Memories Of The Sun - Chapter 21 CHAPTER TWENTY

By Prescoviah Merilyn

Eleanor sits on a couch playing with her dolls. She has Dakota, Nina and Beatrice … Oh, and the newly born, Angelica. Angel is a big one though, she was afraid of her at first but working as her hiding place everytime she did something wrong, kind of made her adore the big bear. For my princess, happiness is simple. It’s hugs and cherry-pie kisses with mama, and playing ‘Let’s pretend.’

“Let’s pretend your the bear and… And am Masha!” She says softly

“Okaayy… So what is mommy supposed to do?”

“Mommy just sits…relaxes… As I scrub her face and feed her later… With a big big shpon”

“Spooon baby… Say it again”

“Shpoon?”

“Siii…S…Spoon”

“Spoon Spoon”

“Okaayy good girl… Masha.” That’s how my hair gets dripping wet every day. And that’s how I always eat pancakes, soaked in beef stew. Oh my God! Masha and The Bear!

The other time we were playing The Lion Guard. I literally had no idea about how to be a lion, seriously. But she always tells me what do.

“Mommy, you got to kneel and bend… Head facing down.. Like that… Then put your hands down … And look wiiilld… Really wiillld… Like a lion… Then, I will become the lion guard!”

“Okay baby.” I consent in a lion’s voice.

As long as Eleanor has her dolls, her mummy Dalia, and her Papa to carry her around, she is good. I have to watch her until she sleeps, she forgets she has a twin, who equally needs my time like she does.

Louis is a quiet shy cute face. Even when he was a baby, he never cried a lot compared to someone. As long as he has daddy and his toys, he is perfect. He enjoys himself really with Simeon, they go hunting, riding, pruning? He loves tennis…Simeon is setting up a court near the garden, just in case. The only time my prince really cares, is when he is hungry. And when it comes to food, he just comfortable with everything. He loves food like mama. Yeah! The only thing he hates is dirt, he is a super clean man.

Ashanti and I planned on raising our kids together, as a family, as siblings. We decided to set our differences aside and look up to the future. After all we have always been together, and besides we don’t plan on ever, and I mean ever telling our children, about the circumstances of their birth. It would ruin them. Our disguised blessings.

However Eleanor and Hope are always fighting. Hope is particularly a a sweet gentle child, though it may sound as a cliche, it’s true. She has her mother’s beamy smile and long lighter black curled hair, her dad’s? Isn’t it amazing how fast they grow?

We recently celebrated their 4th birthday. Still, Eleanor couldn’t share cake with Hope. She hated her dress, because apparently it had diamonds as Hope’s. Hope hated her birthday crown, it wasn’t good enough as Lea’s. And apparently Lea got more gifts than Hope… Eleanor complained about her shoes, they weren’t glittery enough, Hope was stealing her friends at school. Oh my God!

Louis rested in my arms after the party. He never complained about anything. A swet gentleman!

“Why are they always fighting, Mommy?” he asked quietly.

“uhmm… I think it’s a girl thing… Girl stuff… You know… It’s always complicated with women.”

“Women!” he gashed quietly as he curled softly in my arms.

My son never nags anyone, unlike those women. From just babies to still babies? Even when they were still in diapers, they always argued. Never shared toys, smeared dirt all over each other! What’s your problem ladies? Be humble. .. Both of you should know your damn places. Eleanor, Louis is your twin brother. Hope, your Eleanor’s sister in law. It’s that simple girlfriends? Maintain the freaking relationship!

Ashanti joins me with whisky in her hand. It’s our graduation today, and we can’t party with the rest because we have to watch over these wrestlers. Simeon has been gone for three weeks in Rwanda, for work.

We sit on the porch, legs crossed, admiring our Makerere undergraduate gowns. It’s hard to believe we have made it. Ashanti breaks the silence.

“Ever imagined what would have happened if they were Evans?” She asks me. There is long pause before I finally speak.

“Well, if they were his… Ever his… It would be your loss Journalist…because if you think about it… you would have to look for another good son in law… Louis would be out… ” We laugh.

“Cheers!”

The standard turnaround time for a paternity test in Kenya, is five to seven working days. If it feels too long, they offer an express testing service, which means, you can get the results in only two days.

And indeed seven days, was a lifetime for me. I couldn’t wait that long. I was willing to pay pounds, to confirm my children’s father. When we checked in Hemingways hotel, Nairobi, we headed for Dr. Marrie later, for the test. Dr. Blick had recommended her to us. She was welcoming, gentle and cute. They should marry each other.

On Wednesday she called us, the results were out. Finally the day I had been dreading for was here. My pulse was racing, I knew that, the envelope would either confirm or dismiss Simeon as my twins father. It would completely change my life, Eleanor’s life, Louis’ life. It would make a difference in the stories I had to tell my babies. In the future, they would be just adapted by Simeon, Evans would come back for them, he surely would. He would do anything to take them from me… He would hurt me again.

We sat waiting on the couch outside her office. I turned down the snacks but accepted the water which was given to us in Dr. Marrie’s office. I took tiny sips as I continued chewing on my lips. I had started chewing my lips ever since we landed in Kenya and it hadn’t healed yet. I felt the taste of blood fill my mouth, when the doctor held the envelope. The one with the results.

“Mr and Mrs Mats… The results in here may be positive or negative.” she blunted as I squeezed Simeon’s hand. I felt my heart pounding.

My mind assured me they were Evans of course. It was just a doubt Vanessa. He was the last one, remember, you hadn’t seen any pregnancy signs, before he attacked you. They are his! They are his! They are Evans’. Oh my God!

I spread my hands like starfish, as I held my legs together… I was shaking. Simeon tried to calm me down with ‘it’s going to be fine’ myths, but I couldn’t. These results had consequences.

She ripped the envelope apart. I stopped breathing!

“Congratulations Mr. Mats, your the father…your blood matches 99.9% They are completely your children.”

Wait, what? You remember when my world crumbled, when I felt I wanted to die, when I hated being pregnant, when everything was ruined?

When the doctor said Simeon was my babies’ dad, I felt everything fall into place. It was the greatest news I had ever received. Tears flooded my eyes as I hugged him tight. It was incredible. Yes, I was right about their eyes, they were his, a part of me always believed they were his. My love, Simeon.

After I was assured of my children’s daddy, I paid someone a visit…