Chapter 49

Good morning madam, my gateman greeted with a smile immediately I drove into the compound.
Blessed morning to you, I replied absentminded.
I parked the car and went into the house. I picked the remote from the center table and switched off the TV, scanned the sitting room before heading upstairs to the bedroom.
David was sleeping soundly. I tiptoed to bathroom, ridded myself of every clothing and turned on the shower. I stood there enjoying the warm water on my skin.
I froze when the bathroom door opened and David stood in the doorway.
Where did you sleep last night? David asked.
Good morning David, I greeted and turned off the shower.
Answer my question, David barked.
I was in a friend's place, we were talking and the discussion was very interesting and I forgot time. When we finished talking, it was late so I decided to sleep over at her house, I lied.
Which friend? David asked.
Kimberly, I lied.
You are cheating? David asked.
Why would you think of such. You and I know that even if I was paid to cheat on you, I won't do it, I replied.
David looked at me.
Not even a single missed call from you. How unfair, I blurted.
David turned and left the bathroom.
I showered, dried my body and left the bathroom.
I can't stay to make breakfast, I'm almost late for work, I said.
You prefer work to your husband? David asked.
Not being in a mode to argue, I snubbed David and pulled out a simple black gown and a black flat cover?shoe from my wardrobe.
I dressed up, picked my handbag and walked out of the room.
See you in the evening, I screamed to David before walking down the staircase.
I drove to my clinic for HIV/AIDS test. I was restless while waiting for the result. Panic didn't let me collect the result when my nurse brought it, I told her to read it out.
Negative, my nurse blurted.
I heaved with relieve.
Is everything alright madam? My nurse asked.
Yes. I have to be on my way, I said and got up.
I felt the nurse stare follow me out.
I got to the office really late. My secretary had dropped on my table all the work to be done for the day.
I was happy there wasn't much work, I cleared very important stuffs and suspended others and put a call to Kimberly.
My call was answered on the second ring.
Sorry dear. I was in the kitchen, Kimberly apologized.
It's ok dear, I said.
You sound dull. Are you alright? Kimberly asked.
Something happened yesterday that got me really worried, I blurted going straight to the point.
What's worrying my darling, Kimberly teased.
I blurted everything that happened the previous night to Kimberly skipping nothing.
You don't mean it, Kimberly gasped.
My dear, I'm still in shock. Who would kidnap a woman, take her to a house and make love to her almost?the?whole night? The worse thing is that nothing was taken from my car. I was even afraid of infection and went for test this morning and my nurse confirmed I'm fine, I lamented
Maybe you fell victim of a horny man who wanted sex escapee, Kimberly said.
He didn't go for prostitutes but chose to send thugs to kidnap a woman to satisfy his libido? Gosh normal people in this country are very few, I replied.
The big deal is your are fine, Kimberly said.
Yes oh. But I almost fainted when David asked if I'm cheating, I said.
Where are you? Kimberly asked changing the topic.
I'm at work, I replied.
Baby said you should come around after work, Kimberly said with a groan.
Pregnant women and their wahala, I giggled.
I hope Danny is there, I said.
He went to work...
And what about Anna, I asked.
She went for class, Kimberly replied.
I'm a busy woman. I've got work, I said and ended the call immediately to prevent Kimberly from begging.
Before the end of the day, I had forgotten everything about my sex escapee with the strange man.
Two weeks later, I was in my office talking to a client when I felt a sudden sensation in my head. I used my left palm to rub my forehead.
Are you ok ma? Client asked.
I'm fine. As I was saying....My voice trailed off.
I closed my eyes and leaned on my seat as vertigo and unconsciousness settled over me.
I woke up on a cushion. One more look at the room, I knew I was in a hospital ward.
A man in lap coat sat beside me with a huge smile on his face.
Who are you? I asked.
I'm doctor Victor. You were brought here unconscious. I've carried out a test on you and I was waiting for you to wake up, he said.
So what's wrong with me? I asked.
You are pregnant, Doctor Victor replied.
Are you for real? I asked with sarcasm.
I'm serious. Already I've registered you for antenatal because you are two weeks gone, Doctor Victor said.
Dry joke, I replied.
Doctor Victor's smile faded and he gave me a glare.
