Chains That Bind Us - Episode 13

 

Sorry it's been a very long time since I uploaded. Been really busy and too distracted to write...

The next day after Nelson's mother visited her home,  Chidinma saw her quite unexpectedly at her shop.  There was no way to avoid her without drawing unneccesary attention to herself from her employees and customers. 
"Please let's talk in my car," she said as soon as she greeted Patricia. 
"Don't you want a child of your own?" Patricia asked Chidinma as soon as they were seated in the car. 
"Not at the expense of an unhappy marriage," Chidinma replied her quite shabbily. 
"And you think there is happiness in a childless marriage," the older woman said but received no reply from Chidinma who was looking very impatient as she wanted the conversation to end as soon as possible without being rude. "Anybody who told you there is happiness in a childless marriage is deceiving you .  You see that husband of yours that you think you love and loves you back will soon enough bring another woman home to bear him his own sons since you are incapable of doing so and when that time comes you will be nothing in that house than an unwanted house mate.  He would not even touch you any longer because what is the use of wasting his energy on something that will yield no result".
"I think you have said enough ma

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/chains-that-bind-us

. I have work to do," Chidinma said angrily. 
"You youth of nowadays, you never want to hear the truth.  I am just telling you to save yourself the heart ache of watching the so called husband of yours treat you like trash.  Besides you are Igbo.  What did you go and find in a Yoruba boy.  Are there shortage of Igbo boys," Patricia touches Chidinma's shoulder. "My dear,  you are like my daughter.  A woman feels happy and fulfilled when she is happy and fulfilled.  A woman is only fulfilled when she has a complete family. A complete family that includes a husband and children of her own that she gave birth to, not adopted."
"Thank you ma. But I can assure you that I am as happy and fulfilled as I possibly be." Chidinma looked outside the car window to scan her surrounding and spotted Nelson walking towards her shop. "Your son is here," she informed the older woman as she got out of the car. Patricia looked surprised to see Nelson there. She thought the latter had given up on the quest to win Chidinma over. She alighted the car as well.
Chidinma called Nelson. He turned around to see Chidinma and his mother together. He was not surprised. "Good afternoon mummy. Afternoon Chidinma."
Chidinma looked at him, noticing he was not surprised to see his mother with her. "Did you and your mother plan to meet here because I can see you are clearly not surprised to see your mother here?"
"Trust me," Nelson said and Chidinma raised her eyebrows in amazement. "This was not planned. I am just not surprised because I know she can be relentless." He looked at his mother who was watching the younger ones keenly. "Mum, please I would like to speak to Chidinma in private".
"What do you have to say to her that you can not say to me," Patricia protested.
"We have nothing to say to each other that has not been said already," Chidinma said.
"Mum please. I really need to speak to her alone. Please," he pleaded with his mother.
"Okay fine. I will be waiting for you at home. Chidinma please give this issue a positive thought. It is for the good of everybody".
"Goodbye ma," Chidinma said forcing a smile on her face. She was happy to see the back of the older woman but not happy to still have her son in her presence. Once the woman left she angrily faced Nelson. "We have nothing to say to each other," she said and started walking towards her shop.
Nelson chases after her. "Chidinma, I am sorry. Let us just go somewhere to talk. I promise this is the last time I will ever bug you about this matter. Please," he pleaded with her.
"What do you want to say that you cannot say here right now".
"Chidinma please. Just grant me this wish. Let's go somewhere, sit down and talk. It would be the last time you will ever hear from me again. I promise".
Chidinma studied him for a while as she decided if she should go with him. "Fine. One last time and then you disappear never to bug me again".
"I promise".
 

**********
Chidinma didn't know whether to believe her ears. Nelson was sitting in front of her and apologising for all the grief he had caused her. He even said he would stop his mother from distrubing her. It was too good to be true. Just like the food she was eating at the restaurant he had brought her to. It was absolutely delicious. She eat heartily as she registered the name of the restaurant. 'I must come here again,' she made a mental note to herself. Life is good.