I was there for what looked like eternity. Digesting all I just heard, I was shaken and disappointed. Such information is what Daniel kept from me? Esther was sympathetic and she even offered to drive me back to the house for her to speak with Daniel, I refused.
I told the sisters I was feeling sleepy, they left me to sleep. When I woke up about 2 hours later, Esther had left. Debbie was dressed to go out I guessed. I thanked her and told her I was leaving. She did want me to stay, “it was still early,” she said. That was around 12 in the afternoon. I did not want to take her away from her business for the whole day.
She made me promise to call her in the evening which I did. When I got into my car, I drove some minutes away from her house and pulled by the roadside. I switched on my personal line; my official line was still switched off.
8 messages: 5 from Daniel, 2 from Becky and 1 from Gbenga. I started with Daniel.
“Where are you?”
“You are getting me worried.”
“Honey, please call me as soon as you get this message.”
“Bola, this is scary, you know, we need to talk.”
“Where are you, honey?”
From Becky, “babe you no go come today? abeg reply to your mail and messages before I send out a search party.”
“Bola dear, is everything all right? If you killed her already, call me, I can arrange where to throw her, lol, please call me, I’m worried.”
From Gbenga, “hi sis, call me when you see this message.”
Guess who I called first? Becky of course. The phone barely rang when she picked.
“God, Bola, you got me scared, what happened?”
“I need your help.”
“Has it happened? The body nko.”
I chuckled, “I am by the roadside at….”
“Stay right there, I’m on my way” she disconnected the call before I could say hold.
After buying a newspaper and a bottle of water from a close by store, Becky arrived in her car. She took a look at the oversize top I was wearing with a skirt.
“Get in your car and follow me,” she peeked at me through her sunshade.
I did not need a second invitation. We drove for some minutes before we arrived at a house, small but beautiful building.
The gate was opened by Becky, she asked me to drive in and I got down to lock the gate after her.
She opened the door to her house and when I got in, I was really impressed by what I saw. It was what I expected it would be and more. Cool décor and tasteful furnishing.
“Is this your house?” I asked stupefied.
“Yeap and I have a place for your MIL too,” She joked. Now, tell me what I happened.”
“I’m hungry”
“Ah…”
She swallowed whatever command she wanted to shout at me and went into the kitchen. She ran back to ask what I would you like to eat.
“Anything.”
“Better, come with me.”
I asked how she was able to get away from work again today considering she was with me yesterday too.
“Remember the running stomach I had yesterday? I did a test, and I went to get the result. That’s the benefit of having a white man as a line manager,” she winked at me as she turned the eba in a bowl. The egusi was on the cooker, boiling already. I stood up to remove the pot from the cooker.’
“You know one of these days, your lies will backfire.”
“I know, but what can we do in-between those days than to be mischievous?” She served us in a single plate of garri and soup respectively. We ate till we were full. For a moment, I remember sharing meals with Daniel like this when I used to visit him. He would cook and serve us together in the same plate. Telling me, “When I marry you, I will stop cooking.” I shook the memory off and focused on my friend who was telling me about her children. That they would come to Nigeria for the holiday.
We talked about everything, and about nothing. We washed together. She wanted to distract me. She was trying very hard. But I appreciated the fact she wasn’t forcing me to join in the conversation.
When I thought I would not be able to escape holding out on her any longer, she surprised me again.
“That your weave-on is begging to be changed.”
We ended up removing my extension. She washed my hair and straightened it out for me, and I was like a child being tended to by her mother. I felt fresh and happy. I was happy I had a friend who could attend to me in that manner.
“You know, this month would make it a year we married. And it’s looking like everything is almost over now.” I said as she sectioned my hair again and pulled it gently with her straightener. I was sitting on the floor, she, on the chair, facing the TV and not understanding whatever they were talking about because my mind had wandered off.
She paused and grabbed my shoulders. “Don’t say that it’s not over yet.”
“But is it not? I am not going back to that house not even to get a panty.”
“Yes, you will, I will go with you when you are ready.”
” He kept such a vital truth from me for a long time and would have kept it longer if his sisters did not tell me,” I said with my voice breaking suddenly.
“What secret are you talking about?”
