TOO FAR TO REACH 58

 

TOO FAR TO REACH 58

Pumulo arrived in the doctors office just after Jeff. The two had not spoken since the last time they were together two days past. Pumulo had kept her distance and only returned to the vehicle when Jeff left. The two were finally going to meet and Pumulo could not help but feel a sense of anxiety. She was looking beautiful as always, clad in denim skinnies and a white golf tshirt, she was just stunning. Her white canvas finished off the look but it was her daughter lifted in a car seat who stole the most attention. Angelic as always. The two met in the doctors office and acknowledged each other’s presence with a nod and slight grin. Jeff wanted to say something but the doctor quickly got down to business.

“Good afternoon. My name is Dr George, I will be conducting your test today. So I will need to collect some saliva by swabbing your mouth sir.. madam we will do the same for the baby..” the doctor said

The doctor of Indian descent got up to pick a few papers from his cabinet which he gave the both to sign.  As they signed he looked at the baby and smiled.

“She’s so beautiful..”

“Thank you” Jeff quickly responded.

Pumulo looked at him and sighed before continuing to write.

“So who’s idea was this?” the doctor asked.

“The court” Jeff responded immediately

Pumulo looked at him again and proceeded to finish her write up. The swabs were quick and the doctor released them to return two weeks later. Emmanuela was now awake and very cranky as they headed out. She did not want to be in the car seat and Pumulo had all along hoped she would rush back to the car and calm her later but she screamed uncontrollably in the hospital. Jeff stopped as she stopped to lift the baby from her seat.

“ok my baby.. I’m sorry..” Pumulo said while trying to rock her on her chest.

Jeff trying to give all the support he could. He got the baby bag and removed a bottle handing it over to Pumulo.

“Lets seat somewhere” Pumulo suggested failing to feed her baby properly

There was a bench ahead and they stopped there. Emmanuela was calm sucking her bottle while Pumulo took a sigh of relief.

“how do you do it all alone?” Jeff asked.

Pumulo was quiet, she ignored him as she continued admiring her baby and smiling to her.

“Pumulo, I don’t know exactly how you want me to behave. You know what I went through was not easy”

“And I didn’t say it was… I have regretted everything I did and I have accepted my fate. I will be honest Jeff, I have really hurt myself a lot by trying to live through all this, everytime I recount everything my heart simply hurts more. I want my daughter to have a normal childhood and for that to happen I need to decide to let the past remain in the past. For how long am I going to beat myself down? I am sorry Jeff.. I am sorry.. I can’t turn back the hands of time. I am sorry. Please find it in your heart to forgive me so that I too can move on peacefully”

Jeff had an ache in his chest, this is not what he wanted to hear. He still wanted things to work but a part of him fought the idea of taking Pumulo back just like that. His ego also told him she never ever needed him hence she seemed unbothered about the reconciliation.

“I want to be part of my daughter’s life… I will do whatever it takes.. I will give her the world. I can do anything for her” he said.

“Thank you” Pumulo replied before pulling out the bottle from Emmanuela, she had slipped back into sleep.

Jeff got the bottle, closed it and placed it back in the baby bag.

“I think we can go now”

“Pumulo” Jeff held Pumulo's hand stopping her from getting up.

“I did genuinely love you with all my heart, I also know you went through so much because of me. I somehow just felt we could talk, we could have talked about it. If you had a moment of weakness we could have discussed it. I felt really betrayed. I truly loved you”

Pumulo acknowledged everything Jeff said with a nod and she was ready to stand up. Jeff stopped her again.

“Hannah contacted me. I know everything, I could not respond to her but tell her I said thank you for the information. Let her know I respect her wish and I will go ahead and grant you the divorce. Please also tell her that Japhet and I were never a couple, it was a stupid fling. As for their union, I’m sorry she felt I destroyed them but I really had nothing with Japhet, I didn’t then and I don’t now. He just blackmailed me. Also, congratulations on your engagement and your baby on the way … I will see you in court Jeff” Pumulo said before getting up

****************************

Jeff stood in court that day looking confused, Pumulo noticed his look had a lot to do with their last conversation. They had gone back to present the DNA results and give their decision to the courts. Nancy was there and so was her husband, Pumulo noticed many other faces in the court house and she figured they were Jeff’s people. She held firm and stood her ground. The past two weeks she had cried and prayed and was counselled countlessly by Ms Charlotte. Before she left for court, Ms Charlotte told her..

“If this man ever loved you and if you truly were meant to be, he will not proceed with the divorce”

Pumulo had told aunty Charlotte how everyday was so hard after seeing Jeff, she dreamt of him and not even Hannah’s revelation changed her mind. She loved her husband so dearly, she too was willing to get past everything. The judge called the court to order and Jeff’s lawyer was allowed to speak.

“Your honor, we have submitted the results of the DNA and my client was also allowed to see his child”

“His child?” the judge asked.

“Yes your honor, my client and Ms Pumulo have a daughter together”

The judge opened the DNA results and looked at both Pumulo and Jeff.

“Well, congratulations. So.. what have you agreed after all this?” the judge asked

“Your honor, my client has something to say” Jeff’s lawyer said.

“Okay.. please be brief”

Jeff stood up and walked to the podium, he sighed heavily before he finally begun to speak.

“Your honor, my wife and I had our ups and downs. We had been through a lot, your honor I still love my wife and I want her back”

Pumulo bended her head and begun to weep quietly.

“Mr Kim, here in your request for divorce you stated clearly here that your wife had caused you nothing but pain.. there’s GBV now. How sure am I that you will live in peace and what has your wife got to say about all this?”

“Your honor, I was angry. Pumulo, my wife has been the most amazing woman I have ever come across. She had her flaws but I love her so much that I am not willing to let her go”

The court room murmured.

“Order!” the judge shouted.

“I think this is interesting, counsel what has your client got to say about all this” the judge said in reference to Pumulo’s lawyer.

The lawyer tried to talk to Pumulo as she wept with her head buried in her lap.

“your honor my client needs time”

The judge thought of postponing the case but opted for a different route.

“The case brought now seems to have  taken a sudden twist and I understand she needs time, Mr and Mrs Kim you came into the court to seek divorce but it seems there’s another case. I therefore choose to pass my judgement”

Pumulo sat upright with her face covered in tearsp.

“ You need to understand as couples that marriages go through a lot, Ms Pumulo, marriage is until death do us part. Please note that your husband needed you at the time you opted to have an unfair, Mr Kim I must commend you, very few men can look past everything to save their home. I wish you all the best and truly hope you will be able to resolve this peacefully. There’s no need to rush. Take your time, you both need to heal and go back to the drawing board. Pick it from there” the judge said.

“For my judgement on this 16^th day of November 2021....In the case of Mr Jeff Kim and Ms Pumulo, a two year reconciliation period has been granted in which neither party can remarry in this period or opt to go against the stipulations of the marital law. If both parties decide to reconcile before this date, they are free to come to court and present their case. However, two years has been granted for separation and possible reconciliation ”