Too precious episode 16

TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 16

PY had her challenges. Simon was a wonderful husband and father to their beautiful daughter but his father’s refusal to accept PY was beginning to cause problems between them.

Simon and his family had relocated to Nigeria, Abuja precisely, to start a new life. He had all the qualifications he needed and planned on working with the Economic Reform Team. He needed his father to make this work but he knew he couldn’t get the help he needed. He took his family to meet with his uncles so they could help intervene on their behalf but his father was adamant. He disapproved of the relationsh¡p.

His uncle helped him get a job with CBN. With all the knowledge he had acquired, he wanted a better fit but he had to take this job so he could take care of his family. Accommodation in Abuja was very expensive. He used most of his money to rent and furnish a house.

PY got a job to support the family. She hadn’t specialized yet and needed further studies. In the meantime, she got a job at a private hospital. They had been in Abuja for just six months and PY was pregnant again. Simon didn’t want to hear anything about the pregnancy. He told her he couldn’t afford another child at the moment. The perks he enjoyed from his father weren’t there anymore.

PY didn’t want to abort the pregnancy. She was pro-life and believed they would adjust as time went on. Simon refused to hear any of such. She talked to her mother about it. She was very worried as the situation at home had changed. Simon was withdrawn from her and it was obvious they were no more close. She didn’t want it to deteriorate further.

Dr Hope came to Abuja to see them. She told Simon not to worry about the pregnancy, since he didn’t want it, PY will have the baby and give it to her to take care of. She would raise the child as her own. She was taking care of Ada, Allen’s son and she had enough resources to take care of the unborn child.

Simon was furious with PY for discussing their issues with her mother. The rift got w¡der. They were no longer on speaking terms. Simon moved out of the bedroom to the guest room. PY found his behaviour absurd. It was unlike him to be this furious with her and refuse to forgive her. She felt there was more.

She tried talking to him, but he ignored her. He was only interested in his daughter. He refused to eat the food she prepared and avoided her altogether. PY just couldn’t understand why the situation deteriorated so fast. Every effort to get him to sit with her and resolve the issues fell on deaf ears.

One afternoon, Simon was in the kitchen while he left his phone on the dining table. PY was passing by when she heard a notification ring on his phone, she looked at it and the message read.

“Please don’t stand me up today. I promise you, you will have the time of your life. I’m crazy about you.”

PY took the phone to Simon in the kitchen and gave it to him. She then said to him, “So she is the reason why you refused to work things out with me? I could have sworn with my life and that of my children, you will never betray me like this but I was mistaken. This pregnancy isn’t the issue; you are having an affair with another woman. That explains the late nights. Don’t stand her up today, you are free to meet with her. I would never ask you any questions concerning this. Now I know I have been a fool in love. Thank you” and she walked away from him to her bedroom and locked the door.

Simon tried to get her to speak with him but she refused. She stayed away from him for a week. He did everything he could to talk to her but she refused to listen to him or have the conversation. He gave up and they lived like tenants in the house avoiding each other for a month.

Simon came back one day and PY was gone. He wouldn’t have known if not that his daughter wasn’t home and the maid told him she left with her mother and their luggage. He called PY but he couldn’t get through to her. He called her mother; she was surprised. She didn’t know where she was. She asked questions but Simon had no response.

“What happened Simon? What made her leave the house?”

“She suspected I was involved with someone and didn’t allow me to explain to her what happened”

‘Were you involved with the person?”

“I wasn’t. She wanted me and I had been playing her. Precious read the message the lady sent on my phone and it became an issue. The lady is my boss and she’s older than me. She has had her eyes set on me for a long time. I couldn’t just say no and lose my job. At the same time, I couldn’t discuss it with Precious as we haven’t been on talking terms since the pregnancy issue. I want her back. I have behaved childishly and I repented. Please, wherever she may be, ask her to come back.”

“Call her friend Precious, she would confide in her. If the job is the reason you do not want a second child yet, I can help get a better position for you through my brother. Once this issue is resolved, I will send you to him”

“Thank you, ma. First, I want Precious to come back.”

When Simon called PB concerning PY’s whereabouts, she was surprised. She asked him what happened and he relayed everything to her. PB had her suspicion on where PY must have taken off to. She called PY’s mother requesting Elvis number. PY and Elvis were very close and she knew that was one sure place PY would go to and be received wh0leheartedly without questions. She was right.

“Why run away? Your husband has been beside himself looking for you. What did he do that is so unforgiving?”

“PB, he is involved with another woman while asking me to abort our pregnancy. If he wants to be with her, he should feel free to go to her but insisting I kill our baby before leaving is not acceptable by me”

“Do you know the woman? Have you met her with him before? You saw a message and concluded, right? I believe Simon. He has explained everything to me and your mother. He needs to explain to you with evidence. The guy loves you. He hasn’t been himself since you left. If he didn’t, wouldn’t he have said good riddance to bad rubbish? Think this through carefully and come back to your man”

“I want the baby. He doesn’t want the baby; how do we reconcile that?”

“He wants you therefore he wants the baby. Forgive him and move back. I can’t believe this happened and you didn’t confide in me. Have we grown that distant from each other?”

“I know you have been trying for a child and I didn’t want you to feel bad if I told you I was pregnant again. Don’t be offended, it might have been my hormones working overtime making me overthink things”

“Tell them to behave themselves. I will always be here to support you. Go back to Simon. Listen to him and make him show you the evidence he has. You are smart and I know you will be able to get the truth from him. Everything will be fine”

“He isn’t happy with the way we are living. He wants to live in luxury like he is used to. I have told him we should be able to manage our resources but he wouldn’t pay heed. He is not happy with his job. I understand all this but then, we can build this life together”

“Discuss this with him too. If he wants a better job, he should go for it. The most important thing is that both of you aren’t dependent on anyone. This is what I believe. My husband isn’t pushing for a better job or starting his firm. He is content where he is and I am not happy about it. He doesn’t pay any bills in good time and he is always broke. I have asked him what he does with his money and he talks about responsibilities. I have asked him about the investments he made with the money we got when we got married without any reply. I have bought an official car for my firm and I want to change my car. A lawyer friend of my grandfather told me to buy a prestigious car to pursue briefs. He said if you come with an expensive car, wear expensive clothes and smell rich with the right fragrance, prospects will believe you are successful and would want to deal with you. I want to sell my car, a land I bought some years back and buy an SUV. I don’t know which one yet. I will ask my grandfather. Still, Biodun is comfortable where he is.”

“What happened to the SUV your grandfather gave you on your wedding day?”

“Biodun has been using it. He claimed it as his car and has been using it”

“But the vehicle was for both of you”

“I don’t mind him having it. I will get a better one”

“Wouldn’t he come for your own?”

“PY, do you remember whom you are talking to? He can’t have my vehicle. I haven’t touched his and he can’t touch mine”

“I hope so. I believed Biodun loved you so much but now I have my doubts. How far with the hospital visit?”

“He says he isn’t desperate for children”

“I have a bad feeling about this guy, PB, wise up. You need to know what he is up to”

“He loves me but he is lazy. That is the conclusion I have drawn. He is comfortable and content with little. He doesn’t disturb my aspirations so I don’t have a problem with him being mediocre if that’s what he wants to be”

“Simon is very ambitious. He isn’t happy with us not affording some luxuries since we returned. He is a good guy. I just don’t want to share him with another woman. My fear is other women stealing him from me”

“Call your man and talk to him. The guy is worried sick. Even if he cheated, please forgive him and give him another chance. He never mentioned his daughter, he wants you back. We should exchange husbands; I love very ambitious men and you love men that are content” They both laughed.