Chapter Thirteen
Catherine woke up days later to the pairing eyes of Deji staring into her soul. She turned her gaze to the drip attached to her left hand. At first, she struggled to discern her surroundings and orchestrate her thoughts. As she struggled to sit upright, her abdomen gave way to sharp pain. A pain that impelled her to spring to her feet. Despite Deji's offer to help and she ignored his offer and hurriedly proceeded to observe herself. The nurse took notice of her suspicion, and without being told she smile at the gesture.
"You are alright ma'am. And yes your baby is safe. It is a miracle after all the blood you lost"
"Ifemi"
"Please rest now. You need to regain your strength"
The Nurse advised, aiding her back to her mattress.
Catherine quietly heeded and lied back, relieved. Her heart was engulfed with gratitude. Her heart raced and leaped for joy as she formed a protective hedge around her stomach with her hands. For a moment she worried she'd lost the pregnancy even before informing Deji about it.
Her vision blurred from the tears that'd settled in them. It was supposed to be a blissful moment, she wanted to tell him about their baby. she'd planned for it to be special. But that had been snatched away from her.
As memories of the incidents slowly sipped into her mind, the vision became clearer with each passing moment.
She recalled returning from the beach with Abike and had been interrogated by Deji's parents. She also recalled exchanging unpleasant utterances with Helen that had resulted in a fight. A fight that'd virtually caused her life and that of her unborn child.
"…now we'll have the doctor discharge you…"
Deji was saying to an absent-minded Catherine. When she didn't respond, he turned in her direction and as he watched her mob into space, he cursed himself.
"What happened? How did I get here?"
She asked. All she remembered was fighting with Helen and nothing after that.
"I brought you here, you were bleeding but not to worry, our child is safe"
"Abike"
"she has gone home to get some rest and change clothes. She's been here all along"
Home. Catherine flinched at the thought of home. What home? What awaits her there?
"Will you say the truth now?"
She bloated out after a long awkward silence. There was nothing to hide anymore. She'd learned everything from her encounter with Helen and his parents. He never told them of their union. And Helen wasn't his friend but his betrothed.
"What?"
Deji shuddered
"Helen, who is she?"
"Helen is…
"if you as much as dare lie to me this time"
She stirred in her bed, holding off the eyes that threaten vision. Betty's last words stung her. How could she have let herself be so clueless? If only she had been more rational about her choices. Instead, she had let herself be wooed into believing a paradise awaited her.
"I thought I'd be accepted by your people. I had high hopes. Now. Now I regret my decision. Everyone warned me against this"
She wept. she recalled her father and sisters pleading with her to stay back.
"It's okay, Ifemi. Everything will be fine. I am not leaving your side"
He consoled her and wiped off the tears that flowed freely from her eyes with the back of his hands.
"what are you saying, your parents want me dead. And there is no way I'm returning to that house with you. I want to go back home, to the States"
She cried
"I want to go back to my country and I don't care if you come with or stay here"
" what do you mean, you want to go back. So soon? What about our child"
"if you had been truthful and open, things could have been different. But you lied. I can't stay here, your parents don't want me with you"
She retorted.
"You don't have to worry about them anymore Ifemi, I have everything sorted out. You won't be bothered by them anymore. I promise you, things will be different"
He promised, soothing her.
"We live under the same roof"
She said wondering what his plans are. Somehow, among all this, she'd lost faith in him.
"No you won't, I bought us a house far from them. You don't have to worry, ok?"
He assured her, kissing both her cheek and back of her hands.
"And you?"
She couldn't resist asking. 'Was he planning on deserting her and their unborn child?
"My home is with you and our child, I will be by your side"
He replied, depleting her fears of him leaving her.
"And your parents?"
She inquired again. She was aware they'd not approve of his decision.
"I don't care"
He whispered, gathering her onto his thighs.
He couldn't care less about them, if they wouldn't accept Catherine and their union, then they weren't interested in his happiness.
"I won't let anyone come between us. I will keep you safe"