HER BABYs SECRET Episode 26 by Ebunoluwa Ademide
Theme: My decision
Arike’s POV
“I am sorry about that.” I apologized
“Speak….” he gestured to me.
I swallowed hard to get rid of the lump that has formed in my throat in a short while as I placed my hand on my belly.
“Arike?” He called.
“I am pregnant.” I blurted out.
I expected to hear gasps of shock from them but nothing came from them. I looked up hoping to see a surprised or disappointed look but their expressions was normal. What’s going on? Why aren’t they screaming at me? Didn’t they hear me clearly?
“I am going to have a baby.” I rephrased my words. Nothing changed.
Uncle Badejo sighed. “We know.”
“What?” My jaw dropped slightly.
“We know you’re pregnant.” Aunty Sade said
My heart beat accelerated. “How come? I haven’t mentioned it to anyone since I got here.”
“Do you think I wouldn’t know? I raised you so I practically know so much about you. Since you got here,you’ve been acting sick,throwing up and looking pale -“ she paused. “Those are the symptoms of pregnancy. I know everything about pregnancy though I don’t have a child of my own.” She said soberly.
“We figured it out already since you told your mom many things happened in Nigeria. So we just put two and two together…and decided that we would wait for you to tell us about it.” Uncle Badejo said.
“I am sorry for not telling you before now.” I looked down. “I was working up the courage-“
Uncle Badejo interrupted me. “Who is the father?”
At this point my heart skipped two beats at a time. “It’s…it’s….”
“Oh! Arike don’t tell us you don’t know the father of your child.” Uncle Badejo said.
“Come one darling,we raised her well. I am sure she wouldn’t give herself to just any man.” Aunty Sade countered.
I feel like I have failed her.
“I do know the father of my child.”
“Tell us who he is…”
“Da…it’s Adedayo.”
They both exchanged glances before looking back at me. Now that expression I was expecting was right there. Uncle Badejo came close to me,placing his hands on my shoulder.
“Dayo? Do you have…another Dayo or still the same Dayo?”
“It’s Dayo..my best friend.” I replied.
He gave my shoulder a small squeeze. “Are you dating him?” He asked.
“Dating? You can’t be serious Arike! Dayo is married!” Aunty Sade reminded him.
He shook his head as the squeezed got harder. “That’s true….” he laughed. “How did he become the father of your child? Have you been dating him before he got married and later found out you’re pregnant? Tell me how it happened!” He snarled as he released me.
“I…I slept with him…” I stopped to blink back tears. “Few…days to his wedding.”
They both gasped in shock.
“You can’t be serious..” he turned away from me.
“I am sorry…”
“You should be sorry for yourself!” He snapped.
“Calm down darling…”
“Don’t tell me to calm down! She slept with-“ he stopped. “I can’t believe this is happening!”
“I am sorry.” I whispered. More tears dropping my face.
He breathed out heavily as he looked at me.
“What’s he saying about the baby?” He asked
“What do you intend to do?” Aunty Sade asked too.
“He doesn’t know I am pregnant.”
“Now…this is serious.” He mumbled.
“I didn’t tell about it…” I sobbed.
“Why?”
“I don’t want him to know.” I replied
“Why?” He asked again.
Would they ever understand my reason for wanting to keep my baby a secret?
“I am…just scared.”
“Of what?” He asked but I didn’t reply.
“We’re here for you,Arike.” Aunty Sade said.
“He’s married…and…I don’t want to get into any trouble with his father because of me.” I cried as I explained my reason.
“So you want to hide it from him? That’s why you moved her permanently?” He asked.
I nodded Yes.
“For how long?”
“I haven’t given it a thought…” I answered.
“But you know that your child will need a father. When the time comes your child will want to see him.” He said.
“I’ll take care of my baby.”
“No… I won’t support this your decision” he objected
“Dad..please…” I pleaded.
“You should have thought of the consequences of sleeping with Dayo!”
“Darling…” Aunty Sade tried to caution him.
“I am talking!” He snapped.
“You have to tell him you’re carrying his child! He deserves to know!”
