THE WIDOWER.

CHAPTER 46.

Nora parked her car in front of her childhood home as her heart raced. Yesterday she was happy and now she was afraid.
When they told the rest of the family about their may wedding they were in support and she and CJ stayed up till it was really late.
She was shooed to sleep by Jade who told CJ he was going to sleep on the couch since the spare guest room was where Nora and the girls would be sleeping. Rick stayed to help him.
Nora crept into the room careful not to wake the girls. She tucked herself on the furthest corners. Olive scooted near her. She watched the girl's eyes open and stared at her. She took her phone and gave it to her to type.
"You will be the prettiest bride." Olive typed.
Nora smiled at her, "thank you."
"I know CJ will adopt me. I can't wait to call him dad and you mum." She typed.
"That would be so nice. He wants that too." Nora replied.
"I thank God. He gave me a new family." Olive typed.
"I am glad God saved you and we are going to be one big family." She told the girl who smiled and closed her eyes to sleep.
Nora drifted off to sleep as she stared at the ring.
Nora walked to the front door and knocked.
She was shaking inside but prayed "God give me strength."
She knocked once more as her mother opened the door. She did a double take as tears streamed down her face.
She hugged Nora who was too shocked but hugged her mother back.
Her mother wept and she hugged her.
"I am sorry Nora." She sobbed.
"It is okay mama, I am here to talk." She spoke as she wiped tears of her own.
The elder woman ushered her in.
"It is so good to hear your voice and hear you call me mother." Belinda confessed.
"God heard me." She sobbed again.
Nora sat as she took in the surroundings. The house had changed and pictures of her and Nora when they were little hanged on one wall. The other was hers on her graduation day.
"What can I get you? I have milk." She offered.
"Milk is fine." She replied.
"You haven't changed." She commented as she disappeared in the kitchen to get her a glass of milk.
Nora explored the house.
She saw Lora's favourite doll and her small awards in athletics. She saw a Bible on the side of the small table at the corner of the living room.
She heard her mother come back holding s long glass of milk.
"When did you frame all this?" She asked as she took the offered glass of milk.
"When you left. I had to do something about the damage that I had caused my children. I had your step father arrested and I sought for help from my alcohol problem. It then dawned on me I not only lost one daughter but two. I had to be clean and piece my life together." She paused as she sniffed.
"I knew you hated me. I let you stay with your cousin on condition she told me your progress. I was happy to hear you had joined the police force and on your graduation even though you were not happy to see me, I was. Your friend Jade was nice and I knew she was going to help you through life." Belinda opened up.
She was happy and over joyed to see her daughter.
"Mother why did you not speak about the assault?" Nora questioned her as she put away the milk.
" I was too ashamed and frighten. It was not the first assault to ever happen to me. When I was eight I was raped by my father's half brother and my mother never believed me.
I blocked those memories and I never talked  to anyone about the assault ever again. Years later I got raped and this time I got pregnant. I knew my husband wouldn't believe me. He wouldn't accept a compromised wife. I was too ashamed and too afraid of what I would do with the two of you. I had though of abortion but I was afraid of dying like so many other women. I kept you but I hated myself. I was depressed. When I  birthed you I saw how my husband was thrilled but out of the oppressing thoughts of you two in my life as reminder of that awful day." Belinda sat more comfortable.
"I grew cold towards you two. My mother in law became a pain on my neck by her threats and one day I told my husband the truth. I made him leave and so I brought Philip, that monster in my home and allowed him to molest Lora and beat you up . I was okay because in punishing you I was punishing the man who raped me. I was making him pay little did I know that the same thing that had happened to me was happening under my own roof. That monster raped my Lora.." She paused to compose herself.
Nora looked at her aged mother. She looked better than she had seen her last. Her mother had suffered all life and she never had anyone to talk to. Her own mother didn't believe her and she suffered rejection.
"I am so sorry Nora my dear for not acting upon that brute's mistreatment. He died of lung cancer two years ago and I was so happy. I wanted to become a better version of myself and be a mother who was never there for you. I stopped drinking and turned to God who has helped me recover. I joined a group of women at church who have helped me in this journey but my prayer was that one day you would come home. I prayed to God that you would forgive me and let me in your life again." Tears streamed down Nora's cheeks.
"I am sorry Nora." She wept.
"If you want me to kneel, I will kneel just to show you I am truly sorry." She hiccupped.
Nora turned towards her sharply, "don't kneel before me. I am just a human being as you. Forgive me mother for every hurtful word I ever said to you. I am sorry I never came home even when I heard you were sick. Forgive me." She hugged her mother. She had missed her mother her entire life and God was giving them another chance.
"Can we start over?" Belinda asked her.
Nora nodded.
"I know Lora is not with us and I believe...
I pray that she appears. I pray if she is dead for a sign from the Lord to calm my restless heart." Belinda whispered.
"I know mother, I pray for her too." Nora spoke.
"Mum I am engaged." Nora shared the happy news.
Her mother looked at the ring and congratulated her.
"Who is this man?" She questioned her.
"He is a surgeon,He loves God and has a deep connection with Him. He was married before and lost his wife,daughter and father in accident. He now wants to adopt a girl he rescued. His name is Christopher Junior Mwamba." Nora said fondly.
Her mother caressed her cheeks tenderly, "I know he is a good man." She smiled at her.

*********
Nora slept in their old room as her mother retired early due to her  blood pressure medication. She confessed to have suffered from kidney stones and it was a blessing she was survived that.
Nora felt guilty and ashamed of herself but her mother told her not to beat herself over the past and what mattered was she was now here with her.
Here she was staring at the well kept room and she could almost here Lora's giggles.
She slept on her bed and stared up the ceiling and teared up from missing her sister.
"Lord, will we ever find her?" She blurted out.
"Lord, it is hard but I trust you will bring me healing. If it is your will you will bring Lora home." She prayed.
She heard her sister voice in a flash back, "one day Lora you will marry a very handsome and tall knight. He will be dark skinned and charming." She gushed at her sister.
"Have you been reading mill and bloom again?" Nora sighed.
"No, I have this feeling that you will meet a man who will have a great crush on you and you will be hard on the poor man but he will woo you with his charming looks and gentle manners. You won't see it coming." Lora laughed as she scowled at her.
Nora made a disgusted face.
"I rather not." She moved away from her giggles.
"Wait you will see sissy." She cackled.
Nora smiled at  the memory. She wanted so badly for Lora to be here to see her handsome knight.
She took her phone and Called him it rang for a few minutes.
No one answered so she drifted off to sleep. She knew he was maybe in theater and he had left his phone in his office.
Her last thoughts were inviting her mother to stay with her so she could take care of her for while.
She wanted to spend more time with her before she got married and became a wife.
They were starting their marital classes and counselling at Jade's church. They had started attending as whole family and she was happy they were welcoming.
Nora smiled at being CJ's wife nothing like that ever crossed her mind but such things were a blessing. She was truly blessed.