Before noon, we were already at Ibadan.
The MD's mother, an old woman in her late 70s, welcomed us warmly into the sitting room.
There was no time for much talk.
The MD, whom we had confirmed as Rukiat, introduced us to her mother. She explained to her the reason behind the visit. She showed her the photos in Edmond's phone and requested to know if Edmond's late wife was her sister.
Seeing that everything will soon be left in the open, the woman stood up, walked to the door, shut it and began to wept.
We were all astonished as to why the tears.
"I wish my husband was still alive," she said as she turned to her daughter.
"Mummy, whatever it is, please let it out. All I want to know is whether I had a sister. Was she my sister? Did you know her?"
"Where was your wife from?" the old woman chanelled the question to Edmond.
"Lagos! She was from Lagos State."
"Did she bear you any child?"
"Yes! She bore me 2 children, a boy and a girl. See them here," he showed the old woman the photos of his children from his phone.
She smiled and added, "may His name be praised."
It is very heartbreaking to watch an old woman shade tears. What an awkward sight!
The woman wiped the tears from her eyes and called on her maid to bring her a glass of water.
"What I am about to tell you is very deep. For more than 30 years, I have never told anyone. Let me drink water first, I am thirsty."
The maid brought the water and after emptying the glass, the old woman reclined to her chair, crossed her legs, took a deep breath, looked at everyone of us, cleared her throat and began.
"35 years ago, a young girl was brought here by my late brother. The girl was 10 years old when she stepped into this house. Due to the nature of the work my husband and I used to do, we needed a maid. I discussed with my brother and she brought us a very beautiful girl from Lagos. Since I was never going to have a child, as fibroid had destroyed my womb, we took her as our own daughter. She was too good. Her name was Rukiyat Adewale Ambode, from Lagos State. 2 years after her arrival, on that fateful evening, when she was coming back from the market, she got raped by one good for nothing idiot whom we later arrested. Imagine a 12 year old girl being raped. We took her to the hospital and she was examined, treated and discharged. 3 months later, we discovered she was pregnant. We returned to the hospital and the doctor confirmed she was 3 months gone. My husband suggested the baby be aborted, but I took my ground and said "no". I took care of her without notifying her parents. 6 months later, she gave birth to a very beautiful girl and we named her Adeola. It was 6 months later, after returning from church, we couldn't find Rukiyat. The little baby was crying with no one attending to her. We later discovered that Rukiyat had abandoned her little girl and ran away. We searched everywhere for her, but couldn't find her. The only person that would have helped us was my brother who brought her, but unfortunately he died in an accident that claimed 25 souls on Lagos/Ibadan Express way. We reported the matter to the Police. The Police helped in the search, but there was nothing. We decided to take the 6 months old baby as our own baby. The Police was aware. One day, when my husband, who was a teacher, came back from work, he told me that the baby's new name would be "Rukiat". That baby is you, my daughter. We raised you as our own daughter which you are, just as much as we raised your mother, Rukiyat."
"Mummy!" the MD exclaimed.
"You grew up to resemble your mother in everything. When you were 6, we started seeing your mother in you. By the time you were 10, you were already your mother's carbon copy. There was no distinguishable feature between you and your mother. Your eyes, your dentition, open teeth, voice, posture, the way you walked – all resembled your mother. I wish I was able to see her one last time before she died. My baby is dead. My baby! My baby!" she began to cry.
We all consoled her.
"Let me cry please. No one should try to stop me. Let no one. Now I will die childless. The first person I took as my daughter ran away. Now the second person I took as my daughter has just discovered I am not her mother. May God's name be praised."
The MD hugged her and both of them cried bitterly.
"You will forever remain my mother. You are my mother and I love you so very much. I promise on my life to always remain your daughter. Thank you for taking care of me," the MD said amidst tears.
She then turned to Edmond, "So you married my mother. You're my stepfather. I'm sorry for what happened earlier. I thought you were Austin. I have a special package for you. You will take me to Lagos one of these days. I will like to see my step sister and step brother. I will also love to pay my last respect to my mother, irrespective of how she abandoned me."
We later returned to Uyo.
The MD later assumed her rightful position as the CEO of EWEE Oil & Gas, while Edmond was officially reinstated and appointed as the MD of EWEE Oil & Gas.
I was made the head of ICT department.
And Austin? He flew back to Asia.