The Puzzle - Episode 24

 

The Real Home

The silence in the room prevailed for about three more minutes. Nobody said a word. Michael was still glued to his seat in shame. Loveth led the twins to Daniella's room so that their parents could deliberate. She came back to the living room immediately the twins were settled in the bedroom. 

It was Roseline that finally broke the silence.

"Eliz, how can I ever forgive you? Just put yourself in my shoes. You took away eight good years of my daughter's life from me . And you feel so comfortable to mother a child that is not your own? Why?" She sobbed.

David held and consoled her. "It's okay Rose, let me handle this." He cleared his throat and said, "first of all, I want to thank nurse Loveth for the courage she summoned to make this confession, if not, we wouldn't know we had a child somewhere. You see, Mr and Mrs Michael Ernest, I am a perfect gentle man. I don't wish to arrest anyone concerning this matter. All I demand for right now is that our daughter should come back to us..."

"Noooooooo! Eliz screamed, interrupting David. Please don't take Daniella away from me, I can't live without her. Please let her be with me, I promise to take good care of her, I swear to..."

"What?!" Rose shouted jumping to her feet

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. "See this woman, is it because my husband hasn't called the police, that is why you have the guts to beg to be in custody of the child? A child that doesn't belong to you? How dare you? She is my daughter and I have every right to take her."

"Calm down Rose," came David's still voice again. "We should thank God that Daniella is still alive, hale and hearty. Otherwise, can we lay claims on a dead child?
Now Eliz, do not take us for granted. Because I decided not to call the police does not mean you should begin to ask for what is not possible. I decided not to involve the police because your husband here, has been of immense help to my family. He is a very kind doctor. He once saved the life of my mother in law, and even that of my wife. He is also the reason why this truth came to limelight, some other people might just bury it. So, in your own interest, it will be better for you to cooperate and release our daughter, otherwise I will have to involve the police and you know what that means."

"Please don't, Mr. Evans," Michael pleaded. "I really do appreciate your decision. We will do as you have instructed, Daniella will definitely come back to you, she has the right to be with her biological parents. If I had the mind to keep her, I wouldn't have encouraged Loveth to make this confession but I have a conscience too..."

Eliz's sobs interrupted his speech. He ignored her and went on.

"But please, can you do us a favour? Please do us this last favour, Mr and Mrs Evans."

"Well, if it is in our capacity to grant such a favour, then we shall," David replied.

"Okay," Michael continued. "Can you please grant us the opportunity to see Daniella anytime we want to, can she spend time with us once in a while? I beg of you, I have come to know her as my only daughter all these while, it was really a shock to discover that I am not her father, and it will take a long time for us to adjust to being childless, please grant us this request."

David glanced at Rose, she shook her head in disagreement and replied, "I don't trust Eliz, what if she cunningly takes my daughter back to the states?"

"No please, Rose. I will never do such a thing. I know I did a very wrong thing from the beginning, it's a grievous offence to buy a child buy please Rose, have mercy on me. I did it out of desperation to have a child I can call my own since I could not produce one. I am so sorry. I just hope I will be able to survive this change in my life. Look at me, I can't have a child of my own and Daniella is leaving me, please allow us to see her, even if it is once in a while, please, I promise never to do anything rash," Eliz pleaded on her knees in tears.

Rose pitied her. That is who she is anyway, she forgives easily. She thought to herself, "at least, I have Debbie, Daniella and another baby growing in my womb already. Here is Eliz, childless, without any hope of having her own children..." She looked at Michael where he sat, and she hated him for bringing such a predicament on Eliz, though Eliz was stupid too, she should have kept the last pregnancy...
She turned to her husband and nodded her permission to allow the couple to see Daniella anytime they wish.

"Alright, Mr and Mrs Ernest, my wife has given her consent. You can see Daniella whenever you wish to. But we will have to issue another birth certificate for her that will bear 'Evans' as her surname. Is that okay for now?" David asked.

"Very okay." Michael replied. "Thanks so much, we are grateful."

None of them could eat dinner anymore. Everyone lost in his or her thoughts. Eliz and Michael were mourning their loss while Rose and David were grateful to God that they would have their daughter back, a daughter they never knew they had...

David checked his wristwatch, it was half past nine. He stood up and said, "please call Debbie and Daniella, we need to go now."

That sounded like a bombshell to Eliz's ears. She burst into tears again.

Loveth entered Daniella's room and came out again with the girls. They had been chatting excitedly like friends. When they came out, David went close to Daniella, bent low to her level and said, "Daniella, as you can see, Debbie is your twin sister. We are Debbie's parents meaning that we are your real parents too, so henceforth, you will be living with us."

"Noooooooo, I don't want to, Daniella screamed and ran to Eliz. Mommy, you wouldn't allow them to take me, will you? Dad? Say something Dad... Eliz and Michael were quiet. They were aggrieved by Daniella's reaction.

Read " The Honeymoon " by the same author ( Moyosore Teniola )

. Eliz started crying again.

"Michael turned to Daniella and said, sweetheart, you have to go with them. That is your real mother," he pointed at Rose.

"You see what you have caused Eliz?" Rose asked amidst tears. "My own daughter running from me, the child I bore in my womb."
She went close to Daniella, held her hand and said, "Daniella dear, I am your real mom, please come with us, I will take very good care of you..."

But she snatched her hands from her, "No, you can't, this is my own mommy," she screamed.

Michael quickly stepped into the situation, "don't you all worry, she will soon get used to the change. We will bring her things over to your place later." He carried Daniella in his arms and signalled to the Evans to lead the way out. They all went out except for Eliz who stayed behind. She couldn't bear seeing Daniella being forcefully taken away. She could hear her cries as the car drove out of their compound. "Mommy! Mommy!" She shouted on and on till Eliz could hear her voice no more...

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So sad, isn't it? Eliz was not wise, she aborted her last child because her Fiance insisted, such an unwise decision to make. Ladies, receive sense, it is your own womb, not the man's. Her past has come to haunt her, Now she is childless...

So, what do you think? Were the Evans wrong to take their child back?

Drop your comments please...

I am so sorry for the late post. I was so so busy...