The Liberian Agenda Page 8

  Sonia tried to remember the last time she’d gotten her period. She frowned. Try as she might, she couldn’t remember. Her heartbeat increased and she sat up straighter in the bed. “Oh my God. I better pick up a pregnancy test at the drug store.”

  “Yeah. You do that. In the meantime, I'll cancel your appointments for today. Take the day off. You work too hard, anyway,” Suzette said.

  “Yeah right. What’s on my schedule for today?” Sonia asked.

  “You just have a meeting with your associate mentee and a shareholders meeting. We can reschedule the meeting with your mentee for tomorrow,” Suzette said.

  “Okay. I'll see you this afternoon. I'll be reading and responding to my e-mails and you can transfer any calls to my cell phone. I'll pick up,” Sonia said.

  “Okay. Feel better and get one of those tests,” she said.

  An hour later, Joseph and Sonia sat on the bed. Joseph had his arms around her and she leaned back against him, feeling nervous and tense.

  “Will you relax? I will be happy either way,” he said. He wrapped his arms tighter around her.

  Maybe he would. But how did she feel about it? On one hand, having a child with Joseph would be a beautiful thing. He’d make a great father and the child would never want for anything. On the other hand, she didn’t know if she was ready for such a huge responsibility. What kind of mother would she make? Children weren’t really part of her life plan. She was a career woman. She’d always thought she’d have a child if whoever she married really wanted one, but she’d never felt the urge to reproduce herself. Having a kid would definitely change their lives and she was happy the way things were.

  “I just never thought I’d get pregnant so quickly,” she said. “I thought we’d enjoy each other for a couple of years before we decided to have children. I'm a little nervous about it. I mean, what kind of mother will I be?”

  “You worry too much. You will be a wonderful mother. I knew that when I asked you to marry me. You have a wonderful way with children. Look how your best friends' children adore you,” he said.

  “Yeah, but it's different when they’re your kids and you have them all the time” she said.

  “Is it time to look yet?” he asked.

  “Yes. I guess I better go look,” she said.

  Joseph squeezed her close, kissed her on the cheek and then let her go. She rose and headed into the master bathroom. She looked at the test stick and gasped. It was positive. The little plus sign was there clear as day. She stood there for a moment, staring at it.

  What was she going to do? She wasn’t ready to have a child yet. She closed her eyes, opened them and looked at the test again. The little plus sign was still there, just mocking her. Ready or not, a little baby was on the way. She’d have to get ready.

  She took a deep breath, blew it out and re-entered the bedroom. “Alright Daddy, when this kid gets up at three o'clock in the morning looking for a bottle, I’m waking you up to feed him. And you had better not complain.”

  Joseph's eyes lit up. He smiled broadly, jumped off the bed, grabbed Sonia in a bear hug, and spun her around and around. He set her down and kissed her soundly. “Yes! I am going to be a father! You have made me the happiest man in the world. I love you. I love you. I love you.” He punctuated each declaration of love with a kiss.

  Sonia laughed. “Well, I think you had a little something to do with it too. Did you even hear what I said about you getting up in the middle of the night to feed the brat? I was serious.”

  “I don't care,” he said. “I'll get up happily to feed my son.”

  “Yeah, but what if it’s a girl?” she asked. “You’d better get up and feed her too.”

  Joseph pulled Sonia to him and kissed her again, this time long and slow. She felt the heat began to stir in her belly. He broke off the kiss and looked down at her.

  “If she is half as beautiful as her mama, she will wrap me around her little finger,” he said. He led her back to bed.

  ***

  Eight months later, Sonia sat in a hospital bed in a private room holding her newborn son. She stared down at his little face and felt a wave of love so powerful it shook her.

  He was so tiny, so perfect. She wondered how she could feel so exhausted and so exhilarated at the same time.

  Dwe, her parents and Joseph surrounded the bed and admired him.

  “Oh, just look at him. Isn’t he just the cutest little thing?” her mom asked. She put her forefinger into his little hand and smiled when he squeezed a tiny fist around it.

  “My grandson is quite handsome,” her father said, preening as if he had arranged the whole thing himself.

  “My grandson will grow up to be a king one day,” Dwe said.

  Sonia smiled and shook her head. “Come on people. You'll just have to share him.”

  “Have you picked a name for him yet?” her mom asked.

  “Yes. We’ve decided to name him David Dwe Saytumah in honor of his two grandfathers,” Sonia said.

  ”I am honored,” Dwe said. “Thank you.” A single tear slid down the old man’s cheek.

  “After all we did for the girl, it was the least she could do,” Senator Johnson said.

  Sonia’s mother frowned at her husband. “David! What a thing to say.”

  The senator grinned and looked down at Sonia. “Just kidding. You’ve made me very happy, sweetheart. I’m so proud of you.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her brow.

  Sonia could feel her eyes well up. “Oh Daddy, you'll make me cry.”

  The duty nurse entered the room. “Okay. Visiting hours are over. Mama needs to rest and this little tyke needs to eat. He’s been through a lot today. You can come back tomorrow.”

