Neil took Onita and the little cupcake to the restaurant next door to the building.Though Onita had received medication,he did not wish to wait longer.He had already ordered the food while she was being checked by the doctor.Cutting down on the commute time as well as the wait for dinner was the best way Neil could think of to get to the point.
Little Alicia woke up the minute they entered the restaurant and but just rubbed her head against Neil"s shoulders as she stared up at him.She had hardly any contact with the male of the species and she could see the light hint of stubble on her cheeks.Curious about this she rubbed her hands against his cheeks and felt that it was p.r.i.c.kly but soft.Neil stared at the little girl playing with his face and grinned making her grin back.Exploring the new territory,Alicia"s hands went to Neil"s hair and she pulled at them in experiment.Her mama had long hair and never let her pull.But since this friend was playing with her,she let herself play.Neil felt the pain at the little girl"s tug and almost tried to save himself from her vicious grip.
Onita,who had reached their table, saw the situation and smiled at the pair.Going forward,she gently pried little vice like fingers and rescued her knight to be.They already looked like a family of three,out for dinner to the other patrons present.The dim lighting prevented the people from seeing the clothes of a person.Though everyone who saw smiled genially,there was someone who was frowning.That someone had seen Onita enter and had stopped eating that very minute.When she followed the hostess to a reserved table,the man had been about to get up to go see and greet her.But at that moment,she turned around and went to the people who were most likely her family.The man sat back down with a thump and could not eat after that.He had not seen the man or the child due to the dim lighting as well as the fact that the man"s back was towards him but he had seen Onita"s soft mile and the way she had caressed the baby..He felt a lump in his throat and had to look away from the soft scene.He hardened his heart and thanked the fates that he was flying out tonight or he would have been tempted to go and meet her.And that would have been wrong if she was married and was a mother..
Onita and Neil went to the isolated table in the corner and immediately the servers brought out the dishes on the table.Neil had ordered a lot of carbohydrate dense and food and meat so the dishes were mainly potato soup,bok choy,traditional sticky rice,kungpao chicken and a steak.Onita paused at the amount of food that he ordered and asked,"Is there anyone else joining us?"
"No this food is for you!And the doctor has provided a nutrition diet that you will follow from tomorrow!Now start eating."
Insted of eating,Onita picked up a few grains of rice and held them near little Alicia"s mouth to feed her.Onita did not wish to eat.Even though her body demanded food,her mind was repulsed by the idea of eating when she was woried about losing her daughter.
Glaring at her,Neil,let little Alicia take a this bite but the minute she had closed her mouse,pulled the high chair away from Onita towards himself,and started to carefully feed her pointing at Onita to finish her food.
Under Neil"s watchful stare,Onita had to finish a hearty meal forcefully while little Alicia enjoyed the attentions of Neil.Once outside,Neil escorted them into his car which the driver had brought outside.
As the driver drove the car,there was silence in the car broken by Alicia"s small chattering sounds in between.After driving around a while,they reached an area which housed old houses.The decaying buildings and an air of unkemptness loomed over the area.Neil a.s.sessed the area as they pa.s.sed.Though gloomy,it was considered a relatively safe area which was a good thing.The car stopped outside a small run down building.Onita was shocked to see that he knew her place of living and turned to look at Neil questioningly."I read your file." was the answer she received.
Getting off,she was about to thank Neil when she noticed that he too had alighted.Picking up the pram that had been deposited in the back and other baby stuff,he was ready to follow Onita and Alicia.Onita was feeling a little conscious as she led Neil into the old building.From the broken steps to the non existent security,Neil noticed everything but he was careful to not let his expression about the place show.
Inside,Onita set down Alicia in the play pen and hurriedly gathered the toya and clothes that were scattered around the house.But Neil stopped her and made her sit down."Onita,I am not here to judge you or your house.Stop being so worried.You need to tell me everything before I can go and stand in court tomorrow.So start now from the day you went missing to the events that have taken place till now."
Onita simply nodded her head as she rubbed her temple.Then she said,"I just want to keep my baby with me."
Neil almost groaned frustratedly.Onita was not in a state to answer anything properly.If she were to take the stand tomorrow,The other lawyer will tear her to pieces.Deciding to directly ask the urgent questions now and leaving the rest for later,Neil asked the most pressing question,"Onita,where is Alicia"s mother?"
For a moment Onita stilled but then she shouted in an enraged voice,"I am Alicia"s mother!I am the only one she ha known since birth!"
Shaking his head again Neil repeated a bit differently,"I meant to ask,where is Onita"s biological mother?