The Puzzle Episode 21 – 22

The Puzzle

Episode 21

_DISCOVERY_*
“Yes Loveth, I am all ears,” Dr Michael replied, his eyes glued on Loveth.

She shifted uneasily in her chair. She really hoped she made a good decision by wanting to inform the doctor about her secret. She opened her mouth and closed it again.

“Calm down Loveth, whatever it is, feel free to say it. I am more like a brother now okay?” Dr Michael assured her . His words put Loveth’s mind at ease.

“Thanks doctor, it is a secret I have carried around with me over the years, but my conscience would not let me rest. I need to tell someone about it. Even my husband is not aware of it.”

“Oh really? You have made a good decision to open up to me and I appreciate that a lot. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Hmmmmmm…” Loveth sighed and continued her speech. “Eight years ago, I worked with one Doctor Johnson who owned a private hospital at Akure, Ondo state. On a particular day, a woman delivered a set of twins, two girls through Cesarean Section. Dr Johnson sold one of the twins to a certain woman that was said to have a damaged womb but still wanted to have a child at all cost. So, she feigned the pregnancy and came to the hospital as if in labour.

The doctor sold one of the twins to her at a huge price. I was with the doctor in the theatre room that day. He instructed me to take one of the babies to the woman in the next ward. Against my wish and conscience, I took the baby to her, I mean the fake mother.

The woman who was delivered of a set of twins back then was Mrs. Roseline Evans. That was why I was bent on knowing her surname when I came to you to inquire about her. Now, I am very sure she is the one.”

“What? Are you really sure of what you are saying?” Dr Michael whispered as if he was afraid to speak.

“Yes doctor, please help me. Each time I remembered the scene, my conscience is troubled. The day I saw Mrs Evans walk into this hospital, I recognized her immediately. I am sure there is a reason why God brought our paths to meet again. I am determined to make this confession. I do not know how to go about it. I am really scared of being arrested or jailed.

According to my findings, Dr Johnson is dead, meaning that I am the only person alive that knows about this secret. Do you think it is safe for me to confess or not? I really need your advice…”

By now, Loveth had burst into tears. The echoes of cries the baby let out immediately she gave her to the fake mother kept ringing in her memories, as if the baby knew that her mother had been switched…

The sound of a pen that dropped on the floor jolted her out of her reverie.

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She looked up at the doctor who stared at her in total horror and shock. He didn’t know when his pen dropped from his hands.

Loveth was scared of Dr Michael’s look, “I hope I haven’t made a grave mistake by telling this man,” she thought.

Michael started sweating profusely despite the air conditioner in the office. He stood up from his chair and fell back again.

The events that took place earlier in the day flooded his mind. Debbie’s perfect resemblance with Daniella his own daughter. The reality of what is about to happen started to unfold in his mind.

He knew this is going to be hærd but he is almost sure that Eliz was the woman who bought the child. He was so scared of coming in terms with the truth.

Eliz had left home when the supposed pregnancy was 3months old. She told her husband that she felt so sick and she would prefer to go to her aunt who stays in the Eastern part of the country till her delivery date. Michael was working in a hospital in Abuja then, he came home only once in a month, which made him prefer the option his wife presented to him. He reasoned that it would not be safe for her to stay alone at home in case of any complaint or possible complications.

Not knowing that his wife had another plan entirely.

“Noooooooo! It can’t be. It can never be! Daniella is mine. She is coming back to me with her mother!” He scre-med.

“What are you talking about doctor?” Loveth asked surprised about the doctor’s reaction.

Michael turned to her and asked, “if you see this woman that bought the baby, can you recognize her?”

“Very well doctor,” she answered, wondering what the doctor was up to.

“Good, come with me then, quick!”

Episode 22

Michael left his office and headed straight to the parking lot where his car was parked. Loveth followed him closely still wondering what Dr Michael was up to.

“Hop in Loveth,” he ordered.

“Where to sir?” She asked with a worried look on her face.

“To where the woman who bought the baby is of course.” He replied entering the car and starting the engine immediately.

Out of curiosity, or rather confusion, Loveth entered the car. She wondered how Michael got to know the woman.

“Could it be that Dr Michael knew Dr Johnson? Could it be that he was also aware of the wh0le scenario all along?” Loveth was really confused.

Soon, the car stopped at the entrance of a compound with a huge gate . They got down and entered the building with Michael leading the way. She soon realized that they were in Dr Michael’s house. They entered the well furnished living room where Michael pointed at the portrait picture of a beautiful smiling woman.

“Is she the one?” Michael asked Loveth impatiently.

Loveth, predicting what was about to happen, started regretting that she had voiced out in the first place.

“Could it be that Dr Michael’s wife was the culprit? What a small world.” She thought.

“Answer me Loveth!”

