Chapter 63

HOMECOMING

The house had become busier than it usually was, Obi's half- sisters had arrived and Benjamin was coming home that day. The girls cleaned the house, while Obi prepared food with the help of her half-sisters who barely spoke to her. Amarachi was the only one very comfortable, who played around with Ifenna and Oluebube from time to time.

Obi's relationship with the girls had never been smooth, she did not hate them but she had a strong dislike for their mother and they had once witnessed her in a tussle with their mother. She did not blame them for not warming up to her.

The boys had gone to school and Mma was busy with whatever it was that she was doing in her room besides sleeping. Obi usually turned the radio on and tuned it for her every morning so that she wouldn't feel lonely after her great grandsons left for school.

The orange sun slowly emerged from the sky as the occupants of the house busied themselves with chores. Chioma had been too preoccupied with her parents that she barely visited. The week had been filled with lots of errands from Benjamin and the doctors who were setting up the equipment for dialysis in Benjamin's house. Aside from her two boys there were no males in the house. Obiefune had left the previous week, the memories of the night before he left still fresh in her mind.

They sang a lot of folklores which she didn't know she had missed doing so much.

She often sang the same songs to her children but being the listener that day made Obi feel good. Nostalgia hovered around her and she could remember the happy times as a child and how it was always a blessing to be involved in folklore.

She could picture Chioma's attentive face, Tobe's terrified face and even the day Chukwudi urinated on himself out of fear. Obi smiled at the thought, she had not been very fond of Chukwudi then.

The little hut where all the children would sit on mats with wrappers all over their bodies. When Mma began to sing a particular song Obi felt her pulse quicken and she couldn't tear her eyes off Obiefune. Why did that song feel like their song? Obiefune must have felt the same because he reached out and touched her just like he did many years ago, after he had asked her to be his girlfriend.

It was funny how history repeated itself. Mma started with Obiefune's name before she progressed to use other people's names. Mma was exhausted by the time she finished singing and everyone had to turn in for the night. Obi had been hungry but after the lores she seemed to feel satisfied. The boys were fed and cleaned by their aunts while Obi sorted out their clothes for school and their Sunday outfit as the weekend was approaching.

She had been polishing their shoes when Obiefune walked in wearing a singlet and shorts. Obi had been meaning to speak with him but after the story telling she had pushed the agenda aside.

Obiefune sat close to her and held her hand requesting for the polish and the brush. Obi handed the two of the items over to him who began to brush the shoe in a forward - backward movement. Obi exhaled deeply as his scent filled her nostrils, his proximity was a very dangerous one. She quickly stood up and went to her son's drawer. She reached into it and pulled out their socks but as she turned she bumped into him.

He stood very close and it felt like he was hovering over her. Obi felt very uncomfortable with the turn of things and Obiefune was hesitant to step away.

"Wh.. what are you doing?" She asked nervously

Obiefune smiled before reaching to her waist, he grabbed something from behind her and grinned.

"You should really watch where you sit, negodi, you have polish everywhere"

Obi turned and saw the stain on her derriere. She quickly tried to wipe it away but only worsened it. Obiefune stepped away from her and returned to his position. Obi exhaled deeply, she had been so terrified, whatever it was that Obiefune was doing, her body was definitely caving in even though her mind was strong willed. He was at the last pair, wiping and brushing till they appeared black as night with a shiny surface. "You're very good at this, thank you" Obi declared.

"I cleaned and polished enough shoes to be this good, Chioma made me do this a lot for her. That girl used to have me wrapped around her fingers."

Obi laughed so hard, she knew how Chioma could get, she often bossed Obiefune around and he mostly bent to her will.

"She still does, maybe she forever will" Obi teased

Obiefune laughed then reached out and caressed Obi's face. She felt her eyes flutter and she gasped at the sensations that came from a simple touch. Her eyes shut at their own volition, she reached out and held his hand enjoying the warmth that came from it. Why was she still attracted to this man?

Obi opened her eyes and they fell on Obiefune's lips, she moved her gaze to his eyes and she did not need any interpreter to explain what she saw. Obi gasped softly, she was mesmerized by his eyes, she had always been. Her eyes fell to her hand which held Obiefune's to her face and she saw her wedding ring. She inhaled deeply and gently withdrew his hand from her face. She cleared her throat and created a space between them. "We need to talk"

Obiefune chuckled nervously "I've been waiting to hear that"

Obi but her lip not knowing how to begin "I need you to be honest with me. Why do you think they're yours? It was only one time.. I mean they don't even look like you" Obi chuckled

"Whose do you think they are?" Obiefune enquired with a staid expression

"Honestly, I.. don't I don't know. I didn't take that pill that day which means it could be true, but I wasn't pregnant when I married Benjamin and I know this because I went for a test. Wouldn't it have shown? I am so confused right now, My father said Benjamin told him I was pregnant which was why he consented to the marriage in the first place. But the two of us never slept together till after the marriage. Then there's this! "

Obiefune gave her a quizzical look" what? "Obi pointed at his hand." My hand? "

She smiled" no, your mark "She gently lifted his arm then placed her hand on the black mark beneath his armpit

"This! "

" Chukwuebuka has this exact mark on the same spot, Chukwuemeka's is in a different position but it is still the same. Everything is just stressing me, if they turn out to be yours, How would I explain to those children that the man they've called father all these years is not their father. And I can't even get myself to wish them not to be yours too because of what happened to you, which is my fault

“None of it is your fault Obi, I blamed you because I was angry. Accidents happen"

"But if you hadn't come back for me, maybe you'd still be fine. Maybe you'd be married even, with lots of children" Obi replied sniffing

