Chapter 40

It was a bright morning and Samuel Goldfield was already at work. He had been feeling very unusual lately and it was beginning to affect his work.

"Do you care for some coffee, sir?" His secretary asked him.

"Yes, I would really appreciate that Nicole." He answered.

She went to prepare some coffee and brought it to him. He gulped it down like a hungry dog and Nicole kept watching him in wonder. She was happily married with two kids; a boy and a girl. She had been encouraging Samuel to settle down maritally however her constant advice had seemed to be falling on deaf ears.

"So tell me, when are you going to get married?" She brought up her question again and he laughed.

"Nicole, Nicole, Nicole, you would never stop, would you?" He asked laughing.

"Marriage is a good thing, sir. Especially when you get married to the person who God himself has planned for you to marry." She encouraged him.

"Really? So how do I get to know the woman God has created purposely for me?" He asked amidst laughter.

"I'm very serious about this, Sir." Nicole said to him.

"I didn't say you are not serious. I only asked about how I'm going to know, Nicole." He replied to her, controlling himself not to laugh.

"Well, you first of all need to be serious with God Sir." She answered him.

"You need to develop a good relationship with God. You need to get closer to God." She told him and he laughed.

"Nicole, if I need someone to render services to me, for instance, if I'm not feeling well and I need medical assistance, I would just go to the hospital. After everything, I would pay and leave. So if I want to know about the lady God has prepared for me, then I should also be able to pay to get to know who the lady is, right?" He asked and it made Nicole laugh.

"Sir, God is not like that. He has loved us with an everlasting love. He doesn't expect us to pay money. He expects us to develop a good relationship with him. God wants you to accept him as the Savior of the world. He wants us to acknowledge that only He can save us." Nicole replied to him.

"Well Nicole, I have done so many horrible things in this life. Will God still forgive me for all that I have done to him?" He asked innocently.

"Of course Sir. When you confess, he is faithful and just to forgive you and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness." She answered him.

"Waoo I can see you are really close to this God." He said to her and she smiled.

"He is a very loving God Sir. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. He is a good good father." She reiterated.

"Oh I see." Samuel responded.

"I'll leave now so you can focus on your work. We'll continue with our conversation later." She told him.

"Thank you so much for your time Nicole." He expressed his appreciation.

"It's a pleasure, Sir." She replied and smiled.

Priscilla took Anita to school and returned home. She was looking sad and Lordina tried to cheer her up.

"Madam, you are welcome back home." Lordina greeted as Priscilla alighted from the car.

"Thank you Lordina." She replied, however, this time,it was without smiles.

Lordina was worried and decided to speak up.

"Madam Priscilla, can I please have a word with you?" She asked her boss.

"See Lordina, I am very tired and exhausted right now. All I need right now is a peaceful sleep. That's all. Next time, we will have time to talk." Priscilla promised and walked away.

"Oh my God. What exactly is happening with my boss?" She asked herself as Priscilla walked away to the bedroom. As Priscilla opened the door to the bedroom, she was surprised to see that Reynolds was still around and hadn't gone to work. She had thought he would have left before she got back.

She decided to take her diary and go to the library place to have some time to herself. She was feeling hungry too and wanted to take in something. Reynolds cleared his throat and spoke up.

"Can we have a little discussion, Priscilla?" He asked her.

See, I'm not in the mood for any discussion. I'm feeling very hungry and I have to prepare for the baby's arrival. I need a little nap." She said and left his presence. He sighed deeply, knowing very well that she was still very angry with him.

She went to the kitchen and requested for food.

"Lordina, I'm very hungry. Please get me something to eat!" She screamed as she got to the kitchen.

"Right away Madam," Lordina replied and quickly hurried to get her boss's meal. The pregnancy was almost due and Priscilla ate more often these days. As she was eating, Reynolds entered the kitchen and went to sit beside her. She was busily eating and didn't notice his presence until she raised her head. Her heart quickly skipped a beat when she saw him.

"Haa, you startled me! I didn't know you were here!" She exclaimed.