“No he doesn’t have know. He can’t leave anything because of us! Nothing is going to change if I tell him about it! And I don’t want to see him lose everything….dad…”
“Get out!” He said.
“Dad…”
“I am disappointed in you! I didn’t raise you to end up like this Arike!”
“I said I am sorry..” I cried.
“Arike! Get out of my office!” He said angrily.
“Dad…don’t push me out…” I begged him.
He turned away. “Just leave now!” He spat.
Aunty Sade gestured to me to leave and I did as he wanted. He was angry. He has every right to be disappointed and angry at me because I have failed him. Uncle Badejo was never the type to express his anger especially towards me. Over the years he had been careful of everything he said to me. All he ever did was show me so much love and care. He never yelled at me like he did today.
“Darling,you can’t treat her like that..” I heard aunty Sade’s voice.
“She’s pregnant without a husband or even a fiancé.”
“At least she knows who the father is.” She said.
“But she doesn’t want him to know. How would you feel finding out that your child is somewhere growing without you knowing.”
“Arike needs us now…more than ever. She’s our child. We can’t push her away because she made a mistake. Moreover who says having a baby is a mistake?”
I couldn’t stand to hear anymore of their words. I ran back to my room and fell on the bed. I cried my eyes out before drifting off to sleep with just one prayer on my lips.
“I hope he forgives me.”
I woke up to hearing hushed voices in my room. Slowly I opened my sleepy eyes only to see uncle Badejo and his wife in my room. I sat up quickly,resting my head on the headboard immediately I felt a little bit dizzy.
“You’ve been asleep for so long.” Aunty Sade said.
I glanced out the window,it was already so dark.
“We brought you dinner.” Aunty Sade said as she dropped a tray she was carrying on my lap.
I looked at Uncle Badejo,he wasn’t smiling.
“Eat up..you need to be healthy for the baby.” He said.
Is this a good news? I thought.
I nodded and picked the spoon to eat.
“I already spoke to my doctor and she asked us to bring you to the hospital tomorrow for check up.” He added.
This is the answer to my prayers.
“You don’t need to worry about the expenses,we’ll take care of everything.” Aunty Sade added.
“Tha..thank you very much.”
“You don’t need to thank us. You’re our child. And we have to take care of our grandchild too.” She smiled.
“I am still against your decision of keeping the baby from Dayo.” Uncle Badejo cuts in.
Aunty Sade shot him a glare. “Darling we already talked about it.”
“Yes..okay..I’ll pretend like I have accepted her decision to keep the baby from the father but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He left.
“Don’t pay attention to him. I am sure he would come around soon.” She patted my back.
Well I hope so too. I can’t stand him being angry at me.
EPISODE 27
Theme: She is getting married
Arike’s POV
FIVE YEARS LATER“Seems like my little princess still needs to get some sleep.” Uncle Badejo carried sleeping Iteoluwa from the couch and swirled her around to keep her awake.
“Grandpa! Grand…pa!” She giggled.
“Wake up! Wake up! It’s time for school!” He tickled her.
She laughed.
I handed some of the kids backpacks to them as I call the names on each tag.
“She didn’t sleep early!” Uncle Badejo glared at me.
I went to him. “Yes dad..she didn’t get enough rest.”
“Why?”
“She was up talking to her godmother and won’t let me have a chat with her.” I explained.
“Is that true princess?”
“Yes Grandpa…big mommy promise to..to..to buy me a big teddy bear!” She clapped her hands in excitement.
“Oh! That’s so sweet! But you have lots of teddy bears princess.”
She nodded. “Zoe wants a sibling too.”
We laughed. Iteoluwa did a great job at naming all her toys. So a pink teddy named Zoe was the last one her grandpa bought for her.
“Okay…Zoe is gonna get a sibling…definitely. But it’s now time to go to school.”
“Don’t you think it’s better for her to stay back and rest?” Aunty Sade asked as she tried to carry Iteoluwa but he refused.
These old people will never stop fighting over who would carry my child. I have to deal with them each day.