I'm a medical Doctor, I don't joke on duty, doctor Victor replied.
He picked a pregnancy test strip from the desk and handed it to me.
I looked at the two red lines on the test strip and giggled.
I've been married for three solid years without a?pregnancy...
No wonder you doubt. Congrats ma your prayers is answered, Dr Victor replied.
I was discharged from the hospital in the evening. I thought of driving to Kimberly's house to break the news of my pregnancy to her, she will be very happy for me but declined. David should be the first to hear.
I arrived at home and David was on the sofa as usual. He looked happy. I knew those type of joy, it came only when his club won a match.
Perfect time to break the news it will be a double joy, I thought.
I jumped on the sofa beside him.
Guess what baby, I said
What? I can't guess, David replied.
You are gonna be a father, I blurted.
How? David asked.
I'm pregnant, I replied with a grin.
My eyes narrowed as David's mood changed.
Could the news be too heavy for him to carry? I thought.
I didn't believe the doctor until I saw the test strip, I said.
I removed the test strip and dropped it on David's lap. David picked the strip, looked at it and dropped it on the sofa.
Congrats, David said.
Hurray...?Buffalo chicken wings for dinner?for dinner, I said and jumped up happily.
I couldn't help staring at David eating without appetite. The happiness I saw in his face when I returned was gone and he looked lost.
So what's the gender of the baby? David asked.
What a question. At early stage of pregnancy, it's not possible to check the gender of a baby, I replied.
Ok, David replied.
I'm hoping to give birth?in Dubai, I blurted.
That's beautiful, David said.
Now that I'm pregnant I won't be able to do the checking on my brands again so you will have to leave the sofa, I teased.
Hmm, David grunted.
I need to sleep early. I've got work tomorrow, I said.
Goodnight, David replied.
I looked at David and shook my head.
Night, I replied and walked out of the dining table.
The next day I started my antenatal at Dr Victor's hospital. Dr Victor encouraged me to have enough rest and avoid every form of stress. I expected David to consider my condition and start helping but he didn't. He even became worse, from the bedroom to the sitting room and dinning and back to the bedroom was his movement. He complained unnecessary and took offence in almost everything I did. Hard as I tried to please him, it was like he was always searching for something to use in picking offence.
Since there was no how I could be working, checking on my businesses and also doing the house chores with pregnancy, I decided to get a maid.
The day I brought home the maid was war, David refused the girl taking her bags upstairs and outrightly told me in?front of the girl that he doesn't want a maid in the house. I was embarrassed.
Can we just go upstairs and talk, I begged.
I'm not ready to hear you, I don't need a maid in my house, David replied.
Seeing there was nothing I could do, I took the girl to a neighbor's house and begged for her to be allowed to spend the night there. My neighbor was kind enough to accommodate her while I went back home. The next morning, I paid the girl and send her off.
Hard as I tried to keep Dr Victor's word to avoid stress, I couldn't as there was always much to do.
The next month, my baby bump came out, I needed maternity clothes. I drove to my boutique on a Saturday. I was at the boutique picking maternity clothes for myself when Kimberly called.
I gasped at seeing the call.
With much to do, I had forgotten to inform Kimberly of my pregnancy.
Bad friend, I scolded myself before picking the call.
Hello Kimberly, I greeted.
It's?Danny...
Hope Kimberly is fine? I asked.
She gave birth to a baby boy....
Hurray.... I screamed and picked a long flowing maternity gown from the clothing lines into the trolley.
She was discharged from the hospital last week and our baby's naming ceremony is this evening, Danny said.
I can't miss it for anything, I replied.
That's good. She asked me to inform you, Danny replied.
Ok thanks, I replied and signaled my sales?personnel?to package the clothes and take them to my car.
She's is hoping to see you, Danny said and ended the call.
Unbalanced account, I don't want that, I said to my sales girls and walked out of the boutique.
I drove into the compound to meet David sitting outside with a sized stool in front of him. There were two empty bottles of beer beside the stool and a half finish bottle of beer on top of the sized stool.
I drove into the garage and parked.
I got down with a sigh and walked toward the front door.
You can't greet, David asked.
I shook my head and continued walking.
