Claiming Love

3

“Shoot, I am ready to hear it,” Stanley could not hide his anxiety.

“Your wife is three weeks pregnant,” the medical lady said in a-matter-of-factly way.

“What,  my wife pregnant? This is unbelievable! He almost jumped out of his sit. Stanley was for a while lost for words. A number of questions ran though his head. What did this new development portend for his family? Now that Jennifer knew that she will soon have her own baby, will her loving relationship towards Gina change? No; he will not allow anybody or anything to emotionally separate them from their lovely foster daughter; never!

During the period of waiting Jennifer busied herself with taking care of the pregnancy. She was now a stickler to all the antenatal instructions. She didn’t want anything wrong to happen to her unborn child. On the flipside she seemed to divert attention from Gina and this started to worry Stanley. In as much as both of them should be happy with the expectation of their own biological child, it was only humane to ensure that their surrogate daughter did not suffer any inconveniency in the home front. One evening Stanley demanded to know why his wife had suddenly changed her mien towards the small girl. Jennifer’s response was to say the least, astonishing.

“I have not noticed that I have changed in any manner. Gina is our child and I love her dearly!

“But I have noticed that these days you rarely play with her as you used to. It takes a bit of persuasion to prepare her for school and even have to be reminded to collect her from school. Don’t you think this is a bit abnormal? Stanley asked refusing to let go easily.

“I am sorry darling. Most probably the pregnancy has diverted my attention somehow. I will make amend,” she said and left for the bedroom.

Stanley mused on her statements for a while. He came to the conclusion that may be he was being overly myopic and protective of Gina. He let it lie on ice for the time being but swore to himself to keep a close eye on Jennifer.

Three months prior to her giving birth, Jennifer took maternity leave and moved to her matrimonial village to wait the big day. The village was always considered safest place to put to bed away from the hustle and bustle of the noisy towns.

The birth of the couple’s first child, a bouncing baby-daughter was greeted and celebrated like no other in their village. Pomp and pageantry was the expression all over the place. There was enough in food and drinks. Congratulatory messages came in fast and furious. Well wishers were aplenty. Nobody in the family’s circle wanted to be left out. When time for naming the infant arrived they all settled on Maria. The day was done and Stanley and his wife sat down to take stock of the happenings of the recent past and chart a way forward for raising their young family. Small Gina seemed to notice that something out of the usual was happening in the family.

“Mum there so many people in our house,” Gina was overcome with curiosity.

“These have come to welcome your sister to the world,” Jennifer replied as if to a grown up and holding small Maria close to her chest.

Gina jumped up and down with joy. Jennifer could not hide her smile. This is what she had longed for her entire life; but, there was still the small problem nagging at her conscience. Was Gina’s mother still alive? Did she ever get well? The fact was over five years she and her husband had never bothered to inquire from their doctor friend about the condition of Gina’s mother. In fact they had agreed never to talk about this issue and neither should any of them bring it up anywhere; in any case they had moved on to another location and therefore they should try to put the past to the back banner.

Although separated by a three-year gap the two girls grew up as equals inseparable in many ways and the things they did. Gina was the bright and intelligent one while Maria was an average learner but agile and quick in action. The evenings were the most enjoyable moments of the day. This is when both of returned from their respective schools and their children’s games before bathing and preparing for dinner. After the evening meal, dad was ready with is animal tales which he told until sleep overtook both.

When Gina passed her primary school exams Stanley decided to enroll her in an equally elite school as the Danever to pursue her secondary school studies. However, this time round he got her admitted as a boarder, which meant that the only time she would interact with family was during visitation and term holidays. This was the saddest period for Maria. It was unfathomable to think that there was not going to be a playmate in the evenings and weekends! The day Gina left for life in boarding school Maria cried her eyes out. Jennifer didn’t appreciate this. She had actually come to the conclusion that hence for all should be done to discourage and eventually end this sibling rapport between the two; how to approach this was the major challenge but she reassured herself that with Gina away she would come up with something.

Stanley was very pleased when at the end of the term he was present with Gina’s performance report which showed that she had come up tops in her class. As he drove home with the young student at the back of car, he came up with all manner of ways of breaking the news to Jennifer. He wanted to see her face when he did this.

He drove into the compound at around 4pm and apart from Maria who ran out at the sound of the vehicle and the family’s dog Scotty, there was no sign of Jennifer. Thinking that she could be busy in the kitchen, maybe preparing some tea to celebrate Gina’s return from school, Stanley got out the car and ran up the steps leading to the front door and vanished inside leaving the two girls embracing and wrestling each other with joy.

“Darling,” Stanley called out as he entered.

He was surprised to see Jennifer reclining at the coffee table reading some fancy magazine. She did not even bother to look up and welcome him as maybe he had expected. He went over and pulled a chair next to her. He wanted to know what going on here. Although his wife had in the recent past acted strangely, he didn’t anticipate such uncouth behavior from her.

“Is this the way you welcome your long absent daughter home?” he asked his voice a little bit off tangent.

“Which daughter?” she responded rather nonchalantly.

“Oh don’t start this; Gina of course! She is back from school after three months and if you cared to know she came top of her class,” he thought this will jog her mind and get her a bit interested.

“She is the student. It concerns her more than us,” and with that she stood up and left the room.

Stanley did not know what to do. He was very sure his wife had something up her sleeve, and it was not a good one. Unbeknown to him this inner prediction would soon come to pass. Gina too noticed the changed character of her mother; from a loving and caring human being she had turned into a stranger whose actions especially towards her could be best be described as atrocious. She was always careful not to do anything that would provoke her mum, for this would result in tongue lashing diatribe at best or a thwacking at worst. Things would sometimes get offhand whenever Stanley spent night outs on official duty; then young Gina would be subjected to doing all the household chores despite protestations from her sister Maria. Eventually she was force to sleep in the couch.

