Thorn between episode 57
TITLE: TORN BETWEEN
WRITTEN BY OGECHI ALABI
LIFE GOES ON 9
Thelma was upset with Adim. After their fight and the families came together to resolve the issues, he insisted he wanted to end the marriage. He said he would take care of the unborn baby but did not want a relationship with her. What was surprising to her was Eucharia’s silence in everything. She did not fight for her or show any support. She knew his family members were biased towards her, but now it felt as though they hated her. For Eucharia to keep silent, only meant her thoughts about her were true. She just wanted to get rid of her. Adim dumped her. He packed her out of that house because he felt he could. She wanted to fight for custody of her children but was constrained by her lack of accommodation and support from her family. Adim did not provide her with alternative accommodation. Her brothers wanted him to buy her a house, but her father refused to support them. He told her what she did was wrong and she could not force Adim to continue the marriage or take care of her. Also, her career would not allow her to take care of three children and also provide for them. He should keep the boys and she can have them over the holiday.
She went to see the twins at school after the ordeal. The boys asked her why she fought their father and claimed he attacked her when she was the one attacking him.
“You won’t understand, sons; I did it for us. Your father wanted to dodge his responsibility to us and I wanted him to do what was right. Enough of that, what is happening in that house.”
Eucharia was not back when she saw them, so they did not mention her. They talked about boarding school. Thelma wondered what Adim was up to. Why would he want to send her sons to boarding school and a military school for that matter? Why not a private secondary school and they could go from home? She tried to call him several times, but she could not connect. She called her father and spoke with him about it. When her father called back, he said Adim wanted the boys to learn discipline, organisation and leadership skills. He wanted one of them to join the military, that was his desire while the other would be an accountant. He added, “The man is thinking about their future and I support his decision.”
“But why can’t he talk to me about it? I am still their mother.”
“He doesn’t want you contacting him on the phone, all messages should be through email, text messages or through me. After falsely accusing him of beating you, he does not want any communication with you that will not have credible witnesses. Thelma, your husband is afraid of you. I asked you not to marry this guy, but you refused. He respects me, but he asked me never to consider a reconciliation. He has gone back to his wife who gave him peace all this while.”
“Father, I suspect his wife did something to me to make me do most of the things I did.”
“You want to blame another person? Do you remember when you brought out a knife to fight your older cousin? Who possessed you then? You get unnecessarily jealous and you react. You were jealous his first wife was getting all the attention and you didn’t get any. Remember what he said. She left her business to take care of his father. She visited him every week. How many times did you go there alone?”
“They didn’t like me.”
“How much did you try? Did you honour and respect the first wife? How do you win over a family when you come in through the back door and disrespected her, what were you expecting? But you chose the wrong time to react. How can people be mourning and steal that from them by being a nuisance? Must the ‘ogwu’ (charm) catch you? You have lost a good man and all I asked of him is for him to take care of his child in your womb.”
“I have heard. They are transferring me to the Asaba branch as Operations Manager. How do I see my children?”
“You will see them during the holidays, they will stay with you. When they enter secondary school, you both will divide the holiday. Leave the man alone, you have so disgraced him. If he was not a gentleman, he would have beaten you up for disgracing him like that.”
Thelma did not stop. She got a new phone and number. She hid her number and called him at odd hours. He was upset when the prank calls kept coming. She called his office and used another name to talk to him. When he heard her voice, he ended the call. She did it many times. Before she left Port Harcourt, she came to his office to see him. Adim sent his secretary to check who it was and he saw Thelma and informed Adim. He refused to come downstairs. He asked his driver to pack in a secluded parking lot for Executive Management. He avoided parking there because some drivers were irresponsible. He came down and walked to the car park without getting to the reception or outside. By the time she saw his vehicle, he had driven off. He was deliberately avoiding her.
She sent him several messages and emails. She apologised several times for her mistakes and asked for his forgiveness. Adim ignored all of them. He had a good reason. Apart from the surprise pregnancy and the incidences in the village, he read his father’s letter again. That particular letter he hid it from everyone. The father reminded him about what the bible says about marriage and asked him if his new marriage brought him joy and if it guaranteed him heaven. His father wrote, ”My journey has come to an end and I have no regrets. If you’re stuck in a place with nothing to do except think, you will realize many things. Whatever will steal your joy or peace, cut it off. I say this to you so your life will not be cut short. Strange women are a sure way to miss our purpose on earth; which is to impact the world die, and return to our maker. Separate yourself from sin. Be a good example to your siblings and never you appear weak. When you make a decision, stand by it. On the last day, I want all of us to be reunited in heaven.” His father made a valid point and in the events that unfolded after his burial, he knew his father was right and went into action.
He was never going back to Thelma no matter how long she apologised. He was through with her. He had to concentrate on getting his family’s forgiveness and rebuilding trust with Eucharia. It was going to be difficult knowing Eucharia was strong-willed but it was necessary. The patience he could have had until she came around the first time, he had enough of it now. He was ready to do whatever it took to win her back completely to him. He was a changed man, not carried away by the physical attributes of women. He had to make his life better and win the trust of his wife and family.