How dare you ignore me, David screamed.
He pushed the beer bottle down, picked the sized stool and flung it furiously at me. I was fast to shift aside and the sized stool passed me and hit the wall.
Ahh Oga!! my gateman gasped.
The bag of clothes fell from my hand in fright.
If I hadn't dodged, the sized stool would have landed squarely on my bump.
I sat quietly at a corner sipping orange juice, observing all the merriment and fun that went on at Kimberly's baby naming and wondering if I was really David's wife or his Mansion mate. I felt some guests gaze on me, I knew they were wondering why I wasn't dancing or eating but sitting calmly at a corner drinking juice. They will think I'm bitter but I didn't care.
I arrived at the baby naming right on time to hear the pastor telling Danny to write the baby's name on a paper and give it to me. Kimberly rolled her eyes at seeing me, a sign meaning " late comer", I gave her an "I love you" wink before sitting.
There were very few?guests?that some part of the sitting room was left unoccupied. Jeremy and Martha sat at the left extreme, I couldn't help smiling at them. Martha threw her face away and Jeremy looked at me like it wasn't them I smiled with and stylishly moving her left hand to her chin. I could tell she wanted me to notice her ring.
I shrugged?and turned my face to the pastor.
Danny jnr, the pastor announced.
There was cheers from the guests followed by a short session of prayer for the child
Hard as I tried to hide my pains and join in the merriment, I couldn't,?many?questions lingered on my mind and mere dancing felt like I was carrying heavyweight. Twice, I caught myself standing and staring into space.
After a?minute, I gave up, collected a glass of juice from a waiter and moved to the sitting room where I sat watching guest.
Jeremy added to my pains by behaving like a bug, dancing where I faced and waving her left hand in the air and when I faced another direction, she danced to the direction and repeated the exercise.
I got up and went searching for Kimberly, I found her at the bedroom breast feeding her baby.
Lovely, I complimented.
Look at you, Kimberly replied with a smile.
A beautiful girl and now an adorable boy, you sure don't need another child, I said and sat on a chair.
I haven't started having children, Kimberly teased.
I chuckled
Jeremy is engaged? I asked.
She is married, Kimberly replied.
You don't mean it, I blurted.
She got married last year, Kimberly said.
How come I wasn't invited and I didn't see it on social media? I asked.
Are you her friend? She changed her relationship status to married and her wedding picture is even her display pics?on Facebook and Instagram. How do you expect to see it when you work like a bee? You come online to advertise products, talk to customers and log out, Kimberly nagged.
Don't you think she took our beef too far by not inviting me for her marriage? I asked.
I don't blame her, Kimberly said.
As how? I asked.
After the quarrel at the eatery of which you realize your gateman embarrassed them, have you gone to Martha and Jeremy to?apologize?to them? You haven't, it shows you don't value their friendship which is very unfair considering how much of a family they were to you, Kimberly blurted.
I've been busy....
You had time to come and visit me at the hospital when I gave birth to Anna, you had time to spend with me. Why didn't you take a little bit of the time to visit Jeremy and Martha? Kimberly asked.
I exhaled deeply and got up.
Kimberly stared at?me as I ran to the bathroom. I disgorged, wiped my mouth with my palm and went back to the room.
Is that a goal? Kimberly asked with a knowing smile.
Yes, I replied.
See my little girl oh, Kimberly teased and laughed wildly.
So how many weeks gone? Kimberly asked.
A month and two weeks. I was even picking maternity gowns when your husband called, I said.
And you didn't inform me since? Kimberly asked with a frown.
Sorry. My dear it's not easy, I sighed.
What's that? Kimberly asked.
My home is on fire, I replied.
Call fire brigade, Kimberly mocked.
I wish I never married David, I said.
Why wishing that when you are finally pregnant? Kimberly asked.
I can't hide it any longer. I have not been happy for the three years I've been married to David. When I see couples being very happy, I can't help wondering why mine is the total opposite, I sobbed.
Hmm, Kimberly sighed and adjusted her baby.
He's tortured me a lot and it became worse when I became pregnant. I don't need a scoreboard to tell me that David isn't happy with my pregnancy. What husband throws a stool at his pregnant wife? Finds fault in totally everything she does and enjoys seeing her stressed out. I'm fed up, I sobbed.
