Chapter 5 THE COMPROMISE

The next morning I was still tucked in bed when I heard a knock at my door. Susan, please come to my study now. I recognized my father's voice; he seldom called me by my name and he hardly came to my room in person. I wondered why he did not send the maid or any of the servants.

I already knew there was trouble and I had prepared myself for it so with increasing confidence and trembling nerves I got out of bed and went to his study.

As usual,l he motioned to me to sit down and after some minutes of awkward silence, he finally asked what did the doctor tell you in the hospital? You know I didn't believe what you said there. Without thinking I blotted out Dad I'm pregnant.

He froze instantly in his seat. His nose was twitching a clear sign of his growing anger I expected an outburst but instead, he calmly said:

hope it is not for that London boy.

I tried to laugh to calm the tense atmosphere.

I said to him Dad, Benny is a nice guy if only you would get to know him and give him a chance.

he looked at me with disdain in his eyes and said to me you have not answered my question. Who is responsible for the pregnancy?

I replied that it was Benny. The scowl on his face was even more visible now and without any hint of emotion or anger he said calmly you are getting an abortion. His words struck me like a thunderbolt because it was an option I had not considered and never would consider. something I knew I would never do.

I told him that I would be doing no such thing and he said to me as long as you are my daughter you will do exactly what I ask you to do.

no bastard is coming into my family.

I said it's not a bastard that this child has a father who will soon be my husband my father looked at me and laughed a long laughter filled with mockery and he said to me you'll never marry that gold digger. it was too much for me to bear. My bravado and confidence failed me. I quickly got up and ran out of his study back to my room. Tears filled my eyes. What could I do? Who do I turn to?

I spent the next half an hour pondering what to do next when I had a knock on the door. Sweetheart, he called to me can I come in? and without waiting for an answer my father came swinging in.

He stared at me for some thirty seconds and then he asked if he could sit down. Again without waiting for an answer, he sat down by me on the bed. He put his arms around me and said to me that I was the only person in this world that he was living for. He said I meant all the world to him and he would do anything to make me happy then I said to him why not give Benny a chance?

At least get to meet him and know what he's like he said to me I don't need to meet him to know what he's like I know his type they are gold diggers wanting to reap where they did not sow they come in like sheep but they turn out to be wolves. you will do well to avoid him if you ever want to be happy in life.

I spent some time pleading with him but he was adamant. he wanted me to marry into another wealthy family that way we would keep our generation safe and sound for centuries. I told him that Benny and I are more than capable of taking care of ourselves and a few generations to come so we came to a compromise.

If he agreed to meet with Benny and gave him a chance then at the end of the meeting he still did not like him, I would obey him fully and go for the abortion. It was a good bargain and all I was going to get from my father.

He kissed me on the cheek and told me that he had some business to take care of and insisted that I not leave the house. I should stay in bed to rest because he said those babies in your womb need to be well catered for.

I was stunned. I said babies and he said yes you are carrying twins. I asked him how he knew. Because the doctor didn't say anything about twins then he looked at me and laughed. He said "That's what I've been trying to explain to you, money can get you anything you want in this world," and with that, he walked out of the door.

Excitedly, I called Benny on the phone. He was preparing his shop for the day's work. He sounded tense. I asked him if he was alright and he said to me that he have been uneasy since the previous day but he was yet to find out the cause.He just didn't feel right somehow I thought in my heart that I had good news that will make him feel alright.

I told him that I had a fall that made me go to the hospital and that the doctor confirmed that I was pregnant and not only that I just learned that I was carrying twins. He did not speak for some time I imagined that it was a shocking news for him and that he was considering it then he spoke he asked what we were going to do? I became angry.

All the emotions from the talk with my dad and everything that had happened suddenly overwhelmed me and I began to speak very sternly to him. he apologized and said he was happy with the news but we needed to be realistic that he knew there's no way he would be accepted into my family. I told him that was not going to be a problem that has spoken to Dad about it.

He was shocked, he said you mean your dad is aware you are pregnant and also that I'm responsible? I replied in the affirmative but I assured him that there was nothing to worry about. Daddy that agreed to meet with you I said but he wants to meet with you this weekend and I have arranged the journey and I'll be sending you the details I thought he was going to object but he didn't.He knew better than to argue with me or he didn't just have the money for the trip.