As she browses absentmindedly through the baby products, every little thing touches her heart.
All of a sudden a little red baby’s apron catches her eyes. It is embroidered with golden thread illustrating a flying dragon and phoenix. It really is quite beautiful.
Smiling, Nancy points at the little apron and tells the shop attendant, “Please bring it down, I want to take a look.”
“That’s a nice one, I’ll take it!” Someone else says right at the same time.
Nancy turns and is greeted by the sight of a white haired, kindly looking old woman.
“Oh! Young lady, did you like this apron too?” said the old woman, her eyes drawing down toward her stomach. Her eyes crinkle as she laughs, “Pregnant? It’s okay. I’ll let you have it, if you want it.”
Nancy shakes her head, embarrassed. “No, I just wanted to have a look. Granny, if you like it, please go ahead and buy it.”
“Alright then. I won’t say NO just to be polite.” The old woman laughs heartily, and tells the shop attendant to pack the apron up.
“Mother, what are you doing here?” Lawrence’s mother eagerly walks in when she sees the old lady. She then unexpectedly runs into Nancy and asks in surprise, “Why are you here?”
The old woman forestalling ahead, replies, “This is a fine young lady, she is really courteous!”
Nancy feels embarrassed. Remembering the awkwardness earlier with the apron, she really didn’t want to stay there any longer, so she smiles and turns to leave.
The old lady grabs her hand and places the parceled apron in it. She smiles and says, “This is my gift to you, for the baby.”
“No, granny – I couldn’t possibly accept! Please keep it for yourself!” Nancy is really taken aback by this unexpected gesture of kindness.
“Nonsense, don’t be silly girl. This apron caught my eyes and I have decided that it is for the little one in your womb. Don’t refuse!” She forces it into her hands.
Nancy is red with embarrassment. “I can’t possibly accept this.”
Mrs. Ellis, who stood beside her, frowns in surprise, “Are you pregnant?”
Hearing this Nancy’s face goes pale. She shakes her head and puts the parcel back into the old woman’s hands. She quickly leaves the mall regretting ever coming here.
If Lawrence’s mother gets to know there will be hell to pay.
Seeing her leaving the mall with such haste, Mrs. Ellis is really confused. She rounds on the old woman and asks, “Mother-in-law, was that girl just now really pregnant?”
“You can see that your mother-in-law is old. When you were carrying Lawrence in your womb, did that village nincompoop Thomas know? He was clueless. After I told him, he ran to go ask you. Did I ever wrong?” She swells with pride.
Lawrence’s mother is lost in contemplation over these words. She gazes distantly at the direction Nancy left, her face unreadable.
Nancy flees from the mall and drives back home. On returning back she is surprised. There is a pile of presents in the living room – many maternal health care items and some fancy, expensive looking mysterious gift boxes.
Tammy is excited like a little girl and gleefully counts the gift boxes. She gets even more excited seeing Nancy back. “Elder sister, you’re back! You’ll never believe what happened – a handsome guy just brought all these gifts and said it was for Miss Nancy Moore’s family! Did they come from your boyfriend?”
Nancy comes over looking puzzled, “Are you sure these are not bombs?”
“Of course not, these are presents from Mr. Lawrence Ellis.” Justin Wood comes in from the door bearing gift boxes. Tammy jumps in happily, eager to help him with them.