“You have her now but I am going to feed her today.” He handed her Iteoluwa to have a good bargain with his wife.
“That’s not a deal.” She winked.
“Really? I think it’s better for princess to decided who she wants to feed -“
I laughed. “Please it’s time to go to school.” I don’t want to stand them arguing or neither putting my child in a situation to choose.
The last Iteoluwa was made to choose who would feed her she ended up crying because none of her grandparents wanted to agree to her terms.
“Let’s go princess.” Uncle Badejo matched out of the house singing along with other kids to the school bus.
“Bye..bye grandma.” She waved
“Such a lovely girl..” Aunty Sade said with a sweet smile.
I don’t need to tell you how much they both love their grandchild.
“Arike,are you heading out too?”
“No,I won’t be going anywhere today.” I replied.
“Okay..then you can help me with some work in the store.” We started back into the house.
“Okay,no problem ma.”
“I need to bring out the Christmas tree and some other decorations,” Aunty Sade said.
I breathed in and out heavily. “Christmas is here.”
“And the children wants to see Santa.”
“Who is going to be our Santa this year?” I asked.
“Daniel is offers to help. He doesn’t want us to hire someone to do it.”
I let out a laughter at the imagination of Daniel in a Santa outfit and all I could do was laugh.
“This year’s Christmas is gonna be hilarious..I guess.” I laughed.
“Why?” She asked.
“Daniel is gonna be Santa Claus!” We laughed.
“I know…it’s sounds funny.” She added.
“But is he not visiting his family this year?” I asked.
“I was surprised too when he asked me to let him to be Santa this year. I feel something is wrong with him but he doesn’t want to share with anyone.”
“Family issues?” I suggested.
“Probably.”
“That must be the issue.” I shrugged. And Aunty Sade nodded in agreement.
“Daniel never missed thanksgiving and Christmas with his family.”
We give vacation at December to all workers who are willing to visit their families in other states or countries. Most times, some workers like celebrating Christmas at the Foster Home. So we all spend the seasons with the children whose parents aren’t around to celebrate with them.
Daniel was one of the workers who never missed celebrating Christmas with his family. He always traveled out of America,all the way to Australia to be with his mother and siblings. So it’s kinda strange to hear him wanting to be Santa this year. Christmas was just some weeks away.
“Arike?” Her voice jolted me out of thought.
“Yes Ma,” I said.
“You need to talk to Daniel.”
“Huh? Why?”
“He won’t talk to me. But obviously he will open up to you.”
I scratched my neck. “I am not sure.”
“Come on! Remember the last time,he was down about not having enough money to send him for his brother’s treatment? He told you about it.”
“Okay..I’ll talk to him.”
“Miss Arike?” A voice called behind us as we made our way to the store.
We turned to see Miranda. “Your phone?” She said.
I gazed down at the phone in her hands. “Sorry…I heard it ringing when I passed by you room.” She explained as she handed it to me.
“Thank you.” I said.
Five missed calls from Busayomi.
“It’s Busayomi.” I said. “I’ll talk to her later.”
“No..no…she might have something important to say. Go ahead and talk to her.”
“What about the store and -“
“Miranda will come with me.” Aunty Sade smiled.
“Go ahead and answer your call. I will help ma’am.” Miranda replied.
“Okay..thank you.” I said before walking away.
I dialed Busayomi’s line and she picked almost immediately.
“Babe! Why didn’t you pick up my calls?!” She shouted.
Busayomi sounded excited over the phone.
“Sorry…I wasn’t with my phone.”
“Okay..you’ve forgiven. Please how is my goddaughter?”
“She’s at school.”
“Oh! Okay!”
“Calm down…what’s going on?”
“See,God has finally butter my bread!” She screamed.
“Okay..how? In what way?”
“Please let’s switch to video call! I have something to show you! Guess it!”
I made my way towards my room. “You got your dream car?”
“More than a car..try again!”
“You’re coming to visit us?” I asked.
“We already-“
I was interrupted by a familiar voice. “Arike?”
