BEN
I stood up on hearing the soft knocks at the door. Angie had already gone back to her apartment for the weekend, leaving me alone with Catherine. I was up almost all throughout the night. I really owed Mia so much.
I now realize why Mia slept more during the day. She was always up at night, looking after Catherine.
I was looking forward to giving her a big bear hug in appreciation, but imagine my shock when I found out who really was at the door.
"Are you going to let me in, or you'll keep me standing outside forever?"
"Uhhh... Helen. Hi, of course, come in. I just wasn't expecting you" I replied honestly, wondering what Sonia's aunt was doing here, and how she even knew where I lived.
"How have you been?" I asked, as soon as she sat down. "What can I get for you? Would you like water, tea, coffee, anything..." I asked nervously.
"You don't have to act all awkward around me Ben. I understand you recently returned from Aberdeen, Were you able to find Sonia? Is she okay?"
I stood up, with a small smile. "I wasn't able to get Sonia to come back, but..." My voice trailed off as I went to Catherine's room and carried her out. My little girl seemed to be in happy spirits at that time as she kept on babbling and stuffing her thumb in her mouth.
"I brought home a mini Sonia" I completed, as I cuddled Catherine.
"Oh my!!..." Helen's eyes filled with tears as she gazed at the baby. "She's beautiful. May I?" She stretched her hands towards me.
"Of course" I replied and handed Catherine over to her.
"How's this possible? I thought the rumours of her pregnancy were a lie, and I even thought that even if it were true, she'd have aborted the pregnancy"
I frowned.
"You would have wanted her to terminate the pregnancy? How cruel could you think, Helen? Well, I'm glad she left New York rather than be around you at that time"
"No. Do not get me wrong. I just want what's best for Sonia...."
"At the expense of every other person, including her own daughter?" I retorted, feeling angry at the kind of family Sonia grew up around.
"Alright. I'm sorry if I'd sounded insensitive. Where's Sonia now?"
"She didn't come back" I said dejectedly. I guess Helen understood what happened instantly because she looked up at me and smiled, without asking any more questions.
"What's her name?" Helen asked after a while.
"Catherine Joy Caldwell" I responded with pride.
"That's lovely" She said, in a very low voice and added.. "Please I'd love to be actively involved in her life"
"Of course, you're family, Helen. Thank you so much for showing up today. It means so much to me, and to Catherine" As if on cue, Catherine giggled at the sound of her name. We both laughed.
"Thank you too Ben. I have to take my leave now, but I'd definitely come by another time" She said.
"Anytime ma'am, and prepare for a sleepover as well" I said, and she smiled sweetly.
"I'd love that"
She left immediately.
As soon as she left, Mia walked in.
"Have you been waiting outside, Mia?"
She ignored me and reached for Catherine who in turn leaped out of my hands into Mia's waiting hands.
"Hello to you too big bro. Wasn't that Sonia's aunt I just saw leaving this house?" She asked mischievously.
"Yeah. She found out I was back, and wanted to see if I actually came back with Sonia, but then I brought Catherine out to her and the rest is history" I explained while moving to the kitchen to get something to eat.
After a while, I heard Mia call out.
"Uhhhh.... Benny!! You need to come take a look at this. It's Catherine"
I rushed out to the living room. Catherine seemed to be wheezing slowly.
"When last did she take her medications?" Mia asked.
"Shit!! I haven't even taken her to my doctor to get her checked out and even get her drugs" I rubbed my head.
"What?!! She's supposed to take the drugs twice every week. You mean to say she hasn't had her drugs in two weeks now?"
I quickly grabbed my car keys.
"Hurry... It's getting worse. She's having trouble breathing" Mia said in a panicky voice.
I can't believe I caused this for my daughter.
"It's not your fault" Mia said. "You've had so many upheavals in your life, and you're really doing well. Catherine would be fine"
Just then Martins came out, looking at me.
"She's fine now. You have a lot of explaining to do to me"
I nodded with a smile. Martins had been a friend since my University days. Although he was older than me, he's never been anything less than a friend to me.
"Err...And to them" He added and nudged me to look outside.
"Oh my God!!" Mia said, and covered her mouth. "How did reporters find us so fast?"
"Let me go talk to them" I said, after a while. Mia pinched me hard. She seemed to enjoy doing that so much.
"What are you going to say?" Both she and Martins asked.
"Just watch"
I walked outside in my stride and poise.
I reached for the nearest microphone that was within reach and grabbed it. I decided to answer all their questions at once, hoping they'd be satisfied and leave.
"Hello everyone. I'm Ben Caldwell. Since you all so much enjoy the activities in my life, I'd feed you this one and hope that you stay out of my life. I have a baby girl and she's Sonia's baby. Sonia is not dead; she's fine. She's just hanging low for a while. I would also be grateful if you all can lay low in matters relating to me, for now. Give my daughter a chance to recover. Thank you. Have a nice day"
I said and went back into the hospital, ignoring more calls and questions from the story-hungry reporters.
"I don't know what your intent was, but the people outside just quadrupled" Mia said, with a frown. She obviously didn't prepare for this.
I sighed and rested my head in my hands, in my daughter's room.
Martins walked in immediately with his phone.
"Your father wants to talk to you"
"My father?" My shocked expression was like that of the prodigal son, when he considered going back home and he sees his same father coming towards him.
"Martins is going to show you a secret exit door in the hospital. It'd lead you to the roof. There's a helicopter waiting up there. Get on it, and the pilot will take you to a safe place. Everything's been taken care of"
He ended the call immediately, before I could respond. Mia heard everything, because the call was on speaker.
"Shall we move now?" Martins asked.
Mia carried Catherine tenderly, while I packed the little bag we brought to the hospital and we followed Martins to the roof. There truly was a small helicopter there.
Mia and I hopped on it and fastened our seatbelts. The pilot didn't even say anything to us. As soon as we were settled, he took off.
I looked at Mia, but she didn't have any reassuring smile.
I frowned.