Last updated on March 30th, 2023 at 01:44 pm
“Lape!” Jude called from the dining room, he had just gotten back from work. He hadn’t called me like this in a while, he sounded angry. I left the clothes I was folding and went to meet him.
“Yes?”
“Did you notice me behaving somehow to you on Saturday?”
“Yes I did.”
“Okay. I am going to tell you what you did just because I want you to know you don’t deserve any love and respect. I have been going to work and still doing chores in this house for the past eight months…” It was not actually up to eight months, only about four months, but I let it slide. He continued, “You went to my family house for just two days. Two days, Lape and you couldn’t behave like a good wife. I got calls from home telling me how you were lazy and cuddling your son everywhere. You have spoilt him. Then you still took him away from my mother, what message were you passing across to her?”
“Jude, who called you to report me?” I raised my finger to show him the cut I got when we were cutting and cleaning the meat. “Who told you I didn’t work? I worked so much, I felt dizzy. No one even acknowledged my condition.”
“Would you be the first to be pregnant? My mum was pregnant eight times, she miscarried once. This was the same thing they said. They said you were hiding behind your condition. They said you were even rude. See,” He got up and faced me, “I don’t joke with my mother.”
“Jude. I-” He raised his hand to warn me.
“Don’t ever! Don’t ever disrupt me when I am talking. This is why you don’t spoil a woman. She becomes rude and silly. You carried my son away from my mother. The same woman that raised me, which values do you have that you want to teach my son? Ehn? Answer me!”
Panting, he picked his car keys and stormed out.
***
Jude had not been home for about five days. I felt at ease in his absence but I was also concerned for his whereabouts. What really got me worked up was what he said. Who called him? They fed him lies and he didn’t even think to ask me, he didn’t think he needed clarity from his wife.
I had called his phone many times and it had either been busy or ignored. I sent text messages too and he did not reply. I guess the answers to my prayers had been reversed. I could not hold it again and decided to tell Vic. I had missed our call on Saturday and only replied with a text saying I was busy and we would talk later. I had told her about the party but not the date.
She picked on the first ring, “Mrs Alaka, did you travel for honeymoon ni?”
“I wish o.”
“So, what now happen?”
“We went for party in Jude’s house o.”
“Oh, so you spent the weekend at your in-law’s enjoying.”
“Enjoying what? Where are you?”
“I am at work o, do you need to talk or something?”
“Yes. Is now a good time?”
“Umm, let me call you in about an hour?”
“Okay, that’s fine. Thank you.”
“Wait, today is Saturday, why are you at work?”
“I came to touch up some things, I won’t be in next week.”
“Oh, alright. I would be expecting your call.”
***
I felt better after talking to Vic but I did not know what Jude was up to or what would happen when he returned. Vic did not fail to remind me that I had gone through a scare the previous month and I needed to rest.
“I don’t know how you do it, Lape, I don’t know the nitty gritty of your marriage, but for your sake and that of the baby, rest.” She said, her concern made me tear up. In this short period, I had sincerely forgotten about my health and what I went through last month. Lape, you are silly.
As if my baby heard me, I felt a movement and I smiled—a teary smile. Hi love, I am here. When I was pregnant with Dimeji, I related more with him; it was not the same now and it made me feel guilty. I felt a sudden weakness and leaned my head back. I felt so old, like I’d been alive for more than twenty-five years. There was always one issue or the other in my life. When do we even get to rest?
***
Jude returned, ignoring my greeting as I opened the door. He went in and I heard the shower running. I went into the room and saw a bag opened and his clothes on the bed. Dirty clothes. Jude hated me using a washing machine to wash his clothes, so even though we had one —a wedding gift, I still hand-washed my husband’s clothes.
No matter how long he gave me the cold shoulders, he never stopped expecting his food on the table, his clothes washed and sex. He did not leave any allowance for last week and I had to withdraw from the little I had saved up. I could start an online business, but what would it be? I especially did not want him to know about it. As he came out of the bathroom, he dried his body without saying a word to me.
“Jude, talk to me. You have had a week to cool off, talk to me.” I said, almost pleading. He was silent. I really hated this silent treatment.
He opened the wardrobe and searched inside. I guessed he was looking for his pyjamas so I went to his side to help him look for it, he withdrew to the side the moment I stood next to him. Undeterred, I brought out his pyjamas and gave it to him then I went to my former position.
“Jude.”
“Woman, what is it?” I was not getting anywhere with this; I had to think of a method that could work. Kneeling down, I reduced my voice to sound really sober. “Jude, I am begging you in the name of God and your mother, forgive me.”
“Do not involve my mother!”
“Okay okay, I can call mummy or anyone you want me to call on the phone and apologise.” I thought of saying I could return Dimeji, but what if he agreed? I didn’t want that. Instead I said, “I want the peace we had in this house, I want to be your peace.”
“My peace? I have accepted that you cannot be my peace. You are my cross.” That hit home. I was sure he noticed the emotion on my face as he said that and visibly relaxed knowing he had done that to me. I got back on track still on my knees, I went to him and held his legs.
“My husband, please. Forgive me. To err is human. Think of God, think of our children.”
