A FATHER'S PAIN EPISODES 14 to 20

? A FATHER'S PAIN EPISODES 14??? Efe, my maid, was anxiously and faithfully waiting for me when I arrived home. She was anxious to know what the result of the DNA test was. “Efe, we shall know tomorrow in court but have no doubts. Peter and Pamela are my biological children and this will be proven by the DNA test. Efe, I could see, was totally disoriented by all that was happening and she had good reasons to feel that way. Since she came to live with us, nothing serious had happened to shake the unity and harmony in the party. We were all just one happy young family. Then suddenly, everything seemed to be crumbling like a pack of cards. Despite her plea that evening, I skipped supper, went to have my bath and went straight to bed. But, I was to have a sleepless night. My mind kept on going back to my children when I saw them at the hospital and their attempt to break free from their mother’s hold and come to me. My heart yearned for them. Finally, I managed to fall asleep only to wake up about an hour later hoping it was about 6:00a.m. Realizing it was 3:00 a.m, I sat up in bed, paced the room, walked out of the bedroom, went to the children’s room, went to the living room and finally went outside as I restlessly waited for day to break. Finally, it was 6:00a.m. I went to have my bath and dressed up before 7:45 am. As usual, Efe was ready for me with breakfast when I came out of the room. She had prepared tea with sandwich for me. I declined the breakfast and said I had to go. I noticed the sad expression on her face as I headed for my vehicle. It was when I got to the car that I saw John, my driver. He had just finished washing the car. His two weeks leave had come to an end so he had reported for duty. I was glad that I wasn’t going to drive. My driver’s sombre disposition was enough indication that he was aware of the fire raging on in my house. Obviously, Efe had briefed him. As far as I was concerned, that was good as it saves me another task of explaining to my driver what was happening. On our way, I phoned Carl Lomotey to tell him I was heading for the court. He said he was already at the court; my estranged wife was also there with the children. Knowing that my children were in court gave me mixed feelings. On one hand, I reasoned that in at most a couple of hour’s time, they will be in my custody. But I was also pained by the fact that they had to be put through a court session. I wished they were not going to witness a legal tussle between their mother and I. Finally, I arrived at the court. Immediately, I spotted Nora and the children. They were seated on the front bench in the middle row of chairs on the court room. I made no attempt to go to them, repeatedly assuring myself that very soon, my children will be reunited with me. The court room was quiet as all awaited the judge. I sat by my lawyer while Prof. Solomon Laryea sat by Nora and the children. She looked beautiful as usual. There was innocence and decency written all over her. Indeed, no one can judge a book by the cover. No one, by looking at Nora, would believe that she, a married woman, was capable of having s*x with another man in my bedroom and on our bed. She was a holy devil, I told myself as I sat there, occasionally staring at her. My children, Peter and Pamela sat calmly by her, not understanding what had taken place so far and what was about to take place. Again, I longed to have them in my arms; to hold them, cuddle them, kiss them and play with them. Presently, a loud voice announcing that the judge was about to enter the court room boomed, interrupting my thoughts. We all got up in the room. The judge entered. He looked clam and composed.......... ???? A FATHER'S PAIN EPISODES 15?????? We all rose to our feet, sitting down only after the judge had taken his seat.seat. All the lawyers in the room bowed lightly to the judge before taking their seats once more. I sat down calmly in-between my lawyer and his partner, K.A. Ofori . None of my relatives or friends were in court with me to give me moral support because only my house-help, Efe, and my driver, knew about the case. I had kept everybody in the dark. My colleague doctors also knew about the case but did not know we were in court litigating over my fatherhood of my children. Two cases were called and dealt with. The first case was a theft case involving an old man who was arrested for stealing food somebody had bought. He pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing. The judge, one could see, felt sorry for the old man. He warned him not to steal again even if he was hungry. Then he discharged him, warning him that the next time he is brought before him, he would deal drastically with him. The second case was an armed robbery case. Three armed robbers, with their police escorts were taken to the dock and then the handcuffs removed from their hands. They had already pleaded guilty to various charges and had been brought to receive their sentences. The judge described them as the scums of life and then jailed