My Father's Wife 2 – Last Batch

episode 23

“sky, how dare you barge into my room this afternoon” Amanda barked Immediately i opened the door to my house after her long loud knocks.

Her eyes were a mixture of anger and confusion, and the seriousness in her face was enough to scare a child.

“I was looking for you” I said in a calm way trying to sound as flirty as possible beaming with an untold evil smile.

Her facial expression changed in a second, she turned sharply and looked at me. “For me?”
her eyes didn’t blink with her gaze fixed on my face.

“Yes for you” i answered going closer to her. my hands running upwards to her shoulders dragging myself towards her.

“Sky what are you doing” She mo-ned out as my l-ips were already touching the side of her neck, giving her soft bites and nibbles.

“Am tired of running Amanda, the truth is i have missed you, i thought i could stop myself but my wh0le body have been yearning for you for the past five years and i cant help it anymore” i breathed out still k-ssing her neck and pulling her body deeper into mine.

She let out a mild giggle, throwing her hands around neck.” But what about your fiancee”

“Leave that one, her parents words have gotten to her and she said she needs to be left alone now” i continued talking in small whisper tone biting her ears and slurping my tongue around. Her eyes blinked heavily.

“But she is pregnant for you” She mo-ned out with her eyes slightly closed.
“Yes and you already have a son for me” i countered intensifying the work of my hands on her back.

I felt her hands drag my neck pulling my face into hers as our l-ips met in an explosive k-ss.

My mind raced back to the events that bore out my actions; I had called Jessy immediately i left Amanda’s room.

“Hello, Jessy please where are you” I sang into the phone immediately she picked the call in the usual joking tone she always picks my calls with.

“Am in Wilson’s house with Ryan” She blurted out “Is anything the matter sky?”

“No please am coming there right away their are some things i need you to see” I ended the call in a whim and jumped into the car and off to Jessy’s house.

Sometimes in life you have to take the offensive and fight for yourself.
Amanda have complicated my life enough, she has destroyed my wedding which was supposed to be in 2days time now its impossible. who can muster up a wedding preparation within 48hours.

Wilson’s house; An ultra modern bungalow with designs and styles that would make any duplex jealous. the compound was equally elegant and enviable.
Jessy said Wilson was not a fan of Big upstairs; who would be a fan of upstairs if you have a bungalow that beats an upstair hands down with a wide margin.

“Sky what is the matter?” The always impatient Jessy asked immediately i stepped into the house.
Ryan was in her arms throwing a quick grin at me as a greeting of which is replied with a smile and perk on his soft cheeks.

“Sky talk na” Her impatience was getting the more of her like always, within her eyes lay that ever undying question and curiosity.

“J, not in front of him” i said in a kind of audible whisper casting a wink on Ryan’s side.
“Ryan, go and watch t.v” she said dropping him and we watched him run to seat in front of the television with the usual glee shouting “Spongebob!!!”

“Jessy i will like you to take a look at this” I still maintained my whispering tone. Bringing out the little container of medicine.
Her eyes popped as she took the little transparent container from my hand, peered intensely at it, open it and took a whiff of a smell from it.

“Sky this is haimdal’s pills” She intoned casting a surprise and yet questioning look at me.
“Where did you get this?”

“I searched Amanda’s room and found it” i said checking to see Ryan still glued to the television set.
“And i found this too” I handed her the white folded piece of paper.

She hurriedly yanked it open, blinking faster than usual with the usual curiosity that is innate in her controlling her.
“Jesus Christ! ” she let out, her gaze still glued to the paper and her l-ips moving without words coming out.

“what is it, what did it say Jessy” I was now the curious one.

“Sky this result shows that your DNA and Ryan’s doesn’t match unlike the one we had. This one shows you are not Ryan’s father” Her voiced quaked and hands trembled along with the paper in them.

Her words sunk into my mind like an arrow, i didnt know how to react to it. Is Ryan not being my son supposed to be good or bad news.
I took another look at Ryan who was obliviously of the happenings.

