Too Precious Episode 44

TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 44

The date for the introduction was agreed upon. The uncles were excited to discover that Allen truly moved out of the house. They celebrated quietly getting rid of him and they believed soon, they would get rid of PB.

Allen came with his paternal and maternal uncles along with his mother and some other relatives to the introduction. They explained to the Adeoyes that Allen father, Engineer Collins Okoli, was unavoidably absent because of his illness. They accepted.

They requested for the date of the Engagement ceremony to be agreed upon and asked for it to coincide with the date of their court wedding. They repeated they desired a small ceremony with a maximum of fifty direct family members, friends and colleagues.

The Adeoyes were more than happy to oblige. The date was fixed and everyone went home to prepare for the big day.

Gbenga called PB to congratulate her. He blessed her and her marriage. It sounded so strange to her. Gbenga said to her, “I made your childhood unhappy and filled with trauma. I wish I could make it up to you. I have always told my wife I had a daughter in Nigeria who was so kind, loving and also tough. I had always known you weren’t mine. I purposely refused to implant my seed in Seun just to tie her to me. If she couldn’t get pregnant, the blame will be on her and she will be dependent on me. She didn’t know what I was doing. Even in my high state, as a habit, I never released in her. How she didn’t figure it out baffles me. I suspected you were my father’s child. When you came forth, I fell in love with you and didn’t care if you were mine or not. When she never got pregnant again, my suspicion increased.”

“And you never asked Chief? Why?”

“I had something I could use against him. He liked Seun, not as a lover but as a person. She endured so much. I am happy she has found happiness in another man who treats her right. I have tried to reach out to her but she doesn’t seem interested in a relationsh¡p. I had to reach out to you before your wedding day.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for all you do for my mother even though she was a horrible grandmother.”

“She is an awesome stepmother.”

“That’s true. She loves you. She has refused to leave Nigeria to reside with us because of you and your children.”

“She won’t. But she can visit. I will let her know you miss her.”

“I will appreciate that. She has grandchildren here too.”

“Thanks for keeping in touch.”

“You are welcome. Also, know that I haven’t and will never be in support of whatever my siblings have done or will do against you. I am still atoning for my sins and wouldn’t want to be further estranged from you. I will like us to be friends.”

“I believe you. We can be friends as we are siblings. I will try to keep the relationsh¡p.”

“I will be grateful.”

The conversation with Gbenga made her realise how far she had come. She remembered all she and her mother suffered in the hands of Titi. She remembered how her grandfather stood up for her. She remembered her first car and how she got a beautiful room. She reminisced on the many nights she spent talking to Chief. She missed him dearly. She missed him even more since she was at a dead end on what to do about her promise to him. Why did he want her to remain in the house? He never gave her a reason why.

The engagement was done in the morning. Allen came with family members, some friends and colleagues. Simon was present with his new wife. He silently married her in the US. Allen had only twenty people in his entourage.

PB had her family members present. She had her two elder brothers, a cousin of Chief, two other family members, Seun and her husband, her colleagues and clients. They totalled twenty-five if the children’s number were added.

It was a short and simple Engagement. It started at 7 am and ended at exactly 10 am. They went to the registry. The wedding was done and the registry was signed. After that, they went to a hotel specifically arranged and decorated for them. It was a beautiful intimate classy wedding and reception. Everyone confessed to the beauty of the ceremony and the sincerity of their love. The ceremony was done on a Thursday.

The next day, Allen called for a meeting at PB’s house with PB’s elder brothers, sister and stepmother. He arrived at the venue (Chief Adeoye’s house which now belonged to PB).

He opened the discussion with an appreciation for a successful wedding ceremony the day before. He appreciated them for their presence and contribution to the event.

Then he explained why he had invited them. “I had told you, uncle Ope, when I came to ask for Precious hand in marriage that I had moved out. The reason for the delay in our marriage was tied to this same house. Your father of blessed memory wanted this house to be filled with love, joy, happiness, cheer, noise and activity. This wouldn’t have been achieved with just grandma in the house. PB had brought with her all these things I mentioned when my late sister’s children moved in here. Then when her child was born, it made Chief very happy. There was something to look up to when he comes home. You can ask the staff. He wants that too for his wife. She needs the house very active to stay alive.”

Titi ch¡pped in quickly, “You are very correct. I am very happy with everyone that lives in this house; it keeps me alive.”

