DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL
Daddy's Little Girl - Episode 15
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As night approach, my visitors left.
Martin with Drake and Hilda.
Before they left, after the whole new information from Hilda and Zena, we dismissed the girls to go play.
I sat listening as Martin and Drake talk about the possibility of Marvel being k1dnap
Drake said that the police maybe right while Martin argued over the issue.
He said his fear is that let it not be proven that Marvel fell into the lake water or stepped into the swamps wrong side around the water which slipped her off to the lake and in the process of struggling she lost a leg of her shoe.
They talked back and forth but nothing was easing my truck load of trouble.
I excused myself and went to check on the girls and Jonah
I no longer trust Zena
I heard noise in the kitchen and went straight
Jonah had something cooking on fire. He has cleared, arranged and cleaned up everywhere
He was cooking something that smells nice, I never knew my 11 years old son can do lots of things.
He was mostly watching his Mom cook and assisting her around the house.
I even told Edna not to domestic Jonah because he's a boy.
Sending him unnecessary errands and making him assist in everything.
I remember Jonah saying in his Mom defence
"Dad, I love helping Mom, I enjoy assisting in the house Dad, Mom isn't forcing me. She needs a help sometimes.."
"Then she should get a maid, I have told your mother to get a house help I'm willing to pay the person, someone that will be doing all of this but your Mom said she doesn't need any house help..." I said to Jonah that very day while Edna who was doing the laundry ignored me totally.
Jonah spoke in her defence again
"Maybe Mom is not comfortable around external help. It's important to join in keeping our home clean and organised because we're family, whatever goes wrong will effect us all Dad. During my primary school, my home economy teacher taught us that helping around the house is not gender based thing..
"... anybody can do it even you too Dad..."
Edna suddenly spoke "that's right son.."
She went back to the washing machine.
I chuckled aloud
"Are you sure it's not your Mom that put you up to this.."
",No Dad, I'm not a kid..."
I laughed when he said he wasn't a kid.
I remember this conversation as if it was yesterday.
Although it's been a long time but Jonah's every word is engraved in my memory.
Watching him now makes me so proud.
Edna did a great job raising him so well, outspoken, and bold.
I underrated my wife and didn't give her enough accolade.
If I have given her a little chance with Zena, I'm sure she would've make a better child, far better than what I did with her.
I'm suffering the impact and repercussion of my years of pampering and making her feel she deserves better and far more special than every other child in the world, which offcourse include her sister Marvel.
I'm in deep regret of it all
I'm a terrible father and husband.
If given another chance I will do everything I can to right my wrongs
It's seems too late though.
I'm afraid Edna will never forgive me if she ever leaves the hospital.
I'm afraid Marvel is gone and I may not have the chance to be the father she has always wanted.
I'm afraid of many things right now.
Hilda who was helping Jonah in doing the dishes was the first to see me before Jonah
"What are you making Jonah..? I asked before they can say anything
"I'm cooking spaghetti with chicken for dinner. I know you've not really eaten anything since today, so I decided to make dinner..."
That was super thoughtful
"That's nice Jonah, are you sure you're doing it right? Or you need my help.."
"I got this Dad you don't have to worry. i learnt from the best... and that's Mom. She thought me everything I know, dinner will be ready soon..." He said smiling as he went back to the pot and began to stir.
"Sir, is it okay to have a taste of Jonah's food.."
"Offcourse Hilda. Have as much as you want..."
"Okay sir, let me go and ask my dad if it's okay with him too.." Hilda said as she walked pass me to the sitting room and was back in no time.
Jonah was the first to ask
"So?..what did your Dad say...?
"No, My Dad said no, he said you're a terrible cook, when I get home I will eat.." Hilda replied and suddenly began to giggle childishly.
Jonah stared at her not knowing what to say.
He looked at me and then back at Hilda
"Your Dad is right, home made food is always the best.. but he needs to taste my food first before he conclude that I can't cook. I wish he can let you have a taste.. just this once.."
He returned his attention to his pot on fire.
Hilda kept giggling
"What's funny? Jonah asked her
She didn't reply as she kept laughing
With the way Hilda was giggling, I knew she maybe upto to something.
