Chapter 52: Chapter 52

Chapter 52.

I wake up feeling peppy and spirited. My little boy looking chubbier than ever. He hasn’t started any social smiles but he smiles a lot.

I brought forth one month ago. The baby is Harrison’s copyright and even though I have decided to forget about Harry, he will be reminding me about him forever. It’s been five whole months that I haven’t seen Harry.

I walk out of bed after kissing Ian on the forehead and head to the bathroom. I sit on the bowl with lots of patience and when I am done with my call of nature, I wash my hand and walk out.

The journey hasn’t been easy. It has been very rough but I am very grateful that I have the likes of Luke and his family who have graced my living with them with so much peace, love, joy, and unity.

I have always wondered where some people got their good hearts from if not from God. The same God who created everyone in his own image and likeness. They never cared that I was pregnant with someone else’s baby. They were always there for me.

Constantly.

When I got the labour pain, I was eight months expectant. Mum took me to the hospital. She took me to the best hospital and stood with me until baby Ian was born.

I love her.

Then her son Luke and girlfriend Tabby who is also my cousin. Those two always showed up to visit me and the baby. They showered us with gifts and I tend to think that they were literally spoiling us. My friend, Doctor Alvin was always there and the gifts he gave me were out of this world.

Yes, my friend Alvin finally showed up after disappearing for the past five years.

Mum made sure that I was comfortable and she bought each and everything needed for both the baby and mother. My phone chimes and I take a look at the time before looking at the caller’s ID. It’s Alvin.

‘’Good morning, sweet pie?’’ he starts the moment I pick the call and press it to my left ear. Luke had to buy me a new phone and line since the best I could do was to throw Harry’s gift to the gateman through the window.

‘’Hi, you had a good night's sleep?’’

‘’Yes, you? How is our little Ian doing?’’

‘’He is doing well. You haven’t visited for so long, don’t you think that I miss you? Friends like you are so rare and I don’t know where I could get one.’’

‘’What do you need another one for? Am I not enough?’’ he asks and I chuckle. Alvin does love us very much. Sometimes I feel like I am taking advantage of our friendship and that’s not even good. ‘’Hey, you know we are traveling to the village today, right?’’

‘’Yes, I do. Ian and I will be ready in one hour. Make sure you are here by then.’’

‘’Sure.’’

‘’Thank you. Luke and Tabby are also coming with us too.’’

‘’Are we all driving together?’’

‘’Mum said we can go in two cars.’’ Someone knocks on the door gently. That must be Luke. ‘’I have to go, someone is at the door. Bye.’’

‘’Bye, sweet pie. I love you.’’ I don’t respond to that. I terminate the call and walk to the door and get the door open.

Mum walks in and hugs me briefly before walking to the bed. I have never seen her this sad, I hope she is okay.

‘’I am going to miss my little grandchild here. Will you take long in the village, baby girl?’’ she asks sadly.

‘’Not really, I will be back after two days latest. I need to continue with my latest design and I need to deliver some designs to the client you recommended to me. He was so happy with the work I did for him that he paid me so well. Enough money to take me to the village and back.’’

‘’And I want you to take this.’’ She hands me an envelope. I shake my head and don’t move a finger to take it.

‘’what could that be?’’

‘’Don’t be rude, baby girl, people don’t ask what their gifts are before taking it from the person gifting them.’’ I don’t like that simply because she is telling me the truth. I stretch my hand after a second’s hesitation and pick the envelope from her.

‘’This is a lot of money, mum. What do I do with all of these?’’ I ask, concern on my face.

‘’Use it to go home. Budget with it, by things for you and for the baby, but just make sure that you have enough to take you home and back.’’

‘’I already do.’’

I know, but I will not let you spend that money on this. You are an upcoming designer you have classes, you need it more in the future than you do now. Just hold on to it and use whatever I am giving you, okay?’’

‘’Do I have a choice, mum?’’

‘’Yes you do, you either take it or take it.’’ We laugh heartily at that. That was funny.

I move closer to her and give her a hug. ‘’Go well, my daughter, I will miss you and Ian big but your parents deserve to know the truth, they need to know that you have a handsome grandchild. I will be waiting for you right here.’’

‘’Thank you,’’ I say sadly. This woman has rescued me on many occasions. She made sure that I never lied around with my pregnancy. I have part time classes to attend thanks to her. She is giving me moral support and sooner rather than later, I will be smiling at my big work.

‘’Any time, I am personally going to caution the doctor on his driving. I don’t want to lose both of you. You are already family.’’ I smile at that. That doctor she is talking about is my long friend Alvin. He offered to take me home so that I can take Ian home to see his grandparents.

‘’I will see you before we leave.’’

