“What?” They all said, simultaneously.
“What are you saying, mom?” Rodney asked with a light chuckled as he come closer to me on my seat. “What do you mean, Margaret?” Michael added, and I could feel his eyes on me. I finally looked up after a momentary silence and I met their gazes on me.
“I'm sure Margaret told you she had a twin sister,” I told Micheal. He stared at me for a while before nodding his head, I heaved in a long breath. “I'm Madelyn; her twin sister,” I confessed, bringing my face down shamefully.
A short silence stepped in;
what would they be thinking now? I thought, still not looking up to their faces.
“I'm not getting this straight, Margaret, what are you saying?” Michael half yelled as he stood on his feet.
I glanced at Rodney stunned face and turned to one of the white couch in the living room, staring blankly at it.
I breathe out and made myself travelled into the memories.
Flashback
Madelyn POV:
While I took my seat next to her on the bench, “I don't understand Margaret, please make me understand,” I told her.
She just returned from the city after some weeks; but her somber look was what I couldn't comprehend. I mean, she always looks so happy each time she returned from Michael Shaw's mansion; one of the successors in the whole Paris.
She sighed softly before tucking her black hair behind her ear. “I'm two months pregnant, and Michael is responsible for it” She said pathetically, I frowned.
“That's one of the best news ever, Margaret, you are old enough to carry pregnancy, isn't it? We are twenty-eight, so you can do it Margaret, why are you scared about it? I mean you are going to be his only queen, the one and only Michael Shaw's queen; how sweet” I rushed my words with so much ecstasy as I pressed my hands to my both cheeks.
She sighed and pulled my arm, I turned to her.
“His parents doesn't want me!” She yelled to my face and I flinched. “What… Do you mean?” I stuttered.
She stood on her feet and folded her arms, I watched her back on my seat.
“Undeniable, Micheal was so happy about the pregnancy,” She started, and I listened, keenly.
“When the doctor had confirmed I'm two months pregnant, he was so excited he told me I'm meeting his parents immediately,” She continues, still staring at whatever.
“I was welcome by his parents, they treated me all nice, and I was so overwhelmed with happiness,” She scoffed and turned to face me.
“And when we were ready to leave, his mom called me behind everyone and gave me a serious warning”
“What warning?” I mumbled softly. “She warned me to stay away from his son, that she will never approve our marriage,” She said, obviously fighting the urge to cry.
I got on my feet and walked up to her figure.
“She said she can't afford to watch his only son get married to someone like me, an orphan like me; she warned me to stay clear away from him and I shouldn't dare tell Michael anything,” She concluded, her tears were now streaming down.
I swallowed hard and slowly pull her into a hug.
Those wealthy folk! I fumed.
“It's okay Margaret, we will find a solution to it,” I said soothingly as I stroke her back.
“I want to abort it” She said as she pulled away from the hug and my eyes widened.
“Are you crazy?!” I scolded and she shook her head.” Whether you like it or not, you are leaving that pregnancy,” I told her bluntly and walked into our cottage.
After nine months,
Dear Lord,
help my sister; I could feel her pain from her cries. I prayed silently as I paced back and forth in the room.
After some minutes, the old woman who had been with her for the past hours came out of the delivery room.
I rushed to her, “How's my sister, ma'am?” I asked the old woman worriedly, she smiled.
“Come with me dear” She said with a wide smile, revealing some part of her black teeth.
I followed behind her as we both headed to the delivery room. I could hear the cried of a baby from outside, I smiled broadly as relief washed my entire system.
The woman pulled the curtain and we both stepped in. I rushed to Margaret on the small mattress.
“How are you feeling, sister?” I asked her frantically, and she gave me a small smile.
“Won't you look at our baby?” She says, and I tucked her loose strand of hair behind her ear and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
“I'm so glad you could make it,” I told her as I sniffed back the pending tears.
“You are not crying, are you?” She eyed me suspiciously, and I shook my head with a smile.
She slowly took my hand in hers.
“Madelyn” She called, I peered into her eyes.
“Do you want something?” I asked and she shook her head, sideways.
“You should look for his father once he clocks two years old,” She said as she gestured to where the baby was lying with her head.
I creased my brows as I watched her.
“What are you saying, Margaret?” I asked, with a chuckle, she smiled faintly.
