In the space of time - Episode 6

 

14th February, 2019
It was valentines day, also the day that Odogwu was going back to Abuja. His flight was for 3pm that day but Adaugo woke up early anyways, to get Tabitha ready for school and to pack Odogwu’s stuff. Valentines day hasn’t been that special over the years. In fact for most of it, Odogwu wasn’t around, he was always working in another state. Nevertheless, he always ordered her flowers . Flowers with a card and a gift wrapped in a tiny red box, sometimes it was a diamond necklace or a silver jewelries, Adaugo always smiled but wished her husband was there with her to spend the day, instead of all the gifts she received. She loved the gifts but she loved the person who gave them more. She longed for Odogwu to be with her at times when he wasn’t and sometimes envied women who had their husbands by their sides always. She had become close to Chidinma, Pastor Kalu’s wife over the years. At first she didn’t know what to think, with Chidinma resurfacing into their lives after about eight years, but this was before she discovered the kind of person Chidinma was and the kind of relationship she had with God and of course, her husband. There were rumors then, when they were in school that Odogwu was dating Chidinma, however Odogwu cleared this to her even though she wasn’t also dating him at the time. She started dating Odogwu when he was serving and she was in her third year in the university

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. She remembered, he would come constantly come to school to see her and then, call her consistently to check and most times just did. She wouldn’t say that was when she fell in love with him. She became attracted right from that night, the overnight reading  and after their second meeting at the chitis eatery, she was sure she fancied him, at least compared to other guys. 
Odogwu on the other hand, hadn’t made his intentions clear to her until he graduated. He stated severally that he just wanted to be her friend. Because of this, she had agreed to hang out with him, now look where she was, the friendship led to a relationship that further led to marriage that produced two precious gifts. She loved her children very much, very very much. She had not received this kind of love and care as required, from either her mother or her step mum. She wanted to shower her children with all the love and care possible, part of the reasons she agreed to stay back when Odogwu told her to not work. Chidinma had encouraged her a lot. She herself was working, as an engineer until a while ago when she decided to join her husband in full time ministry. Chidinma had encouraged her to keep writing, even from home. Hence she had written for a couple of magazines and news companies. She also had a couple of books she had released over the years. But she wanted to be on the field. She had gotten job offers from a few news companies who read her works. Offers she couldn’t dare to tell Odogwu about. She didn’t know why he was bent on her not leaving the house to work. Did it have something to do with his past? Something he had experienced maybe? She didn’t know what to think but her husband wasn’t acting normal, like a 21st century educated man would. She could tell that he had his reasons and she had asked him severally what they were but he had refused to tell her. He’d just say, he wasn’t putting the lives of his children under the care of an outsider.  
‘’Adaugo!,  Adauuuugo’’. She hurried down the stairs, Odogwu must have return from dropping Tabitha at school. He wanted to be the one to drop her off today since he was leaving later in the day, and she was most likely not going to be around to see him off. Her school closes by 3:30pm, Monday to Thursday, and it was Thursday. ‘’Welcome dear’’,Adaugo said upon seeing him. He looked tired. ‘’Yeah, get ready we’re going out’’. Adaugo was confused. ‘’Out to where?’’. Odogwu seemed impatient. ‘’When will you stop asking all these questions and just do what you’re asked?’’. He came to the stairs where she stood and gave her a little push, holding her shoulders, and signifying she redirected her steps back upstairs. ‘’Go dress up, wear a dress, put on make-up or something. But do not waste time Adaugo. I repeat do not waste time’’, ‘’unless you want me to miss my flight’’, he added, going down the stairs into the living room and heading the TV remote. Ada went to their room. Shut the door and rested on it for about a minute or so. Where was Odogwu taking her? Was it to visit a friend or a family member? but why today? He had spent more than a week at home, why did he choose the day he was traveling back to pay them, whoever they are, a visit? She decided to think no more and just hurry up, to avid stirring up her husband’s anger. She picked up a pink blouse from her closet. Odogwu had gotten her that blouse for Christmas. She smiled as she remembered how he had surprised her by flying in on Christmas day, even though he was on duty on the 27th. She wondered how their lives would be now that Odogwu was going to be living with them full time. Maybe he would consider letting her work now, she thought. She dropped the dress on the bed, this wasn’t the right outfit. It was too pinkish. She wanted to look mature. She brought out a black jean trouser. She liked the way the jeans looked on her body, showcasing her figure well. But then her husband had told her to wear a dress so that wouldn’t work too. Then there it was! the perfect outfit. She knew it was the moment she set her eyes on it. It was a black fitted long dress with tiny straps. She picked it up and hurriedly got dressed.