“And both results bears Doctor’s signature, sky do you know what this means?”

“Both came from the same doctor” I said.

“Yes exactly and the same doctor was responsible for papa’s medication which some haimdal’s pills were found, same pills are found in Amanda’s possession, they are both working together sky” The excitement in her voice was uncanny.

“Their is enough evidence here to put both Amanda and the doctor behind bars for long, i am taking these results and pills to the National Doctors Association of which Wilson’s uncle is the chairman. play along with Amanda the association will handle it from here.” She sounded very confident and excited at the new development.

Having that this was both a criminal case of medical forgery and also a case of attempted murder, i knew it was a matter of time.

“Sky i need you to play along with Amanda, deceive her so she wouldn’t suspect a thing” Jessy winked at me knowing fully well i understood the context of her words.

Getting home, i relayed the newest development to Chioma, who was not only excited but also enthusiastic about it. I could notice how much she brightened up.

I told her Jessy’s plans, she first twitched at the thought after few seconds smiled “that’s really a brilliant plan, that your sister is a crook, i wonder how she got all the brains” She laughed out.

A sudden knock on the door pulled our attention.
“Who is that?”

“Its me, sky open this door now” Amanda’s voics shrieked from the other side of the door.
Jolting Chioma up immediately as she ran up to hide.
“Play your game well” she whispered. * *

Amanda’s hands travelling down towards sky jnr snapped me back with an electrifying surge of shock.
Her breathes were becoming heavier and heavier.

“Amanda, i need to rush to the office now to pick up an important file” i snapped breaking away from the k-ss.

“Sky please not now” she made to resume the k-ss again.
“I really need to do that now or i will loose a contract of 10million” i could see both disappointment and happiness written all over her face.

“Ok when should i come back” she asked wrapping her hands around me.
I gave her a k-ss on the forehead still maintaining my smile.

“Just give me a call whenever you are alone in papa’s house, i will be there” i winked untangling myself pretending i was searching for my car keys.

The smile she wore as she left was superb, turning like thrice to look at me again before disappearing through the door and i watched through the window when she slid into her car and drove off honking excitedly at the gate.

Chioma rushed downstairs immediately laughing dumping her wh0le weight into me.
“Bad boy” she laughed out throwing a tiny blow on my chest.

“Lets show that your Father’s wife that two can play that game” she grinned.

Episode 24

Like papa always say “be careful when your enemy suddenly starts smiling at you”.
He had a little fall out with mama in the morning and mama got angry, he had refused her some money that she demanded for.

In the afternoon he came back and mama had made a sumptuous meal; onugbo soup and pounded yam with a lot of fish which happened to be papa’s favourite.

Papa was busy eating and nodding while moulds of yam fufu coated greedily with large amount of soup and fish took turns to go down his throat.

I, barely 8, was seated beside him enjoying my own share of the delicacy mimicking papa by nodding my head when i swallow a miniature version of the moulds he ate.

We didn’t know mama had snuck in and took twice of the money she asked for and went on her way, papa only found out later in the night when she came back with a large shopping bag full of goodies not just for herself, both jessy and i including papa.

Papa knowing he was duped with a good delicious delicacy, turned to me with a teary eyes from the long minutes of laughing and said. “Nnam, be careful when your enemy starts smiling at you, it may yet be his greatest weapon”

This was my position with Amanda now, but in this case i was the enemy that suddenly started smiling and she already fell for it, turns out it was my greatest weapon.

The days following the on set of my game with Amanda was very eventful and interesting. My wedding date had already passed and i used it to assure her that getting married was no longer on my mind.

I had made out real time to always take both her and Ryan out, always ensuring i wore a silly smile while at it. Giving Jessy enough time and room to sort things out with the National Doctors Association (NDA) and our family doctor, Dr Odili.