each of them 25 years in hard labour. Then my case was called.My estranged wife and I got up. The registrar got up to tell the judge that the DNA test had been conducted. “The envelope I have in my hand contains the result. The envelope was sealed in the presence of the two people here, I mean Dr. OforiMensah and Mrs. Nora Ofori- Mensah Both of them signed on the seal. Their respective lawyers signed as their witnesses. Now, I will give each of them the envelope to check if the seal had been broken or not” the Registrar said. He gave me the envelope. I checked the seal. Everything showed the seal had not been opened. Nora, my lawyer and then Nora’s lawyer all took turns to check the seal. With all of us satisfied, the judge ordered the envelope to be opened and the contents read to the hearing of everybody. The Registrar complied. He began to open the seal. I was calm, confident that I was going to be vindicated. I looked over at Nora. She too looked calm, and in fact confident. The Registrar finished opening the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper in it. The judge asked him to read the content. The court room was dead quiet. The Registrar began to read. The sum totality of what he read simply meant that the DNA test had proven that I was not the biological father of my children. Or, perhaps, I did not hear the Registrar well. I looked over at where my estranged wife sat; beaming with a smile, she was hugging my son. She looked victorious and this meant I had heard the Registrar well. She turned to hug her brother who was sitting behind her. “What did the DNA result say?” I asked my lawyer, who putting a hand on my shoulder said all was well so I should take it like a man. “Take what like a man? You mean the result showed that Peter and Pamela are not my children?” I asked, the tone of my voice rising. “Please calm down and lower your voice or the judge will be angry with you. The judge is about to speak. Let us listen to him first” my lawyer pleaded with me. I could hear the sound of my heart as it beat violently in its place of abode in my chest. I could see my wife jubilating. The judge began to speak. “…the result is conclusive that Dr. Ofori-Mensah is not the biological father of Peter and Pamela. The wish of Madam Nora that Dr. Ofori-Mensah should not come anywhere near the two children must therefore be respected” he said in part........?? No no no no no no no Nora you are dead.. ????? A FATHER'S PAIN EPISODES 16?????? At this juncture, I felt like getting up and screaming out to the judge that not even he can take my children away from me. But somehow, I managed to restrain myself. The judge then went on to direct that I should stay away from my children forever for my own good until they are of age and can decide things for themselves. Then he proceeded to advise me to move on with my life saying such misfortunes happen but those who retreat quickly and find new directions in life become successful. “Please take heart. Truth is often painful but it is always good to know the truth. I see you struggling with your emotions and I can understand what you are going through…” Suddenly, something in me snapped. I threw caution to the wind and took on the judge. As I spoke, he stared at me in surprise. “No! You don’t know how I feel! You have just given away my children and you say you understand how I feel! How can you?” I began. My lawyer, shocked at my outburst was pulling at my shirt very hard, signaling me to stop but I continued. “You are sitting there telling me to accept that my children, who have my blood flowing in them are not my children and you say you understand how I feel!” At this juncture, my lawyer, realizing that he could not stop me got up and began to plead with the judge not to hold my outburst against me. His attempt at stopping me from talking began to annoy me. I shifted from addressing the judge to addressing him. “Why are you trying to stop me from talking? In fact, I don’t need your services again as my lawyer. You are fired!” I screamed at him. He tried to make light work of my assertion that I have fired him. Obviously scared that the judge may cite me for contempt, he tried to pull me out of the court room. “Counsel, let him be. I understand his outburst. You let him be,” the judge said. As a result of his directive, my lawyer let off me and sat down. “You think you understand me, huh? You think that I am an unfortunate man who needs the help of a psychiatrist, huh? Well, you are wrong. For your information, I am going to have my children back. Nothing will stop me from having them.” The judge could no longer take my outburst. He ordered the policemen on duty to come take me away from the court room. Three policemen immediately began to encircle me. I ignored them and continued to verbally lash out at the judge. They grabbed me and led me out of the court room. I soon found myself in the car parking lot of the court. The policemen who brought me out tried to calm me down. The magnitude of what my estranged wife had done, and which was