The Puzzle
By Moyoso-re Teniola
Episode 24
The Real Home
The silence in the room prevailed for about three more minutes. Nob©dy said a word. Michael was still glued to his seat in shame. Loveth led the twins to Daniella’s room so that their parents could deliberate. She c@m£ back to the living room immediately the twins were settled in the be-droom.
It was Roseline that finally broke the silence.
“Eliz, how can I ever forgive you? Just put yourself in my shoes. You took away eight good years of my daughter’s life from me . And you feel so comfortable to mother a child that is not your own? Why?” She sobbe-d.
David held and consoled her. “It’s okay Rose, let me handle this.” He cleared his throat and said, “first of all, I want to thank nurse Loveth for the courage she summoned to make this confession, if not, we wouldn’t know we had a child somewhere. You see, Mr and Mrs Michael Ernest, I am a perfect gentle man. I don’t wish to arrest anyone concerning this matter. All I demand for right now is that our daughter should come back to us…”
“Noooooooo! Eliz screamed, interrupting David. plea-se don’t take Daniella away from me, I can’t live without her. plea-se let her be with me, I promise to take good care of her, I swear to…”
“What?!” Rose shouted jumping to her feet
. “See this woman, is it because my husband hasn’t called the police, that is why you have the guts to beg to be in custody of the child? A child that doesn’t belong to you? How dare you? She is my daughter and I have every right to take her.”
“Calm down Rose,” c@m£ David’s still voice again. “We should thank God that Daniella is still alive, hale and hearty. Otherwise, can we l@yclaims on a dead child?
Now Eliz, do not take us for granted. Because I decided not to call the police does not mean you should begin to ask for what is not possible. I decided not to involve the police because your husband here, has been of immense help to my family. He is a very kind doctor. He once saved the life of my mother in law, and even that of my wife. He is also the reason why this truth c@m£ to limelight, some other people might just bury it. So, in your own interest, it will be better for you to cooperate and re-lease our daughter, otherwise I will have to involve the police and you know what that means.”
“plea-se don’t, Mr. Evans,” Michael pleaded. “I really do appreciate your decision. We will do as you have instructed, Daniella will definitely come back to you, she has the right to be with her biological parents. If I had the mind to keep her, I wouldn’t have encouraged Loveth to make this confession but I have a conscience too…”
Eliz’s sobs interrupted his speech. He ignored her and went on.
“But plea-se, can you do us a favour? plea-se do us this last favour, Mr and Mrs Evans.”
“Well, if it is in our capacity to grant such a favour, then we shall,” David replied.
“Okay,” Michael continued. “Can you plea-se grant us the opportunity to see Daniella anytime we want to, can she spend time with us once in a while? I beg of you, I have come to know her as my only daughter all these while, it was really a shock to discover that I am not her father, and it will take a long time for us to adjust to being childless, plea-se grant us this request.”
David glanced at Rose, she shook her head in disagreement and replied, “I don’t trust Eliz, what if she cunningly takes my daughter back to the states?”
“No plea-se, Rose. I will never do such a thing. I know I did a very wrong thing from the beginning, it’s a grievous offence to buy a child buy plea-se Rose, have mercy on me. I did it out of desperation to have a child I can call my own since I could not produce one. I am so sorry. I just hope I will be able to survive this change in my life. Look at me, I can’t have a child of my own and Daniella is leaving me, plea-se allow us to see her, even if it is once in a while, plea-se, I promise never to do anything rash,” Eliz pleaded on her knees in tears.
Rose pitied her. That is who she is anyway, she forgives easily. She thought to herself, “at least, I have Debbie, Daniella and another baby growing in my wo-mb alre-ady. Here is Eliz, childless, without any hope of having her own children…” She looked at Michael where he sat, and she hated him for bringing such a predic@m£nt on Eliz, though Eliz was stupid too, she should have kept the last pregnancy…
She turned to her husband and nodded her permission to allow the couple to see Daniella anytime they wish.
“Alright, Mr and Mrs Ernest, my wife has given her cons£nt. You can see Daniella whenever you wish to. But we will have to issue another birth certificate for her that will bear ‘Evans’ as her surname. Is that okay for now?” David asked.
“Very okay.” Michael replied. “Thanks so much, we are grateful.”
None of them could eat dinner anymore. Everyone lost in his or her thoughts. Eliz and Michael were mourning their loss while Rose and David were grateful to God that they would have their daughter back, a daughter they never knew they had…
David checked his wristwatch, it was half past nine. He stood up and said, “plea-se call Debbie and Daniella, we nee-d to go now.”
That sounded like a bombshell to Eliz’s ears. She bur-st into tears again.
Loveth entered Daniella’s room and c@m£ out again with the girls. They had been chatting excitedly like friends. When they c@m£ out, David went close to Daniella, bent low to her level and said, “Daniella, as you can see, Debbie is your twin sister. We are Debbie’s parents meaning that we are your real parents too, so henceforth, you will be living with us.”
