The fill-in wife - Episode 23

 

Maya:

My eyes scan everyone's faces as they lower the coffin into the ground. I have a feeling no one is really mourning. Apart from Sir Nelson's wife anyways. As soon as the priest said the words 'May her gentle soul rest in the lord.' She burst into tears. I wonder if she was close with Madam Catherine. Derrick looks upset but I don't think he's sad . I place my hand in his as they start pouring sand into the grave.
"Are you okay?" I whisper loud enough for only him to hear and he nods.
"Burials just upsets me. Reminds me of  my mom's." He says and my heart goes out to him. He raises our joint hands and place a quick peck on my knuckles.
"I'm so happy you're here with me." He says and my eyes can't help but move to Sir Nelson's wife. She's currently giving me a dirty look. I don't known what her deal is. Derrick's eyes follow mine to her face and that's when she looks away. I would say she had a look of longing on her face when she looked at Derrick but that can't be true right?
"Don't pay her any attention." Derrick whisper to me before tucking me to his side. From NY peripheral view, I can see that her eyes are back to watching Derrick and I

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-fill-in-wife

. Something is certainly up with her. Should I ask Derrick? Probably not. I trust that he would tell me if anything is up.
  The service doesn't take long after the coffin is fully covered with sand. A few people come out to talk about madam Catherine including my grandma. A feeling of joy envelopes me from seeing her face again. She looks a lot more tired and as soon as the service ends, I excuse myself from Derrick to talk to her.
"Grandma!" She is currently talking with Angy but I don't care. I hug her tightly from behind.
"Granny." I sob into her back. The last time I saw her, she thought I killed her son. Does she hate me still?
"Maya." She turns around to hug me properly. The faint smell of tobacco is like a breath of fresh air.
"Where have you been girl?" She pull me away from her and inspect me.
"I was so worried about you. Imagine my shock to find you beside one of Catherine's son. You should have at least called!" She chastise and I lower my eyes.
"Are you happy?" She asks and I bring my head up and nod.
"I can see that honey. You are glowing." She says and tweak  my nose playfully.
"Let's start going." Angy spit from behind grandma Lola. I'd forgotten that she has been standing there.
 Grandma Lola give me a weak smile then start unclasping something around her neck.
"I've held on to this for a while now." She says and press something into my palm. It's a locket.
"It's your mother's. She was always wearing that when she was with my son and after she gave birth you, she gave it to you." She explains and I brush my finger against the locket. The chain looks like pure gold and I wonder how my mother could have own something like this.
"It's real gold. That's why I hid it away from my son. You know how he is." She smiles again and I nod.
"Thank you Grandma."
"No. I should have given you this a long time ago. There's a picture inside the locket. I think it's your mother when she was a little girl and her mother. This may probably help you find her." I pull open the locket and true to word, there's an old picture of a little girl sitting on a really pretty woman's lap.
"Could I really find her with this?" I ask with so much emotion in my voice.
"Grandma! It's going to rain. Come on!" Angy interrupts.
"I have to go now, Maya. Your mom's name is Diana Peters. At least that was what she told us. You should try search her on that internet stuff you people use these days." She muses.
"Thank you so much." I hug her tightly again. I don't know when next I'll see her.
"Promise me you will take care of yourself." She says after pulling away and I nod. She brush off a stray tear from the corner of  my eye. I see Angy roll her eyes but I don't pay her any attention.
"I promise Granny. Stay healthy for me. I'll try to come see you soon." I say as Angy takes her away. I find myself crying and hugging myself like an hormonal pregnant woman. I bite down on my bottom lip. Speaking of hormonal pregnant women, my period is few weeks late and I don't know how to feel about this.
"Maya!" Derrick touch my shoulders lightly and I quickly wipe my tears off.
"Are you okay?" 
"Yea. I just saw my grandma. I guess I missed her."
"You can visit her whenever you want, you know."
"I don't think her son would like that." Derrick's face harden at this."
Yea, you probably shouldn't go there. I don't want him laying a hand on you. We can just invite her over someday." He says.
"You'll do that?" I ask and he nods.
"Of course. Anything to make you happy Maya. I mean it." He kisses my knuckles and I swoon.
"I love you." I say and he grins crookedly.
"I know, sweet girl." I punch  his shoulder lightly and he chuckles.
" Ready for the reception? It's at the mansion." He says after a while and I nod.
"Let's go then." He takes my hand and the absence of his wedding ring reminds me to ask him about our rings he took to the jeweller's shop for resizing or something. It's been three weeks.

******
Derrick:
The next day:

"Nervous?" I ask as Maya keep fidgeting beside me at the hospital's waiting room. The doctor already performed a few tests and we are currently waiting for the results. Mays shake her head mildly.
"Calm down baby. It's probably just the flu. Not some deadly disease." I say to assure her.
"What if it's something else? Something life altering?" She ask as her eyes search mine. What is she talking about?
"We will face whatever the outcome of this test is no matter what." I assure her and she smiles.
"I love that smile on you." I say and peck her lips.
"Mr and Mrs Derrick?" A nurse calls and I quickly stand to my feet then help Maya up.
"Here we are." I state before leading Maya into the doctor's office. Doctor Clara is a friend of the family and she beam at us as we enter. She couldn't possible have badnews right? She looks excited.
"Long time no see Derrick." She says as shake my hand then Maya's.
"Your wife is so beautiful, I must say." I grin as I pull the chair out for Maya.
"What can I say, I always go for the best." I say as I sit beside Maya who is blushing profusely. She's so cute.
"You know, we all thought you would marry R--"I burst into a loud nervous laugh the drown out her last word.
" let's get to the test, Clara.

Read " Beautiful Mask " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. " I say as I try to communicate for her to shut up.
"Right." She says and pull a file unto her desk.
 Maya starts fidgeting again and I pull her hand into my lap and massage lightly.
"It's just the flu right?" I ask but Clara just shake her head.
"It's not the flu. It's something that calls for a celebration." She says and I sit up in my chair.
"What---"
"Congratulations Derrick, your wife is three weeks pregnant." My mouth falls open and I drop Maya's hand in shock.
"What?!" I look at Clara hoping she would laugh this off as one of her infamous jokes but she is beaming at us.
"I'll need her to come for an ultra sound soon. We wouldn't want any complications right?" I nod absentmindedly and zone out as she ramble off about different diets and stuffs about the pregnancy. My head us reeling from this news. She wasn't supposed to get pregnant. I've been careful to use protection. Except the first time. Shit! Now this would make it seem like I also slept with her to get my inheritance. I don't want my child to be born on a lie.
  I can't take this anymore. I suddenly stand up from my chair and walk out of the office and out of the hospital. I need to think.