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‘’Odogwu, where are you taking me?’’, They were now in the car, they had just left their estate gate. It was a Nnobi estate, it was very peaceful and beautiful. ‘’Odogwu, biko ke nu ebe I vu m n’aga? (where are you taking me to please?) . ‘’Babe relax’’, Odogwu said, and moved through an intersection. ‘’this is the third time you’re saying relax’’, ‘’and this is the third time you’re asking me the same question, haba, calm down na’’.  He gave her a stare and said ‘’you look beautiful’’, she blushed. Amidst all the tension and unanswered question, he still made her feel butterflies in her tummy. The same kind of butterflies she had felt when he proposed. She would never forget that day. It was still very fresh in her memory, the clothes she wore, the clothes he wore, the people there, the place where it happened, the day of the week, and even the particular date. ‘’thank you’’, she said. Even though he had told her this before, the moment she walked down the stairs, he said the same words, “you look beautiful”, she just assumed he was in a good mood. Why was he in a good mood though? Had something happened? Had he gotten a promotion? The last time he had gotten a promotion, he organized a little get together, a few of his friends and family. This was six months ago before he traveled to Abuja. Wasn’t it too early for him to be given another promotion? ‘’Hello? Earth to Adaugo ooo’’, Ada was completely lost in thought. ‘’Uh uh?  Did you say something? She asked, facing Odogwu. ‘’yes, but apparently I’ve been talking to myself for the past two minutes’’, wow Ada, when will you change? She mentally gave herself a scolding. ‘’I said we’re here’’. Time had gone so fast. Apparently they had been driving for the past thirty minutes thereabout. They entered a compound. The name gentle resort, was boldly on the walls, designed with flowers. She let out a gentle laugh. Odogwu looked at her and asked, ‘’something funny?’’, he collected the gate pass from the security men there ‘’well done o’’, he greeted them, then turned back to face Ada. ‘’no, its just , I mean who names a place gentle resort?’’ they both laughed. ‘’I know right? But the place is great actually. They just have a very weird choice of words’’. He looked for a parking space and then after packing looked at the time on his smart phone. It was 10:21am. ‘’back to the initial question’’, Ada began, ‘’Odogwu, what are we doing at a resort? at least now that we’re here you can tell me’’ ,he didn’t speak. Instead, he shook his head and stepped out of the car. Adaugo was about to step out to when she saw her husband. He had already opened the door for her. Huh? Adaugo thought. He was opening the door for her now? Something was definitely up. The last time her husband showed this level of chivalry was immediately they got married. That was many years ago. She had forgotten what it felt like. 
He took her to the top floor of the building, where the view was seriously amazing. It captured the whole of Emene, down to the outskirts of the town and even the airport. It was hard to believe that this kind of thing existed in Nigeria. She felt like a fairytale princess, even though it was only for a little while .Then something happened. It started to rain. The kind of rain that gave no signal  before pouring heavily. Next thing, the little bulbs used to decorate the top floor view started fluctuating in current then finally they went off, all of them. Odogwu and Ada tried to hurry back down but the power was out. Like no joke, the power in the whole hotel had totally shutdown. They had to put on the torch lights on their phones because they were standing in a corner that had no access to outside light and so the place was dark until the power was restored about three to four minutes later. ‘’Adaugo laughed. She laughed so hard that she made her husband join her even though he didn’t know what she found funny. ‘’Well, so much for being gentle’’, they laughed again, then went to another part of the building. It was a hotel so they had a restaurant and what seemed like a relaxation area. ‘’I wanted this to be special but the rain just spoilt plans’’, Odogwu said after some minutes, looking quite disappointed. She paused, then held his left harm that he had used to cover his eyes.  ‘’It is special’’, she said, holding his chin up. He still looked down ‘’Look at me, it s special because you’re here with me’’, ‘’now would you please tell me what’s up, biko(please) enough of the movie scenes’’. ‘’Odogwu smiled then wore a really huge grin, ‘’no no, I don’t understand, so I cannot just decide to take my beautiful wife, gorgeous and hardworking, patient and kind…’’, Adaugo raised a brow. ‘’I si? (you say?)’’, where was he going with all these complements and all this super sweet stuff. She actually thought they were coming to see a guest here, but apparently there was no guest, so what exactly did Odogwu want from her that he had decided to turn into Nigerian Romeo overnight?
