Behind the Facade

Chapter 4

Been five years and no child. Jane was getting more worried day by day. She talked to Athalia about it, and she advised her to go for a checkup and see what was wrong with them. That evening, when Tyrone got back, Jane brought up the matter, and Tyrone was so angry, but she made him calm. She suggested they go to the hospital. He didn’t want to go at first, but she kept pleading. One day, Madame Veronica went to their place and insulted Jane. She called her all sorts of names. She cried all through the night. She called Ethan and booked an appointment. They did the test, and it showed that nothing was wrong, so Ethan advised that they should try other methods, but Tyrone didn’t like the other options mentioned because of stories he had heard, and he wasn’t ready to lose Jane. Tyrone was losing hope; he didn’t know what to do again. Then his mom visited again. Jane ran upstairs so she wouldn’t get insulted. Tyrone’s mom said she then took her son out. Tyrone and his mom went out. Jane waited; she called several times with no response. She was asleep by the time he got back. He came home drunk. She took him upstairs, changed his clothes, and put him to bed.

The following morning, she tried talking to him but got no response. She was confused and wondered what she had done. She tried to remember how the day went, but she didn’t see a reason why he was angry. She called Athalia and explained. Athalia said she should calm down and that he would surely come around. The following morning, she saw a lady in the kitchen. She was shocked; she asked who she was, and the lady responded that her name is Angela, and I'm Tyrone’s new woman. Jane was confused. Angela mocked her, saying, "I heard that you're barren." Jane slapped her hard, and she screamed. Tyronne hit Jane, and he took Angela upstairs. He didn't even listen to what happened. Later that day, Jane called Athalia and explained everything to her. Athalia then called Tyrone to schedule a meeting with him. Tyrone went to the meeting. Athalia spoke to him, and he left. When he got home, he called Jane and spoke to her harshly. He called her different names and even insulted her parents. She couldn’t take that, so she insulted him back. He beat her to the extent that she was so bruised. The following morning, she was feeling so weak. She called Ethan. He came and took her to the hospital. She was treated, and they did a test on her and confirmed she was pregnant. She was happy but didn’t know how to tell Tyrone. Ethan then said that he would follow her home. When they got home, Tyrone came out, and immediately he slapped Jane. He didn't even listen to what they both had to say. He was angry that Jane brought Ethan to the house. Ethan was angry and told Jane to pack all her things. The following day, she thanked Ethan for helping her, and then Ethan asked her if she still planned on telling him about the baby. She said that there is no need, and she will take care of her baby herself. Ethan asked how, since she doesn't have a job, Jane told him that she does. "Mum advised me to work from home; I sell properties, and it is going well," said Jane. Jane then said that she wants to change her environment so she won’t remember Tyrone. Some days later, Athalia visited, and they told her everything. She said that if that is what she wants, then there is no problem. They picked a day to go out of town. Jane went to Tyrone to ask for a divorce, and then she found out that Angela had moved in. Tyrone told her to send the papers, and he is ready to sign them. The papers were sent, and Tyrone signed them without looking back or considering them. They went to a new town, got a new house, and also found a company for her to work for. The following week, Jane was so happy. They went back home and packed all her things.

A night before she left, Jane and Ethan spoke about a lot of memories and promised to have each other back. The following day, Ethan dropped Jane off and helped arrange her things. Jane resumed work at her new place of work. A young man who is Jane's partner at work came. His name is Liam. They introduced themselves. He admired her beauty and didn't know when he said it out loud. Jane enjoyed her place of work, and Ethan made sure he spoke to her every day. Jane started going to Antenatal, and finally they gave her a break so she could rest. Liam was always checking up on her. One particular evening, he went to her house and met her crying. He was so worried and asked what happened, but she didn't respond. He didn't want to pressure her, so he just kept on patting her back. After a while, he told her not to cry again, at least for the sake of the baby. She stopped crying, and then he asked her what happened. She told him that she was just thinking of everything and how her baby would be without a father. He didn't want to ask her too many questions, so he just told her not to think about anything and to just take everything easy. She thanked him, and he left. Ethan went to her house some days later and asked if she had been taking her drugs regularly. He advised her to do some exercises instead of sitting at home all day. Since then, she has started going to the gym.

