The Longest Night - Episode 8

 

A month later, with the divorce almost finalised and with my business booming, I made up my mind to secure a befitting accommodation for myself and Ada. Yemi had turned to a constant I wasn’t ready for. He came as a friend and I wanted him to stay as a friend even though the bells that rang in my head rang a different tone and he looked at me and treated me like I was fragile. 

I secured a house with the help of Yemi and paid almost immediately. It was a 2 bedroom apartment with a very big kitchen . Immediately I got home, I went searching for Uzor and found him in his bed room.

“I’m moving out this weekend “. I said

“Why? Is this house not big enough for us? Where are you going to?”

“We would cease to be husband and wife soon. I need my own space”. I replied

“Who would cook for me?”

“You asked for a divorce, remember? That nullifies my role and duty as a wife. Go and get a maid or tell your girlfriend to do the cooking”.

“You’ve grown wings o”. With this he stood up from the bed and walked towards me.

“How dare you speak to me in a such manner, I own you Sinach”.

“You do not own me”. I wasn’t scared as I stood my ground.

“Shut your mouth woman, I can decide to stall the divorce and keep you in this house”. 

“That’s to your own detriment because I care less about you or your wellbeing

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. I would only be the biggest headache you could ever have”. That said, I walked away.

I was moving out of this house whether Uzor liked it or not.

Friday night, I called Ada and spoke to her about the current happenings. 

“Do you know what that means”. I asked her

“Yes I do mummy, It’s when the husband and wife stop being husband and wife. Dad has been cruel to you mummy. I see when he beats you up”.

I was dumbfounded, she noticed everything but kept it to herself. 

“My love, please do not hate your dad”.

“I don’t hate dad. I love him very much even though he doesn’t care about me. Can I come with you to your new house?” she replied innocently.

Tears welled up in my eyes but I chose not to cry, at least not in her presence.

“Of course my love, you’d have your own room” I said smiling.

It was Saturday and I was so happy. I packed my clothes into my boxes and Ada did the  same. Uzor just stared at us and knowing he couldn’t take care of his daughter, he didn’t oppose. Yemi helped me with a mover’s number and by 12noon, I and my daughter embarked on a new journey.

With time I increased my business, I became an event planner. I barely  had time for anything other than myself and daughter. I was home on a Thursday afternoon after school runs when Uzor called me to say he was at the gate. It’s been four weeks since we moved out of the house. I dropped my new address with him if he wanted to see his daughter. He called frequently to check and talk to his daughter.

I went outside and told the security man to  open the gate   

“Welcome Uzor, how are you?” I said immediately he alighted from his car.

He stared at me for what seem like an eternity before he responded to my greeting.

“Thank you Sinach, I’m fine and you”? He responded with a cheerful demeanor.

He seemed excited and happy. I couldn’t place the last time he was so cheerful and responded to my greeting without a hint of sarcasm. I led the way into the house.

My house was a small 2bedroom apartment but it befitting for myself and Ada. The sitting room was sparsely decorated with few arm chairs , a Tv on the wall, a pale blue curtain and a dark blue rug on the floor. He entered the house and stared not in disgust but with an unreadable facial expression. I was happy a part of me didn’t need his approval anymore. During the later part of our marriage, It was an achievement for me if and when Uzor approved of my outfits or hair as it leaves me smiling like a teenager. I once loosened an hairstyle Uzor discredited, in his words “You look So old and really matured, one would think you’re my mother”. 

“Daddy!!!”. Ada screamed immediately she saw Uzor.

He hugged her closely and I could swear I saw a tear drop down his face. It made me smile. Maybe he missed his daughter and actually cared after all. 

Ada showed him around the house and they played and laughed. My heart was filled with joy. He stole a few glances at me from time to time which I wouldn’t lie, made me blush. I miss how we used to be. Miracles can happen.

Food was ready, I served Uzor his meal and he ate the meal down to its morsel. He assisted in clearing the dishes and doing of the dishes. We sat in the sitting room and watched tv and made random jokes. It was a beautiful evening. It left me hopeful, maybe he had changed.

It was 7pm when he said he was ready to leave and pleaded I bring Ada to spend the weekend at his house. Ada insisted I come with her which I agreed to and we saw Uzor off to his car.

Had God answered my prayer? I prayed for strength to start again and stand on my feet. Was my marriage undergoing self repair? 

I heard my phone chime around 7.30pm. I opened the phone and found a message from Uzor.

“I’m home and I had a nice time today. I miss you Sinach”.

