Chapter 56. Only One Way

"Yes, sweetheart. With God, your mother is with the angels now, and she is looking down at you, so proud of what a great boy you are," she explained.

"Do you think so?" He had asked so sweetly, "Will she be proud of me?"

"I know so. Do you know how I was so certain?"

"Why, mummy?" 

"Because you are my son and I am your mommy, and I love you so, so much and I am very proud of you too! "

"Even though I am not from your belly?"

"Even though you are not from my belly," Marissa replied with a smile. "What you, Emmanuel Christopher Maduka, should know for a fact is that I love you with all of my heart, with everything in me, with all my strength and all that I am."

Emmanuel giggled.

"Why are you giggling?" Marissa asked 

"Because you are using my long name, mummy," he said, sticking out his tongue and making a face.

She assumed a serious countenance "The moment called for it, don't you think?" She said that