Chapter 19

Johnny did not remove the phone from his ear after Nana’s stepmother dropped the call. He didn't know what to do; in fact, he looked pale. He slowly grabbed his nightgown, he wrapped it around himself; he slowly opened the bedroom door and went to the kitchen.

Johnny boiled some water, made himself a cup of tea and sat in the lounge. He kept on changing the TV channels; his mind was running wild, he didn't know what to do next, he was worried about how to break the news to his wife.

Johnny’s wife couldn't speak either; after the phone call she had with a lady who didn't introduce herself, the voice sounded familiar but she couldn’t recall who it belongs to. She was wondering who that woman was. Though Johnny and Max were close friends before, their wives rarely met, Johnny’s wife had a job, unlike Ma’s wife.

She wondered why Johnny left the bedroom after the phone calls and why he didn't say any word in response to the call. She stood up and went outside the bedroom. She heard the TV on in the lounge; she walked into the lounge and saw her husband lost in thoughts. She went and sat next to him; Johnny didn't realize that his wife was in the lounge, his mind was far away; he got a shock of his life when she sat next to him.

Johnny’s wife held her husband's hands into hers; she then said "Johnny, what is going on? I have realized that you have been quiet lately; this started after your mother collapsed in your hands while talking to you, are you still worried about her healthy?

You drove all the way from the village without saying a word, yet the children tried to cheer up. Please tell me what is going on. That phone call you got just now also made it worse for you; you didn't say a word to the caller and right now you look like you have seen a ghost.

Anyway; before you answered that phone call; I also answered a phone call, the caller was a rude woman who called me stupid. She said that one of your kids was sick, that you should go immediately to that woman. What is going on Johnny, please tell me."

Johnny looked into his wife's eyes and he cried. His wife tried to console him; she hugged him and asked him to tell her what the matter was. After a little while, Johnny started talking. He said…

"Diana (he always called his wife by her first name, Diana), I really don't know how to say this; I have betrayed my family in the worst way possible. You are right, since my mother collapsed; I have never been the same. She collapsed because of me, I confided in her about my big secret; she could not take my betrayal, that's why she collapsed."

“I feel so bad; to make it worse, I have to confess my sins to you. Diana, I did you wrong but please forgive me." Johnny’s wife became extremely nervous after hearing Johnny’s story but she insisted on hearing more from Johnny. She asked Johnny to be clear on what he is apologizing for.

Johnny continued by saying "Diana, you know Max's last two children; Marcus and Altie, they do not belong to him, they are my children. Johnny’s wife almost fainted, her mouth opened so wide but she couldn't utter a word. Tears were running down her chicks.

After gathering some energy, she said "what did you say Johnny."

Johnny: Diana I'm very sorry, you know how Max's wife is; she was seducing me every chance she got. I tried to resist her but I failed. I'm very sorry Diana; please do forgive me, I did not mean to hurt you this way.

Johnny’s wife/Diana: She seduced you? You said she seduced you? Johnny how stupid do you think I am? Those children are two years apart from each other; you mean after Marcus, she waited for two years and then seduced you again?

Johnny how could you do this to me? I have given you 5 children; where they not good enough for you? Or are they too ugly for you? Was I not a woman enough for you so that you decided to cheat on me? Diana broke down and started crying uncontrollably.

Johnny tried to explain and apologize over and over again but his wife was too broken. She kept on crying. The children heard their mother crying and came to see what was wrong. They thought that may be their grandmother has died. They were very sad. They tried to console their mother but nothing seemed to work.

Johnny told his children to go back to bed; he told them that it was not grandmother who died but he is responsible for making their mother cry. He promised them that he will make her feel better. The children went back to their rooms.

Johnny knelt down in front of his wife and apologized profoundly. His wife finally stopped crying and looked at her husband. "Johnny; you are indeed a bad man; you have hurt me in the worst way possible. I have never expected this from you. I trusted you blindly; I guess it was my fault."

“Johnny I do work very hard so that our children do not lack anything; is that why you cheated on me with a stay at home woman because she had time for you? Couldn't you talk to me if you felt that I don't have time for you?”

“Johnny, do you think we would own this house and afford good schools for our children on your salary alone? Did she have to be your best friend's wife? Johnny, I really don't know how to feel at this moment and why did you have to tell me now after many years of keeping me in the dark?”

