Katalina
“She really said that?” Emilia broke the heavy silence, and I nodded in response.
“Do you think it’s true?”
I shook my head.
“What if it is?”
I looked up at her and shook my head.”I don’t believe her.”
“You have to get Grandma to talk about this. At least get a confirmation that…” she snapped her fingers and stood up. “DNA! A DNA test will solve this.”
“That’s true.” I nodded excitedly, wondering why I didn’t think of it. All we need are some of Grandma’s hair and maybe nails. “Let’s go search her room.”
Being that Grandma was out of the house, it was the best time to gather samples.
We hurried to her room but got nothing. Not even a strain of hair. That felt very strange. Wasn’t she combing her hair?
“Doesn’t she like you combing her hair! Just offer to do it when she comes back.”
Emilia exclaimed.
“It will be too late?” I replied with a deflated spirit.
“Why?”
“Our flight is in the evening.”
“Oh,” her shoulders dropped. “So what do we do now?”
Just then, we heard the gate creaking. We watched from the window as Grandma’s car drove into the compound.
“She is back! Let’s go!” Emilia grabbed my hand and we headed out.
“Grandma, I thought you would be out till evening.” I called out, feeling very hopeful and reenergized.
“It isn’t her lucky day. She lost quite some hands before giving up.” The nurse chuckled.
Grandma snorted but didn’t refute her.
I quickly walked over and grabbed the wheel chair.
“Let me.” I smiled at the nurse.
“Emmy, do you have to really leave today?” Grandma asked, once again ignoring me.
“Grandma, we have school tomorrow.” I reminded her.
“Whatever.” She scoffed, then ignored us all together.
“Grandma, have you washed your hair this week? Let me help you with it before leaving. What about that?” I darted my eyes at her nails. They looked trimmed. Wished the nurse would slack off a little. Give me something to work with. “Your nails too. In fact, let me give you a complete spa experience. What do you say, Grandma?” I asked excitedly.
She rolled her eyes and I sighed in relief. Though she didn’t say anything, her silence usually meant an acceptance.
Giving Emmy a knowing glance, I wheeled her towards the house.
Since Grandma has a Masseuse who comes in once a week to help with her yoga and stretches, she had everything needed.
We started with the pedicure and manicure. There wasn’t much to do, so we focused on massaging her fingers. After that, we each scrubbed her feet simultaneously. I was able to clip off some scraps of nails and Emmy sneakingly scooped them away in a hand towel she kept by her side. After that, we started on her face, stretching the muscles and kneading. By the time we were down, she was red like tomatoes. Then it was time for the full body massage.
With Emmy by my side helping, we quickly got her naked and laid out on the massage table with a small towel covering her butt. With her back to us, I was able to carefully snip off some hair without her noticing a thing. Once that was done, she turned around for the last round of massaging.
“Emmy, dear.” She suddenly broke the silence.
“Yes, Granny.”
“Go into my bedroom. There is a small sling bag on my bed. Kindly help me bring it, will you?”
“Okay, Granny.”
She and I exchanged a perplexed look before she left the room. The moment she was gone, Granny decided to sit up.
“Granny, what is it?” I curiously asked.
“What do you want to know about your father, Katalina?” She asked in a grave tone.
“Grandma, I…” I was stumped for words.
“It’s okay. I was caught off guard last night. That’s all.”
“I… There is really nothing serious. Forget that I asked, okay. Lie down, let me finish your massage Grandma.”
I was going to get DNA done and prove Mum wrong. So I didn’t think I should put Grandma through that stress again.
“What did you find out?” She asked in a low voice. It felt like she was trying to hide her emotion, but the slight twitch of her left eye gave her away.
“I didn’t find anything…”
Her gaze clashed with mine and I froze. It was as if she was saying I shouldn’t take her for a fool. Huffing, I danced from my foot to another.
“Katalina, I don’t like repeating myself.” She sternly sneered.
“I heard Mum saying something.” I muttered almost inaudibly, wishing Emilia would return at that moment.
“What did she say?”
“Th-that my Dad isn’t my Dad.” I couldn’t even look her in the eye. I just started staring at my feet.
“It is true”
“What?”
It was like I got struck with lightning, and spontaneously broke out in cold sweat. I staggered back with wild eyes.
“He-he-he…th-then, M-mum wa-s right? I…”
“David left home in late 2007 after getting heart broken by Alice.”
“Alice? Same Aunty Alice from across the bridge? The one who sells honey?”
“That one.”
“No wonder she and Mum never got along.” I muttered.
Grandma nodded and continued. “Five months later, David came back home with Helena. She was already heavily pregnant with you. Alice wanted to get back with David, but Helena was already with him and heavy.”
“I don’t understand. Why did you say he wasn’t my Dad?” Nothing she said answered this question and I was still sweating.
“David left home in November 2007 and came back five months later with an eight months pregnant woman who looked like she had never been in the sun for most of her life.”
“…”
Oh.
The warm massage room suddenly felt like winter on a stormy day. It was like wave after wave of windy chills were crashing into me.
“What is going on?” Emmy suddenly appeared behind me. She held me, looking very worried.
“Mum, mum, she didn’t lie. She… I… Emmy what am I going to do?” I asked, half wailing, half gasping. My chest felt choked and spicy.
Realizing what I meant, Emmy went pale too. Holding me in a bear hug, she started patting me on the back until I calmed down.
“Give me the bag!” Grandma whispered to Emmy, who then handed her a green, pouch-like bag with a super long sling.
“Take.” Grandma nudged me with the bag. “There are some pictures there. They belong to your Mama. Maybe they will help you find out more.”
With shaky hands and tears running down my eyes, I collected the bag.
“Grandma, didn’t Mum tell you anything about my …”
I couldn’t say it. Dad has always been my Dad. This new person, I really don’t know how to address him. He will never be my father though. My Dad will always be David.
“No.” Grandma shook her head. “Back then, I was completely against David’s decision to marry a pregnant girl he met on a train. But it turned out that Helena saved his life during a robbery on the train. She needed somewhere to stay, and she was willing to pay for boarding. She had money. David on the other hand had another plan. He convinced Helena to pretend to be his woman. When Alice heard about it, she got really mad. Since she just broke up with him a few months ago and he was then back with a eight months pregnant girlfriend, it was easy for everyone to believe that David had been cheating on Alice before Alice ended things with him. That was why Alice and your Mum never got along.
David and your Mum got married when you turned six months. By then, I was in love with your Mum and you. She was the best Daughter-in-law anyone could ask for.”
At this point, Grandma was also crying silently. I reached for her hand and held on to it, wanting to refute her words, but I dared not. I dared not tell her that Mum was not what she made us all believe. She is a sinister criminal who used her only child as a bait in a game of life and death.
We never finished the massage as we had to call the nurse to attend to Grandma who wouldn’t stop crying no matter how I tried to console her.