Caught In between

Chapter 18: To err

Marlise was excited that they had finally been discharged from the hospital and she could come home with her precious bundle. She walked into the house clutching the child while her sister and the driver they'd hired to pick them up from the hospital brought in her stuff. Levi's absence was missed as he would have been the one doing this chauffeur work. Although there were vehicles in the compound, neither she nor Cherish knew how to drive so they were at the mercy of drivers. As soon as she stepped into the living room that evening, the first person she saw was her mother. She paused. Memories of the last time they met more than five months ago coupled with the revelations Cherish had shared with her ran through her mind. She expected to feel anger or resentment towards the woman but there was none of that. One month in the hospital had her exhausted overwhelmed. At that point, all she craved for was a thick mattress wide enough for her to roll from end to end as opposed to the bony small hospital mattresses.

"Marlise," Mado said.

"Good evening mama," Marlise replied. She started walking carefully towards the woman who seemed to be rooted in one spot uncertain whether to approach her own child. Just then, Cherish came into sight.
"Marlise and the baby need to rest," Cherish said sharply, coming to stand between them like a wall. She took the newborn from Marlise's hand,
Marlise noticed how the woman shrunk in fear. That was strange. This woman never backed down from anything so why was she suddenly afraid of Cherish?
"Cherish it is okay, she is the grandmother after all," Marlise said.
"Let her disinfect her hands first. We don't want people passing on bad vibes to our baby." Cherish said.

You're rude! Marlise wanted to say but she remained quiet. She was surprised that her mother actually moved away to go and wash her hands. Marlise noted how she walked slowly and with difficulty like someone with pains in their legs.
Ma Mado had always walked briskly as if she were in the military. Was she sick? When she came back, she sat down on the couch and Marlise placed the baby in her arms. Ma Mado took her carefully as if she was afraid to drop her. She watched her mother watch the sleeping baby, her face contorting then her eyes twitching as if she were about to cry.
"What is her name?" she asked, her voice cracking.
"Her name is Viva," Marlise replied.
The old woman turned her head to the side and sniffed once, then twice and then a tear rolled down her eyes. Marlise sat there wondering what to do with a crying mother. A woman who hardly ever showed emotions in front of them was now struggling to contain herself and she was helpless. She looked up at Cherish to help her but her sister's face was set like cement, she had no remorse for her mother.
"Please take her," Ma Mado cried, handing the baby back to Marlise and walking into the room.
"What was that about?" Marlise asked her sister.
"Drama so that you will feel sorry for her," Cherish replied frowning.
"I don't think so. I think she's really sorry about everything she's done
We have to forgive her," Marlise said.
"I beg, Mtchewww!" Cherish sucked her teeth so loud and long she probably run out of saliva. Marlise wanted to say something then the room door opened and Jay ran out in blue spiderman pyjamas.
"Mama!!!" he yelled flying towards Marlise. She quickly handed the baby to Cherish and caught him in a bear hug and started raining kisses on his face and cheeks.
"Mama, you're back?" He said, squeezing himself further into her body as if he was trying to make himself one with her. She looked up at Cherish wondering what they'd told him about why she left.
"Levi told him that you travelled and you were going to return," Cherish explained.
"Yes, I came back with a gift. A baby sister," She said, pointing to the bundle in her sister's arms.
"Can I carry her please?" He begged jumping up and down. Cherish looked very annoyed and was about to say something when Marlise interupted.
"Of course. Go and wash your hands then come carry her," she had barely finished when the little boy took off running.
"Ha! Someone who has to be bribed into taking baths is now running like Hussein Bolt," Cherish laughed.
"About mama, I kind of understand her position. She's a mother who was doing everything to secure her child's future," Marlise said.
"You will never exchange your child for wealth. She traded me to Ma Eli so I would marry Levi. I hope they're happy now. I'm a single married woman," Cherish said.

"I'm sorry for everything sis, but that's the only mother we have. I'm going to check on her," Marlise said. Cherish watched her sister walk away to go and check on someone who had hurt them their whole lives. She looked down at Viva who was wide awake and sucking her lips.
"We'll protect you okay my love," She whispered and kissed the baby's forehead.
"Mama!!! Mama!!! Cherish come oh!" Marlise screamed.  Fear suddenly gripped her as she hurried towards the direction of her sister's screams.
Marlise was kneeling and shaking their mother who sat on the ground, her back leaning against the wall. Her eyes were closed and her mouth open as she muttered something.
"Mama, what's wrong?" Marlise shook her shoulders.
"My chest, I'm weak," she said under her breath.
"This woman, can't we have a break? We just had a baby and now you want to die?" Cherished snapped. Just then the baby started wailing in her arms.
"Cherish stop! She could be having a heart attack," Marlise yelled.

"Its no heartattack. She wants you to feel sorry for her," Cherish said coldly.

"We need to take her to the hospital,"  Marlise said frantically but Cherish just paced back and forth with the baby whose screams only increased then she walked out.

In the living room, she picked up her phone and made a call.

"Good evening ma," She said.

"Cherish how are you?" Ma Eli answered anxiously. Ever since the incident, the woman had become a different person, strangely polite especially when she called to find out if Levi had reached out to Cherish or when she begged to see the baby. Of course Cherish had told her that she wasn't allowed to come close to the child.

"We came home with the baby tonight. You can come and see her," she said and hung up, then returned to the room where Marlise was holding a cup to the woman's mouth. Ma Eli appeared in fifteen minutes eager then her countenance dropped when she saw Mado's condition.

"There, we need you to take her to the hospital. When you return, you can carry your grandchild," Cherish said coldly, avoiding the woman's eyes.
Ma Eli said nothing.

After Ma Eli took Mado to the hospital, the twin sisters sat in silence. The only sound was the sound of Viva suckling noisily from Marlise's breast.
Marlise closed her eyes and let one tear role down her cheek.
"Sis, we have to forgive her. If she dies today, we're the one's who will lose," she said almsot to herself, not opening her eyes.

"Forgive what? that woman has no shame! which kind of mother trades her children for money? she and that Ma Eli deserve to..."

"Cherish!" Marlise said sharply, opening her eyes to glare at her sister who had tears in her eyes.

"You are becoming bitter. As bitter and vile as her. You are just like mama,"  Marlise said.
"How dare you? I am nothing like her!" Cherish yelled.

"Oh yes you are. Don't you know that when you don't forgive you'll become the very thing you hate? You're rude and unforgiving. That's exactly what turned her into what she is today." Marlise said.

"No! no! I'm not her! I cannot be her! she's evil! Levi is evil! people who abandon loved ones are evil!" Cherished screamed hysterically as she sprang to her feet in anger.
"If you don't want to be her, let go," Marlise tried to speak above her sister's yelling.
She had forgotten how hysterical Cherish could get when she got angry. The girl had now sat back on the couch, crying at the top of her lungs, beating the air with her fist and gasping for air as if she was asthmatic. Her screams drew the attention of both Jay and the maid who looked frightened and confused.

"Gaelle, take the baby and Jay into the room and distract him. Play baby shark," she said urgently handing the child to the maid.
She pulled Cherish into her arms. Her sister was so lost in her world of anguish that she instead fought and pushed her away.
"How could Levi do this to me? its not fair!" Cherish cried.
"I'm hurting too," Marlise insisted.
"What if Levi doesn't come back? What if mama dies?" she wailed, this time hugging her sister herself.
"Everything will be okay" Marlise said.

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