Chapter 27: Chapter 27

I am almost done with the laundry when one of the house helpers approach me saying someone is looking for me. I am giving a laundry service to one of our neighbors. Emily has been forbidding me to do laundry services but I refuse. I want to help the family regarding our financial needs. Besides, it bores me to death if I just do nothing and stays at home. I immediately followed and stopped what I'm doing for a while.

I was glad when I saw Kimberly, my daughter's best friend. It's been a month that she did not visit us to have a call with Emily. I went to her apartment but her landlady said that she moved out already. I also went to the school where she works but she was on leave. I don't know but I think Kimberly is avoiding us or I am just overthinking. Now is the best time to ask her.

"Hey Kimberly. I am so glad to see you." I said.

"Hi Auntie. I am not good to be honest." she said.

"Why, dear?" I asked.

"It's Emily." she said which made me feel nervous.

"Why, what happened to my daughter?" I asked as I sat in front of her.

"She is okay. But Auntie, I'm scared." she said which made me confuse.

"Scared of what my child?" I asked?

I held her hand to comfort her because she is now crying.

"It seems that the secret we are hiding from her will be soon revealed." she said.

There is only one secret that I am hiding from my daughter. A secret that haunts me every night in my sleep and even in my waking hours. A secret that will ruin our family if my daughter will know, apart from that, this secret will also ruin her friendship with Kimberly if Emily will find out. Even my husband and sons does not know anything about it but only me and Kimberly. But what does Kimberly mean? Why would it be revealed? Could it be that Emily is now getting better from her amnesia because of the accident that she met almost

2 years ago?

"What do you mean? Have you talked to Emily? She got her memory back, is that what you are trying to say?" I flooded her with questions but she shook her head.

"No Auntie. Emily has not remembering anything yet. What I am trying to tell you is that Emily is now babysitting her own son." Kimberly said and cried.

"What!" I said.

It took me a while to process in my brain what Kimberly just told me. I feel like my whole world crumble. It seems like fate has making a way to my daughter and my grandchild. I did not notice that I am already crying. I feel so bad of what I did 2 years ago but I have no choice. It is the only way that I know to save my husband and my daughter. I sacrifice my own grandchild to save both Emily and his father.

"I am so sorry Auntie that I did not tell you immediately. I was so lost and confuse. I don't know what to do. I even avoid Emily's calls." Kimberly said in between her sobs.

"It is fine Kimberly, I understand but how did that happened? Emily is working as an English teacher. How did she end up being a babysitter?" I asked.

"The school is having a problem financially. They need to lay off teachers temporarily because they can't sustain to pay all the teachers. Emily was one of those teachers but she met a lady whom she helped and recommended her to replace her as a nanny and that child is Federico Altagracia's son." Kimberly said.

The cat got my tongue, I am speechless and again tears fell from my eyes nonstop. I feel like I'm about to get sick. I held on the armrest on the chair where I sit tightly. I don't know what to do. I look back and reminisce what happened years ago and what I did.

2 years ago

"Mrs. Palma." I heard a man calling while knocking on our door urgently as if it was really urgent.

"Yes, how can I help you?" I asked as I peeped on the window.

It is not my thing to open the door especially when I am alone. I do not trust strangers and this man is not an exception.

"Your husband he fell from the building where we are working." he said while gasping for air.

I was shocked with the news and immediately went to the hospital with the man where my husband was taken. He had a major injury and unconscious. Then worst came to worst, Emily my eldest daughter, met an accident and was hit by a raging vehicle and went to comma as well. When I thought my problem is the worst when my husband and daughter got in a comma together, I was wrong. Because I received a news from the doctor that my daughter is three weeks pregnant.

I was devastated. How did that happen when my daughter does not have a boyfriend? She is beautiful and has lots of suitors but she turned them all down because her priority was us. She believes that being in a relationship will ruin all her dreams which is to get us out from poverty. Was she raped? I nervously asked myself. That can't be, Emily is a very good daughter and sister. She does not deserve what she is been through right now. She just graduated and passed the teacher's licensure examination.

My husband is slowly recovering miraculously but Emily is getting worst. However, it is a miracle that the baby survived, it seems that the little one is fighting to live. I am excited knowing that there will be a new member of the family but I am so scared for Emily's life. She might die. Apart from that, I need a big amount of money to pay both of their bills.

"Auntie, I know who is the father of Emily's child." Kimberly said.

"Who?" I asked.

"He is a well off man and he can definitely help you." Kimberly suggested.

I don't have any intention to reach out to that man but the situation forced me. I don't have financial resources to keep them both going, for their hospital bills and it is Emily's ninth month of pregnancy. Next week will be her schedule to undergo the caesarian procedure or else she and her baby will be both in danger if the baby will not be taken out from her womb.

So the day after Kimberly told me about the man who got my daughter pregnant, I went to their company but I did not see him. Instead I talked to his mother who is a good woman and did not hesitate to help. She paid all the bills including my husband's hospital bills. In exchange I offered her to take our grandchild which she refuse at first. She offered to have shared custody because the child needs a mother.

"It really breaks my heart to do this but I know my grandson is in good hands if he will live with you. Aside from that, I am also thinking about my daughter's future, she just graduated and passed the teacher's board and he will be in the way." I said as I holding back my tears.

"I understand. I am also a mother so I know how you feel." she said.

"Thank you so much Mrs. Altagracia. I promise you, I will never bother you and I assure you he is really your grandson we can run a DNA test." I said but the lady shake her head.

"I think there is no need for that it is very obvious that he is Fred's son he is like a photocopy of my son except his lips. He got it from your daughter." she said and smiled.

We are now in the nursery room looking at the new born child. My new born grandchild. I can't help but cry looking at him. It left me no choice. What I did is really evil but I have to do this. My husband is now conscious I lied to him and to my son about Emily. I told them she went on vacation with Kimberly but the truth is she is confined on a different hospital.

I tried my best not to get caught while I am on the hospital attending my husband, I asked Kimberly to watch over my daughter. I am very thankful that my husband is now safe from danger but Emily is still unconscious though I am a bit at peace because the caesarian operation was successful and the baby is healthy despite of the fact that her mother is unconscious.

"What will be his name Mrs. Altagracia if I may ask?" I said and the lady smiled.

"I would like to name him after his father so he will be Federico Altagracia Jr." She answered.

"That is good. I know you will take care of him and love him." I said and she just nod.

"Are you really sure that you will not tell her about her son?" she confirmed and I nod.

Today is the time that the baby will go home. I want to backed out and take back what we agreed but I am trying my best to stop myself. Mrs. Altagracia will still visit here to get some breastmilk from my daughter. We do breast pump so that the baby will be healthy it is always best for babies to have breastmilk.

"Can I carry him for the last time Madam?" I asked. Mrs. Altagracia as a good and kind woman that she is immediately gave the baby to me.

"Bye grandchild. Be a good boy okay?" I said.

The baby cried which breaks my heart into pieces.

"We have to go now Mrs. Palma." she said.

"Thank you so much for everything Madam." I said and waved good bye.

I breakdown when the baby cried as if he does not want to leave and be far from his mother. Kimberly hugged and was rubbing my back as I cried senselessly.

"That is enough Auntie. Please stop crying, you are doing the right thing. It is for the best." she said trying to comfort me. I held tight to Kimberly.

"Thank you so much Kimberly. If you weren't here I don't know what would happen to me." I said.

"Don't worry Auntie. No one will know, this will remain between the two of us. I will keep this secret to my grave." she promised.

=SARSI=