Episode 4: Bittersweet Reunion: Echoes of a Hidden Daughter

“Can’t you see Kamsi, I can’t deny it. She is a splitting image of me and” .. “and what?” Kamsi interjected. "You’ve always been the more rational person between us. I need you to get a grip on yourself Femi” she said, kneeling to rest her arms on her husband’s thighs as he sat dazed in the dining chair.

“This request just came out of nowhere.” Kamsi continued. “Talk to Angela first. Call her. Find out the child’s name.” Femi glanced at his wife, betraying a look that screamed “she’s not the child, she’s my daughter”. “Just think baby, think. Remember how you always go on and on about how failing to plan is planning to fail? You’re the most meticulous person I know. And it’s one of the billion things I love about you. Think of a plan to address this situation. I’m not saying you shouldn’t help. I’m saying let’s have a plan to address this situation."

Kamsi’s words hit Femi hard. But he felt no pain. For a moment, he’d forgotten himself, his values, his discipline and was almost ready to act irrationally, at the expense of his family. He’d just discovered a part of himself that he never knew was there. Was it a part that was still connected to Angela? Or that part that always yearned for a daughter, even when he already had two beautiful boys with his wife? He honestly couldn’t tell.

But of one thing he was sure and Kamsi was right. He needed a plan to engage with Angela and figure out the next steps. “You’re right Kamsi. What was I thinking?” The first thing is to call Angie and find out more information”. “Oh, it’s Angie now”, Kamsi thought in her mind, not letting it distract from the plan that Femi was now developing.

As the days turned into nights, the weight of the revelation bore down heavily on Femi’s shoulders. He had always prided himself on his meticulous financial planning, ensuring his family's stability and future. But now, faced with the unexpected demand of funding his estranged daughter's heart transplant, his carefully constructed life was unravelling before him.

Amelia! That was her name. Femi thought it was beautiful. Communications between Angela and Femi had been transparent, with Kamsi in the loop every step of the way. Amelia was hospitalized at the Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin (German Heart Center Berlin). Femi wanted to visit but Kamsi would never let it happen. Her faith in Femi’s resolve regarding this matter had been shaken and she wasn’t ready to take chances on her husband’s reunion with his estranged girlfriend who was also now the mother of his daughter, and who’d reached out for financial assistance and was likely open to receiving emotional and physical assistance too. And Kamsi thought the cost of travelling with the entire family was too much and unnecessary.

The plan was for Angela to send a sample of Amelia’s hair to conduct a DNA test to establish a biological relationship before proceeding with any next steps. Femi and Kamsi would take the sample to the lab of their choice and be responsible for collecting the results and sharing same with Angela. It seemed a reasonable plan and all parties agreed. 5 days later, a DHL package arrived in Ottawa, Canada. Kamsi and Femi opened the package and saw through a tiny Ziplock bag, a pinch full of curly African hair, almost as though it were shaved from a boy’s head. The results came back, and they were a 99.9% match.

“I have to go said Femi as he packed a small bag. I’ll be back in a couple of days. We already talked about this remember, we both agreed that if the DNA results were a match, that I’d have to visit and see for myself before thinking about making any financial commitment.” At this point, Kamsi wasn’t ready to allow her husband to step out of their home. So, she conceded. “I agree, Femi, she said softly”. Femi wasn’t sure he heard right and asked “sorry?”, stopping for a moment to look at his wife. “I agree Femi she screamed in despair” as she broke and sank to the floor of their bedroom in painful sobs. “You don’t need to go there to see her”, she continued through the tears. Do what you can to help from here."

It was now a couple of weeks since she dispatched the hair sample. Her phone rang, her nails were polished, her fingers were slender and beautiful. She picked up the device, her lips lined red with expensive lipstick. Her voice, clear and calm, but betraying some emotional turmoil. “Hello”, she answered. It was Femi on the line. “I can’t come to Berlin as previously planned” but we’re ready to do all we can to help. What do you need?"

“I wish you could be here Femi. She would have loved to see you. I’ve told her so much about you. You’re her hero. It would have been lovely to catch up with you as well. Perhaps, share a drink or more.” Femi remained silent as hot flashes of their past escapades flooded his mind. “But I’ll send some documents to you, her medical records, and the outstanding bill and we can go from there.” Is that okay?” Angie asked. Su..Su..Sure.. Femi stuttered. Kamsi was off attending to Cassian and Theodore, who’ve been in the middle of all this drama since this dark shadow of their father’s past resurfaced.

Angela ended the call with a satisfied grin, igniting a Davidoff cigarette and drawing a deep inhale. As she exhaled, a triumphant cloud of smoke escaped her lips, symbolizing that her carefully orchestrated plan was unfolding just as she had intended.

To be continued...