It has been a week of constant turn of emotional build up and break down for her.
I had Jessy barge in on us on Tuesday she came to my house, Chioma hid as usual and while things were turning up Jessy barged in and all hell let loose.

At one time it was licia, the disappointing looks she wears each time she thinks things were already turning up only to get an unexpected visitor was priceless to me.

“Sky abeg come to state command police station” Jessy announced just immediately i picked her call. Picking my car keys, i drove towards the police station wondering what exactly took Jessy to the police station, hope she hasn’t gotten into trouble with the police.

I got to the police station and met jessy just on the police lounge flickering with her phone with full attention.
“Jessy whats wrong?” i blurted out jolting her out of the phonetical spell.

“ehee sky Thank God you are here” her face brightened up.

“so what happened” i enquired curiously peering into her face.
“Just follow me” she waved leading me deeper into the station which was remarkably neat and serene unlike an average police station except for occasional shouts of complaints from people in the cells, only to get the barking voice of a police man as a reply “heeei sharap dia, criminal!!”.

A neat smartly dressed police man sat in,side the office Jessy took me to, he was too young and fine to be a police man and seems to be way up there in ranks, none the less his uniform of light blue shirt and black trouser fitted him perfectly.

“Mr sky right?” he uttered immediately jessy stepped in with me. I gave a light nod.
“i am Detective David” he said exposing a set of white teeth and extended hand for a handshake.

Turns out she was Jessy’s friend in the university and had joined the police force after school and his university degree took him way up there. Jessy had contacted him to help with the investigation alongside NDA.

He took us to another room, partially lit but mostly very dark and seemed soundproof from the outside. two hefty police men were flanking a figure seated weakly on small chair with dangling handcuffs.

The battered figure that served as doctor Odili was enough to show you that the slogan “Police is your friend” is just a metaphor.

“He was invited by NDA and confronted with the charges, he denied and we were charged to search his home and office. We found a large store of haimdal’s pills which is an illegal merchandise in the country except for authorized dealers” Detective David explained with Jessy nodding occasionally.

“We arrested him and after interrogating him our own way” he winced and smiled. “he confessed of manipulating the DNA test result and his involvement in an illegal deal of haimdal pills and helped your father’s wife get some”

I jerked as he spoke, disappointed and scared of what things would have been if we didn’t find out.
Can’t believe i trusted papa’s health with this man..

Getting home, i regaled the tales to Chioma who kept hooting and shouting as i talked with an endless flow of “Jesus!!!”. Told her our plan with the police about Amanda.

I set a date with Amanda for the evening after she had complained severally of people interrupting us each time.
“Dont worry, i promise this evening i will take you to the promise land, no interruptions” i had sang to her on the phone making her giggle.

I picked my phone and dialed licia’s number, have let her in on the latest game days earlier and she had concurred.

I employed her as my personal assistant/secretary in the office and a huge salary to go with, chioma gave her a 3bedroom flat apartment so she could move out of the canaan quarters, a part of the city known as a haven for runs girls. They may be up to 5 in one small room.

She was not just a best friend but a sister to i and chioma and lived up to it.
“Hello sky, good evening” her voice flickered out from the ear piece of my phone.

“lici, abeg where you deh?” i asked employing pidgin english, after all this was not the office.
“I deh house oo, wetin happen?” she chuckled in.

“abeg eeehn the maga deh show house today, i wan make you come watch show!!” my voice was a mixture of seriousness and laugh. A mischievous grin filled my face.

Her wild resounding laugh nearly blew my ear drum. “badt pikin so na like so u be ba- dont worry i deh show” it was a sandwich of laughs and words.

A faint car honk from the gate announced Amanda’s presence and chioma ran up stairs immediately to do her own part of the show.

I reshuffled my clothes and watched from the window as her 2013 camry taxied in letting out little shimmer due to the evening sun.

“Baby how are you” she sang out on entering the house. Am sure she spent long extra hours on that make-up.
Her eye lashes were long and smeared richly with mascara.

