Chapter 42
Katherine entered the house to see Felicity standing beside the sofa with her arms crossed on her chest, she sighed and knew she would be getting some questioning, "little Lee."
"Don't call me that!" Felicity warned.
Katherine heaved a sigh, "Felicity, I understand you are angry but, this is expected. You can't hide them forever."
"I don't want him to know about them. For goodness sake aunt Katy, I don't want to have anything to do with him in my life again."
"But you know that's not possible. No matter how bad you want to take him out of your life, you can't. As long as you still have the children, he is tied to you with them."
"Not if he doesn't know about them. I want him out of my life and out of theirs. He doesn't deserve to be with them, he doesn't deserve to have them!"
"That's like saying it's not his blood that runs in their veins."
"If I say it's not, its not."
Katherine sighed, "Felicity..."
"Aunty Katy please" she raised her hand to stop her, "I saw the shock on his face when he saw them. I know he knows I'm their mother which is given, but I will like to believe that he doesn't know he is their father. After all, he is not the only man in the world."
Katherine shook her head slowly, "he knows."
"What?" Felicity looked at her sharply, "how did he know?"
"I might have told him before the kids ran out."
"You did what?" Felicity was furious "aunty Katy, you of all people knows how much I don't want him in their lives!"?
"It's given Felicity. Hide them from now till whenever you want, he will still know. Tell me, what are you going to do when they grow up and start asking for their father?"
"Simple, I will tell them he is dead!"
"Jesus Felicity, do you wish him death so much?" Katherine was in shock.
"He died to me the day he took my innocence and ran to my friend" her eyes welled up but she refused to shed a tear for him again, "he doesn't deserve my love or that of the kids. And I'm going to do everything within my power to keep them away from him. They don't deserve a father like him, so please, don't ever bring him up in their presence" she turned to see Mercy standing beside the kitchen door and holding the twins who had clammed up after seeing their mother and grandaunt in a heated argument.
Felicity glanced at them briefly and went up the stairs.
Katherine sighed and sat in the sofa, she buried her face in her hand, not saying a single thing.
Mercy bent to the kids, "alright you two, go to your room, I will call you when dinner is ready."
Sofia nodded and went up the stairs obediently while Darryl stood staring at the devastated Katherine. Mercy nudged him, "go on Darryl."
"Is everything okay?" He asked in his little voice.
"Yes everything is okay, now go upstairs."
"I have never seen my mom and aunt fight before."
"Go on now Darryl, leave the discussion for the adults."
He turned to look at Mercy, "did mom and aunt fight because of that man outside?"
"No, it's not because of him."
"You are lying nanny Mercy, you always tell us not to lie" he mumbled but Mercy heard him. God, how can a boy of four years be so intelligent?
"Don't worry, I will explain everything to you later. Now be obedient like Sofia."
He started to walk but paused, he look at Katherine and then back at Mercy, "is that man my father?"
Katherine's head jerked up at his question just as Mercy stiffened, their eyes met and each told the other about their shock with their eyes.
"Mom do not want us to be with him, but why?" He continued mumbling to himself, "is he bad?" This he asked Mercy, who seems to be at lost of what to do.
"Where did you hear that?"
"Mommy said so just now" he answered.
"Don't worry, mommy will explain everything to you when you are older, now, up you go."
The boy shrugged but still went upstairs.
Katherine looked at Mercy after he was out of sight, "it will be hard to keep him away now."
Mercy sighed and went to sit beside her, "how was he able to pick that up from your discussion?"
"He is his father's son."
"That's true" they remained silent, "what happened?"
"Raymond was here" she wiped her face with her hand, "he wanted to see me but he ran into her instead" she let out a deep breath "and I couldn't help telling him about the children. I mean he deserves to know, he is their father for Christ sake! I understands if Felicity doesn't want to forgive him but she shouldn't hide his children from him. Four years, he had lived for four years not knowing he has children. The kids go on and on about meeting their father but yet, she wouldn't give in. She can go ahead staying angry at him but she shouldn't involve the children. I'm not saying she should forgive him but he has the right to be with his children.
Now he knows of their existence, if she keep on denying him to see them, he can take her to court you know. And then they will fight for custody. No matter how rich we might be now we are not to be compared to him. Goodness Mercy, do you know how many lawyers that are indebted to him? Do you know how many judges that owe him a favor? If it goes to custody now, we are not going to win. I just want to avoid this. Allowing him to see them when he wants to is going to stop it.
For crying out loud, they are his children, he will not kill them. He will not hurt them. Felicity just need to keep her anger aside and let the father and children reunite."
