THE BLACK WIDOW

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

The police caught up with Julianna just as she was about to exit the mansion's gate with JR. Mr. Rogers carried the wailing child in his arms while some of the police apprehended Julianna and others rushed inside. They found an unconscious Sonia and immediately called for an ambulance. Unfortunately, Dr. Margaret Garvin died instantly because of the fatal wound to her heart. Mr. Rogers broke down in tears when he saw the critical condition that Sonia was in. Mr. Rogers could not even look at his wife, he turned away and took JR to his car, and accompanied by the police took him straight to the hospital for check-up. The poor child would surely need therapy immediately.

Upon arrival, JR was taken to the children's ward to be examined, and his maternal grandparents were informed about the turn of events. The pediatrician in charge of JR informed his grandparents later that night that he would need trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). By the time midnight made its arrival, both families watched JR sleeping peacefully in the private room he was placed. His mother was still with the doctors fighting for her life. Mrs. Moses replayed the words of the doctor in her head.

"She suffered a single gunshot wound to the left side of the chest, and fortunately it was not an exit wound, that is, it did not pass out of her body. We also noticed she had pneumonia and that was why she coughed out blood, it was not discovered well in time because of the arsenic poisoning. It overshadowed that."

"So, how is she now? What is going to happen?" Mrs. Moses had asked.

"We will perform surgery tomorrow on her and it is our hope that she will recover well. Let us just pray for a successful surgery and speedy recovery."

Mrs. Moses walked to the hospital's chapel and knelt down in front of the altar. She prayed earnestly for hours there, crying, pleading with God and making scriptural declarations. It was there that Margaret found her and urged her to go home to rest and come back after the surgery was over.

"Margaret, how could your mother shoot Sonia to kill her?"

"I'm so sorry Ma. Please forgive me and my family for all Sonia has suffered."

"Ah! Your mother went far and beyond! Since Sonia met your brother and even after his death, she gave her no rest. What is it? Is it a crime to love and be loved back? Is it a crime for Michael to marry the woman he prayed for? Why is your mother taking God's place everywhere and ruling so wickedly? God is a just, holy and loving God, and He does not rule the earth with an iron fist. Your mother is evil personified!"

"I'm sorry," Margaret apologized as tears ran down her face. Tears of pain, shame, and helplessness.

Mrs. Moses left her in the chapel. The pain was too much for her to bear. She was even more shocked when she had learned that JR might have died in the exchange of fire between the women. She went back to JR's room, and sobbed when she saw that he was still very much fast asleep.

"Michael Junior, your mother will not die, she will live to take care of you and raise you in the love and fear of God. Dear God, please help me. Please save my daughter." She sobbed by his bedside, as fear gripped her heart, even after hours in prayer. The reality before her was too much and seem insurmountable. Mr. Moses came and sat next to her, and embraced her.

"Daddy Sonia, I must not lose my child. She has suffered too much to die so unjustly. But what if God takes her to relieve her of all she suffered? Ha! God have mercy on me o." She wailed.

"Please be calm. Allow JR to sleep. Sonia will be alright. I am hurting too. My dear, I am also scared. I am also worried, but we are in this together."

She wiped the tears slowly flowing down his face with her hands. Together, they consoled each other, prayed together even in their grief, and waited till morning to leave.