Episode 15

Last updated on March 11th, 2023 at 08:26 pm

I just got off the phone with Vic. It had been almost three months since we saw each other, but we had both talked about calling each other consistently. We came up with some days during the week that we’d call each other, no matter our schedule. It had been working so far and I enjoyed it.

I was mindlessly scrolling through the TV channels as I remembered the lies I told Vic when we saw. Jude had held my hand in church actually, but he did not repeat any vows neither did he kiss me in front of the church. I doubted Vic noticed my lies or she just ignored it, but she played along just fine. She dropped Dimeji and I at home and followed us inside. Around four pm, I started panicking. Jude was going to return by five or if I was unlucky, he might just decide to come earlier.

She noticed I was no longer into the conversation and got up saying it seems I needed rest. But as I escorted her to the gate, she asked what time Jude would be back and I told her. She had that ‘oh I see’ look. She gave me one last hug and told me not to follow her to the gate. When she got home, she sent a text instead of calling, as if she was trying to oblige some unspoken rule. I was thankful anyway.

***

I had just returned from antenatal. Jude took me to the hospital and came to drop me after I finished. My blood pressure was a bit high and the doctor advised me to rest more. I told him I was resting enough, but he insisted that I should rest more and take walks during the evening. He advised me to come back in two days so he could monitor me closely. I had heard about Pregnancy Induced Hypertension and it really bothered me.

Jude had suggested taking Dimeji to his family if things don’t look okay at my next appointment. I sent Vic a text, updating her while I drank a whole glass of water. My reward would be me going to urinate every minute. Pregnancy life. My phone beeped and I saw Vic had replied. She was in a meeting and she would call as soon as she finished.

I went into the room and changed into comfortable clothes. Dimeji had slept off while we were at the hospital and was still asleep. I did not want to stress about this situation, but I didn’t think I could handle a third pregnancy. My body reacted badly to pregnancy and I didn’t want to go through any of this again. I settled on the bed and closed my eyes. I won’t be bothered.

***

“I need to travel to Ibadan with Dimeji, let him stay with my family for a while. I don’t like the doctor’s look.” I nodded as Jude kept on ranting. If mummy knew I was acting this way, she would say I was too scared and lazy as a woman. But who wouldn’t?

“Lape.”

“Hmm?” I replied Jude as I lifted my face to look at him. 

“You are fine, okay? You just need to rest. I would do more house chores and Dimeji would go and stay with my family till you put to bed.” 

“Okay.” I whispered. My son was only a year and four months old. I really didn’t want him starting his life this way—with relatives here and there. But it didn’t make any sense to tell my husband that I didn’t buy his idea. I sent a text updating Vic and told her not to call me yet. We were almost at home and Jude would return to work to take a week’s leave so he can support me.

The doctor had complained that I wasn’t resting enough and my blood pressure was still above normal. He told me to come to the hospital every two days and that if things didn’t change, I’d be admitted to the hospital. I don’t know what the doctor’s aim was, but all he said made me more scared. I was almost crying.

***

Jude returned from work very early and started packing Dimeji’s clothes. His mother had called and prayed for me. My mother had also called, crying and praying. Sam had called asking for the details, he said mummy called him. This meant she had told all my brothers. I disliked how pregnancy made you a spectacle before everyone’s eyes. The incessant calls and talks and prayers. I was too tired for all this.

Vic had calmed me down when we spoke earlier. She also sent me money. “Maybe a little more money in the account can ease your mood,” she had texted.  I laughed when I saw the alert. Money actually causes happiness. 

Jude was done packing Dimeji’s clothes and had packed a little for himself. He loaded them into his car and came back inside to make dinner. We ate in silence as I watched Dimeji, so unaware and innocent, playing with his toys and laughing. My poor baby. My eyes glistened with tears and I took a deep breath. The doctor said I should not think about anything.

***

I dried my body and applied cream on my body, trying to pamper myself a bit. Jude had put Dimeji to bed and they would both be going to Ibadan tomorrow morning. I looked at my husband as he concentrated on his phone. He noticed I was looking at him and dropped the phone to hold me. “You’ll be fine, baby.” As he whispered this, I started crying, I didn’t know if it was hormones or the news from the doctor or the fact that they would be taking my son to live with people he didn’t know.

“Shhh, shhh.” He said as he held me. At least my marriage was doing okay in all of this. After some minutes, I stopped crying and felt better. He guided me to the bed and cuddled me.

I woke up feeling startled, I rolled to my back and stretched as I replayed the events that happened before I fell asleep. I picked Jude’s phone and checked the time; it was just midnight. But I was no longer sleepy and I knew I’d be awake for at least two hours. I got up and went to ease myself. I was about dropping Jude’s phone, but I decided against it.

I finished in the toilet, went into the sitting room and switched on the TV, reducing the volume. I found a comfortable sitting position and unlocked Jude’s phone. Lape, what are you doing? He had nothing to hide, he didn’t even have a password, I told myself.

I opened his gallery first.