Shawn POV
Her hair had been made, so I paid for the service rendered. She was looking different now, extremely beautiful.
"Wow!" I exclaimed.
"You look cute mommy," Ciara said complimenting Julia's look.
"Thank you dear." She replied looking at me but I didn't know if it was me or Ciara she was talking to.
*********************
I was in the sitting room watching my favorite show on the television. Ciara and Julia were in their room, prolly sleeping.
Just then, the doorbell rang and I stood up to open the door, only to see Ciara with the gateman.
Wait a sec, the Ciara I knew had long hair while this one had short hair that reached her shoulders, meaning this isn't Ciara. Who knows if this was the girl Ciara was talking about.
"I saw her outside the gate, she says she wanna see you." The gateman said.
I held the girl's hand and brought her into the living took while the gateman went back to his duty post. She sat on the couch looking around, her expression blank.
"What's your name?" I asked her but she kept mute.
"Where are your parents and who sent you?" I asked again but she kept staring at me with a blank expression. Why was the kid here and who sent her? I asked myself times without a number. I sat beside her and noticed that she was carrying a teddy bear and was clutching it tightly to her chest.
"I'm not going to hurt you. Don't go anywhere okay?" I said and stood up. I went upstairs to Julia's room. They were both asleep, facing each other, and Julia's hand was on Ciara's waist. I felt an emptiness in me. This was what I wanted, a wife and kids.
I tiptoed to the bed and tapped Ciara who yawned.
"Hey, Ciara," I whispered so as not to wake Julia. "Come on, wake up. I've got a surprise for you." I said whispering and she opened her eyes when I said that.
"What kinda surprise?" She asked out loud.
"Shh... I don't want your mom to wake up."
"Why?" She asked out loud again. I put my index finger on my lip, signaling her to be quiet, but it was too late as Julia had woken up. She looked surprised when she saw me.
"Where's the surprise package?" Ciara asked loud enough for Julia to hear. It was as though she was doing it purposely. Julia sat up.
"Surprise? You've got a surprise for Ciara?"
"You're loudmouthed, Ciara," I said and she smiled.
"Tryna hide something from me?" Julia asked looking at me and Ciara.
"It is meant for Ciara's ears alone as I didn't want to bother you," I said and Julia raised an eyebrow.
"He didn't want you to know that he had a surprise for me." I winked at Ciara, signaling her to keep shut, but she winked back at me."
"Don't mind her Julia, she's lying."
"You're indirectly calling me a liar since you're calling my daughter a liar," Julia said smiling.
"Ciara, between your mom and I, who tell lies more?" I asked and Julia started winking at Ciara.
"Tell him he's the one who tells lies more and I'll take you to the beach tomorrow," Julia said trying to bribe Ciara.
"If you do that Ciara, then the gift that ought to be for you will be given to Steve," I said and Ciara kept looking from me to Julia.
"Mom, you tell lies more than uncle Shawn." She said and Julia squeezed her face as though she tasted something bitter.
"This is cheating." She said
"No, it's not."
We kept on arguing until she burst out laughing.
"Finally!" I exclaimed, "Finally you've laughed." I said grinning
"You're both playing like kids. I never knew adults behave like kids too."
"Your mom has the whitest set of teeth I've ever set my eyes on," I said grinning from ear to ear.
"Uncle Shawn, when are you gonna show me my gift?"
"Go to the sitting room and wait for me. I'll be there in a jiffy." I said and Ciara ran out of the room.
I sat on the bed, staring at Julia. "Why're you staring at me like that?" She asked.
"Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are? You're the prettiest lady I've ever set my eyes upon."
"Don't think I am like other ladies out there that fall for your sugar-coated tongue."
"That's the darn truth, take it or leave it." "On a more serious note, I think Ciara's twin is alive."
"Why are you cracking an expensive joke?"
"With all sincerity. I was shocked. At first, I thought it was Ciara but realized that Ciara doesn't have short hair and the girl is lankier than Ciara."
"That can't be possible. The doctor who carried out the caesarian operation said I had given birth to twins, but the other had died."
"Did you get to see the baby's corpse?" I asked and she shook her head. "I don't like the idea that's coming to my head."
"And what's that?" She asked
"I think the Doctor collaborated with whoever that wanted your baby," I said and her eyes went wide with shock.
"That can't be possible, can it? I mean who had wanted Ciara's twin and why?"
"That is not the most important question. The most important question is that why is she here and who gave her the location to our apartment?"
"Do you think Anas had a hand in this?"
"I think so, but I am not sure. Come to think of it, remember what happened in the early hours of this morning, the man who killed himself said I should take you to the airport if not, you'll be dead. Hope it isn't what I'm thinking."
"What are you thinking?" She asked
"I'm thinking she was sent to kill you," I said and she gasped
"What if she knows that I'm her mom? Would she still kill me?"
"I don't know," I replied honestly. "Let's see how the drama unfolds.'
We kept staring at each other before she looked away.
"Uhm... Can I ask a question? A personal one at that."