Jumoke

10: Freedom!

Jumoke

GOOD THINGS DON'T last forever, that was not a lie. My ears perked at the sound of footsteps that slowly approached the master's bedroom and my mood turned sour at the sudden appearance of Emeka by the door. Of late, he had developed a knack for surprising me and this was one of such occasions; unfortunately, it meant my trip might have to be cancelled.

"When did you get in?" I asked in a bid to redirect his attention from the heap of clothes on the bed that I had tried and failed to cover up with the duvet.

He responded with a question of his own, hands akimbo as his gaze pierced mine. 

"The guy who just left the house, who is he?" His eyes grew the size of saucers when they strayed to the travel bag on the bed, "where do you think you are going to?"

"Obudu."

"Without telling me?"

"You were not supposed to be back until next week Saturday and it wouldn't have mattered whether or not I informed you."

"Well, surprise!"

"Emmy," I cooed.

Emeka was a very jealous man and it was no brainer that his ego might have been bruised by the sight of Franklin leaving his house, so, I decided to go by a different approach; we both needed to be calm or things might escalate and I needed his blessings for my travel. 

"I need this, I need a break from everything that has happened and it's just for the weekend."

"Yes, you need a break so you can run to Obudu with that small boy to spend my hard-earned money. You are an ungrateful woman!" He spoke with venom, like a man on a mission to destroy. "So, this is what you do when I'm not around, sleeping around with small small boys? You are going nowhere."

I scoffed in disbelief. Ninety months, that was how much of my life I had given to this man, how long I had let him order me around and yet, here he was, stood in front of me like a king defending his castle, deciding what I could and couldn't do, making decisions for me every single day of our marriage life.

That had to end today, now.

"Where are my children?"

"I want a divorce." We spoke simultaneously.

He cackled mirthlessly, holding the side of his stomach as he doubled over with laughter; his head raised slightly to peer at me before he resumed his derogatory laugh.

"Where are Ada and Chime?" He asked again, this time in a voice that sent chills down my spine,  stalking closer to me.

Maybe it was the dark look that crossed his eyes or the smirk on his face or the black clothes he wore that added to this evil persona he was successfully portraying or the fact that Emeka had never shouted at me before but I knew I had to leave the room and I had to do it fast.

Staggering backwards, I mentally calculated the distance between me and the next exit, all of them required me passing through Emeka, except one. His hawk-like gaze followed me as I made a dash for the bathroom -my only escape-, faltering in my steps at the impact of something solid ramming into me.

Stars danced behind my now closed eyelids, the echo from my fall bouncing off the walls. Something wet stuck to the side of my head and a thick, metallic smell permeated the air; my fingers tentatively went to the part of my head that was throbbing, a loud scream slipping from my lips at the sight of the unmistakable crimson liquid coating my fingertips.

"Every month," he started, cutting me off midscream with a piece of cloth he shoved roughly into my mouth, "for the past seven years,  I have sent your mother a cheque of half a million naira, and yet you want a divorce, that would be over my dead body."

He finished off his statement with a huff and a final tug at the scarf he tied on my wrists. Leaving me in that spot, he returned shortly with a bucket and towel, his face set in a hard glare as he wiped the bloodied side of my face. My vision became blurry and soon after, everything went dark.

The next day, Emeka was nowhere to be found, instead, there was a gateman with strict instructions to not allow madam leave the house.

**********

"Mummy, daddy is traveling again," my little informant, Chime whispered. His lips were set in a pout as he glared furiously at me in hopes that I would question his father's decision, one I had been waiting for.

For three months now Emeka had stayed at home without traveling, three months without incident or apology for his previous action, just numerous gifts in cash and kind. But hate was a strong emotion and it consumed me, filling every fibre of my being; it grew from a foetus to a full baby and now, it was finally ready to be delivered.

The children were happy, we were finally that complete family they longed for but sadly, those cherished moments were about to come to an end. Hoisting Chime on my hips, we sauntered to the parlour where Emeka was set and ready to go.

"Give daddy a kiss," Emeka muttered, raising Ada up till she was shoulder level with him. Grudgingly she placed wet kisses on his cheek, wounding her arms tightly around his neck as if afraid to let go.

Chime jumped from my arms into Emeka's, eager to give daddy his own share of kisses. A tear slipped from my eyes at the picture they cast with Ada and Chime's faces snuggled into the crook of his neck. When he gestured for me to join them in the group embrace, I willingly did.

"I'm sorry," he whispered over and over again to me. Perhaps, it was an apology for hurting me or for leaving the children after his promises to never travel without them, whichever one it was, it was too late.

Gradually, we broke off from the hug to take a selfie, the first family photo I happily posed for. Holding Chime and Ada by their hands, we watched from the doorstep as the hired driver for this trip opened the Range rover's door for him. 

I felt regret but it was fleeting, replaced easily with an assurance of freedom that was soon to come.

"Daddy is off now, don't give mummy any troubles, I'll be back in two days' time."

Emeka never returned, he died from food poisoning.