Chapter 6, Episode 3

Last updated on January 7th, 2024 at 10:27 am

I heard a knock on my door. I had slept off and my neck protested as I got up to open the door.

“Angela, it’s late already, food is ready.” I heard my mum say on the other side of the door.

“What’s the time?”

“It’s about 7 now. Come and eat then you can go back to sleep.”

“Okay, give me some minutes. Thank you, ma.”

“Alright. Don’t sleep back o.”

“Okay, ma.” I picked up my phone on the bed to see if I had missed anything. I had missed calls from Joe.

Babe, I trust you are fine. Please confirm this as soon as you can. Thanks, my love.

I dialed his number and he picked up on the first ring. A sweet boy. 

“Angela, how are you?” He asked sounding worried.

“I am sorry, I slept off.” 

“Oh! How are you?”

“I am okay. You sound really worried.”

“I was. I feel better now.”

“Sorry.”

“Yeah, it’s fine. Once you agree to be mine I need someone else’s number to call for situations like this.” That took me by surprise. Was he more serious because…? He was in not even his final year. His course was five years. He was also just twenty-one.

“Okay, I’ll give you my father’s number,” I replied, expecting a rebuttal.

“That’s also fine.” He said. The sarcasm flew over his head. I laughed at his response.

“I will chat you up once I am done eating, okay?”

“Okay.”

“You too, go and eat.”

“Sure.” He said and ended the call.

We had just finished eating and were about to watch a movie. Dad traveled a few days ago, so it was just mummy and I.

“Angela, does Elizabeth know about this guy?” My mum asked, facing the TV as if trying to avoid my face. I was not in the mood to tease her.

“Yes, she does.”

“Okay. See, I cannot tell you what to do but I want you to know that there are good men out there.”

“Hmmm, mummy. Did I complain?”

“No no, what I am just saying is that you don’t have to worry that what happened with your dad and I will happen to you.” This was the first time since they settled that she mentioned it. I faced her and saw that she was looking at me.

“Angela, I am sorry for that night. I am sorry for everything you had to witness between your father and me.” Her eyes glazed with tears. “After that night, your father apologised, deeply. We began counselling the following week. Right now, the decision we made was that he should visit his other family once a month.” At this, I stiffened and she seemed to notice it.

“Mummy?”

“It’s not what you think. There is nothing between them. I stopped trying to focus on why he did it and instead on him as a person. He goes because he needs to be a father in the way that he can to his kids.”

“But he sleeps there?”

“In a hotel. You know your father is a good father. Angela, I wouldn’t lie and say Ikenna is the best husband, but he is a good father. I know that’s why it even hurt you more. But there are good men out there who can be good fathers and husbands.” Well, I was not looking for either at the moment, but mummy just told me something deep and it was as if a tension dissolved between us.

“Is that why you stayed?”

“I stayed because only Ikenna can father you the way that he does. I did not want you going through the stress of divorced parents—visiting me today and your dad tomorrow. I also found out that I still loved him. Probably because of the way he loves you, my daughter. So, when he asked what he could do to make our marriage work, I suggested counselling.”

“Wow.” I moved close to her and hugged her.

…

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