Gina feared reporting this to her father whenever he came back for fear of further harsher victimization next time he was away. However, as much hard as she tried to hide her pain, Stanley didn’t fail to notice a sudden change in the girl’s behavior and it worried him. She most of the time kept to herself. At times when he unexpectedly bounced into her in lonely solitude, he more than often saw tears in her eyes and on inquiring what the problem was, she would always look at him, misery in those eyes and walk away without uttering a word.

Stanley knew all this had to do with Jennifer. In what would go down as the worst confrontation he had ever had with his wife since they married, Stanley one day came back early from work determined to put an end to these shenanigans by his wife. He made it very clear that he was not going to allow anything happen to Gina that will endanger her wellbeing. “Mark my words, if ever this girl comes to any harm, I will hold you personally responsible; and unfortunately, you may not like the consequences,” he said looking straight into Jennifer’s face.

“Is that a threat? She asked with equal bile.

“Call it what you want,” his raise voice made her cringe momentarily. “Only remember Gina is our daughter!

“She is your daughter, not mine! She said and made as if to walk out.

Stanley reached out and pulled her back with force.

“You don’t walk out on me. I am not done,” he led her to the double couch and sat her down, he then sat next to her, placed his hand across her shoulders and began to speak.

“For several years we suffered the ignominy of childlessness. We were a laughing stock among friends and even among our friends,” he said with a voice full of bitter recollection. “We prayed day and night that one day we shall be rid of this daily humiliation and have our own child. So when Gina came to our lives and family we were able to stand among our peers and be counted. Yes, she may not be of our own blood but she brought into our lives something to be proud of.” He paused to see if these words were having any effect on Jennifer. When he saw none, he decided to go on. I am now beyond caring; let her think what she wants but Gina will always be a member of this family, he thought to himself.

“Why do you allow evil thoughts and spite against a kid overwhelm your heart?” he asked rhetorically not expecting any answer. “Please search your soul and find some love for the young girl.”Stanley was done talking and detangled himself from her and walked out.

The next four years were lived out with eager expectation by Stanley and Gina. When the University entry exam results came out, as was the norm Gina topped her class albeit with a lower margin than expected; father and daughter attributed this to the problems in the home front. He had earlier in the day driven Gina to her school to collect he result documents. He took a day-off to celebrate her daughter’s excellent performance.

Two weeks later she received a letter of offer to join one of the most prestigious universities in the country. This was the pinnacle of Stanley’s joy. He arranged for a victory party in a week’s time. Many relatives and friends would be invited. He was ready to show all and sundry how much Gina meant to him. Everyone invited felt honored to share in the joy. Mama Tessa was the only guest Jennifer invited on her part.

***

The two ladies talked past midnight. Weariness could be noticed in Gina’s voice and face. Her host decided that she had heard enough. She led Gina to the visitor’s room where there was a neatly made bed. Once she hit the mattress sleep engulfed her and was soon snoring soundly.

Three hours later Felicia was up and preparing breakfast. She did not want to disturb her young guest, especially after the nerve-racking story of her turbulent life. ‘She is an unfortunate child of fate,’ she mused to herself. When all was done Felicia woke Gina to wash up and come for tea at the small but well organized sitting room.

As she splashed the warm water all over her body in the outer bathroom, Gina could not but thank her benefactor. This was a refreshing experience after the bondage of servitude she had called her home. ‘So there are good people out here who have hearts of gold?’ she wondered. Breakfast was also another wonderful experience; tea, bacon, boiled eggs and buttered bread, these were things she could on dream of in Jennifer’s house. How she wished she would live a free life as the older woman seated across from her.

As if reading his mind, Felicia smiled gesturing round the room with her hands, she said, “Material things do not make me happy. They only serve to make life run easier,” she could see the surprise in Gina’s face. She continued, “The essence of our very existence is the joy that we derive from ensuring every other person is happy. One day if and when we meet, remember to remind me to define this to you,” she concluded confusing the young Gina even more.

Having completed their breakfast in this confusing note, Gina announced that she was ready to go. When Felicia inquired where she wanted to go she only mumbled under her breath, “Wherever the road will take me. I have to be far away from that dungeon of misery I have called my home since childhood.”

“A word of advice; one, if the police are looking for a missing person called Gina Stanley, they can easily pick you out walking along the deserted road, so either keep off the road and chance your luck in the woods, and two, here have this money when you hit the highway from here enter the first public vehicle you come across and go as far as the furthest destination it can take you,” she said and handed her some money.

The goodbyes were a sight to behold; the two women embraced and hugged in an emotional moment reminiscent of people who have known each other their entire life. They allowed tears to roll freely on each other’s shoulders. At the end Felicia escorted her to the main gate and bid her farewell.

****

The Suneka Police station was located in what was once the colonial administrative compound composed of two office blocks and a social hall. The stone-faced police constable sitting at the reception desk reminded Stanley of the run-ins students had engaged the security personnel during his university days whenever there were riots. There was always a joke that was told as to how all those police officers sent to quell disturbances at the places of higher learning looked as if they were born by the same mother; stone-faced, brutal, abusive and full of vitriolic banter.

“I have come to file a missing person report,” Stanley started after exchanging not-so-friendly greetings.

“Who is missing?” the constable asked opening the occurrence book to record the proceedings.

“My daughter, Gina Stanley,” he kept it short; and was determined to do just that.

“For how long has she been missing?

“It is now about five hours since she was last seen home,” Stanley said and suddenly realized his  mistake