4— Decisions.

England (Deardre) 

"How could you, Deardre? How could you do this?" Mr. Smith turned his back towards his daughter and his wife, balling his fist hard that green veins popped out.

"Father.."

"I warned you several times against that black man but you never listened," His voice echoed through the hospital room walls.

"You warned me to stay away from him because you didn't like the fact that he was black. It wasn't because you felt he was going to hurt me in any way.." Deardre matched his tone. Her mother quickly sat beside her and took her hand in hers to comfort her. 

Mr. Smith remained quiet for a while. Maybe it was because what his daughter had said wasn't far from the truth and he knew she was right. He never liked Jordan because he hated his skin colour and always felt all blacks were dangerous.

"You're going to get rid of it." Mr. Smith eventually spoke. His voice was unusually calm. 

Deardre's voice quivered, "What?"

"The baby. You are going to get rid of it." He repeated. His voice, firm. 

'My dear, they might get mad at you or be disappointed at first but I'm sure they are going to accept the baby, just so you know this is their first grandchild. So, don't worry and do what you have to do, and please don't think for the sake of your health. I hope they are not going to ask you to abort the baby though because no one knows what the universe has in store for you. Just think of this baby as a blessing.'

Just think of this baby as a blessing.' Those were exactly Fabian's words. 

"No. That's not going to happen," Deardre disagreed. She looked at her mom, pleading with her eyes so she could help her out but her mom nodded in a way that said she should listen to her father. Deardre immediately drew her hand away from her mother's.

"I will do no such thing." She added with her mind already made up, "I'm keeping this baby no matter what the both of you say."

"Then be ready to take care of that abomination all by yourself." Mr. Smith said, "I won't set my eyes on that child when he or she is born. I won't carry or fend for you or your child!"

"I will. I don't care! If you like ditch me the way Jordan did! I am a twenty six year old lady and I can take good care of myself and my baby. I don't need you." It was a lie. She loved and needed her parents but if they weren't going to be of support, then so be it. She was going to do this alone. 

"He has even left you, when I told you that guy was up to no good, you didn't listen, now look at the shame you've brought upon yourself," Mr Smith spun around and grabbed his wife's hand, "Let's go." 

Mrs. Smith hesitated and pleaded with him using her eyes, "Please.."

He shushed her and waggled a finger in front of her face, "Not another word said."

He dragged his wife out of the hospital room without even allowing her say goodbye to their only daughter.

Deardre took her anger and frustration towards the provisions on the nearest locker, which was at the side of her bed. She pushed everything down and screamed out out of pain, squeezing her eyes shut. 

She ran her hand through her blonde hair countless times with her head hung low on her bed. A drop of tear fell off her eyes and landed on the flowery patterned white hospital bedsheet. Another followed and another until she poured her aggressions out and tears kept dropping until it formed a round wet patch on her side of the bed. 

"I will always love you," she reminisced on Jordan's words. His accent so thick and different. He was different so different from any other men she had encountered or so she thought. 

He had promised her a lot of things. One, he said he was never going to let her go. Two, They were going to get married no matter the circumstances and three, they were going to move together to Nigeria and have a fulfilled happy life there. There were many other promises he had made but those were the few she could remember and hoped would really come to fruition.

With him away, how was that going to be possible now? 

She knew no matter how she wanted to forget him, it wouldn't be so easy especially since she was now carrying a part of him. He was going to remain a problem for her. 

Aside Jordan, she had two other problem. One was the fact that she had just lost her parents due to her terrible decision. Her father owned a company and she was supposed to help in running it but with the look of things her dad won't want her working for him any more, and that meant that she was currently jobless.

The second problem was the baby. Although, she might've considered it as a blessing, she couldn't help but think of how she was going to handle it all. When the child grows up, what is she going to tell him? 

Would she just say; "Your father was a Nigerian who abandoned us. His name is Jordan Eze and that's all I know about him?"

She faced palmed herself and groaned.

.......

Delta, Nigeria (Oyin) 

"Another glass!" Mr. Oyin ordered. The bartender poured in more alcohol for him and he drank.

Drinking makes him happy. It makes him forget about the wicked act he had done few years back out of selfishness and wickedness.

The sight of Cookie irked him. He wanted her away from his life because she was a constant reminder of that secret past. 

"My good friend Musa," He called out to Alhaji Musa who was sitting beside him at the bar. 

Both men were drunk. 

Musa nodded to indicate that he was listening to whatever his friend had to say. His eyes were heavy like he could fall asleep anytime soon. 

"How do you see my second child?" Mr. Oyin asked. 

"Your second child? You mean.. Cookie?" Musa slurred. He looked drunker than his friend. 

"Yes." Mr. Oyin gulped more alcohol from his cup, "I hear you are in search of a fourth wife and you want someone younger. Someone fresher and sweet than the rest of your wives."

"Yes."

Mr. Oyin grinned, "Search no more, my friend for I am willing to give away my first daughter to you. All you have to do for the bride price is buy me a big fat cow."

Musa's eyes widened out of surprise, "That's all?"

"Yes, my friend."

Musa patted his back, "Thank you.  Thank you my friend. Infact for this, all the drinks tonight are on me." He called for the attention of the bartender again, "Come and give us more bottles."

They both bursted out in laughter. Mr. Oyin was happy that he was going to get Cookie out of his way. As for the cow that was going to be her bride price, he'd use it to celebrate her leave. Soon enough she was going to leave for good.