I started to type that I missed him too but stopped. I deleted the message and began to type “ I had a nice time too”, I deleted the message and began to type “ Thank God and then I asked myself what I was I thanking God for exactly. After 10 attempts to type an appropriate reply, I dumped my phone and walked out of the room to watch Tv. 

After preparing Ada for school and dropping her off on a Friday morning. I made my way to my favourite saloon and decided to change my hair. I had told Aunty Tina about the event of the previous day. She was happy and danced around a little bit. I didn’t know how to react to this new development.  As I sat on the saloon chair, I received a message from Yemi saying he just got into town and wanted to see me. He travelled out of the country immediately I moved for a business trip. He called frequently, we skyped most times as the time difference was an hindrance to constant communication. I was excited to see him and I sent him the address of the salon.

He came into the salon, he stood so tall and everyone turned to steal a glance. He stood and stared as our eyes met. My heart skipped a beat, he looked so handsome and neat. The weather of the country was good for him as he looked so healthy. I wanted to run into his arms but I was only able to walk up to him and shake him. 

“How was your trip”? I asked 

“It was fine”? He replied smiling.

“I’m almost done with my hair, please just wait a while”.

He nodded and sat down close to me. I introduced him to Aunty Tina and we talked on and on about the country he visited, he also showed us pictures and after plenty ohhh and ahhh, my hair was done and we left the salon. He asked we drive to the house as he got food from a very lovely restaurant for lunch. My house wasn’t far from the salon and it was just 11am. Ada would close from school by 1pm, so I had 2 hours to spend with him.

Arriving at the house, we made our way to the sitting room. We had lunch and chatted about everything. When it was 1pm he was ready to leave as he hugged me for a moment. That hug held so many promises, warmth and hope. The hug was interrupted when my phone chimed. I glanced and saw it was a text message from Uzor. The message read “Looking forward to this weekend. I miss you so much Sinach, can’t get over the image of you from yesterday”.

Yemi promised we would do this more often and this time, Ada would be around. We made our way outside and he gave me a bag of goodies he got for myself and Ada.

When he drove out, I dropped the parcel and made my way to Ada’s school. 

Ada back from school was excited about the gift Yemi got her. He got her a wrist watch, a Barbie board of stickers and sneakers. He got me a beautiful set of jewellery. 

I tried to think of a way out of this. Do I go back to Uzor or try something new with Yemi. I called Dera to tell her about the recent events and she advised I  don’t rush anything but take it a step at a time. 

Saturday morning, Uzor had called me to ask when we would be in the house and requested we come for breakfast in the house as he made breakfast already.

“Daddy”. Ada screamed when she saw Uzor at the door entrance.

He looked so handsome I thought to myself, and he stood  so tall and wearing the shorts I got him for Christmas. He hugged and held Ada tightly. 

“Hello Sinach”. He said calmly as he stared at me with a hint of admiration in his eyes. 

“Hello Uzor”. I replied. 

He led the way into the house and with breakfast set, we were set for the morning. He planned the day already.

After breakfast, we saw a PG rated movie and then played board games, ordered pizza for lunch. Ada slept right off after having 3 slices of pizza. It was just me and Uzor. We told and reminiscence about the past. Yemi sent a text to ask how my day was going and if he could come over. I replied to say I was out and might not return until Sunday evening. He replied that it was okay and would come over on Sunday evening.

It was 5pm, With Ada awake, Uzor asked us to go out for dinner. We went to a very lovely restaurant, we had dinner and then went to a game arcade, played games and then retired for the evening. Ada was already asleep when we got home. I took her to her old bedroom and found out that Uzor laid the bed and the room was clean.

I walked into the sitting room and saw him switching channels on the T.v. I sat close to him and we settled on Mnet action.

It was 12 midnight when I woke up and I was naked. I looked over and saw Uzor cuddling me close. This felt weird but different.

Read " The Robbery Attack " by the same author ( Nancy Eseosa )

. I was happy and the flashback of the intercourse fizzled through my mind. He was gentle and calm. What did i do? Did i just have make love to my soon to be ex husband? On the other hand, it felt right. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a phone chime. It was so close to mine and it had same notification tone as mine. I picked up the phone and glanced at it. That singular statement broke me to the woman I used to know. It shattered the woman I’ve built up in the past months. The tears started and I knew the weakling was back. Curiosity got a hold of me when I opened the conversation between Uzor and the contact he saved as “My world”.

Apparently she was out of town and he told her he was bored and missed her terribly. She was aware I was in the house for the weekend with Ada.

She replied saying 

“ Your old flame isn’t that hot anymore? See you soon my love”.