We returned from our honeymoon. The mansion was empty, everyone had returned to their base. We visited my family; Sharon said she’ll join us later at the mansion. Then we checked on the ‘Pauls’.

My husband and I walked into their sitting room; the atmosphere was neither friendly nor welcoming. Everywhere was quiet. Lizzy lay on the sofa not looking so well, her face was swollen.

“Lizzy, what’s wrong?”

We were shocked when Paul told us she lost her mum.

“When was that?” I asked.

“Last week. In fact, Lizzy was hospitalised; she fainted when she got the news of her mother’s death. She was just discharged from the hospital yesterday,” Paul narrated.

“And nobody cared to inform us?” Daniel said with a straight face.

“Who does that? You were on your honeymoon, and you don’t expect us to ruin it for you with sad news.”

“Lizzy, I’m sorry for your loss,” Daniel said.

“Thank you!” she replied as tears flooded her eyes.

“Please stop crying. You know your condition right... you don’t want anything to happen to your baby, do you?” I said.

“Daniella, you won’t understand. My mother suffered a lot because of me. I lost my father at a very tender age and there was no one to turn to for help. My mother toiled hard, just to give me and my son the best things in life. She couldn’t remarry, knowing fully well that no man would accept her daughter and grandson. She traded her happiness for my son and I. Now, death took her away from me, from us. She should have waited a little longer to enjoy the fruits of her labour,” she said wailing.

“It’s okay my dear, God knows best,” I said.

“She is all I have and she’s gone… She’s gone!”

“Lizzy, please put yourself together. I know you’ll miss her, but you have your own family now: your husband, your son, and you have us. Please be strong.”

“I will, thank… you…”

“What’s going on Lizzy, are you in alright?” I reached out to her.

“I think my… water… just... broke,” she said, wincing in pain.

“What!? Were you waiting for us to come back from our honeymoon? You must name this child after me if he’s a boy; but if it’s a girl, you must name her after my wife,” Daniel said to lighten the mood while Paul went to get her things in the room.

Lizzy shook her head at his joke and smiled weakly.

Daniel and Paul helped her into the car while I carried her bag. We got to the hospital and she was wheeled into the labour room. We prayed silently while waiting for the doctor.

One of the nurses came out and we walked up to her. She smiled, “Congratulations! She gave birth to a baby girl.”

“Thank God!”

We turned around and hugged one another.

“Can we see her now?” Paul asked with all excitement.

“Not yet! I’ll let you know when she’s moved into the ward,” the nurse replied.

“Thank you!” We all chorused.

Some minutes later, we were directed to her ward.

“God has comforted me,” Lizzy said smiling, as she held the baby.

“Yes he has! Congratulations!” I said and took the baby from her.

“She’s so cute and beautiful,” I said.

“Just like her mum,” Daniel added.

I handed the baby over to Paul, but he refused to take the baby from me.

“I’m scared to hold her, she’s looks fragile.” He said fidgeting.

“All you need do is to carry her gently with care, she won’t break,” I said smiling.

I gently placed the baby in his arms.

“Hi, my beautiful princess,” he said as he rocked her gently.

Paul raised his head and faced me, “We are naming her after you.”

“Did you hear me when I said it earlier?” Daniel asked curiously.

“No, I didn’t. We took this decision months ago.”

“No wonder the baby came out when she sighted Daniella,” he said and we all laughed.

“I’m honoured, thank you.” I said.

“Hi Daniella!” Daniel said and took the baby from Paul.

We left the hospital later and went home. I was happy for them. Lizzy had a baby to worry about now, the pain of loosing her mum would be replaced with the joy of having a new born baby. I was too happy for them that I couldn’t wait to have my own baby.

Daniel went upstairs to take his bath while I got dinner ready. After taking dinner, we retired to bed.

I took off my clothes and move into the bathroom to shower. I heard footsteps behind me so I turned around to look.

“Hubby, you took your bath not quite long.”

“I thought wifey needed company,” he said with a mischievous look.

“I know that look, don’t...”

He didn’t allow me finish my statement before he kissed me and took off his shorts.

“Baby, I can’t wait to hold our own baby. I carried baby Daniella today and wished she was mine.”

“Me too. I believe very soon our bundle of joy will arrive by God’s grace,” I said.

“Then don’t stop me from joining you inside the shower,” he said, kissing me all over.

We bathed together and the rest of the activities ended in the other room.

