Wedding for Revenge

Chapter 9 – Godmother

Alice Walker's POV

          “Congratulations Jacob, you are now the father of an angel.” I wished.

          “All this happiness is just because of you Alice. If it was not for you I would have lost both my wife and baby. Thank you so much, Alice. You didn’t even care about your kids.” Thomas’s words pulled me back to the reality that I had left my kids with a complete stranger. Mary will be really struggling hard to handle them. I looked at my watch and it’s already 7.00 in the evening. It’s been around three hours since I left them with Mary.

          “Jacob, can you please call Mary and ask how the kids are,” I asked.

          “Sure.” Jacob took his phone and dialed some numbers. I heard him talking with Mary and telling him about having a baby girl. Then he asked about the kids. I looked at him eagerly until he cut the call.

          “Mary was able to tame your kids well. Mary had made dinner for them and they are having it. But they are asking for you occasionally. Come on, I will drop you back.” Jacob said.

          “No Jacob, Julia needs you with her. I will go on my own. Please tell Julia that I will be back in the morning. Take care of her and convey my regards.” I said.

          “Are you sure you can go back on your own? I can arrange a cab for you.” Jacob said.

          “We came here in your old car. I can drive it back.” I said.

          “Then take my new car,” Jacob said, giving the key.

          “No Jacob, I am fine with the red one.” I refused.

          “Well Alice, one of the headlights of the red car is broken. You won’t be able to drive it in the dark. Take the other car. It’s in the parking lot.” Jacob said and took the key from him. I just wanted to be back with my kids as soon as possible. I said my farewell and hurried to the parking lot. There were just four cars and so it was not that difficult to find Jacob’s black car. I got inside and started the engine and drove back to Jacob’s house. Coming here with Julia only took me forty minutes but driving back it’s already forty minutes and I haven’t even crossed half the distance. Finally, when I pulled over in front of Jacob’s house, it was 8.40 and that meant it took more than one and a half hours to drive back. I parked the car in the garage and went to the front door. Mary was already standing at the door with Alinda and Toby. They both ran to me and hugged me as soon as they saw me. I carried both of them and went inside.

          “Thank you so much Mary for taking care of my children,” I said sitting on the sofa.

          “You have wonderful kids Madam. They didn’t make any trouble and did as I said. I really enjoyed being with them. The pleasure was all mine.” Mary said.

          “Mary, please call me Alice.” She smiled at my words.

          “How are Julia and the baby? Did you take the baby?” Mary asked.

          “Well, I didn’t have the opportunity to see them. I had to rush back here to my kids. I promised to visit them in the morning.” I was informed.

          “Jacob told me how you rushed to the hospital in the city on time and that’s why Julia and baby were saved. You really are a savior.” Mary said.

          “No Mary, I just became a medium to save her. To God’s grace, I was able to drive the car without any problem. By the way, Jacob is really my savior. What he had done for me and my kids is something I could never repay him back. I will be able to start anew after moving to Australia.” I said.

          “Julia had given me a brief picture of your story. It really takes great courage to be in your shoes. I am sure you will be able to build up a new world.” Mary said.

          “Thank you, Mary. You will be getting late to go home.” I asked.

          “No Alice, I will be staying here tonight. You just go and freshen up. I will take care of the kids.” Mary said.

          “Thank you, Mary, I will just go and take a shower,” I said and stood up. Alinda went with a word to Mary but Toby stuck on to me.

          “I will take him with me. He is sleepy. I will put him to bed and then take a shower.” I said and went upstairs with Toby. I could hear Alinda’s laughs as I reached my room.” I first bathed Toby and changed him and put him to bed. He soon fell asleep. Then I went and took a hot shower and it really relieved my stressed muscles. After changing to my nightdress, I went down and found Alinda with Mary in the kitchen. Mary was heating the food and Alinda sat on the kitchen stool. Mary turned around hearing my footsteps.