I would have said divorce him but you are pregnant and not supposed to go through worries which usually comes with divorce...
I won't divorce, I'm against that, I cut Kimberly.
Who asked you to divorce? When you are really fed up, nobody will ask you to divorce him. For now you are not fed up, you are enjoying the torture, Kimberly said.
I punched the bed.
Already you look pale which is not good for the health of your unborn baby. If you continue like this, you may die during child birth, that's if you don't end up with a miscarriage. Take a break from David, leave that house and stay somewhere else and don't let him know where you are until you give birth, if possible leave the country, Kimberly suggested.
How?...
The door opened and Jeremy walked in with Martha, it was too late to hide my tears.
We heard everything, Martha said.
David put you through all that? Jeremy asked as?if not believing her ears.
Yes!! It was never my intention to stay away from you guys, David asked me to and I didn't have a choice?because?I had to obey my husband. I'm sorry, I sobbed.
Jeremy walked to me and hugged me, Martha followed same.
I'm sorry I pushed you to marry him. I was just enticed by his handsomeness, I never expected such a handsome man to be unfortunate, Martha said.
We should deal with him, Jeremy spat.
That will be very wrong. We can only advice her, Kimberly opposed.
I heard Ama saying David tortured her with pregnancy, is he mad? Martha said.
What did you guys expect when you pushed her into using her money to marry a man? Kimberly asked.
We didn't know he is an unfortunate human being, Martha replied.
Kimberly shook her head and held my hand.
I have given you the best advise, stay away from David until you deliver, Kimberly said.
It's ok, I replied.
Jeremy used her?hand towel?to wipe tears from my cheeks.
So Jeremy gist me about your wedding, I want to know everything, including how many rounds he gave you on the wedding night, I said.
Jeremy laughed and sat on the bed.
I listened as she told me how she met her husband and her wedding. By the time she was done with the gist, it was late in the evening.
We bid?goodbye to Kimberly, I dropped Martha and Jeremy at their houses and went back home to met an angry and nagging David.
On the third month of my pregnancy, I wrote to my boss asking for a maternity leave, I expected him to turn me down and ask me to continue work until my pregnancy advances six month which is the formal time to request for maternity leave. I couldn't?hide my joy when he called me to his office and granted my leave saying I look pale and worked out and seriously needed a break.
I went back home grinning from ear to ear. David was on the sofa watching TV as usual, I heaved in relieve when I walked into the house and he didn't start his usual complains and nagging.
I greeted him and went upstairs to the bedroom.
David had stopped sharing the bedroom with me and packed his stuffs to visitors room with the excuse that my morning sickness, vomiting and wriggling for attention was too much for him to take. All my pleads to him to come back to the bedroom fell on deaf ears.
I laid on the bed and thought of where to travel for my maternity leave.
Dubai? No! My honeymoon was there. It will remember me of the terrible honeymoon I had.
California?is cool. That's where I studied. I will reunite with my colleagues and it will be lovely but my ex-boyfriend is from?California?and I don't wanna meet him neither do I want to see the places I went when I was dating him back at college and start missing him. I wanted a place free from memories.
New York? I only go there for business, haven't gone there for a holiday before.
I thought of other places and made up my mind to have my maternity leave at New York.
I waited until after dinner before breaking the news of my maternity leave to David.
How can he give you a maternity leave when you are only three months pregnant? David asked.
Looking at me, will you say I don't need the leave? I asked.
How am I sure nothing is going on between you and your boss? David said.
I bit my lower lips to keep my anger in check.
I'm travelling to New York, I said.
Get double Visas, David said.
I'm going for maternity leave...
And you don't wish your husband to come with you? David asked and looked at me.
It's ok, I replied.
I'm coming along, David said.
Yes you will, I replied.
I shook my head and left the dining table.
The next day, I arranged for a single Visa and got everything in place without David's knowledge. I didn't do much packing.
When David was in the toilet, I dropped him a note on the center table and hurriedly left the house.
I didn't take my car. I boarded a taxi to the airport and took?thefirst flight out of?the country.
I woke up in the morning to a text from David.
Don't bother coming back, I read.
