News spread around the city and the entire country that Edwin Turner had children, and they were every bit of him. Rumors spread by different people had a touch of different lies attached to them.
Edwin enjoyed every story he read about it. Every day, questions kept coming his way about his children, and he was very proud to answer them. He loved the attention his kids had drawn from the media. Everyone was talking about how adorable they were. How smart they were, and how they could easily get whatever they wanted.
There were clips of Gabby threatening his father's workers boldly attached to the posts. Some pictures of Edwin carrying Abby and him leading them to his car when he was about to take them home.
"Oh, these paparazzi could have simply asked for a picture. They should have made it clearer!" He said. He was so happy, watching how bold Gabby was saying those words to his workers. The boy had all the bravery and courage for good leadership.
While his attention was focused on his kids, his phone began to ring. He found his mother calling. He grinned. He could guess why she was calling.
"Hello, mother."
"Edwin!" She called excitedly. "Is it true? Is it?"
"Is that true, mom?" He teased her. He knew what she wanted to hear, but he wanted her to clarify as well.
"C'mon, don't be like that!" She whined. "Do you really have kids? It's all over the news."
"I do, mum. I have twins, yes. A boy and a girl, yes." He giggled.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Why didn't you tell me all the while?" His mom demanded.
"Well...-"
"I don't believe you."
"But it's all over the news." Edwin pointed out. How could she not believe it when it was all over the news?
"I have to see, to believe."
"Huh?"
"When are you bringing them home?" She inquired. "As a matter of fact, tomorrow is the weekend. I want to see them!"
"Oh alright, mom. I will have them come over." He promised. "Although I don't know how." He muttered under his breath.
"Good. When I see them, then I can believe that you really have kids." She said, "It's just too sudden."
Edwin ended the call with his mother. He waited till school was over, then he called Gabby through the watch he had given to them.
"Hey, dad," Gabby said into the watch. They were in the car returning home. "What's up?"
Edwin chuckled. "I'm good. How are you? And how is my princess?"
"I'm fine, she's fine. We're both fine." Gabby said.
"What about your mom?"
"She's probably at home or still at work," Gabby answered with a shrug.
"Okay. I want to see you guys tomorrow. Do you think you could work it out?" He asked. Gabby was silent.
"What's in it for us?" Abby demanded.
"I'll treat you to ice cream," Edwin said without a second thought.
"Deal." The kids accepted immediately. Edwin smirked. Jessica, it seems like my kids actually want to bond with me more than you think.
When they got home, the kids weren't smiling at all. Angela noticed it. She asked severally but they wouldn't tell her.
Once Jessica returned, she noticed the kids were silent. She frowned at them.
"Abby, Gabby, what's the matter?" She asked. They didn't answer her.
"Angie, what's wrong with them?" She asked, turning to Angela. "Have they eaten anything?"
"They have refused to eat. Especially Abby. She has this bullied expression on her face, she wouldn't even talk to me at all." Angela complained.
Jessica turned to touch them but they stood up and went to their room.
Jessica paused. Did she offend them? Perhaps she had not been paying close attention to them properly?
She went into Gabby's room to find them there.
"Abigail, Gabriel. What's the matter? Talk to mommy." She urged. She knelt before them.
"Do you want something? Tell me and I'll do it for you." She promised. They still didn't talk to her. Rather, they turned and lay in the bed, facing the other way.
Jessica was very bothered. She went back out to meet Angela. The two friends stayed up, discussing the probabilities of events that could have caused such sadness in them.
"Maybe you should take them out tomorrow, and spend some time with them. Perhaps they miss you." Angela suggested. Jessica sighed. She went into her room to sleep, although she couldn't.
By the following morning, Jessica was awoken by a shrill cry from Abby. She jolted awake and bolted to their room. The girl was sitting on the floor crying and bawling.
"Abby, princess. What's the matter?" Jessica asked tiredly. "What exactly do you want?"
"I want to see my daddy!" She wailed. Jessica was dumbstruck. Her daddy? Why did her child suddenly remember Edwin? She had only seen him once. At least once that she knew.
"Abby, you cannot go out to meet Edwin-"
The girl bawled all the more. She had refused to eat all through the evening yesterday, Jessica knew she was probably suffering from a hunger pang, and now she was screaming in her voice that she wanted to meet her dad.
Jessica was confused. She didn't know what to do. Angela placed her arms around Jessica's shoulder to comfort her.
"J, if they want to see their father, you can't stop them. You can't stop them from wanting Edwin in their life." Angela advised.
"Why now? Why is it now?" Jessica whispered. "It's too sudden, this wanting to meet their dad."
"You can't control it, J. Allow them. C'mon, call Edwin and have him come and pick up the kids."
Angela urged Jessica to go and call Edwin. Jessica called Edwin on the phone. Once Abby heard her mother dialing a number, she calmed down.
"Hi, it's uh… Jessica."
"I know." Edwin's voice sounded from the other end. Abby smiled brightly.
"The kids say they want to see you. Do you think you could come and pick them u-"
"Of course! I'll be there soon." He agreed instantly. Jessica sighed.
"Yeah… Thanks." She ended the call. "Happy now?"
"Yes mommy, thanks!" Abby hugged her tightly.