Season 2. Episode 20.
Story by Miriam Edem (Miriam Eyen Efik)
The next morning Hope refused going out from her room and her sisters wondered why,
“Mom have you go check if she’s okay? Favour asked.
“What do I Care? If that girl doesn’t leave this house before I return she will see my madness, Anastasia replied.
“Mom for me o, let her be. Let her continue with the waitress work she is doing and help us out at home, Faith said.
“No way, I want her out! Anastasia shouted and went to Hope room hitting the door.
“You better leave my house before I get back today, don’t say I didn’t warn you, Anastasia said and left the house immediately while her daughters looked at her scared.
“Are you sure mom is not hiding anything from us? Faith asked.
“Am beginning to think same, I think we need to talk to her when she comes back, Favour replied.
“There is something we really need to know, Favour said and they quietly ate their breakfast……….
Jason couldn’t sleep last night, he sat thinking about a lot of things and made up his mind to find out more.
He went out to meet Palesa and saw her working out,
“Hey, he said.
“Hi, good morning, she greeted.
“Morning dear, I see someone is working out, he said going near.
“Yeap I need to be in shape, she replied and stopped giving him a Peck.
“When are we going to see Best? Sorry to say, I really want to eat that delicacy again, Jason said.
“Seriously? Palesa asked.
“Sorry if it sounds awkward, but I’ll pay for the meal this time, Jason replied.
“You don’t need to do that, she said.
“But its her business and I have to do the needful. Don’t worry is fine by me, He replied.
“Okay if you say so, I’ll let her know immediately, she said.
“Yeah please do because I won’t be having my breakfast here. I’ll go take your dad for exercise, Jason replied.
“Alright see ya, Palesa said and he left.
Palesa frowned and called up Anastasia,
“Hello my baby, she picked up.
“Good morning Best, are you driving? Palesa asked.
“Yea but its fine, how are you? She asked..
“Fine, Jason is asking to eat at your restaurant this morning, he said he need the delicacy you served us with last time, Palesa replied.
“That’s no problem, when I get there I’ll surely make it available, She said.
“The food is not the problem, is she gone? Palesa asked.
“Oh she won’t be coming to the restaurant today, you absolutely have nothing to fear, she replied.
“That’s a relief then, we will be there soon, Palesa said and dropped the call.
I hour later Jason drove off with Palesa to the restaurant and Anastasia warmly welcomed them.
Jason looked around and saw a different girl serving but he pretended to be cool.
“Ma you’re a very good woman I must say, and I see the reason why Palesa likes you so much, Jason said.
“Oh thank you so much, Anastasia replied.
“She’s really my best, Palesa came in.
“Yes she is, but ma why are you not married? Sorry am inquisitive and Palesa knows about it, Jason said.
“Jason seriously? That’s embarrassing to ask her that, Palesa came in and Anastasia smiled.
“No no its fine, he is smart enough to see am not married. Actually I was but no more, she replied.
“I don’t think any reasonable man will let go of a good woman like you, what exactly happened? Jason asked.
“Eemmm he got another family and I had to leave with my kids, She replied.
“Including the one that was kidnapped? Palesa slowly asked looking at her.
“Who told you that? Anastasia asked.
“Oh about that, we heard it from someone when we were actually looking for your restaurant the first day we came here, Jason quickly came in and Anastasia was surprised.
“I can’t believe anyone can address me with that after so many years, she said.
“Yea sorry to bring her up anyway, but how was the case? Did you get to find her? Jason asked.
“Well we didn’t and ermmmmm….. We just have to move on, Anastasia replied and Jason nodded.
“Sorry Best, Palesa said.
“No no its fine, Anastasia replied forcing a smile.
“But Best, can you tell me about her? I just want to know and try to do something to help you find her, he said.
“Jason please that’s enough, its more than 10years already and there’s no need to dig up something long gone and buried, Anastasia replied.
“I understand, sorry for bringing it up anyway, Jason said and Hope slowly walked in while Anastasia and Palesa looked at her mouth opened.
“Please excuse me, Anastasia said leaving them and went to Hope.
“Hi mom, sorry I came late, Hope said.
“What are you doing here? Are you daring me or something? Anastasia asked controlling her anger.
“I came to resume my work, you told me yourself that I should work and that’s what I came to do, Hope replied and went in to meet the girls while Anastasia breathed in to get her normal mood back before returning to Palesa.
“Is everything alright? Jason asked.