Epilogue

Four years later...

I slept immediately I came back from Sunday morning service. Joy’s call woke me up.

She put to bed the previous month; she gave birth to a baby boy, Testimony. Daniel is

Testimony’s Godfather.

“Hi cousin!"

”Hi!”

"How are you and baby Testimony doing?”

“Your baby is doing fine,” she replied.

We talked for a while. She planned to return to Nigeria very soon. I spoke to Kola as well before we ended the call. Finally God has answered our prayers. She had her child successfully through IVF.

I went to the sitting room and met Shalom watching cartoon. I named her Shalom because she was my peace indeed. I have all the peace in the world; my peace revolves around me, my friends, loved ones and family.

The school project Daniel and I started few years back had been completed. I now ran it as my full-time business; my husband’s company on the other hand keeps expanding steadily. And to crown it all, God gave us this smart, brilliant and beautiful princess called Shalom. I have a good home… what else can I ask from God?

Back to the present...

“Shalom, where is Dee?”

“You mean my daddy?” she said, giving me a funny look.

“Where did I get this girl from? She always compete with me when it comes to Daniel,” I said to myself.

“I know he’s your daddy but he’s my husband,” I said.

“Mummy, daddy loves me more than you,” she gestured with her hands.

“Seriously!? What’s your age again?" I asked.

“Mummy, I’m three years old. Did you forget?” she asked with a straight face.

I swear, this girl is hilarious, you need to see her face. I shook my head. I wonder where she got this sharp tongue from, definitely not from me.

“Fine, you win. So where’s your daddy?” I rephrased my question.

She smiled.

“He’s at the poolside with aunt Sharon and uncle Josh,” she said with an American accent.

I wonder if accent is hereditary too. If it’s hereditary, which I doubt, then she got it from her father and aunt.

“Oh your aunt is around. Who is with you?”

“Aunt Moyin. She’s in the kitchen to check what she’s cooking,” she replied in her babyish voice.

“OK!” I turned to leave and she called me.

“Mummy sit!” she said.

I sat beside her.

“Mummy, are you sick?” she asked, touching my forehead with her small palm to feel my temperature.

“No, why do you ask?”

“You’ve been sleeping ever since we came back from church today.”

“Let’s just say that mummy will soon give you a kid brother.”

“Yeah…!” She jumped up. “Mummy thank you. I can’t wait to have a kid brother.”

“Good, let me say hi to your aunt and her husband. I’ll be back.”

I went into the kitchen first and pleaded with Moyin to hasten up with her cooking; I was famished. I went to the pool side to meet up with the rest of the family. Sharon was heavily pregnant and she looked beautiful in her flowing gown. She stood up and hugged me, Josh did the same, while Daniel pulled a chair out for me to sit.

"Hope you enjoyed your nap?” Daniel said and planted a kiss on my forehead.

I smiled.

“Yes I did, thanks. That reminds me... your daughter said you love her more than you love me. Did you tell her that?”

“Shalom said that!?” Josh asked smiling.

“Shalom is smarter than her age, don’t you know?” Sharon replied her husband.

“Huh! But I told her not to tell you,” Daniel said, scratching his head.

“Wow! So you actually did?” I countered.

“Honey, you know Shalom won’t let me off the hook if I didn’t say that! You know I love you both,” he said teasingly.

“I won’t let you off the hook either. We shouldn’t wash our dirty linens in front of Josh and Sharon, so we’ll thrash it out later,” I said jokingly and we all laughed out loud.

Some minutes later, Moyin came out and informed us that food was ready. I followed her back into the house to set the table. We all ate together except Shalom who was busily watching cartoons. She ate noodles earlier so I guess she wasn’t hungry.

The couples left later in the evening. At night, I bathed Shalom and read her some bedtime stories. That reminds me; Daniel talked me into doing this... you know all these their American stuffs! Who read me stories before I slept when I was young? I doubt if my parents had such time. With time, I got used to it. I read her stories before bedtime while Daniel tagged along.

We left her room when she fell asleep and went to our bedroom. My husband kissed my little baby bump and wrapped his hands around me on the bed. He thanked me for every good thing I brought into his life. He thanked me for my impact on his sister, he was so proud of the woman Sharon had become.

He also thanked me for giving him a beautiful and intelligent daughter and for carrying another one.

I smiled and remembered how the journey all started: He dialed a wrong number, but he turned out to be the right man for me.

THE END!!!

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