I looked back to see Daniel. “Oh Daniel -” I mouthed to signify that I was on a phone call.
“Okay.. we’ll talk later.” He walked away.
“Sorry..it was Daniel. Can you come again?”
“Hmmm Daniel again? That guy seems too -“
“I will switch to video call now!” I hang up and swiped to WhatsApp.
I dropped on the bed and settled to make the video call with Busayomi.
“Please no more guessing game,just show me what it is.” I said when the video call connected.
“Okay…close your eyes.” She instructed.
I raised my eyebrows. “Why?”
“Do as I say o!” She commanded.
“Ahh!okay o!” I did as she instructed.
“Now open it…” she said. “Tada!!!”
Her face wasn’t showing anymore. A shinning object grazed the screen. I gasped out in shock. There was a ring on her finger!
“I am getting married!” She shouted happily.
“Wow!wow! This is so beautiful!” She moves her fingers back and forth before revealing her face which had tears in them.
“Mr workaholic propose not too long!” She sobbed with a smile in her face.
“I wasn’t expecting it.” She added.
“I am so happy for you.” I whispered,a tear slide down my cheek.
Mr workaholic? Guess who the lucky man was! Her Boss! The man that was always asking her to come to work during weekends! Well it turned out that Mr Workaholic was in love with Busayomi. All that bring the files over to my place and office early and late times was just a facade to always see her and be close to her.
And they stated dating about three years ago, so Busayomi had to resign about a year after they got together since the rumor was flying around the office that she was sleeping with her boss. Mr Workaholic got her a managerial job in one of his friend’s company! So lucky!
Being happy for Busayomi was an understatement not after what she went through in the hands of her ex boyfriend. That doucheface wasn’t ready to have a forever with her. He just wanted a bedmate even though Busayomi was deeply in love with him.
EPISODE 28
Theme: She is in love
Arike’s POV
Being happy for Busayomi was an understatement not after what she went through in the hands of her ex boyfriend. That doucheface wasn’t ready to have a forever with her. He just wanted a bedmate even though Busayomi was deeply in love with him.
“It feels good to see you happy like this. You deserve it.” I smiled.
“Thank you.” She nodded.
“It’s plenty..The CEO’s wife.” I teased her.
“That’s me o!” She laughed.
“So very soon you’ll join Lagos CEO wives group.” I teased her again.
“Which kain yeye group? Abegi!abegi! I want a private wedding not this elaborate one you watch on TV.”
“So have you discussed it with him?”
“No we haven’t discussed yet but I am sure Paul will only do what I want.”she responded.
“Awwwnnnnn! I go love o!” We laughed before my face turned serious.
“So you won’t visit us this year because of Mr Paul.”
“I am sorry. But you know that I have to meet his parents. We are going to his hometown to celebrate Christmas and New Year.”
“So where would you be staying?” I asked.
“At the house he built there now.” She answered.
“Just be prepared to meet his family.”
“His whole family! Omo! I am nervous o! But seriously I wish you were here so you’ll go with me.” She said.
I laughed. “I am serious o so you can defend me if any matter arises.”
“Madam you are safe as long as Mr Paul is there with you.” I replied.
“I hope so too. You know how scary those Igbo elders can be and being that I am not from their tribe again.”
“Abegi! You have watch Nollywood too much!” We laughed. “Mr Paul must have planned something before deciding to take you home to meet his people.”
“Babe! I am scared jare! What if they don’t like me?”
“You worry too much.” A masculine voice sounded over the phone.
“Oh baby…I’m just saying-“ Mr Paul showed his face on the screen.
“Hi Arike,” he greeted but I laughed because he hasn’t mastered how to call my name properly. But believe me when I say he calls his wife’s name better.
“Good morning,and congratulations.”
“Thank you. And help me thank her for saying yes too.”
“Please let me have my phone.” Busayomi’s face appeared again.
“See Arike,talk to your sister. She’s working herself too much about meeting my family. I wasn’t even nervous the day I went to see her parents.”
“My parents are nice plus they have always wanted and waited for me to bring a man home.” She said
“My parents are nice too and they want me to bring someone home too.” He added.
