HOW DID I GET MARRIED?

The next day, when Nathan reached the diner, his steps slowed down.

He stared at the woman sitting close to the window, her beautiful eyes focused on something, her brown skin looked as smooth and soft as he had remembered.

He felt like was his imagination but it was real, out of impulse, just to be sure, just to clear out his doubts, he called it to her.

"Sholana"

She heard a deep voice behind her and her back went stiff, she knew he was behind her but she didn't turn around.

All of her confidence went out the window and her grip on her daughter tightened.

Nathan didn't mind her silence as he sat opposite her that was when he saw the sleeping angel on her lap.

'Maybe she's babysitting' he thought to him self but his eyes never left the girl's sleeping face

"Its nice to see you again" Shola was the first person to break the silence.

When his dark green eyes met her's her heart skipped a beat

She couldn't look him in the eyes anymore.

Nathan's smiled, he missed seeing her like this, he missed hearing her voice

"I missed you" as the words left his lips, Shola took a deep breath to suppress her feelings although she didn't know which one it was happiness?, anger?, fear?.

"Would you like to order?" A waiter walked up to them.

Both Shola and Nathan shook their heads, no one was in the mood for food at the moment.

The waiter nodded and walked away, Shola sighed and stared at Nathan, she looked perfectly calm and normal

"This is Daniella, my daughter"

Nathan was shocked, he knew the girl wasn't his niece but he didn't ever guess she would be Sholana's child...from another man.

Shola saw the complicated expression on his face and knew he had misunderstood so she spoke again

"Your daughter as well, our...daughter"

Her face was calm but inside she was too scared to continue.

Nathan subconsciously looked at the sleeping girl, she did inherit some of his features but he only noticed it now.

He felt angry, he was fuming. Why would she keep something like this from him?

why didn't she tell him?

Like she read his mind Shola continued her words "The day I found out was the day you asked for a divorce, you said you were inlove with someone else, you said you were tired of our marriage.

I was too shocked to speak at that time but soon I realised, if you did love someone else, will my child be loved?, will she have a normal life?, will she....will her father love her as much as he would love his other children?

I thought about it for a while and I decided that it would be better if you didn't know, that way we can all move on with our lives and forget about each other

I realize I was wrong and it was stupid of me to hide her from you but, I didn't want her to go through what I went through in your mother's hands.....and in yours"

Nathan felt his heart breaking after every word, he felt like there was a lump in his throat, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

What could he say?, I'm sorry?, it was all fake?

even if he wanted to tell her the truth now he...he was sure she still hated him.

She became a single mother because she didn't want her.....their child to be hurt like she was.

"I'm sorry Sholana, for everything you've gone through because of me.

I was stupid, I shouldn't have done what I did, I should have told you the whole truth and you wouldn't faced all of these problems alone.

I'm sorry, I'm really sorry"

Nathan voice trembled at the last sentence, he couldn't bring himself to look at her.

Shola was surprised, she didn't think that he was actually going to apologize, she expected him to be angry, to yell at her and ask fro custody of his child but instead he....

"Truth?...Truth about what?" Shola asked, no matter how much she had tried and how many people she had asked she still never found out the reason for Nathan getting tired.

She knew all of his feelings were sincere even though he told her it was all fake, she just assumed she did something wrong that was why

"You...." Nathan didn't know where to start he had already imagined this moment so many times in his head but now...he couldn't find the words he was looking for

"Mommy I'm hungry" Ella opened her eyes and said in a sleepy voice, she rubbed her eyes and stared at the person in front of her. A bright smile appeared on her face

"Uncle Nathan!"

hearing her cheerful voice all of the tension in the atmosphere was washed away.

Nathan found himself smiling just hearing her voice and looking at her, she was his daughter!, his child with the woman he loved.

"Come to daddy" he said emotionally

Ella stared at her mother waiting for permission from her.

Shola laughed at the girl's cuteness

"Go on, go to your dad"

Nathan stared at Shola's face and soon their eyes met

"Thank you" he said while Shola replied with a warm smile

Ella moved to to Nathan's side and hugged him

"Daddy!, are you back from 'far away'?"

Shola almost chocked, the girl didn't have to expose that secret!

Nathan didn't seem two mind as he pulled the girl closer to him

"Yes, I'm back. sorry I took so long. I missed you "