SOMEWHERE IN AFRICA

chapter 21

"Daddy"

"Lauretta I have been waiting in the car for you"

For the sake of confirmation so as to satisfy my curious mind I decide to ask the big question.

"Who is this woman daddy? "Tell me dad who is she? "

"I didn't plan for you to find out the way you did, wanted it to be a real surprise, I never knew you will meet Cindy, I'm sorry Lauretta"

I looked from my dad to the face of the woman that gave birth to me, she was standing close to me, wiping tears off her eyes. I was feeling indifferent.

"Can we go somewhere to talk about this, let us go to Gabby's house, let's not create a scene here, people are watching... Please can we...?"

I had to turn when I heard Cindy running towards us, she called her mom who didn't pay much attention to her

"Mom, please can I come along? Please let me come along... I promise I won't talk much... Please don't leave me behind... I'm also part of the family…"

"Cindy, will you go back and watch things in my absence? Stay back here and work.... there are things to keep you busy...."

Gabby came and sat at the back while dad drives, none of us said a word, it was as if dad knows the route, he knows the way to their house. As he drove on, he later got to a building with a golden gate and stopped and we all came down.

Gabby was ahead as she entered the gate and we followed behind, I guess this is where they live. She went straight to the house and knocked. A voice answered from inside, and the door was opened in a second, a young man in his early twenties whom I guess was Cindy's elder brother, whose name was John, stood by the door staring at me.

He looked at me and smiled and I returned back the smile, he greeted my dad very well as if they are best friends, my dad gently tapped his shoulder before going inside.

Inside the living room a man was sitting on the couch, watching news on TV, which must be Mr. Mark, Cindy's father and Gabby’s husband.

On seeing my dad he struggled to stand up. He looked at me and smiled before greeting, I replied calmly.

Gabby was standing at one corner looking at me, she is scared and doesn't even know what to say, John was also looking like he was seeing a goddess. My dad decided to talk first

"This is my daughter, Lauretta M. Tello, all through the time I was coming down here she was away like I explained before now, schooling abroad, and before she traveled out for study... we both had a long talk, and she told me she will love to meet the woman that conceived and gave birth to her someday..."

I saw Gabby from the corner of my eyes as she held her chest with one hand and the other hand on her mouth. I tried not to look at her because she has never stopped looking at me since I came in.

I wonder what she is thinking right now on seeing me sitting with my dad in her house after over twenty years. My dad continued speaking

"....So when she was away I decided to dig and search for Gabby, I sent my men to all corners of the country with few details of her. I did my own search until she was found. I wanted to surprise my princess, I never told her any of the things I did, and I didn't want to distraught her in her studies, so I kept all my meetings with Gabby and her family a secret. Mark, you and Gabby were eager to meet her, right? I want to add that we all wronged Lauretta, I'm not exceptional, in truth I was the cause of the whole mess, I abandoned Gabby when she was pregnant of her, and regretted it for years until destiny found us both. Gabby on your own path, you gave birth to her and after weaning her, you left her with your mother and moved on with your life...."

Gabby’s silent cry turned in to a sob, the TV was already off so Mark's head was bent, while John was looking from his mother who was sobbing then to me with my plain face staring at nothing in particular, then back to my dad the narrator

"...Mark you aren't left out in this mess either, Gabby told me she wanted to take her along after you got married to her, you refuse and said you don't want another man's child under your roof. Gabby even after your mother died and was buried you never bothered to ask or look for the child you carried for complete nine months, suffered and gave birth to, I know we all shared in this unfortunate part..."

"I did... I asked of her Micho, but I was told she was living with a rich couple in the big city, with that information I thought... I thought she was living fine... I know I'm a terrible person. I know that's not enough, is not an excuse for my terrible act, I can't just explain how sorry I am... I know sorry can't bring back the lost years or difficulties she passed through. I totally regretted it..."

I was looking at her now as she speaks and cry at same time. I felt pity for her, indeed she must have suffered so much, having to care for her two kids and a sick husband can be cumbersome. Mark her husband finally spoke

"I'm deeply sorry for all we did, I was self-centered and asked Gabby to leave her baby behind, I'm glad that God kept you safe... I'm sorry Lauretta..."

Mark was still speaking when Gabby came and fell before me, I quickly stood as I tried to pull her up, she cried and pleaded

"I know I'm not worthy to be called your mother, I don't deserve that title from you. I feel terrible inside and out, I'm deeply sorry, will you ever forgive me...? Can you find it in your heart to forgive us for all...”

Before she could complete her sentence, I drew her into a tight warm hug, it was a loving reunion with my mother, but I still have unfinished business there. I need to pay Mrs. Ortega the boss lady a visit, and I feel so happy because Serena and Tobias works for my mother, it will be easy locating Emily.

“I'm not going home today or tomorrow dad, you go and come for me later, I want to spend time with my mother”.

“Yes madam” was my dad’s sarcastic reply.

I will miss Ekim for the few days that I will be here, he has being calling to check up.

I know Cindy will never stop talking throughout the period I will be here, she has so much energy for words. I'm not much of a talker myself, it will be fun having a sister who talks like a parrot.

Mum doesn't know yet that Mrs. Ortega’s children works in her supermarket, she may even sack them if she finds out, but she doesn't really have to know now. I wouldn't want them to lose their Jobs because of their mother's past sin, even though they were both like their mother, but that's in the past.

Notwithstanding I will like to make them know what it feels like to be ill-treated, I need to let Boss Lady Delilah understand the fact that it’s a small world we live in and nobody knows what tomorrow holds for anyone.

My Joy is overfilled because I finally met my mother.

Luck is finally on my side

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Serena and Tobias are going to hear it from Lauretta in full .
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