...“Maxwell, Maxwell, Maxwell!”, Alberta called out
as she shook the motionless body of Maxwell that had fallen to the floor.
Alberta quickly run to answer the door. Immediately she flung the door open, she
screamed, “Please help me!”, “I think I have killed Maxwell!”, Alberta's words
echoed in the ears of the young man who was standing behind the door.
"What are you talking about?", the
surprised young man asked.
"My son's father is lying down motionless in
my room and I can't confirm whether he is dead or alive", Alberta said
frantically as she tried hard to catch her breath.
"What happened?", the young man asked.
"He came in here and started a form of
confrontation with me about an issue so when you knocked at the door, we
engaged in a scramble and he accidentally slipped and fell, hitting his head
against the sofa", a confused Alberta explained.
"Please come in and help me!", Alberta
pleaded.
Alberta dragged the young man by the arm and led
him into the hall where Maxwell lay, motionless. The young man was getting
uncomfortable and in that moment, the least thing he expected to witness was
any form of altercation or trouble.
“I don’t
think I should be here now”, the now timid young man said as he tried to
retreat. Before he could think of stepping outside, Alberta grabbed him by his
collar and pulled him towards her. “This is not a joke”, Alberta said with
intent in her now red eyes. She held the young man so firmly that he began to
choke. “What is wrong with you?”, the young man said as he fought off her
clutch. “I just told you that Maxwell is lying motionless in my room and I need
your help”, Alberta reiterated.
“The thing is, I don’t want to be a part of all of
the mess that you have gotten yourself in right now”, the young man said.
Alberta pulled the young man well into the room and
shut the door. “As it stands now, we are in this together and to make matters
worse, I am carrying your child”, Alberta said. “Do you know how that would
play out in all of this?”, Alberta asked as she pointed in the direction of her
room.
“What are you talking about?”, the young man asked.
Alberta kept quiet for a while and stared at the
young man.
“What are you insinuating, Alberta?”, the young man
asked.
“Now, in the worst case scenario, it would be a
situation where I am carrying your child, you came to see me with my first
child’s father and out of jealousy, you decided to attack him and in your rage,
you killed him”, Alberta revealed.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”, the young
doctor asked.
“Now, you are free to leave”, Alberta started. “Or
you can go inside with me and help me out, the choice is yours”, Alberta added.
“But bear in mind that if you decide to leave, I would not hold you back, I
have many alibis to back the point that you were here because I believe many
people saw you coming in here”, Alberta suggested.
“So you see, the odds are in my favour as it
stands”, Alberta said.
“I can’t believe this”, the young man said.
“But you know I would do no such thing if you
decide to help me”, Alberta said as she warmed her way up the young man who had
grown increasingly disturbed. “You know why?”, Alberta asked. Without pausing
to get a response, Alberta answered her own question. “It is because I love you
so much and I am carrying your child, our child”, Alberta explained.
With this, the young man, like an innocent sheep
being led to the slaughter house, followed Alberta into her room albeit out of
his will.
"What have you done, Alberta?", the young
man exclaimed as he saw Maxwell's body on the floor immediately he entered the
living room. "Please help me out!", Alberta begged as sweat and tears
married each other on her face.
The young man carefully approached Maxwell's
motionless body which was lying face down, and tried to aggressively turn him
over to his side with his foot.
"What are you doing?", a now surprised
Alberta asked.
"What does it look like I am doing?", the
young man asked sarcastically. "I am trying to ascertain whether he is
dead or alive before I do any other thing", the young man added.
When Maxwell was finally laying face up after being
shoved over by the young man, the young man pulled a handkerchief out of his
pocket and used it as a makeshift glove over his hand to be able to check to
feel if Maxwell still had a pulse. As he stretched forth his hand, he shook and
trembled. Alberta stood over him trying to wipe away the tears and sweat from
her face with her palm.
"I can't feel anything", the young man
exclaimed as he pressed his hand firmly against Maxwell's neck and
simultaneously turned and looked into Alberta's face.
The young man took out his phone, unlocked it and
placed it on the floor next to him.
"What does that mean?", Alberta asked as
she backed away slowly, cupping her mouth with her left hand after her
statement.
"I don't know yet and I don't want to
speculate", the young man answered. "What did you say happened
again?", the young man interrogated Alberta.
"He slipped and fell", Alberta answered
meekly.
"Just that?", the young man threw the
statement back at Alberta almost immediately. “Did you push him really hard?”,
the young man asked.
