s gate. She opened it, the quarter salary carefully put in a khaki A5 envelope in her hand. She had the plans of just giving and get going. Having seen her mom recently, the hatred towards the maid had risen to Kilimanjaro heights.

What surprised her was that the house’s lights were all off. Maybe they were out because they were having a dinner celebration for Yvonne’s pregnancy, she thought to herself. Then she decided to just put the money in her father’s house, call to inform him and leave. She got inside the house and switched on the light in the living room. She switched it off immediately, screamed, and then switched it on again. She thought she did not see properly but switching the light again made her realise the sight was real.

The wall opposite to the door was painted with blood that had dried: FOR STEALING MY PEACE, THAT’S WHAT YOU GET. The message bounced back in her ears. She got out of the house immediately and ran for her life.

When she got home, Tito had not yet arrived so she went to her restaurant friend.

“T, you don’t seem fine, what is it?” Lynn asked when she noticed the look of a tired prey-in-a-chase on her.

“Can you take me to your house please?” she begged.

“I’m knocking off in twelve minutes but let me see if I can cheat my way out,” Lynn said and went inside the restaurant.

Minutes later, Lynn took her to her home that was just meters away from the restaurant. It was in the middle of a six house block built by the restaurant owner. Lynn prepared coffee for both of them.

“My dear, what’s scaring you?” the friend asked after two sips.

“It’s my dad.” she said, explaining what she had just seen barely an hour ago.

“Did you phone your dad or Yvonne?”

“I called my dad a few minutes ago but his phone was off. Do you think he killed her?” Temwa suddenly asked.

“I don’t see any motive. If you ask me, I think…” she put her cup down, “…your mother did it.”

“Mom? Why on earth would she do that?” Temwa was not convinced.

“Why did she never come back to your house after coming from overseas? Who else would write about disturbing somebody’s peace? Look,” she leaned forward, “The maid, according to me, stole the peace of your mom by sleeping with your dad,” she advised.

“Let’s not even go there! We are not sure whose blood it was. Maybe it’s my dad’s or not even one of them.” She tried not to judge her mom.

“Maybe. I just hope that the truth comes out quickly but my theory remains the same. The message was set clear,” she said.

“Lynn,” Temwa called her friend’s name, “Thanks for being a pillar I can lean on.”

“You are welcome.”

“I have to go. I hope Tito is home now.”

“Your shy husband,” Lynn mocked.

“He is not my hubby!” she refuted as she opened the door.

Temwa got home to find Tito reading a paper.

“Hi!” she said while closing the door.

“Why didn’t you tell me that your father was arrested?” Tito asked.

“My father arrested?” Temwa was surprised.

“Yes. Don’t you know that?” he asked, facing her.

“I didn’t know. His phone is off.”

“Here,” he handed her the paper, “He was arrested yesterday. He is suspected to have murdered his maid/wife Yvonne Tonde,” he explained.

Tell us: Do you believe her father killed Yvonne?