Raymond's heart almost skipped a beat. He knew this day was bound to come but he wasn't expecting it that early.
"She was a beautiful young lady. She was more like the Pearl of her season. Rare to come across type of lady. She was mostly quiet but had a lot of confidence. She was smart, intelligent and brilliant. She was always first in her class. She was not the flirty type. She was self-conscious yet liked to play. She was kind, very kind" Raymond said.
"What's her name dad?" Aida asked staring at her father who grinned as he talked about her mother.
"Aida, I'll tell you her name some other time"
"Is she alive? Did she abandon me? Why can't you tell me her name?" Aida bombarded her father with questions.
"Aida," Raymond called out and propped himself on the pillow to have his body face the roof, "there are questions I can't answer for now. But get this straight, your mom never abandoned you. Just that I hurted her, a lot. I don't think she would be able to forgive me"
Aida noticed the sudden change in her father's demeanor as he talked.
"Did you cheat on her?" Aida asked with the saddest face ever.
"No,I didn't!" Raymond replied with a sarcastic grin on his face.
"What did you do to her?"
"I can't tell you now, sweetheart. But everything I did was for her good"
"You still love her, don't you?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I have been wondering why a man as handsome as you are..,with all the packs women fancy, the handsome face, infact all the good looks, and works in the army, a major to be precise, is still single. You don't spare any woman a glance. I was watching you while you talked about my mom. I may be young, but hey, I am a teenager now. I'm fourteen dad. I guess I can see love when I come across it. I think you still love her. And I don't know what to tell you because I don't know if she's alive or deceased. If she's dead, you've got to let her go. If she's alive, work things out with her"
Raymond who was lying on his side, looked shockingly at his daughter and let out a throaty laughter.
"You don't seize to amaze me, Aida. Indeed, you're her daughter. Aida, letting go of her, or fixing things with her ain't as simple as you put them. Sometimes, adults problems are more complex"
"I get it. But dad, you're young. Gran Gran told me to make the most out of my youth. I guess you need that lecture too"
Raymond smiled widely at his daughter and drew her close to himself.
"Dad, today I told my teacher you were my dad and she doubted. She said you were too young to have a daughter my age. Dad you're thirty-two years right? Is it abnormal for a thirty-two years old man to have a fourteen years old daughter?" Aida asked innocently.
"Aida, I had you when I was eighteen. It's not abnormal to be a father at that age but it's kinda rare"
"I see. I guess my mom must be young as well"
"Yeah, I am three years old than her"
"She must be twenty nine years by now"
"I guess she is"
"Dad, my mom is alive. Don't you dare lie"
"What makes you think so?" Raymond asked looking intently at her.
"Because you said you're three years older than her. Knowing you, if she were dead, you would have said 'you were...' Dad, tell me she's alive"
"Aida" Raymond said and kissed her forehead, "you have to go to bed. It's late"
"Dad, who is she?" Aida asked as she showed a picture of a young woman who looked just like her to him. "Is she my mom?"
"Aida, where did you get that?"
"And how many years do you plan to keep me in the dark?" Aida asked as she stared at him and continued; "Forever?"
After what seemed like eternity and finally coming to understand that he was not going to talk anymore, Aida said with tears streaming down her face; "I guess this is where the sleep over ends". She was walking out of the room when he suddenly spoke.
"Aida, she's alive. She didn't abandon you. She just hates me for almost ruining her life. Yes, the woman in the picture is her"
"Dad, I.."
"Goodnight, Aida" Raymond cut her short and turned the lamp close to his bed off. Aida knew what it meant and walked slowly out of his room.