Meanwhile, at school, Emily Jason misses Rita, wondering what's keeping her long at home. She decided to come and visit Rita's home one weekend. When she knocked at the door, Noame welcomed her with joy and happiness filled in her eyes. She gave her a warm hug and asked her how school was.
She replied humbly saying that school was fine, only that she was missing her friend Rita and didn't know why she stopped going to school. Noame kept quiet and told her to check Rita in her room and have a conversation with her. Maybe she will be able to tell her why she is no longer at school.
It was a chilly day, Rita was dressed in a heavy sweater and was reading a book on her reading table. She had a knock at her bedroom door. As she opened the door she saw her friend Emily. With smiles on their faces, they hugged themselves tightly and entered her bedroom.
They discussed alot as friends. Rita told Emily how she got pregnant and had to stay home. She told her about the rejection and pain Alex left in her heart. She said she will keep the baby but will work hard and go back to school and show the world that she is the best single mother in the world.
On the other hand, Emily encouraged her and told her getting pregnant and dropping out of school is not the end of the world. Instead, it's the beginning of learning how to treat the world right and also fighting for the best in our lives. She added and said,"Rita, you have made the best choice ever." I'm proud of you!
After Emily had left, Rita's dad, David, came back home early from his day's work. This was because he wanted to have some time with Rita and her mother, Noame. When he arrived home, his wife welcomed him with a warm hug.
He asked in a soft voice, "How is Rita?" He added and said, "Is she at home?", or had she gone to visit her friends. Noame replied, "She is around in the kitchen preparing some dinner for us. I need to have a talk with her about her pregnancy and her future plans for it. Noame immediately left for the kitchen to call Rita to have a word with her dad.
Since Noame's presence was also needed in the sitting room, she called the housekeeper to take over the cooking in the kitchen, where Rita was cooking. As the three of them sat in the living room, Rita was so intensely thinking about what her dad would tell her and react to his current situation. She sat uncomfortably placing her hands to rest on her thighs.
On the other hand, Noame sat next to her husband, David. He held her hands, showing her love and care. He thanked her for always being there for him from the moment they got married. He added and said he appreciates her time she sacrifices to take care of the children and home when he is away from home.
To Rita, her father said," You are my beloved daughter." I thank you for being courageous and patient in this trying moment of your life at twenty years old. He added and said we all make mistakes, but our mistakes should not ruin our future.
We should stick to our goals and fulfill them. So, my dear Rita, for now there will be no more going to school. After giving birth, you will go back to school and pursue your dreams once again. Your mum and I will always be there to support you as needed. For now, you will have to look for a job to do and save some money to use to support your unborn baby and yourself.
With all the sweet kind words that Rita heard from her father, it left her thinking about how lucky she was to have an understanding father. She expected her father to be hash on her, but his reactions made her feel loved and always part of the family she was in. At last, she felt peace in her heart from the time she had conceived the baby. She felt the love, care and protection of her parents around her in the current situation she was in.
Since Rita's issues were resolved by her family, the next day Rita decided to go to attend antenatal so she could find out about her health and the health of her unborn child. She had some breakfast and went to the hospital for her first appointment. She was seen by the health care provider who reviewed her health and educated her on good feeding to aid in the baby's growth.
The health care provider told her that her health and the baby were good, and no abnormality was detected on the body. Rita asked the health care provider alot of questions since it was her first pregnancy and didn't know much about pregnancy. She also asked when she should start working and if it is healthy for her to find a job and work in this early stage of pregnancy.
The health care provider advised her to do simple jobs which don't involve lifting of heavy objects because it can affect her pregnancy, hence leading to abortion. She needed to have enough rest at home, so she didn't have to work for long hours. Rita understood the health care provider's advice and thanked him for his kind words and the time they had spent.
When she reached home, Rita told her parents the news of how she and the baby were doing well, according to the health report from the hospital. She told her parents that she was now ready to start work, but she would be more comfortable working in another city far from home. This was because she wanted to feel peace of mind in a new environment where no one knew her and also concentrate on her, since no one would be talking ill about her dropping out of school.
David gave a suggestion to Rita. "How about you go and stay with your Aunt, Miss Rachael Ramsey, who stays in Gulu city. Gulu city was some six hours' drive from the city where Rita's house was. Rita bought her father's idea. So David called his sister Rachel on the phone to inform her about Rita's stay at her home. They talked a lot, and it seemed to be a deep conversation which lasted for thirty minutes. David went back to his daughter and told her that any time she was ready to go to stay with her aunt she should let him know.
Rachael Ramsey was David Gregory's younger sister. They grew up together, playing together, so they had a lot of memories they shared in their childhood. She was a tutor at the nearby college. She was the only one David depended on for financial assistance, or other assistance he needed since they were siblings.
She has two daughters called Pearl and Jackie. Pearl was in high school and Jackie was in college. She worked hard for her children. Although they were divorced from her husband, the children often visited their father when they missed him and so, sometimes she felt bored left at home alone.