At the five star general mansion…
Chioma held her dolls in her arms and leaned closer to her mum who was prepared to go out, and get familiarized with the new basement that she is been deployed to.
Afterall, the base was huge and one could get lost in it, if care is not taken in a short time.
“Mummy… Our sixth birthday is next week”. Chioma reminded and raised her head to Diana, her face was a Canva of freckles as usual, and her eyes wide with a child’s innocence.
“Yes, I know.. how could I forget my children’s birthday? You all are the best thing that ever happened to me!” Diana responded sweetly, with her eyes sparkling with curiosity why Chioma suddenly reminded her.
“We know you didn’t forget. We just want a special gift from you that day!” John spoke on behalf of his siblings as he got closer to Diana and Chioma who were seated on a couch.
James on the other hand was behind him, with his face devoid of it’s usual playfulness, replaced by a solemn expression.
When Diana noticed the seriousness emanating from her little boys, her face, usually so calm crumbled like a sandcastle when John’s words fell.
“We need our daddy! You keep telling us Dad was posted to Afghanis City and it’s been years, he hasn’t returned. You refuse to tell us or unveil our daddies identity to us, his children. Tell daddy to return. Don’t he love us? Or value us? We need our daddy! Mummy!” James’ solemn voice rang out immediately John’s words registered. Clearly, the three little rugrats had planned it.
Diana was quite taken aback. For some years now, she successfully stalls this conversation each time her children ask for their daddy. Now, they sound stern and look determined as if, ” if she didn’t tell them who their daddy is, they would quarrel with her…”
Diana’s mind raced and the wheels in her mind started to turn furiously. Even herself didn’t know their father. She didn’t know the gigolo from seven years ago. She only know he has an eagle tattoo on his back.
Should she ask Anamika about the gigolo’s identity? No! She can’t!
“General Laura we’re damn serious! We want to meet and cement our relationship with daddy!” John barked with his jaw set, and his nostrils flared, an unmistakable sign of his anger. He was tired of their mum’s lies such that he now addressed his mum as general Laura and not the usual mummy.
“Enough of the lies, General Laura! James pressed on,
Diana was suddenly thrown into a hot mess. She was not expecting it to come to this so soon, she had lied to them that their father was posted to Afghanis City and would return soon. And now, clearly her lie had been outdated just as it had occured to her.
Should she continue with the lie or just tell them the truth? That she doesn’t know their father, yet she got pregnant for him?
No! That would be too absurd and awkward! How can she explain it to her children?
Even now, her kids no longer addressed her as mummy. Diana was not even the type that was particular about how she was addressed but her own children addressing her as the general Laura was utterly unsettling.
“Why are you quiet all of a sudden?” Chioma interjected swiftly with her sweet melodic voice laced with a hint of seriousness.
“I promised I won’t talk to you ever again if you don’t tell us who daddy is, and to sum it up, we’d sue you to court for denying us the knowledge of our own father!” Chioma added, threatening, clearly she was losing her rational mind over their mum’s relentless attitude each time they ask for their dad.
Diana was further deep in thoughts and a dilemma, her six years old daughter just threatened her… and how can she go about it? It’s not like she was afraid of her kids sueing her… But, it’d definitely force her to tell them the truth and for seven years now, she has ensured to keep the truths away from them.
“Okay! Don’t worry kids. Give me till next week, I’d inform and bring daddy home…” Diana bribed with her words, stretching her hand out to draw the two boys standing in front of her closer, surprisingly the two boys retracted away.
“We won’t believe you this time around!” James’ dignified voice rang out,
“Stop lying general Laura! Do you know daddy? If yes give us his contact information or perhaps, call him video call for us!” Chioma barked as if tapping into Diana’s thoughts and then she got up from the couch to join her brothers with her lips thinned into a tight line.
“Of course, my informant told me minutes ago that the battalion he is leading now are in the war front. I can’t disturb him now and besides he would be too busy to answer…. so, let’s wait till evening?” Diana said and flashed an awkward apprehensive smile.
“Definitely by evening I’d …. ” Diana added, lying. It was the only way she could escape the hot mess that she is now in without disclosing the truth. Maybe, if she had time till evening she may divert or think of an alternative.
“Till evening?” Chioma asked,
“Yes, till evening…” Diana responded almost immediately. “Come give your mum a hug!” She added, stretching her hand forward for a hug.
The kids frowned at her response and action, immediately their face twisted in disappointment. Their calm feature was barely recognizable now. Without shooting Diana another frosty glare, they left the bedroom, all wearing an angry face.
Immediately they left Diana descended Into the land of thoughts.
She has by evening to provide their father!
Should she hire someone to assume their father’s role? No!, What if they find out he was hired? and besides who could she possibly hire?
She sat up at once, no longer able to bear where her thoughts were taking her. Barefoot, she padded out into the corridor and toward the library.
Still, her thoughts wouldn’t let her. Her brain kept thinking over and over again, and even the speed of her thoughts were getting dulled by panic,
“Plausibly, her kids were smart and could ask for a paternity DNA test if she eventually hires someone to assume and play the father’s role”.
“Oh my God!” Diana groaned. Nonetheless, she always knew it would get to this point, just not this early.
“I only wish I could tell them the truth or they know!” Diana’s thoughts tumbled over themselves, helter-skelter; if they had known, known she was not doing this deliberately.
Soon, she arrived at the library, Hoping to find some book to read in order to calm herself down and straighten her thinking.
But the library was empty. Afternoon light slanted in through the parted curtains, laying bars of gold across the floor. On the desk lay the book someone probably had read, its worn leather cover gleaming.
“I have to humble myself and ask Anamika!” Diana decided as she approached the desk.
Without giving it another thought, she turned like a typical military officer matching.