not part of the issue before the court was known to some of the officials of the court and this made some of them sympathize with me. “Sir, hmmmmm. Just take heart. This is very painful. Women!!! Women!!! Hmmmm! Trust a woman and you are sentencing yourself to death,” one of the men said in solidarity with me. Presently, I saw my lawyer come out of the court room with his partner. Few seconds later, my wife and then my children also filed out of the court room. My wife, for obvious reasons, looked triumphant. I began to scream at her. “Nora! You can smile now but I bet you, you will soon cry,” I shouted....... ???? A FATHER'S PAIN EPISODES 17???? In response, she cracked into laughter. Before anyone could tell what was happening, I was sprinting towards her in anger. My lawyer screamed after me. His partner immediately dropped the files he was holding and took off after me. I could see Nora ahead, rushing the children towards her car. By the time I got there, they were already in the car and speeding away. I looked around for a stone to hurl at the car, regardless of the fact that the children I was fighting for were sitting in and could get hurt. That is what anger can do to a person; cloud his sense of judgement. However, the stones around were too big for me to lift. “What are you doing, sir? Do you want to be arrested?” my lawyer’s partner screamed at me when he got to me. But one look at my facial expression and he regretted the tone he used to address me. “I am sorry, sir, for shouting at you. But it is important you remain calm in this matter. The court has ruled. There is nothing anyone can do, save appeal” he said. “Then we are going to appeal” I told him. I could see he was not in agreement with my decision to appeal against the ruling. We walked back in silence to where I had parked my car. Two policemen had come out of the court room to find out what the commotion had all been about. When we got to them, I heard my lawyer telling them everything was alright and that we were leaving the premises. Then without a word, he ordered me to get into my car and drive after him. I complied as the two policemen looked on. I got into my car and drove away after the lawyer. His partner followed me in his car. After a ten minute drive, we arrived at my lawyer’s chamber. We all parked our cars and filed into his office. Then he set about admonishing me about my conduct in court and after. “Contempt is a very serious offence. Many judges would have cited you for contempt of court and sentence you to at least a week in prison the way you behaved in court today. Please, never repeat that again even if it is very clear that the judge was wrong in his ruling. I now have to talk to your wife’s lawyer because I know him very well. He is going to press charges against you. If you do not behave, you would not only lose your children but you will also go to prison” he concluded. Sighing, I apologized for what took place at the court but said I want to appeal against the ruling. My lawyer said my chances of winning the appeal were negligible. “Once the DNA has established that the children are not your biological children, there is nothing you or anybody can do about it” he said. However, I disagreed with him. “Please just go ahead and file an appeal for me. I want it done immediately. In fact, I want it done today” I said. “Today?” he asked, sounding surprise “Yes” I responded “No. it will take at least a week for me to file an appeal. I now have to go for a copy of the ruling and study it. It will take a while” Carl Lomotey said. “Can’t we make it in three days’ time? I will pay you anything you want” I said. He did not look please with my request. “Mr. Ofori-Mensah, I have been your lawyer over the years and you know that between you and I, money is not an issue. So, please just relax. We have to think things over carefully. I know how devastated you are to know that the children are not your biological children. But….” “They are my biological children!” I screamed at my lawyer. He was startled at my outburst. “I see you too believe the nonsense that Peter and Pamela are not my children” I said. “Well, the DNA test proved you are not their biological father” my lawyer said. I sprung to my feet. “You are fired! From today onwards, you are not my lawyer!” I said and I meant it. Then I walked out of his office...... ????? A FATHER'S PAIN EPISODES 18???????? He came after me but I ignored him. I got into my car and ordered John to drive away. He complied immediately. But, I did not have any place in mind to go to so I got him to drive around till I finally decided to head for the beach. It was a sunny day, an ideal time to splash in the greenish blue ocean so I was not surprise to find, when I got there, quite a number of people swimming. My driver parked the car by the street. I got down and strolled along the path to the beach. When I got there, I found myself a suitable place to sit. I tried to relax my body, inhaling and exhaling deeply.The sight of the sea helped me a lot to relax. Very far off of to