Chapter 80

Goriola Adams

I was back to Abuja. After the talk Jade and I had that day, we had many more, and it went smoothly. Jade who never picked my call now returned my call. My messages never lasted for days anymore talkless of a day because she now returned them immediately. We spent time talking, laughing, and reminiscing the past. It was fun having her talk just like the old days. Free, funny, annoying, and daring. My heart couldn't thank Jade's mom enough for the advice she gave me even though I had

plans of my own. When I told her I wouldn't want to start a family with Arabella without her mom, she stared at me through her small glasses trying to check with whatever magic ways she has, to know if I was telling the truth or deceiving her.

She asked me if I had thought about my decisions well because they were ready to let me be in the child's life if that was what I wanted. But then, I told her I wanted the family to include Jade. She brought up another reason I had expected to hear from her. She asked what about my parents? Will they love Jade? Will they accept her and her family? She wanted to know if they already knew about Arabella and Jade, but then, I said no, assuring her that I would eventually let them know and let them get to know about my decision to settle down with the mother of my child because that was the only thing that could make me happy. I didn't know where the

courage came from, seeing how terrifying the stares Jade's mom was throwing at me. I told her I really liked Jade a lot, and my heart desire was to be with her daughter.

She kept mute, and remained quiet for some seconds, she seemed happy, and told me if I really wanted Jade again, I would have to take things a bit slow with her. I would have to treat her as a friend and slowly let her trust me again. I wound have to show her I care about her feelings, giving out my attention to her. Realizing from what I told her that Jade liked me first, she said if a girl still likes you, you wouldn't have to try too long for her to reciprocate back her feelings. But if truly she doesn't

want anything else do with me, I would realize because no matter the attention, gifts, care I try to show, when a girl does not like a guy anymore, she doesn't! And if by chance he keeps trying, he would have to try for too long for such girl to return his feelings if she slowly falls at the end.

Jade's mom was straight to the point with me. Because she was ready to hear me out, we clicked and she gave me all the information I needed to know about Jade. Her school, her hostel, telling me to make sure I visit her when I have the chance as a good friend. That made me chuckle loud, and she did because we both knew I

wanted something more. While she was saying that, she ended by telling me to be careful, and never allowed lust get into our way again, or else this time, she wouldn't forgive me if I dare mess up with her daughter again. That was passed with a stern look before she went back being nice again.

I didn't get to meet her Dad, and the days I went back to visit Arabella, I was never fortunate to meet him at all. It was either he had left for work, went out, or wasn't back yet. At the back of mind, I thought and wondered what if he doesn't want to see me yet, or probably angry at me for what I did to his daughter. With that thoughts, I suddenly became nervous meeting Jade's father. Though she said it many times her Dad was more nicer than her mom, but still men can be so funny at times. Besides, I was the guy who handled her daughter without his concern.

I turned my direction to where Mom was at the dinning table, but she was still eating. I really couldn't say why she was always taking so long to finish her food. I ate the same food, and I didn't take up to thirty minutes.

There were two chef standing close to her, while Miss Deborah who was in charge of the cleaning, and supervision of food stood in her official black pencil skirt, white inner, and a black jacket, all suited up with her braids packed up. All these would definitely stop in some months when Dad would no longer be the President as his two terms was about coming to an end. There won't be securities and police men with guns standing outside the gate, compound, and even inside the house all in the name of protection because they have to keep you safe.

No hiring of best staff just because you are the President's family, no one will have to wait on you in case you need something you can even always take by yourself. No cook serving you, pampering you, taking things for you, and packing back your plates. You get to prepare what you want to eat and not some food they think you should take because it is nourishing to keep the President's family glowing.

Arhhhhh!

It has been a good ride anyways. I got everything I wanted. "Why didn't you follow Tade and Lola to pick up your brother?"

Finally! Mom was done. Of course, I didn't go because what I needed to discuss with her couldn't wait any longer.

Both Dad and Mom needed to know before they find out from someone else. "Mom, I need to talk to you," I informed her. She moved slowly and walked towards me, leaving a little space as she sat on the same long settee I was sitting on, resting her back.

"Okay, go on." She stared back at me as if she had been expecting me to do this a long time ago. I turned around on the settee facing her. I was not really scared of spilling the bean, I just hope she would take it well because she gets worried easily, and could go on ranting about it all day. I heaved a sigh. "Mom," I began, looking up to her eyes that were so fixed on me. "Mom, I made a mistake you and Dad won't like." I paused. Then she opened her mouth to speak... So I let her.

"We sure didn't like it one bit!" She shocked me like she knew what I was about to say.

"Mom, you haven't even heard what I'm about to say. Please don't conclude yet."

"Do you think it was a coincidence that your father sent you to that school, and you suddenly met in two days of your arrival in Nigeria? Why do you think we decided to all of a sudden support the school? Why do you think she was on scholarship?

Why do you think your Dad and I have been secretly sending gifts to her?"

"Mom!" I was damn speechless. But couldn't go on because the looks she was giving me showed how angry she was, and I knew she had a lot to say. But how? I couldn't help asking myself.

She was no longer resting her back. "Because we know of your stupid mistake. Forgive me Lord, my grandchild is not stupid. You, Goriola's mistake from your stupid brain."

My mom can be so dramatic. She was always like that whenever she was angry. But I knew how to calm her down.

