*Genevieve*
I come back home tired and angry. I drive to pick my children from my parents' house. The moment I go in, my mother asks, "What is wrong Genevieve?"
I pretend like I am dumb, and reply, "Nothing mama. Why do you ask?" My mother rolls her eyes at me and lets it slide when my kids come and shout, "Mummy."
I smile at them and say, "How are you my munchinkins?"
Gigi and Gray immediately start telling me about their day. As they talk, I forget about their father who is back in town. When my father comes back, they leave me and run to their grandpa who bought chocolates for them. No matter how much I told my parents not to indulge them, they never listened. I guess that was the job of grandparents.
When my mother notices that the kids are preoccupied with my dad, she starts interrogating me while I am helping her in the kitchen.
"Is there something going on in your office?" my mother continues prying obviously not giving up. I don't answer, and she knows she has hit the hammer on the nail. "What is going on Genevieve?
I sigh and look around to make sure my father is not around. "He is back."
She looks confused, and her eyes widen in knowledge. "Do you mean the father of children?" I nod frantically.
"Have you told him?"
"Of course not mama. Plus, it is not like he will be staying for a while. He is just here for a joint project he worked with my company. That is all," I say stubbornly. "Are you sure you should not tell him now?" my mother asks.
"Never. He will be probably be back to his home soon. That guy did not believe me when I told him I was innocent mum. He will probably say they are not his. I am not ready for that kind of rejection and insult mama," I whisper angrily.
My mu studies me and says, "At least, he should know about them baby. Let him see them and see if he will be able to reject those kids. If he does, we are by your side. If he doesn't, we are still by your side." When she sees the frown on my face, she continues, "He has a right to know about them Genevieve, and you owe it to your kids too."
"That is not fair mama," I whine.
"Maybe, but it is the fact. He needs to know about his kids. Even if he decides not to be in their lives, he will at least offer financial support."
"I don't need his money," I say vehemently.
"You do love. You are taking care of two children. Think about the future too."
I sigh. "I will think about it," I say.
She rolls her eyes. "You better hurry up baby before he finds out. We don't know the kind of actions he might take, and we don't know how long he will be staying too. It won't take long until he finds out," she says warning.
"And if not for anything, remember his sweet mama too. She was one of the kindest people to you. She loved you, and she needs to meet her grandkids too."
I nod and we both continue preparing food. I am in deep thought, but I need to know how long he will be staying before telling him anything. I know my mother is right, and if not for anything, I do feel bad that my kids have not met their second grandmother. I sigh and my mum packs food for my kids and I.
I smile warmly at that. Whenever she babysits, she tries to cook for us so that I won't have to cook when I am exhausted. The kids and I tell my parents goodbye and go back home.
"Please, tell me your mum also gave you some for me," Ama says when she sees what is in my hand. I roll my eyes at her greeting, and she carries Gianna then Grayson. They all grin and talk their aunties ears off. She eats it up though even giving her own opinion too which Gianna even more excited.
George does a poor attempt of rolling his eyes when his twin sister talks about her hair and how everyone told her they loved her braids. I bring out everyone's foods, and Ama says, "Thank you so much. Work was a bi-" she remembers the kids are around her, and swallows the word that would have caused her two dollars much to the kids disappointment.
"It was rough," she says instead. She then whispers, "That stupid egotistical brother of yours thinks he is the king of the jungle just because he is few years older."
I laugh at the animosity between my best friend and older brother who is a doctor at the hospital she works at. "The most annoying thing is when the other nurses keep on hyping up his looks. I swear he is not all that." I give her an amused look, and she says, "My bad, I realize you both share similar facial features, but you are definitely the good looking one. Gareth is also good looking. Giovanni left the chat when your God was blessing you and Gareth with actual good looks."
I laugh at my Persian Indian best friend and ask, "What did my brother do this time around?"
"Everything," she says raising her hands up. I wait for her to elaborate knowing she will without my asking. "We had a burns patient today, and he was the doctor on duty, and I was the one to assist him. Sadly. Not for the patient, but for me because I had to work with that dickhead." She whispers so she won't pay five dollars.
"Anyways, he asked for scissors, and his words were muffled because he was freaking talking like there were hot buns in his mouth. I thought he asked for something else entirely, and he sneered at me, and said, 'Miss Azimi, I cannot tolerate your incompetence right now. If you are not ready to work, get me a better nurse.' Can you imagine the nerve of that bastard?"
I wince because I can imagine the nerve. My brother and Ama have always had a strong dislike towards each other. I had no idea why the godparents of my kids hated each other. She continues telling me about her day with my brother, and she asks, "How was your day with you know who?"
I give her a sign that I am coming, and we both shower my kids then tuck them in. "So, what happened?"
I swallow. "I don't know long he will be staying Ama. I do know he will staying for weeks. He came into my office today too and said we needed to talk. I just want him gone so that I can get some normality in my life. My mum believes I should tell him about them."
"I understand where she is coming from," Ama says. "If anything, I think you should tell him before he finds out because if he finds out himself..."
She lets the threat trail, and I can hear her loud and clear.
There will be hell to pay for.