Last updated on April 30th, 2023 at 04:17 pm
“Jude, who is Faith?”
“Faith?”
“Yes, Faith. Your friend, Tope said it yesterday.”
“Tope,” Jude answered irritably, then hissed, “that drunk.”
I knew Jude was going to cover this up, he made me question my sanity frequently. I checked his phone when he slept last night and what I saw confirmed that he had started a fashion business for Faith. From what I saw and the pictures of the receipt they exchanged with each other, I did a rough estimate and he spent nothing less than two million naira. I saw pictures of business cards, with her name written boldly as the CEO. I saw messages from her promising him kids even.
After seeing it, I couldn’t sleep—I tossed and turned all through the night. I wondered how I would make it through the day at this rate. I wanted to start my own business yet couldn’t ask my husband for the money; I’d been scrimping and saving here and there. At about the same time, he started a business for his mistress.
Now, he was dressing to go out and was denying having a mistress, as expected. So predictable.
“Jude, so you are saying there is no Faith?”
“Lape, please, leave me alone. We got drunk yesterday, some of us got more drunk than the others and said a lot of rubbish and you chose to hold on to the words from a fool.” I was dumbfounded and even though I was prepared for this, I still did not know what to say. I couldn’t say that I checked his phone, that would make matters worse. No one would listen to me once they knew I snooped on my husband.
***
Today was boxing day, Jude had gone out and I just made breakfast for the kids. I checked the table and saw that he left three thousand naira instead of two thousand. Was this supposed to be a bribe? I fed the kids and brought out a pen and paper to write out my business plans. I would throw myself into my business and not face my cheating husband.
***
Sarah was really willing to help me, even though my capital was not that much she was making me pay for certain services after I have gotten the service from her instead of before. I opened a page on Instagram and then blocked Jude and his friends from seeing my WhatsApp status. I sent Sarah some designs and inscriptions I liked and by January I should fully launch my business.
I could not afford to pay Sarah’s graphic designer so Vic introduced me to one who was a bit cheaper. I also looked at how to discount the delivery cost for the first twenty orders. For better picture quality, Sarah was going to assist me. I never imagined that it would be Sarah; all the days I felt lonely and needed someone on my side, I never considered my brother’s wife.
Now she was more than just my brother’s wife, she was also my friend. Jude would not know what hit him, I was going to channel my feelings into my business. No one, not even mummy deciding to collapse could change my mind about this business.
***
“On the count of three, let’s scream Happy New Year!” Our pastor roared from the altar, bouncing all over. The kids were asleep on the tiny bed we came with.
“One!” He screamed
“Two! Pray harder! Praaay! This is your year.” He roared bouncing on his feet.
“Threeeee!”
“Happy New Year!” We all screamed and people burst into prayers. I liked this period of the year, everything seemed new, like another chance at a fresh start. There was something about the atmosphere, maybe it was all the sentiments built around it. I didn’t know and frankly, I didn’t care because it made me feel good; my mind went blank and my worries were put aside. Hope surged through me once more.
“Pray to God, this year is your year!” Our pastor continued and the congregation got even louder.
***
After the church service, we went home and slept. The kids were now awake and I had to wake up too. I got up, rinsed my face, and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast before hunger struck and things got ugly. I saw Jude in the sitting room dressed as if he was going out. I quelled the anger I felt towards him and greeted him. It was a new year and I wanted to be focused on only things that mattered.
“Good morning.” He answered.
“This one you are dressed, what’s happening?”
“I am going to Ibadan.” A bell rang in my head as he said this because I understood immediately that Ibadan was not just to see his parents anymore, but to see Faith. I should call his mother before she calls and begins to rant that I never call her.
“Oh, okay. Greet mummy when you get there.”
“Sure.”
There was nothing to say, even if I told him not to go to Ibadan because of Faith, I couldn’t ask him not to go and see his parents. I snorted. Like he would even listen to me. I still wanted my marriage but I was trying to adjust to the hand I had been dealt with, maybe this was what the average marriage looked like. Even the most beautiful ones turned sore given time.
I went into the kitchen and heated the food we got from our neighbours yesterday for New Year’s Eve. That was another great thing about this period, there was always food around. I heard Jude approach the kitchen and wondered what he had to say. Imagine he apologises to you. I laughed to myself even as I thought of that.
“Lape.” His voice cut through my already busy mind. I lifted my head from the pot I was stirring.
He continued, “I would not be back until Saturday.” I felt a twist in my heart. Today was Thursday, he was definitely going to see Faith.
“Oh, you have to go and see Aunty Faith na, so she does not leave you.” My mouth was obviously faster than my brain. I saw something flicker on his face and it was gone as soon as it came. Now it seemed like he had put up a defense already.
“I will be back on Saturday. Please serve me my food, let me go.” He replied, then left the kitchen.