Mercy nodded, "I understand you Katherine but Felicity..." She shook her head, "she has not gotten over the pain he inflicted on her. The worse is that she took it out on all men" she chuckled "all through our stay in Florida, she never went out on a date. Even though she is acting so annoyed and everything, she still loves him. She just have to let go of her anger to see that. So many times I had seen her browsing about him, but she is bend on the fact that he will hurt her again. She doesn't want him to meet the children because she is afraid that him seeing them will get her to loosen her heart" she looked at Katherine, "the kids will make her see more of him and in that process, her love for him will unfold again, she just doesn't want that."
Katherine heaved a sigh, "all I know is that what will be will be" she smiled to Mercy, "if they are meant to be, after all her tantrums, they will still be together."
Mercy chuckled, "of course. She is just throwing tantrums."
The older women laughed. Ah, they miss their young days. They did all those during their time.
***
Raymond drove aimlessly, his mind kept picturing the two little faces he saw and Katherine's words kept ringing in his ear, 'you are a father, not to one but two'.
God!
He is a father!
When did it happen?
What the hell does he mean by when did it happen? Of course he knows when it happened. He had been with her only once. The same day that he broke her heart and last saw her.
The children he saw are already grown. If he should calculate correctly, they should be exact four years and three months.
Jesus!
His children are four years old and he had no idea!
He had no idea he is even a father.
He ran his hand through his hair nervously, he can't believe this. He is a father. A father!
What is the reason he never wants to get married?
Because he is afraid of being a father.
Afraid of being like his father.
Afraid of abandoning his children like he was abandoned.
And now, for four years his children had lived without him.
Doesn't it look like he has abandoned them too?
He pulled over at the side of the road, he punched his steering wheel three times before slamming his head on it.
He has children!
He freaking has children and he has no idea!
The thought of the two little faces made him laugh and cry at the same time. And his daughter? She looks just like her mini mom. He wants to hold her tightly in his arms and kiss her chubby looking cheeks. Oh, he wants to hug her till she sleeps and then he will sleep beside her. Oh, he just wants to love her!
His eyes welled up as he laughed and cried in his car.
Then his son? With the temperament he got from him, he doesn't need anyone to tell him that he is the smaller version of his very self. He could already see it in his eyes when they locked their gazes. He needs to toughen up for that one. He will not be allowed to club until his twenty two and he won't have a girlfriend till his twenty five. He won't go easy on him, no son of his will go down his path.
He will make sure he teach him how to value a woman so that he won't be a man whore like he was. No, no, no, he will not tolerate that in his house.
In his house!
Ha, that will only be possible if their mother forgives him.
At the thought of that one woman who he has kept locked up in his heart for five years now, he became lonely. God, he knew he hurt her and he cheated on their marriage but it wasn't really a marriage by love at that time, it was a contract and they separated immediately it was over but if she should forgive him, he swear to never look at any woman again and he mean it. He hasn't look at any other woman for five years now even though the one in his heart was so far away from him.
That's a big guarantee that he can do it. He means, if he can do it when she was not with him, is it when she is with him that he will fail?
All he is asking is for her mercy and a chance to treat her right. He promise to make both her and their children his priority.
At the thought of his children, he was suddenly overwhelmed at the thought of holding them in his arms. To kiss them.
He looked at his car timer, it was 8:47pm.?
He can't believe it. He has been driving around aimlessly for nearly four hours now!
He started the car and made a U turn, he just have to try his luck. Maybe he can see them again today, he didn't react well when he saw them earlier but he was not to be blamed, he just received the shock of his life but now, he is going to try to be conversing.
Oh! His cute little darlings.
Darryl tossed and turned on his bed, he couldn't get himself to sleep. He kept thinking of the gray eyes he saw today, the gray eyes that looked so much like his own. He has never been attracted to all those men that wants to see his mom like he was to the one he saw today. He wants to see him again. And after hearing his mom and aunt fight, he knew his instinct is right, that man is his father. Even though neither his aunt nor his nanny wanted to admit it, but he knew.
He climbed out of his bed and approached his sister own, he gently climbed into it and gazed at her sleeping face, after what felt like minutes passed, he gently tapped her shoulder, "Sofie, wake up Sofie."
"Mm, leave me alone" she pushed his hand away and flipped on the bed.
"Come on Sofie wake up, I need to tell you something."
"Tell me tomorrow" she mumbled.
Darryl pouted, "if you wake up, I will give you my cake in the morning."
Sofia's eyes snapped open immediately, "you will give me your cake?"