          “Dinner is ready; please take a seat while I serve,” Mary said and started to arrange the table. I helped her and we sat together and had dinner. After dinner, I went upstairs with Alinda and put her to bed. When she fell asleep, I again went down and saw Mary sitting on a chair by the front door.

          “Mary, why are you sitting here? Are you waiting for someone?” I asked.

          “Yes Alice, I am waiting for my daughter Maggie. Actually, my husband, Joseph leaves with his truck to the city by 4.00 in the morning. So, he will bring Maggie here anytime.” Mary replied.

          “Okay then, I will give you company,” I said and pulled a chair towards her. We talked about each other’s life for some time. After around half an hour, we heard the creaking of the gate. A man in his late forties came with a beautiful girl. Julia said that she is fifteen but she seemed bigger for her age. Joseph came and handed over Maggie and then turned to leave. He gave me a smile while turning back.

          “Please don’t mind him, Alice. He became a little bit cold after our son’s death.” Mary said and introduced her daughter.

          “Maggie, this is Alice and she is the one who rushed Julia to the hospital on time,” Mary said to her daughter.

          “So, where are you going to sleep?” I asked Mary.

          “Well, we use the room on the ground floor whenever we stay here. Sometimes Jacob goes for an official trip and on those days I and Maggie give her company.” Mary said.

          “Good night then, I will meet you in the morning. Have a nice sleep.” I wished.

          “Good night Alice.” Both mother and daughter said at the same time.

          After two nights, I slept peacefully in between my kids. I woke up early by 6.00 and after doing my morning necessities, went down. Mary was already awake and was doing the cleaning of the house. She said that she will bring coffee for me but I refused and asked her to continue her job. I took the responsibility of making the breakfast. Within forty minutes I arranged everything on the table so that we could have breakfast as the kids’ wakes up. I brewed two cups of coffee and went out with it. Mary was coming down the stairs after finishing her cleaning job. I gave her a cup and we sat in the living room and chatted until Maggie came out of the room. Mary went with her to give her breakfast. I went up to wake my kids.

          After breakfast, I got ready to go to the hospital. Mary said that she will also come with me. Joseph had asked her to wait for him at the hospital. He takes Mary and Maggie to the city once a month. I took Mary and Maggie to their house first so that they could change. Mary invited us to her home. I went with her so that she won’t feel bad. It was a small single-storied house with two bedrooms. It was simple and at the same time cozy. Mary and Maggie went to their rooms to get changed. But before they went, they brought some chocolates and a cup of coffee. Maggie gave the chocolates to the kids and said that they were homemade chocolates. I was really worried that they would make a mess with the chocolates. But to my surprise, the chocolates were in the shape of small balls which melted as soon as they put it in their mouth. I sat and drank my coffee without worrying about the kids. Mary and Maggie were back within half an hour. Mary sat in the front seat while Maggie sat in the back seat with my kids.

          By 11.00 we reached the hospital. I called Jacob and he came out to take us to Julia. I held Toby’s hand while Alinda took Mary’s. Julia was lying on the bed and her baby was in the cradle. I went and hugged Julia and said.

          “Congratulations Julia. You have got a beautiful daughter.” She hugged me back tightly and said.

          “You are an angel Alice. If it was not for you, my angel wouldn’t have been with us. Thank you so much for showing so much courage to take me here at the right time.” Julia said with a smile. Tears of joy sparkled in her eyes.

          “Please don’t thank me, Julia. It’s nothing in front of what Jacob did for me and the kids. We will always be thankful to him.” I said. I turned around and saw the baby in Mary’s hands. I went and took her and came back to Julia.

          “Alice, we have decided something,” Julia said looking at Jacob. I looked at both of them.

          “We have decided to name her after you and Thomas. You two are the most important people in our life. We are going to name her Alice Thomas Wiseman.” Jacob’s words brought tears of joy to my eyes.

          “Alice, we want your permission.” I looked with puzzled eyes at Julia and Jacob.

          “Alice, will you be our daughter’s Godmother?” Both Julia and Jacob asked in unison.