  Dwe and Sonia's parents kissed them goodbye and left. Joseph sat on the side of the bed while Sonia breastfed their son. He gazed down at them. “A son. Words cannot express the joy you’ve brought me, my love.” He leaned down and planted a tender kiss on her lips.

  Sonia smiled at him and then at the little creature suckling at her breast. She’d never felt so content in her whole life.

  Chapter VIII

  Sonia lifted a lid off one of the pots bubbling in front of her and stirred its fragrant contents. She replaced the lid then paused and glanced at the baby monitor on the kitchen counter. She thought she’d heard David waking up early from his nap. Thankfully, the monitor remained silent. She picked up a knife and began chopping vegetables.

  Joseph walked into the kitchen. She threw him a smile. “Hi honey. David’s taking a nap so I thought I’d take advantage and make us a home-cooked meal for dinner.”

  When Joseph didn’t reply, she turned to look at him. He was just standing there staring into space. She put the knife down, wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and went to him. “Honey, what's wrong? Are you all right?”

  “It's my father. He died early this morning,” he said.

  “Died? What do you mean died? What did he die of?” she asked.

  “Cancer. They said he had cancer,” Joseph said. His voice broke. “He never told me. I can't believe it.”

  Sonia stepped in and put her arms around him. “Oh baby, I’m so sorry.”

  He buried his head in her neck and cried. She held on tight until he was finished, then sat him down at the kitchen table and brought him a box of tissues. ”Who’s making the arrangements?”

  He wiped his face with his hands, then grabbed some tissues and blew his nose. “Saye will do that, with help from Fatima. The funeral will be held in Liberia.”

  Sonia stifled a groan. Of course the funeral would take place in Liberia. She felt torn. On one hand, she wanted to be there for him. On the other hand, she needed to be with their son. He was only two months old.

  “Will you go alone or do you want me to come with you?” she asked.

  “I want you and David with me,” he said.

  “Is it safe enough for him there? I mean, he’s so little,” she said.

  “Of course it's safe
enough for him. We will arrange for a nanny to take care of him while we attend the funeral and make other public appearances,” he said.

  “A nanny? Who? I mean, I have to meet and approve her before I leave her with our newborn son,” Sonia said.

  When Joseph looked up at her, his red-rimmed eyes ready for battle, she realized that maybe she needed to be a little more accommodating. She raised her hands in front of her palms facing outward. “Let's not argue about this now. I'll just interview this nanny when we get there and then, if I like her, I‘ll see how she is with David. If I don't like her, I'll just keep David with me wherever we go and we’ll just have to keep my public appearances to a minimum.”

  “Fair enough.” He stood up and reached for her. She went into his arms. He rested his forehead onto hers. “What would I do without you?”

  ***

  Two days later, Sonia and Joseph stood in the living room of the Saytumah family mansion with all of the guests who had attended the funeral. Everyone milled about, talking quietly. Servants in uniforms with black ribbons tied around their right arms threaded among them carrying trays of hors d'oeuvres. Tyrone and Tara walked up to them.

  “Joseph, I’m so sorry for your loss. Your father was a great man,” Tyrone said.

  “Thank you,” Joseph said.

  “Although I wish you were visiting on a happier occasion, I hope that you and Sonia will have the opportunity to come by and see us before you go back to America,” Tara said.

  “We will see. There is a lot to be done before we go. The will is being read tonight and my brother and I have some arrangements to make,” Joseph said.

  “Of course. Have you made any plans yet with respect to the company?” Tyrone asked.

  “No. That's one of the things we are going to have to deal with. I still can't believe he's gone,” Joseph said.

  Tara put a hand on his arm. “If you need anything, you know that we're here for you.”

  “Thank you,” Joseph said.

  President Sirleaf and one of her aides walked up to Joseph and Sonia. “Joseph,” she said, “I am so sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you for your kind words at the funeral, Madame President, and for making sure that my father received full honors,” Joseph said.

  “The country lost a great man when your father died. Speaking of that, Joseph, I now have an opening in the Liberian ministry that needs to be filled. Your father was doing a wonderful job for Liberia. It will take a very special person to fill his place. I know that he always considered you to be his successor. That is why I am asking you to fill out his term,” she said.

  “Fill out his term? “ Joseph asked. “You mean here in Liberia?”

  “Yes,” President Sirleaf said.

  “I am honored Madame President. Obviously, I will have to discuss this with my wife,” Joseph said.

  “Of course. I would expect no less. You have a week to decide. I hope you will take this opportunity to serve your country. We need all the help we can get in rebuilding the damage done by the civil war,” she said.

  “Yes. I know. No matter where I am, Liberia is always in my heart. I will let you know my decision,” Joseph said.

  “Madame President, we have another engagement we have to get to this afternoon,” the president’s aide said.

  The president nodded, then turned back to Joseph and Sonia. “Well, we have to go now, but not before I congratulate you both on the birth of your son,” she said.

  “Thank you, Madame President,” Sonia said. “I’ve been following your administration in the news. As a woman, it fills me with pride to see the progress you’ve made here.”

  The president smiled. “Thank you. I hear that you are an attorney in your country and a very good one at that. It is my hope that, if Joseph decides to come to Liberia and finish out his father's term, you too will lend your expertise to my administration,” she said.