Darryl frowned, she didn't wake up since but immediately he mentioned cake she woke up, if he should call her glutton now, she will start crying. He rolled his eyes and shook his head in the process, "yes I will give you my cake."
Sofia sat up on the bed then and yawned, she stretched herself on the bed before looking at him again, "what do you want to tell me?"
"I saw daddy today."
Her eyes sparkled in the darkness of the room, "you saw daddy? Where?"
"Today, outside with grandaunt."
"Are you serious? Wait, how did you know he is daddy?" She crossed her little hands on her chest as she looked at her brother questioningly.
"I heard mom and aunty Katy say it."
"You did?"
"You were there too, how come you didn't hear them say it?" He frowned.
Sofia clammed up. She pouted her lips before saying, "brother stop, you know I'm not as smart as you are. Mom and everyone use to say it and besides, you are my elder brother" she clutched on to his hand and grinned sheepishly.
Darryl could do nothing but sigh, he just have to live with it, she is his sister after all.
"So, what are we going to do now?" She asked.
"We have to meet him."
"I know, but how? Do you think mom will let us see him if we ask her?"
Darryl shook his head, "no she won't. I don't think mom wants us to meet him. Do you want to him?"
Sofia nodded vigorously, "of course, do you?"
"Yes, I want to meet him. He is my dad."
Sofia sighed while resting her head on brother's shoulder. She yawned after a while, "I don't know about you brother but I'm already sleepy" she yawned again.
"Then sleep. I'm not feeling sleepy yet so I'm going to stay in the balcony for a little while."
"The balcony? But it's already so late. What if the boogieman catches you or you get kidnapped by a big friendly giant?"
"Hmph" he snorted, "there is no such thing as the boogieman or big friendly giant."
"But I'm scared of them" she cowered by lifting her bed cover to her face.
"Being afraid is for girls and babies. I'm not afraid."
"Okay then, I will not cry for you" she proceeded to lying down in her bed and covered herself with the duvet while she watched her brother open the balcony's glass door and walked out.
Darryl grabbed the handrails and peeped through it to the silent night. The gentle breeze cooled his body and a slow movement in the night caught his eyes. What his sister said resounded in his mind and he felt the hairs on his back standing still. Even though he claimed to not be afraid, he could feel fear building in his body as he watched intently at the place that moved.
Another movement got him to back away from the handrails and he turned on his heels immediately, he entered the room and closed the door.
"You are back already?" He heard his sister ask and turned to see her looking at him like she was earlier.
"Yes."
"Why? Are you scared?"
"Of course not, I was just suddenly sleepy so I decided to come sleep."
"Oh, okay" she made a funny face at him before turning her back to him on the bed.
Darryl wanted to comment on her behavior but when he remembered the movement he just witnessed outside, he silently walked to his bed and tucked himself in.
Meanwhile, outside, Raymond paced back and forth on the patio as he debated on whether to knock on the door or not, he looked up at one particular window but the lights were out. He sighed and brought out his phone, the time showed 11:15pm. He has been sitting inside his car ever since he arrived, he watched through the window with their shadows. Even Felicity had brought out the trash sometime and it took all his reasoning not to walk out and talk to her. He doesn't want to make her more angry at him.
He sighed and walked back to his car, it was already so late, there is no way he can see them again tonight. He got into his car and slowly drove away. He will be back, but how long can he wait?
He really wants to see them as soon as possible, he was thinking when a thought suddenly occurred to him. He made a U turn on the almost empty road, the car tyres screeching on the road as he stepped on his accelerator. He was giddy as a schoolboy, why didn't he think about this all day? He would have been with his children by now.
But it's okay, tomorrow is another day, he can't wait. His car stopped in front of a gate as he blared the horn. The security rushed out wanting to know who had the audacity to disturb the sleep of his employers but on seeing the car and driver, he bowed immediately and greeted the driver while opening the gate.
Raymond drove in immediately and parked in front of the mansion, he got out of the car, slamming the door behind him. He walked on the terrace, straight to the door and rung the bell. When it looked like no one will be answering, he pressed and hold the doorbell switch, even he can hear the bell from outside and he knew should he be the occupant of the house, he will murder the person ringing the bell.
But it's okay, he brought great news, they won't be mad when they hear the news.
"Who is that? I'm coming" he heard the head housekeeper's voice and released his finger.
The door opened not long after and he saw the frowning face of the woman, "I know it will have to be someone who is family. Young master, why are you here at this late hour?"
He wanted to answer when he heard his grandmother's voice, "Cecilia, who is that?"
The woman answered, "it's master Raymond ma'am."
"Little Ray? Why is he here at this late hour?"
