Thorn between episode 60

TITLE: TORN BETWEEN

WRITTEN BY OGECHI ALABI

LIFE GOES ON 12

Thelma refused to release the boys to Adim. She said she did not want military school for them and she wanted them to stay with her and their sister. It was a gimmick to lure Adim to Asaba. Adim was angry but he did not call or send her a message. He asked the driver to come back without them. He went to the school to appeal for an extension of their resumption. He was determined to win this time.

When he made no move, she called him but he did not pick up her calls or respond to her messages. She was with the boys and it was the three of them. She wanted him to start a monthly allowance for the three children but Adim did not send a dime. He told her father as long as she had the boys, he would not go after them or pay any money for their education and upkeep. His children will no longer be used as bait. Thelma was aware three of Adim’s girls had gotten married and Urenna was in the University and hardly came home. So not having a child in the house would create a bond between Adim and Eucharia. It was the reason she so desperately wanted to reconcile with him. She wanted Adim to meet his daughter and love her just as he loved his other girls, but he had refused to see her or even acknowledge her, he only wanted the boys.

The boys too were clamouring to go home. They were upset when their mother told them they wouldn’t be going back or resuming military school. They hounded her daily wanting to know when they would leave for home. She tried to enrol them in an expensive school in Asaba, but they refused and were not cooperating with her. Thelma lied to them; she told them Eucharia did not want them in her house anymore. She told them she was threatened by them. She claimed she was the one who asked her not to bring them back. They didn’t believe her. Instead, they called Eucharia from a business centre.

“Big mummy, our mummy said you do not want us in the house again that is why you asked her to keep us. Is it true? We do not like the school here and we would like to resume our school. Please forgive us if we did anything wrong and come and take us home. We promise to be good.”

Eucharia’s heart broke hearing these poor boys beg to come back home and be smart enough to confirm what their deceitful mother said. She answered, “The house has been empty since you left. I feel your mother missed you too much that is why she accused me. I will see how I can help, ok? Don’t worry, you will resume school soon.”

She told Adim about her conversation with the boys. He wanted to react by calling her father and making his usual threats but Eucharia stopped him. “I will handle this woman to woman. She will allow me to pick up the boys, prepare them for school and take them there. Don’t worry about it.”

Eucharia went to Asaba with Adim’s driver in the SUV which caused problems the last time. She arrived at Thelma’s home unexpectedly which was the intention. Thelma couldn’t believe her eyes; Eucharia was glowing. The boys were so happy to see her that they ran to hug her. She hugged them back. Thelma could not ask her what she was doing there, she could see from the boys’ reaction she came for them.

“Why did Adim send you, why didn’t he come himself? Or are you afraid I will snatch him again? I have no use for him anymore, I have my children with one man and he will be responsible for them.”

Eucharia expected the insult and overlooked it. She said to Thelma, “Your sons sent an SOS. They want to attend the secondary school they worked so hard to gain admission into. Allow them to attend and you can visit them whenever there is a visiting day and when they are on holiday, they can stay with you and spend a week with us to prepare for school. I think it is better than holding them back.”

“Your girls didn’t go to boarding schools, so why should my boys?”

“Your boys are boys and need a firmer hand. Their father’s vision for them is understandable and I feel you should key into it. He is their father and his decisions are final. You cannot go against him and not expect a backlash. Would you like it if you get to the school and they deny you access to the children? You have to be reasonable. I came because if Adim had come here it would have been messy. He is ready to cut ties with you and the boys until they are old enough to look for him, is that what you want?”

“The bank where I work has gone distressed. They cannot pay salaries and cannot pay customer’s deposits. It has been a trying time for me. I have a daughter I take care of from my salary before the boys came, how am I supposed to cope?”

“I know for sure that Adim sent a monthly allowance to you. The money is more than enough for you and the baby. He is a responsible father.”

“If he is a responsible father he should come and see his daughter. He has refused to see her or talk to me. Why? I made a mistake and I apologised several times and still he refused to forgive me and forget what happened. Would he have done that to you?”

Eucharia smiled and replied, “No, he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t because I would not be insensitive to fight, embarrass and disgrace a man when he lost the pillar of his family. I would not keep a secret from him with the hopes of exposing it to embarrass him in the presence of his family. Even when I found out about you, I never disgraced or exposed him even when he hurt me deeply. He has ended your marriage with him and does not want to be associated with you. My advice to you is, focus on getting the best from the three children you have. That’s what I did when I was separated from Adim. My three girls are married now, it is left with Urenna. Do the same; put the best interest of your children ahead of your desires. That’s all I can tell you. Would you allow the boys to come with me and resume school? You can be there on the day of their resumption.”

“Will their father be there?” Thelma asked.

“Hopefully, after all his sons are leaving for school.”

“You can take them to prepare them for school. I will come to the house so we can go to the school together.”

“That won’t be necessary, we will meet at the school. I can leave the list with you to purchase all they need if you want them to stay, I will be at the school to see them off.”

