~Paternity saga~
Lucas was midway sipping from his flute of beer when Gabriela accompanied with Azuaka, Opula and Duncan, entered the sitting room.
“Big papa!” Duncan chanted once he caught sight of Lucas, and ran up to him with wide spread arms.
“That is my Cute Pearl!” Lucas groaned, as he carried Duncan, and threw him up playfully. He stamped him a powerful kiss. “You never seem to miss me naughty boy. Where have you been with mom? What did she buy for you today? Where did you visit?” Lucas asked, losing recognition of the presence of Azuaka and Opula.
At the time Gabriela whose countenance had fallen perched at the wall, with arms folded, uneasy and heavy to introduce the people that came with her. Tiny tears were about leaking through the corner of her eyes. She was about revealing the shocker to Lucas so her entire body was suffused with emotion and uncertainty.
“My apologies, please,” said Lucas still carrying Duncan. His gaze came in the direction of Azuaka and Opula, “Pardon my manner. You know father and son discussion is sometimes demanding.”
Azuaka grinned and forced a smile. “Oh I can see. You must be Lucas, Gabriela’s husband.”
Lucas still all smiles replied, “Yes, I am and you?” he asked, pointing at the both of them.
He raised a thick furious brow, “I am Azuaka, her former boss at Legal Dailies newspaper and with me is my wife, Opula.
He was yet speaking when Lucas interjected, “Oh really you are welcome to my humble home. Please make yourself comfortable,” his gaze came upon Gabriela, “Sweetie, please do make them comfortable and get them something to eat and drink.”
“No! No! No!” Azuaka replied, looking at his wife, Opula who gave him a confirmatory nod, “Yes, we are okay, standing.”
“Standing?” Lucas contemplated and became irreversibly perplexed as he saw the looks in Gabriela’s eyes. He argued inwardly if all was well until Duncan said.
“Big Papa! Mom took me to the hospital today and she has been weeping all day,” he spoke into the face of Lucas who raised a brow at Gabriela and then cast an inspective stare across Azuaka and Opula.
“Sweetie!” he called Gabriela whose gaze had lowered, “What happened today? Your face holds discontentment and ruin. You don’t seem to be alright. Duncan said something. What happened? And our visitors don’t want to have a seat.” He placed Duncan on the floor, squatted to him and said, “You know what, Cute Pearl , why don’t you go upstairs and write me a letter, yes a letter. If you do well I will buy you a big bucket of ice cream,” he said got an affirming nod from Duncan and watched him disappear through the stairs. With his gaze back to them he asked, “Please am I needed here or do I have a role to play in this visit? I would love to keep my son busy upstairs if I am not needed.”
He got no response from any of them so he turned to leave…
“Your wife has a confession to make, Mr. Lucas,” said Azuaka, with his gaze upon Gabriela, “It is time to tell your husband the truth, Gabriela, and we have not come to sit.”
“Truth? What truth?” Lucas who was interrupted about walking upstairs asked, staring at Azuaka.
“Why don’t you ask your wife,” said Opula, nearly arrogant and losing it.
“What truth, sweetie? What are they talking about?” suddenly Gabriela burst into an earth quaking cry that left her body shaking. She bowed her head in shame and scorn.
“I am sorry Lucas .i am sorry – apology is not just enough for what I am about telling you. Please forgive me…” she sobbed and wiped endless tears.
Lucas barked, “What the fuck is going on? What am I forgiving you about, uh? What the hell is happening? Can somebody talk to me, please?”
She managed to say, “It is about Duncan. He …he…” she stuttered and broke down in tears again. She wiped her tears and summoned the breath to speak yet again when Lucas shouted at her , “OK. OK.” She snorted, “Lucas. Duncan is… is not your son. He is not…” she got swallowed in weeping again.
“What do you mean? What is she saying? That what? Duncan is not my child? Are you OK? Can you listen to yourself?
“Yes! I know what I am saying, Lucas. That very trip I had with my boss, Azuaka,” she pointed at him, “The one in Brasilia, we got drunk and we fucked. I never knew I would get pregnant. I thought the pregnancy was yours. And since I wouldn’t want to abort it I decided to keep it secret and keep Duncan under our parenting. I thought Azuaka wouldn’t know about it. I… I never wanted anybody to know, since we needed a child. But nemesis caught up with me and he has come to reclaim his son…”
“What the fuck are you talking about, woman? Have you lost your senses? Duncan is my child from my loins. You guys are out of your senses…”