Chapter 912 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“Sorry to disturb your sleep. Can I speak with you?” Benne asked apologetically.

“Did someone have a nightmare? Need to join daddy and mommy in bed?” Desmond drawled sarcastically as he approached the door, and paused when he saw Benne.

“Benne?” Desmond asked, looking as surprised as Evelyn had been to see him.

“You want to speak with me?” Evelyn asked, and Benne shook his head.

“The both of you. I thought I might not be able to have some time alone with you if I wait till morning,” Benne said, and his parents exchanged a look.

“Want to come inside?” Desmond asked, and Benne gave him a nod, and they stepped outside to let him in.

After they were all seated on the bed, Benne looked at them apologetically again, “I’m sorry for disturbing your sleep,” he said, and they both waved it off dismissively.

“You wouldn’t wake us up if it wasn’t important. What is wrong? Did something happen?” Desmond asked with concern.

“Sort of. I think I might have a daughter,” Benne said, and both his parents looked at him.

“Is Celsie pregnant?” Evelyn asked in confusion.

“No, mom! This isn’t about Celsie. I met someone I’ve been with in the past, during my trip. And she told me we have a daughter together,” Benne explained without meeting both their gaze.

Despite the fact that he was an adult perfectly capable of making his own decisions, he felt somewhat embarrassed to tell his parents he had made such a mistake that even Bryan who was the family playboy had not made.

Neither Evelyn nor Desmond said a word as they exchanged a look, each trying to process the information.

“How do you know she is telling the truth? Anyone could make up stories just to get money from you. I mean you’re a very successful….”

“I don’t think it’s about money, mom,” Benne cut in, and explained the situation to them in detail, and who Kimberly was.

“You mean she let you take the DNA samples yourself?” Desmond asked, and Benne nodded.

“And you say the kid looks like you? You believe she might be yours?” Evelyn asked, and Benne gave her a nod.

“Oh, lord! This isn’t happening!” Evelyn murmured as she pressed both hands to the sides of her head.

“I know I’ve always said I wanted a grandkid, but not this way. This is wrong for everyone,” Evelyn complained.

“Don’t say that, Eve. You’re not helping,” Desmond chided as he patted her back.

“But it’s the truth. It’s going to affect everyone…”

“And who is the everyone?” Desmond cut in.

“Benne and Celsie’s relationship. The kid’s life will be affected too. Our relationship with Celsie’s parents will be affected if things don’t work out between Benne and Celsie…”

“I love Celsie and her family, but this is about Benne and the little girl…”

“Celsie is like our daughter-in-law….”

“Being LIKE is not the same as being it. She is not Benne’s wife. She doesn’t even want to be. Benne can make whatever decision that works best for him and the little girl. We don’t have to make this about Celsie,” Desmond cut in.

“Celsie matters to me, dad. Wife or not, she is an important part of my life and this is about her as well,” Benne said, not liking how his father had dismissed Celsie.

“I know that. And I understand it. I’m only saying the kid is important and I don’t like your mother complaining about how the kid’s presence might affect everything else. How do you think the child would feel if she knew her supposed grandmother thought her existence was a complication?” Desmond asked, and Evelyn frowned.

“That wasn’t what I meant. Besides I rightly said the kid’s life will be affected too,” Evelyn said defensively.

Desmond sighed as he thought about the entire situation, “When will the result be out? Do you need us to cancel our flight? We can be around until it has been resolved,” Desmond offered and Benne shook his head.

“No. You don’t have to stay…”

“That’s nonsense! We will stay back until the result is out. It’s not like there is anything urgent we are hurrying back to attend to. We will stay,” Evelyn declared.

Despite their best intentions, Benne wanted them to leave so he could have time to be alone with Celsie, “No, mom. I’d rather you go home as planned. It’s not like your presence would change the result of the test. I decided to tell you about it now so I do not have to explain it all over the phone if the test result comes back positive,” Benne said calmly and Desmond nodded in understanding.

“Sure. You can let us know the result when it’s out and we will figure out where to go from there,” Desmond said, but Evelyn wasn’t in agreement.

“What’s there to figure out later? I think it’s best we make the decisions now. If the child turns out to be yours, what do you plan to do?” Evelyn asked, and Desmond frowned.

“What else can he do other than be a father to his child?” Desmond asked matter of factly.

“I believe you don’t have plans of pursuing a relationship with the child’s mother. Do you?” Evelyn asked, ignoring her husband.

“She is already the mother of his child…”

“I want an answer from Benne, not you,” Evelyn snapped at her husband, and he shook his head in exasperation. Evelyn was

“Other than being the mother of my child if it turns out true? Of course, I don’t. Celsie is the only woman I plan to spend my life with,” Benne said, and both his parents nodded.

“Then it’s simple. If the result comes back positive, we will come back and you will invite the child and her mother down to Serenopolis so we can see them. We will have to discuss with her and agree on you raising the child…”

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