TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
CHAPTER 47
Life continued and it was bliss. Precious and Allen stuck to their decisions about both families. With Precious siblings’ they trod with caution. No relationship or visits to the ‘family house’ on Adeniyi Jones Avenue. They never stepped in there.
Titi went there once and decided she never wanted to visit there again. She said the warmth had gone and was replaced with spite. She loved her new home. She realized all Chief wanted to give her was a se-nse of belonging not a physical structure. She felt the love from Precious and Allen as adults and from all the children. She was the children’s confidant and go-to person. Precious never felt intimidated by her close relationship with the children.
Simon married his black American girlfriend. He wanted a quiet wedding and therefore married her in an inti-mate ceremony at the registry. Immediate members of her family were prese-nt and so were Simon’s. His mother attended alongside Hope, Allen, Precious and the children. It was a beautiful ceremony.
Simon called Precious aside and with tears in his eyes, he said to her, “I thought I un-derstood fully why Precious wanted you to raise her children but now I do. My wife shed tears of joy when the children called her mummy. How can a human being be so selfless? She didn’t want children to live with us because she didn’t want stepmother drama but with the love they have shown her, she is willing to try. I will not take the children away from you but I would appreciate more time with them now there is a woman to help. I hope I am not asking for too much.”
“You are not, you are their father. The problem is, if you take one person, you take everyone. Five children will come to visit as they see themselves as siblings even though they bear different surnames. I want grandmother to spend more time with her other grand and great-grandchildren. She mustn’t just have a bond with our children. That said, you nee-d to let your children know who their mother was. I have tried telling them about her so they have an idea. Share your love story with Precious with them. Let them know the hu-ge sacrifice you both made to be together. It is a beautiful story and it will sound better coming from you. Your wife might decide she wants to have children too, they nee-d to know where they came from while still loving who their father now loves.”
“She can’t have children that is why she doesn’t want them. I agreed to be with her for the same reason. I don’t want anyone taking my attention away from my children. She un-derstands that. She doesn’t un-derstand why they all have to come to visit though. I have explained to her and she gets it now.” He pauses briefly before he continued. “Another thing, I appreciate your relationship with Allen. He is a changed man from the carefree guy I knew before both of you got together. He is responsible and he genuinely loves you. I met him in Abuja during the period your uncles asked him to leave. He told me he would do anything to get you a house you can make beautiful memories in together and p@$$ it down to the children. He said he abhorred polygamy and would never support it because of how it drew your family apa-rt. He made money to buy that house. When he showed it to me, I marvelled. I offered to contribute to the purchase of the house but he rejected my offer. He proved to be a man by putting his family first. I saw him in a completely different light. I learnt one or two things from him which I hope will help me in my marriage.”
“What did Allen teach you?”
“How to love without looking back. Willing to be disgraced for the one you love. Sacrificing everything for your family. There is nothing more one can do that is greater than this. Family is everything.”
Simon was right. To both Allen and PB, the family was everything. They were not interested in keeping up appearances, acquiring stupendous wealth or being on the Forbes list. They were only interested in being able to provide a quality life for their children in every facet of their lives. This, they believed, would add to the quality of their lives.
Everything was supposed to end well but then Titi became ill during one of her visits to see Gbenga. It was so severe that they feared she would die. Gbenga called on zoom for them to decide what would happen to her. He told them if she died over there, she would be buried there.
PB refused. She told them she will be buried beside her husband as their father had intended. She requested for her to be brou-ght back to Nigeria so she will be surrounded by people she loved before she dies.
Gbenga replied, “She can’t travel, her condition is critical. If you insist she comes back to Lagos, then you have to come to fetch her yourself. If she dies here, there is no way I am bringing her back to Nigeria, I don’t have such resources.”
“I will bring her back because it is what she wants,” PB told him.
Ope finally spoke up as the eldest, “If her son wants her buried where he is, what is wrong with it? He is her son and can decide what he wants. Why would you counter him when she isn’t related to you?”
Before PB, who was enraged, could respond, Gbenga did. “She has more rights over my mother than I do. She has loved her since she was little and called her grandmother even to date. She has been the one taking care of her; mother sings her praise at all times since she has been here. You should know better brother Ope, she is her stepmother and a mother to all of us. The question is, what will my mother want? I will ask her tonight. I know she would want to be buried beside the man she loved so much. PB is right but I am financially constrained.”
“Sell one of your houses you inherited to bring her back by air ambulance since you support Precious in her crazy ideas. I don’t have any money to contribute,” Niyi added.
“The houses I inherited belong to Precious. If she wants to sell them, she is free to. I chose to do it and can’t go back on it. Precious, since others are not interested in fulfilling her wish, we can speak privately and arrange her transport back home,” Gbenga concluded.
Enitan transferred some money to PB to help with bringing back her stepmother who took very good care of her. She could see her brothers’ greed and selfishness very clearly now. She asked PB to bring her back by every means possible.
PB travelled to bring Titi back home with Allen. On sighting them, Titi was ecstatic. She became stronger than she was before. She even walked to the bathroom with little @$$istance.
