You have no right to barge into my house and claim my child as yours!" dad shouted.
"Melrose and I met some years ago at England. We studied at the same college where we began our relationship".
I felt my heartbeat miscalculate. Was this really happening?
"After college, we got separated and couldn't get in touch" he continued. "During that period she met you and got married you giving a child" he looked at Richard and smiled.
"Few years after bearing you a son, we met again at the college for an alumnus party. It was obvious she was still into me and I couldn't resist her charming eyes" he said those words as if he was seeing my mom.
"Shut up!" dad ordered.
"It's okay. I understand this came as a shock. No man wants to ever share his woman". Dad had his fists ready to hit his face but, Richard pulled him back.
"We fell in love with each other again and began to date and get romantic often. We took our love to the next level and she became pregnant. I was so happy I was going to be a 'daddy'. But, she was married. So, we staged it to look like yours".
Drake collapsed suddenly behind dad. I ran as fast as my feet could to the veranda. Dad had gone to pull out the car from the garage. I caught John staring at me seductively.
What exactly does this idiot think he is doing?
"Hey, you! What are you looking at?"
I said scanning him from his head to his toes.
"You look so much like your mother"
"You can take that to your grave and inform her" I eyed him.
He looked shocked as I walked by and headed to the car. I heard him chuckle and that made me irritated. I sat at the front seat while Richard sat with 'unconscious' Drake on his laps.
Dad entered into the car nervously.
"His pulse is low dad!" Richard shouted.
I began to pant heavily.
Dad entered into the car and zoomed off. I don't know what happened to Mr. John after we left. Maybe, he left too or maybe not.
We arrived at the hospital. Drake was rushed in on a stretcher and Richard went with him but, stopped at the ward's entrance.
"Was his pulse really low?" I asked getting afraid.
"Yes" Richard said coldly without looking at anyone and sat on a chair arms crossed. "Could mom have done this?" he asked and licked his lower lip.
Dad sighed and turned around to avoid the question.
"Dad, I'm talking to you!" Richard said now standing.
I went to him and held him by his arms. He was already causing a scene.
"You should know something, at least, something!"
Dad turned now facing Richard. His eyes were soaked. I felt like going to him and hug him tightly but, a strange force still kept me beside Richard holding his arms.
"Richard, believe me. I know nothing about this. I'm as shocked as you are. I feel pain as much as you do. Trust me; this is a surprise to me too"
Richard angrily kicked the wooden bench and began pacing left and right. Rage was written all over him.
"I think we better quicken our travel to England in order to avoid more traumas" I said sitting on a bench.
Richard's phone beeped.
He sighed looking at his phone. "It's Tinuke"
"Why? What happened?" dad asked showing concern.
"She wants to know where we are. I think she's been to the house".
The sound of 'Tinuke' in my ears made my stomach grumble. I hadn't outgrown my hatred for her. Coming here would be a disaster.
"Don't tell her where we are" I said without thinking.
Richard shrugs. "She's heavily pregnant, Helene. She can't wait outside and besides, we don't know if that crazy John has left"
Sincerely, I had forgotten she was pregnant. I began to imagine her with a large protruded belly and an arc at her back. I'm sure it was her beauty and physique that attracted Richard. We truly can't leave her outside.
Richard left the hospital and headed home to Tinuke.
"Is Drake going to be fine, dad?"
He sat next to me and I rested my head on his shoulder.
"He will, Helene"
***
"What's happening?" the doctor asks a nurse.
"Sir, he's dying" she said in between gasps.
"What? Get the resuscitating machine. Quick!"
"Here"
'Ready?" the nurses nod.
"One... two... three"
No response.
"One... two... three"
No response still.
"One... two... three"
Drake gave no response still.
Everywhere suddenly became slow. The clock stopped ticking. My head ached and voices nearby became distant.
"Time of death... 2:10pm" I heard the doctor say.
"No!" I screamed hitting myself hard against the wall.
The nurses covered him up with a white blanket and prepared to move his body.
"No, he's not dead. He can't be!" I yelled.
"Drake!"
***
"Helene"
"Helene"
I jumped in between gasps. I was in my room; on my bed. Tinuke sat on the bed beside me holding a white wet napkin. A bowl of water was on the table beside her. Dad and Richard stood across the room with their arms crossed.
"You had a fever", Tinuke said.
Tinuke looked so different. She had a really swollen face. She wore a pink flowery dress and a smile on her face.
"Fever?" I repeated. "Where is Drake?
How did I get here?" I said feeling a slight headache.
"Drake is in his room resting" dad replied.
I heaved a sigh of relief and landed back on my bed. I turned my face towards Tinuke.
"Thank you"
"You are very much welcome Helene" she smiled, picked the bowl and slowly left the room. Richard accompanied her. She acted differently and cool.
'Dad, what happened?"
"Just get some rest, Helene"
He kissed my forehead and left my room.
YOU ARE READING
BROKEN MIRAGE
General FictionI'm a girl who lives in a world that doesn't seem right... My family is one hell of a family and my life hasn't been the same since my mother left... She left a note and it's my duty to find her and right the wrongs that have taken over my world.