“No!”, Alberta said.
“So the two of you were struggling with each other
and he slipped and fell?”, the young man asked.
"Yes", Alberta replied.
"Why are you asking me all these questions
instead of helping me?", Alberta asked angrily.
"You would have to answer these same questions
when the worst happens and in the instance where we have to call in the
police", the young man replied.
"The police, why?" "Is he
dead?", Alberta asked all at once as she backed away further and pinned
herself to the wall as she run her fingers through her golden brown hair in
aggressive back and forth movements.
"I am yet to confirm that", the young man
said.
His statement sent shivers down Alberta's
spine.
"He cannot just die like that, can he?",
a confused Alberta enquired.
"It would depend on the impact of the fall and
which part of his body suffered the damage", the young man replied.
"As it stands now, if it were a minor fall, he should have gained
consciousness by now since I have been here for almost fifteen minutes
already", the young man explained pointing in Maxwell's direction and
looking at his Rolex watch.
"What do we do now?", Alberta asked.
"We?", the young man asked. "There
is no 'we', here", the young man started, pointing to himself and then
pointing to Alberta. "I am not an accomplice in this", the young and
now frightened man said. "Right now, I am going to try my best possible to
ascertain whether this guy can live", he said. "As for you, just stay
put and pray to your God asking him to revive this man here because if it turns
out that he cannot live, you would have a whole lot of questions to
answer", the young man added.
Immediately he made his point clear, he
started to work on Maxwell in a desperate attempt to revive him but was very
careful not to leave any fingerprints on him which would implicate him as an
accomplice.
As he reached to stretch out Maxwell's arm,
Maxwell's phone rang. The young man, startled, reached for the phone from
Maxwell's pocket and handed it over to Alberta, "Take care of this",
he said as Alberta tried to find out who the caller was.
"It is Raphael, one of his friends",
Alberta told the young man as she saw Raphael's name displayed on the phone's
screen.
"Does anyone know he was coming over here to
see you?", the young man asked.
"How am I supposed to know that?",
Alberta asked rhetorically.
Maxwell's phone rang again. It was Raphael again.
"Turn that phone off or something; it is
distracting me and please turn on the fan, it is getting hot in here", the
young man said.
There was yet another call after some minutes and
this time, it was from Maxwell's mother.
Alberta's heart missed a beat.
She knew it was probable that Raphael had called
Maxwell's mother to find out if Maxwell was at home since he was not answering
his phone.
Alberta immediately changed the phone's profile to
'silent' because she knew Maxwell's phone was not going to stop ringing because
of the calls that were going to follow in regards to Maxwell's refusal to
answer the phone especially when his mother was the one calling.
There were seven missed calls on Maxwell's phone in
five minutes; most of the calls came from his mother.
"There is something I need to tell you",
Alberta said out of the confusion which took the young man by surprise.
"What is it?", the alarmed young man
asked as he quickly backed away from Maxwell's motionless body.
"Has it
got anything to do with Maxwell's current state?", the young man asked.
"In some way, yes", Alberta answered.
"What?", the young man exclaimed.
"Did you try to murder Maxwell?", the young man asked.
"No way!", Alberta exclaimed in her
defence.
"Actually...part of the reason he is here is
that, he found out something", Alberta started.
"What did he find out?", the young man
asked, leading Alberta on.
"I actually told him that the baby I am
carrying; your baby is his", Alberta started.
"You did what?", the young man asked
almost fuming and walked up to Alberta.
"I am sorry", Alberta begged as she
backed up.
"Sorry you say?". "What were you
thinking?". "Did I tell you I was incapable of taking care of you or
the baby?". "Why would you give one man's responsibility to another
man; an innocent man for that matter?", the young man enquired.
"I was afraid", Alberta started.
"I was afraid you were going to leave me since
you started avoiding me when you told me your ex-girlfriend wanted a
comeback", Alberta started. "You refused to pick my calls, you
refused to return my calls and what is worse, I was not allowed to see you at
your work place", Alberta revealed. "What did you expect me to
do"?, Alberta asked. "I was desperate and I needed to find a solution
to this problem", Alberta added.
"I didn't expect you to read meaning into my
actions", the young man started. "I was actually doing all of it for
a reason and I expected you to stay put and not worry your head over any of the
issues I was involved in", the young man said in his defence.
"How
was I supposed to know that you had everything all planned?, Alberta started.