  “We will certainly consider your request,” Sonia said.

  ***

  After the funeral, Sonia and Joseph returned to Joseph’s room. Joseph took off his suit and hung it in the closet. Sonia had gone into the restroom to remove her makeup.

  She’d been quiet ever since their conversation with the president. He could almost see the wheels turning in her mind. He knew the night would not end before they discussed the president’s request.

  Joseph could not believe his luck when she had asked him to finish out his father’s term. He couldn’t have planned a better way to continue his father’s work. The Ministry position would put him close to the president and give him control over the Liberian military forces. Once he gained the president’s trust and control of the military, he’d be able to put his plan into motion. Liberia would be his for the taking.

  He turned to look at the door of the restroom and frowned. Everything else was falling into place. Sonia was the only uncertain factor. He needed to get her on board. It was imperative that she agree to allow him to finish out his father’s term and that she and their son joined him in Liberia. Having them there and having Sonia assist the president would serve to deepen the president’s trust in him. Sonia’s background would also serve to strengthen the historical ties between America and Liberia both before and after he carried out his plan. His father had been a very wise man. He had known, from the moment Joseph told him about Sonia all those years ago, that she would prove to be an invaluable asset.

  But it ran much deeper than that for him. He needed her and their son. He needed their love and support. Sonia had been a rock this past week. Her unwavering support and his son’s blind trust were the only things that got him through the shock and grief caused by his father’s unexpected death. He needed them by his side. It was that simple.

  Sonia padded into the bedroom wearing slippers and a silk robe. Joseph looked at her naked face. She’d never looked more beautiful to him. She headed into the closet. After a moment, she emerged and took a seat on the bed. “So, are you really considering accepting the president’s offer to finish out your father's term?” she asked.

  “Yes. It would be a great honor to serve my country. It is what my father would have wanted.”

  “How long is the rest of your father’s term?” she asked.

  “He would have been up for re-election in about two years,” he said.

  Sonia’s eyes widened. “Two years? What about our lives in the U.S.? What about my family? My job? How can we just take off like that for two whole years?”

  “You are already on maternity leave. Couldn't you take a sabbatical or something?” he asked.

  “Well, I've heard about other attorneys taking a year off to do different types of public service work. I guess this would kind of fit into that category,” she said.

  Aha. He knew his wife. The fact that she had come up with a precedent for taking the time off from work told him that she had seriously considered President Sirleaf’s offer and thought about how to make it work. There was hope after all.

  “Yes it would. You could tell your firm that you want to take a sabbatical to perform public service for your husband’s country. You could even apply for a grant with an American organization to sponsor the work you would be doing for the Liberian government to make it more legitimate from your firm’s perspective. But it’s not as if we need the money or anything. My father was a very wealthy man. With my inheritance, you never have to work another day in your life,” he said.

  Sonia twisted her lips. “Joseph, you know it’s not just about the money with me. I have a profession – not a hobby. I’d lose my mind being a housewife.”

  Joseph chuckled. “I know. And you would be terrible at it, my lady.”

  Sonia’s mouth fell open. She gasped then grabbed one of the bed pillows and chucked it at his head. He ducked. She laughed.

  Then she sobered and looked lost in thought.

  He walked up to her, pulled her to her feet and put his arms around her. Her muscles were rigid – tense. He reached under her chin, l
ifted it and looked into her eyes. “If the president of the United States asked you to take a position in his cabinet, would you decline – even though it would mean leaving New York and moving to Washington, D.C.? Wouldn’t you want to have me and our son by your side? Wouldn’t you expect for me to accept that? This is no different.”

  She leaned back a little and stabbed a finger into his chest. “It is different and you know it. Washington D.C. is not Liberia.”

  “It might as well be. I would still have to leave my job at the Liberian consulate and be away from my friends in New York.”

  “What about my family?” she asked.

  Joseph shrugged. “You could fly back and visit them from time to time and they could visit us here. It's not like we see them all the time when we are in New York.”

  “True. But my mother will not be happy if we decide to do this. She’ll worry about us with all of the unrest here. And both my folks will miss playing with their grandson. What about the baby? Will he be safe here?” Sonia asked.

  There it was. He knew that Sonia’s concern for their son’s well-being would be the most important factor in her decision whether to come to Liberia. “Has he suffered any ill effects since we've been here?”

  “No. But we’ve only been here a couple of days. On the other hand, I have to admit that the nanny Saye and Fatima hired appears to be working out pretty well. I like her. More importantly, David took to her right away. She’s good with him,” Sonia said.

  “Saye and I grew up here and we managed to survive. We are only talking about two years, Sonia. After that, we will see,” Joseph said.

  Sonia sent him a stern look. “What do you mean we will see? I couldn't possibly spend more time than that here. I have a life to get back to in the U.S.”

  Joseph kissed her. “Stop worrying. Everything is going to be fine. With you and my son by my side, we can't lose. Come on, honey. I really need to do this, and I can't do it without you.”

  He felt her muscles relax and stifled a triumphant smile. He had convinced her.

  “Okay,” she said, “but only for two years. After that, I get my life back. Deal?”