Chapter Ten

Somewhere in another country known as Palm country, Kris Williams is seen entering a restaurant to have his lunch. He was so famished and needed to eat something.

He sat down, went through the menu and made his order. He was deeply in thought about his family he has not seen for weeks but he was happy that in two days time he will be traveling back home. 

While waiting for his order to be served, he looked up and saw  an elegant woman who was beautifully dressed. She was looking so beautiful. Kris Williams couldn't take his eyes off. She reminded him of someone who was so close to him many years ago. She reminded him of someone he would have married. Kris blinked his eyes twice and said "Is this not  Caroline or are my eyes deceiving me?".

Kris Williams stood up from where he was sitting and went to where the lady sat. 

The lady looked up and was really shocked. She recognized him. She never expected to meet him again after so many years. She called "Kris, is that really you?" Kris answered "Caroline, yes, it is me."Where in God's name have you been? It is more than two decades that I saw you. Tell me, what really happened?" 

Their orders were served at this point. After having their lunch, they started discussing about their lives.

Kris looked at her and acknowledged her beauty, " Caroline, you are still very much beautiful." He continued " How have you been? Caroline, what happened to us? You really hurt me so much. You left me without even saying goodbye. I looked for you everywhere but I did not see you. I searched everywhere, asked around but there was no trace of you. I was heartbroken and I  became an unhappy man. That's by the way, Are you married now?"

Caroline took his hands. She was unable to look him straight in the eyes. She remembered their love life.  She remembered how they used to be fond of each other and she said  " Kris, I am unable to look at you knowing how much I hurt you. I am really sorry that I left without telling you. Please forgive me. You know after I was accused of stealing by your family when I visited you at your family house, I couldn't bear it.  Though you stood by me. You defended me, I am always grateful to you for that but I was so much hurt. I couldn't bear it. 

She cleared her throat and continued "The hurtful words said to me by your mother, broke my heart. I didn't want to cause any problem between you and your family, that was why I left. I was also threatened by an unknown woman on phone. She asked me to leave you because two of you were lovers. She threatened my life. On that very day, I found out that I was pregnant for you but the news of you having a lover and the accusation against me, made me not to inform you about the pregnancy. In fact, it was as if the whole world was collapsing on me and I  felt that I was going to die.  My heart was shattered,  the thought of you having a lover,  the threat and accusations really broke my heart and when I found out that I was pregnant,  I didn't know whether to be happy or sad. "

Kris was surprised, "Caroline, you were pregnant? You never told me. Caroline, I loved you. We would have been a lovely family? What happened to the pregnancy? Wait, don't tell me you aborted it. Someone called and said that I am the lover and you believed her without confronting me,  you know that I truly loved you and I  can swear with my life that I never cheated on you while we were together."

Caroline started crying, " Kris, I was a bad mother. I am not worthy to be called a mother.  I did not abort the pregnancy. When my life was threatened. I was scared. I stopped working. I was taking care of myself with the money I saved which was not enough. I delivered a baby girl. A very beautiful baby girl but I had no money to take care of us. I took her to the Orphanage home. I was so sad leaving her there. I relocated to this country where I got married after five years of my relocation. I married a man very much older than me. I married out of love. I had a daughter for him but my husband is now late. After one year of my relocation, I went back to take my baby girl but unfortunately, I was told that she had been adopted. I enquired about the family that adopted her but I was not given a good answer because my baby's file got missing, according to the orphanage home. "

She cleaned her tears and continued, " I was so sad. Kris, all efforts to get our baby back proved abortive. I am a bad mother."

Kris was so sad but he said to her, " do not blame yourself. You are not a bad mother. Tell me, which Orphanage home did you take her to?"