Swapping Places Chapter 31

Read Chapter 30 here.

Delphine was laughing so hard at a joke Robert was saying when he suddenly braked the car. The car in front of him had stopped abruptly.

“Hey!”

“I’m sorry. Are you okay?” He asked as he rubbed her back.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Robert stepped on the accelerator. A few minutes later, Del began to whimper.

“What is it?”
“I feel pain at my back.”
“I’m so sorry.” She nodded. She realized the pain was growing with each breath she took.

“Rob, the pain is getting too much.”
“Really? You didn’t hit anything, did you?”
“I know…but…” She paused.

“What?” Del took her phone and called Daphne’s number. She didn’t answer.

“Daphne.”
“Your sister, what about her?”
“I don’t know.”

*

Kobby paced the hall of the hospital, contemplating on whether to call Del or not. Daphne’s phone rang. He searched her bag for it. It was Delphine calling.

“Twins,” he muttered. What was he going to do? A minute later, the phone rang again. It was his mother-in-law. He answered it.

“Hello ma, I was just about to call you.”
“I see…where’s my daughter? Kakra just called me. She thinks something is wrong with her sister. They have this…connection of some sort. Is Panyin okay?”
“Unfortunately, she’s not. We suffered some accident.”
“What? How’s she doing?”
“A car hit us from behind and she was in the back seat so the impact kind of affected her. She’s receiving treatment as we speak.”

“Oh goodness! What was she doing in the back seat anyway?”
“Um…”
“Which hospital?” She demanded. Kobby stuttered the name.

“The doctors say she’ll be…” The line dropped. He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

*

Delphine suggested that they pick up her mother since her car was undergoing maintenance and her place of work was on their route. When they got to her, Delphine was burning hot.

“Oh no,” Doreen said worriedly as she felt her daughter’s body temperature. Delphine joined her mother at the back of the car, leaning against her mother’s bosom as Robert drove to the hospital. He couldn’t believe what was happening. Delphine was perfectly fine an hour ago and now she was on the brink of death. He honked hard. “Move!”

“Take your time, gentleman. There’s no need multiplying the bad news today.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“And you must be…”
“I’m Robert….Delphine’s…friend.”
“Friend, huh? Are you the one I’m expecting at dinner one of these days?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Huh…I see. I’m seeing road rage in you. I hope it’s not characteristic of your temper or else that is a big minus for you, young man.”
“No, ma’am. Seeing Delphine like this is too much for me.”
“Yeah I know. Throughout the years, I’ve learnt to keep calm under such situations. You freak out, you cause more harm and when one is in danger, the other follows suit. As long as Panyin is being taken care of, Kakra will be fine.”
“Yes ma’am.”

“Now will be the time to step on it, Robert. I’ve two daughters to save.”

*

Kobby saw Doreen and Delphine approaching. He noticed Delphine looked unwell.

“Is she okay?”
“Where’s Panyin?” Doreen asked, ignoring his question.

“Still in the OR.” The doctor came out and walked towards them.

“How’s she doing?”
“Well the thing is, she suffered from…” Delphine coughed and blood spurted out into her palm. Doreen was alarmed.

“Internal bleeding?!” Her words coincided with the doctor’s.

“Quick, bring a stretcher!” The doctor ordered.

“Was she in the car too?”
“No, she wasn’t. It’s complicated.” Delphine was helped on to the stretcher. She held her mother’s hand.

“Go ahead, dear. I’ll be with you soon,” Doreen said, squeezing her daughter’s hand with a forced smile. Del nodded and she was taken away. Kobby suddenly looked helpless. Doreen wiped a tear away before it could stream down her face.

“Please tell me my daughter is going to be fine, doctor.”

“Hopefully so, madam. The surgery went well but the next 24 hours are critical. So fingers crossed and prayers up.” He left them.

“What is going on with Delphine, mum?” Kobby asked.

“She’s a twin, is what is going on. I don’t know how long I can keep doing this,” Doreen said despairingly and walked away, heading towards where they took Delphine. Kobby turned to look at Robert.

“I know, it’s disturbing. She was laughing one minute and then the next, she felt pains,” Robert said.

“I see.”
“What happened?”
“I stepped on the brakes suddenly and the car behind us bumped into us.”
“Interesting. That’s how it…so wait, Daphne being here is your fault?” Kobby shot him a sharp look.

“You better watch your mouth, whatever your name is. If you want to be sent to the ICU, I could make that happen right now,” Kobby said, suddenly getting angry. Robert raised in hands in mock surrender.

“You’re already an in-law. I’m yet to impress their mother. There’s already one strike against me. I’m not going to make it worse with another one on the same day by engaging you,” Robert said. Kobby walked away.

*

Doreen held Delphine’s hand. Delphine was sedated. Doreen stared heavenward as she kissed her daughter’s hand.

“I’m always afraid of this…that is why I kept asking you for another child…just in case. What will I do if I were to lose both of them?” There was a knock on the door. She turned and wiped her eyes.

