"Vera went through a lot. She is an orphan. Even with her heart condition, she worked multiple jobs so she could get enough money to keep up with her medications. That was until she became pregnant. It was hard for her. She was always falling sick that she even was giving a sack letter to quit from two of her jobs, which were the cleaning job, and bar job. She was able to manage the waiter job which was during the day but the pay she got there was very low. She had to forgo buying her medicine to pay her house bill.
She could not afford to buy healthy food or prenatal medicines or even go for check up. She also said she called you one time to ask for help but you shunned her. She told me all these few hours after she woke up from the delivery and decided I should call you if there will be any luck. She does not have much time to live and want her baby boy to be in safe arms. Her other option was that if you refuse to come, I should help her find a caring family who will adopt the baby." Dr Peter said. She whispered the last part as she wiped a tear off her face.
As soon as the she finished her statement, the baby in the incubator moved his left hand and opened his eyes, which made Samuel cry the more. His got an answer to his question. All his doubt disappeared. He did not need any DNA test to prove anything. He could see that the baby was his. His eyes had the same colour as his, his dad and younger brother. No doubt, he is the father to the little one in the incubator.
Samuel could not control himself as his tears started getting louder.
"It's time for him to be fed." Doctor Peters said and she called a nurse over and gave her some instructions after which she dragged Samuel who was reluctant to go, out of the room.
Immediately they got out of the children's ward, Samuel plopped down on a chair and cried his heart out.
Doctor Peters took a seat beside him as she squeezed his shoulder, assuring him that everything will be all right.
"This is my entire fault. If only I had believe Vera when she called me. If only I had listened to what she had to say. If only I had helped her, she and my child won't be going through what they are going through." Samuel said in tears, feeling guilty.
"I was enjoying life somewhere without even thinking that my baby and his mother are somewhere suffering. Ah, God I am so stupid. Look at what I have done. I will never forgive myself if anything happen to both of them. I will never forgive myself." He said as he wept bitterly.
After about fifteen minutes, when Samuel had calm down a little, Doctor Peters asked him if
he would like to see Vera and he said yes.
They both got up and he took her to Vera's ward.
She took her leave to give them some privacy, as she knew they had things to talk.
Immediately Doctor Peters walked out, Samuel began to take few steps towards Vera who was on the hospital bed with her eyes shut. She looked very pale and one could conclude that she was very sick. Her hair wrapped with a sky blue scarf, which matched her sky blue hospital wear. She had drips connected to her right hand.
Samuel took quite steps to where she was. He was not sure if he should wake her up or not. He eventually took a seat that was beside her bedside and kept on watching her sleep. Unconsciously, he caressed his right hand with her own, which caused Vera to blink her eye. She is a very light sleeper.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up." He mumbled, Guilt evident in his voice. "You came?" She whispered, with brimming tears.
Vera was surprised he was here as she was already thinking her child would end up in the orphanage when she is no more.
"Yes Vera. I'm here." He managed to reply. Things were silent for a while between both of them as they kept on staring at each other before Vera broke the Silence.
"He's so beautiful." Vera whispered with tears in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry Vera. Sorry I was never there when you both needed me. I am sorry. I should not have replied you the way I did several months ago. Please forgive me." Samuel begged as he started crying also.
Vera just nodded her head positively as she bit her lower tongue in order to stop the sound of her tears.
"I never wanted to call you. But again, I felt you had a right to know about the existence of your child." She spoke as she wiped away her tears with the back of her palm.
"And I was so stupid for not believing you." He replied
"Perhaps if I had reacted to the whole situation in a very matured manner, you and our child will not be going through all these."
"I saw him Vera. He is so tiny and looks very weak. I will never forgive myself if anything happens to him. I will never be at peace if anything happens to both of you." Samuel whispered.
Vera had a sad smile on her lips as she took Samuel cold hands into hers and said, "He will survive this. He's a fighter."
She said as she looked into his eyes and said again, "he has your beautiful eyes." Samuel chuckled and said, "I know right."
"So how did you cope all these while?" he asked her as he helped her into a sitting position on the bed and he took a seat beside her on the bed.
"It wasn't easy but I tried everything I could. Usually I did three jobs but I ended up getting fired in two because the pregnancy took a toll on me, again with my health issues, I was always falling sick."
"But I tried to manage the little I earned as a waitress. Sometimes I got huge tip and sometimes I got nothing. Therefore, I prioritized my spending. You know for the rent, and food. I couldn't afford signing up for an antenatal because it was too expensive but I tried to make sure I ate right and do things right concerning the baby with what I read on the internet." She said and Samuel nodded, trying to process all she had said.
"So how did you get my personal number?" he asked.
"When you left that night, I found your complimentary card on the floor. That is when I even discovered who you really are. Then when I found out I was pregnant, I never wanted to inform you because I had a feeling you were going to react the way you did. But I just felt I should do my part by informing you about the baby and then it's up to you to believe if you want the baby or not." She said.
"I'm so sorry about that." He apologised sincerely.
"It's okay. Now I'm happy our baby will have his daddy with him even after I'm no more." She said then looked him in the eye. "Would you like to name our child?" She asked.
"You haven't named him already?" Samuel replied shocked.
"No. I wanted you to be involved. I was hoping you would be here today, that way he can have your surname. I have some names in my mind." Vera said and she asked Samuel to pass her purse, which was on the table, and she took out a piece of paper with words written on it and handed it over to him.
Samuel looked at the list and could not help but smile. There were about 14 names there. "It's hard for me to pick." He pouted.
"I know. But you have to choose." She shrugged.
"Okay which is your favorite?" He asked her.
"I love Seth, Clement, Alex, Nathan and Anthony." She said.
"I think they are perfect and Anthony is my younger brother's name." He said with a sad smile and that is when he remembered. His family are all back home, planning his
engagement party and he is here. However, at the same time he cannot leave Vera and his son
alone. They both need him.
"Sure, but I don't think I have enough call card in it. "She said as she handed over the phone to him.
"Can I use your phone?" he asked Vera
"Its fine, I could just buy through my bank account." He said and entered his pin and did some transfer. Then he began dialling his mom's number.
Samuel's heart was beating twice as fast as it would. It was already 10.43pm in Denmark that means it would be 9.43pm in the UK. The engagement party had to start by 8pm. He was so damn sure everyone would be worried. He actually planned to call them but it skipped his mind with everything that just happened.
After what seemed like forever, his mom picked up the call "Hello?" he heard a very worried voice say.
"Mom, it's me." Samuel whispered.
"How could you Samuel? We spent months planning for today and you just disappeared. The food and decorations was just a waste, you made our entire guest come for nothing. Do you know how dishearten this is. I kept on trying your number but it wasn't even going." His mom, Abigail, said with anger.
"Mom, I can explain." Samuel said.
"You owe me no explanation Samuel. Tuga already told us everything. You had a child and you kept it away from us. You didn't even say anything to Yvonne." Abigail said from the other side.
"Mom it's not like that." He said, but his mother shut him up before he could utter another word.
"I thought I brought you up better than this Samuel, I think you just lost Yvonne for good. You could have trusted me and let me know whatever was going on. I'm really disappointed in you Samuel." Abigail said in between sobs and ended the call.
Tears welled in Samuel eyes instantly. His mother's word really affected him. This was the first time his mom used the word that she is disappointed in him and he felt so bad about it.
Vera noticed his mood and gave him a squeeze on his hand. She heard the whole conversation because Samuel sat on the bed beside her while making the call and his mom's voice was loud enough for her to hear.
Samuel dialled Yvonne's number and she did not pick up. He dialled it for the second time
and she eventually picked up.
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