Julia was surprised. He looked at the little girl who tucked him and made a request. A part of him almost skipped.
She’s like his daughter who he had always seen in his dreams. Same kind of heights and a look of helplessness shown on her face.
He squatted and looked at the girl. She has almond grey eyes and round lips. Her Hair Was long and full and almost reached her waist.
Her complexion is white and she looked to be a girl between three to four years. She’s thin and her hands were tiny like it was going to be broken into two by a small child.
Julia kept his gaze on her and he saw pleas in those eyes. She wants him to help her find her papa?
This is the first request he had ever been asked by a child and it seemed a little difficult.
Theresa and the others were puzzled as well by the request of the little girl. She seemed to want to cry as her eyes were already well up in tears and Julia stared at her.
Julia felt a part in him grew weak as the tears of the little girl flowed down her cheeks. She’s like his daughter that cries in his dreams.
He held her little hand and asked ” what’s your name?” She doesn’t look malnourished but she definitely would have looked better and chubbier if she was with her real parents.
“Amaya” she replied and without waiting for another word from Julia she threw herself in his arms and started sobbing loudly.
” Take me to my papa..” she requested again. Julia subconsciously raised his hand and held her in a hug. How can he help find her papa?
Theresa’s eyes welled up already. Rosa suddenly sniffled, she was already sobbing quietly. Such a little girl who longs to be home again.
She definitely must have known her father and experienced his love. Her story would be different from Lanre’s.
She longs for the warmth of a home again and wants someone to help her find her papa. But how did she end up in the orphanage?
“.. Her parents and herself were involved in a ghastly motor accident and she was the only survivor. How she survived is still a mystery to me.
She had no injuries nor a scratch but her parents and their chauffeur died at the spot.
A good Samaritan had brought her to the orphanage with the hope that someday, her relatives would come for her.
But it’s been three months and no one has come. She’s always sobbing and wouldn’t eat nor sleep asking to see her parents.
She had refused to mix up with the other kids. Maybe because her upbringing and the environment where she grew was different entirely from ours..” the Matron explained.
Amaya snuggled into Julia like she had known him all her life. She seemed to be afraid of parting with him.
Everyone was seated before the Matron, except the boys who were being watched over by the Junxie’s bodyguards.
“Is it possible for her to be adopted?” Julia asked. He is not parting with Amaya. She had found him and he wouldn’t let her lose him.
“Sure but on the condition that if someday, a relative of hers comes searching for her and has the proof of being related to her, she might be taken away from you..” the Matron declared.
Julia glanced at Amaya and saw that she buried her face in his chest and tucked in him harder. She doesn’t want Julia to leave her and the latter understands.
Julia held her gently and let her look up at him “Listen to me Amaya, I can’t help you find your papa neither can I take you back to your home. These are things I can’t do for you, can’t fulfill your request.
But I can give you a home, love you exactly like your papa used to love you and give you everything that you ever wanted in this life.
But that can only be possible if you will take me as your papa and call me daddy henceforth. Then you come with me to my house and you will be my daughter forever.
Will you make me your papa? Julia requested and for the first time since he had set his eyes on Amaya, a smile showed on her lips, it is undeniable that the smile was coming from a heart full of excitement.
“Yesssss Papa” Amaya screamed out with a long yes. She circled her tiny hands around Julia’s neck and placed her head on the nook of his neck.
Everyone present smiled and the Matron was happy. This girl show such excitement? She never would have believed it if she hadn’t seen it with her eyes.
If someone had told her, she would call it a lie. Amaya would find a new home and have a new father. Such a beautiful girl.
“I want to sign the necessary documents. I will be going back with my daughter..” Julia announced.
Monica came to Rita’s room and sat on the edge of her bed. She smiled and told her that she would want to discuss an issue with her.
Rita sat up and drew closer to her mother. She had resumed back to her work and had returned to her usual self.
“How has your work been?” Monica began. Rita said everything went smoothly and no challenge whatsoever.
” I am glad you have gradually overcome the unpleasant events of the past and leaving the memory to where it should belong, the past.
But baby, you can’t remain like this. You are a young woman and deserves to be in love. You need to have a soulmate and a companion who cherishes you.
That’s why I want to make a suggestion. I want you to rise up and find a man suitable for you and loves you.
I want you to start seeing someone…”