*EPISODE 16*
(FINAL EPISODE)
(LOVE AND DECEPTION)
“Mom….! What’s the meaning of what you said by there?.” Belinda asked as soon as they got home.
“It’s nothing serious my child. It’s just a way of getting them to do the needful. They shouldn’t look down on us because we are poor. If they really want you to marry their son, then they should come seek my consent the right way. Not acting as if they are doing you a favor by letting you marry their son.” Her mom said.
“Okay. I now understand. But I don’t think we should drag this for long. You know, there is a limit to what those people can take” Belinda said.
“Wait a minute. Are you scared that they might change their minds?.” Her mom asked.
“Something like that. See mom, I just want to be with Benjamin.” Belinda said.
“Wow!. And you think I’m against you being with him?. Listen child, all I’m doing is for your own good. Just listen to me and trust me on this. If I don’t react this way, they won’t have any regards or respect for you and I.” Her mom said.
Just then, they heard a knock at the door.
“You see?. Maybe they are here to plead for forgiveness. Go inside and don’t come out till I call for you. Let me go and open the door for our visitors.” Her mom said readjusting her dress.
Belinda went into her room while her mom went to door and grabbed it open. To her greatest surprise, she saw Belinda’s father standing before her.
“Ke….ke….ke…. Kennedy?.” She stammered with her body shivering in shock and disbelief. She quickly took three steps backwards not knowing how to react.
“Felicia?.” Kennedy called out with tears in his eyes.
Belinda who was in her room waiting for her mother’s call, was surprised and curioused as to why she wasn’t hearing sounds of voices coming from the sitting room.
“What’s happening?. Did she chase them away?.” She wondered.
Out of curiosity, Belinda slowly opened her door and tiptoed to the sitting room where she found her mother shaking profusely in tears.
“Mom?.” She called out in shock. As she ran to her mother, she was surprised to see the strange man standing at the entrance of their sitting room.
“Who are you? And what did you do to my mother?.” She yelled at him.
“You must be Belinda Kennedy.” The man said with sadness in his eyes.
“And who are you?. What do you want from us?.” She asked in anger.
“You grew up well. What a beautiful child you have grown to become.” He said with tears dropping down his cheeks.
“I asked you a question sir. Who are you?.” She shouted losing her temper.
“I’m Kennedy. Your long lost father.” He said fighting back tears.
“You are what?. Hahahaha. What a joker you are.” Belinda said doubting his words. She then turned to her mother who was seated on the couch with her head in her palms. “Mom? Is what he is saying true? Is he really my father?.” She asked.
Her mother couldn’t say a word. She just nodded in affirmation.
“What? He is my father? My long lost father? The father that never showed up for us?. You all better be joking because as far as I’m concerned, I don’t have a father.” She shouted.
“Belinda please hear me out first.” He tried to explain.
“Hold your explanations to yourself. I’m out of here.” She said after which, she barged out of the house.
“Belinda…..! Belinda….!.” Her mom kept calling but she didn’t stop looked back.
Few moments later, Belinda’s mother summoned the courage to talk things out with Mr. Kennedy.
“Where have you been all these years?.” She started.
“I’m sorry. I flew out of the country hoping to return in two or three years but one thing led to another and I lost everything. I had to start from scratch over there. I tried reaching you through my relatives but they said you’ve relocated to a different state. All attempt to find you proved abortive.” He said.
“Then how were you able to find us now?.” She asked.
“I was lucky to run into your old school classmate who knew about us. She directed me to your father’s house and from there, I got to know that you now reside in this town with our daughter.” He said.
“You have no right to call her your daughter when you’ve never contributed a penny in her life. Do you know how much humiliations, insults and shame we had to go through because of your disappearance?. People mocked me. People called my child a daughter of a prostitute. It wasn’t easy for us at all. For good 25years Kennedy, you abandoned us to ourselves. I never thought that you and I will ever meet again in this lifetime. Where exactly do we begin from now that you are back from the dead? Should we accept you by pretending like nothing happened?.” She questioned in pains.
“I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know I’m not worthy to be Belinda’s father. But the truth is that, I’ve always thought about you and our unborn child. I’ve searched for you online. Hoping to find your social media account. But I couldn’t find any. I didn’t throw you guys away, I had you both in mind. Please Felicia, find a place in your heart to forgive and forget the past. I want to reunite with my daughter. I want to be a father to her. I want to correct my wrongs. Please help me.” He pleaded with sincerity in his eyes.
