As the sun shyly peeked over the horizon, casting a golden hue across the dewy grass, the amusement park awoke with a symphony of joy. The cool morning air carried the laughter of children, mingling with the melody of calliope music from the merry-go-round. Colourful balloons bobbed in the breeze, while the scent of cotton candy and popcorn wafted through the crisp air.

Susanne brought Grace along and asked her to wait and watch behind a tree where the children played. It excited Grace that she was going to see her mother for the first time.

"Why do you call me out here instead of coming over to my place?" Nike brought up while Grace watched them from a distance.

Susanne ordered a bottle of chilled wine for the both of them as they sat down, sipping and discussing.

"Have you considered doing an abortion or do you expect Micheal to find out before you do the needful?"

"Mum, I've thought about it and I've decided that I won't do such a thing." Susanne gulped on the wine cup and gently placed it on the table before them.  "Perhaps it clocks four months today. Having an abortion at this point is too risky. I am the only one left for you, Mum. Don't you want to see your grandchild?" She exhaled. "I've made up my mind to keep this child."

"Susanne, you want to have a bastard child for who?" Nike's brow knitted in a frown.

"Mom, I thought you would support me since you had the same experience. You also had a hard time getting pregnant with us back then. You gave birth despite the hardship you were facing. I will do the same with my child. I will endure this pain and have it."

"It's not the same. We were poor, but your father and I were legally married. If you give birth to this child, that means you have left the Balogun family."

"You know that won't happen. I'm trying to tread carefully with my plan. I want this child to have Balogun as his surname and inherit everything from the family. He won't be born poor."

“Susanne, are you crazy? You told me that you and your husband never shared a room. Now, how will you push this upon him? How will he accept the child from you?”

“Mum, don't worry. I will find a way. All I want is your support. Help me with this process.” Susanne clamoured with painful eyes.

“I can't help you in raising a bastard child. If you want me to accept it, then tie the knot with its father. I won't let you have a stranger's baby for Micheal.”

Children darted through the park, their faces alight with wonder and excitement. On the swings, little feet kicked higher and higher, reaching for the sky, while on the roller coaster, thrilled screams echoed as cars whizzed down tracks. Despite the laughter in the background, Nike and her daughter concentrated on their discussion.

Grace watched from a distance, her mind racing with questions about what had incited such rage in their mother. As Mrs. Nike stormed towards the gate, Grace's eyes fixated on her mother, who walked past without noticing her. Suzanne observed the scene, sipping her strawberry coffee with an air of detachment. Grace, paralyzed with fear, nearly followed but instead sought refuge behind a tree.

Standing frozen on the sidewalk, Grace's heart pounded as she gazed at the woman she had only known through old photographs and dreams. The morning sun bathed the street in a warm glow, but Grace felt a tempest of emotions—sadness, excitement, and disbelief. She watched her mother, tears streaming down her face, each step resonating deeply within Grace's heart, a heart that had longed for this moment for so many years.

Mrs. Nike, wiping away her tears, lamented the shame Suzanne was about to bring upon the family. "That selfish girl! When will she ever learn?" she muttered, stopping to dab her eyes with a handkerchief from her handbag.

Grace's heart swirled with mixed emotions—grief for the lost years and missed moments, and excitement for new possibilities. She could see her mother clearly until she moved forward again. Grace yearned to run to her mother, to call out and close the gap between them, but something held her back. She watched as her mother reached the end of the street, hailed a taxi, and drove away, leaving Grace with a bittersweet ache and tears in her eyes. Despite the sorrow, there was a flicker of hope—today, she had seen her mother, and that was the beginning.

From a distance, Susanne observed Grace with worry but chose to remain in her chair, sipping the rest of her chilled strawberry wine.

