Too Precious Episode 39

TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 39

They went away together. It was from a weekend getaway that they spent two weeks together. They went to work from a hotel room after checking out of the resort. PB couldn’t believe she was doing this but she couldn’t help herself. Allen was ready to give the relationsh¡p a try. He believed they could make it work and enjoy each other regardless of what people say.

They had the talk. PB stated her fears which included his family’s acceptance of her especially his father and her grandfather’s wishes. Allen was aware of her promise to live with her husband in her grandfather’s house. He told her they could always reach an amiable compromise with that. He wouldn’t uproot her from her roots likewise he couldn’t leave his parents’ home which had become his home as the Opara. His mother had insisted he lived there with her. She was ready to leave the house for him if the need arises. She wanted him where he belonged. They agreed to see how they could work it out.

Allen asked about Adaeze. He knew she would be an obstacle to their relationsh¡p. PB didn’t care about her. To PB, she was inconsequential. She could see her daughter whenever she wanted to and that was it. Allen had full legal custody of their daughter so Adaeze had to comply with his instructions.

PB told Allen she wanted another child; a baby girl. She explained to him why she wanted to have her and the agreement she had with her grandfather before his demise. Allen succ-mbed to them having another child. He told her they would have only one more child and no more. The children were many already. The coming of the baby will make them a total of five children including PY’s children. PB agreed. All areas were discussed, addressed and agreed.

Next was to announce the relationsh¡p. PB wanted it to just flow but Allen was of the opinion everyone needed to be informed so their relationsh¡p status will not be questioned for any reason. PB felt they shouldn’t just announce but watch them observe that there is a relationsh¡p.

“Are you ashamed of being with me?” Allen asked PB.

“Why would you ask me that? How can I be ashamed of you?”

“I think you are. You have not fully accepted we are in a relationsh¡p after spending two weeks with me. What more do I need to do to make you believe I want this? How else do you want me to prove my love to you?”

PB was touched by Allen’s words. She knew it was going to be a real battle that was why she wanted it to be revealed gently. But since he insisted, who was she to say no.

“We haven’t talked about marriage. I don’t intend to get married again but if it is what you so desire, I will do it for you. This is because I trust you not to make a mockery of my feelings towards to you. But, we wouldn’t do it in a hurry; when we make the last baby, then we can get married if you so desire. What do you say?”

“I am also not particular about marriage. Once we have mutual respect for each other and our relationsh¡p, marriage can happen when it becomes a necessity. I am more interested in you remaining faithful to me. You had said you loved Olivia. What if you still desire her?”

“I desired her because I couldn’t have you. Now I have you all to myself, I will never desire another; this is my promise to you. I know I had made comments about being my father’s son but truly, I am not like that at all. I have a confession to make. That night, at the stripper’s club, I did those things to that girl to make you jealous. I knew you would be jealous and leave. I know you better than you even know yourself.” He smiled as he said this. He sat beside her and held her hand in his. “You made my night. I wanted to jump in excitement when we eventually made love. I have dreamt about it for so long. I wanted to be with you; even my sister knew about it. She encouraged me but we both knew my father would never accept you. I wish I damned the consequences and went for you then. I regretted it even more when you married Biodun; he was very wrong for you. Precious also realized he was wrong for you too. I should have made my intentions known then, you wouldn’t have married him. I shouldn’t have married Adaeze too. Big mistake!”

“If only we could turn back the hands of time. I have had a crush on you from the first time I met you. Your father made me realise we couldn’t ever be together so I made you a friend instead. I believe everything happened for a purpose. I have a son with you and hopefully we will have a daughter together. I hope we have made the right decision.”

“We have. When the children get back, how do we spend time together?”

“We have to find a way to be together. It might not be everyday but we will have days that will be all about us. Do you agree?”

“I want to see you every day. We have to find a way of achieving that. These two weeks have been awesome and I want to spend every waking moment with you. We need to do something about it; it has to work somehow.”

“We will be in different homes; how is it even possible? We will have to spend some nights apart since we live kilometres apart. Let’s be realistic. This was fun; I agree but there is also reality.”

