*Genevieve*
Maybe, it was the fact that Lucien was not around that I was feeling relieved. It meant he did not know that George and Gianna are his. It pleased me immensely because I was getting paranoid already. My parents and Ama were not happy with me. My oldest brother, Gareth believed he should know about the twins, but my immediate older brother, Giovanni did not want Lucien in the picture at all. I could understand why, but my kids deserve to know their dad. Hopefully, he will want to know them too.
I am humming under my breath and cooking since it is Saturday, and I am off work. Immediately, I hear a the doorbell. Immediately, Ama says, "I am coming." She and Gianna go to answer the door while George looks at what I am cooking. I don't hear what the guest says, but I hear Ama say, "Gen, someone is looking for you." I wash my hands and clean it on my apron. She then tells the person to come in. I wonder who is at the door, and immediately, Ama enters the kitchen with widened eyes.
Without her even saying anything, I know it is Lucien in our living room. So, my luck has run out. I hesitate, and take a deep breath to go and face my past who does not want to remain in the past.
He is looking at the pictures on the walls. The ones involving our kids. I suck in another deep breath. He looks at me with the deepest hate that almost makes me stagger back in pain and shock. I almost cast my eyes downward, but I remind myself that I can not do that. Yes, not telling him he has kids was wrong, but I believed it was the right step to take.
A few minutes pass, and we just stand looking at each other without looking away. Ama comes out with the kids, and says, "We will just be outside."
I nod, and I am grateful she thought about that because there might be a shouting contest, and a lot of rehashing of painful memories. When they all go, she mouths, "Goodluck." I almost beg her to stay, but I know this has to be done this way.
Immediately they go, I say, "You know."
He tilts his head, raises his eyebrow and folds his arms with a menacing smile on his face. "I do know, but not from you. Is there a reason why I was not told I am a father to not just one kid, but two?" It takes everything within me to not rub my throat.
I clear my throat, and say, "I tried to reach you. I kept on calling, but I was blocked. Whenever I got your line, it was your secretary or your personal assistant who picked and told me off. I already know I could not enter your home or office so, don't you dare pretend like you were there, and I never reached out."
His eye twitches, and he balls his fists. "So, you want to play the victim card after keeping such a huge secret from me for over five years if we add the time you were pregnant."
"I am not playing the victim card. I was clearly the victim because I was falsely accused so, do not do that right now. I admit I should have told you, but there is a reason I did not. Would you have even believed the pregnancy was yours with the way you threw me out of your life?"
His jaws tightens, and I have gotten my answer. "I would have done a DNA test."
"Would you not have wanted full custody of my children?"
"Our," he says in a growl. "And I can still want full custody even now."
My eyes flash in anger, and I say, "You would not dare."
"Try and stop me," he says.
I tighten my fist and try to control the deep anger I am feeling trying to tell myself he is only acting like this because he just found out.
"Lucien, if you really want to fight for a court case, be my guest because I will fight for full custody of my kids because I carried them both, and I have raised them," I say.
"I did not have the opportunity to raise them because of you," he accuses as if he is not the reason that happened.
I scoff at him and say, "I apologize for not telling you earlier, but I recall you saying you do not want kids anytime soon."
"That was before I found I have two Genevieve. I want a part in both their lives. By God's Grace, I was able to be raised by both of my parents. I want the same for my kids. I will be present in their lives. Argue with me and get ready for a full custody court case," he says in finality.
I grit my teeth in anger. He continues, "I want their surnames changed as soon as possible, and-"
I immediately cackle like a witch. "I am their mother. The only name written in their birth certificate as their parent, the one who has been taking care of them, the one who birthed them, and the one who will kill for them. Best believe that I have no intention of changing their surname."
We both have a stare of, and I ask, "How did you find out?"
"My mother," he says.
My heart breaks at that because she has never met them. I am sure she hates me. He studies my face as if trying to gauge my facial reaction. I don't know how to face his mother.
"She will be coming down here with my sister to see our kids," he says as if he is still surprised he is a father. I suppose I would be too if I found out when he did.
"I don't want to overwhelm with new faces. I will love for them to see your other and sister, but can we get a little more time?"
He scoffs and asks, "Was four years not more than enough?"