He continued with his praises. ‘’My lovely wife in whom, I am well pleased.  Can I not bring her out for a treat again?’’.  They were now seated in the restaurant area. Before her were different kinds of dishes she hadn’t eaten before. ‘’Odogwu, I’m not eating what I don’t know’’, she said using the chopstick in her hands to lift the vegetable up. Then she let it down again. ‘’that’s one’’, she said raising one finger gesturing that she was counting something, ‘’two; just let it out, I mean what you want to say. Speak now or forever remain silent’’, she said letting out a small laugh. He laughed too. ‘’I used that exact line to woe you, exactly twelve years ago. Do you remember? Odogwu asked with a hopeful look. Of course she remembered. How could she ever forget? she nodded. He continued. ‘’I thank God for bringing us this far. Adaugo, you don’t know how much impact you’ve had on me. Everyday, I wake up stronger because you’re by my side. Knowing this gives me strength to do better, to provide whatever you need, to fully take care of you and the kids. I love you’’, he says all this and takes her hand to kiss the back of her palm. Adaugo was really blushing now. She felt like the Adaugo of twelve years ago. ‘’I love you too she said’’, still smiling, well that wasn’t for long, her expression changed when she heard what her husband had to say next. ‘’And this is why I want to tell you the truth. The truth I’ve been keeping a secret all these years, that has been causing me so much torment’’, Adaugo sat up. ‘’Is this the cause of the nightmares too?’’, she asked. ‘’Yes, that too. You deserve to know this because you’re my woman. I’m sorry for not speaking up all this while but I hope you forgive me and understand, uhmm, I lost my sister Gift because of my mum’s absence. A few hours, just a few hours of her not being a housewife caused me my sister’s life!’’ he was teary now. He gave her a detailed version of the events that led to Gift’s death.
Adaugo didn’t know what to say. She finally knew why her husband was so bent on her not working. He had been hurt in the past. He was suffering so much from guilt or was it regret? , he continued, ‘’I had promised my dad on his death bed to take good care of my family, my sisters!, and barely two years after that I let my sister go, just like that. I failed miserably’’, he was actually crying now. She got up and moved to give him a tight hug. She looked around. The room was surprisingly empty. Apparently the last couple there had just left. Well, better for them. She sighed. ‘’Chuma, its not your fault, look at me, its not your fault, I’m sure your dad knows you did all you could in your power to protect your family. Besides look at them now, they’re successful thanks to you’’. ‘’Thanks to God’’, he said ‘’of course, thanks to God, and thanks to you for carrying out God’s plan, thanks to you for being responsible enough to help them in all the ways which you did. Thanks to you for yielding yourself to the purpose of God. Now look how much of an elder brother you turned out to be.

Read " Kenny's Story " by the same author ( Ijeoma Okorie )

. Your two sisters are educated thanks to your efforts, and even married now. Don’t be so hard on yourself’’. She sat down and held on to his hands. ‘’Let go Odogwu, live with peace in your heart. You’re a good man and I’m certain God wants you to enjoy peace. So let go of the past, walk out of those fears’’. She understood her husband now. Through wisdom, a house is built and by understanding it is established, Proverbs 24:3, never felt so real to her like it did now. But now that she understood him, he had to understand her too. The reason she went to school and studied so hard wasn’t because she wanted to be the housewife to a man her whole life. So what was going to happen to her now?