I'm missing you already. Be safe, I typed.
I sent the message with a smirk.
I wasn't sure I will miss David throughout my stay at New York.
I left through morning flight and arrived New York in the evening.
I was stranded at the airport after undergoing search, I shook my head at my carelessness of not booking a reservation before my flight. It was late and I was too tired to go about New York searching for a?hotel?to book.
I was lost and a name came to my mind.
Mr Clinton my business partner. He owns a large clothing line in New York. I always travelled to New York to patronize him for my boutique. Sometimes, I don't need to travel, I just put international call to him to?transport?goods for me and he never disappoint as a business partner.
He is such a nice man and will host me for tonight and tomorrow I find an accommodation, I thought.
I walked to a taxi man.
45?Berlin?Estate, I said.
Hop in, the taxi driver said.
I got into the taxi and sighed as the taxi driver drove out of the airport.
I was dropped in front of the beautiful duplex with "No 45" written at the front. I got down from the taxi, removed my luggage and paid the taxi?man.
I walked to the front door and rang the door bell.
The door was opened by a short woman with blonde long hairs. She was very short that it won't be a jest to call her a dwarf. She wasn't beautiful and wasn't ugly either.
Good evening, I greeted politely making use of my accents.
Evening. How may I help you? She asked.
Please does Mr Clinton, owner of Kings and Queens clothing line lives here? I asked.
Yeah!! he is my husband, she replied.
You are Mrs Clinton? I asked.
She nodded and rolled her eyes.
I'm his business partner. Please is he in? I asked.
He is at work and will soon be back. come in, Mrs Clinton commanded.
She helped me carry my luggage into the sitting room.
She pointed me to a sofa and placed my luggage beside me. After serving me orange juice, Mrs Clinton sat beside me and asked to know about me and my intention.
I told her everything about me. She was awed when I told her about my businesses.
What a woman, Mrs Clinton exclaimed.
So how many months gone? Mrs Clinton asked with a smile.
Three months, I replied.
She told me to gist her about?our?fashion. I gist her about some popular fashionistas and cross dressers.
Before Mr Clinton came back, I felt like I had known Mrs Clinton for a long time. She was very friendly and nice.
Mr Clinton didn't have a problem hosting me for the night.
I had dinner with Mr and Mrs Clinton and their two boys before being taken to the visitor's room by Mrs Clinton.
I was too tired to refresh, I slept off without even changing into my night wear.
The next morning after breakfast, Mrs Clinton insisted I spend few days with them before getting an accommodation. I accepted to spend a week.
Mrs Clinton helped me register for my antenatal at Berlin Estate private hospital, New York.
The hospital was trekkable from Mr.?Clinton's house but I didn't trek because Mrs Clinton let me use her car.
After a week, I again brought up my intention to move out.
Is that necessary? We aren't complaining about hosting you. As a housewife, you don't know how it feels to have a friend, someone who helps with house chores, someone to talk to and go shopping with especially as the kids are mostly at school and hubby at work, Mrs Clinton blurted.
I nodded with a smile when she asked me to spend my maternity leave with them.
Staying with the Clinton's was cool. They were hospitable. In a month my paleness was gone.
I made an international call to Kimberly the next month, we didn't talk for up to two minutes because of?the?cost. I told her I miss her and told her to take care of herself and family and ended the call.
When I called David, he ended the call immediately he heard my voice.
Five months later, I was in the kitchen with Mrs Clinton preparing dinner when my water spill.
Mrs Clinton immediately phoned an ambulance. I was driven in the ambulance to the hospital.
I gave birth to a baby boy through water birth.
I spent two weeks in New York for postnatal before making plans to come back to?America. I bought dishwasher for?Mrs.Clinton, two?bicycles?for her sons and wall clock for Mr Clinton as appreciation for hosting me.
Mrs Clinton dropped me at the airport. she was in tears when I bid?her goodbye and walked to the air terminal to catch the morning flight.
From the airport, I?took?a taxi to Kimberly's house with my baby.
Kimberly was more than excited to see me. She collected my baby and hugged me happily.
Chubby? Who fed you like this at New York and you couldn't tell them you have had enough? Kimberly asked.