“Yes sure, I was actually confirming something from her, Anastasia replied while Palesa was so uneasy.
Jason phone began to ring and the place was quiet noisy,
“Please excuse me I’ll be back, Jason said and left to pick the call.
“I thought you said she won’t be here? Palesa asked.
“I honestly don’t know what to say now believe me, Anastasia slowly replied.
“And you can’t send her out? Who exactly is she to you anyway? Palesa asked and Anastasia looked at her.
“Can we talk about this some other time? Anastasia asked when she saw Jason coming back and Palesa tried to cover up her mood.
“Can I leave now please? Jason asked.
“To where? Palesa asked and Jason smiled.
“I actually bought something online and I want to go get it, don’t worry I’ll come back to pick you up okay, He replied and Palesa looked at Anastasia worried.
“He’ll be fine alright, Anastasia said.
“Stop behaving like a kid I’ll be back, Jason replied pecking her and drove off.
“At least he’s out of her sight, but Best what’s keeping you from throwing her packing? Is there anything i need to know? Palesa asked and she nodded.
“But first let’s get out of here, Anastasia replied and drove off with Palesa home.
They got home and Palesa sat down looking at Anastasia who didn’t know exactly where to start,
“Best, are we just going to stare at ourselves without talking? 5 minutes is gone already in silence, Palesa said and Anastasia sat down facing her and held her hand.
“Am scared, what I want to tell you now is my top secret and I don’t know how you will react to it, She replied.
“Now you’re making me scared, whatever it is you know you can trust me right? Palesa replied and Anastasia heaved.
“Where should i start? Okay Hope is my daughter, Anastasia said.
“You mean the kidnapped daughter or is there another? Palesa asked and Anastasia got up again to pace around.
“She wasn’t kidnapped but we claimed her to be, she actually ran away with a woman to the capital, after her death she came back, Anastasia replied.
“But why did she go? You’re not making sense Best because you’re confusing me here.
If Hope is your daughter she won’t be serving and you won’t put my happiness first before hers, Palesa said.
“But she’s not my biological daughter, you are, Anastasia replied and Palesa smiled getting up.
“Are you okay Best? She asked.
“You said you want to know huh? I just told you the truth. You and Hope were born on the same day and in the same hospital. My husband wanted a male child badly but it was a girl, I was confused and didn’t know what to do when he stormed out of the hospital in anger. I knew he was not going to love you or show you any fatherly love, and besides you were very sick and I couldn’t pay for the treatment. I got to know from a nurse who was my best friend that Julia gave birth to a baby girl also, I begged her to make a switch so you’ll be attended to well. Honey everything I did was for you to have the very best and be where you’ll be loved. I never left your side as I went crying to Julia to make me your nanny so I can take care of you my child, Anastasia replied and Palesa went backwards looking at her in shock.
“Tell me you don’t mean all of that, you’re joking right? How could you do that! Palesa Shouted.
“What exactly did I do? Making you live like a princess and study abroad which would have never happened. Besides it was a pay back time for Julia who revealed to my parents I was pregnant when I told her as my best friend. We attended the same college together and a teacher there fell in love with me, one thing led to another and i found out I was pregn@nt. I told her about it as my best friend hoping she can help me out of the mess because I was so young. But out of jealousy because she wanted the teacher also, she reported to my parents. They disowned me Palesa and the teacher denied the pregn@ncy too, I had to drop out from school to fend for myself and my unborn child. I suffered like h.ell, But sadly i had a miscarriage and I still mourn for my child and is all her fault. I want her to feel my pains and see what it means to lost your very first baby! Even if I was poor, I was ready to do anything for my baby, Anastasia shouted with tears running down her eyes while Palesa stood shocked.
“No I refuse to believe all of this, it can’t happen no! Palesa shouted.
“You mean I don’t worth to be your mother? I loved you Palesa immediately you were born, I had to risk it all to make you a princess at all cost. The waitress you saw there is the real daughter of Julia and if you doubt me, go ahead and do a DNA test, Anastasia replied.
“Take me out of here immediately! Its enough already, take me out! Palesa shouted and her phone began to ring.
“Hello Jason, she picked up.
“Am back, where are you? He asked.
“I’ll be there right away, Palesa replied and opened the door going out while Anastasia took her car key and left too.
“Please dear let this be our secret, Anastasia said when they arrived, but Palesa ignored her and left the car to meet Jason inside but surprisedly saw Hope serving Julia…………..
TO BE CONTINUED
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