Let's Make A Deal

❤️ Chapter thirty-four

    "Sola mi, how are you doing today? I know you maybe wondering if I didn't recognize you at first. Sola, I even came to see you. You know, Darasimi could have just used the guest toilet outside but I insisted she should be taken inside while praying earnestly that Ifeoma called you to guide her. You're sixteen years old now and it's obvious daddy didn't tell you what really happened. C'mon you're a big girl, you should know."

     When I read to that point, I pressed the button at the side of my phone and tossed the phone away.  I was wondering which unknown number would send me bulk messages and once I opened the message, I knew she was the one.

    It has been exactly one week since she said she'd text. C'mon, is that how busy she is?

    I wanted to read every word in the message slowly but at the same time, I didn't want to even look at my phone. I went with the former because I was so curious, finally I'd be getting an answer to the question I've been asking for almost nine years.

    "I got married to your dad immediately after my Nysc. He loved me so much. He showered me with so much care and affection, I loved him a lot too. We didn't have big fights or arguments, Kehinde always agreed to whatever I said. He loved me that much. I didn't have a job but he catered for all our needs. A year after our marriage, I got pregnant but I had a miscarriage. It happened thrice. I was so devasted until I got a job. I was so immersed in my job so that I'd forget about these things. I'd stay at work till it was past 9pm. Kehinde would stay up and wait for me. He'd ask me why I'm came home late again and I'd remind him how stressful a bank job is. He'd buy this lie until he stopped buying it because numerous times, he'd drive to my workplace in the evening to pick me up but I wasn't there. By then, I'd be in a bar. Luckily, I took in and had you a year later. Things returned back to normal. Happy family. No more late nights or arguments. When you were four, I took in again, before it was two months, I had a miscarriage. It happened a lot of times for years. We ran series of medical tests, but there was nothing wrong. Aunty Bolanle's rants weren't helping at all."

Okay.

"I had to take long breaks from work after each miscarriage. My boss was very understanding. He always gave me comforting words. He was about the same age as your dad although he was unmarried. I went back to drinking, I drank right there in the office at night. One day, shit happened, my boss and I were drunk and we fucked."

Did she really use that word?

   "I got pregnant, three months gone and I didn't have a miscarriage. I opened up to your dad. It'd have been cruel if he told me to abort Darasimi, as he knew how difficult it was for me to have a child. 5 months gone and I didn't have a miscarriage. Dad kept telling you I was busy at work, right? But I was just too ashamed of myself even though it was a mistake. He was still covering up for me, he still loved me. I resorted to going out very early and coming back very late until I filed a divorce. I was too embarrassed, Sola. My boss and I got married when Darasimi was four months old."

At this point, I didn't know what to think. Maybe she had no choice. It'd be so inhumane to say that she'd have aborted but what sort of mistake was that? Why'd she do that with her boss?

    "After Darasimi, I had Simisayo. Few months ago, I had Simisola. I might regret what I did then but I do not regret having these beautiful children. Mummy still loves you, okay?"

    Of course, she does!

    And she must really love the name Simi, I guess.

"I met your dad in the conference after many years of not seeing him. We greeted normally, like good friends. He told me about life and then about Ifeoma. That's why I spoke to Ifeoma at first, because of you, my love. Since then, I couldn't help but imagine daily how much you'd have grown, if you have a boyfriend now, how smart you've become, I've been thinking of you. It was nice meeting you again. I want you to know that I love you a lot but then, I did what I had to do. You could come over to my house someday, I'd be glad to have you, baby. I hope you reply this message when you receive it."

I sniffled as soon as I was done with reading the message.

'Okay mum.' I mentally concluded. I wasn't going to reply the message, there's no need for that. I wouldn't talk about it with anyone too.

Now, I understand it wasn't her fault but then, I don't know how to feel.