a look into the wishing well 7

Just as the maid was clearing the table of the remnants of the tea table, George walked in.

His mother had called him to come from where-ever he was because it was important that they talk. 

It had meant that George cancel his scheduled meetings for the rest of the day. He had to come up with some creative excuses to break some of the commitments he made months in advance.

"Hello mother what brings you to our home this fine afternoon?"  Were the first words to come out of George's mouth.

"Do I not have grandchildren to see? Will you deny me this pleasure.. Away with you. I will come when I please. I am still your mother," she said. 

Before sitting down George kissed his mother on the forehead before doing the same with Olive and stroking her hair. He sat next to her. 

"George I am old and I cannot keep up with this fighting amongst you and your brothers. They came with these rumours that the children certainly couldn't not be yours. "

George was about to say something but his mother raised her frail hand to stop him.

"You must listen. I don't ever talk much. Olive has explained the situation to me. But I a traditional and superstitious woman. Those are not children from your own loins.

You may fool anyone but me."

" You must also be mistaken to think we had Dutch or whatever heritage in us. Neither Olive. Our families have known each other for generations. " 

"Mother Please!" George tried to stop her mother

Olive sensed the tension and excused herself to feed the babies.

While she breast fed the triplets her mind was in turmoil and while feeding the little boy something struck her that reminded her of Pierre. His eyes or something about his face. 

But no babies usually look like everyone in the family she thought.. maybe it's just my mind. I have been thinking about Pierre these last few days. It's affecting the way I see things. 

As she walked back to the dining room she could still hear George and her mother speak and she stopped in her tracks as she heard something that made her go pale..

George, George! I never thought you would have four children by now. My dear I had accepted that you had lost the first one and I regretted that we sent that girl away. I was talking as a mother and I know what it feels like to carry a child for 9 months and then someone takes away your baby. 

I never thought to ask you because I believed you were young and didn't want to be burdened by a child at such an age!" 

Olive walked in and George appeared shocked and surprised. His mother did not even look up even after knowing that olive had stumbled on on the secret.

"George? Tell me is that so? You have another child? When? How? I thought you could not have children" Olive visibly shaken said

" It's not what you think and it is more complicated than you think," was George's response.

Now that it was out in the open George tried to explain to Olive what happened and how the family dealt with. 

Olive didn't understand why then he was infertile? 

This part, not even his mother had known. He reminded his mother once when he screamed and told her that he pulled a muscle...well it was something worse. This is what had caused the infertility. He had delayed in seeking treatment. 

Olive concerned had asked​ did it not impact on her. George reassured her that the infection was treated but because he took long to treat it that's why he is infertile.

And olive thought that was the worst of it until he told her about the first failed IVF. That was his sperm used but it had not worked. 

The second attempt was not his even though he had said it was his! Frankly he had no idea.

Olive collapsed on the chair in total shock! George went over to comfort her. Utterly devastated and not able to compose herself. The rage she had through years of self control and discipline kept under wraps, returned. 

She was not the type to hit people but anything close by could be used as a projectile.

She moved George out of the way she picked up a vase and smashed it against​ the wall and ran out the room. 

"Olive please!" He pleaded as she ran out

"Let her be," George's mother said, " She needs to let it out. It is better this way. I would do worse than that if it was me my son. Give her time."

Usually the composed business man, adept at troubleshooting and fixing problems, he was at a loss at what to do now. 

Just then the driver had returned to pick his mother up and she stoically told him

" Be a man. Face up to it. Fix it." 

And she left. 

Needless to say, Olive did not speak to George for a good month. They slept in the same bed. Ate at the same table. 

She was polite. Responded to his 'good mornings and good evenings'. Yes thank you and no thank you. Beyond that nothing else came from her lips. 

He gave her time as her mother suggested. 

She became more attached to the triplets and made it difficult for George to spend time with them.

Always it was either they need to sleep or it's feeding time or they need to go for walk. 

He gave up as he noticed this instructionist behaviour. 

One morning Olive turned up at the fertility clinic and sought out the director of the facility. Her doctor and George's​ was at the meeting. 

She was calm and clear but no less demanding of the need to get to the bottom of this. 

"I want to know who the sperm donor was!'

"Well my lady, it's clear our records show it was your own husband. I thought that was clear?" The director said.

"Well I am no fool. If you want me to go down the legal route I will and you will disclose who it is. ? First I will do a simple DNA test to prove it is not my husband's children?"

The doctors looked at each other and then at Olive. The silence was deafening. 

"Olive it is best you speak to your husband. We strongly encourage you to do this. It is a friendly warning that if you take this route, it could present some unforeseen circumstances. Besides, we know the law, we are protected by the law. Think about your family, your beautiful babies. This is not the time.."

"Are you threatening me director?" Olive said as she stood up , " what if I prove that you went behind my back with my husband to let me carry children which were not his as my understanding?"

To be continued