ℂ𝕃𝕆𝕊𝔼ℝ 𝕋ℍ𝔸ℕ 𝕐𝕆𝕌 𝕋ℍ𝕀ℕ𝕂

║TWENTY║

    “DOCTOR HARPER.” a nurse rushed into Yvonne's office as she was preparing to go home.
“Yes?”
“Someone is here to see you.”
“Who?” she put the last medical file she had planned to work on at home in her bag and zipped her bag, close.
“A lady, she never mentioned her name.”
“Alright, thanks. You can tell whoever it is to wait. I'll be there in a minute.”
“Okay ma'am.” the nurse said and walked out of the office, shutting the door. Yvonne carried her back on her shoulder, looking around her small office to see if everything was in order. She smiled, nodding her head in satisfaction as she closed her windows, she walked out of her office, locking the door.
She walked to the reception area and was astounded when she saw an August visitor.
“Good evening Doctor Harper, how was your day?” Nicole grinned.
“What!” Yvonne screamed in surprise. She walked briskly to her daughter hugging her, “You never told me you were coming.” Yvonne pouted poking Nicole's cheeks with her finger.
“I don't need to, ’cause today is a very special day, for a special person.”  Nicole smiled knowingly as she and her mother walked out of the hospital with their arms wrapped around each others waist.
“Have a nice day, Doctor Harper!” Mrs Dowells, the receptionist said, waving at Yvonne as she left the hospital.
“You too, dear.” Yvonne replied, smiling.
“Shall we?” Nicole opened the door to the passenger–side of her car for her mother when they got to where Nicole's car was parked in the  hospital's parking lot.
“Yes, baby.” Yvonne said as she slid into the passengers seat and sat.
“I am taking you outing, mama.” Nicole winked at her mother and drove out of the parking lot.
“You haven't told me what this frenzy is all about?”
“Ha, mum! Don't tell me you don't know.”
“Know about what, is today my birthday? No, my birthday is next month, so…”
“What a pity!” Nicole hit her forehead.
“Tell me now, before I… you know what I can do.” Yvonne narrowed her eyes at Nicole pretending to be a angry.
“You can't do anything mum.” Nicole stuck her tongue out at her mum.
“Hmm… um, before I forget, how is my son–in-law doing?” Yvonne asked, teasingly
“Son–in–law? Who?”
“Mr Blaylock.”
“Oh, I haven't even accepted his proposal, yet you have started calling him son–in–law.”
“I know you will.” Yvonne touched Nicole's cheeks and smiled.
“Here we are.” Nicole announced as soon as she killed her engine in front of a very popular shopping mall in Bristol.
“I repeat. You haven't told me what this is all about?”
“Find out for yourself, Doctor Harper,” Nicole clucked her tongue and pulled her mum with her, into the shopping mall. “pick anything you want, all expenses will be on me.” Nicole told her mum as soon as they entered the jewelry section of the shopping mall.
“I… I…” 
“Shush,” Nicole placed a finger on her mum's lips, silencing her. “don't worry about the expense, I got plenty of money to splurge.”
“Says, Nikky.” Yvonne smiled wryly and walked away, shopping for a diamond necklace she had long wanted to buy. Nicole left her mum to shop alone while she went to the grocery section to buy some groceries for her self and some for her mother.
“Here is your bill for the items you purchased.” the cashier gave Yvonne the bill after she dropped her necklace for checking.
Yvonne handed the bill to Nicole. Nicole jaw dropped when she saw the cost of the item her mother picked.
“£441.98!” she said astounded.
“Uhn? You said I should pick whatever I want and I did, is there a problem?” Yvonne arched an eyebrow at her.
“I … I didn't expect you to pick something so expensive, mom.”
“Remember you said I should pick anything I want, you didn't tell me the price limit.” Yvonne smiled biting on her bottom lip, stifling a smile.
“Fine,” she said handing the approximate amount for the necklace to the cashier and collect her receipt. “happy now?” she faked a frown.
“It's your fault Nikky, Words have power.” her mother bursted out, laughing.
“Never mind,” she waved her hands in the air and laughed. “is there anything you want again?”
“Yes, every one wants everything, though you just have to consider what you need first.”
“Hmm, that's when scale of preference comes in.” Nicole stroked her chin.
“Exactly!” Yvonne said as they exited the shopping mall. “One needs to avoid the disease that causes debt–Impulse buying.”
“True.” Nicole laughed.
    As soon as they were seated in the car, Nicole brought out a grocery bag, handing it over to her mom.
