Chapter 23
WRITER'S POV
"Eva, you have to listen..."
"Listen? Jake, did I hear you say listen? What exactly do I have to listen to? Another fat lie I assume?!"
"Hey, calm down... You are shouting and it's not good for Rose's health, besides, this is a hospital" Jake soothed
"Oh! You didn't know it's a hospital when you came here with him!!" She squawked.
"Baby, you have every right to be angry at me but I swear to God, I wasn't..."
"Don't even dare talk to me! Who's your baby? Oh, sorry, of course, Rose is your baby and her siblings too" Eva snorted pushing Kate into Sam's arms.
"Eva, I..."
"I would appreciate it if you get yourself out of this place!" Eva shouted and the doctor has to interfere.
"Mr. Samuel, I'm sorry, but you are disturbing my patients and I am sorry to ask you out, this way, please" the doctor said cordially pointing towards the door.
"My sweet Eva" he made to touch her and she moved away from him. "Please, give me just one minute"
"Get going, please! And don't call my name again!!" She glared at him.
"Okay. Ehm... Kate" he handed the baby to her, hugged Rose and turned to leave quietly. Jake and the doctor left with him.
"Rubbish!" She scuffed settling down again.
"Mummy, what is going on between you and dad?" Rose asked watching her mother closely.
"Nothing, honey. Just get well for mummy" Eva soothed taking her hand.
Rose withdrew her hand from her mother's hand and fought back the tears that assembled in her eyes.
"Mummy, this is the worst Christmas I have ever experienced. Bob's birthday party didn't even hold and you and dad are making matters worse with all these quarrels"
"Rose, I told you to always trust me. Mummy will never lie to you or have I ever done that?" Eva felt sad for her.
This is the situation she hates finding herself in and definitely her kids aren't enjoying it, will she ever be happy again?
"You have been doing that for the past few weeks and right now" Rose talked like an adult and Eva wondered when she grew overnight.
"Okay, I know, but your dad is here, isn't he?" She tried waving it.
"It's not about dad, Mum. Bob and I saw a divorce agreement paper in dad's room. We have been waiting for anyone of you to tell us the truth"
"What? Rose..." Eva trailed off.
"Benny helped us read and explain it and we found out you and dad have been lying to us all along and we believed it"
"Rose, it's not like that. You guys are just too young and believe me, we were not serious about it..."she made to hold her again.
"Please, mother, don't pet me like a baby anymore. I know am still very young to understand anything but I know whatever decision you two are making now is wrong"
"How would you know that? Rose, just get well and..."
"Am very fine now, I don't like what you displayed when dad came here to see me, it just feels like you are the one that has been keeping him away from coming to visit me!" Rose broke to tears.
"Wow, is that what you think of me now?! I have suddenly become such a bad mother that will deprive a father from seeing his daughter!" Eva's anger got a better part of her.
Rose stood up from the bed and went towards the door, "I will just go to dad"
"I can't believe what my daughter thinks of me, it really serves me right" Eva's throat went sour.
"Mummy, I wasn't..."
"Just go to your father, I will come and take you home later or you can go with him if you want, I love you" Eva pecked her and left first.
Kate seems to be oblivious to the happenings around her because she suddenly became calm and Eva noticed it's her nap time.
When she reached the waiting area, Sam and Jake stood like expectant fathers waiting for their wives to put to bed.
They rushed towards her when they noticed her coming out of the ward as if she's the midwife taking care of their wives.
"Eva, can you please listen to what I have to say?" Sam blocked her way.
"See, everything happens for a reason, Eva. You two are like my family and I would love to see you two back to the couple I used to envy" Jake commented.
"I was going to take Rose home, you can take her to the house or to your parent's, excuse me" Eva managed and sidestepped past Sam.
"Fuck!" He cursed angrily punching his palm.
"That's what you get when you trust the wrong people, next time, use your head!" Jake left Sam to his fate alone.
"Dad?" Rose's voice almost made him jump.
"Do you want to go home now, honey?" Sam brightened up taking her hand.
"Yes, I also want you and mummy to resolve the issue between the two of you before it becomes too late,"
"Issue? Me and your mother have no issues, darling. We are..."
"Aren't you going to run after her before it becomes too late, I don't want to be a product of broken home," Rose said with an eye roll.
Sam's heart hopped, this little girl is more brave than six hefty men. He carried her into his arms and walked swiftly towards Eva's direction.
SAM'S POV
Before I got outside, her car is already driving out of the hospital's parking lot.
I carefully took Rose into my car and drove after her, I noticed Jake's car following mine and it seems he's answering a call.
I drove into my parents compound minutes later and parked right beside her car, I helped Rose out and tried stopping her again.
"Eva, please, listen to me, I know I have been foolish this few days but I promise that this will never happen again"
I caught her but she shrugged off my hands and glared at me.
"What is it? Samuel! Am sick and tired of this marriage!! I'm happy you can take care of your children so I am ready for a divorce as you have always wanted!!!"
My parents and our kids came out of the house and I guess her shouts brought them out. I became consumed by unknown anger and frustration.
"You are tired! What was it that I did that I don't deserve to be forgiven?! What happened to the part of the val we took on the altar which states 'for better or worse?'!!"
"Oh, may I remind you that it doesn't say I should watch you strangle me to death! And did you also val to blame me for any bad that comes to us!!" She returned.
My mother came to her and carefully took Kate away from her, Bob held Rose and led her to go stand with my father. Tyrone clutched his mother as if he's afraid to let her go.
"It wasn't my fault..."
"It's my fault! Yes, that's exactly what I am talking about!! Blame everything on me because I have a bad past, one I told you of," tears slid down her cheeks.
I was moved, I raised my hand mindlessly towards her face but she slapped it away.
"I didn't say that... Gosh, Eva, I'm sorry. Anything that happened this few days, I was deceived and I become an ass when I take alcohol, please" My voice became inaudibly calm.
"Deceived? And you where still in deceit when you almost killed me or when you brought an ingrate into our matrimonial bed!" She didn't try to control her anger or tears.
That's a sign that she will soon succumb to my plea. I know her, she will pour her heart out and let it go. Hope possessed my heart.
"That's it, Deborah...that woman led me into drinking and I don't usually know what I am doing when drunk neither do I remember it" I explained as calmly as I can.
"I don't even know what to believe, maybe it's all my fault, I failed to notice when the devil was seeping into my marriage and I got what I deserve"
"No, it's mine. I shouldn't have ventured into the wrong hands and poured the venom on my family" I walked slowly towards her and she didn't move away this time.