"Or Maybe the same accident would have still occurred but in a different place. A wise annoying mule once told me that, there's no point running from the inevitable, things predestined to happen. Maybe it was predestined and all those things that happened in the past, good or bad are for reasons we can't yet explain. But when you really think about it, you'll understand that it was all part of a plan, God's plan"

Obi nodded "God's plan"

"I never really got to say this, but I'm sorry for your loss. I can't even begin to imagine how you felt"

"It was hard, but I guess life teaches you to live without the ones you love. Sometimes I used to wonder if maybe if we hadn't slept together that day, whether she'd be alive. But then if we didn't do it, the boys wouldn't have been here and I wouldn't have met Benjamin. It's all a part of a plan, I guess"

"What did your test result say? "

"Oh! That I was hepatetic and I had malaria or typhoid, I can't quite remember, why do you ask? "

"Well because, I don't know if I should be saying this"

Obi patted his shoulder "Tell me, please"

"You remember the day Benjamin asked me to see him, he told me that the boys are mine. He said he has a test, he told me he has test result that proves you were pregnant before you got married"

Obi became quiet while Obiefune observed her countenance "My husband definitely knows how to keep secrets"

"Yes he does, I won't pressure you into anything. We can keep it from the boys till when they're ready to hear it. Besides I still have two more important things to do"

Obi's brow arched up "Which are?"

"To be selfless and to make you happy" Obiefune winked

"You know the last time you promised not to pressure me into anything I supposedly got pregnant with your children" Obi taunted and Obiefune laughed

Obi laughed at his confession. Besides How do you plan on doing that? Making me happy? I am already married"

"By giving my all "Obiefune replied with a smile. "Just promise me that you would be happy, no matter what honestly, that's all that matters. And the few days that I've been here you can't possibly imagine how happy I've been. And I even got a bonus package"

What's that? "

"I got to share a bed with you and the boys, twice! You can't imagine how excited I was, the only problem I had was kicks from the boys"

Obi flushed furiously with embarrassment recalling the events of that morning "Actually I can imagine how excited you were, you were so excited you drove me out of the room"

Obiefune laughed and soon Obi joined in. "I love you very much Obi, I have always loved you and maybe I always will. So thank you for giving me the most amazing gifts, even though you're not convinced that they're mine."

Obi didn't know what to say so she just smiled instead

"I think we should change something" Obiefune declared out of the blues

"What!"

"Our favorite clause!" He breathed out pulling Obi to her feet

"Our favorite clause?"

"Yes, the one that makes you so pissed!" Obiefune teased

"Since you're no longer a girl, maybe I could say for a woman with a man's name!" Obi fell into a fit of laughter

"It sounds horrible! I prefer the former"

"For a mother with a man's name?"

Obi couldn't hold herself and she fell into his arms as she quaked with laughter and he laughed along

"It's even worse than the first one, it makes me sound old and I'm just 28!"

"Hmmm, don't worry change is inevitable. I'll come up with something!" Obi's laughter reduced to chortles as she stared with admiration at the man in front of her.

"I don't think everything changes, time doesn't change, God doesn't change! Maybe this shouldn't change. It's the only thing that's hasn't changed between us" Obi added with a smile

"Yes, that and my love for you"

Obi tore her eyes from his face feeling suddenly uncomfortable. "You know there are certain things you don't tell a married woman"

"Really like What? How stubborn she is? Calling you stubborn sometimes feels like an insult to the whole generation of mules, past and present. You're actually worse than they are" Obi slapped his shoulder playfully

"For a girl with a boy's name, you certainly behave like one" Obiefune taunted

"I'll take that as a compliment, it means I'm headstrong or strong willed not like you, you're fickle. Besides the first time you used almost the same words as those, I wanted to break your skull"

Obiefune laughed heartily "And why didn't you?"

"Well because you saved me from your beast of a dog"

"I am always saving you"

Obi smiled sweetly at him before she realized that it was time for bed. "I need to get the boys" She whispered leaving his grip

"Ummm I'll leave in the morning, I might not really come here often, I'll miss all of you, Mma especially "

Obi nodded and turned the knob she pulled the handle and the door began to creak open before Obiefune shut it.

Obi chere! "

She turned to face him with misty eyes" Please don't kiss me again, it's not right! "

“I wasn't going to kiss you "Obiefune declared and Obi heaved a sigh of relief

Obiefune threw his hands around her, he hugged her like it was the last time they would ever see each other again. Obi felt something poke at her belly and she withdrew fully aware of what it was. She felt slightly embarrassed and Obiefune pretended like nothing happened "You need to check your level of excitement"

The words had barely left Obi's mouth before he claimed her lips in a heart fluttering kiss. Obi fought the urge to respond but her will crumbled and her resistance fell and for a brief moment she returned the kiss with fervency before her brain smacked sense into her. Before she could even pull apart Obiefune turned the knob and opened the door.

Obi was panting heavily and her eyes sought his. "You just said that you wouldn't do that"

"I didn't plan on that but selfish men love beautiful severance packages, ka chi foo"

As Obiefune waltzed down the corridor Obi thought of how best to explain to her husband that she was kissed twice in their house. Another thought that did not waver in her mind was that the boys were really Obiefune's. There was a conviction in her heart that she just didn't know how to utter.

Obi snapped out of her thoughts when Ifenna excitedly announced that Benjamin was home. Everyone except Mma ran outside to welcome him. Obi threw her hands around him and when he dipped his head to kiss her Obi realized one dangerous fact. She was no longer attracted to her husband.