“Noooooooo, I don’t want to, Daniella screamed and ran to Eliz. Mommy, you wouldn’t allow them to take me, will you? Dad? Say something Dad… Eliz and Michael were quiet. They were aggrieved by Daniella’s reaction.
. Eliz started crying again.
“Michael turned to Daniella and said, sweetheart, you have to go with them. That is your real mother,” he pointed at Rose.
“You see what you have caused Eliz?” Rose asked amidst tears. “My own daughter running from me, the child I bore in my wo-mb.”
She went close to Daniella, held her hand and said, “Daniella dear, I am your real mom, plea-se come with us, I will take very good care of you…”
But she snatched her hands from her, “No, you can’t, this is my own mommy,” she screamed.
Michael quic-kly stepped into the situation, “don’t you all worry, she will soon get used to the change. We will bring her things over to your place later.” He carried Daniella in his arms and signalled to the Evans to lead the way out. They all went out except for Eliz who stayed behind. She couldn’t bear seeing Daniella being f0rç£fully taken away. She could hear her cries as the car drove out of their compound. “Mommy! Mommy!” She shouted on and on till Eliz could hear her voice no more…
***
The Puzzle
By Moyoso-re Teniola
Episode 25
The End
It was a tough job keeping Daniella calm for the night. She kept crying for her mum. Rose tried to console her from time to time, but her efforts failed. The only person she talked to was Debbie. When the parents noticed this, they decided it will be better to leave them to be alone. Rose served them dinner. Daniella ate little, then she led them to Debbie’s room to retire for the night . She could hear their low voices after she left the room. She went straight to their own room to join David.
“Mummy twins!” David hailed her. “I can’t wait to tell the whole world that I am now a twins’ dad!” He added with excitement.
Roseline looked gloomy. The way Daniella avoids her griefs her so much.
“Don’t worry Rose, what the girl is doing is normal. Now, think about it, imagine Debbie taken away from you tonight and introduced to someone else as her real mother, and to start living with the person immediately, will she agree?” David asked.
“Certainly not!” She replied..
“Exactly the way it is with Daniella too. It all happened too suddenly. She’s been with this woman for eight good years, such memories cannot be easily erased. Let us give her some more time to adapt okay?”
“Okay dear, I un-derstand.”
They both knelt by the be-d to pray, thanking God for the recovery of their child and for the restoration of their marriage…
********************************
AT DR MICHAEL’S HOUSE
“I have to leave now,” Loveth said shortly after the Evans left
. Eliz had since locked herself up in Daniella’s room, still mourning…
“Okay Loveth, thanks so much. I will see you at work on Monday. I nee-d to take out some time to rest tomorrow being Sunday,” Michael replied, then saw her off to the verandah.
He went straight to his be-droom, where she thought Eliz was but she was no where to be found. He later went to check at Daniella’s room but found the door locked. Silent sobs could be heard from the entrance. He was sure she was in there.
“Eliz sweetheart, plea-se open the door, don’t injure yourself with too much tears.” He called.
“Go away!” Eliz screamed. I don’t ever want to see you again Michael.” She cried.
“Eliz, plea-se hear me out. It is not also easy for me to lose Daniella at this time. We nee-d to comfort each other, I am really sad too. plea-se open this door. Do not bear the grief alone.”
After some seconds, Eliz opened the door. Her eyes were as red as blood and swollen. She held on to Daniella’s picture and sat tiredly on her be-d. Michael pu-ll-ed her to himself. They both wept for some minutes.
“plea-se forgive me Eliz, it was the time of ignorance. I regret all I ever did to you while we were courting. But Eliz, I have come to realize that you are the only woman I love. I love you truly Eliz, if not I would have had an affair with someone else all these while that you left me alone to be in Nigeria. I was tem-pted at different times but somehow, I sailed throu-gh them all. As for the lady whose message you saw on my phone, claiming to be pregnant, if you had confronted me about it, you would have known the truth. She actually s£nt that message to a wrong number. I deleted it immediately I saw it because I knew the s£nder must have made a mistake. plea-se Eliz, believe me. Up till now, I never had S-x with any other lady since we got married. I know we have been careless in our past, the way we both handled the pregnancies, the ab-ortions, how I stubbornly refused to allow you keep the last one and all that… But in all of these Eliz, I promise to stay by you. This cross is not yours alone to bear. We shall have our own children by God’s grace. Eliz looked at her best friend of eleven years who is also her husband of nine years, she knew quite well that no one is in the best position to console and love her the way Michael would. She threw her arms around him and they both hvgged each other for a long time…
***************************
AT THE EVANS’ FLAT
Roseline couldn’t sleep well throu-gh the night. She was the first to wake up that Sunday morning. She quic-kly went to the twins’ room and to her utmost surprise, they were up alre-ady. Probably, the excitement was all over them too. They weren’t only up but they were alre-ady in the bathtub, having their bath.