"I'm sorry I startled you. I didn't mean to do so." Reynolds apologized calmly and Priscilla was convinced that he probably had another plan in place; the reason for his calm response.

Therefore she wasn't moved in anyway by his response.

"So, how are you and the baby doing?" He asked her.

She looked into his eyes and laughed.

"I'm not a little fool Reynolds. What again do you have up your sleeves? Tell me. Just go straight to the point and make your request known to me. However this time, I'm not going anywhere with you. Not to a business seminar, nor a party. I'm going nowhere with you. So please don't nurture any high false hopes. I'm sorry." She said and he just bent his head down in shame.

Indeed it was going to be really difficult for her to ever believe him again. He had broken her trust and she was going to question everything he did, as having a hidden motive.

He lifted his head and decided to speak up.

"Priscilla, I understand perfectly how you are feeling. Please understand that I only want the very best for you and nothing else. Please." He pleaded and she just kept on eating without saying a word.

"I know I have hurt you, I know I have betrayed your feelings, I know you find it very difficult to trust me again or to even have conversations with me. Priscilla, I'm very sorry. I miss you so much." He said and drew closer to kiss her. She however moved away quickly so he wouldn't.

He looked sheepishly at her and repositioned himself well in the chair.

"Someday, just someday, I hope you would believe in me again." He said and left the kitchen.

She stared at him as he walked away.

Samuel Goldfield had just gotten to the best specialist hospital in the city. Regimanuel Hospital was a renowned hospital, known for providing good healthcare. The hospital had very good specialists who did their work well with all diligence. Even their nurses were sometimes mistaken for doctors because of how well they presented themselves.

"Please come with me, Sir." One nurse told Samuel Goldfield, who quickly stood and went with her to the outpatient department. There were many patients seated there and his eyes caught one patient and then he froze.

"Pearl? Pearl? You are dead so what are you doing here?" He asked and the patients looked at him as though he were insane.

"I think this man should be taken to the psychiatrist." One patient said and the rest agreed with him.

"No, that is Pearl. That is Pearl! I just saw a ghost!" He said, looking directly at Priscilla. She had come for antenatal services and he had mistaken her for Pearl. She looked very much like her mother and the striking resemblance made him think he had seen a ghost.

Some of the male nurses had to take him away with full force for close examination to be sure that he wasn't going insane as the other patients had predicted.

Priscilla was confused. She was wondering who Samuel Goldfield was.

"Why was that man calling me 'Pearl'"? She asked Lordina who had accompanied her to the hospital.

"I'm as confused as you are madam. Maybe he mistook you for someone else." Lordina told her boss.

"Hmmm, maybe that could be true." Priscilla responded.

"However that man's face seems to be very familiar. I just have a strange feeling that I know him from somewhere. It just feels like we are related in a way." She told Lordina anxiously. Just then, one nurse came to call Priscilla to see the doctor.

"Priscilla Reynolds", the nurse called out to alert her that it was her turn to see the doctor.

"Oh, who do we have here? Mrs Reynolds herself." The doctor greeted after Priscilla entered the consulting room.

"Hope you are doing well doctor." She greeted him.

"By God's grace I am." He responded.

"I'm very sorry about what happened out there. I came to see the commotion and I remember the confused look you had on your face." The doctor said.

"It's okay doctor," Priscilla responded and he asked the nurse to take Priscilla's vitals. Reynolds had made his stance clear to the hospital staff, regarding male nurses or doctors, attending to his wife. The doctor on duty was well aware and had decided to abide by the rules.

Samuel Goldfield had been given some sedatives to calm him down. They gave him some injections to make him sleep also because he was behaving like a lunatic. Seeing Priscilla had given him so much shock, and it hadn't occurred to him that it could be Priscilla he had seen. He was very much afraid and in shock.

He slept for five hours and woke up. At first, he was confused as to where he was, then he suddenly remembered.

"Oh Pearl." He whispered to himself. One nurse who was attending to him saw that he was awake and called for the doctor, who came rushing in quickly after being told that Samuel Goldfield was awake.