“I am meeting your entire clan!” She emphasized.
“True but it doesn’t matter.”
“It’s just that -“ I interrupted her.
“No excuse me,Mr Paul will be there with you so don’t be scared.” I said.
“Exactly! I owe you 200 thousand for these words,Arike.” He said and we laughed.
“I’m serious send me your details.”
“Yes sir.” I saluted him.
“Wait what if there’s a bride waiting for you at home?” Busayomi asked.
“What? After I already informed them about you? You must be kidding!”
“I’m just saying…” she shrugged.
“Come on we Igbos are not that bad. Moreover my parents are far more educated than you think. They just want to meet you at my hometown because it’s Christmas.” Mr Paul explained defensively.
“Okay..okay if you were a lawyer and you are this defensive,I am sure you’ll never lose a case.” Busayomi teased him.
“Then my firm will be 100% win.” We laughed.
“That’s would be great!” I commented.
“Arike,I am sorry for not asking for your permission before putting the ring in your sister’s finger.” He joked.
“Oh! That’s true! Should I give it back to him?” Busayomi passed the phone to him and tried to slid off the ring.
“Come on! You don’t need my permission! I am happy it’s you anyways.”
“Yeah it’s me or no one else. And now that we are getting married…you know what that means right?”
I raised an eyebrow in confusion.
“You won’t miss our wedding right?” He asked.
“Miss keh? She dare not!” The smile on my face dropped. “She is my best lady!” She said happily but soon her happiness faded and she stopped talking. A knowing look registered on her face.
“You have to come home and plan the wedding with your sister once the date is set.” Mr Paul said.
“Ye…Yes…sure. I will…definitely help her.” I stuttered.
He doesn’t know the truth.
“Baby can you excuse us for some minutes? I need to talk to my baby sister alone..Girls talk.” Busayomi said.
“Sure..no problem. Arike,extend my greetings to Iteoluwa.” He waved before disappearing off the screen.
“I am so sorry…he’s only talking like that because he doesn’t know.”
“Yes I know but -“
“You won’t come right?” She asked with tears at the corners of her eyes.
“I…I – this is hard for me. And I have to protect -“
“No…I will give you sometime to think about it.” She disconnected the call before I could say my next words.
I called her back but she declined the call.
“Please pick up your call.” I texted her.
She read the message but didn’t reply.
“I won’t miss your wedding.” I messaged her again.
An incoming call came in after she read it.
“I know this is about Dayo.” She said.
“It’s not -“
“Don’t lie to me! You can’t possibly miss my wedding because you don’t want to see Dayo. I haven’t seen him for years now. We don’t talk and he doesn’t even know anything and he may never find out you have his child.” She said with anger in her tone.
EPISODE 29
Theme: Home call
Arike’s POV
I haven’t heard from Dayo since I left Nigeria. He tried to get in touch with me through uncle Badejo but he was told that I wasn’t in the same state with them and I haven’t been in contact with them too. To him, I made it look like I lied about my dad involved in an accident just to leave the country. I deleted his contacts,deleted my social media accounts (not like I was that active) and I did my best at cutting him out of my life completely. It was really hard but I did my best at not giving in to the urge to call him cause I know his number by heart.
There are times when I wanted to just pick the phone,call him and tell him everything. Those moments when I had craved for intimacy,to share happy moments with him especially when I found out I was going to have a baby girl,when my baby kicked in my belly and down till the day I had my baby.
To be honest it wasn’t easy because I had complications during pregnancy. I was diagnosed of Hyperemesis Gravidarum,a condition of extreme,persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy which led to dehydration. It was caused by a rapid rising serum levels of hormones such as HCG which means Human Chroionic Gonadotropin and estrogen.
It had occurred during the first trimester of my pregnancy. I vomited more than five times a day so much that I lost so much weight and I had to spend a long time in the hospital under strict supervision of doctors. I had to fight for our lives. I was contantly in and out of hospital. At some point my dad was tempted to call Dayo up but I pleaded with him with the promised that I would scale through and be fine.
