CHAPTER 5
Why are your children not attached to their father as they are to you?", Martin asked in a shrilled voice. The question came as a shock to Ella ,it almost threw her off balance but she didn't make it noticable to Martin. She decided to comport herself at the moment. She kept mute for a while. She considered Martin to be a smart and observant person for asking that question.
She decided to speak up after some minutes of contemplation within herself.
"I don't have a perfect answer to that question",she replied. Martin held her hands and drew her closer to his chest as tears rolled down her cheeks. She couldn't control her emotions any longer as she burst into tears.
Martin wondered why he too was feeling emotional as he placed her head on his chest but he waved the thought off his mind. Ella narrated her sad story to him. Martin was lost in thought as he almost shed tears .He felt sorry for her and at that point,he remembered what love made him loose 3 years ago. He began to narrate his own sad story to Ella .
Martin was in a romantic relationship with Debbie. He loved her with his whole heart and was ready to give up his life for her . He treated her like a priceless jewel as she never lacked anything. She was provided with everything she ever wanted but Debbie never reciprocated the love. She never loved him for a single moment. She was only after his money and was always full of herself as people respected and regarded her as Martin's fiancee .
After three years of dating Debbie, Martin found out that she was ina romantic relationship with another person. To make matters worse ,she was cheating on Martin with his own best friend! This was unbearable for Martin because he loved Debbie heart and soul and couldn't believe she would do such horrible thing to him.
Not only did Debbie cheat on him with his best friend,she went ahead to steal huge amounts of money and other valuable items from Martin's room . Martin was bedridden for two months;he went into coma as a result of the trauma . Even when Debbie heard of his predicament and the trouble Martin was into, she showed no remorse for it. She was heartless indeed.
After Martin's recovery,he vowed never to get into a romantic relationship with any woman or even fall in n love again.
Ella felt bad after Martin shared his own story with her. They were one of a kind. They gave their hearts to the wrong persons and loved people who didn't bother loving them back. They decided to wipe each other's tears and comfort each other hoping that they find true love someday. They started talking about other things and getting to know more about each other and from that day,they became best friends;One couldn't do without the others help.
George was loosing himself as a father and as a husband in his family. He was no longer needed and was considered as nothing. His presence was meaningless to his wife and irritating to his children as well. He had probably lost the moon while counting the stars. He was now all alone but he still didn't care. He believed he could do with or without his family.
His demonic and diabolic nature had taken the better part of him. He now behaved like he was being manipulated by some sort of evil spirit. He was eventually running crazy gradually but no one noticed this not up until a fateful Tuesday evening.
George left for the market and on returning home,he had no pants on him. He was only wearing his undies. This was a total shock to his children. He also was talking to himself while walking down home that evening. He had run mad!. His quest for quick money had landed him in an unforgettable trauma. George had lost his sanity .
Andrew rushed inside the house to call his mother as he saw his father from afar. When Mrs Ella saw this,she was shocked. She couldn't believe what her eyes had seen. She picked up her phone and dialed Charles' mobile number. When he picked up the phone, Ella's voice was a bit tensed over the phone . Charles decided to come over to their residence to know what the matter was.
When he arrived at Ella's residence ,he couldn't believe his eyes as his feet was pinned to the floor when he saw the state that his younger brother was into. He cried like a child. He wished he was dreaming and that someone could actually wake him up from his dreams but this was too realistic to be a dream. George had been rewarded for all his evil deeds;he was eventually reaping what he had sowed.
He was immediately taken to a psychiatric hospital to get proper treatment but all to no avail. Ella kept in shedding tears but tears couldn't solve the present situation thar George was into. The deed had been done.
After One year of staying at the psychiatric hospital, George died. All the treatments that were given to him proved abortive. His own case was very different. The doctors tried their possible best but thier best wasn't good enough as George's case was hectic.
His burial rites were performed and completed as custom demanded. He was given his last respect as he made his journey to the land of the deceased.
Martin was Ella's only comfort during that horrific time. She healed even faster because Martin's words to her were words of encouragement and his words were her strength.
Ella finally got over her husband's death bearing in mind that everything was all for a purpose. She finally got back to her feet;All thanks to Martin.
All Martin wanted was for Ella and her children to feel safe and comfortable. He supported them in the best ways he could and Ella really appreciated his efforts. He would randomly take the children out to cenimas,play grounds to play with other children and also wave off their father's death off their minds. He was really helpful to them and the children grew to love him even more and get more attached to him.
Whenever Ella felt bored, Martin would take her on dinner dates after they have both returned from work . He would sometimes go on a picnic with her or even visit the beach during the weekend. Ella was happy again and so was Martin.
Martin had to do all these to make sure Ella and her children were happy but something kept bothering him. His father and older siblings were always on his neck about raising a family of his own but to him, that was a risk. He was hurt the last time he tried to so,he didn't think it was really necessary.
His father called him on a Monday morning and asked him what he thought about Ella. He was speechless. He only said he wanted her as a friend and loved seeing her and the children happy and that was all. Mr Nelson nodded his head and asked him "do u love Ella?". Martin didn't hesitate to say yes . His father laughed out his heart. He asked him what was keeping him and he said he didn't know if she would concur with that.
Mr Nelson urged his son to make a move and take a first step and that there was no harm in trying. He told him that since he was in search of true love, Ella was the right person but the only problem was only if Ella would agree to that. He asked Martin to confront Ella first.
Martin decided to ask Ella out on a date in a Chinese restaurant. It was a romantic dinner date. Ella was dressed in her favorite red dinner gown . She looked so gorgeous in it and Martin couldn't take his eyes off her as he wondered how a mother of four could still look as beautiful and stunning as that.
While they were having dinner, Martin decided to break the silence. "Ella,he said, would you give me a chance to show you what true love means?". Ella's heart skipped. She looked deeply into his eyes and saw the burning desire inside him.
"I have always waited for this day",she said. Martin leaped for joy as he placed a diamond ring on her middle finger. He kissed her fingers and said to her "the diamonds on this ring shine so bright but my Ella shines brighter than them all". She gave him a warm embrace and they kissed so passionately.
When they got home that night,Ella showed Anita the diamond ring and her joy knew no bounds. Early in the morning,they rushed upstairs to see Martin. They jumped on his bed and to his uttermost surprise,Grey called him "Daddy". He was dumbfounded.
After three months of courtship, Martin started making preparations for their marriage. The marriage rites were completed and both families were extremely happy.
Martin had gotten a wonderful family his father ever wished for and Ella had secured a brighter future for her children and also gotten the "happily ever after" that she always wished for .