Second chances

Chapter Forty One: Shell

A week after Onyi's visit Victoria was discharged. The burial preparations were over and even though the date had been set, it felt so surreal. Christian would grouse from time to time about the demands being made traditionally and how uncalled for, those demands were.

"we are mourning for Christ's sake! Everybody is just making demands as if we are organizing a naming ceremony or a child dedication. Just imagine how those women were asking for food items, the annoying thing here is that if you don't provide them, most of them will become diabolical. Makes me wonder if they are here to mourn with you or celebrate. "

Christian spoke to Charles as he ran over the costs incurred for the burial. Charles had been very helpful and supportive towards giving his late father in law a befitting burial. His sister in laws were also supportive lending help in whatever way they could.

Victoria could not do much since the hospital let her go, she would talk to guests in the village who hadn't seen her in a long time. Sometimes with Christy and her brother's wife. Charles never seen her speak with her sisters even though her mother and Christian now felt comfortable having them around.

There had been villagers trooping in and out of their compound, the canopies which would be used to accommodate the guests were kept in place. While the caterers and decorators were making appropriate observations and changes.

Everyone seemed to be busy with one thing, Christy and Aaron had been the ones in charge of receiving the condolence messages and whatever token people left with the bereaved family.

Vicky's father must have been too kind with the villagers, a lot of the widows and elderly kept weeping with every visit. According to them he had always been benevolent.

The only problem was what traditions demanded which some people were too greedy to refute. Monetary contributions were made by members of the family but Christian insisted on taking the bulky part as the first son.

While they went over the budget, Charles could only think of how he saw Jude and his wife in the hospital that day. He knew his wife was in a lot of pain, even if she pretended to be fine. But was she trying to get back at him by letting Jude in. It was painful to think that his wife would seek comfort in another man's arms. The look Vicky had given him that day broke his heart. He had been in the chapel praying for his wife and when she finally woke up he wasn't there. He had been the first person she had seen the first time she was in a similar condition.

He had slept off and didn't wake up till a priest had touched him. On getting to his wife's room he had seen her and he was very happy. God did hear his prayers and kept his wife. He reached out and held her hands but she withdrew, then told him she wanted a divorce. Charles knew she was in a lot of pain, losing her father and their baby drove her to making such decision. He did not argue with her or talk about it, he only sat close to her and watched her till morning.

She was in deep pain, she'll change her mind soon,He kept telling himself.
He always checked on her very early in the morning and at the times she slept. He had wanted to give her a little space but on that day, he just couldn't hold it he really wanted to be close to his wife.

Jude left immediately Charles walked in and sat close to Vicky. He really wanted to make her feel better, to hold her and comfort her but he knew too well how his wife dealt with things. While others allowed themselves to crawl out of their shells and feel vulnerable, Vicky would build up more walls around her. She would crawl into a shell, then dwell in her pain alone.

"Victoria ị love you very much, I know everything that happened is my fault and right now it's really hard for you to be with me. But I'm begging you, if not for anything, for the sake of our daughter. Just give me a chance to make things right, I promise I'll protect you with my life. I'll be the best husband, I'll find a way to control my sleepwalking. Please just give me time, give us time. You could just stay away from me while you think things through. You are in a lot of pain and that's why you're thinking this way, please just reconsider. "