Johnny: “Diana I'm very sorry, I really messed up and I don't know how to fix it. My best friend lost his marriage because of me and I also feel terrible about it. Diana, Max's wife was threatening me all the time; she calls me all the time. I told her that it was over between us but she is not listening to me. She is harassing me all the time; I'm really fed up. Diana darling, I will never ever hurt you again; I do regret everything I did to you and the whole family. Please do forgive me darling”!

After crying her eyes out the whole night; Diana stood up and walked away from the lounge, she did not want her children to wake up and find her in the lounge. She went to the bedroom; packed a few stuff in her small bag, she went into the bathroom and took a shower. She dressed up and went back in the lounge.

Diana’s housemaid has already prepared breakfast and the children and Johnny were already on the table. Diana served herself breakfast and she started eating. The children were enjoying their breakfast and conversing about different topics.

Diana asked her children to listen to her for a minute; she said "guys, I’m going to see my mother today, I need to visit her because she is not well, I will be back soon, please behave well when I'm not here."

Diana got up and went to her bedroom to pick up her bag. While she was in her bedroom; Johnny came in and apologized again, he begged her not to go away. Diana replied by saying that she needs to go see her mother for some emotional support and to also think about how to move forward.

Diana bid farewell to her children and drove off. It was not an easy journey for Diana; she was thinking on how to move on from that nightmare, she wondered why Johnny did this to her.

Diana did not know how she even got to her mother's house; her mind was so occupied with her problem at hand. Her mother was sitting inside her lounge while her grandchildren were playing in the yard. The children ran towards her and welcome their aunt.

Diana's mother was also happy to see her. She hugged her and gave her a seat; she asked the grandchildren to prepare some tea for their aunt.

Diana's mother sensed that her daughter's visit is not normal; she always brings a lot of goodies to her mother when she visits, even though she had already sent a lot of goodies to her mother a week before but coming empty-handed alerted her mother that all is not well.

The grandchildren served their aunt some tea and snacks. Diana's mother went and sat next to her; she asked Diana what the problem was. Diana looked at her mother and she busted into tears. Her mother tried to console her and she asked Diana to share her sorrows with her. In an emotional state; Diana told her mother all her sorrows, worries and disappointments.

After listening to Diana; Diana's mother also shed some tears, she felt her daughter's pain. They both cried a little; Diana put her head on her mother's lap while her mother was slowly massaging through her hair. Diana's mother slowly started talking to her daughter, she said…

"Diana, my child, you know I love you so much. You will always be my baby. However grown you might be, you will always be my baby girl. My job as a mother is to take care of you, guide you and help you make the right decisions. Sometimes we have to make hurtful and hard decisions but it is our duty as women to make them."

Diana's mother continued "I don't want you to blame yourself for Johnny’s mistakes; your office has nothing to do with his cheating. Look at me, your father met me when I was working as a nurse. He refused to let me work so that I could concentrate on raising our children.”

“I was a stay-at-home mother; I was available for my children and husband 24/7 but that did not stop him from cheating, you have five stepbrothers and sisters as evidence for his cheating."

“What I'm trying to tell you my dear is; it is your husband's weakness to cheat, if he can cheat with his best friend's wife, imagine what he will do with a stranger. Diana, you have worked so hard for your family; Johnny had nothing of his own when he married you, it was Max who helped him acquire a job, now you two have started living a comfortable life and he chose to do this! No Diana, I cannot just look on when you are being mistreated. I'm going to fight for you and for my grandchildren."

"Dear Diana, remember that you once told me that Max's wife hated Max's daughter, Nana; if she couldn't handle one stepchild, will she manage your five kids? No. If someone has to live that house, is going to be Johnny, not you. Max's wife has lost her marriage, now she wants to ruin yours, we will not allow that to happen, do you understand?”

“I'm going to dress up now, and we'll go back to your home. I know you came here to think about what to do. I'm your mother, and I won't allow you to give Max's wife a chance to take over your family. Now we know that your husband is a cheater; if Max's wife finds out that you moved out, she will not waste time to occupy your space, no, that will never happen under my watch. Finish up your tea and we'll go now. My neighbor’s daughter will move in here and look after my grandchildren until I come back."