Last updated on December 16th, 2023 at 10:09 am
“Do you have other kids, mummy?” I asked from the backseat, breaking the silence. Three of us were in the car home and I was fuming.
“Ikenna, if you don’t talk you can die!” My mother faced my dad shooting daggers at him.
My dad was quiet. She was not done though, she adjusted in her chair and continued.
“You know I have been quiet enough not telling our child anything because I did not want to be accused of poisoning her mind. But you talk to her and open your mouth like a spoilt tap and talk. You tell her things she should not even know. Tonight, I am going to tell her everything!” She screamed.
My hands started tingling. I had seen my parents throw snide remarks at each other but I had not seen my mum this way before. My dad faced the road as if he was not in the car.
“Mummy, let’s get home.” I managed to say, almost wishing that I’d kept quiet.
“You should have thought of that before talking.” They both replied. Are you kidding me? I kept quiet, folding my lips and looking outside the window. Deep breaths, Angela, deep breaths. Thankfully, we were all calm until we got home. As soon as we all entered though, mummy threw her bag on the couch and continued.
“Angela, I cheated on your father. I cheated and I don’t regret it. It was one of the best nights of my life even.” I looked at my dad and he was looking at his fingernails.
“Mummy, do you have another child?”
“I wish I did. I honestly wish. I did not cheat until after I knew your dad cheated. He was sick, Angela, he was sick and I was in the hospital with him. I took a week off work. You should remember, he had appendicitis and had to have surgery.” I nodded my head. I remember being scared then and always praying for my dad. Shortly after the surgery, my parents told me they were getting divorced and that was it.
“Akudo, do you have to do this?” My dad asked.
“I will, I cheated and it’s not right but I have no regrets. Why not let her know everything you did too? She is almost nineteen. Let her know that her hero is not worth being a hero. I found you cheating when she was only fourteen! Let her know that she has two siblings, boys—six and four.” Mummy sat on the chair, looking exhausted. I sat down too, I was exhausted and it was not from Zabby’s convocation but from everything I had heard.
“Akudo, Queen.” My dad whispered.
“Don’t! Don’t Queen me. She is my daughter and I am going to tell her everything.” My dad could not look at me anymore. I was tired and wanted to tell my mum to stop but I wanted to know everything. I deserved to know everything.
“Angel, baby, when I first confronted your father about his cheating I thought it was a one-time thing, I didn’t know he had a child then. Even after confronting him, he went ahead to have a second child. You have always known about my fibroid history. Imagine how hurt I was when I eventually discovered that your father has two, not one! But two children!” She went into the kitchen to get water and came back.
“Not long after I knew, he fell sick. Even though I was hurt, I had to take a leave from work to be there for him. A cheat! His wife came with their first son to the hospital, she must have thought I did not know her, but I did. She said she was his client and his workers told her about his health. Angie, I wanted to pounce on her, but see me smiling and being kind. She wouldn’t even leave on time. After his surgery, while he slept, I left him and went to get my own pound of flesh!”
I finally found my voice, “You know what? I am going inside to rest. It’s late.” Then I dragged myself into my room and shut the door.
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