A SECOND CHANCE TO YOUR HEART - CHAPTER 11&12
[ It’s a boy ]
“Let’s go”Veronica helped her with the bag as they both crossed the road.
**
It’s a small restaurant and a building at the back where Veronica and her grandmother stay.
“I’m home!”Veronica shouted as they walked in.
“Did you get the complete noodles?”her grandmother walked in, with a stick on her hand, helping her to balance well. She looks really old.
“Yes!”
“Who’s she?”she asked, looking at Joelle.
“Oh, Joelle, I think she needs help, she was in a complicated situation earlier”Veronica said as she walked to the kitchen to drop what she got.
“Come here!”she said, tapping the chair next to her and Joelle sat down.
“Here, it’s tea, couldn’t make it that hot, we’re out of gas”Veronica dropped a cup of tea as she also sat down.
“Thanks”Joelle muttered, having a sip from the tea.
“Tell us why you’re here?”granny said.
“Let her rest at least, she’ll be gone tomorrow”Veronica said.
“She doesn’t look like one who would leave soon”Granny said.
“Granny!”
“I was chased out”Joelle muttered and they both faced her.
“Why?”
“Long story”she muttered.
“We’ve got the all time”Veronica said and she sighed before explaining to them. Right from when she and Jeffrey started dating, how her stepmother and sister treats her, the death of her father and why she’s here, cause she’s pregnant.
“What! You’re really timid! I wouldn’t allow someone treat me like that, I would have ki||ed her!”Veronica shouted, referring to Lydia.
“Shut it!”Granny snapped.
“I mean it Granny, she chased her out of her father’s house and sold it”Veronica scoffed.
“Have you eaten?”Granny ignored Veronica.
“No”
“Go get her something to eat and not give silly advice”Granny said.
“Come on!”she groaned.
**
NEXT DAY.
By the time Joelle woke up, the restaurant was already filled up. Granny’s noodles is the best around here and the fact she makes it quick and delicious, the restaurant is always full, especially in the morning and night.
She walked into the kitchen, meeting just Granny.
“You’re awake?”Granny asked.
“Good morning”she muttered, staring at her as she cooked. Despite her being too old, she does things like a young one.
“What should I help with?”she asked.
“Why don’t you have a bath first and get off that dress”Granny said and she sniffed her dress, getting the point.
“I’ll do just that”she muttered and walked away.
Minutes later, she was done.
“You should eat before doing that”Granny said as she moved to the position of the dirty dishes.
“Oh….”
“Sit over there”Granny pointed at the only seat in the kitchen and she sat down.
“Are you planning on keeping the child?”Granny asked bluntly as she handed her the plate of noodles.
“Just have this for the main time, we’d cook a better meal later”she said.
“Thanks Granny”
“So, you’re keeping the child?”she asked again but no reply came.
“Veronica’s mom left her after her divorce, she got married but it only lasted a year and then she got divorced”she said. Joelle looked at her as she talked.
“She left Nica to my care but eventually died of an illness, but my Nica is a blessing to me”she smiled.
“She’s the best thing that has ever happened to me, so you should keep the child if you’re having doubtful mind”she said.
“I….”
“But if you have made up your mind, then it’s nothing”she added.
“I’m just scared Granny, child birth is really painful as I heard, I’m just scared of that day, the day I’ll be bringing the child to the world”Joelle said.
“It’s just gonna be some minutes thing and it’ll be over”Granny said.
“You’re getting more beautiful, you should eat well so there’ll be strength”Granny said and faced back her work. Joelle smiled as she watched her, a tear fell from her eyes. Thinking about her mother and her stepmother, truly, people are different.
*
“Oh my!”Veronica screamed as she walked into the kitchen. Joelle is washing the dishes.
“You shouldn’t be putting on tight clothes, you know you’re…. pregnant”she whispered the last part and a spoon hit her head.
“A jean isn’t too tight and the baby isn’t up to a month!”Granny snapped.
“Granny!”she groaned.
