chapter 17

                          ***

             What do you mean by he is her showing, Antra yelled

            Please lower your voice, I said looking around for Maggie, I concluded she has gone to bed not seeing her in the living room before proceeding to tell them all he told me

       How are we sure he isn't lying? Ben asked

             What would he stand to gain if he is lying, I am not rich that we would say he wants my money and I am not influential or popular that he would like to take her away from me, there is nothing for him to gain except an additional responsibility besides he has done a DNA test to prove he isn't lying, I said handing them the result trying to convince myself otherwise but knowing there is no denying the truth.

                 So what does he want now? Antra asked her face pulled up in a scowl

                  He wants to be part of her life but he gave me time to get used to it and think about it, I replied

                  The nerve of him to come here and give you time, where was he when you were toiling to keep her alive and fed? Antra said her anger surfacing.

     I don't understand the dislike she has towards him

             You are forgetting the fact that h is her biological father and if he takes he to court, he would win the case hands down, Ben said being logical

                 Don't tell me you believe that bullshit about him being her father? Antra asked glaring at him

             It's pretty obvious from what she told us and the result is here as a prove

              We can't hand her to him on a silver platter, Antra said her anger increasing by the possible truth while I am just of it all, wanting to go sleep it all off

              I am going to bed now, I feel a slight head ache, I said as I stood up which is not a like as I am beginning to have a slight head ache

           Alright then good night and don't forget to take some aspirin before going to bed, Antra said in a pitying voice that I dislike, I have always disliked all the pity people has been throwing my way right from when I was a child.

                    I will, I replied as I walked inside.

              What are you doing Maggie!! I exclaimed as I entered to see Maggie  with lipstick on her lips down to her chin with white powder on her face.

            I am the joker🃏, she replied with a sinister laugh

                Who told you about the joker? I asked baffled

             Aunty Antra did and she said she would dress me up just like him for my costume day when I start school

               More like Antra to tell kids all this, I muttered under my breath as I walked towards her and dragged her to the bathroom to wash it all off and give her a bathe before putting her to sleep.       

           I  took my bathe too and took my drug before I called it a day.

                           +++

        It's over two weeks now and no word from James, I am starting to think he has decided to give up on her and I don't know if I should be happy about it or not.

               Now as I sit down watching Maggie draw on a rough sheet of paper, I am starting to think she needs her father in her life after loosing Neil. She may be young but she's very sharp and she would soon start asking of her father and how would she feel when she discovers I sent her father away and what right do I even have to send him away, I am not even her legal guardian. If he wants he can take her away from me forcefully and if he respects me to ask for my permission for him to be in her life, then I can as well respect him and let him in her life after all she needs a father figure. But. What would happen after that? What if he wants her live with him, what would become of me then? Stop being a selfish bitch, I chided my self as I stood up to do the needful.

              Hello,I said into the receiver as he picked up after the third ring

   Can you please meet me at the amusement part close to the mall, I am coming there with Maggie, I said all in one rush afraid the words would be slapped back into my mouth.

                 Alright I will, thank you very much, James replied with raw happiness laced in his words. By what time should I meet you there?

             You should come in two hours time, it would be evening at the time and the weather would be perfect for her, I replied his happiness rubbing off on me before we hung up.

           Maggie!! I called as I walked to her

         Yes mummy she answered not raising her head from what she's doing.

          Would like to go with me to see someone? I asked

          Who is that mummy? She asked uninterested

             Well,we are going to see your Daddy, I said said smiling as her head shut up abruptly

           Do I have a daddy? She asked confused

          Of course you have a dad, why wouldn't you have one? I asked baffled by her question

            Well, I have never seen him so I thought I don't have one,she said shrugging her tiny shoulder like an adult

             Aren't you happy to go see him? I asked doubting my decision

        I am very happy mommy, but would he think I am naughty? She asked as she sat on my lap looking nervous

           Of course not, you are the most charming girl on this Earth and your dad loves you a lot, we are even going to see him in an amusement park, I said tickling her

           Really? Can I wear my punk skirt? She said with excitement written boldly on her face.

          Of course, today you can dress yourself, I said smiling but you would have to have a nap first because we don't want you to fall ill from too much fun.

         Alright I would go sleep now she said as she ran to climb the bed.

                    ----

       What do you mean by you want to take her to meet him? Antra asked with her hands akimbo staring pointedly at me

          Well she will have to get to know ow her father sooner or later, I said shrugging my shoulders not perturbed by what she is saying. I have made up my mind and I don't see myself changing it.

           What if he wants to take her away, what would you do then? Do you know the extreme foolishness of this decision you are making? She asked looking at me as I'd I had grown stupid

        I know all that but I can't afford to be selfish, I can't be the the one who would come between a father and his child, to think I have blood relation would make me callous, I explained

                 So you are willing to let her go even if you would be the one hurt in the end? She asked

           What can I do? When she grows up and finds out I denied her father access to her, she would hate me and when she also finds out I am not her biological mother, the hatred would intensify because she would see me as someone who denied her the tight to know any of her blood relatives and to be honest with you, I can't handle that.

          Well whatever your decision, I am behind you but that doesn't mean I like that guy, she said lightening up the gloomy mood.

           I sure would keep that in mind but Sha don't let Maggie hear you cos she is very excited, she even want to wear her favorite skirt, I said laughing.

           That girl won't seize to amaze me, Antra said shaking her head.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Thanks for reading........love you all and don't forget to hit the vote button and comment.

❤️❤️❤️Love you all💓💓💓