my left, fishermen were mending their nets. It was quite a distance away and no swimming was taking place there. In front of me was where the fun was taking place in the sea.Soon, I caught sight of a family; father, mother and obviously, their two children, having fun in the sea. Immediately my family came to mind. I remembered the good old days when I would bring my wife and children to the beach to have fun. Peter loved to swim. It was always difficult getting him out of the water when it was time to leave. All those happy days were now only a faint memory to me. Sitting on the shore and staring out at sea, for the first time, I began to wonder what made my wife commit a******y. Was it that I was not satisfying her in bed or that she was simply seduced by my friend’s wealth? Talking about wealth, I was well to do by all standards and was able to provide far more beyond what she needed. So, it did not make sense that she would fall for my friend’s wealth. I decided it was not healthy for me to be thinking of what my wife did so I shifted my attention back to the family playing in the sea. They had the fun of their lives, splashing in the water until the sun began to set. Gradually, people began to file out of the sea. The family I had spent my time watching also waded out of the water and made their way to the Chevrolet they had come to the beach in. They got in and a few minutes later, they were gone. Others too were leaving the beach. I watched them all leave. A couple, who had spent time romancing in the sea, also left, hand in hand. Finally, I was the only one left at the beach. It then dawned on me that just as I was the only one left on the beach, so was I the only one left in my family. My heart was heavy. I felt very sad. My thoughts went to my children. I wondered where they were and what they were doing. With a heavy heart, finally, I decided it was time to go so I made my way back to my car, got in and got the driver to head home. We arrived home shortly after 7:00pm. Efe was waiting in the living room. Obviously, my driver, John, had already phoned to tell her the outcome of the court case. Her eyes were very heavy, a sure sign she had been crying. “Sir, welcome” she said as she let me into the living room. Then she burst out in tears. I held her, pulled her close and comforted her. She and my driver were the only one I could now call family. I called John into the living room and addressed him and Efe. “You know the outcome of the court case. But this is not going to be the end. I am going to appeal against the ruling of the court. My lawyers are obviously not interested in an appeal so I have sacked them. I would employ the services of a new lawyer tomorrow and then launch an appeal against the court’s decision. Rest assured that Peter and Pamela are my biological children and I will get them back” I said. Even John seemed affected by the whole saga. He was a lucky-go-happy person but suddenly, he seemed to have lost his verve and dash. As for Efe, she broke into fresh tears when I began to talk. When I finished talking, she said she has something to say. “Sir, I am aware I will incur your displeasure after you hear what I am going to say. However, I will take the risk and say it. Sir, please forgive madam and take her back. I know what she has done is very bad. But, for the sake and unity of this family, I am pleading with you to forgive her and take back” she said..... ???? A FATHER'S PAIN EPISODES 19???????? I stared at Efe in silence. I could feel her pain. She was totally broken because the family she had come to regard as her family had disintegrated. And, it was clear she would do anything to get the family back. Women often have a much more forgiving spirit than men. (Ironically, they also have the penchant for vengeance than men). As I sat starring at the house-help, I wished I had the strength she had to forgive my wife. But, I just couldn’t. Thoughts of someone else making love to her was just too much for me. And worse was the fact that she had the guts to say I was not the biological father of my children was something I could not forgive. For a woman to say her husband is not the biological father of her children is for the woman to admit that she has been cheating on her husband for ages. But, I had no doubt that Peter and Pamela were my children and I was prepared to fight to death to have them back. As far as I was concerned, no authority, no law, no judge, no court and no human born of a woman was going to stand in-between me and my children. “Efe, you wouldn’t understand what is happening until you are in my shoe. Just start getting used to the idea that your madam is no more my wife. However, as for Peter and Pamela they will be back to this house. They are my children” I said. John for the first time spoke up. “Sir, I know and understand how you feel. I support you totally in the path you have taken. It is one thing for a woman to cheat on her husband and another thing for the woman to say her husband is not the biological father of their children. As a