Too Precious Episode 40
TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
CHAPTER 40
PB wanted to plan her next pregnancy. She told Allen she was ready to have another child if he was. She explained she wanted to have a daughter.
“I don’t want to plan any pregnancy. I will concede to another child but I am against planning it. We will meet as we do without protection. See, any child we get will be a blessing. Don’t worry about it; let God’s will be done.”
PB was still trying to plan it but Allen surprised her on days she didn’t expect him and she couldn’t resist him. She got pregnant almost a year after they began their relationsh¡p. They kept it quiet until it began to show.
Titi was very excited when she found out. She had noticed PB spitting and she was always tired. She called Seun to share the good news. What they had prayed for had come to pass. Seun came around more often to help PB. The pregnancy wasn’t easy on her. With the support of her family, she was able to manage herself.
When the pregnancy became obvious, PB’s uncles came to visit them in the house as they did every year before the profit of the company is declared. They observed she was pregnant. They asked who was responsible and was told, Allen. They didn’t know who he was except that he was the father of her first child.
“Is this pregnancy also through IVF?”
“No. I am in a relationsh¡p with the father.”
“I am asking because the first one was through IVF according to you. In our family, we don’t divorce and we do not have children outside marriage. If you check it, you will be the first. A single mother is an irresponsible lady. No matter what you achieve, you will always carry that stigma. Since this is the second child with this man, why doesn’t he marry you instead of pumping you up with babies?”
“Uncle Ope, having this baby was my desire to fulfil a promise I made. I am not a single mother and I have never been. My son has had his father play a very active role in his life. This child, I planned with him and she is coming. He will also be an awesome father to her. Don’t worry so much about me; worry about your daughter who is with a man that disrespects her openly but because we don’t divorce in our family she has to remain there. He has one child with his lover. Is it when he makes it three she will realise the guy doesn’t love her but her money? Immediately after I found out Biodun was a fraudster and cheater, I ended the marriage to preserve my self-respect. We all know the story, so there is no respect for your daughter to keep.”
“When did you become like this? Where is this pride coming from? Do you realise it is the eldest family member you are talking to? Why did you have to insult him by bringing his daughter into the conversation? He was only advising you.” Uncle Niyi replied.
Titi had come into the sitting room while Ope was speaking. She heard the entire conversation. She said, “Ope, keep your advice to yourself. Your house is burning and you are checking to see why your neighbour’s roof is bent. She is very correct. The last time I saw Timi, I couldn’t believe she was the one. She has lost her glow and is looking harassed because she married a selfish person. What did you do? What have you done to save your child? Is it until she dies you will realise she is mentally and emotionally unstable? She wants to leave the marriage but you are forcing her to remain. Anyway, I am in full support of Precious having this baby whether the father is involved or not. She was termed barren but now she is a mother of two children. Please, don’t harass Precious, due to her condition she is fragile.”
The two men were quiet. They had learnt not to fall out with Titi because she fought dirty. She wasn’t to be crossed. She still held a grudge against from the time Chief Rotimi, her late husband was ill and they denied her access to him. They were forced to relate and respect her otherwise they stood to lose their profit sharing.
PB thought about what her uncles had said. Did she want to get married just to secure the future of her children in their father’s family or just to fulfil society’s demands? She didn’t want to appear desperate by bringing it up with Allen but then, it was beginning to affect her reasoning. Or was she being emotional with the pregnancy? She loved Allen and so far, he hadn’t given her cause to be suspicious of him. They didn’t act like lovers but more like friends or rather siblings.
PB travelled abroad to have the baby. Titi and Seun travelled with her. Allen came a few days before their daughter was born. She came forth looking just like her mother but long like her father. It was a very joyous occasion. Allen couldn’t believe PB got her wish. She was named Courage Adaoma Oluwaseun Rotimi-Okoli.
As was customary, Allen took PB, Treasure and Courage to see his father in the village. PB prepared her mind for the worst. Hope had travelled ahead of them to cushion the effect her husband’s behaviour might cause. She wanted Collins to accept PB wh0lehearted since she was Allen’s choice. She loved PB as a daughter and that was what she saw her as. Her concern was Allen leaving the home. She wanted to live with her family. It was obvious this relationsh¡p was leading to marriage. She knew PB wouldn’t want to live there because of Collins. She had to convince Collins to behave himself.
Collins wasn’t interested in seeing PB. He made it clear to his wife; it was either Allen taking back Adaeze or he remains unmarried. He wasn’t bothered after hearing about the birth of the second child. Hope asked Collins to tell Allen himself.
As though PB expected this reaction from Collins, she insisted on staying in a hotel and not in the family house. She also asked Allen to see his father first before they all go to see him. Allen agreed with her.
Collins couldn’t wait to express his displeasure. “Olivia is better than this Yoruba girl you want to bring into the family. She wants to be a member of this family by every means possible. She had always had her eyes on you and now she feels she will succeed. I won’t let her. It will be over my dead body you will marry her.”
“I agree. I will not waste this visit; I am going over to my mother’s village. I know Precious will be accepted there. We will wait until you leave this world before we perform the traditional marriage. I just want you to know, I am legally marrying her. She will bear my name, not yours. My family will no longer bear Okoli, they will bear Allen. This is my decision.”
“Your mother’s family isn’t your family. If your father’s people reject you, you are rejected. Running to your mother’s people is like running around in circles, you still have to come back home. Why you never take my counsel is what worries me. I have been around long enough to know this girl is no good. I hope you know her grandfather was her father. He raped her mother and they had her. I have investigated her. I didn’t want to reveal this to you because she has a child with you. Did she tell you? Did she confide in you? She is pretentious and deceptive. Ask her ex-husband about her before you throw your life away. Adaeze made mistakes but she has a clean background. She is the cleanest of the three.”
Allen was surprised to hear the allegation. He realized, Precious never talks about her family. She had never mentioned anything about this. He also remembered being invited to the house to see Chief Rotimi before he died. He had prayed for him and asked him to take very good care of his daughter. He thought it was an error. He knew his father couldn’t possibly be lying. He had to trash this out with Precious before they move to his uncle’s mansion in his mother’s village. After all, it was the festive season and he wouldn’t allow anything to disrupt their fun this season. He thanked his father for the information and left. Collins was dazed when he walked out of the room smiling.
Allen explained to Precious what his father said. He suggested they get married in at a registry. Precious told him there was no hurry. They would take their time and get married. She didn’t want them to make hasty decisions they would regret.
“Precious, you act as though you love me. You have never given me any reason to doubt your love for me. Why then don’t you trust me with your family secrets? There is nothing about me or my family you are not aware of. But you have hidden something sensitive from me. I have decided not to hold it against you if you can tell me everything I need to know. It is terrible hearing it from a stranger.”
Precious was perplexed. She wondered what it was all about. She thought about it for a while but couldn’t fathom what it could be. She was left with no choice but to ask Allen what he was talking about. He told her they would be moving to his maternal village and staying in his uncle’s house. He assured her they would discuss further when they arrived there.
Tbc