“What's this, dear?” Yvonne asked smiling, inquisitive.
“See for yourself.” Nicole smiled, knowingly.
Yvonne opened the grocery bag and screamed in joy.
“Shhh mom, it's night already.”
“I am just too overjoyed, you bought a recipe book for me and the ingredients for hot cross buns and fresh mutton?…aw, you're such a sugar–plum.” Yvonne cooed, holding the grocery bag tightly to her chest.
“Happy mother's day mum!” Nicole said, hugging her mum ethusiastically.
“Wow! How come I never knew?”
“You were too busy to know.” Nicole kissed her cheeks.
“Anyway, thanks dear. You're so full of surprises.”
Nicole laughed again, hugging her and she swayed from side to side, singing.
“Who fed me from her gentle breast,
And hush’d me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
When sleep forsook my open eye,
Who was it sung sweet hushaby,
And rock’d me that I should not cry?
My Mother.
Who sat and watched my infact head
When sleeping in my cradle bed,
And tears of sweet affection shed?
My mother.
When pain and sickness made me cry,
Who gazed upon my heavy eye,
And wept for fear that I should die?
My Mother.
Who dress’d my doll in clothes so gay,
And taught me pretty how to play.
And minded all I had to say?
My Mother.…”
Yvonne became so emotional as she began to cry.
“I love you dear, I love you very much…” she kissed Nicole's hair. “you almost know all the verses in the poem… how did you memorise it?”
They separated for a while, laughing. “My literature teacher, back then in highschool forced us to learn it during literature class in form five.”
“And it became useful.”
“So true.”
“Come here sugar– plum.” Yvonne said hugging her again.
“You can call me that again,” Nicole said admist laughter.
“It is already getting late. Let me drop you off at home while I find my way home.”
“Why don't you stay with me, then tommorow, you can start your journey back to London.”
“I'd love to but, I have a lot of things to do back home.”
“Don't stress yourself out, just take it easy okay?”
“I am trying to but, ha,” she sighed “the mysterious murder case I told you about, is what is still creeping me out. I have never encountered any difficult case like this. I gave a deadline, hoping that the murder case would be solved by then but,  it's passed the deadline already.”
“Well, as your mother, I will tell you to still take it easy and find time to relax, it is when your brain is relaxed that you think we'll but when it is worked up, you won't be able to think clearly. Don't worry you will soon find the mysterious murderer.” Yvonne placed a hand on Nicole's shoulder, squeezing it, lightly.
“I hope so.”
     After Nicole dropped her mother off at home, she immediately started the night journey to London. She badly wanted to take a warm shower and slump on her bed, enjoying a good night sleep. The discussion with her Mum, about the murder case, struck her mind and she didn't know when she said the abominable word–God.
“God, if you're really real, please help me out. I am clueless and don't know what to do…please, please… ” she cried, frustrated. Her phone rang, she picked it up from the passengers seat and saw it was Neil, calling.
“What does he want, now? Hope is not another  case or a bad news?” she said irritably and decided to answer the call.
“Hey, what is it this time?”
“Calm down Miss Harper, Guess what?”
“Look here, Mr. I am not in the mood for guessing, so you better let the cat out of the bag right this moment or I will hang up.”
“Okay, okay. Good news… it's good news, Miss Harper.” Neil said ethusiastically.
“Okay?”
“We've found the smart killer.”
“It is a lie!” Nicole stepped on her brake to stop her car, alongside the road. She will be so astounded, if this was true.
“As a matter of fact, it's the truth.”
“Oh my God!” she screamed, blinking her eyes repeatedly in astonishment.
“Did you just say God?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“You said the forbidden name Nicole?”
“Incase you don't know, I prayed to him and I think he heard my prayer, with what you just said.”
“Praise God!”
“Look Mr Darwin, I got to go now, I am still on the road.”
“Alright, till tomorrow then. Bye.”
“Yeah, bye.” Nicole said and hung up. “God, is this you at work?” Nicole squealed, tears spilling down her cheeks. She  started her car, driving home with different thought running through her mind.

God, if truly you exist, make me believe.