"I was only kidding, my Dad did not say you're a terrible cook. He said I can go ahead and eat, so hurry with the food so that I can have a taste before leaving because we will soon be going..."
Jonah's smile returned as he began to hasten up.
"Where's Zena? I asked them
"She ran to her room, Zena said you håte her and she wasn't going to eat anything or come out of her room until you come beg her. She also said she wasn't going to be my friend again and I told her that I will be Jonah and Marvel's friend.." Hilda said.
Jonah spoke after bringing down the pot in fire
"Don't listen to her, Zena likes acting like a baby and it's because my Dad indulge her too much. She gets away with everything..."
I felt little ashamed
Even Jonah knows that I encouraged Zena's ill behaviour.
He dished into a plate with some shredded chicken and gave to Hilda.
She thanked him and immediately began to eat
It was hot yet she slowly ate the food and it's obvious she was enjoying it
"How's it? Jonah asked her impatiently
"It's super delicious but a little spicy. I like it, you're a good cook Jonah..."
"Thanks, you can take the good news to your Dad.."
Hilda began to laugh and suddenly cough
Jonah quickly brought water from the fridge for her
I was about walking away when Jonah asked me if he should serve me my food
I told him to go ahead and eat, he shouldn't forget to dish out for Zena and call her to come and eat.
"Dad, whenever she's hungry she will come out from her room and take food by herself. I'm not her servant..."
I nodded quietly as I walked away.
I was going towards Zena's room when I cautioned myself and immediately turned back
Jonah is right
Sometimes I do this things without even thinking about it because I'm so used to pampering Zena
I'm glad Jonah is bold enough to remind me of my duty as a father, a teacher and the head of the family.
Zena will definitely come out whenever she's hungry
If she's waiting for me to come speak to her, pet and beg her as usual that's not happening.
How can a little girl like her be heartless
I pleaded with her to tell me everything she knows concerning Marvel and she never did
She lied to me despite how special I have treated and loved her
If Hilda didn't show up or tell her father what really happened that day, I wouldn't have known that there's more to Marvel's missing.
I silently hope that Zena didn't push her into the water just to get rid of her.
Edna warned me that I might regret my every action some day with the way I kept going with Zena.
All she ever wanted was little love for Marvel too and I didn't have it to give
I showered it on Zena and when I accepted Marvel and was finally ready to give her fatherly love like she deserves, calamity struck
I wish I never waited this long to realise all this damage.
Martin, Drake and Hilda later left.
After seeing them off to their car, I decided to drive to the hospital that same night.
I wanted to check up on Edna but the doctor said I can't see her.
I didn't ask why, force to see her, or argue with them
I asked them if she was stabilized and they said she was but not fit to see anyone
The doctor said that although she's conscious but she's still in a critical state.
Her blood pressure is too high and they fear the unknown but the medical team is working tirelessly to make sure nothing wørst happens to her.
I just nodded in understanding before turning to leave.
I sat in my car for a long time without driving home.
It was already late, almost 10pm.
A lot of thoughts crowded my mind
I have greatly wronged Edna, the wife of my youth.
She has always loved and supported me, she tolerated my excessiveness and forgiven my mistakes severally
No matter how much I offended her, she has always find reason to forgive me.
I didn't trust her enough because of Marvel, I abandoned her when she needed me the most
I never make attempt in helping her lessen the whole burden of taking care of a special need child
No one could take care or love her child like her, she took upon herself to give Marvel maximum love and support
I thought she was being too sentimental with Marvel, I foolishly accused her of giving too much attention to Marvel after she said I was spoiling Zena and will bear the brunt if anything should go wrong.
I thought she had an affair with another man and the product of their sin was Marvel.
I hürt Marvel just by painfully taking blo0d from her to do DNA
I took her saliva and even hair just Incase a demand for the items were made.
The three DNAs proved that she was rightfully mine
I had no choice than to accept my reality.
I'm a terrible person, I agree totally.
Edna has every right to arrest me, lock me up and forget my existence.
I have húrt her beyond repair.
I promise to do whatever it takes, wether dëād or alive, I will find Marvel.
I will find my daughter I only pray that she will be alive and okay wherever she might be.
Finding her alive may save my marriage and my home.
(Do not take credit or Plagiarize AMAH'S HEART stories)
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