She called Allen aside while Gbenga and PB were busy with the doctors. She said to him, “I knew you would come. I told Gbenga that Precious will come with you. I want to come back home, there is nothing wrong with me. All the sicknesses they are calling are old age illnesses which are normal. Take me away from here; once I am back in my house, I will be happy. I told Chief I wasn’t ready to join him; who will take care of Precious? I know you can but I nee-d to stay longer until she can withstand all the troubles coming her way. Who will be with her if not me?”
“I will always be with her.”
“What if you can’t be with her at that time? Somebody else has to be there.”
Allen pondered on Titi’s words. On one hand, he felt it was the illness but on the other, the words were too de-ep to be brushed over. He couldn’t discuss it with PB because she would be worried and overthink it. One thing he knew for sure, she wasn’t dying anytime soon. He could feel it in his bones. She was tired of staying with Gbenga.
Staying in their home for a few days made Allen realise why Titi wanted to leave. Gbenga’s wife wasn’t nice or friendly at all. She didn’t allow them to have contact with the children. PB didn’t pay any attention to her; she was worried about her grandmother. But Allen took note of everything and knew Titi would never come there again. She had overstayed her welcome for staying for three months.
They flew back on a commercial flight to Lagos. PB took Titi to the hospital the minute they arrived fearing she was stressed during the flight. She submitted the medical report from the foreign hospital. Tests that were done again just before they travelled were submitted to the hospital. She was placed on medication and discharged.
PB wondered why she recovered when she saw them. Even the doctors were confused at her sudden recovery. Nothing was wrong with her anymore. She couldn’t relate to someone almost at the point of death and the person she came back home with.
Ope and Niyi came to see Titi in the house. It was quite awkward and they were mesmerized by what they saw. Allen went out of his way with the decoration and aesthetics of the home.
They were ushered into Titi’s living area. They were surprised to meet her with her youngest sister, Funmilayo. She had been informed of Titi critical illness by Gbenga and came to stay with her when she returned for some time. It made Titi very happy. Funmilayo had recently lost her husband and relocated back to Nigeria to live. Staying with Titi made both of them very happy. It was all thanks to Allen.
“How are you ma?” Ope asked after exchanging pleasantries.
“I did not die, I am better now. It was not my time. God spared me for my children.”
Niyi added, “We had to see you and ensure Precious is taking good care of you. We were surprised she brou-ght you back from the hospital.”
“Brou-ght me back?” Titi asked looking confused. “I was discharged from the hospital. It was a good thing Precious came to bring me back, I was tired of living there with that witch Gbenga married. She treated me so badly that death was a better invitation.” She turned to her sister and said, “Did I tell you how she will treat me so nicely when my son is around? She will never allow him to be alone with me. She is a witch but looks like an angel. Her son poured water on my bed intentionally. I lay on the uncomfortable chair in the parlour. I overheard her tell her son I we-t the bed and couldn’t sleep on it. He brou-ght out a mattress for me while the we-t one was put somewhere. I whispered to him I didn’t we-t the bed and he replied, “I know. It doesn’t smell of urine. Just ignore her. She’s intimidated by your prese-nce; she will adjust.” My son knew his wife didn’t like me but he insisted I remained so he can make up for the years we lost. She didn’t un-derstand. I didn’t feel at home. I had to come back home.”
“Talking about home, isn’t it about time you came back to your husband’s house? Your room is still there unoccu-pied waiting for you. That’s your real home,” Ope suggested.
“Where? I can never go back there. Home is where the heart is. The heart is with Precious, Allen and their children; it is nowhere else. I have to pay Precious back for the years I was mean to her. I am doing my restitution now and no one will make me stop. Both of you will suffer the consequences of your actions.”
“Precious, we can un-derstand but what does Allen have to do with this? You are living in your in-law’s house which is against our custom. You will feel better when you come back home. It is will be a disgrace if you die in your in-law’s house,” Niyi insisted.
“When you heard I was critically ill, did you travel to check on me? Apa-rt from calling Gbenga, whatever effort did you make? But Allen flew there with Precious and helped her bring me home. He travelled with her because he knew she nee-ded emotional support. I am closer to him than even Precious. He comes to check on me every morning before he leaves for work and evening when he returns. He eats dinner here while talking to me. Precious joins him sometimes. His mother comes to check my vitals every three days. What can you do for me? What have you done for me? Since your father died, your true characters were exp-osed. Your father knew but I didn’t. This is my home with those I love and that’s where I want to be.”
Before they left they were served pepper soup by the chef. As they consumed it, Allen and Precious came into Titi’s living area. Titi was so happy to see them, she said excitedly, “My children are back. How was the wedding?”
Precious replied, “It was great. Allen got you our favourite grilled croaker fish. He said you wouldn’t eat anything until he brings it back.”
Funmilayo said in confirmation, “She said o. She said her son will bring grilled fish for her for dinner. She hasn’t eaten anything. Precious, thank your husband for his love and care for my sister. She talks about him all the time. For a man to be kind to an old woman without wanting anything in return is rare.”
PB smiled and said, “She loved him first and believed in our love. He is just reciprocating the love. You should un-derstand that it is who loves you unconditionally that is family.”
Ope and Niyi left the house realizing Titi will never come back to that house. Allen and PB had taken control of the family without making any fuss about it.
Tbc