Secret Addilyn

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO.

Mrs. Henderson quickly got down from the car and rushed into the hospital. she asked the receptionist for the room her best friend, Eva was warded and went straight to the room.

She stood outside the labour room and waited for the doctor. Finally, the doctor walked out of the room with a blank expression on his face. Mrs. Henderson was eager to hear the news of Eva's baby but also, the expression on the doctor's face made her scared.

"How's she?"

"Well the baby came out alive but..." She stared at him waiting for him to complete his statement. "...we couldn't save the mother."

Mrs. Henderson was stars trucked upon hearing this news. She couldn't believe that her best friend was gone. Eva was more than a best friend to Mrs. Henderson. She was the one woman she could call a sister.

She walked into the room to see Eva lying dead. She couldn't find the tears to cry neither could she find the voice to scream but she was hurting badly in the inside. She never expected things to turn out this way. She never thought her best friend bringing a life into this world would in return take away a life.

Eva faced a lot while she was pregnant. Eva's parent's threw her out of the house. Having nowhere to go, Mrs. Henderson bought her a house. Her parents never really cared. they never reached out since that day and even now they are currently unaware that their daughter has put to birth and now dead.

Mrs. Henderson therefore didn't care to reach out. Anyway, Eva's parents had forgotten they had a daughter long ago and they never really cared about their grandchild.

Mrs. Henderson couldn't abandon Eva's child like that so she went home with her.

"Whose child is that?" Mr. Henderson asked curiously.

Mrs. Henderson handed the child to their house help, Caro, before walking to stand before her husband. "Eva's baby." She simply replied.

"Why is she here?"

"Eva's dead" She swallowed hard. She kept quiet for a while but when she got no answer, she continued. "Eva's parents want nothing to do with her or her baby and now that Eva's dead, there's no one to take care of her baby. So I though if I keep her, sh..." She was caught of and surprised by her husband's next words.

"I'm sorry but you can't keep her."

"What? She's my best friend's daughter. I can't just leave her or drop her off anywhere. Besides, she has no one."

"You can drop her off at the orphanage or something but she can't stay with us." He says casually as he takes out his phone from his pocket.

"You kn..."

"My decision is final Mrs. Henderson." He said sternly. "Just figure something out." With that he walked away like he didn't just turn down his wife.

Mr. Henderson could be the sweetest but when it came to things that could raise questions to hinder his reputation, he could be a total ass.

Mrs. Henderson on the other hand knew trying to convince him further was a waste of time. She definitely wouldn't take his advice and drop her best friend's child in a orphanage home. Not while she's alive and not while she considers Eva's daughter as her very own child.

She knew what to do and she did as soon as possible.

TEN YEARS LATER

When Addilyn found out Mrs. Henderson was around, she ran out of her room with so much excitement.

"Aunt." She exclaimed as she hugged her.

"Someone seems a little bit excited." Mrs. Henderson said as she gently tickled Addilyn.

"I'm so happy you came." Mrs. Henderson was here three days back but to Addilyn, it felt like she hadn't been year for a year. Their bond was that strong.

"I usually do, so what's the special occasion."

"Nothing?" She giggled.

Mrs. Henderson stared at Addilyn with a smile before asking, "How are you?"

"I'm fiiine." She stretched. "Just tired of staying indoors all day.

Mrs. Henderson said nothing to that. She just stared blankly as she played with the tips of Addilyn's hair.

"Addilyn." Her nanny called. "Go back to your room. I and Mrs. Henderson has something to talk about." She said calmly.

Addilyn nodded and smiled lightly at them before running back to her room.

"So you wanted to talk to me." Mrs. Henderson said the moment Addilyn was out of sight.

"Yes. I'm sorry for what i'm about to say but..." She looked away from Mrs. Henderson and sighed. "...I can't continue with this work."

"What?"

"I can no longer take care of Addilyn. I have to stop."

Mrs. Henderson was left dumbfounded. She never expected this would be what the nanny wanted to discuss with her. "Wh...why? why can't you take care of her anymore? Mention the price you want and I'll give it to you but pl..." She stuttered, barely finding the words to say.

"It's not about the money. You pay me really well and I enjoy working for you, but i can't anymore. I'm getting old and my husband needs me at home too."

"I understand but is there any other way."

"I honestly do want to continue this work. Not because of the payment but because I enjoy being around Addilyn. She's a sweet child." Mrs. Henderson smiled thinking of how she used to enjoy being around Eva and how Addilyn is just like her mum. Her smile vanished as the nanny ended her statement. "Unfortunately, I cant. Age is telling on me and i now need to spend more time with my family."

Mrs. Henderson sighed. Giving up, she said, "Ok, I'll pick her up tomorrow."

"I'll arrange her things before then." The nanny said. Mrs. Henderson nodded and left without meeting Addiyn.

She needed to quickly go home and prepare for Addilyn's stay...at home. It was unaccepted but no one would ever know, right.

Addilyn was her little secret which won't be disclosed anytime soon...

...or maybe, that's what she thought.