Chapter 9 Edwin Parker

The meeting with the Minister of Water and Sanitation lasted for two hours. Since Minister Cele took his time to meet him, Mr Martins decided to invite him and his delegates to dinner at His Mercy restaurant at 6 pm.

Then he rushed to Aiden's school, Trinity Leadership Academy, to fetch him. It was one of the prestigious schools in Durban and it offered education from the Foundation phase to Grade 12.

Aiden was overjoyed when he saw his father. He smiled brightly and raised his arms. His father took him in his arms, and then they went home to change his clothes.

His father smiled broadly at him and said, "Aiden, your Mommy had a baby sister this morning. Do you want to see her?" Aiden's eyes lit up, he was grinning from ear to ear and said, "Yes Daddy."

Paul Evans went to the hospital to accompany his lovely wife and his daughter. He was praying in his heart that his wife would not spend the night in the hospital because it would be the longest night of his life.

They had never separated since they got married twenty-three years ago. Even when his wife was giving birth to their lovely daughter, Bridgette, he stayed beside her until she was discharged.

When he arrived at the hospital, his wife was holding baby Avery in her arms, looking gently at her. She had a brilliant smile on her face.

Paul entered the ward smiling broadly at his wife and daughter. He kissed his daughter on top of her head and said, "I am proud of you my Sweetheart."

Bridgette smiled brightly at her father and hugged him. Then he hugged and kissed his wife on the cheek and said, "Congratulations, my lovely wife, for being a grandmother."

His wife smiled sweetly at him and replied, "Thank you, Honey, I am going to adopt her to be our grandchild." Her husband smiled broadly and replied, "Let's adopt her, my love."

At that moment, Mr Martins entered the private ward with Aiden. He smiled broadly at the Evans family and asked, "Paul, who are you going to adopt?" Paul smiled and said, "We want to be Avery's God grandparents."

Mr Martins smiled and said, "Alright and Bridgette is my daughter's Godmother." The Evans family was over the moon to be part of Avery's life.

Mr Martins introduced his son to the Evans family. He lifted his son up and put him on the bed. He looked at the baby with longing in his eyes. Mrs Evans helped little Aiden to hold the baby.

He was over the moon; he looked at his baby sister and played with her tiny hands. He smiled at his father and said, "Daddy, my baby sister is so tiny.

I want to stay here with her to protect her." His father allowed him to stay in the hospital.

Paul looked at his wife tenderly and asked, "Sweetheart, what time should I fetch you?" His wife, Suzie, smiled sweetly at him and replied, "Honey, I can't leave our daughter alone with the baby."

Paul looked at her with sadness in his eyes. Suzie giggled and hugged her husband tightly. She whispered something in his ear, then Paul smiled brightly at his wife.

At 5:30 pm, Mr Martins and Mr Evans left the hospital to have dinner with Minister Cele.

Two days later, Mrs Martins was discharged, and then they left the hospital. Mr Martins fetched his family himself. Bridgette hugged her mother tightly and said, "Thank you so much Mommy for loving me."

Her mother hugged her back and replied, "Take care of baby Avery and guide her well. I miss you already."

Mr Martins kissed Mrs Evans on both cheeks and said, "Thank you so much for everything." Then Mrs Evans left with her bodyguard, Prince.

Mr Evans wanted to fetch her but she refused since her car was parked in the hospital parking lot.

At the Martins residence, the living room was lavishly decorated with pink. There was a welcome banner for the mother and the baby. Edwin Parker was surprised to hear that his sister had given birth to a daughter but she didn't tell him.

A few minutes later, the sound of a car was heard. Aunt Rose was so excited she went to the car to help Bridgette with the baby. Aunt Rose greeted them with a smile, and then she held the baby in her arms and walked to the house.

She handed the baby to Edwin Parker and said, "Baby Avery, meet your handsome uncle."

Edwin had tears in his eyes when he saw the baby and said, "You are so beautiful, my niece. You took after my mother." Her mother was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She passed away due to kidney failure.

His father was depressed after his wife's passing. Two months later, he passed away. Edwin was twenty years old and his sister, Elizabeth, was seventeen years old when their parents passed away. Edwin loved his sister so dearly.

Edwin's eyes lit up when he saw his brother-in-law and his baby sister. He looked at his sister with questioning eyes. Elizabeth smiled faintly at her brother; she was guilty of many things.

August greeted his brother-in-law and said, "What a surprise, brother-in-law. I didn't know that you were coming. Let me introduce our nanny, this is Bridgette Evans."

Edwin reached his hand, shook Bridgette's hand and said, "I am Edwin Parker, Elizabeth's brother, nice to meet you."

Bridgette smiled and replied, "Nice to meet you too, Uncle Parker." Then she took her luggage and went to her bedroom. Butler Bruce followed her with baby Avery's things.

A few minutes later, she went to the kitchen to prepare baby milk. Fortunately, Aunt Rose had already boiled the water. She went to the living room carrying baby bottles.

Baby Avery was in her father's arms sleeping. She took her and went to their bedroom. Then lunch was served. Aunt Rose asked the helper to send Bridgette food to her.

After lunch, August asked his brother-in-law to follow him to his study room. Edwin looked at his brother in law and said, "Brother in law, when I heard that there was a misunderstanding between you and my sister I decided to come to intervene."

August sneered, "Brother in law, it was not a misunderstanding. Since we got married I have been unhappy. I have to beg her if I want to touch her. It is clear to me that your sister never loved me.

She refused to give me children, but when you told her that your wife gave birth to a daughter she was over the moon. She accused me of cheating with Bridgette. She called her a mistress.

I really loved your sister, but what I have in return was heartache. I am not happy in my own house. I really want to move out but I am scared that my children will be affected."

Edwin was dumbfounded when he heard his brother-in-law's words. Was he talking about his kind-hearted sister? "Brother in law, I will talk to my sister and come back to you."

August said, "Please don't force her to love me because of the things I have done for you. Even if she divorces me now, I will not take anything away from you. I did it because I love her and her family."

Edwin was embarrassed when he heard his brother-in-law's words. Would Elizabeth change her behaviour towards her husband and her daughter or was it too late?