A flawlessly carved eye brow, pink l-ips stick and a white flimsy top with a lot of space for too many cle-vages to peep out.

“Am very fine, just couldn’t wait to see you” i laughed out picking her from the ground in one swift swing making her chuckle and k-ss me.

“Where is Ryan? ” i asked as we settled in my sitting room.
“He is with your father” she wink still beaming with a smile.

“Good very good, that means we have the wh0le time to ourselves” i took my l-ips deep into her getting an ever waiting reciprocal.

Her hands were straying fast as she was already yanking on my shirt to take it out. I took my l-ips down to her neck getting a soft soundtrack singing immediately from her.

Was allowing my hands stray down to her b-obs giving them soft squeezes, her hands were grabbing the skin of my back and eyes shut tight.

“Everybody freeze, if you move i blow your brains out!!” a very loud barking voice thundered from no where. I jolted up immediately. Amanda followed, her eyes popped and mouth open. A chunk of surprised buttered into a larger amount of fear and confusion was all over her.

Detective David stood there, 5 hefty police men with skins as black as the black the uniform they wore, evidence of long hours in the sun communing with bus drivers.

They stood round the sitting room with the muzzles of the large rifles they were carrying pointing at us, i just hope none of them is drunk to avoid stories that touch.

Jessy was standing right next to David and licia was right on the other flank with her hands akimbo.
“Are you Mrs Amanda Ugwu?” David said calmly taking a couple of steps towards Amanda.

“Yes” she whimpered taking hold of my hands letting out shaky nods at the same time.

“Am detective David, from the state police command” he flashed his I.D card for what seemed like 3seconds then replaced it back on his b—-t pocket.

“you are under arrest for attempted murder, tampering of medical report and usage of illegal drugs”

One of the huge black police men already yanking her off from my body, she was trembling as a rusty handcuff made clinging sounds as it hooks into her wrists.

“Sky!!” she cried out looking at me with a teary face. Chioma walked down slowly from the stairs, threw her hands around me and k-ssed me winking at Amanda.
She was the one that was in charge of alerting the police if Amanda arrives.

“sky you set me up!!” Amanda blurted out. Was that, tears were already freely flowing down as the cuffs were already in place on her wrists.

“You have the right to remain silent because everything you say will be used against you in the court of law” David ch¡pped in.

“Oya move, idiot you deh yeye anyhow, you wan kill person papa ba!!!” the policeman who handcuffed her barked, Yanking her recklessly along with him.

Chioma threw her hands round my neck immediately the police dragged Amanda out and their car zooming off, Jessy joined the hug her arms going round my neck and Chioma’s.
“Licia come over here” jessy called out to licia who was standing looking at us. She came over and joined the hug.

“It’s over” I muttered to myself with a large sigh, my hands holding them tightly.

Episode 25
Finale

“You are a shame to womanh-od and the institution of marriage, and a shame to motherhood” the voice of the chief judge rang out through the court room.

She was a middle aged woman, probably in her early 60’s but looked fresher. Fair complexioned with an aura of blatant authority.
Her voice portrayed a lot of pride and a sense of responsibility.

Amanda stood face down as the wh0le court listened to the chief judge let out her scolds before passing her judgement.

The NDA have charged Dr Odili to court for his involvement in illegal dealings of haimdal pills, falsifying medical reports and an accomplice in Amanda’s attempted murder on papa.

Amanda on her own part was charged with basically same charges with Dr odili only difference being she was the first hand suspect of the attempted murder while Dr odili was an accomplice.

I sat across the the courtroom, papa sat at my left flank with a blank misty look in his eyes, he was getting better and robust, with a little difference from his old laugh-filled self.

Wilson and Jessy sat at the other seat behind ours in the row, Ryan was already asleep in Jessy’s arms after hours of boring court activities, little did he know his mother was the bone of contention in this matter.