Anna ran to me and hugged me. I lifted her, kissed her forehead and dropped her.
I was hosted by my business partner. His wife is a darling. A sweet soul like you, I said with a smile.
Your look good, Kimberly complimented.
Pregnancy hormones ehh. It can make one eat. I don't know how I will lose all this weight I acquired.
I like the chubby you. You look fresh, Kimberly replied.
I wanna ask a favour, I said.
What? Kimberly asked.
Lemme spend the night here and tomorrow I go back home, I said.
Why? Kimberly asked and looked at me curiously.
David said I shouldn't come back. Lemme sleep here and tomorrow I will go beg him, I said.
That man is a psycho. Did I hear you say you want to beg him? Sister why have you allowed marriage to humiliate you? A house you built with your money, a man who contributed nothing to the house is telling you not to come back to that house and you are talking of begging him? Kimberly asked.
I sighed.
Anna bring me the car key, Kimberly screamed at her daughter.
What are you trying to do? I asked.
We are going to your house, Kimberly replied.
My baby is only two weeks?old. I have exposed him to flight and taxi, I can't expose him again, I replied.
Is that your worry? Suckle your baby. Danny will take care of him for you while we go to your house, Kimberly replied and stretched my baby out to me.
I collected my baby.
I'm a nursing mother, I don't want any drama. I'm still weak from childbirth, I said.
I'm coming with you, Kimberly replied.
I can't just leave my baby alone with Danny, I said.
Then we carry him along, Kimberly replied.
Lemme just spend the night here...
You can't and you won't, Kimberly replied.
Seeing there was nothing I could do, I resigned with a shrugged.
Kimberly collected her car key and lead the way outside her house.
Kimberly was boiling when she stopped the car in front of my gate.
Gosh, I sighed.
Kimberly honked the car twice.
The small gate opened and my gateman came out.
Madam!!! My gateman exclaimed at sighting me.
Open the gate, I ordered.
My gateman hurriedly went back into the house and opened the compound.
Kimberly drove into my compound and parked at the front door.
The front door opened and David came out dressed in?pajamasand bathroom slippers. I guess he heard the car and came out to check who it is.
I got down the car carrying my baby. Kimberly ?joined.
Wow!! I'm a father, David exclaimed.
I mumbled.
David walked to me and hugged me.
Boy? Girl? David asked and collected my baby.
Boy, I replied.
This is beautiful. You have made me a man, David said and pecked me.
Is David doing this because of Kimberly's presence? I thought.
Let's go inside, David said.
I had an urge to collect my baby but I controlled myself. David lead the way into the house carrying my baby, I walked in the middle and Kimberly behind me.
We went upstairs to the bedroom. I gasped seeing baby materials at a corner. A beautiful cradle bed, baby carriage, baby seat, and baby bath were on the table.
I?prepared?for your return, David said.
I looked at Kimberly and Kimberly returned my look.
This is beautiful, I managed to say.
Everything fine. I should be on my way then, Kimberly said.
Let?me just carry him please, Kimberly begged.
David handed my baby to Kimberly with a grin.
See me off please, Kimberly said.
I walked Kimberly out of the house to her car.
I think David is up to something. I'm sensing fake cheerfulness, Kimberly said.
Maybe he is not. He might be sincerely excited about being a father, I said.
Excited about being a father you say? If he was really excited he should have showed it when you were pregnant. When I was pregnant Danny was excited, he treated me like an egg and didn't let me do any work. In your case, it was the total opposite and it got to a point that your boss gave you pregnancy leave at three months because you were looking like a carcass. When you travelled David said you shouldn't come back and now you are back looking fresh and beautiful with a bouncing baby boy, the same David is very excited and you want me to believe it is not fake cheerfulness, Kimberly said.
Whatever. I'm just happy there is no drama cos I don't need it, I replied.
Take good care of your baby. Lock your door before you sleep and don't eat anyhow, Kimberly advised.
Kimberly handed my baby to me and entered into her car.
I signaled my gateman to open the gate for her.
Bye, Kimberly said.
I waved and waited until kimberly drove out of the compound before going back into the house.
David was on the sofa.
Come and sit here, David said.
I walked to the sofa and sat beside him.
I'm sorry for everything I did to you, David whispered.