She was startled as Dr Michael’s voice jolted her back to face the business she started.

“Yeeee…yeee….sss”

Doctor, she stammered. “Yes, she was the woman.”

Silence prevailed between them for over five minutes.

Michael felt as if a death sentence had just being placed on him. To think that he had been nurturing another man’s child all these years was so hærd to take in. Besides, he had grown so fond of Daniella…

How can this happen at this time? At this period when he had the hope of achieving the goal of bringing his family back to Nigeria to stay. Eliz had told him just a day before that she and Daniella might likely stay back for some weeks after her mum’s burial ceremony just for the sake of Daniella who longs so much for her father. He had strongly hoped that during this period, he might succeed to convince her to stay finally.

“Why God?” He cried. His bones suddenly got weakened, his legs gave way and he sank into the couch in the living room. He even forgot Loveth was still there with him.

“I am so sorry doctor, I never knew she was your wife. It’s such a small world. If I had known, I would have kept it a secret forever, for your sake. But we can still keep it doctor, so that you would not lose your child. You are a nice man, you deserve to be happy. I don’t want to kill your joy and destroy your home.

Michael chuckled. “My child? You don’t want me to lose my child? But she isn’t mine. I can’t keep another man’s child, not after I have found out the truth. I have a conscience too. She deserves to be with her real parents and sister.

We are keeping no secret Loveth. Though, it may be a hærd decision for me to take but the girl must return to her biological parents.

Loveth noticed the tears in his eyes. She felt so sorry for him.

“Don’t worry Loveth, I will handle this issue the best way I can. Eliz, that is my wife is coming back to Nigeria soon, in about two weeks precisely, in preparation for her mother’s burial that will take place in a month’s time. We shall resolve this issue by then. Meanwhile, I need you to do me a favour, will you?”

“Sure sir, what is it?”

“Please keep a sealed lip till when they come around. Don’t make any confession yet, the time isn’t ripe. Do you understand me?”

“Very well sir,” she replied. She left Michael in the house and went back to the hospital.

Michael couldn’t get back to work that day. He picked his phone and called one of the medical doctors that work for him to be in charge as he would not be available for the rest of the day.

He felt really depressed. “How can love be so cruel? I love and care so much for you Eliz, is this all you have to do to repay me? You had a damaged womb, you were aware and you never told me so. You are wicked Eliz,” he cried as he stared at the lifeless picture before him.

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BACK AT THE HOSPITAL

Roseline opened her eyes and saw David seated on a chair beside her bed. She thought it was a dream.

“David had left home already, but wait, this isn’t home, where exactly am I?” She wondered.

She sat up and looked around her. “This is a hospital. What happened to me? She looked at David, he was dozing on the chair beside the bed. It isn’t a dream after all. Then, she remembered how it all happened. She had slumped on the floor of the living room…

David woke up that very minute and saw his wife staring at him. “My Rose!” He gasped, rising up immediately to give her a hug.

“I am so sorry for all that happened. I promise to change for the better.” He assured her.

Rose was surprised and happy that David was back again. “I am sorry too,” she replied. I am so sorry about all I said about having an affair. I had no affair with anyone. Though the devil tried to lure me but God won.

They hugged each other for what seems to be forever…

“Where is Debbie?” Rose asked.

“She’s with Evelyn. It was Evelyn that called me when she saw your nearly lifeless body on the floor…”

There was a knock on the door of the ward.

Dr Stanley entered with one of the nurses.

“Hello madam, he greeted. Good to see that you are better. I will be discharging you right away, you are fit to go back home.”

“Thanks doctor,” David replied. “How about Dr Michael?”

“He isn’t on seat right now, he had to attend to some urgent issues.”

“Oh, I see. Thanks once again doctor, I am really grateful. I will call Doctor Michael’s number to show my appreciation. God bless you all…

Roseline was soon discharged and they left the hospital.

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Two weeks later, Eliz and Daniella arrived Nigeria. It was a great reunion for father and daughter even though Michael was sad because he knew the truth about his daughter’s paternity, but he concealed his feelings.

Meanwhile, he had earlier scheduled a dinner appointment with David and his family, he wanted to host them in his house. He made sure the date was fixed after the arrival of Eliz and Daniella.

He told Eliz about the couple that would be visiting them for dinner which was to be in two days time, and they both prepared for the day of their coming.

“That’s nice Dad,” Daniella replied gleefully. “I hope they will be coming with their children, I am so eager to make new friends in Nigeria.”

“Sure honey,” Michael replied, then swallowed hærd as if there was a painful lump stuck in his throat. The truth will soon be out and Daniella would have to return to her real parents.

“And as for Eliz she would have me to contend with…” He thought

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Okay, who will come for dinner? It’s going to be… Let’s go there!

All of you that nailed Eliz to the cross yesterday, well done, there is God oooo!