man, I can’t forgive my wife for cheating on me let alone forgive her for daring to say the children I have had with her are not my biological children. Madam Nora did not try at all!” the driver said. It was the first time I had even heard him speak with such conviction. I thanked him for his support. Efe, I could see, had resigned herself to the idea that Nora would no longer be my wife. After the talk with the two, I went to have my super of kenkey and fish with slice tomatoes and onions. I was very hungry in spite of the setback I had suffered at the court that day. So as not to feel lonely, I invited John and Efe to join me at table. They were understandably reluctant at first but later, understood why I needed them at table; they were the only ones I could call family. Without them, I would feel lonely sitting at table alone. John had been driving me for nine years while Efe had been with us as house-help for seven years. She was 27 while he was 35. Now, they were the only ones I could call family. After supper, I retired to my room, had my bath after which I went to bed. By 8:45pm, I was sound asleep. I woke up at 3:35am and sat up in bed to think over all that had been happening to me; my wife, her infidelity, her claim about my not being the biological father of my children, the court verdict and my lawyers’ stance. Suddenly, I began to wish that all that was happening was just a bad dream. I wished I would wake up to find that I never caught my wife in bed with my best friend and that my wife never dragged me to court saying I was not the biological father of my children. I wished I would wake up to find my wife up and about in the house, as usual, getting breakfast ready for me to go to work and the children to school. Maybe I was going to wake up from the dream to the usual morning scene of my children being chased around so they could have their bath and prepare for school. Then they will appear at table later on all dressed up for school and looking excited. After breakfast, I would get them into my car and drive them out of the house with their mother waving and smiling affectionately at all of us. I snapped out of my fantasy. What I was dreaming of was a mirage. My wife was gone. The unity of my family had been shattered and there was nothing I could do about it save fight for the return of my children....... ???? A FATHER'S PAIN EPISODES 20????? I got up from bed, went to my gym which I had not visited for days and spent about twenty minutes exercising. Later, I had my bath, had my breakfast and then had my driver take me to town. We found ourselves at Glo Estate. It was a well-planned upper class area of residencies and offices. Some of the crème de la crème of the society had their homes or offices here. At Number 6, Lollipop Avenue, we stopped. I got out and walked to the gate while John stayed put in the car. I rang the bell and was startled when a voice asked me who I was and who I was looking for. “I am Dr. Ofori-Mensah and I am looking for Mr. Oscar Brew. I want him to handle a case for me” I said. A few seconds later, the voice, through the phone at the gate, asked me to open the gate and enter. I pushed the small gate backwards. It opened. I stepped into a beautiful yard of very green grass and flowers of all hues. I walked up to the front-door. I turned the handle. It opened. I stepped in and found myself in a corridor. “This way, sir,” a lady who suddenly appeared from nowhere told me. I followed her up the stairs to another room. She offered me a seat while she stood waiting. After about three minutes, she pointed to a door and asked me to open and enter. I did. “Welcome Dr. Ofori-Mensah. Are you the Dr. Ofori-Mensah of Mother & Child Hospital at South Ridge?” he asked me. “I am, sir” I replied. He had obviously run a check on me. I took a seat. “Welcome, sir. I am Oscar Brew. My friends call me OB. How may I help you?” he asked. I thanked him and within five minutes, narrated to him everything that had happened concerning my wife, ending with my decision to change lawyers. He did not stir or show any emotion as he listened to me. His eyes bore into me as if he was trying to determine whether I was lying or telling the truth as I talked. Oscar Brew was one of the city’s top attorneys. He was noted to be expensive but delivers to the satisfaction of his customers. He was also noted to have handled very high profile cases and gotten quite a number of suspected murderers off the hook. A tall slim looking man, he was in his mid-sixties and greying. Everything about him indicated he was well to do. “Your entire cost is $50,000. You will make a deposit of $35,000. As soon as you do that, I will take over the case” he said, neither smiling nor frowning. I had come prepared. For my children, I would go any length. I took out my cheque and wrote an amount of $35,000 for him. He stared at the cheque for a while after collecting it. Then he said we were in business. He called in the woman who had brought me in and asked her to take me to see another person. story continues