I flinched and looked at David.
Forgive me please, David begged.
What's going on? I wanted to ask.
It's ok, I said.
I know I wasn't a good husband and I'm ready to change and be the husband I wasn't, David said.
Ok!! So what name should we give our baby? I asked.
So you mean you didn't come up with a name until now? David said.
Kelvin or Raymond, I like the two names, I said.
Let's go for Raymond, David said.
Raymond, I echoed with a grin
I'm tired, goodnight, I said.
Night, David replied.
He bent and brushed his lips on mine.
I looked at David for a minute and shook my head.
I got up, carried my baby and left the sitting room.
The next morning, I sent text to pastor?Charles, my friends and my boss inviting them to come to my house in the evening for my baby's naming.
I expected an indoor?baby naming?ceremony?with very few people but the turn up amazed me. Many people from church came, pastor?Charles?must have announced in the church WhatsApp group. Jeremy came with her husband, Kimberly came with her family, Martha came with her boyfriend and two female friends. My boss and business colleagues came. The neighbors came and my sales?attendants?weren't left out. I couldn't help wondering who invited them.
My sitting room and dinning table wasn't enough for guests, some guest stood outside. I had to run around making calls for catering and rentals services.
The first catering service I called turned me down with an excuse that I should have called earlier. I called two more catering services and the third one accepted the deal with a 5% surcharge for late request of service. Even the rental service added 2% surcharge.
I danced with joy that my baby's naming turned out successful and my baby was named Raymond. Everybody ate to their satisfaction. I received a lot of congratulations, gifts, handshakes and well wishes.
It pays to be a kind woman, just imagine the turn up for child naming, Martha noted.
Only God, I replied.
Golden spoon boy I've booked him for my unborn daughter, Jeremy said.
Don't drag space with me oh. That boy is for my daughter, Martha replied.
I laughed.
You said David Isn't treating you well. Is it not the same David that I saw today. He even helped in sharing food, Jeremy commented.
I looked at Kimberly mutely.
My sister be appreciative of the little effort from your man, Jeremy said.
Look at the time now, is late and all the guess have gone. Your husband has gone, mine and my kids has gone. Let's clean so that we go can go our homes, Kimberly said changing the topic.
I was happy she came to my rescue because I didn't want to start talking about David.
Let me go bath and suckle my baby, I said and got up.
Latest mother in town, Martha said and smacked my butt.
I laughed and walked up the stairs.
I kept to Kimberly's advice; I took very good care of Raymond and didn't leave him with David, I locked my room before sleeping and made sure I prepared fresh food daily for me and Raymond. David was very caring. He didn't seem to care about my lack of trust in him and avoiding him.
He stopped spending the whole day in the sofa and started helping me and also resumed work at my warehouse.
He played with me and Raymond, helped in the kitchen when I cooked and even washed the dishes. Some days he volunteered to go shopping for me. He packed his boxes from the visitor's room back to the bedroom insisting he must sleep with his wife.
I didn't need to seek for his attention?because?I had it more than I wanted. I really enjoyed the love.
Three months later, I got back to work.
I couldn't hide my shock when David suggested I get a Nanny to babysit Raymond instead of taking him to work.
Were you not the person who voiced against getting a maid? The statement escaped from my mouth.
But you need help, David said.
Human beings are bond to change and I'm happy you changed, I said.
I love you Ama, David said.
I love you more, I replied.
But I don't need a Nanny. I'm used to hard?work, I added.
Ok, David resigned.
I looked at David and smiled.
Raymond grew very fast and healthy much to my joy. In his Sixth month he was able to hold and stand, Eighth month he was already toddling and in his eleventh month he walked perfectly well.
Raymond's first birthday came, I happily threw a children's party for him.
After the party, David stood with Raymond playing with a toy gun. I sat near the gatehouse observing and smiling at them.
When David carried Raymond, something came to my notice.
Raymond didn't have any resemblance to David. Their differences was very clear that one will think David was carrying someone's child and not his child.
I'm hallucinating, I thought and turned my face away from them.
I loosened my defenses with David.
There was no how David could be pretending for a whole year, I thought.
One evening after putting Raymond to bed, David called me to the sitting room for a discussion.