Later on he told me that my mom had the same complications during pregnancy and it really affected me as a baby.
Being dehydrated,scan results detected that there wasn’t enough water for my baby to survive. So they had to operate me and brought out my child months before the due date. She was premature.
Those months waiting on my child to survive seemed to be the longest of my life. It was a 50/50 chance but I hoped not to lose my baby. She spent months in an Incubator also trying to survive with an oxygen.
I could clearly remember the day a doctor announced that I could go home with my child. They did series of test on her and she was healthy. I gave her a name which I have in mind before her birth after she was discharged from the hospital. “Iteoluwakishii.” Meaning “The Throne of God can’t be removed.”
She has other names from her grandparents and Aunt who is her godmother. Uncle Badejo gave her “Inuoluwadunsimi” God is happy with me.
Aunty Sade named her “Ayomidesiree” My joy come with fortunes
While Busayomi gave her “Bright” which happens to be her English name. She truly brightened my world since her birth.
“Iteoluwakishi Bright Awosika.”
I decided that she takes on her father’s name unlike me who bears my mother’s family name. It was the least I could do to Dayo for keeping his child away from him.
My baby turned out to be what I expected her to be. Bright as her name implies, smart and brilliant. She does and says things you will never expect of a four years child. She was outspoken and never shy and I guess she got that from her father because I was never the type who talks a lot. She is my world!
“Arike…..You can’t miss my wedding.”
I nodded in agreement. “I’d love you to bring Bright but I know that’s the last thing you want to do.”
“Yes…” I mumbled.
“I want her to be my little bride but it’s impossible right?”
“We can talk about this…”
“I am sure her grandparent can take care of her.” She added.
“I can’t be away from my daughter. She needs me by her side all the time.”
“So you’ll bring her along?” She said hoping to hear a Yes from me. I could tell she was praying silently that I agree to bring Iteoluwa to Nigeria.
“I don’t know yet. I will talk to her grandparents about it.” I replied.
“I know this is hard for you but I need you by my side this time.”
“Can I get back to you?” She asked.
“Okay..we’ll talk later.” She answered
I ended the call.
EPISODE 30
Theme: Black Woman
Arike’s POV
I walked out of my room and made my way to the garage where I could find Daniel. He was alone but the on phone with his back against me. I stopped to not attract his attention,hoping to find out the reason why he wasn’t going home to his family.
“We already talked about this..” he said. “I am not coming home this Christmas…I have a lot to do at the foaster home.”
I couldn’t hear what the other person was saying because the phone wasn’t on speaker. But Daniel was lying to whoever he was conversing with.
“Mom can you just forget about the black woman? It is not about her.”
Black woman? Who? I haven’t seen him with any black woman and I am not sure Daniel has been seeing any woman. We are a bit closer enough for him to tell me about it if he has one in his life.
“This is none of your business. Whether it is a black woman or not..I am not going to do what you are asking. I have to get going now.” He concluded.
I should get going too. But it was too late. My eyes met his when I looked up. Geez when did he make the turn?!
His mouth dropped slightly. I waved with a half smile on my face. I hope he won’t think I was eavesdropping on his call.
“I will talk to you later.” And with that he ended the call.
“I..I..wasn’t -“
“Eavesdropping..I know.” he completed my intended word.
I shook my head. “I just came here to ask -“
He cut me off again. “Yeah..I wanted to ask if you still want to go to the mall to buy gift for Bright so I could drive you.”
“Oh…” I itched my ear. “That would be in the evening when she comes back from school. And you don’t need to drive us…I can manage.”
“I’m coming with you. I promised to get Bright the new Barbie collection.” He smiled.
“Daniel that won’t be necessary.”
“Why?” He asked.
“It’s-“
“I am offering to buy it as a Christmas gift.”
“Oh okay..you can drive us if she still wants to go.” I agreed.
Daniel lips curled up with a smile. “I just need to drive this to the auto shop for repair.” He wiped the white luxurious bus used in transporting children to school.
