Annabella picks the dress she was going to wear to the club she visit at night with her best friend. It was going to be a good night because Anderson and his band will be singing after a long time.
Tatiana Manaois 'you mean to tell me' play as her phone ring. She went to the bed to answer the call. It was her god mother.
"Hello aunty Tobi." She said folding her legs on the bed.
"Hello honey. How are you doing?" She asked.
"I'm doing great. How is my boyfriend?" She asked about David, Tobi first son. He calls her girlfriend playfully so she also call him boyfriend.
"David is fine. He is back to school. So how is your dad and grandma?"
"Grandma is fine. She had gone out with her friends. And dad's on a business trip to Tokyo." She said.
"Anna there is something you have to know. I'm supposed to tell your dad first but i can't reach him and i can't wait any longer."
"Alright go ahead. I'm listening." She said anxiously.
"Anna, your mother is still alive. she is well and alive."
" My mom?! My mom Toun is alive!" She asked loudly not believing her ears. She heard her said 'yes'. "Where is she?"
"She is right here.....with me. Do you want to speak to her?"
"Yes yes yes. Please do." She said pleading. She was already crying when Toun take the phone and said. "Hello Annabel."
"Mom. Mom is that you?" Anna asked.
****
Anna told her grandmother about the call from her mother. They had cried and told each other few things that is happening in their life. She can't express how excited she was.
Toun hadn't been disappointed when she could not speak to Nathaniel.
She called her best friend to tell her about it. She came over to the house. They laughed and cried together. She had ask her about her plan but she don't know what to do. Not at the moment.
She call Jack that she couldn't make it to the club because something came up since she couldn't reach Andre.
Mrs Allyson was shocked when her grand daughter told her about Toun. She had wanted to talk to her but Anna said she promised to call again the following day. So they had to wait.
The old woman look forward to the following day. She also asks her granddaughter not to tell her father about it when he calls until he get back from his trip.
Although she is worried about how Nathaniel will take the news because she don't want Julia to get hurt. But she is happy for them - her grand daughter and her son.
****
Julia wake up some time before dawn and she couldn't find Nathaniel on the bed. She put on her robe and she walk to his study.
He was sitting on his chair in the dimly lit room. He seems lost in thought.
"Babe." She said walking into the room. He look up at her and she sat on the edges of the mahogany table facing him.
"What's wrong? Why did you leave the bed?"
"I have a lot on my mind. I'm so confused." He said to her.
"Is it something i can help with?" She asked.
"Toun is alive." He told her. He look at her but her expression did not change from been concern.
"Really?"
"Yes. She talk with Anna and i also talk to her. She is the one. It's been eighteen years dear. I don't know what to say. I couldn't ask the questions that i always wanted to ask or tell her what i wanted to say. I'm confused on what to do. I don't even know i feel." Nathaniel said confused.
She took his hands in hers and look him in the eyes.
" Do whatever you think is best. Don't think about anything. You can go and visit her and get answers to your unasked questions. I trust you. She is the mother of your child and you did married her. Go, if you need to." Julia said sincerely. She gave him her support.
" Are you okay with it? "
" I'm totally fine by it. I am sure Anna will want to see her mother. Don't deny the lady of her mother twice. So do whatever you have to do. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I trust you. "She answered honestly.
"I can't thank you enough. Thanks dear. I love you. "He said truthfully. He pull her closer and she sat on his thigh." I don't know what i would have done. "
He is more than grateful for her support. He don't want her feel like he is abandoning her or doesn't love her anymore. He love her and will always do. He is glad she understands.
"Thank you." He appreciated wholeheartedly. She smile and kiss him. He kiss her back slowly moving his hands all over her body. He pull back to remove her robe and he threw it somewhere in the room.
They continued their passionate moment hungrily. He kiss her temple and then her neck and she moan loudly. He move down to her breast. He remove the thin clothe covering them and he kiss them. He move back to her mouth and he roll the nipple with his fingers still kissing her. Then he carried her to their room to give in to the flesh.
*****
Toun was getting weaker by the day. Her breathing was irregular, she have shortness of breath and pain in the chest.
Nathaniel had promise to come to Nigeria with his family to see her. She look forward to seeing them. And she pray so hard to live to see them once more before she dies.
"Nathaniel and Annabel are coming back to Nigeria." Hope said to her family.
She had told Dammy and Isabella about Nathaniel and their elder step sister. She also tell the truth about Hope paternity to them just like he requested.
They had accepted the truth sadly but it didn't change anything. The bond between them was strong as ever.
"Nigeria? He is not in Nigeria?" Eunice asked shock written all over her face. She wasn't the only one surprise, her parents were also perplexed.
"Yes. He had been in the state for thirteen years now." Toun said looking at her father in the eyes. His eyes betray his emotion. He was shocked.
Its has been eighteen years what had he expected? Toun thought to her self.
She is happy that he made it and she is going to make sure they see what he had become in the years. She will make them regret and cried for what they did to her relationship. She is going to make sure they never look down on any one ever again.
"Who is Annabel?" Eunice asked her sister almost quietly in shame of what she just asked.
"Our elder sister." Hope answered exasperated.
"Why are you been rude?" His grand father asked angrily.
"This is my father's house, you don't tell me what to do. She does not even worth my respect." Hope said to the old man, hatred lacing his voice.
He had refuse to stay in the same room with his grandfather but His parent had pleaded with him to stay.
Ever since his mother told him everything that he did, all the respect and love he had for him disappear and the only thing he had left for him was hatred and anger.
Mr Joseph turn to look at Toun and her husband.
"He knows. I've told him everything." Toun said coldly.
He look at the boy and he could see how much he was disgusted by his presence and the hatred he have for him. And he remembered Nathaniel.
He look away shamefully.
"Is this why you called us?" Mrs Mopelola asked her daughter sadly.
"Yes. And i want you to be there when he comes. All of you. If you don't" She said when her father look at her like she was crazy. "I will never forgive you."
He lock eyes with her looking at her not believing what she just said.
She want to humilate him. She want him admit that he was wrong about Nathaniel. She want to force his hand. But she is wrong.
Nathaniel might had gone to the State with his family but he is always going to be nothing to him.
"And what do you mean?" He asked.
His stupid pride and ego. Toun thought not breaking the eye contact.
"It's obvious i don't have much time left. I'm going to swear for you if you don't do what i ask. Don't try me dad." She said. And he knew she meant what she said.
He will do what she asked but whatever she plans won't work. He said to himself.
"Okay." He said forcefully.