I narrated all I heard from my sisters-in-law to Becky. She continued with my hair as she listened. When we finished, I was exhausted. She was surprised also but told me that explained why Mama has been acting like a witch.
“What do you want to do?” Becky asked me.
“I don’t know, I have to clear my head, first.”
“You can stay here but, you need to let him know you are fine and safe. Also let your siblings know.”
We agreed I would send a message to Daniel, Moremi, Gbenga and Tola. As soon as the message delivered, Moremi called. We spent about an hour on the phone. All through her call, Daniel’s call kept coming in. Gbenga called next, and he decided to send Tola over to know Becky’s place. Around 7pm, Tola arrived with Mfon. They locked the shop together and Mfon who insisted she wanted to see me. She ran and hugged me when she saw me and started crying.
I did not know what to make of her tears and I assured her I was fine. When she stopped, she started her own story.
“When I started working with you, the second day I started, mama asked how old I was, and I told her 21. She said, that is the right age for Uncle. And she wanted me to marry uncle. I told her, but uncle is married now. She said aunty is too old. But you don’t look, it I told her. She used to pressure me day and night. So, I stopped responding to her.
She would say so many horrible things about you and I wondered wouldn’t say more terrible things about me if the table turned. I must confess, I started being rude to her when you were not around.
She said I was brainwashed by you and that was why I was supporting you. That was when all the victimization started. Accusing me of stealing from her, poisoning her food and all that. I have been praying for a solution for you, but I don’t want your marriage to end because of that evil woman.”
We all sat down there in shock as the young girl gave us what seemed like another version of the drama. It was eye opening for me.
“But you said she speaks to a girl on the phone who she calls her daughter in law.”
“Yes, the lady stays in the street with you. Mama said I pushed my meal to the cat, that what I would have enjoyed, someone else will come and take it from outside.”
“Thanks, Mfon, it is getting late, won’t you…”
“I’m staying here tonight. I already called my parents, I have an exam by 12 tomorrow and this place is even closer.”
I turned to Becky to see if she was ok with it.
“Oya now, let’s all find something to eat,” she was happy.
“But I have to go now; I will be here on Friday. We will still go to that party” Tola stood up.
“Your head is there; I did not want to mention it to your sister. So, she won’t think me insensitive” Becky replied to Tola.
With laughter and some goodnight hugs, we saw Tola off to her car. locked the gate and the 3 of us went back inside. Mfon went to the kitchen and started making plantain and eggs. I saw my phone blinking again. It was a call from Daniel. He has not stopped calling since morning and I didn’t pick any.
After having our meals, Debbie, Daniel’s sister called me. I was reluctant to pick, but Becky advised me to go ahead and talk to her.
“Hello”
“Bola, good evening, where are you?”
“I am with a friend.”
“A friend at this time? It is late and you should return home.” She said calmly as if she was afraid of upsetting me.”
“I am not going back to that house.”
“Why not, that is your house. Things cannot be solved this way.”
“I don’t know how else it can be solved, the thing is, I need some time alone and I won’t get it in that house”?
“Daniel is worried.”
“I already told him I am somewhere safe.”
“Ok, tell me where it is, and I will visit tomorrow.”
“Sister, please, I just need some time alone. I will be fine. And I promise to come see you soon.”
She tried hard to convince me to give her the house address, but I did not bulge. She dropped the call and some minutes later, Esther texted me, I replied to it and switched off my line.
Gbenga called Becky’s line around 9 am and we spoke. He advised I go to my husband’s house too. When he heard the determination in my voice, he asked if he could come see me at work the following day to which I agreed to.
“Work, I have to go to work tomorrow o, and I don’t have anything to wear.”
I stood up from the bed I was sharing with Becky and walked to her closet. She came after me and pulled out a lower drawer.
Here, some of these would fit you. I’ve not worn most of them. At least till you go back.”
I picked 2 gowns and tested them on. The second one fitted perfectly, I hung it and tried to find a pair of shoes that would fit. None did, Becky called a lady on their street to ask if she was still opened. We ended up taking another trip down their street to get me a pair of working shoes. Mfon stayed behind, she was reading for her exams.
When we got back, it was late already, Mfon moved to one of the 2 free bedrooms, and I shared one with Becky. I slept without any drama or nightmare.
*** To Be Continued
By Bisola Adediran