“How’s she doing?”
“Her temperature has gone down and her breathing is normal now.”

“Good.”
“May I see her now?”

“Yes, you may. Come with me.” Doreen got up and followed the doctor.

*

Kobby looked up when Doreen entered. He was holding Daphne’s hand.

“I’ll let you have some time alone,” he said. “Thank you.” Kobby left the room.

Doreen couldn’t help but break into tears. “Oh my daughter…”

Kobby thanked a nurse and entered the room where Delphine lay sleeping. He took her hand and squeezed it.

“I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to hurt her…hurt you.” He heard someone clear his throat. He turned.

“I’m pretty sure you’re in the wrong sister’s room,” Robert said.

“Not now, Robert.”
“Oh so you know my name! That’s an upgrade. What is wrong with you? Your wife is in critical care and you’re here, holding her sister’s hand?”
“Hey…they are twins, okay? What happens to one is felt by the other. And we are all family now.”

“Oh family, is it? That’s how you call it, the twisted love triangle I’m sensing here?” Robert asked, drawing a triangle with his index finger in the air.

“I’m really tired. I’m in no mood to engage in word banter with you.”
“Then I suggest you take your hand out of my girl’s pretty hand and get out,” Robert said, his voice rising.

“What is going on here?” Robert turned. Kobby dropped Del’s hand a little too late as Doreen’s watchful eye witnessed it.

“Nothing, mum. I was just briefing Robert about how the twins share danger,” Kobby said.

“Uh huh. Why don’t you two wait outside?” She said, walking to the bed.

“Yes ma’am.” They left the room. Doreen shook her head and stared at her daughter’s peaceful face.

“Even on the hospital bed, you two have the power to knock guys’ head together. I don’t know if that’s a blessing or a curse,” she said.

*

Delphine’s eyes fluttered open.

“Mum?”

“Kakra…are you okay?”

“Yeah…where’s Daphne?”
“She’s okay too. Do you want to see her?” Delphine nodded in reply.

“Okay, let’s go and see your sister,” Doreen said, helping her up. “Your father is with her.”
They left the room together. Both Kobby and Robert got up when they saw the two ladies. Delphine smiled at them and entered her sister’s room.

“Hey you.”

“Hey…” They held hands.

“You almost killed me today,” Del said. Daphne chuckled.

“Sorry about that. Hope you’re good.”
“Yeah. You?”
“I’m getting there. Thanks for passing by, mum and dad. But I think you should go home and get some rest. My double face here will spend the night with me,” Daphne said, pointing to Del.

“Are you sure?” Doreen asked.

“Yes mum. We have you on speed dial.” George prayed committing his daughters into God’s hands and they left afterwards.

“So what happened?” Del asked.

“We were having an argument and a car bumped into us.”
“Whose fault was it, yours and his?”

“How does it matter?”
“Well if it was Kobby’s, I would have gladly gone to chew his head off for almost killing both of us on a beautiful day like this.” This made Daphne chuckled. Their fingers intertwined.

“So glad you are my twin.”

*

Delphine left her sister’s room to give her time to rest. She smiled when her eyes met Robert. They met each other halfway and hugged.

“Sorry for frightening you,” Del muttered in his ear. They pulled apart.

“You did frighten me. Hope you’re feeling better,” Rob said, holding her face in his palms. She nodded.

He kissed her forehead.

“Are you sure you still want to be with me knowing that you’d have to endure moments like this and be stuck with a brother-in-law like him?” Del said, pointing to Kobby who had leaned against a chair and had his eyes closed. Robert chuckled.

“If it means spending forever you, I’ll take that chance. We would be the first brothers-in-law not to see eye-to-eye. We could make a reality show out of it.” Del laughed.

“Let me check on him for a minute, okay?”

“Sure.” She walked over to him. His eyes opened before she could tap him. He smiled.

“Hey.”
“Hey. Are you okay?”
“Are you?”

“Yeah, it seems Daph is out of danger.”

“Yeah, thank God for that.” She gave his shoulder a squeeze. He placed his hand on hers.

“Have you gotten yourself checked? Just to be sure you’re okay?” She asked.

“Yeah, the doctor insisted on it. I’m good.”
“Good.”

*

Robert watched them as they talked. Why was he still holding her hand? He started counting the seconds in his head. If he didn’t take it off within the next ten seconds, he was going to walk over there…Delphine took her hand away. He suddenly relaxed. Was he going to be his rival?

*

Daphne was sleeping. She opened her eyes when she felt a presence. It was Kobby. He was holding a pillow. He brought down on her face.

“No!” Her screams got muffled by the pillow.

Daphne woke up in a start. Kobby was closing the door behind him.

“Hey…are you okay?”
“Uh huh…bad dream.”

He walked over to her bedside and took her hand in his. He lifted her hand and kissed it.

“I’m sorry for today. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Me too,” she said, forcing a smile. He bent and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Why would she have a dream like that? Just a mere a thought of it sent shivers down her spine.

(c) Josephine Amoako 2017

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