"Pearl, so you are alive!" He said to himself as the doctor came in to examine him.

"How are you doing Mr Goldfield?" The doctor asked after entering.

"I'm happy, doctor. I saw Pearl today. So it means she is alive and not dead. Hurry and get me out of here." He said to the doctor who looked at him very puzzled.

After examining him, some tests were carried out and he was given drugs at the hospital's pharmacy.

"The doctor would like to see you." One female nurse told him after he had taken his drugs at the pharmacy and was about to go home. He followed the nurse to the consulting room where the doctor was.

"Mr Goldfield, it's good to have you here again." The doctor welcomed him after he had entered.

"Thank you, doctor." He responded.

"Well, I would like to advise you to come back to the hospital in two weeks time so we could examine you again. We need to run some tests." The doctor told him.

"Okay doctor, hope there is no problem." He asked the doctor.

"No, there's no problem. We just need to examine you again after two weeks. That's all." The doctor said to him and he laughed.

"Oh doctor, I'm not in any way insane if you think I am. I know who I saw today. I saw Pearl today. No other person than Pearl. All of you here think I'm running mad however that's not the case. I'm very much okay. However, I'll definitely be back since you say so." He responded to the doctor and left the consulting room laughing. The doctor just shook his head as Samuel Goldfield walked out.

Sonia's phone rang and she quickly answered it.

"Hello, Stanley." She said as soon as she answered the call, hoping to hear good news.

"Hello, Sonia, I hope you are doing well. I just called to say hello." Stanley said at the other end of the line and Sonia sighed.

"I would be well only after I receive good news from you Stanley. Do you have any updates so far?" She asked him.

"Can we meet for lunch this afternoon then?" He asked her.

"Certainly we can." She replied heartily, thinking that he had gotten some updates concerning her sisters' whereabouts.

Auntie Paulina had just arrived from the hospital with her daughter. Her health kept deteriorating and she became weaker and weaker with each passing day.

"My Dear daughter, please listen to me." She said after they arrived home from the hospital.

"Oh mother,,at least get some rest for now." Adeline responded.

"No Adeline, I have to say whatever I want to say now. Action needs to be carried out right away." She responded slowly and calmly, and Adeline gave her a surprised look.

"Okay, I'm all ears, mother." She responded and proceeded to hear the old woman out.

"Good." Auntie Paulina replied and cleared her throat.

"I have wronged three sisters. I was supposed to have kept them with me until the man who came here the other day, comes for them." She began and coughed.

"I'll get you some water." Adeline said as she quickly hurried to the kitchen to get the water for her mother.

"Thank you, Adeline." Auntie Paulina expressed her appreciation after taking in the water.

"I would like to ensure that these sisters reunite before I go to heaven."

"Don't talk like that. You still have many years ahead of you." Adeline said worriedly.

"Yes, I understand. That's why I have to take care of this reunion as soon as possible so that I can enjoy my remaining years in peace." She said to encourage her daughter who looked moody after her mother's earlier statement.

She couldn't imagine losing her mother and she wasn't ready to.

"Well Adeline, I believe strongly that you can be of help to me." She said and coughed again.

"I don't understand, Mom," Adeline replied to her mother.

"I want you to help me in the search for these three sisters Adeline." Auntie Paulina said.

"What? Me? How does this issue concern me, mother?" Adeline asked rudely.

"Adeline Ade..." Her mother paused and coughed uncontrollably. Adeline was so sorry she had replied to her mother in that manner.

"Easy mother, easy. Sorry oo sorry. I'm really sorry. Please take in some water." She said and offered her mother some of the remaining water. However, Auntie Paulina declined the offer.

"It's okay. I don't want any water now." She said and coughed again. This time, a little.

"If I talk I'll cough." She said to Adeline who nodded her head in agreement with what her mother had just said.

"I'll leave you to rest for now, mother. I'll also think about what you told me and see how I can be of help." She said and Auntie Paulina nodded her head in response.

