Lauretta has been in an orphanage since few days after her birth. She had suffered several nightmarish experiences from moving from one adoptive home to the other. She was tossed around and each home gave her painful scars to last a lifetime...inclu...
Elizabeth-Anne made herself comfortable in her room after taking a shower. It has been four years since she last saw her eldest sister, which was when the latter came to the UK to visit Grandpa Holmes and had a speaking engagement. Recently, Botswana has been beckoning her to visit and she missed Laura a lot. She had finished her Secondary Education and Higher Education and decided to have a gap year before heading to university. She was also aware about her sister's "barrenness" and wanted to cheer her up.
Laura knocked and came in without waiting for a response.
"Come here darling," She gave Elizabeth a hug and released her.
"Dinner is getting cold young lady, come and eat."
"I just got off the phone from Mum and Dad, they are glad I made it here in one peace." She said with a roll of her eyes.
"They are concerned parents, you should bear with them." Laura said softly.
"Where is brother in law?" She asked in excitement.
"Boys' night out. Now that you are here, I am taking you out with Mama and Mrs. Moabe tomorrow for our very own night out!"
"Cool! It would be lovely catching up with them. Angelique is such a wonderful person sis and so are my twin brothers (referring to OB and Tumi)."
"I am happy everyone got along well and Ms. Molefe?"
"Mum and Ms. Koketso are like lost friends and I just don't know what to do with them. Mum is thinking of getting her a man though...top secret!"
Laura laughed and sat down.
"Tell me really, why are you here?"
"I'm here to spend my gap year with you. I will find something to do so that the immigration could extend my stay. I also want to volunteer in one of the NGOs you work with."
"I get to spend a lot of time with my youngest sibling! This is so wonderful! Thank you for coming Elizabeth." Laura was truly grateful for the surprise visit. At least now, she could spend the little time she spends thinking about her childlessness to pour love and attention on her youngest sister.
"I brought presents from home but I have a special one from Grandma Robertson."
"Really? Grandma is finally accepting me. Four years ago, she barely said a word to me throughout my visit. It was either she shook her head in disapproval or just ignore my presence." Laura recalled ruefully.
"Oh well, she is like that but I do think she is doing that out of guilt than anything else." Elizabeth-Anne replied.
She quickly went over to her luggage and brought out a Trotters Children's wear & Accessories bag and handed it over to her sister.
Laura took it and thanked the Lord silently for it. But she wondered why she was sent something from a children's clothing store.
She sat down on the edge of the bed. By the time she opened the bag, she found five piece of a unisex colour baby romper and five pairs of cute unisex baby shoe-socks. Laura gasped in shock and soon tears were rolling down her face.
"Grandma said she believes that she would carry your grandchildren soon so she said you should keep them and start preparations for the new arrival," Elizabeth-Anne said in excitement.
"She said all that? That is so beautiful." Laura wiped her tears and admired the adorable clothing before her.
"You know what sis? Remember that God said that none shall be barren in His land?" She grabbed her sister's hands gently and continued her encouragement.
"Do you also remember Psalm 24? The earth is the Lord's and everything in it. The world and all who live in it. This land of Botswana you live in and are standing on also belongs to God, so you can never be barren. Do you also remember the woman whose name I bear? Elizabeth in the Bible also had issues of having children but God answered her and she gave birth to John the Baptist, the one who paved the way for our Lord Jesus Christ."
"When did you become so wise Elizabeth-Anne?" Laura hugged her.
"Big sis, we are here for you."
Laura held her sister in the embrace for a long time, forgetting everything else.
*********
Later that night as Laura was about to go under the covers to call it a night, Brandon brought out a small gift box and handed it to her.
"Awwwwwwwww. What am I to do with you? You have given me enough gifts already!" Not that she was complaining.
"Open it," He urged her.
She tore the silver wrappings and opened the box. She moved her head slightly trying to contemplate the meaning of the gift. Before she could respond, Brandon said gently,
"Before we went for dinner, God's Spirit led m inside Ackermans and my feet led me to the baby section. I wondered what was happening and soon enough I laid eyes on these two pairs of baby shoe socks and in blue and white so I grabbed them and before I could stop myself, I had paid and took them with me," he stopped and laughed.
"They are so soft and cute," She said with a giggle.
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He kissed her forehead and gave her a bright smile.
"Charmer," She said teasingly.
"We are going to be parents soon so prepare yourself. God is giving us double for our shame. My lovely flower and blessing, God does not use adversities to punish us but all these are a normal part of walking on the narrow path to eternity. He is with us and I think we should re-visit our baby names list."
"Really?" She asked shyly.
"Yes Lauretta, let us do that."
She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek.
"You are the best husband in the world."
"And you are the best wife and the strongest person I know. Even after the backlash, gossip and backstabbing you received from the debut of "Forget Me Not", you pressed on and today, God has used you to win many souls for Christ and reconciled many broken homes and families. You allowed Him to use your pain to heal others. I know that He will give you more double portions of blessings and victory for the shame you suffered."
"I know He loves me Brandon and I know that He sustained our marriage through this seven years despite all the talks about not having children from friends and family. His time is beautiful."
Laura remained in her husband's arms, smiling happily to herself. She might not have the "perfect" ending but she knows that everything works for the good of those who love God and called according to His purpose.
