Chapter 54

I will take him to the house and when I want to show my parent the house, he will meet my parent, Chris replied.
My son can only step?his?feet where I step?my?feet and where I don't, he won't, I replied.
Where I come from, a grandchild must meet his paternal grandparents before he turns two, except his grandparents are dead, Chris said.
What if you didn't meet him? I asked.
Then there is no consequences but I've met him and if he doesn't see my parents before his 2nd birthday, there?will be consequences, Chris screamed.
To hell with your stupid tradition. My son is not entering that house and I'm not exposing him to any meeting. I can play with anything but not my son, I blurted.
I'm his father, Chris blurted.
Last I checked, you haven't spent a penny on Raymond. Making a lady pregnant doesn't make one a father, I replied using the same tone he used.
I will pay you back every penny you spent on Raymond, Chris said.
Mr Man, I'm like five times richer than you. I don't need your fucking?money, I spat.
I need my son, Chris ordered.
You are a coward, infact you are sick in the brain, I abused.
I'm not joking...
Come and get him, I mocked and picked up my handbag from the table.
Keep your distance from me, I said with a hiss and walked toward the door.
Chris got up and grabbed my arm.
I retaliated with a hard slap. The resound of the slap startled me.
I regretted my action on seeing anger flash in Chris's eyes.
Before I could say "I" Chris dragged me close and buried his mouth in mine, his tongue immediately parted my lips. I struggled but he deepened the kiss.
His tongue devoured my mouth hungrily, my body responded and I kissed him back.
I shivered as his hands went all over my body touching me in places I didn't even know existed. It reminded me of that night in the dark room.
The next minute we were on his bed and my clothes were flying round the room. I felt my bare skin on my mattress and sighed.
My legs spread on their accord, I screamed at the penetration.
He was releasing his anger on my body but I wanted more and more.
I felt his seed shot to my womb, I didn't need a scoreboard to tell me I was pregnant again.
I was woken up by Chris.
My parents are here, Chris said.
I overslept? I asked with a sigh.
Yes but I understand, You were very tired. I'm sorry about last night, Chris replied.
I don't want to expose my son to any meeting, I said.
Get dressed while I attend to my parents, Chris said and left the room.
I could tell he didn't want to start the argument again.
I looked at my clothes and undies scattered on the floor and felt cheap and dirty.
Chris is only a friend to me and not my date, how can I not have self control and stop him from having sex with me? I thought in frustration.
I needed to ask for help, I decided to call pastor?Charles.
I sat up, picked my bag from the floor and brought out my phone.
The call was answered on the second ring.
Merry Christmas daughter, pastor?Charles?said.
Same to you dad, I replied coldly.
That voice ehh, hope all is well? Pastor?Charles?said.
I need advise, I said.
What happened? Pastor?Charles?asked with concern.
I blurted everything to pastor?Charles.
You committed adultery,.you need to ask God for forgiveness, pastor?Charles?replied sternly.
It wasn't my fault dad. We fought and I slapped him. He kissed me and one thing lead to?another,?I replied.
God will forgive you. On the issue of Raymond, Chris is only trying to be a good father, pastor?Charles?replied.
Trying to be a good father by exposing a baby to a stupid tradition? I asked.
That you don't believe in tradition doesn't make it stupid. Don't let civilization make your put your son's life in danger. There is consequences for every disobedience of tradition and some consequences can be very dangerous so allow Raymond to meet Chris parent not for Chris's good but for Raymond's good, pastor?Charles?said.
Problem everywhere. I don't want Raymond to enter my house, I replied.
Then tell Chris that you and Raymond are meeting his parents in his apartment. Go to Kimberly's house and take Raymond to Chris's apartment to meet his parents, pastor?Charles?advised.
Ok dad, I said.
God bless you daughter, pastor?Charles?said.
Bless you too Dad, I said and pastor?Charles?ended the call.
I got up and ran to the bathroom, I had a quick shower and went back to the room.
I was almost done with dressing when Chris came in.
My parent are in the sitting room, Chris said.
Me and Raymond are meeting your parents together. I will use the back door out of the apartment, I will go to Kimberly's house and bring Raymond, I said.
Your choice, Chris replied with resignation.
I looked at Chris and shook my head.
I finished my dressing and left the apartment through the backdoor.
I sneaked to where my car was parked and got in. I hurriedly drove out of the compound.
I parked my car outside the gate and walked into the compound.
Kimberly was standing with Anna outside the house.
Where is your car and where did you sleep last night? Kimberly asked with concern.
One of my work?colleagues?celebrated her birthday last evening, ?after the birthday, I was too drunk to drive so I slept in her place, I lied.
I didn't see any need to drive my car inside?because?I'm still going out again and I'm taking Raymond with me, I added.
Hmm, Kimberly sighed.
I gave Kimberly a wink and went into the house.
Raymond was in the sitting room playing with with a toy car. He giggled happily at seeing me.
I picked him into my arm and walked out of the house.
Take my son along oh, Kimberly said.
Next time, I said and caressed Kimberly's hair.
Kimberly rolled her eyes.
I waved and rushed out of the compound.
I placed Raymond in the baby's seat and entered the driver's seat and drove back to Chris's apartment.
I got down heavily from the car.
I could hear the laughter and chattering inside the sitting room.
I picked Raymond out of the baby's seat and locked the car.
The front door was open. I sighed and walked into the house carrying Raymond. I felt shy as all eyes turned on me. I lowered my face and scanned the sitting room.
Chris's parents and two young ladies sat on the sofa, chris sat on a chair in the dinning room.
She is here. Behold my girl and my baby, Chris said and came to the sitting room.
Your baby? Chris mum asked.