“Go serve the customers and stop stressing her!”Granny said.
“I’ve heard”she said but didn’t move.
“Get going!”
“Granny!”
“Should I throw a pot, no, a knife would do!”Granny said picking a knife but before she would turn, Veronica already ran out.
“Don’t let her stress you child”Granny said to laughing Joelle. She continued with the plates which she finished after some minutes.
She peeped through the kitchen door to see the people outside, they aren’t quite much now.
“Wanna help?”Veronica came from nowhere.
“You startled me”she groaned.
“Sorry”she chuckled.
“I would love to help”she said.
“Let’s go!”Veronica dragged her.
“Attention everyone! I finally got a sister, Joelle by name. Isn’t she beautiful?”she gushed and Joelle laughed so as the customers. Veronica really knows how to make one happy.
“See, we’re like family here”Veronica smiled and she also smiled.
**
NINE MONTHS LATER, 8PM.
Joelle and Veronica sat in their room as they arranged the baby’s clothes and other things. The doctor said she’d give birth tomorrow or the day after.
“You see, I’ve got eyes for things, the shoe would fit him well”Veronica said.
“He’ll surely wear this once he’s a year old and not immediately he is born”Joelle said.
“Don’t you know I do wear oversize shoes and clothes when I was little, Granny said it always makes me look like a model”she said and Joelle laughed.
“See it’s even funny”
“Very”Joelle said in mist her laughing.
“But Granny would say I shouldn’t mind what others say and I lived like that, not minding what others say, though I know the oversized shoes and clothes makes me look like a clown”she said and that increased Joelle’s laughter but she stopped as a slight pain hit her.
“Ahh”
“What!”
“My stomach…..it…..ahh!”she groaned.
“Granny!!”Veronica screamed as she tried helping her out. No one needs to tell them it’s the baby coming.
“Granny!!”she shouted again. They’ve finally walked out of the room.
“I can’t move anymore, the pain is too much….Nica do something…..it hurts”she cried.
“Okay, just hold it a little, I’ll go get the doctor”Veronica said as she helped her sit on the ground.
“It’s my waist now….my waist, it hurts”she cried and Veronica rushed back.
“Where?”
“Here here”she pointed and Veronica touched it but she hit her hand.
“It hurts more”she cried.
“But I tried!”
“Don’t shout on me!”she shouted.
“Oh God! I’m never getting pregnant”Veronica groaned as she walked out, ignoring wh@??ver she’s saying. At least the hospital isn’t far from their place so it was an easy thing getting the doctor.
**
CALIFORNIA, AN HOTEL.
“Mom!”Erica screamed as she stared at drunk Lydia. Since they’ve gotten here, it has always been like this, from one club to another and any time she gets back, she’s always drunk.
“You should show some respect!”Lydia shouted, obviously not too drunk.
“If this is what you’ve been planning then you shouldn’t have brought me here!”she shouted.
“Would you have gone to college if we were still there!”Lydia shouted.
“At least I had peace of mind! We’ve been in an hotel for almost ten months and only what you do is go from club to club!”
“You better stop talking and don’t make me lose it!”Lydia snapped and walked to the bathroom.
“I h@?? all this”she muttered frustratedly.
**
HOSPITAL.
“You’ve got to push Joelle!”Veronica shouted. She isn’t inside the ward though.
“Would you stop causing a scene”Granny said.
“But she needs to push and I’m just encouraging her”she said.
“Goodness Nica!”Granny sighed.
“Did you hear that?”Veronica muttered.
“Hear what?”
“The baby’s cry!”she screamed and rushed into the ward without being invited.
“Nica!!”Granny screamed.
“It’s a boy right?”she asked the doctor who’s confused on why she’s here.
“The door was locked”he said.
“Doesn’t matter, it’s a boy right?”
“Yes”he said.
“Yes yes! I told you Elle! It’s a boy!”she screamed, jumping round the room in excitement.
Joelle’s face provided a smile as she stared at her. She’s really wonder.
TBC