Grace's thoughts drifted back to a conversation with Susanne, her twin sister:

"Dad sent you away because of your sickness, and Mum thought you were dead, which led to her having a heart attack. After Dad died, Mum sold bean cakes to raise me and fund my education. She went through so much for me, and that's why I do everything I can to help her. Five years ago, just a month before I met Micheal, she was diagnosed with a stroke, and her emotions have been unstable since then. The doctor advised me not to make her worry or angry in any way. I haven't told her about you yet because she still thinks you're dead, and revealing the truth now would be too much for her. I promise I'll introduce you to her when the time is right."

"Mother, is this you?" Grace mumbled, tears filling her eyes. She fought back the urge to break down, her heart raced and her lungs tightened.

"All I hear is how much you've sacrificed for me. I'm 23 now, and we are yet to have memories together. You've suffered so much. I used to be angry, wondering why everyone else got motherly affection, but now I understand. I'm not angry anymore. I forgive you, Mum. Get well soon. It's just unfortunate we couldn't meet properly." Grace sniffed, walking up to Susanne.

"Have you seen Mum? Do you see how she breaks down in tears?" Susanne asked.

"Yes, but what made her cry? Did you argue?"

"Not really. Mother cries when she's happy and sad. Her eyes pool with tears, and everything worries her. She had an emotional breakdown just now. That's what I'm coping with."

"I just realized how selfish I've been," Grace said, wiping her tears. "I've only thought about my pain. Seeing Mum in tears made me realize how much you go through. Thank you for taking care of her. I know it hasn't been easy for you." Grace held onto her hands but she pulled away.

"It's okay," Susanne replied, forcing a smile. "She's also my Mum. As long as her illness doesn't worsen, there's nothing to worry about. Forgive me for not introducing her to you today."

"It's okay, Susanne. Seeing her from a distance brought me so much satisfaction. From now on, you won't be alone. I'll do everything I can to help Mum survive this illness."

"Since I married Micheal, things have been smoother. Her medical bills cost $5,000 monthly, which is manageable for the Balogun family."

"What?" Grace gasped. "That's a lot... close to 8 million naira."

"Yes, approximately 8 million naira. There's no cure, just medication."

"If you married Micheal because of Mum, I advise you to divorce him. Find your happiness, Susanne. Relying on such people will only ruin your life. I'll work hard to cover Mum's treatment."

"Grace, it's not as easy as you think. Mum's stroke is a bottomless pit. Without Micheal's money, we can't survive two months. Besides, Micheal takes good care of me. There's nothing to worry about."

"Okay, if you say so. Just remember, I'll always be by your side."

A thought crossed Susanne's mind. 'Dear sister, forgive me. You are the only one who can save me from all of this. I can't lose everything I've worked for in the Balogun family. You are my last option.'

Behind where they sat, a puppet show mesmerized a circle of youngsters, their eyes reflecting the vibrant colours of the marionettes dancing before them. Nearby, parents sipped steaming cups of coffee, sharing smiles as they watched their children explore the whimsical world around them.

The day had just begun, but already the amusement park pulsed with the boundless energy and pure delight of childhood, promising a day of unforgettable adventures and memories to treasure.

That evening, Susanne paced in her room, wearing a pretty mini-dress and her wig styled to perfection. The door suddenly swung open, and Micheal stepped in.

"Darling, you're back!" she exclaimed, her face lightened up with excitement as she ran to him. "Cryst and I have been waiting for you."

Micheal's expression turned grim. "There’s been a major business shake-up at the company. The board decided I need to stay and handle it, so I can't make the trip to Miami," he said sternly.

Susanne's eyes narrowed as she recalled what she overheard the previous night. "Why don't you take Cryst with you?" Micheal suggested.

"If Cryst goes with either of us, she won't enjoy her vacation," Susan pointed out. "You know how she is around me. We don’t get along, so why force it? Let's just postpone the Miami trip."

"Alright then," Micheal said, relieved. "You can talk to Cryst about it." He headed to his room to bathe and sleep.

As he walked away, Susan’s eyes followed him, her disappointment turning into a wicked grin as she glared at his retreating figure, feeling the sting of his indifference.