“I heard you want to be Santa this Christmas.” I toyed with my fingers.
Daniel laugher. “Right.”
“But you’ve never missed thanksgiving with your family.” I reminded him. But no response came from him.
“Daniel?” I called him.
He looked at me. “I’m listening…”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I just want to celebrate Christmas with the children.”
He got into the bus and tried to change the topic. “This bus really needs cleaning. I’ll definitely drive it to car wash after fixing it at the auto shop.”
I stood at the door side of the bus with my arms crossed in front of my chest.
“Daniel,do you want to tell me about it?” I asked.
“What? About what?” He stoped wiping the wheel and looked at me.
“You can talk to me.” I shrugged. “This whole thing about not going home.” I settled down next to the driver seat.
Daniel sighed. “I don’t want to bother you,Arike.” He said.
“Okay…but I am asking you to tell me.”
“Okay…I’m getting married.” He blurted out.
I gasped in shock and at the same time it was as if my heart stopped beating for a second. Why? I remember the last time I heard that word. Dayo. I managed to revive myself. I shouldn’t be thinking about him.
“How long have you been planning? No wait..something is not right…no..I think I am confused.” Daniel gave me a confused look as I blabbed.
“Breathe in..breathe out.” I did as he instructed.
“Don’t get things mixed up.” He added
I nodded my head in response. “My mom picked a bride for me. She wants me to come back him and get married.”
“Now I get it..you don’t want to get married?”
“Lucy is not the lady I want to settle down with. Like..I don’t see us becoming husband and wife even though we are friends. My mom is just trying to play the role of a matchmaker because she wants a grandchild.” He explained.
“So Lucy? What’s wrong with her? I mean since you are friends why can’t you marry her?” I asked.
“We grew up together because her mom is my mom best friend. And we are just friends nothing more…though my mom thinks I have slept with her.”
“What?!”
“I didn’t…my mom just saw us in bed. Not my fault..I was asleep when Lucy came to my room and just slept beside me hugging me like we meant something. I tried explaining to her that nothing happened but she wouldn’t believe me.” He rolled his eyes.
“Let’s see…I think Lucy likes you more than being friends.”
He looked at me. “You’re right.”
“So in a nutshell…you don’t want to go home for Christmas to avoid getting married to Lucy.”
“You got it”. He nodded. “And I don’t know what to do,I can’t hide away from my family forever.”
“Why don’t you just talk things out with Lucy?” I adviced him.
We exchanged glances. “Lucy wants this marriage,so I don’t think she will ever listen to what I have to say. She’s in love with me.”
“Hmmmm..what else can you do? She should be able to understand that you don’t love her.” I said.
“It’s kinda complicated.”
“Because of the black woman?” I spilled without thinking. Ouch! I shouldn’t have said that to him.
He laughed. “I thought you weren’t eavesdropping on my call?”
“I’m sorry..” I laughed.
Daniel got out of the bus and I followed swiftly.
“What black woman are you talking about?” He laughed.
“Come on Daniel, I heard you over the phone. You can’t run forever.”
“From who? My family or the black woman I love?”
“Everything..I guess..”
He sighed and his smile disappeared. “She’s someone..” he paused.
“Come on…” I smiled.
“I can’t be with her.” He added.
“Why? Have you told her how you feel?” I asked.
“No,she has too much to handle. So I don’t want to be a burden to her.” He replied and went ahead to the next car.
“Burden? Did you just call love a burden? Come on Daniel! Everyone wants to love.” I countered.
“I’m not sure she’s ready for that.” He said without looking at me.
“You should at least tell her how you feel. You might be her lucky man.” I tried to play a relationship advocate.
He stopped what he was doing. “Okay…if you think it’s right then I will tell her.”
“That’s good! You must act like a man that you are…”
“Come on…I’m just scared of getting rejected..that’s all.”
“At least try..” I smiled.
“Okay I will give it a try now.”
“That’s the spirit!” I said.
Daniel came to stand in front of me. His gaze was so intense that I had to look away.
What was that?!
HER BABYs SECRET
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Daniel is in love