Sonia had ordered a taxi to take her to the restaurant where she was supposed to meet with Stanley. Stanley was already at the restaurant, waiting for her to arrive. A waiter came towards him two minutes after he had taken his seat.

"What would you like to have Sir?" The waiter asked politely.

"I'm actually waiting for someone to arrive, then I can make the order." He responded heartily.

"Well noted Sir." The waiter said in response and quickly left to attend to another customer.

The taxi Sonia had ordered arrived and in no time, she got to the Smiley Restaurant. She entered and saw where he was seated; right in the middle of the restaurant. She walked towards him and he was excited to see her.

"So finally, she arrives." He said as she took her seat.

"Is this place not too open? She asked him.

"Anyone who enters the restaurant would see us. Besides, the matter we would like to discuss is very delicate and we don't need to sit just anywhere; more so in the middle of the restaurant." She said to him.

"Alright, I guess we can take another table then." He said and they both rose to sit beside a table in one corner of the restaurant.

"Are you okay now?" He asked her.

"Yes, this place is better." She replied to him.

He motioned to the waiter to come and take their orders.

"I'd prefer fried rice with chicken. Also, I would love pineapple juice." He said and the waiter turned to Sonia.

"Pineapple juice and some snacks are fine by me." She said to the waiter who quickly hurried to get their orders served to them.

"Why? Are you not that hungry?" Stanley asked, surprised that she had just opted for juice and snacks.

"I'm hungry for the update regarding my sisters. That's why I'm here in the first place. Otherwise I wouldn't even be here at all."

She said in response and Stanley just looked at her in wonder.

"So, are you living your life just for your sisters?" He asked her.

"Yes, Stanley!" She responded. "My sisters are the reason I decided to go to school and study earnestly. A long time ago, I promised myself that I was going to find them no matter what. I was very little by then. I made myself that promise and I decided to stick by it. I need to find them, Stanley. I need to." She said and he nodded his head in agreement with her.

"Surely you'll find them." He said and she smiled, thinking he had an update regarding their whereabouts.

Just then the waiter came in to serve them.

"Let's start eating." He said and she began to drink her juice together with the snacks, as he ate the fried rice with the chicken he had requested.

Halfway through the meal, he decided to speak up.

"Sonia." He called her and she raised her head to look at him.

"I'm all ears."

She responded heartily.

"There there this is, I mean there is something I would like to tell you." He began as he stammered.

"Yes, I'm listening to you Stanley. Is everything okay? Why have you suddenly turned into a stammerer?" She asked him, hoping that he hadn't gotten any bad information regarding her sisters.

"Well, erm hmmm. Actually, for some time now, I mean for a long time now, I have wanted to tell you this however I don't know how you would take it." He continued and Sonia listened with rapt attention.

"I, I have developed so many feelings for you Sonia. You are always on my mind, and I believe we can spend the rest of our lives together. I believe you can become the mother of our children. I see you as my wife." He said and Sonia laughed.

"Sonia, why did you laugh? Perhaps, did I say anything funny?" He asked her.

"Wait, wait, wait. Stanley, did you bring me here to give me an update regarding my sisters or to propose to me?" She asked, expecting a response.

"I love you, Sonia. Please give our love a chance." He said to her.

"I have had enough of all this already. I'll see you later." She said and took her bag to leave.

"Sonia please wait, Sonia please." He pleaded however his pleas fell on deaf ears as Sonia left in anger, without looking back.

Samuel Goldfield had been feeling unusual. He wondered if the drugs that were administered to him were actually right or not. The two weeks given by the doctor were not yet due. However, he felt he had to visit the hospital as soon as he could. He decided to leave the workplace and go immediately to the hospital.

"Doctor, I still feel terrible. Please carry out the tests you wanted to run." He said to the doctor after being allowed access to see the doctor on an emergency basis.

"Alright, relax Mr Goldfield. We'll carry out some tests on you. You would definitely be fine." The doctor said, knowing the cause of Samuel Goldfield's uneasiness.

After the test results were out, the doctor realized it was time to tell Samuel Goldfield about his health status. Samuel was dying.