CEO’s REDEMPTION

A MOTHER’S WISH

“Everything is all okay, ma’am! Your daughter is perfectly fine.” The doctor says after checking on me, and I wink my eyebrows at my so overly worried-for-nothing mother-in-law.

I love it all the same that I am feeling a mother’s love and care for the first time in my life. It’s such a sweet intoxicating feeling.

“Okay, doc. And she? How are her results?” Mother asks, referring to Ellie who is just opening her eyes.

“She is also fine. There was a bleeding due to the fall but we were able to stop it on time. It was harmless. You did well bringing her to the hospital right away. I would recommend she takes total rest for a couple of days.” The kind doctor explains.

“Okay. I will make sure of that doctor. So, everything is okay with her and the baby? Nothing to worry about?” She implores.

This woman is in such a tight spot. She has to care for a woman whose unborn child belongs to one of her unknown sons who are apparently at gross odds with each other. This is not easy at all. I love her courage to have her sanity intact with all that is going on.

“She is absolutely fine, Mrs McCall. There is nothing to worry about. I will bring her file so you can go through it.” The doctor says.

“Okay, doc. Thanks a lot and, sorry for troubling you. You see, I am overwhelmed by this. The feeling of becoming a certified grandma like this is blowing my mind.” I love the way she says it.

“I understand it ma’am. I must say you are very lucky to have both your daughter-in-laws pregnant with their first children together. Seems like your sons really wanted to throw a bucket of surprise for you.”Okay! Now, that is a very horrible hoax!

There is a possibility that we are both pregnant by the same man! That thought alone is a pain in the heart!

“I know, doc. I am overjoyed!” Poor mother, she has to fake it.

“Congratulations.” The doc says, smiling broadly. Of course, he doesn’t know how much his silly joke stings.

“Thank you so much.” Mother responds.

“I will leave you guys now. She will be good to go in the morning by the way.” He adds, pointing to Ellie.

“Ooh. Okay. That’s good.” Mother responds.

“Alright. Excuse me.” The doctor says, walking to Ellie and exchanging a few words as he checks on her.

“You understand why I have to do this, right?” Mother asks as we wait for the doctor to complete her work on Ellie.

“What do you mean?” I implore.

“Why I have to take care of Ellie? I don’t care whose child she is carrying for as long as it belongs to either of my sons. Whoever the father turns out to be amongst the two, I will not love that child any less. I hope you can understand, Tessa.” She says.

“What are you saying, mother? I do not have any problems with you taking care of Ellie at all. None at all. What I would like the most is for the truth to come out. I wish she could just speak up and save us all this unnecessary trouble.” I say with all sincerity.

“I wish too that she could speak up. Seeing the way Grego pushed her, I am sorry, Tessa, but I hope we are all wrong.” She says.

“Wrong about what?” I implore.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“I am sorry once again, okay? I just can not believe that Grego would put his own child at risk like that. I wish…” She stops.

She wishes the baby is Jerol’s?

“You do not have to hide it, mother. Say it. Whatever is in your mind.” I say.

“I wish Jerol is the father. At least that will not label Grego as a careless heartless beast. I know that will not justify him pushing Ellie the way he did, but I want to believe that it will make a difference if the baby is not his.” She whispers, and I rub her hand.

“Time will tell, mother. But you need to stop feeling like this. You need to be strong. For your sons, for your husband, and most importantly, for your two grandchildren.” I solace, earning a smile from her.

“You are so sweet, you know! Between us, I would love no other woman for Jerol in this world. You are the best, Tessa, and…””You are too loud! I am here, you know!”

Shiieet!

We snap at that voice, both of us rushing to Ellie as she struggles to get out of bed.

“What are you doing?” Mother scolds her, trying to pin her on the bed.

“I’m tired of lying down. I just want to sit.” She responds.

Mother and I arrange some pillows on her back, helping her up.

I neither considered doing this for her or anything of the sort. But I am doing it, for the baby that probably is my husband’s. Whether he is the father or not, the baby is innocent. I would not want anything bad to happen to it. I am just being human here. We are not friends, and probably will never be. Having said that, I hope she is not going to go bitchy on me and stroke it to my face how she is on cloud nine with the fact that my Jerol lost his cool to defend her. She better not.

“Thank you.” She murmurs, and I had to doubt my ears for a sec because, hello? Where did she learn to be grateful these past few hours? In her slumber which she just awoke from? Last I checked, she was an annoying arrogant and ungrateful bitch!

“How are you feeling? Is the pain gone?” Mother asks with concern as she takes her place on the bed beside Ellie. Well, me, I am not considering sitting down.

“Yes. I am fine.” She says, looking around as if missing someone. “Grego? Where… is he?” She asks, concerned about her lover and her partner in crime.

“He is not here.” Mother responds.

“And Jerol?” She queries, shooting a glance at me as if saying, “I am looking for trouble”.

Well, I am not surprised if that is what she is intending to do. Why ask for my husband? What? She won’t even ask how her lover is doing? “No offence, Tessa.” She adds after perhaps noticing my questioning glance at her.

And since when did she learn to speak so calmly like an angel, huh? And uttering my name so calmly? She must be still half-asleep!

“He is home. Why?” I implore.

“Nothing. You don’t have to be so insecure.” She murmurs her last words as she rolls her eyes.

“And you don’t have to be so inquisitive about my husband’s whereabouts.” I mutter loud and clear for her to hear.

“Sorry! Like I said, I meant no offence!” She fumes. I guess the bitch is fully awake.

“Then why ask?” I fire back at her.

“I just wanted to know, alright? Are they nursing broken bones or how are they? What happened? That is all I want to know.” She says. She should have gone straight to the point to avoid arousing unnecessary fights.

“Only one is nursing a dismantled face.” I retort.

“Cut it out you two, will you? Please!” I swallow hard at Mother’s plea.

“Why has that son of yours not come to see me?”Huh? Listen to bitch squealing to her supposed mother-in-law-to-be, huh! The manners she has got are at zero levels. Goodness!

“Maybe if you can clarify which one you are referring to I would have the right answer for you.” Mother says, adding before the bitch speaks. “And you better watch your tone when talking to me.”Great! I’m grateful she warned her, and I I’m curious about her clarity of question because I also want to know who she is asking about. Jerol or Grego? She should clarify that.

She bows her head for a minute, and hoists it up so high after, swallowing something to clear her throat for what she is about to say.

I read every letter from her mouth as she speaks.