Consequences

Chapter 64

"So why is she angry with you?"
"She's not angry with me." He said, as he got up, " she's angry with the world. When she's done she'll come back." He left, leaving me and my mother alone.

"Tola why are you angry with your father?" I turned and faced her.
"I still can't believe he could hide from me the fact that I have a brother. "

"But you should at least give him a chance to explain why he never told you earlier."
"And what is there to explain?" My mother looked at me and then put her hands to her jaws.

"Tola, I still remember how you walked out of the house when I told you that you were supposed to start feeding me and your father. You were so angry that you didn't bother to call me neither did you come to see me. And I am sure if your father had not told you that you have a brother, you would have completely forgotten about me."

I rolled my eyes as I didn't want to be reminded of that past. For me it no longer existed.

"It really touched me when you walked out of the house. But from that day, I decided I won't worry about you."

"Why?" I asked a little frightened she was about to abandon me. She took a deep breath and then adjusted her voice again.

"Because you are a grown woman and also married. I have nothing more to do for you except give you advice if and when you need it. You make your own decisions now." I closed my eyes again as I felt this to be some kind of a conspiracy against me. 

This was the moment I needed her the most to help me go through the pregnancy. I couldn't rely on Ola being there for me. I could only count on her. But from what she was saying, it made me feel like I  was about to  go through it all by myself.  As sad as it was to hear her say that, I gave out a faint smile.

"Thanks mum, I'll be needing all the motherly advice you can give me, as I'm about to have my first baby." She smiled and nodded.

"It will be fun." She said. Just then my dad came in accompanied by the doctor.

"How are you feeling, young woman?" The doctor asked, holding my hand and counting my pulse.

"I'm okay, doctor. I'm just a little tired." I told the doctor.  My father looked at me and nodded.

"Tola, we have work to do so get well o." I frowned when he said that and this caught my mother's attention. She moved away from me and watched me and my father like we were really at war with each other. I had to say something in front of the doctor before she asked if we were still quarreling.

"Dad, like I told you earlier, I'm taking some time off from work."

"Then I'll wait till you resume. I can wait." My father smiled.

"Well, you really need some time off to relax yourself." said the doctor. I thanked the doctor inwardly as the anger I had for my father was still strong.

"Ah, doctor hope there's nothing wrong?" My father asked.

"No, normally after such an incident we do advice enough rest, at least for a month. Young woman you will need to relax yourself very well, is that clear?" I nodded. The doctor then faced my parents and talked to them.

"Well after a few hours she can go home. But like I said, she needs a lot of rest." They smiled and thanked the doctor and followed the doctor out of the room.  I was alone thinking about what my mother had told me. 

Her words touched me so much that  I needed something to distract me from thinking of it. I got my phone out and decided to call Ola. I dialed his number only to get, 'the number you have dialed is currently switched off ' message.  After trying several times, I kept my phone away wondering why his phone was switched off. I had to tell him I was pregnant and see what he would say.

We had to make plans to settle down now that a baby was coming. But as much as I tried to get in contact with him, this was impossible. The idea of calling Nancy again to help me get in contact with him seemed so absurd I decided against doing so. 

As the months progressed, my stomach was getting bigger and bigger. And even though I was staying in my own house, I was coming regularly to see my mother. Coming to the house I never met my father and had hope I would never meet him. But I came one afternoon at about lunch time and met him. As I entered the house and closed the door he stared at me. I stood when our eyes met.

"Mama Tola?" My mother was in the kitchen when I came and when he called her she hurriedly came out.

"What is it, papa Tola?"
"Do you see what I am seeing?"
And what are you seeing?" she asked him

"Look at your daughter's stomach." My mother, walking away said,

"Na today you dey see am? Abeg make I go look wetin I dey cook, jare." 

"Interesting," He said nodding his head. If there was something I couldn't bear, it was seeing my father knowing I was pregnant.  I had intended to hide this information from him. But as usual, I lost the battle. Seeing he now knew, I decided to end the hostility I had for him. I went to sit down opposite him.

"How are you dad?"

"I'm fine. You have changed quite a bit as I see it" I nodded.

"Yes, and it should be a good change." 

 "Congratulations." He looked at me and smiled. There was no use getting angry anymore, neither with him nor with my mother. I still needed them.