I want us to have a complete family, David said.
As?in? I asked and sat beside him.
What will Raymond think when he grow up and discover that everything we have belongs to his mother and his father has nothing, David asked.
Is that even something to discuss? I asked.
It doesn't bother you but it bothers me. I can't have my son thinking his mother is richer than his father and telling his friends about it in school, David replied.
So what do you want? I asked.
Have I not been a good husband and Father? David asked.
You are excellent, I said.
I want you to handover this house to me, at?least let?me own the house as the head of the family, David said.
How? I cut in.
David left the sitting room and came back with a file.
I won't sign this. Raymond won't know his mother owns everything his parent has except I tell him and I'm not planning to tell him, I replied.
Children are very sensitive, David replied.
Whatever. If I'm to handover this house to anyone. I'm handing it to Raymond as a next of kin, I replied.
This is not a next of kin stuff. I'm the head of the family so give this house to me and let's live like a family, David said.
Hmm, I sighed.
David held my hand and placed a pen into it.
I will be the best husband, David begged.
I sighed and collected the file, inside it was a written oath.
I looked at David, David gave me a reassuring nod.
I signed the oath and dropped the file on the sofa.
I'm off to bed, I said and got up.
David smirked and jumped up from the sofa. I giggled as he carried me in bridal style, I allowed him to carry me up the stairs to the bedroom.
The next morning, I brought out my house ownership from my wardrobe. I changed the ownership name to David's name and handed it to him.
Baby you are sweet, David said and brushed his lips on mine.
An inner voice told me I was making a mistake, I shoved the voice to the back of my mind.
I'm leaving for work, I said.
Ok, David replied.
I held Raymond's hand and lead the way out of the sitting room.
I came back from work with Raymond in the evening, David was?sited?on the sofa watching super?sport.
I dropped Raymond down and smiled as he toddled to David.
I gasped when David shoved Raymond aside falling him on the sofa.
What's that? I asked.
I hate distraction bitch, David screamed harshly.
How? I gasped.
Can't you see I'm busy? David asked.
Busy watching football? Is football more?important?than your son? I asked.
My son? You are a joker, David replied.
I'm not in the mood for you this evening, I replied.
I walked to Raymond who was in tears, lifted him into my arm and walked out of the sitting room.
I went upstairs and refreshed Raymond. I put him on his bed, play him cartoon movie on a movie tablet and left for kitchen.
I entered the kitchen and saw dirty pots and plates.
It was David's habit to keep dirty plates and pots, I was always coming back from work to see dirty plates in the kitchen but he stopped the habit when I came back from New York with Raymond.
I shook my head and started washing the pots. I was startled by banging on the gate.
I looked out of the window to see my gateman walk back into the house in anger.
I rinsed my hand and left the house to the gate.
What's happening there? I asked my gateman.
It's the lady your husband brought when you traveled, she came with another woman and children. I?have told her you are around and they should leave but she said your husband asked her to come, my gateman said.
You mean David brought in a woman when I was at New York? I asked.
That's what he does, the lady left the house before you returned, my gateman said.
I gave my gateman a glare in disbelief. I opened the gate and stepped out of the compound. My gateman followed me and shut the gate behind him.
A light skinned elderly woman dressed in?pajamas?and short heel slippers and a?dark-skinned?young woman dressed in?black gowns?with two dark skinned girls both dressed in short gown stood there with luggages beside them.
The elderly woman had a resemblance to David, same with the kids.
Good evening, I greeted them.
This is my son's house, this is my son's wife and his daughters. Who are you? The elderly woman asked.
It's wrong address please, I replied.
You don't mean it. Me and my daughters lived in this house with David for six months. He told me to go and stay with his mother that he will send for me when he is done. David called me last night and told me to come to his house that he is done, the young woman blurted.
I looked at my gateman, my gateman looked away.
My daughter in-law has been living with me since she got pregnant for my son. My son told me he has a work and for three years, he didn't come back home. Until last year, he came and took his wife and children from me and after a while, his wife and children came back. Last night he informed his wife to?bring the kids with me to his house that he is done. Who are you? The elderly woman screamed and banged the gate again.
I gasped not believing my ear.
The gate opened and David came out.