“Wow! So early. It’s just 6am. Hope you both had a nice rest?” She greeted. The girls nodded their heads. Eliz was surprised at their quiet reaction. She went closer to them to talk to Daniella but to her utmost amazement, she couldn’t tell the difference between them. She decided to apply a little bit of wisdom. How can she be asking that “who is Daniella among you?” Isn’t that funny?
“Debbie.” She called.
“Yes mommy,” they both answered simultaneously.
Rose was confused, she turned back to fetch David who was still in be-d.
Yes, it was Daniella’s plan. She had told Debbie that they could catch some fun by confusing their parents…
“Well, you know of course that Debbie has dimples on her cheek and I noticed yesterday that Daniella has a gap in between her upper teeth,” David replied drowsily.
“Oh honey, you are a genius, do you know I haven’t even noticed the gap in her teeth yet? Those girls are n@ûghty.”
They both entered the girls’ room again. David called, Daniella? Debbie answered in her place.
“Yes?”
The parents looked at each other, they have gotten their answer alre-ady. The girl that answered has no gap in her upper teeth, that is Debbie of course.
“St©p the hvge joke, ladies. We alre-ady got the difference between you two. Debbie, you are not Daniella, why should you answer for her?” David asked, lifting them out of the bath tub. The girls started laughing.
“Now get prepared. We shall soon be going to church. Today is Sunday. Debbie, you can allow Daniella to wear any of your dress,” David instructed the girls.
Their mum stood watching at the entrance of the be-droom door. She can’t just wait to share her testimony at church today. She could imagine how surprised the whole congregation will be on seeing the twins!
*********************************
After church service that afternoon, David and Rose decided to pay Mr and Mrs Ernest a visit. They kept the girls at Evelyn’s place. She was so happy to host the new twins.
They arrived at Dr Michael’s place and they were warmly received. They chatted for a long time. The Evans were happy that the couple had settled their misun-derstanding.
“Eliz, Rose called. I do not want you to be depressed okay? I believe in the supernatural power of God to perform miracles. I want you both to re-dedicate your lives to Christ, ask for the forgiveness of your past sins, I am very sure that you both will soon share your testimony, your babies will come soon for HE is a miracle working God!”
“Oh yes!” David concurred.
He led the prayers. The couples prayed together fervently, asking God for mercy and surrendering their lives to Christ in totality.
After the prayers. They all went to the Evans’ place to drop Daniella’s stuff and also take the girls out for a family picnic. They all enjoyed the outing, especially the girls, they had so much fun. Daniella and Debbie were permitted to spend the night with the Ernests.
Roseline and Eliz later met the next day at Debbie’s school to register Daniella too at school. The pupils and teachers were all surprised to see the wonderful twins.
“Mrs Evans, thanks for allowing me to spend time with mommy last night,” Daniella whispered to Rose when she was about to leave.
“You are welcome Daniella but you know you are coming home with us this evening?”
“Sure ma.”
“That’s my girl, and I hope you will soon get used to calling me mommy.”
She nodded her head and ran off to pl@ywith Debbie and the other girls after saying goodbye to Eliz.
**********************************
EPILOGUE
Two months later, Rose sat in front of the mirror of her dressing table one Friday evening. She was applying some cleanser to her face with cotton wool. David sat behind her on the be-d. He is more available these days, he made sure that he reduced his frequent trips away from home.
The twins were in the room with them too.
“Won’t you go to be-d, you two and give mom and dad some privacy?” David said to the twins.
“What does adults do with privacy anyway? They always nee-ded privacy.” Daniella replied.
. She is the most outspoken of the two.
The couple bur-st out laughing.
Just then, Roseline’s phone rang. It was Eliz. She was talking excitedly on the phone.
“The Lord has done it Rose, you said it, it has happened. I am 4weeks gone. It’s confirmed, I am going to be a mother soon!”
Tears clouded Roseline’s eyes, she was happy for Eliz beyond words.
“HE is indeed a miracle worker, she replied. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you…”
The line went off…
Debbie and Daniella were about being ushered out of the room by their Dad when suddenly Daniella turned back again and walked to Roseline at the dressing table.
“Mommy! Is that a boy or a girl?” She asked pointing at Roseline’s baby bu-mp.
“Did you just call me mommy?” Roseline whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. She felt so happy like she had never heard such before.
She drew Daniella to her and gave her a warm hvg, tears trick-ling down her face. At last, the girl is hers.
“Me too!” Debbie screamed and ran into her mom’s arms.”
“Oh, don’t be jealous Debbie!” Roseline chuckled and they all laughed…
Roseline gave birth to a bouncing baby boy few months down the line while Eliz also put to be-d some months later, a beautiful baby girl!
They had so much love and joy in their homes.
It is good for couples to love and cherish their matrimony no matter what.
“Two are better than one, for they will have a good reward for their labour.”
The Bible also says, “One shall chase a thousand, and two shall chase ten thousand! There is power in unity.
Glory be to God!
****THE END***