Joelle opened the gate and entered inside the compound.
she looked around the compound. the house, flash to her memory the image of Victor and Emilia.

she didn’t know she missed them this much. she was indeed aching to see them.

she removed her eyes from the car that was pack out and looked the at closed door.

What would he say when he sees her?
what would he think when he sees the child in her arms she thought.

what had happen in the months she wasn’t here? She wondered. Was victor already in a serious relationship, or was he already married?.

Joelle prayed for strength to do what she needed do and then  placed her hand at the door.  Then she knocked.

Few second after the knock, victor stood at the door. he looked taller than she remembered and thinner. Joelle thought.

Victor looked at the woman who was in front of him and for a moment he couldn’t believe his eyes.

In the past few months he had sadly concluded  to himself that he wouldn’t see her again.
But now she was here standing in front of him.
She looked slimmer but still beautiful as she had always been and she looked more like Maya, though still younger and frightened. He wanted to pull her to his arms and hug her tight.

His eyes moved from her face to the bundle she carried in her arms.
A child he saw and confusion stabbed him.

“It's good to see you again Joelle” victor finally said.

Joelle bit her lower lip she was trembling, and couldn't respond.

was the child hers or someone else victor asked himself in his mind.

Was the child his? He asked himself again but this time he looked at her in confusion.

“Please come in, Joelle, you look tired” Victor said in an even tone.

“No that's not necessary I am fine here.
I am sorry I didn’t call to inform you that I will be coming”
she said in a shaky breath, I didn’t mean to come back and disturb you anymore, but… she glanced at the child and Victor stomach knotted.

“ is he yours?” Victor asked.

“Ours, I am so sorry Victor.
He is the reason I returned” She glanced back down to the child.

"He's your child"

Victor stared at the child his throat ached so badly that he couldn’t say a word.
Then Joelle looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears.
“I had to bring him back victor’ she said
“I couldn’t keep him from you,
I can’t even take care of him i wanted to keep him, God knows I really wanted to. but I couldn’t I am not capable of taking good care of him.

I know he would be better here with you. even though he is going to be so much stress because he still little. He is your child and I know you are going to love him  irrespectively of where he had come from.
I am sorry for everything, please forgive me.” she said swallowing hard.

“Ethan is a very wonderful baby he rarely cries at night, he doesn’t like the dark but he is a good boy.
he smiles a lot  and I think he looks like you, do you want hold him? ” Joelle asked.

His hands were shaking. Carefully he reached out and accepted the baby that was soundly sleeping.

“I will be leaving now, I promise I will never disturbed you again take care of Emilia and him please”

What did she think she was doing? Surely she didn’t want to leave her child and just walk away. Victor though still in a confused state.
Maybe he didn’t hear her right.  he moved closer to her and looked intensively at the pain filled eye.
“What kind of man do you take me to be Joelle” Victor asked and Joelle stood shocked looking at him.

“You think I will let you give up this child you obviously love?  That I will let you walk away from this house without your baby he is better off with you not me.
Joelle, you were always perfect with Emilia” you're going to be a good mother" victor said.

“I have to go before it becomes difficult for me”  I told you I don't have means to take care of him. she said and then turned to leave.
“You can’t leave Joelle” he said looking more intensively at her
“I won’t let you leave. I will provide all you need to take care of him.
Or, We will to get married and be family that’s the right thing to do” victor said stammering.

“No victor, I can’t marry you, I don’t want to” she said as tears came down freely from her eyes
“But why Joelle” he asked confused you love me don’t you.
“Yes I do but not to the point that I can marry you. She said and started walking away.

“Joelle please wait” Victor walked up to her still holding the baby

“I so sorry Joelle.  I looked for you everywhere, I nearly lost my mind without you.
I though I didn’t need you at first, but I was totally wrong.
I loved you. I was only scared of accepting it at first.
I love you and I need you with me.
I have missed you every hour and every day please.
I don’t want you to leave, I wanted you back to me”

Joelle looked up to him as he drew her into his arm with their beautiful baby in-between them.
“I’ll never let you go again” he said. “I don’t want to go anymore” she whisper
“I never did, I love victor, I love you so much ”
"I can't wait to see Emilia, Joelle said.
"she will be so happy to see her brother and her mom" victor said. Opening the door for her to enter.