Amanda’s mother sat beside Jessy, a w-t eyes and swollen face. A dim look of self pity and disappointment in her eyes as she watched on at her daughter.

After the DNA test result was found out, it was redone for confirmation and it turned out Ryan was neither my son nor papa’s. She had confessed it belonged to her boy Friend, who she was seeing in school as a student and way after papa married her she was still seeing him.

Her mother have taken Ryan to live with her hence forth, papa promised to see him through school till he completes his university education. “after all, he is still my son” he had muttered to Amanda’s mother who was thanking him for his kindness with tears freely flowing down her face. Somehow his face wore a sad look a father would wear if he lost a son, Ryan was part of the family. Blood or not.

Chioma had been absent from the court room, she had gone back to Abuja to put her things in order.
Her parents had tendered an apology to both of us, with the usual “God said that and this in the bible” reeling out from Mrs Ugwu’s l-ips. I wondered if it was supposed to be an apology or she was preaching to us.

“After much considerations and scrutinization of evidences presented, this court finds the accused guilty as charged” the chief judge intoned adjusting her perky glasses in a little pause.

A bout of murmur and hisses followed her pause, with the clerk banging his fist hærd on the desk shouting “Order in court” i’d thought his washed out ties needs some order too.

“The accused have been sentenced to 20years imprisonment” she finishes up banging her wooden hammer crisply on the desk. And the court clerk following up with a shout of “Court……….!!!” his tie dancing to the wind.

Their was a wild shout from the people in the court room, many smiled and nodded while some wore a rather gloomy look.

Tears rolled down Amanda’s cheeks in quick racing succession, Dr Odili had gotten 25years in his own sentence, the NDA had followed the case to the last making sure justice was served right in a hot platter.

We watched as the policemen dutifully guided Amanda into a police van waiting outside the court, being very professional like a receptionist receiving someone into a hotel.

She looked at me, her handcuffs shimmered in the sun that filtered into the open van, her face seemed a little darker than usual and flesh around the cuffs beaming red and swollen.

Could see her l-ips moving while her eyes was fixed on me. Her hands clasped together like she was in a fervent prayer, could make out the words “I am sorry” from her lip movement.

I nodded slightly and rewarded her with a smile, she let out a little smile at Jessy who still had Ryan on her arms, then her face tilted low facing the floor of the van this time.

* * *

“Nnam, words cannot explain how proud of you i am today. today my son becomes a man” Papa’s voice rang into my head.

I was in my room, a tight black Italian suit and with a gold tie knotted over a shimmering white shirt, a smart shiny black Italian shoe i had imported directly from italy.

I looked at papa’s face it was a mixture of both pride and fulfillment. Happy and tearful as well ladened in a mild grin.

“Your mother asked me to give you this on your wedding day” papa said stretching a gold necklace with a little gold plate on it, and engraved writing, though tiny was still readable.

it read “Happy married life to you my baby” papa’s eyes were becoming misty and it sparkled under the light. “she bought that days before she died, said nothing can ever make her miss giving you a wedding gift on your wedding day, not even death could” I could swear a tear escaped his eye.

I looked at the tiny gold necklace on my hand, it threw off some spontaneous gold sparkles responding to the lights when hit at the right angle. This was the best wedding gift i ever hoped for and somehow it was like mama was present at my wedding.

Yes, my wedding. it has been 2 months after Amanda was jailed.
Our wedding have being replanned and things had already taken shape. it was now a reality.

The church bells tolled as we stepped in. I was wearing an identical suit and shoes with Wilson.
The church was filled to the brim with people, echoing sound of a slow solemn song oozed from the choir stand.

I and Wilson stood before the priest, who was wearing a white flowing chasuble, papa was in the front row pew, chioma’s parents too and wilson’s. beaming flashes of grinning teeth were visible with tiny whispers amplified by the ever cool environment of a church.

Olumide stood behind us wearing an identical suit too, wiping of imaginary sweats from my face every now and then, the way he stretched his hands to its limit to reach my face was particularly funny.