‘’Sure, bring Ian with you so that he can bid me goodbye.’’ She says and walks out of my room. Today is literally a beautiful day. The road trip is gonna be lit.

She is about to open the door when she turns to look at me. ‘’Ooh! And remember that I love you so much, okay?’’

‘’I love you too, mum,’’ I shout on top of my voice.

I walk to the bathroom with a big smile on my face, I strip out of my claddings quickly. I stand under the shower and let the cold water chute my warm skin.

My mind has so much to think about so it drifts to the memories.

My antenatal hospital had to change when I went and found out that Harrison had married Diana. I accepted my fate and moved on.

He had lied to me.

I fainted and had to be rushed to the hospital by Luke to get treated. Mum said she had supported me always but will never ask me to go look for Harrison. She said I had tried my level best and if Harrison valued me, then he would have kept his promises to me.

That wasn’t my worry. I had known that Harry’s mum was manipulative but I am sure that she had no idea that I was pregnant with Harry’s kid. She would have slaughtered me alive. Like a chicken. That’s what worries me the most.

Well, with the help of all the good people around me, I made it.

Five months earlier.

We walk into the hospital. I am here to see a new doctor, recommended by Luke’s dad because of the incident that took place that day.

We’re ushered in by one beautiful lady who is seated at the front desk. She says the doctor just stepped out but he will be back in a few minutes.

Mum flops beside me on the posh couch in the doctor’s office. He has a big and well designed office.

‘’You must be carrying a baby boy.’’ She states jovially.

‘’How do you know? I want a girl whom I will name after my two beautiful mothers.’’ I tell her calmly and she shakes her head.

‘’That is what you want, sweetheart but what you are carrying right now is a baby boy.’’ She chuckles when my eyes shoot wide open.

‘’You sound so sure, how do you know?’’ she smiles brightly.

‘’You look so beautiful. You have this smooth baby face that is making you look so young. Your figure is nicely outlined and …’’ she pauses a bit. ‘’You aren’t moody at all.’’

‘’Well, I see.’’

‘’Good morning ladies.’’ A guy who I assume to be the doctor greets and we respond in unison. ‘’Clara!’’ I look up when a familiar voice shouts my name.

‘’Alvin! Is this really you?’’ my mouth is agape as I ask him that. I watch in awe as he takes sure strides towards me and I don’t hesitate to move towards him. I fall into his arms and she hugs me tightly kissing my hair fondly.

‘’You look so beautiful.’’ He states fact fully.

‘’Thank you, you don’t look bad yourself. How have you been? Where have you been? Why did …’’

‘’Hey, I am here now. You have nothing to worry about. I came back for you. I went to the village hoping to find you there but you weren’t. I never knew you were gonna be my patient at some point. I am genuinely surprised to see you here.’’

‘’I am stunned to see you here too. Who would have known that Alvin would be my doctor today? If you told me that a few years ago, I would have said that you were joking because you have never fancied doctors.’’

‘’I know, right?’’ I nod at him. ‘’Anyway, I am not a full doctor just yet. There is more to do still. Where is the …’’ I cut him off.

‘’Baby’s father?’’ he pulls away and looks at me in the eyes. He nods at me, ‘’that’s a very long story that I can only tell you another day.’’

‘’Okay,’’ he says leading me on a seat close to his table and directly opposite his seat. I turn on my heel before sitting when I remember that we were with mum.

‘’Mum, please meet Alvin.’’

‘’Mum?’’ he asks surprised. ‘’I thought your mother was in the village?’’

‘’And that hasn’t and will never change. My mother is in the village but I have a city mother. I feel like we have lots to talk about, doctor.’’ He chuckles excitedly when I say that but doesn’t speak a word about it. They both shake hands excitedly and I smile at that.

Mum opts to walk out and leaves us to have a patient doctor conversation. I am glad and really happy to know that Alvin is back. I bet he will be telling me his story later. He seems to be a very busy buddy and getting him to tell me the story might be a challenge.

After our doctor patient chit chat, he scribbles a few things, does doctor normal checkups and concludes that I am not under any danger. He scribbles my next appointment on a card that he gives me later just when I am about to leave.

I walk out and mum is waiting for me at the waiting bay but not before Alvin puts his number on a piece of sticky note and sticks it on the visiting card. Then mum pulls out and drives me home.

**

‘’I am startled by the baby who is crying and his shrilling sound freaks me. I remember then that I have been in this bathroom for so many minutes.

I walk out and Luke has Ian on his arms. He is shaking him gently and trying to make him stop crying. The baby isn’t listening though. I take him from his hands and try to calm him down.

‘’Hush!’’ I tell him and he keeps quiet.

I am ready in a few minutes and I am glad when I hear Alvin on the background.

He is here.

'Mum, dad, here comes a surprise for you both and for my siblings.' I tell myself inwardly.