A few months later, she gave birth to baby Andrew. Luckily for her, Athalia was with her when she went into labor. Athalia quickly took her to the hospital, and the birth was easy. She didn't go through any stress or surgery. The baby didn't have a naming ceremony because Jane didn't want it. She didn't want people to know about the baby. Athalia and Ethan brought gifts for the baby. Liam also bought provisions and foodstuffs for her. Athalia stayed with Jane for a while to help take care of the baby. After a while, Jane started going back to work. She couldn't take the child with her to work, so she kept him at a daycare. After work, she would pick him up. Everything was going well, and Liam went to her place. He didn't want to ask her about her past, but he was bothered and had to ask. "What of your husband?" asked Liam. She looked at him and burst into tears. He told her not to cry, and she told him about how she became an orphan, married Tyrone, couldn't give birth, how he brought another woman into the house, and how she couldn't even tell him when she got pregnant. He felt so sorry for her. He told her not to think about it and to just focus on herself and her child. She thanked him, and he left. Andrew grew older, and she enrolled him in a school. The school was not far from her place of work, so immediately she closed the door and picked him up. She provided for all his needs and made sure he was not lacking anything. After a while, he started asking his dad. She always told him that he traveled and would soon be back. Andrew was still small, so he always believed. Years later, it was hard for her to use the same excuse, so she always looked for something else to say. Some weeks later, it was already midterm break at Andrews School. He begged his mom that he would like to go to Athalia's place, but Jane didn't answer him. After some days, Athalia visited, and Andrew was so happy. He hugged her and whispered into her ears that he wanted to follow her home. Athalia looked at Jane and told her to allow him, saying that she would take good care of him. Jane said that she knows, and that is not the issue, and that she is scared of Tyrone finding out about him. Athalia told her not to worry, and Jane finally allowed him. She packed a few clothes and some toys. When Ahalia and Andrew left, Jane started crying. She thought of how hard it was to continue lying to her son about his father. Finally, they arrived safely at Athalia's place. Athalia showed Andrew his room, and she prepared custard for him.

The next day, Athalia went to work, and Andrew was at home with Hannah, her maid. They played a lot of games, and she cooked whatever he wanted. Andrew was fond of her. By the time Athalia got back from work that night, he had already slept off. She covered him with a blanket and went to bed. Andrew loved Athalia's place so much. He didn't want his break to be over. One day, Athalia went to work as usual, and Andrew started crying. Hannah tried calming him down, but he didn't listen. He kept on saying that he wanted to see Grandma; that is what Andrew calls her. Hannah called Athalia, but she didn't pick up; she wanted to inform her about what was happening. Andrew kept on crying, so Hannah dressed him up, and they both went to Athalia's place of work. Hannah had never been there, but she knew the address. On getting there, she asked some staff if they knew Athalia, and they directed them to Athalia's office. When they got to the front of her office, they knocked gently. Athalia told them to enter, but nobody did. She thought maybe the knock didn't come from her office, so she continued what she was doing. After some minutes, they knocked again, and Athalia shouted, "Come in." They both entered, and she was shocked. She stood up from where she was sitting and didn't know when her coffee poured on her. Athalia asked what they were doing there, and Hannah replied that Andrew was crying seriously. She called her several times, but she didn't pick up. Athalia carried Andrew and asked what happened. He hugged her and said that he missed her. He hasn't seen her in a while because he is always asleep by the time she gets back from work. She told Hannah to sit, and she offered them something to eat. Andrew was so happy to see Athalia. Athalia didn't want them to go home alone, so she asked them to wait till she was done at the office. She gave them money to go get some snacks while watching the movie. On their way to get the snacks, Andrew mistakenly hit a man. He quickly apologized, and Hannah also apologized. The man he bumped into was Tyrone, his father. Tyrone asked what a young boy was doing in his company, and Hannah replied that they came to see his grandmother. Tyrone was confused because he made sure there was no old person in his company so they'd all be able to work actively. He asked who it was, and they said Athalia. Tyrone was surprised; he was wondering how Ethan gave birth so fast, and he didn't even know about his marriage. He told them to enjoy their day, and he left.

The next day, Athalia was really busy at work and could not take Andrew back to his mother, so Jane said that she'd come pick him up. Jane initially thought she was going to pick him up at Athalia's house, but instead Athalia told her that Andrew was with her at work because only he couldn't stay with him, and the maid went to the market. Jane didn't want to go to Athalia's workplace because of Tyrone, but Athalia told her that he was out of town. Unknowingly to Jane, Tyrone changed his mind about traveling, which means he was in the office.

Jane was skeptical about going, but she later went. When she got there, she asked for Athalia, and she was directed to her office. Jane didn't want to stay for long, so she just talked with Athalia for a few minutes, and she left. On her way out, she saw Tyrone. She was surprised because she thought he was out of town. Andrew ran to him and hugged him. Jane was surprised. She quickly shouted at him, and as they were about to leave, he asked what she was doing there. She said that she came to pick up her son, and she left. Tyrone stood there, and he was trying to figure out what she said. He quickly ran after her and asked if they could have a conversation. Jane told him that she wasn't interested, and she left. He ran after her again and told her that he had just one question to ask. She told him to go ahead, and he asked if Andrew was his son. She laughed and told him that it didn't matter if he was his son or not. Tyrone persuaded her to tell him, and she said yes. He was speechless for a while, and she left. He tried talking to her, but she didn't listen. He called her several times, but she wasn't using the number again. He found a way to get her new number, and he called her, begging her to forgive him and come back to him. She told him that she could never go back and that she could never be a second wife. He told her that he had already divorced his other wife, and he was sorry.