“And their father won’t come because I will have the boys. They can go with you. Tell Adim to call me, I am tired of doing it on my own.”

The boys packed their bags and left with Eucharia. Immediately they drove off, Eucharia released a sigh of relief and the boys hugged her tightly. They had missed home. They loved their mother, but they were uncomfortable with the questions she asked them. She wanted to know if Adim and Eucharia shared the same room if Eucharia cooked and cleaned for him. She wanted to know the details of their lives. The Nanny had advised them not to talk too much about their stepmother and their father. Thelma had asked the Nanny questions about their relationship but she was smart enough not to give her information. She turned to the boys. Why would she be asking her sons if their stepmother and father share a room? The Nanny wondered if she was interested in reconciling with her husband or displacing Eucharia. She had hoped and prayed Adim never associated himself with her again. She had seen some weird moves she had made and was worried the intention was not to win Adim back. She did not want to tell Eucharia so it does not affect the boys, but she had to tell Adim so he would be careful of Thelma.

Read – Thorn between episode 53

Thelma expected Adim to be there to see his children off. He came with Eucharia and left immediately. He asked Peter and Njideka to join Eucharia in case Thelma reacted, Flora decided to join them. By the time Thelma arrived, the others were there and Adim had left. She was furious. She insisted she was going back with her boys except Adim showed up.

Eucharia replied, “That’s not happening. He has already handed them over to the school. Tell me, Thelma, is it Adim you want or you came to ensure your children are in good hands? Your reaction confuses me. What is your intention?”

“I want him to see his daughter. We have children together, why can’t we relate? Why is he using you as a shield?”

“Shield? The boys wanted me here, not Adim. The boys called me to come and get them, not Adim. I am not doing anything for Adim, unlike you who’s here for him. I will not get involved with your issues with Adim. If you feel you have been cheated, you know what to do. If you want to take your children, you are free to. They are your children after all.” Eucharia replied.

Flora stepped in at this point, “You cannot go against your husband’s wishes and expect him to receive the deception with open arms. Your daughter has a mother even though her father refuses to have anything to do with her, but he provides for her. Let it end there. Adim divorced you and has no intention of reconciling with you. Be sensible enough to understand this and abide by it.”

Thelma refused to be reasonable. She went to the commandant, insisted she wanted to pull her children out of the school and created a scene in the process.

Peter said to Njideka, Eucharia and Flora, “I thought she said it was the pregnancy that made her misbehave before, what is making her disgrace herself now? I don’t know what Adim did to her that she cannot leave him. Maybe Eucharia can share with us.”

Eucharia blushed at his suggestion. She replied, “I don’t know what he did with her that she can’t live without him.”

Flora cut in and said, “It is the money. I know what she wants, she wants to control the money so her sons will inherit a good fortune. If she is not there and has their father’s attention, they might not get everything.” It made sense.

The Commandant tried to calm her down, but she became unruly. She was rude and disrespectful, so he asked his orderlies to escort her out of the compound. She was with her daughter as she was being bundled out as she screamed saying “They kidnapped my sons and used military might to deprive me of my children.” She continued raising hell, but she underestimated the military. She was removed from the premises and banned from coming in. Thelma was shocked at their action. They made her appear a lunatic in the presence of other parents.

That singular action created a rollercoaster effect. Adim heard about it and sued Thelma in court. He said she claimed he kidnapped his children and created a scene to embarrass him. He also wanted full custody of the boys. He was upset and didn’t waste time in filing. The summon was delivered to her at her office in Asaba. Thelma rushed down to Port Harcourt to see her father. She showed him the summon. Her father asked her what happened, but she lied to him. He believed her and called Adim about the summons. Adim told him what Thelma did at the school and that she had to be removed from the premises. Her father stared at her as Adim explained everything to him. After the explanation, her father thanked him and ended the call.

‘Whatever he told you is a lie his wife told him,” Thelma announced after the call ended.

“You baffle me. Many women entered their husbands’ homes the same way you did, but they humbled themselves and respected the senior wives. You accuse his wife of everything you do wrong. How can you create a scene because Adim refused to see you and your daughter? How can you make naval officers physically remove you from their premises? It is unheard of. You even accused the school of kidnapping your children. Thelma, Adim has been a good father and a provider. Why don’t you want him to have peace?”

“I don’t have peace Papa. I need Adim to forgive me and take me back. I want my house back with my children inside. I want him to love me the way he did before Eucharia intruded. That is what will give me peace.”

“You are a dreamer. Once he takes the boys away from you, what happens? You will not be able to see them, and they will become Eucharia’s sons. Can’t you see what you are doing to yourself? Because the man rejected you, you have turned into a mad woman. You started the problem and he has witnesses to prove what you did at the school. Why do you keep embarrassing yourself?”

Thelma was sober for a bit. She said to her father, “I feel I have was possessed by the demon that possessed me before. I will not fight Adim if he can take my daughter as he took my sons. I will collect my gratuity and relocate until they are old enough to look for me. I want Adim to love my daughter just as he loved his other daughters.”