The church org-n changed its tune into a slow steady version of “Here comes the bride” everyone stood up performing a reflex tilt of the heads to face the aisle.

I looked on, my eyes glued to the aisle and so was Wilson’s and the priest who was standing just a foot away from i and Wilson wearing a holy smile and a book clutched in his arms.

Their was a high bout of appreciative awe sound as Ryan, smartly dressed in a miniature version of black suit with gold tie, walked in through the aisle door with Chioma’s little niece who wore a small version of wedding gown clutching a flower.

A tear dropped from my eyes as Chioma appeared in the aisle, a long flowing immaculate wedding gown with tiny sparkling white jewels in some desired places. she sparkled and the smile on her face was dazzling.

Olumide at least got a real job, felt his handkerchief wiping the lone tear from my face almost immediately.

Licia was behind Chioma holding up her veil, she herself wore a beautifully slender pink long gown.

Jessy came almost immediately after Chioma, in her own wedding gown too, an exaggerated big gown. she had never looked more beautiful, could see Wilson’s face light up.

People beamed on with smiles following them with their eyes as they walked down the long aisle with slow graceful steps that seemed to have been counted.

“Do you, Wilson take Miss Jessica as your lawfully wedded wife, promise to love her in sickness and in health, in riches and in poverty, for better for worse till death do you part” The voice of the priest sang out looking at Wilson, this was one of the questions everybody already know the answer to before it was asked.

“Do you miss Jessica take Wilson to be your lawfully wedded wife……………….” her face was glued to his with an unending smile. a gold sparkle escaping from her neck and i could see a similar necklace like the one papa gave me from mama around her neck.
Mama really didn’t miss our wedding.

“Sky” i could hear a whisper and a gentle nudge on my back, its definitely Olumide. “Guy answer the priest na” He whispered “e don reach 10years he asked you your question and you are still mopping at Chioma, come deh shed tears like woman”

That was when the tears in my eyes became noticeable to me, i had spent more than a minute lost in my own world looking at the heavenly creature before me. Some months ago it seemed impossible now its a reality, it really is over.

“I do” I muttered out wiping the tears off my face with the handkerchief olumide slipped into my hand.

“I do” Chioma’s voice rang out filtering into me. My heart jumped, her beauty was unmatched.
“I now pronounce you Man and wife, you may k-ss your bride” The priest announced again, i wonder why they are allowed to watch the k-sses.

Wilson wasted no time in delving his l-ips into Jessy’s.
Chioma’s l-ips on mine was unlike any i have ever felt in my life, somehow their was a special ‘feel’ that comes with wedding.

Could see Chioma’s father hugging papa warmly as they watched on with big grins. Mrs Ugwu clapping hærd, her crisp golden head tie towering above others beautifully matched with a similar gold lace blouse and wrapper, flashed a thumb up to i and Chioma her grin was an ear to ear brand.

The reception ceremony lasted till the wee hours of twilight, it is impossible not to notice the way detective David and Licia utilized every little opportunity to talk which always got licia laughing out loud.

I looked around, people were dancing, howling and shouting with flutes of champagne in their hands raised in the air, bottles of beers as a blaring hit song from the speakers got people on the tip of their feet.

David and licia were also dancing, my eyes moved to papa who was laughing out loudly being in the midst of pot bellied politicians, his friends. His usual self was coming back and so was his protruding stomach.

The wedding hall was massive and no expense was spared in decorating it. Jessy and Chioma worked on the plans together. Clicks of photo cameras from media house firms was heavy and the flashes, blinding.

Jessy winked at me and touched mama necklace on her neck, i smiled and touched mine, clutched Chioma’s hands tightly. everything was perfect for me now and hopefully  soon the real Johnysky junior will join us.

It really happened just like papa said “All will be well”

THE END (thanks for reading, pls help us comment to encourage our writers)

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