Damien wondered for the nth time why he had not recalled Violet's relatives. She had told him about them once and he had even heard whispered of it fr fellow officers but he was not one given to gossip and didn't listen to such.
Alot of things fell into place now.
Sandra's accusation made more sense not w. She had been talking about Viola and not Violet. Violet had tried to explain to him but he had not given her any opportunity to do that. His lack of faith in her must have hurt her so much that she had to go away this way.
It was a good thing that he had asked for the general location of the residence of Violet's mother.
'She had left going to live in the heart of London', Mrs. Hermione said. 'Maybe, West End but I can't be sure. Jeremy should know better. Though she may have moved'.
'Thanks again. You are a life saver', Damien said.
This information coupled with the one he got from Sandra because he had driven to the office and asked to speak to Sandra.
Sandra had been afraid that he was about to give her the sack and was surprised when he just asked where Viola had lived in London.
She had given him the general location having not found it necessary then to find out where she really resided.
Armed with these, Damien went home to think about how to go about his trip and early Sunday morning, which was four days later, he was on a flight to London.
He had wanted to go almost at once but there were things he had to put in order before leaving.
He visited Jeremy again and tried to find out something's from him.
'I have come to find out more about your daughter Violet', he began. 'I believe this will help me understand her better'.
'You have done well. This generation must realise that you have to know your partner pretty well, that way, you both can be compatible and if there is compatibility, it enhances it', Jeremy said smiling at Damien. 'What do you want to know?'
'I have realised that Violet has a twin sister living with her mom ', he said thoughtfully. 'I only just recalled that she had something like that. It would seem that it didn't register when she was saying it or I was not concentrating . If I had, we would not have been in this mess', he added, 'There was communication but an ineffective one. I have learnt my lesson and would be a better listener from henceforth. But I actually want to know about your wife and other daughter. Were they close? What really happened to cause your separation?'
Jeremy sighed. He had been expecting this question.
'I met my wife while we were in high school and we fell in love', he started. 'I thought that love was going to change her outlook on life. She had been more outgoing and extrovert than I, which may have been one of the things that attracted her to me since I was the exact opposite.
'I could not believe my luck when she agreed to marry me. A popular girl in school. I knew she did not like being caged. And I felt that we would come to understand ourselves better.
'After my studies in the Military school, I married her as soon as I got a job and we were blessed almost at once with our daughters.
'When I knew that things might not be ery compatible was when she complained nonstop about the pregnancy and how that she was not ready for it. Angry that her contraceptive had failed her. She wanted to get rid of it but I would have none of it and she had to endure the pregnancy till it was time to give birth.
'The birth was not an easy one and I started regretting not having listened to her because I did not want to lose her, I still loved her, you see'.
Damien nodded but did not say a word and Jeremy continued.
'After Violet was born, we thought that was it. The scan had not indicated twins. It was found out later that the other hid behind her sister.
'Like I said, I came in to congratulate her on the safe birth of our daughter when her face contorted and I was afraid she was about to give me an earful again causing a scene at the hospital but she emitted a piercing scream, saying that she was feeling more contractions.
'I thought surely this was death. Why would she feel such pain after she had already experienced the labour pains that bore put our daughter?
'I was asked to get out of the room and as I left, heart beating very fast in fright, I heard the doctor say that another baby was coming and that she should bear down.
'I could not believe it but I was happy, not just because I would have another child but because it meant that it was not death as I had feared.
'Viola was born and she was the exact physical replica of her sister Violet. I could not be happier, but that was the beginning of our problem.
'A woman who should have been happy that she had been blessed with two children at a sitting was mad that they would occupy her time and turn her into a housewife and other complaints that made no sense.
'O did not allow her murmuring bother me or spoil my joy. I employed a nanny and she barely breast fed the girls, afraid that breastfeeding would make her breasts and shape less than perfect.
'As soon as she recovered from childbirth a few months later, she started her partying once more and the nanny and I - whenever I was home - had to care for the children until they started school and then it was a seater we used but friend Hermione and his wife helped out alot.
'By the time they were four, Valerie was unbearable. Nothing I did pleased her anymore. I kept my rapidly rising temper in check and kept tolerating her.
'She was tired of staying here in Barnes and I reminded her that she had always known I wanted to a soldier and she reminded me that when I had told her that I wanted a large family, she had said she didn't want the same thing because she didn't think she could come with children but that I wouldn't listen. She was right. She had told me exactly that. But I had thought that she would change her mind with time.
'And when they came, I felt that their innocent pretty faces would touch her and arouse her maternal instincts, but I was wrong.
' I tolerated this till the children were five. After their fifth birthday anniversary, she decided she would go and leave in the heart of England. She asked me to go with her but I could not leave my job and refused to ask for a transfer when she suggested it.
'She threatened to take my children with her if I didn't come along but knowing they were better off with me, since she had shown no sign of being maternal at all I objected and the argument lingered until we came to a compromise which was that we would each take a twin and she took Viola who was more like her as Violet was to me.
'Viola had shown signs of selfishness right from birth, wanting all that Violet had and refusing to share hers with her twin and making Violet take the blame for her mischiefs. Violet had always covered up for her, willingly accepting the blame Viola threw her way and when I confronted her once I found out, she told me that she felt that Viola was just lonely because of their mother and if it would make her sister feel better loved, then she would keep accepting the blame for Viola's mischiefs.
'When Violet told me about the Sandra episode at her place of work s few days ago, I knew it was none other than Viola. I had prayed that she would change and become a better person with age but I was wrong. And why not, when she was brought up by her mother? She would definitely be her mother's girl.
'When Violet said it was time she met the other members of this family, I had my reservations but for how long will I keep the sisters from each other? I pray Violet is not hurt', Jeremy concluded and stood.
Damien also stood and thanked him profusely. He felt that he could now cope with meeting the family.
On that Sunday therefore, he set out to get back his love.