"I needed an alternative and since I didn't
intend terminating this pregnancy, I knew the best way to cover this whole
thing up was to pin it on Maxwell because we have a child together and having a
second one with him was not going to raise any suspicions", Alberta
confessed.
"Wow!", the young man exclaimed. "I
can't even bring myself to terms to fathom the extent to which you can
go", the young man started as he began to pace up and down the living room.
"Get me a pillow", the young man ordered.
"What are you going to do with that?", an
alarmed Alberta enquired.
"Jesus Christ!", the young man exclaimed.
"I am not that kind of doctor so if you want us to save this man's life,
you better do as I say", the young doctor said. "Now, go and get me
the pillow!", the doctor ordered.
Alberta went into the inner room to find her son
still soundly asleep and picked one pillow from the bed before tiptoeing out of
the room and closing the door gently behind her. The young doctor took the
pillow from Alberta and carefully adjusted Maxwell's head on top of it to give
his neck some support.
“The pillow would give his head some support”, the
young doctor said.
"What next?", Alberta asked.
The doctor bent over Maxwell and before long,
Maxwell started to come around.
"Who are you?", Maxwell let out when he
finally opened his eyes. "My name is Abraham and I am a doctor", the
young man revealed his identity. He then gave Maxwell a hand to be able to get
up unto his feet. “I came in to see you lying here unconscious after you had
slipped and fallen and I helped to revive you”, Abraham said.
"One more thing, just so we are clear, I am
responsible for the baby Alberta is carrying", the young doctor revealed.
Maxwell touched his thighs in an effort to check if his phone or other personal
effects had been taken from his possession.
"Where is my cell phone?", Maxwell asked.
Alberta handed the cell phone to Abraham who in turn handed it over to
Maxwell. As Maxwell took the phone, he looked at the number of missed calls on
it and called his mother first.
He informed her that he was sorry his action scared
her but he was going to explain everything to her once he got home.
Alberta stood there with tears running down her
cheeks as Abraham helped Maxwell to get back unto his feet. "I am so
sorry, Maxwell", Abraham started.
"I didn't mean for all of this to
happen, I swear", Alberta said, trying to keep her distance from Maxwell
for fear of being attacked.
"I lost Nancy because of you”, Maxwell started
“I have lost Linda because of you", Maxwell added.
"I have
lost a better part of my life all in an effort to love you but look at how you
pay me back", Maxwell lamented. "This is the last time I am ever
going to give you or anyone else the chance to treat me in a way I don't
deserve", Maxwell said.
"I just cannot believe that you would be so
heartless to think of such a thing", Maxwell said. "If it hadn't been
for the intervention of many good Samaritans, I would either have been living a
lie by believing I was the father of I child I had actually not fathered or
worse, I would have been dead by now because of you", Maxwell said
pointing to Alberta with scorn in his voice.
"What ever did I do to you to deserve this
treatment?", Maxwell asked.
"I couldn't stand the thought of losing any of
you", Alberta started, referring to Maxwell and Abraham. "At least I
also deserve some form of happiness", Alberta explained.
"At the expense of another man's
bondage?", Abraham asked.
"Now listen to me very carefully Alberta, this
is the last time I am going to talk about our relationship", Maxwell
started. "We are never ever going to come back together so the earlier you
get that into your head, the better for all of us”, Maxwell explained.
"Secondly, I am going to take you on regarding
this matter and I would go wherever you want us to go for the custody of our
son because you are the worst kind of parent and role model for him", Maxwell revealed.
"You are not going to have my son!",
Alberta exclaimed.
“Oh, with this murderous intention of yours?”,
Maxwell asked sarcastically. “Any judge would throw this case out the minute I
bring what just happened here to light”, Maxwell added. “You are also
indecisive and irresponsible”, Maxwell said.
“I take exception to that!”, the doctor interrupted
trying to save Alberta some dignity.
“You would not want to see the other side of me
because if you think Alberta is crazy, wait till you see what I can also do”,
Maxwell shot back at the doctor and silenced him.
“I think I have to take my leave now”, the doctor
said.
“You would do no such thing!”, both Maxwell and
Alberta yelled in unison. With that, the young doctor timidly looked for a spot,
picked his cell phone from the ground and sat down as Maxwell and Alberta faced
off.
“Like I was saying, I would do everything in power
to get my son out of your life and the day that event materializes, which it
would, that would be the last time you would ever get to be close to him or see
him because I would never want him to pick up any of your traits”, Maxwell
said.