Instead of raising my voice which I wasn't planning to do, I responded in a very calm voice. That was the only way to make my mom calm down sometimes, and I hope it works. Besides, I needed to know how they got to know the whole thing, and followed up till this point. "Mom, since you knew, why didn't you tell me this whole time? Why now?"

"So that you can fly down to Nigeria for the whole world to know the President's son who just regained his sight impregnated a girl and cause another scandal again!" Mom sounded angry, and it doesn't look like she was ready to calm down. I felt like mom was throwing words at me, but I just stayed quiet to have her pour out her mind.

"Why are you looking at me like that, or you've caused another one we don't know yet?"

"Mom, you are not explaining things to me. All you do to my face is trying to tell me I've always been a trouble to you causing scandal and bringing shame to you, or what does that mean?" I got up, my voice getting louder. My mom was good at provoking someone with her words.

"I would say it again!" She got up too. Her voice raising louder than before causing the people around us who didn't know what we were discussing at first to stare before they excused us. "You impregnated a girl, and brought shame on us! All your life you've brought me trouble, shame, scandal! Are you the only one? Your brothers were never like that! They've been good boys, and will always listen to me, except from you! To talk, you will never let us talk!"

"Mom!" All my siblings came in at once and yelled for her to stop. I couldn't believe it, but I was close to tears, and slowly they dropped. I knew mom was gonna turn things upside down, but who knew she was going to go extreme to the extent of having me cry. I didn't care I was already in tears with my siblings staring at me. I yelled back at mom. "Isn't this what you wanted! Now you can go on and feel better! And it is better I stay away from you to avoid bringing shame to your family." I picked up my car key to leave, but my brothers dragged me back, telling me to stop acting childish, and stay.

"You guys should stop." I told them. "She's only going to make me more frustrated!"

"Hear what he's saying about me. Me, that I gave birth to you, and have always been there for you in your darkest moments will make you frustrated because I'm scolding you." Mom was starting to cry too.

"Mom, what are you also doing?" Tade left me to go meet mom while my elder brother talked me to apologize to mom for her to stop crying. God! I might be angry at her, but I wouldn't want to be the reason she cried. I didn't plan for the whole thing to end that way, but mom was never patient whenever she was angry. That was the reason her and Dad fought sometimes because she would never let him talk or try to hear him out first. When I realized she was still crying, I moved closer to her on the settee and drew her closer to my chest. "Mom, I'm sorry.

You've been the best thing that could ever happen to all of us. Please stop crying."

"Mom, your baby is begging you now." Lola whined, laughing. "You've been shouting throughout last month that you miss him, now you want him to go again."

My mom hugged me tightly. "He's going nowhere." Her laughter vibrated on my chest causing the rest of my brothers to laugh at us. "Oya, mommy's boy..." Tade laughed as my mom got out from my embrace, and instructed everyone to sit. Her motherly look was back. The situation my big bro met on ground didn't let us welcome him yet as my mom began. "Your Dad was so angry when he found out what you did again," she said calmly this time around. "Lola, remember the day a girl came crying to ask for Gori?"

"Yes mom. You were inside the car that day, but I didn't get to tell you so much about Jade. What happened?"

"Mom, she doesn't like the girl," I told her.

My mom smiled. "I figured that out. We know your sister too well," she said "What Lola told me was she disturbs you a lot, and did not let you concentrate in class. She said she was always throwing herself on you." Mom revealed.

What! I just knew Lola can talk a lot.

Tade laughed, and threw a mini pillow at her. "This girl, you will never change."

"So, I decided to call Moses," Mom continued. "He told me you guys were close aside from Sophie, and she was the reason you fought your friend at the pool party. I told your Dad, and we looked into the matter by hiring a private investigator who told us she was pregnant, and I knew the reason she came looking for you that day was to tell you. We didn't want another scandal again, so we secretly looked for her parents to know if they could carry out the responsibilities of a new child. We realized they were okay. Her parents have a house of their own, her dad is a lawyer, and her mom now works with ministry. So, we decided to come in by helping in the school, and sending gifts to at least make the child aware her Dad loves her."

"Your Dad was worried, thinking what if she's not your child? But I encouraged him to let us keep taking care of her till you come back. Also, when the child was one, the man hired to always watch out for things going on with the parents made us realize she needed a blood which was scarce. But with the help of your dad's call, it was

sent to the hospital. We almost lost her then, but we thank God she's doing fine today."

"Mom, I'm sorry," I apologized. "Thank you so much for everything."

She smiled. "Now that you are a father, you will know why your Dad is always worried about you. And exactly the way we planned, our investigator told us you've met her, and have even gone to her parents house."

What! I couldn't believe I was being monitored. I laughed at how I never noticed that. I scratched the back of my neck. "I did mom. When should I bring her for you all to meet her?"

She smiled up at me. "Your Dad and I have seen our little Arabella. She's just like her aunt here."

She sure have seen her. She just called her name, and just who I thought she resembled.

"Close your mouth." Tade said to Lola laughing.

Her eyes suddenly expressed beautiful emotions after seeing the picture mom showed her. "Heaven is playing tricks on me. How can Jade still give me such an angel that looks so much like me. Why?" It was her turn to cry causing all of us to burst into laughter. After her drama, we were able to welcome our big brother.