“Exactly. It was because of his wife he refused Precious to leave this home even when married. She couldn’t understand his request but when I investigated, I understood what he wanted. He did it for the wife he was leaving behind. She is active and full of life because of all of us in this home. I have moved out and would have to move out my family. What is the plan for grandma? She cannot live with me in my new home.”

Niyi replied, “She has survived all these years without children and grandchildren. Why make a fuss about it? She will be able to adjust when all of you finally leave. Also, the bonafide grandchildren and great-grandchildren can visit home and see her.”

“Who? Where are the grandchildren and great-grandchildren? Why are you deceiving yourself? Do you see your grandchildren? If you don’t see them, how would I see them and bring them to my home? The ones that are with me joyfully, you want them to leave for non-existent grand and great-grandchildren. Who is deceiving who?” Titi replied.

Allen continued, “There is no need for argument. I will like to honour Chief Adeoye’s wishes. The only way to achieve this is for PB to sell the house.”

“What?” all the siblings shouted at once.

“Yes, we will sell it, buy another place in its stead and then move grandma to our house. She will be free to run it just like she runs this place,” Allen concluded.

“Are you out of your mind? Precious can’t sell this house; it is a family house.” Ope answered.

“It is a symbol but it isn’t. Technically, it belongs to Precious, my wife. We don’t want you barging into our house and banging on our bedroom door because your father once owned the house. He gave it to his daughter because it held memories for her. And he knew she would take very good care of grandma.”

“You are talking arrant nonsense. What do you mean? This nonsense discussion has come to an end,” Ope said as he stood up to leave.

“This property has been valued for four and fifty hundred million naira. This is the valuation done by a reputable estate company. This is a call deposit of four hundred and fifty million naira. I want to buy this house from Precious. She will use the money to buy us another home while we rent out this house (I’m the new owner) to any of you who would like to stay here and keep your father’s memory alive.”

PB who had been quiet all this while spoke up. “I don’t want any money for this house, it is not for sale. It is my house. I want it to remain in the family.”

“It will surely remain in the family. My son who is also your son will inherit it.” Allen insisted.

“You can’t sell the house. Father never wanted this house sold and therefore we wouldn’t.” Niyi added.

“Ok, buy it from me. If you love the house so much, buy it from me. As siblings, contribute the money to buy it off us. If I can’t live here, no one else can. I’m locking up the house while we move to our dream house. If you buy it off me, I will no longer have a say.”

“Four hundred and fifty million naira is too much for us to pay.” Enitan said via videocall. This was the first time she spoke.

“I am not reducing a kobo from it. Once you raise the money, I will transfer the house ownersh¡p into anyone’s name you so desire.”

“Ok, I want the property to remain in the family, I will suggest each sibling contributes to the repurchase of our father’s home. There are five of us, each person would pay ninety million naira, we can do this.” Enitan suggested.

“The house was willed to Precious. If we pay her for the house and there is a clause in the will, what happens? I think we should invite Chief’s lawyer.”

Chief’s lawyer joined the meeting. He said PB could not sell the property. Chief desired PB and her family to live on the property. But if she is having problems sticking to her promise, she could rent it out or transfer it to one of her children.

“We have every right to rent out the property. We will rent it out and move to Lekki,” Allen informed them.

Titi then spoke. She said to Allen, “I will be moving with you wherever you go.”

“You have to be with us to live long.”

Allen got bought a house and moved his entire family there. PB had questions but she was not in the frame of mind to have any serious discussion with Allen. She wanted to know how he raised four hundred and fifty million naira so easily. Also, he never discussed his plan to buy the house from her with her. She didn’t like the decision but then, she wanted her family together and this was the only way.

PB cried as she left the place she called home for so many years. She felt she had disappointed Chief by not living in the home. Staying in Chief’s room drew her closer to him even though he was no more.

The house they bought was equally big and better furnished with modern-day furnishing and appliances. It wasn’t yet as homely as where they just left but there was nothing they could do. They locked up the house. No one went into the house after they moved out. It was strange but there were reasons.

PB was a wife and mother who had a new home to run. She felt some of their old staff in Chief’s house were snitches and had to let them know. She changed the security agency guarding PB’s house; no one went in without her express permission.

All the workers in the new house were freshly recruited. Only the nannies were not changed. Titi was having a hærd time working with the kitchen staff. She complained all the time which was sounding worrisome. When she mentioned it to Allen, he told her that was all she could do for now.

Tbc