Adim began to woo Eucharia again. He took her out and bought her gifts. He listened to her opinion on issues and exposed to her in confidence all he had acquired over the years. He came clean to her and promised her he was a changed person. Eucharia’s problem was that the change came with three reminders of the hurt. Onyekachi, Onyedika and the unborn child were a constant reminder that he had done something dreadful to her such that even though she had forgiven him, she could not forget and she still felt the hurt. It was difficult. Adim went for counselling at the church and asked the Priest for marriage counselling for both of them. The Priest referred them to a counsellor who specialised in couple’s therapy. The healing process was difficult but it was working. Eucharia was able to overcome the resentment and bitterness she felt towards Adim. It was a heavy burden that was lifted off her. They agreed to be open and sincere with each other. Eucharia asked Adim if there was any aspect of their marriage she was failing. Adim said she was perfect, she wasn’t failing at all. She promised him she would never forgive him if he betrayed her again.
It took months but it worked. Eucharia took care of Adim as she did in the past. She cooked his meals, cleaned his room, sorted his clothes and arranged his clothes on the hanger for the week. He joined her exercise group to lose weight and be healthy. It was fun doing things together again. Adim was more loving than ever before. He bought her a brand-new SUV and kept her old vehicle for anyone in the house to use.
While their parents were mending bridges, Helen connected Dumebi to the man she had suggested for her. The man, a white American wanted to marry a Nigerian girl. He said he loved how ambitious Nigerians were and he wanted a woman who would help push him to attain great heights. Dumebi met and spoke with him on Skype. She had a good time talking with him, but they did not click emotionally. Dumebi knew the best person for him was Chinemerem because she had the personality he was looking for. She was feisty and fun. She was also very ambitious and focused. She introduced them and from the first meeting, both of them were hooked. Dumebi was glad she did not make that mistake.
Dumebi was transferred to the headquarters in Lagos. Her parents were worried about where she would stay and how she would survive. They wanted her to live close to where she worked. Dumebi mentioned the transfer to Nda Flora, Flora called her husband’s cousin. He was willing to accommodate her for free. He lived in Victoria Island and she could stay in his boy’s quarters for her privacy. He asked for two weeks to prepare the place for her. Nda Flora gave Dumebi money to add to what she had saved to buy a car. It was not a small amount of money. Dumebi was so shocked that she fell on her knees in appreciation.
Read – Bad Girl Love episode 23 – 24
“Don’t thank me, thank your mother. How can I repay her for all she has done for me and my family? I know she can afford to buy you ten cars if she desires but she is raising independent daughters. I am doing this for her because she forgave my brother and I can see he has returned to the happy man he was. I am doing this because she accepted the twins when she could have refused them. And I am doing this because I love all of you. Be the good girl you are and I pray you find a husband and get married soonest.”
In the same period, Mmesoma met someone at work. He was nearly posted to her office from the Netherlands. He had a Nigerian father and an Austrian mother. They were inseparable. The young man could not hide his likeness for her and sought her at all times. He put her on his team each time they had to go to a site and spend some time. To Mmesoma it was not love at first sight but a friendship. Eddy was coming on too strong which discouraged other men from coming close. A rumour of an affair was spread in the office which almost drove Mmesoma crazy. It was false and her reputation was on the verge of ruin. She did the next best thing she could think of; she avoided Eddy. She refused to be on the site with him to disperse the rumours. He was not happy about it. He wanted her with him and fought for it. When the Human Resources Department of the company informed him that it was Mmesoma who insisted on not being in his team, he openly confronted her. He asked her why. Mmesoma was a confident young lady and she said, to the hearing of all in the office, that there was a rumour going around that they were involved. She, being a lady, knew such unfounded rumours were not good for her reputation. Eddy was surprised at the rumours. He didn’t realise some members of his team had observed their closeness.
“What is wrong with me liking you? Is there a rule against me dating a colleague? I asked HR and nothing prevents us from being in a relationship except the gossip and rumours. So, I am officially asking you out.” Mmesoma was embarrassed while the entire floor was shocked at his audacity. She did not know how to respond. She enjoyed their friendship, but she wasn’t looking out for more and here it was. “Would you rather we do this in private?” Eddy asked and she nodded. “After work then, we will have dinner and I will take you home.”
Her condition for dating him required him to meet her parents and officially request to court her. She found out Eddy stood for Edikan as he was from Akwa Ibom state. Within a short time, he was talking about marriage.
Suitors had shown interest in their daughters but Adim wanted his daughters to choose their life partners themselves, unlike his case. He knew they were properly raised girls, and he felt any man who wanted them knew their value. He had told them to choose from the several suitors showing interest someone they believed they could not live their lives without. It sounded like a license to be promiscuous to Eucharia. She wanted them to step back and allow them to decide if the man was good or not. She wanted them to be married to men from their place so they would not be far away from them.
“The world is changing and we need to move with the times. Allow these girls to marry who they love. You liked me that was why you stopped for me to talk to you that day and your uncle could see you liked me that was why he agreed to our union. There were other suitors, but he chose me because he saw our closeness. Let them bring their suitors, we will investigate them before we allow them to get married.”