It’s becoming increasingly difficult to hide her pregnancy although someone who just met her for the first time would think she’s plump. Pregnancy sits so well on her. She’s simply filling out. Kim examines herself in the mirror. Her cheeks have filled out and the dimples are now heightened when she smiles.
At times, she wishes she could get rid of this pregnancy. That’s the only thing coming between her and Dr. Sam. Dr. Sam or Val? Since Sam came back from his visit to Dr. Sam’s dad, he’s been calling his name sake Val.
They all actually agreed to call him Val instead of Dr. Sam. Moreover, his father calls him Val. Cute name though. Valentine sounds sexy. She somehow prefers it to Dr. Sam which sounds so impersonal to her. Valentine…love… Kim shakes herself out of her reverie. At almost five months gone, she should be thinking of her future and that of her unborn child. Sam is no longer pressurising her for the solemnisation of their relationship. His mum has been ill.
The past few weeks have been stressful. He’s been running helter skelter, trying to get the best medical attention for her. Thank God for Dr. Sam…er…Val and his father. They have been so helpful. Now, his mum is back home, hale and hearty.
She wonders how fate throws people together. Sam’s father worked for Val’s grandfather. He was a foreman in one of Val’s grandfather’s companies. Val’s grandfather was a building contractor and had a block-making factory in addition to other businesses. It was during one of their discussions that they found out. Val’s father has shown so much interest in their backgrounds. He asks both direct and indirect questions. Sam and Val are actually from the same cultural background.
Since they realised that, they have bonded more. His father is so happy. Val is always coming around and Sam always goes to his house on visits more frequently…but without her. She’s been to Val’s house twice after that jinxed first time. His father was nice, asking questions, some of which made her very uncomfortable. She never liked discussing her father because there was really nothing she could say about him. She didn’t know him and her grandparents didn’t either. She doesn’t even have a picture of him, so what can she say about him? She told Val’s father that her father was late. That’s what she tells people, anyway. Val’s father felt very bad when he learnt that her father was late.
“Oh, my condolences my dear child. What happened to him? Was he ill? When did it happen?” he asked kindly. Now, that was the first time someone had pried into that and she had no ready answer to those questions. Her mind went blank. As she searched for words, tears suddenly welled up behind her eyes and before she knew it, the dam broke and poured down her cheeks. She sobbed. They stared at her in surprise.
That’s the first time Sam would see her in that mood. Kim never cries over anything! Val’s father was apologetic. He blamed himself for opening an old wound and apologised profusely. Val was by her side in a moment. Consoling her as Sam rocked her shoulders.
Honestly, even Kim was surprised at her reaction. In retrospect, she wonders what brought the tears. It wasn’t acting. She just felt a stinging sensation in her eyes and the next thing, tears poured down her cheeks. Val’s father sure knows how to ask questions! If she stays one hour alone with that old man, he’ll have her confessing like a bad witch who was caught with a vial of blood in the morning.
She smiles. But the old man is so lovable, the kind of dad everyone desires. Some people are just so blessed. Val is. She sighs. How she wishes she has a father! To worsen her case, she doesn’t even know where her father is from. She dresses up thoughtfully. She’s seeing Val today…all alone.
Sam travelled to the village to see his mum. She laughs out loud as she discards the fifth blouse. Soon, pregnancy will be written all over her, no matter how she tries to conceal it. She laughs again as she settles for a long black top on a mini skirt. Her phone rings and she picks it. Sam. “Babes, how are you doing?”
He asked. “I’m good o. How your end? How’s mama doing? Hope no problem?” She replied. “None. She’s good. She’s asking for you. She’s strong enough to run around now. She said I should tell you,” Sam said and they laugh. Of course, they know that mama is talking about their wedding. “I’ll go with you next time you’re seeing her. Will call her tomorrow,” she said.
“Oh great. Val has been trying to reach you. He said your line wasn’t going through,” he said. “Oh, will call him,” she replied. “And how’s my son doing?” He asked. Now, that’s a new one. It had always been his ‘child’.
“Son?” She parroted. “Yes, son. Mama said you’re giving me a son,” he said, pride and laughter in his voice. “Oh, mama has become a ‘scan’ doctor,” she replied and they laugh. No harm here, Sam had asked Val to take care of Kim while he’s away in the village.
He’s also visiting Val’s village. Val’s father gave him something for one of the aunties. It’s a phone and some cash. ….. Val’s dad has been in a great mood for days. In fact, he’s in a celebratory mood. He’s also suddenly in great good health. Val has been wondering what’s happening. Dad has been making so many discreet calls of recent and receiving several also.
Everything had been shrouded in secrecy until last night when his father broke the secret. He had won a contract one of his companies had been chasing for months! Val could swear on his life that whatever put his father in that mood had nothing to do with business…until his father spilled it out! Each time he felt he had studied his father well enough to understand him, he found out he was well off the mark. Phew! You can never know with dad!
But right now, everybody is in a celebratory mood.
That’s why he brought Kim to where he hangs out with his friends. But today, they are alone. It’s a cozy restaurant and bar that offers Asian stuff in addition to others. He orders some noodles and spareribs and a bottle of choice fizz.
The meal is excellent. The drink too. In fact everything is so good. The butterflies in her tummy make her a little light headed. “I really do not do much alcohol. I try not to. Dad did a lot of that at a point and had issues with his health.
So as a matter of principle, I decided to cut down on it. I still go beyond my limit but that should be once in a while,” Val said. His voice is like chilled water in hot weather to her. It has a calming effect. A kind of ‘it’s okay, everything is gonna work out fine’ voice. She ‘drinks’ his words.
They talk and talk and before she knows it, her past, the whole secrets – her birth, mother, grandparents, the good, the bad and the ugly tumble out.
The good thing about it all is that they laugh over everything. They laugh so hard that tears run down her cheeks. At a point, she picks up the bottle of fizz and checks the label. Not something a pregnant woman should indulge in often.
“Don’t worry dear. No matter how hard you try to conceal it, I remember you’re pregnant and I was mindful of that and watched what quantity I poured into your glass,” Val said, with a twinkles in his eyes. Kim’s mind does a somersault -from shame to anger to…and she burst into laughter. It’s so like Val to make everything sound so okay! Then, they delve into real heart to heart.
******
I’m so confused here. What could be happening here? Let’s find out on Sunday.