Your girlfriend got pregnant and you didn't tell us. She gave birth and you still didn't tell us, the first young lady asked.
Not my fault. She travelled with the pregnancy, Chris lied.
But you should have informed us, Chris's mum insisted.
I wanted it to be a surprise, Chris said.
Chris's mum waved Chris off and got up from the sofa, she walked to me and collected Raymond.
Very cute. Wow!!! He's a replica of my son, Chris mum said with a smile.
I turned to see Chris smiling.
Chris introduced me to his family. I was awed at how nice they were.
Chris's sisters "Patricia?and Vee were all over me to the point that I had to feign a phone call to get breathing space from them.
Chris's mum shunned her daughters and preferred me joining her in the kitchen and she gave me the biggest chicken?wings duringdining. Chris's dad wasn't left out as he continuously told me how beautiful I am and teased Chris with having eyes for beautiful ladies.
The struggle to carry Raymond was fierce. Even when he fell asleep,?Patricia??refused to lay him and carried him until he woke up.
At the end of the day, I felt like I've known Chris's family for a long time. I wasn't happy to leave them, I forced myself to smile and bade them goodbye.
The next week, Raymond's birthday came. I didn't throw a party nor invite Chris and his family, I gave Raymond a low-key birthday with Kimberly's family and sent the pictures to Chris on WhatsApp.
I wasn't surprised few days later when I started vomiting and having morning sickness. I merely drove to my clinic for a pregnancy test and when the test result showed positive, I drove to Chris apartment.
I didn't bother knocking, I opened the door and walked into the sitting room.
Chris was on the sofa watching super?sport.
I threw the pregnancy strip on him and stood akimbo.
Chris looked at the test strip and looked at me.
I'm not having another child out of wedlock, I blurted.
And I don't want my second child to be born out of wedlock either, Chris replied.
How? I asked.
Do you think I was happy when I only saw Raymond's birthday pictures but I wasn't there to wish him happy birthday? Chris asked and stood up from the sofa.
That's not my business, I replied and rolled my eyes.
I want all my kids and the mother of my kids to be around?me...
So what are you saying? I cut in.
I'm saying that we are getting married, Chris replied.
I heaved with relieve and smiled.
I walked to Chris and hugged him warmly.
My phone rang, I brought it out of my handbag and checked the caller, it was an unknown number. I reluctantly answered the call.
Hello, this is Officer?Daniel?calling from?the police department. We have in our custody Mr David and he demands for your presence. You are needed here immediately, he said.
What's going on? I asked.
You will be told when you get here, Officer Daniel?replied.
Ok. I will be there, I replied and ended the call.
Who's that? Chris asked.
An officer from police?department?called and said my ex husband is in their custody and demands to see me, I said.
What's your business with your ex husband? Chris asked.
I don't know. I've not heard anything from him after our court case. I'm surprise about the call, I said.
Chris shook his head and sat down heavily.
I need to go to the station and know what's going on, I replied.
I arrived at the police station and was received by officer?Daniel?and taken to the DPO's office.
I gasped at seeing David, he was sitting on a bench wearing a white boxer that looked yellowish with dirt. He looked very pale?and, on his face,?and left shoulder were open wounds, a sign that he was seriously tortured.
Welcome ma, the DPO greeted and pointed me to a chair.
Thank you, I replied and sat down heavily.
He will be taken to court tomorrow and he demanded to see you, the DPO said.
What did he do? I asked.
He will tell you that himself, DPO replied.
You have ten minutes, DPO said sternly to David.
Without another word, the DPO got up and walked out of the office.
I looked at David, he lowered his face in shame.
Why am I here? I asked coldly.
I know I've offended you but Ama you have a good heart. Please help me, David begged.
How? I asked.
I was arrested for a crime I didn't commit...
A crime you didn't commit? I cut in with a dry laugh.
The David I know is a devil and there is nothing too evil for him to do. Even if I'm told you are a serial killer, I won't ?be surprise, I added.
No Ama, I didn't do it. I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, David said soberly.
What really happened? I asked.
A man wanted to give me a job as his office manager. The morning I was to start work, someone called me with his phone and told me to come to his house that he needs to see me urgently to discuss about the job. I rushed to his house only to see him dead in his sitting room. He was stabbed in the heart. I was rushing out when the police arrived and arrested me. I know nothing about it. I was set up, David sobbed.
Hmm, I sighed.
Please Ama use your influence and wealth and help me, David begged.
I looked at David with pity.
I took you from a mechanic shop and placed you in a mansion. From a pauper, I made you somebody. All I got in return was being duped, cruelty, embarrassment, court case and heartache. I gave you life but you tried to kill me. Why David? Why?
I wish I can help you but I can't?because?in murder cases, bail is refused. I have a good lawyer and would have given her to you but she is just discharged from the hospital and she isn't back in court. I hope you remember what you did to my lawyer. All because of a house you almost killed my lawyer for doing her work, you never thought you will need her but now you do. Evil men do live after them.
Just look at me, I'm pregnant with my second child, Raymond is due to start school next year, my brands is improving and business is going well, I'm about to get married to the father of my kids who is thrice better than you in every aspect and the house you fought and almost killed me and my lawyer is now owned by my husband to be. I've gotten back in doubles everything you took from me and here you are in prison awaiting verdict for a crime you didn't commit.
The wages of sin is death, I concluded and got up.
Please Ama help me, David begged and tears rolled down his cheeks.
The door opened and the DPO walked in.
Time up, DPO said.
I'm sorry David, there is nothing I can do to help you. I pray you survive this, I replied.
I watched David cry like a baby and sighed in pity.
I'm sorry David, I repeated
I shook my head and walked out of the office.