HER BIRTH

Mom and Dad were surprisingly seated like they were waiting for me. Maybe they were, but I couldn't care to think about that.

Did they miss me? Were they happy to see me? None of my business!

I wasn't there for kisses and hugs. I was there for serious business. The time for lying and keeping secrets was up. I just hoped they wouldn't try to cover it up with some other lie.

"Good morning Dad. And Mom" , I said hesitantly.

"Welcome home dear. I hope you had a pleasant trip?"

Daddy had asked in an attempt to make me feel at home.

Pleasant trip? I doubt I'll call what I experienced pleasant.

I couldn't stop thinking of this new discovery. How I had been lied to all my life . How my mom had actually ignored me like the mother hen I saw earlier. Nothing was pleasant about that. Daddy knew this too.

"Have you eaten?" , Mom asked.

My mom's way of showing affection can be really random. What has eating got to do with what I had just discovered?

I almost lost my cool at this very question mom threw at me. Was she trying to pacify me with food? Would food really make me forgive and forget everything?

"I'm okay ma", I replied as I sounded as firm and probably rude as ever.

This conversation had not even begun and I was already nervous. How would I approach this matter in a respectable way.

Remember, Grandma already warned me. She even said I should shed tears like a prodigal child would. She said so many things to make me have a change of heart. All she had said started manifesting effortlessly.

I became nervous when I should be angry. I was scared of being sent out of my father's house for the second time. I never knew the feeling was that hurtful and I wasn't willing to experience that again.

"Mom, Dad, there's something important I would love to discuss with you." , I said with not so much confidence.

"Yes dear. We know you have a lot of questions for us", Dad said after a really awkward silence.

My parents seemed calm like they had done nothing wrong. That made me feel even more wronged. I didn't deserve any of this.

"Dad, do I really have a sister?", I asked.

"Yes. Yes, you do", he said.

"And what's her name dad?"

"Her name is Amanda"

Was this the reason John kept calling Mary Ama? But why did he refer to me as Ama too?

"But dad why didn't anyone tell me about my lost sister? And dad, you know how often I tell you I wished I had a sibling, a sister most especially. This isn't just fair!" , I said amidst tears.

I had started to defy Grandma's rules in a way. I raised my voice as I protested but I was also shedding tears. Even though I had also wronged them, I wasn't going to ask for their forgiveness just yet. I needed more answers.......

"We didn't have a choice Allyson dear. We didn't" , Mom said as she wiped the tears off her eyes.

Feeling relieved to hear my mom's voice, I also felt bad as she cried. It wasn't like I was not going to forgive them. So, she didn't have to cry.

"It was twenty years ago when your father and I just got married. We decided to move to the States after two years of no pregnancy. Your Grandmother had a doctor friend over there who promised to help us with our problem.

However, before we left for the US, my colleague at work had introduced us to one of her church members who worked as an illegal surrogate mother. She is who you now know as Mrs Gbesinro.

Your Grandmother advised me not to involve her in our family's business but I was desperate. Your father had always been understanding, so convincing him was easy.

All the procedures and processes ended up useless as Mrs Gbesinro was unable to conceive at that time.

I was disappointed and thought it wise to leave for the US to see the doctor your Grandmother had recommended"

"Even after doing all the test and getting all the treatments based on the doctor's advise, I still couldn't conceive. I was so bitter within myself and suffered from depression for two years. Your father here was my support system"

Mom suffered from depression? Oh my God!

Because mom had started to show signs of extreme sadness as she recalled this bitter experience, Dad, as her support system decided to take up the narration from where mom had stopped.

"After two years of struggles we met our final and only option, God. We had met with the best of the best psychiatrists, doctors, amongst others but we didn't get any answers. Through one Mrs Joyce we started going to church and like God answered Hannah, he answered your mother. Then, we had you. Within two months, your mom had been completely healed of depression and barreness. After a couple of trial, your mom had a miscarriage before God blessed us, with you"

This had to be the best testimony of the year. Hearing this story made me understand and acknowledge God's presence even more.

"We had you in San Andreas Specialist Hospital in Texas. We also baptised you in the church we attended there in Texas.

A month later, news reached us that Mrs Gbesinro had put to bed. Your mother insisted we returned to Nigeria to celebrate with her since they both got what they wanted. Mrs Gbesinro got a son and your mother finally gave birth.

So we returned home alongside Mrs Joyce and her son John."

Yes, same John that took me to Peter's house because Mary asked him to do so. The one that calls me and my sister Ama. If you ask me I wish John and his family were our family friends and not the Gbesinros. But I believe that there's more to this than meets the eye.

This story had to be clearer than it was. My questions had just began......