“Michael knows I have a twin sister, but I don't want you to tell him anything; you should act like me, you are Margaret from now on” She replied, and I removed my hands from her hold.
“What on earth are you saying, Margaret?” I almost yelled. “Yes, that name, that same name we both love 'Rodney' should be his name; He will be a great son, Madelyn” She smiled broadly, but I just stared at her. I'm so confused now.
She wiped the tears on her cheeks with her palm and says, “Take good care of him”
“Margaret please I don't understand all you are saying, do you want me to get the old woman, are you feeling pain somewhere?” I asked with concerned as I examined her whole body.
She just smiled and placed her right hand on my cheek. “I love you sister” She said with tears dripping from her eyes and I couldn't help mine as well.
She pulled me to herself and pecked my both cheeks. “Come on, go carry our baby” She urged me, I shook my head.
“He's sleeping” I replied, and she shook her sideways. “I want to see his beauty sleep” She cooed, I smiled and walked up to where the tiny baby was lying.
I carefully carried the little baby boy in my arms and returned to my previous seat, beside Margaret.
“So bad of you Margaret, you asked me to get the baby a minute ago, and now you are sleeping,” I said with a pout.
The baby whine a little in my arm, I looked down at him in my arms with pure adoration.
While I patted him, “No Rodney, you can't disturb mom's sleep” I warned him.
But he didn't listen as he cried loudly. Oh, no!
“Margaret” I called, using my free hand to tap her leg. “Margaret come on, you need to breastfeed Rodney now” I added, but she didn't even budge. What's going on?
I returned the baby to where he was lying before, not minding his cries.
“Margaret” I called again, fighting the tears that were already threatening to drop.
I shook her thoroughly, but she still wouldn't budge. “Margaret!” I screamed and the old woman with a maiden lady rushed into the room. “What's the problem, young lady?” The old woman asked as she rushed to Margaret.
She checked her pulse, eyes, and palms.
She turned to me with a sober look, I grabbed her arm.
“What's wrong with my sister?”
“What did you do to her?” I fired angrily, but she shook her head. “I'm sorry” was what she could utter, and I slowly let go of her arm.
I watched her dumbfounded as she carried the baby and walked out.
I stared at Margaret face on the bed with tears flowing down my eyes.
Margaret why?!! “Margaret, why would you do this to me?!!” I yelled bitterly as I placed my head on her chest. “You promised not to ever leave me,” I cried.
Rodney POV,
She concluded her story, and I couldn't help the tears that were rolling down my cheeks.
I glance beside me and caught Tamara wiping her tears as she stares at my mom with sympathy.
“I'm so sorry for hiding this from you, Rodney,” She apologized, but I only smiled bitterly.
 “So you mean…you aren't… My Margaret? Dad asked her in a low voice, and she nodded curtly with tears streaming down her cheeks.
She grabbed her handbag and dug her hand into it and brought out a photograph. “Here's your real mother” She showed the picture to my face as she pointed to the woman who gave birth to me in the picture. They were so identical.
“You are my real mother, mom,” I told her, and her eyes dilated. I reached for her cheeks and wiped her tears with my palm.
“You took good care of me like your son, tell me what else could I have ever wished for?” I asked her with a soft chuckle, she smiled.
“You might not carry me in your womb for nine months, you might not be the woman who gave birth to me, but you are my real mother, and you will remain my mother forever” I told her and her smile grew widely. “I love you, son” She said as she shoves her fingers into my hair.
“I will always love you, Mom,” I replied and pulled her for a tight hug. We heard applaud from others, we slowly pulled apart.
“Your kind of woman is rare, even though you are not the real Margaret you never, for once, made me doubt you” Dad says as he slowly reached for her hand and made mom stand on her feet. “I feel it would be better not to remember how I was forced to marry Sienna, we all know about the story, isn't it?” Dad asked and I nodded, including Jason.
“I bless the day you returned into my life with Rodney with you, I will always appreciate you Madelyn” Dad said grateful and mom lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushed.
“And don't even think that would change anything,” Dad teases as she pulled her for a hug. “Uhm mm, I was thinking we should all visit her grave?” Jason suggested after a brief silence;and we all nodded in affirmative.
Great idea.