“No sensible judge would grant you that request!”,
Alberta exclaimed.
"My dear, why don't we leave that for a
competent court and judge to decide that?", Maxwell said.
"I don't think this is a battle you'd want
both of us engaged in", Alberta said as she started to get back some of
her confidence.
"Oh really?", Maxwell asked sarcastically
and let out a laugh. "After all that has happened here today, this case
would be like a walk in the park for my lawyers", Maxwell assured.
"Now, you!", Maxwell said as he turned to
face Abraham who had been quiet all the while and sitting down quietly.
"Maxwell stretched out his hand to extend a
handshake to Abraham. "Thank you for arriving here and for saving my life
and thank you for clearing my name in this whole frenzy by owning up and
accepting responsibility for your actions", Maxwell added. “I don’t envy
you at all”, Maxwell said sarcastically. “I wish you luck with Alberta and
goodbye”, Maxwell added and pointed to Alberta with his left hand as he
approached the door.
"I am going to take my leave now but trust me,
you would soon hear from my lawyers", Maxwell threatened and exited
Alberta's room and headed homewards.
“Before you leave, I also have something to say”,
the young doctor said. “I also have for myself, some form of insurance policy”,
the young doctor started. “I voice recorded a better part of all that ensued
here and as I sat down, I also got video evidence of the two of you”, the
doctor revealed. “If any of you think you can sell me out, you better
reconsider it because I have it here in voice and film”, the doctor said as he
played back a snippet of the video he had just recorded. “And yes, I have sent
copies of it to a trusted friend in case this thing goes further than
expected”, Abraham revealed.
“Bravo!”, Maxwell said. “I have no intentions of
selling you out because I have my own strong points to use in court”, Maxwell
said. “The person you should be worried about is the young lady standing over
there”, Maxwell said, pointing to Alberta.
“Why are you pointing at me?”, Alberta asked
“Because we know what you are capable of”, Maxwell
replied. “I am out”, Maxwell said and exited the room.
On his way home, Maxwell called Raphael and told
him about all that had ensued.
Maxwell did this to also get his own alibi should
matters get out of hand.
Raphael suggested reporting the issue to the police
but Maxwell turned down the suggestion and opted to take other legal means of
getting full custody of his son.
"At least I am happy that for once, you have
cleared your name and taken a bold decision to confront Alberta once and for
all", Raphael said. "I also hope that the actions you intend to take
in the coming days would yield favourable results", Raphael added.
"I am feeling very weak and I don't think I
can make it to the office tomorrow", Maxwell said. “Can you hold the fort
for me in my absence?”, Maxwell asked.
“That is the least I can do for you, brother”,
Raphael said. “I know you are going to be a great single dad should the legal
action go in your favour”, Raphael added and both of them laughed.
“I wish you luck”, Raphael added.
“Luck is for losers”, Maxwell responded and hang up
the phone.
When Maxwell got home, both of his parents were
eagerly waiting for him in the hall. He explained to them all that had ever
happened between himself and Alberta up until the incident that had ensued,
this time, he left no information out.
In the days that followed, many actions were taken.
First of all, Maxwell’s father suggested a for a DNA test to be carried out to
ascertain the true father of Alberta’s first child considering the situation
she almost put Maxwell through. “The paternity of the boy would determine
whether we can take legal action or not, that is in the case where it turns out
that you are the true father of that child, if not, there would be no need
taking legal action for the custody of another man’s son”, Maxwell’s lawyer
said in one of their counselling sessions. A court order was secured in that
regard and Alberta had no choice but to succumb to the law
The test was results were to be given in a week.
To the disappointment of many, including Maxwell’s
mother and sister and to the joy of Maxwell, his father and their lawyers, the
DNA test returned positive, making Maxwell the biological father of Alberta’s
first son.
A legal battle for the custody of the little boy
then began.
The legal battle went on for months. It was a
ferocious tussle. In the end, Maxwell won full possession of his son but there
were some clauses in the court’s ruling that allowed Alberta some rights too.
Linda attended most of the court hearings and
assured Maxwell of her solidarity.
When the case was finally over, Linda wished
Maxwell all the best and made her point of moving on with her life without
Maxwell clear to him. Linda eventually moved out of the neighbourhood after
securing a new job on the other side of town. She always kept contact with
Maxwell and made him aware that she was never going to love any other man the
same way she loved him.
