Plan B

37

DAD'S POV

I received a call from the hospital asking me to head there straight away with my wife. She was too tired so I decided to go alone.

It had been three weeks since we were there and my patience was running out. I got into my car and I immediately drove went there.

"Oh no!" I exclaimed at the heavy traffic ahead, "I'm in a rush to get to my two month old baby!" This is an injustice! Here I was, stuck in traffic, alone, worried about the well being of Keshun.

I just hope that all goes well and he grows up to be like his father; honest, diligent and confident. They grow up so fast. Look at my girl. She only has three months to finish high school. She's almost going to the main phase of her life. Life really goes fast.

The traffic jam slowly cleared off and I finally got to the hospital. I walked to the reception where I found the receptionist. She led me to the doctor who was supposed to see me.

"Doctor! Good afternoon!" I said shaking his hand enthusiastically.

"Good afternoon sir! You seem happy today.

"You bet I am. It's such a relief to get a feedback from you after three long weeks. What is the condition of the baby at this moment?"

"We have managed to stabilize his sugar levels and we monitor his vital signs every twelve hours. Once the blood transfusion is done, the baby will be well very soon."

"Great! Now I know there is hope for my baby!" The doctor looked at me.

"I must say I like your spirit sir."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't worry. We don't need to put things on the table if you feel uncomfortable." He then nodded as if to agree with himself as I was still left wondering. This is why I didn't make it to med school. I wouldn't have lasted a year there if this is how they communicate. I'm just glad Keshun will be alright.

"So are the blood tests ready?" I asked the doctor trying to clear the awkward air.

"Yes they are," he said pulling a folder from his cabinet. He then opened it.

"Both your blood group and your wife's are compatible with that of the child so one of you can donate the blood to the baby."

"I will do it. Even now if it's possible."

"I would recommend your wife. The baby's blood is still very delicate and if you donate yours it will be more foreign than if your wife does."

"Oh right, because the baby was in her all along!"

"Not necessarily. There are cases where the mother's blood group is different from the baby's but in this case let's go with that!"

Doctors... I'll never understand them. The doctor gave me the folder. I received it reluctantly because I knew there was nothing I would comprehend because it's a doctor's folder. I could not refuse it either, admitting that would be hard.

"I opened it and I saw a bunch of other stuff I obviously didn't understand; especially the part where it said the father of the child is unknown.

"Doctor," I called him pointing at the 'unknown' word which I seemed to have forgotten the meaning. The doctor gave me a similar look as he had done earlier.

"Sir," he said in a low voice, "What do you know about the baby?"

"The fact that his name is Keshun."

"Yes... and?"

"And he's my baby."

"Really?"

So now the doctor thinks I don't know my own baby.

"Yes really," I was confident about this more than anything else.

"You have to understand that we only acknowledge the birth parents of babies in such cases like blood transfusion."

"I'm the birth parent of this baby," I said absolutely sure of it.

"I'm starting to think you don't know everything about this baby."

And I'm starting to think that you are playing mind games with me you unwitty doctor.

"I don't understand doctor."

"What did your wife tell you about this baby?"

"She just told me that she's pregnant with my baby."

"Mr... " he said, confirming my name from the folder, "Opondo? Is that Irish?"

"No. It's Kenyan," I found this rather unnecessary.

"Mr. Opondo. You are NOT the biological father of Keshun Roq," the doctor said before looking at me full of concern.

"What? There has to be a mistake. This baby is MINE."

"I'm afraid not sir."

"You cannot be serious. I saw her pregnancy for nine months! How is this possible?"

"Sir. It is not in my power to make this suggestion but maybe your wife wasn't faithful to you at that time but... "

"WHAT!!" Did the doctor just say that!

"BUT maybe she has reformed and now she's..."

"No doctor. I disagree with you. Maybe our baby was switched at birth. Maybe it's out there somewhere."

"That would be possible but the mother's DNA to that of the child is a 99.99% match."

"What about mine?"

"It's a 0.00% match. You only have the same blood group."

"So what you are telling me is..." My tongue fell numb. It cannot be!

"Sir take it easy. Here is a cup of cold water," he offered. I drank it all in one gulp before throwing it on the doctor's desk and leaving hurriedly.

I walked quickly, hitting anyone and anything in my way. I got into the parking lot and immediately entered the car. I leaned on the steering wheel in deep thought. I was lost, trapped in confusion and disbelief.

Keshun was ANOTHER MAN'S child! I fail to understand why and how this is happening to me, again!

On that day I got home early and nobody was there. Kristina was still in school and my wife... there's no need to find out where she is. I went straight to bed.

The discovery I made that day was too much for one man to handle.