Allen looked closely at her. “Whatever we can do initially. I know what will happen later.”

Their relationsh¡p blossomed. Allen wanted to display their love but PB was a bit reluctant. She wanted to respect his mother. Sneaking into his room at night was the fun part for them. He called PB ‘My love’ openly. His mother became aware. She didn’t mind the relationsh¡p. She was worried about Adaeze and what she would do when she finds out. She told Allen about it. Allen insisted Adaeze wasn’t welcome in the house for whatever reason.

Adaeze was determined to be with Allen now he had separated from Olivia. She came to the house on the weekend PB was around without his permission. He wanted to react but PB stopped him. “Just Ignore her,” she said, “she will get the message.”

Allen didn’t say a word to Adaeze when he saw her. He behaved as though she wasn’t there. Adaeze sat with her daughter attending to her breakfast. The other children were with Hope at the dining table.

When PB came downstairs, Allen said to her, “My love, I have been waiting for you. Let’s have breakfast quickly before we set out.”

Adaeze couldn’t believe her ears. Then it seemed her eyes were deceiving her when she saw Allen plant a k-ss on PB’s l-ips which amused the children and they giggled. Of course, Hope knew what going on.

Immediately they finished breakfast, they went upstairs to get ready to go out. Adaeze asked Hope if she could go with her daughter and bring her back in the evening. Hope permitted her. Allen was upset about it but Hope told him to calm down.

Adaeze didn’t bring her daughter back for three days. Allen had wanted to call her or go to her place to get the child but PB stopped him. “That’s what she wants. She is seeking your attention. She wants an opportunity to be alone with you. Let your mother go instead to pick her up. She might try to sed-ce you or accuse you falsely of something. You need to treat her with wisdom.”

Adaeze was upset Hope came to pick the child up instead of Allen. She complained bitterly to Hope how Allen had broken her heart. She said she had asked for forgiveness many times but Allen was unforgiving. Her biggest hurt was Allen being with PB. “Why did he choose that useless Yoruba girl over me? I had always suspected they had something and now it is in the open. She disguised as a friend to the family while trying to penetrate into the family. What does Allen see in her?”

“This has nothing to do with me. Allen intends to report his daughter’s kidnap to the American embassy. She will not be allowed to travel out of the country. You will be considered a fugitive. We don’t need all this drama. Give him back the child and maintain the usual visiting arrangement. If Allen promised to get back with you, you have every right to be angry. But if he didn’t, you have no right to behave in the manner you did. He has chosen who he wants to be with and that is final. Find someone who will accept you just the way you are instead of holding on to false hope with Allen. I don’t see him ever changing his mind now he is with Precious.”

“Are you saying Precious is better than me? Why can’t he change his mind?”

“Adaeze, even the blind could see those two were into each other and didn’t act on it. Now they have admitted to their feelings, nothing or no one will separate them. I am being completely honest with you. Allen will rather die than give up Precious or their son Treasure. But you see this child you are trying to separate from her father out of spite, he will leave her with you and have a daughter with Precious. Be wise.”

Allen spent some weekends at PB’s house. While PB spent week nights with Allen in a hotel. Eventually, she had to reclaim her apartment given to her by her father. She furnished it for them (she and Allen) to spend week nights and some weekends together there. No children, just them.

Adaeze refused to accept Allen’s rejection. She told him she didn’t want PB anywhere near her daughter. She was going to court here in Nigeria to fight the matter. She claimed PB hated her daughter because she felt they were competing for the same man.

“First of all, there is no competition. I’m hers and that’s final. You are the one creating a problem where there is none. Why don’t you confront PB the way you did Olivia? O, you are scared of her. You should be. She has asked me to ignore your tantrums. You are lucky I listened to her otherwise your daughter would be in the US either with Elvis or in foster care. She will never be released to you.”

When she realized Allen wasn’t going to change his mind and be with her, she left the country. She didn’t bother them anymore. She conceded to the defeat. Allen didn’t care. He had everything he needed.

Tbc