Her Father's Wife

Chapter 49

Ona was delivered of a baby boy one month later. Obidiye was wild with joy. Onochie, she called the new born baby, meaning replacement. She danced round the house giving whoops of joy. Then she broke into a song. Other women came to join her. There was noise of celebration with women trouping in and out of their house all day long. Most of the women were genuinely happy for Obidiye, considering what she and her family had been through in the recent time, she deserves a little bit of happiness. Seems at last her chi wanted to wipe  tears from her eyes. They brought gifts for the baby and the new mother, mostly food stuffs. Some brought them raw, while some brought cooked food. Ona was to lie down, eat, rest and feed the baby. The rest will help her to recuperate.
Maxwell came calling a week later. He wanted to see his first son he said. Obidiye pretended not to hear him. He repeated what he said, then added that, they should tell his wife to prepare to go with him when he comes next time. Obidiye was dumb founded. As soon as Maxwell left, she bursted into tears. She doesn't want Ona to be tormented anymore. She seemed so broken. She doesn't know how much more she will be able to take. Maxwell's betrayal had taken a toll on her. She decided to seek council from Amadi, but no, he had already washed his hands off the whole thing, since Maxwell insulted him at the obi in one of his evil visits. She ran to Nwaneri's house instead. Nwaneri advised her to go back and wait. They cannot preempt him. Better to wait and see what he will do next. Obidiye went back home not feeling any better than when she left it. How can her chi leave her at the mercy of this kind of beast? Who will rescue them from this hungry lion? He will come again. Obidiye was very sure of that. He never leaves out any opportunity to torment them. She considered running away to her village with her family. But then, how will her husband look at it from the land of the spirit? It will be that her husband's worst fear has come true. His obi will turn to a forest. There is no other solution than to sit it out. A week passed, then two, Obidiye was almost getting less worried. Perhaps he will not come again, perhaps he had relented and decided to let them be perhaps... but no, the third week saw Maxwell coming in all his troublesome ness. This time, he came on a bicycle. He had come to take his wife and baby home. Before Obidiye could talk, he berged into the room where Ona and the baby where and grabbed the baby. He strolled out to wait outside, while commanding her to get ready fast or he will go with the baby alone. The baby started crying.  Ona too was in tears. All attempt to get  Maxwell to allow Ona breastfeed the baby proved abortive. Obidiye ran to call Nwaneri. When Nwaneri came, he tried to meditate. He asked Maxwell what the problem was. He explained that he had only come to take his family back. He doesn't see why there should be any problem about that. If on the other hand, they don't want him anymore, they should give him back the bride price he paid.  Nwaneri barely managed to swallow his astonishment. He was clearly dealing with a mad man here or worst. Nwaneri gently reminded him that he had collected the said bride price two times already.  Maxwell said he doesn't remember doing that. 'So if you collect this bride price now you will leave and never come back? Nwaneri asked him. He said yes. Nwaneri then begged him to give the baby to the mother. He had been crying so hard all this time, he may become sick. Nwaneri consulted with Obidiye on how to raise the money. He was ready to supply part of the money if Obidiye can make up the other half. Obidiye had no money. Ona had used her savings to pay Maxwell off the last time. Obidiye ran into her bed room. She took five of her best wrappers, tied them with a scarf and left. She was able to use them to borrow the balance of the money from ichie Oguzie's wife. The woman gave her the money more out of pity than any need for the wrappers. Nwaneri had already been to his house to get part of the money. He was waiting for her when she came back. Obidiye took the money from Nwaneri, joined it with the one she borrowed. She counted it once more, then she turned to Maxwell and held up the money to the setting sun and spoke. 'Maxwell you have collected this money three times from a poor widow like me. Each time you come back to collect again and again. After collecting this money today, if you die in your sleep, that is my God fighting for me, if somebody kills you in a fight, my God has fought for me, if you die in an accident, my God has fought for me. He gave him the money thereafter. Maxwell did not waste time in collecting the money. This time, he did not bother to count it before pocketing it. Then he took his leave.