Before the woman could answer, Raymond walked by her into the house, he saw his grandmother upstairs, looking down at him with a frown on her face, "grandmother."
"What is the matter little Ray, are you hurt? Did something happen to you? Are you in any kind of problem?" Hana asked as she went down the stairs to him.
"No grandmother I'm okay, its just..."
"What is the problem?" Desmond interrupted as he came out to the hall, tying his robe, he placed his hands on the railings and looked down at his grandson and his wife who had approached him and now checking him like a little boy. He better have a good reason for disturbing his sleep.
"Grandma, I'm okay really" Raymond tried to calm his grandmother before looking up at his grandfather, "I just have good news and I couldn't wait to share it with you."
"What good news?" Hana asked.
"It better be good as you said" Desmond said in a grumpy voice and Hana glared at him.
"Felicity is back."
"What!" The two of them were shocked before Hana asked, "little Lee is back? Since when?" Her eyes were already twinkling and Desmond couldn't hide his own happiness as he quickly went down the stairs to join them.
"About two weeks ago."
"Two weeks, and you are just telling us now?" Desmond raised his hand to smack him but he dodged.
"I just found out today too" Raymond quickly answered.
Hana rushed to hold Desmond, "it's okay. We will just go see her tomorrow, no need to be so worked up."
"That's not the only news that brought me here grandma."
"Really, what else?"
"Felicity she...she came back with twins."
"Oh my! She is married? And with twins?" Hana's legs suddenly went weak and she fell on her husband who was also in shock.
"I can't believe you have missed your chance entirely with her" Desmond shook his head as he held onto his wife, "it's all your fault, if you hadn't been so stupid" he glared at Raymond but he stopped when he noticed he was smiling, "why are you smiling? You think because she is married then it's no more? You lie, I want you married in the next two days. Don't you know it was because of her that we haven't disturbed you all these years?"
Raymond frowned then, "grandpa, you didn't let me finish."
"What is there to finish? Little Lee is married and with twins, you said so yourself" Hana replied weakly.
"Yes, she has twins but she is not married" he could see the confused looks on their faces and smiled, "the twins are your great grandchildren, my children."
It sounded as if a bomb was dropped from the ceiling. Hana and Desmond stared at Raymond in shock for good two minutes. Just when Raymond thought he had to call on to them, Hana reacted with a loud scream. If Raymond's abnormal visit didn't wake the whole household, then her scream did.
Desmond and Raymond were worried maybe something happened to her but the way she was suddenly so agile and giddy, they knew she was just reacting to the news.
"My great grandchildren? How did you know?"
"Her aunty told me this evening, it's one of the reason I couldn't wait till morning to tell you" he grinned.
"Oh my God! Can we go see them now?" Hana asked.
Desmond looked at her as if she had gone nuts but his eyes were also sparkling, he has great grandchildren and here he was thinking he would die before he gets to see them, he gently caressed his wife's hair before saying to her, "it's already so late at night, they are probably sleeping. Let's go tomorrow, okay?"
"Fine, we will go first thing in the morning."
"Yes" Desmond nodded.
Hana turned to Raymond, "little Ray, will you be sleeping here?"
Raymond hastily nodded, it's all part of his plans.
"Good. Yes I remember, did you speak with little Lee?"
Raymond sighed but didn't say anything.
Hana nodded, she thought as much, she sighed, "well, go sleep now, it's already late."
Raymond nodded while Hana and Desmond went back to their room giddy as children. He sighed and followed right after them to his own room that was always kept ready for him.
Cecilia locked the door and turned off the lights with a big smile. The family now have little ones, this is such a big news.
***
The next day, Raymond was up nice and early as he waited for his grandparents to finish preparing. He sat in the living room, silently sipping his coffee when his grandparents came downstairs. Hana was surprised to see him still there, "little Ray, why are you still here, why are you not in the office?"
"I gave a free day to everyone" he replied.
"Free day? Why?"
"So that Katherine will stay at home. I didn't tell her we are coming."
"You are going with us?" She asked.
"You should have just called Katherine to stay at home, not give a free day to everyone" Desmond said grumpily.
"If I did, then there is a possibility she would tell Felicity, then you will not meet her at home."
"It's okay. But why do you want to come with us?" Hana asked.
"Because I want to see my children."
"You haven't seen them?"
"I have but it was for a splitting second. I want to talk to them and I don't think Felicity will let me so I will go with you."
"Okay then. Let's go I can't wait to see her and my great grandchildren."
They left the house. The chauffeur has already prepared the car for them so they got in and he gently reversed and they left.