UNCONDITIONAL LOVE – Episode 4
Jeremiah walked in and greeted the guests then sat next to me and put his arm around my shoulder, it took everything in me not to yank it off because he wanted to pl@ythe good husband in front of his mother and I could see Alicia turning red with anger so I decided I would pl@ymy cards well
Mom: how are you all?
Us: we’re fine
Mom: that’s good, and her? (pointing at Alicia)
Jeremiah: she’s Mumba’s sister
***I was shocked beyond the word itself and opened my mouth but the words wouldn’t come out***
Mom: awe Jeremiah, I know Mumba’s family
I thought he had come up with something to tell his mom but I looked at the figure seated next to me which looked blank and pity written all over the face, I leaned against the couch and waited for him to answer
Mom: will you two give me an answer? I didn’t come here to pla-y
Jeremiah: I think Mumba can answer that since you know I can’t involve myself in ladies issues
I looked at him while he spoke and he was dead serious which made me almost laugh because what he said never existed, my mother in law looked at me sternly waiting for an answer
Me: she’s our house help
I could see Alicia’s eyes popped out from the corner of my eyes then I turned smiling at her
Me: right Alicia?
I could see her rage reach it’s last level and attem-pted to speak but was interrupted by mother
Mom: ba mayo, you may excuse us this is a family issue
She got up angrily attempting to go to her be-droom but I st©pped her
Me: its almost lunch time so you can go to the kitchen and get started, I’ll join you later
***She looked at me with pleading eyes and I kept a straight face ma-king her walk away***
Jeremiah: you know she can’t cook (he whispered)
Me: so? at least I saved her by introducing her as our house help so let her do her duty (I whispered back)
Mother asked for a glas-s of water before she could commence and I went to get it for her in the kitchen where I found Alicia starring at the pots
Me: hurry up, the guests are waiting
Alicia: how dare you do this
Me: I have every right to since this is my house, it’s exactly what you get for poking your ugly nose in other people’s marriages and plea-se make the dish traditional, our mother in law loves her traditional dish so pay much attention Ku fisashi (vegetables containing peanuts)
She started panicking and I took the glas-s of water and tray of the pies I’d prepared leaving her there, I served everyone and took my seat then Mother cleared her throat
Mom: Jeremiah, do you know this lady?
Jeremiah: yes I do
Mom: how do you know her?
Jeremiah: she’s my baby mama
***I thought my ears were deceiving me***
Me: your?
Jeremiah: the mother of my child
Mom: care to explain what happened?
Jeremiah: 3 years back when Mumba was accepted at school I thought she’d leave me, I couldn’t fight that thought back especially that she was not a day scholar and we lived in different towns so I made this girl my mistress and a year later she told me that she was pregnant then I told her that I didn’t want anything to do with her because Mumba would leave me if she found out and she was the one I wanted to be with so I couldn’t handle baby mama drama. I saw that the impression I had of Mumba was wrong then she called me 2 years back saying she had given birth to a baby girl and as much as I wanted the baby, I couldn’t risk losing Mumba
I had zoned out when he said he got her pregnant and Mother exhaled loudly
Mom: my daughter, did you hear that?
Me: y….yes mom
Mom: this girl’s parents c@m£ to my house and told me that this child isn’t supported financially and I was surprised to learn that I had a granddaughter, they want to s£nd their daughter back to school so she’s been asked to take both her children to their father’s families and she’s brou-ght little Sekela here. I’m sorry my daughter I also didn’t know about this, I can keep her while you take your time to think about it
Me: thanks mom this is just too much, let me take time to digest this…
*****************
I went outside to get some fresh air because I felt like I was suffocating, the garden was a quiet place so I decided to go there and sat on a bench then felt a hand t©uçh my shoulder and I turned to find Jeremiah standing behind me
Jeremiah: I’m sorry
Me: LEAVE ME ALONE AND GET OUT OF HERE
Jeremiah: plea-se Mumba I’m sorry, I…….
Me: KEEP YOUR USELESS EXPLANATIONS TO YOUR SORRY SELF BECAUSE I’M TIRED OF YOUR CHILDISH BEHAVIOUR, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HAPPY UNION BLESSED BY GOD RATHER IT’S BLESSED BY SATAN THAT’S WHY YOU MAKE IT YOUR MISSION TO HURT ME DAILY. I’M SOMEb©dy’S DAUGHTER AND HAVE FEELINGS, I GET HURT IN CASE YOU DON’T KNOW AND YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY SAFE HAVEN BUT………..
My tears were freely flowing and I had a big lump on my throat
Me: just go
He looked at me with sorry eyes but I didn’t give in and he slowly walked away, I remembered I had to prepare lunch because Mother couldn’t eat food prepared by Alicia with her bad cooking so after being lost in thoughts for an hour I quic-kly got up like I was being chased and rushed in the house. I got to the living room heading to the kitchen then Mother st©pped me and asked me to sit next to her
Mom: where were you rushing to?
Me: to help out with lunch
Mom: relax, the girl in the kitchen will finish
She held me close to her and I got lost in thoughts again.
After three hours lunch was finally served by Alicia and she joined us, Mother said grace and we dug in. The food didn’t look like it was supposed to and I saw Mother’s facial expression change ma-king me scared
mom: ba mayo did you prepare this?
I saw Jeremiah fidgeting on his chair and the baby mama washed her hands
Alicia: yes I did
Mother carefully looked at her
J.mom: who hired her?
I decided to keep quiet
mom: I’ve asked a question coz I know of a lot of modest people looking for jobs, just look at her face how can a house help wear so much make up and dress like this?
Me: excuse me, let me prepare something
Mom: Mumba, you hired her right?
Me: no I didn’t
I walked away and went to the kitchen then Mother followed me shortly
mom: open your eyes my daughter, your house help is creepy
I served everyone and Alicia walked in, Mother didn’t say anything but just starred at her. We started eating and I thought of Jeremiah’s daughter, when I said “I DO” at the alter I accepted to be with him and support him regardless of what baggage he had with him and besides I loved him unconditionally
Me: Mother, Sekela can stay she’s my daughter and I’ll take care of her
Everyone was surprised, Lydia who was the baby mama ran short of words
J.mom: are you sure about this?
Me: yes Mother, its a decision I’ve made
J.mom: alright (she looked at Jeremiah)
Jeremiah: thank you so much, you’re a rare precious jewel an………..
Alicia coughed so ha-rd and Mother gave her an intense look
Lydia: thank you for accepting my child, I’m sorry for what I did in the past and I know that she’ll have a great impact on your studies. I’m really sorry
Me: its fine don’t worry, I can have your contacts so that I know what she nee-ds at times
She gave me her contacts, they left in the evening and Sekela cried for her mother. Jeremiah and I took turns attending to her that night as she cried non st©p, she only sle-pt in the morning at around 5 then I had to start preparing Jeremiah and I…….
To be continued…