CHAPTER 18

Geneveive Tessa Robert

Mum decided her birthday party would be held in the city hall, even though it was she who insisted that she wanted a small gathering. At the end of compiling the guest list, I discovered that her definition of a small gathering was quite different from what I knew. She had sent invites to almost five hundred people, and each of them was bringing someone along. 

I rubbed my temples as I supervised the last decoration for the day. The party was starting at four o'clock, and I was glancing at my time; it was already two o`clock, and I hadn't eaten breakfast.

Mom mustn't know I played with the life of her grandchild. I quickly dismissed the last worker and checked everything before handing over the key to the security team. Luckily for me, Robert`s villa was just a mile from the hall, so I could walk.

My stomach grumbled in protest, but I ignored it until I couldn`t. Maybe I should have eaten before leaving the hall. I rub my stomach while sending a text to James to come pick me up.

There was a lonely bench in front of somebody`s balcony, but I wasn't bothered as I sat down, still feeling the pangs of hunger. I decided to shift my focus to the house. It seemed as if no one had lived there for years, but there were signs of life: the plant garden, a fairly used car parked in the driveway, and an eastern song playing inside the house. It was pretty creepy, but somewhere in my mind, I recognised the house.

The door suddenly opened, and a fine, homely woman stepped out. Her brown, wavy hair was tied in a bun, and her fingers were white, probably due to a lot of housework. She wore a pair of shorts and a blue one which was protected by the apron she wore. I tried to get up and properly introduce myself, but I was exhausted. 

She stared curiously at me, taking in my feature, `You`re the Robert`s girl who just returned. What do you want here?`

I smiled a bit, hoping it would relax her. `I am sorry for disrupting your peaceful afternoon, ma. I am a bit exhausted, so I decided to rest while waiting for my brother to pick me up. I am so sorry I didn't seek your permission before settling in.

She hummed, `It's okay; I can see you're pregnant. Oh, don`t be surprised; I am a woman too who has gone through the process of pregnancy and childbirth.`

I blushed, playing with my bracelet. `Thank you for understanding. Please, I will be out of your space immediately, when my brother comes in in the next thirty minutes.`

James had replied that he went to one of the branches to complete a business deal, and it could take some time. He didn't know urgently that I needed to get home before the party started or that I had fainted due to exhaustion.

`I will get you some water and pineapple pancakes if you would like. I just prepared them a few minutes ago,` she smiled, cleaning her hands against the apron.

`Thank you so much, ma. I don't mind at all, and I don`t think my baby does either.`

She walked into the house, and a few minutes later, we were laughing over a plate of pancakes and orange juice. I discovered she used to be my nanny while I was little but resigned when she got into college. She was a chef now and owned a cafe in town, which was run by her daughters. 

She also talked about my mom`s birthday party and apologised because she wouldn't be coming. 

`Why don't you want to come? I am sure Mom would be happy to see you. You were so nice to James and me then.` I asked, taking a sip of the cold juice.

She smiled, staring fully at me. `I would love to, but the cafe is having a special tonight, and I am in charge of preparing the recipe. My daughters haven't learned the art yet, and if I leave them to it, I will be saying goodbye to clients.`

I sighed. She was such a nice woman. I noted it in my head to send some of Santiago`s special Italian dishes to her after the party. She deserved it.

`Alright, Mrs. Sharon. I will send your wishes and apologies to my mom. I really had a great time interacting with you, and those pancakes are life savers! Thank you so much.` I smiled, pulling her in for a hug.

She chuckled. `I enjoyed myself too, and I am so proud of the woman you've become. Don`t hesitate to reach out to me if you need help on anything or a motherly piece of advice or conversation.`

I nodded, taking another pancake. They were too good to be ignored.

`Also, don't skip meals again. Your baby needs them more than you know. Did your gynaecologist refer you to a nutritionist specialist?`

`Yes, he did, and the specialist drew this food timetable I am expected to follow religiously. Santiago, the chef in the house, has been abiding by it, and I am grateful he is. I find it hard to eat these days, so the timetable has been helpful.`

She replied, `Alright, keep it up and don't relapse. We want a healthy baby. Wait, how far have you gone?`

I laughed because of how she was staring at my stomach. I won't blame her for the curious stare. My stomach was still flat like the wall, except for the cravings and other symptoms that come with pregnancy. It was really hard for anyone to know I was pregnant.

`Next week would make it three months, and yes, I have booked an appointment.`

`Okay, that's good because it will be nice to know the gender and if it's going to be twins,` she grinned, gathering the plates.

Twins? It had never occurred to me that I could be carrying twins. I have always thought of the baby as one, not two or three. Mrs. Sharon`s words suddenly made me start thinking about how I would survive with twins. As if reading my mind, her reply answered my questions. 

`Let me tell you a story: when I was expecting my daughters, I thought it was just going to be a baby. I ignored my husband`s advice to do `a * scan until the seventh month! Can you believe that?` she chuckled, putting the plates down. `You can imagine the shock on my face when the doctor told me I was expecting twins. The news changed our plans, and honestly, if not for my husband, I wouldn't have survived. That begs the question: Where's your husband?`

I sighed. I wasn't ready to start sharing the story about Kyle King and his betrayal. I thought of what to tell her, but thankfully, James`s car stopped by the house. Thankfully!

`Thank you so much for the kind hospitality and stories, ma. I promise to call you once I visit the hospital. Thank you so much for today,` I said, waving to her as I stepped into the car.

She smiled, waving too. If she noticed, I felt relieved immediately when James came, but she didn't show it. I truly enjoyed every moment with her, but there was something still about her—say, loneliness. Yes, that was what I felt. 

`Why're you so quiet? Don`t tell me you`re angry because I came late?` James interrupted my thoughts.

I shrugged. `No, I am not angry. I still have one hour to prepare for my mom's birthday party. I am just thinking about Mrs. Sharon. Do you remember her? She was our nanny while we were kids.`

James twisted his lips in an attempt to show that he was trying to remember. `I remember her. Oh, she lost her husband last fall, and it`s been hard for her. She stopped going to her famous bakery cafe and stayed home, living with her grief. Mom had to visit her almost every weekend before she finally healed.`

`Wow, she didn't tell me all these while we spoke. Oh dear. May her husband`s soul continue to rest in peace,` I replied, sinking into my thoughts. 

I could feel her grief in a way because of how Kyle treated me. The day he divorced me was the day he became dead to me. I still felt the pain, but I no longer wept at night. 

`Amen,` James replied, driving into the villa. `I think you`re one of the few people she has spoken to after healing. I was even surprised she was laughing with you. It's been ages since she did that.`

I smiled. `You know I am a lucky charm, and besides, we had a lot to talk about concerning my pregnancy.`

`Oh yeah, right. By the way, I need to tell you something, but I don't think you will like it.`