Nancy tried the best she could to be good to
Maxwell’s son by visiting them and showering him with gifts all in an effort to
warm her way up his father’s heart but Maxwell remained indifferent. Nancy
eventually gave up when she realized her plans were not yielding any results.
The last Maxwell heard from her was when she sent him an invitation to her
graduation from the university as a mature student but Maxwell could not honour
the invitation.
Maxwell and his friends worked tirelessly and soon,
they were on the floor reserved for the very best of Pardieson Global staff.
Maxwell and his friends did the best they could to
support other members of the community to reach higher heights.
Maxwell tried the best he could to be a good father
to his son and allowed him to occasionally talk to Alberta over the phone.
Alberta gave birth to a lovely little boy and
Maxwell and his son attended the outdooring ceremony of Maxwell’s son’s step
brother. Alberta got married to Abraham after many months of a stand-off
between the families of Abraham and Alberta.
Both Maxwell and his son loved pizza so they always
went out mostly on Saturdays when Maxwell was off from work and his son was off
from school. On one of such outings, Maxwell and his son had to share a table
with a young lady because the restaurant was almost filled to capacity.
“Is that your nephew?”, the young lady asked.
“No, that’s my son”, Maxwell answered.
“I am a single dad”, Maxwell added.
“Wow, that must be hard work”, the young lady said.
“I am getting the hang of it”, Maxwell replied.
Maxwell’s son pushed his chair and sat right next
to the young lady.
“So does he get to see his mother?”, not really but
they get to speak on phone more often than not”, Maxwell answered. “Orders from
the court”, Maxwell added.
“Oh, I see”, the young lady said.
“I think your son looks very much like you”, the
young lady said. “Oh sorry, my name is Gertrude but you can call me Getty”, the
young lady said. “I was just called to the bar as a lawyer”
“Getty, I think my son is going to love you”,
Maxwell said and the two of them laughed…
THE END.
THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR GOING ON THIS ROLLER COASTER RIDE WITH ME. THE SUSPENSE WAS INTENSE
EVEN FOR ME. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE MILLIONS OF FEEDBACK I RECEIVED
CONCERNING THIS STORY. THERE ARE MANY LESSONS WE CAN PICK OUT IN EVERY EPISODE.
THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE STORY WAS BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS,
NEIGHBOURS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, DATING. THE MAJOR LESSONS I RECEIVED HAD TO
DUE WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF ABSTINENCE AND WHAT IS MORE, THE VALUE OF BEING
FAITHFUL TO ONE PARTNER IF ABSTINENCE FAILED. MAXWELL FAILED WOEFULLY ON THESE
VALUES AND TRUTH BE TOLD, HE RECEIVED A LOT OF BASHING AND INSULTS FROM MANY
READERS. I GENERALLY LOOK AT IT IN THE CASE THAT, ANYONE CAN GET CAUGHT UP IN
HIS SITUATION AND IT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISING TO FIND OUT THAT SOMEONE IS
ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING. LADIES, PLEASE FPRGIVE MAXWELL. MAXWELL
PICKED UP MANY NICKNAMES THROUGHTOUT THE STORY AND I COULD NOT HELP BUT
REMEMBER A FEW LIKE “The Idiot”, “Fool”, “Sex Freak”, “Fornicator”, “Anamuu buulu” (Ga language translated to
mean “Stupid Fool”). IN MY REFLECTIONS, I ATTRIBUTED MAXWELL’S BEHAVIOUR TO
THAT OF OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES WHEN WE SINNED. I AM PRETTY SURE THE ANGELS IN
HEAVEN WOULD CHASTIZE GOD FOR LOVING US UNCONDITIONALLY EVEN THOUGH WE HURT HIM
ALMOST ALL THE TIME. THAT IS WHAT I CALL, “The Maxwell-Alberta” kind of love;
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. THAT IS THE KIND OF LOVE GOD HAS FOR ALL OF US REGARDLESS
OF OUR MESS. SO LADIES, NOW, CUT MAXWELL SOME SLACK…LOL. PERFECTION IS
SOMETHING WE ARE ALL STRIVING AT. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR BEING THE MOST
AMAZING AND PATIENT READERS EVER!!! MY NAME IS EDWIN OKO LAMPTEY AND THIS OF
COURSE, IS ANOTHER MASTERPIECE FROM RANDOM AFRICAN THOUGHTS®.
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