It took series of apologies and promises to finally get Belinda to forgive and accept her dad Mr. Kennedy who was an average man. He was surprised to realize that Belinda’s mom was still single all these years. When he had already gotten married to a white lady that bore him two cute boys.
Belinda’s mom had to forgive him and wish him well. For she had decided to live for her daughter. As they thought of falling in love again, scared her.
Benjamin’s parents came and rendered a proper apology to Belinda and her parents. Benjamin was happy when he found out about the return of Belinda’s father.
Felix apologized one more time to everyone before he flew back to the states.
Madam Grace was transferred to a psychiatric hospital after she lost her sanity out of the feeling of shock and betrayal she received from her daughter’s confession.
One year later, Belinda and Benjamin had gotten married and were expecting their first child.
Since Belinda took in, It has been from one pregnancy tantrum to another. She kept frustrating the life of Benjamin who said he might never have more children of the birth of their first child.
Whenever Benjamin failed to do one of her demands, Belinda would Sometimes pack her things back to her mother’s house. And after series of pleas from Benjamin and his parents, she would have a change of heart and return to her matrimonial home.
It got to the point that Benjamin got fed up with her constant threat of living. So one-day, while she was busy packing her bags to go back to her mother’s house, Benjamin also started packing his things.
“What are you doing?.” Belinda asked in shock.
“I’m also moving out of this house. I’m tired of being in this marriage with you. I think it’s high time I returned to my parent’s house and get myself a better wife.” He said trying to get back at Belinda.
“But sweetheart. It hasn’t gotten to these.” Belinda said dropping her luggages.
“No Belinda. Let’s just end this okay?. I will continue to take care of you and our baby for as long as I live. But this marriage, can no longer hold.” He threatened.
Belinda had to call her mother and Beatrice who is back to being her friend and her mother’s daughter. They both came and pleaded with Benjamin knowing fully well that he was just joking just to get her to stop moving in and out of their house whenever they had little misunderstandings.
And from that day, Belinda changed. She stopped threatening Benjamin with divorce. Till she finally put to bed a healthy baby boy.
It was after delivery, that she came to realize that it was effect of pregnancy. Her mother, Benjamin and Beatrice, never seized to mock her with it.
When it was night, she sat outside with Beatrice.
“It’s quite funny how we are both seated again together under thesame roof.” Belinda said.
“Yeah. It brings back old memories. Memories of walking into unique high school with you by my side.” Beatrice said.
“How about Felix? I hope you’ve been hearing from him?.” Belinda asked.
“Yeah. He sent his regards. I was told he has found his missing rib over there.” Beatrice said.
“And you? When are you guys getting married?.” Belinda asked.
“I don’t know what’s keeping Rolland from proposing. But if it exceeds this year, I won’t hesitate to engage him myself.” Beatrice teased.
“Hahahaha. I’m sure he has his reasons. Everything will happen in due time. Just give him time.” Belinda said.
Just then, she heard her baby crying.
“Give me a minute. Let me attend to my son.” Belinda said.
When she got to the room, she found Benjamin carrying their little bunny.
“Isn’t he just too cute for all the stress and troubles that came with him pregnancy?.” Benjamin asked admiring his son.
Belinda wrapped her hands around Benjamin’s waist and laid her head on his back.
“I’m sorry sweetheart. For all the unnecessary threats I was issuing to you during my pregnancy period. You know I love you so much to imagine leaving you right?.” She said.
“Yeah. Back then it was frustrating. But right now, thinking about it makes me miss those moments.” Benjamin said laying their baby back on his bed.
Turning to his wife, he said.
“Now come here.” He said grabbing her by the waist. He pulled her into a slow and gentle kiss like the gentleman that he was.
Just then, Belinda’s mother came into the room clearing her throat.
“I hope you both know that it’s not yet time for you to indulge in such corruptive activities?.” She asked giving them a mischievous look.
They both freed each other immediately. Belinda shyly hurried out of the room.
“Beatrice is waiting for me.” She said rushing off.
“I think I have to fix the bulb outside.” Benjamin said rushing off to the opposite direction.
“Can you imagine those two corrupt love birds trying to disrupt my grandson’s sleep?.” She said shutting the door.
THE END!!!
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE STORY?. THANKS FOR READING TO THE END. AND PLEASE DROP LESSONS YOU LEARNT FROM THIS STORY. ๐
Hmmmmm so yammy, I enjoyed it