Chapter 74

TIME WILL TELL

The dry season approached with such haste that made Obi anxious. It was late November and she felt terrified because two things were in view; her children's birthday and the reading of Benjamin's will. Leaving the village was a struggle between reason and duty and as always the latter won.

The road to learning how to properly grieve only ended up in opening a bigger vacuum in Obi's heart. She realized for the first time that she had not just lost Benjamin but also another man who loved her beyond doubt.

Her days after the weeding of the school farm were less gloomy and she enjoyed the idea of carrying out a task that benefitted both she and nature. The identity of her invisible partner was still not known to her and curiosity rather than work kept bringing her to the farm.

She had tried so many times to reach out to Obiefune, but he insisted on ignoring her. When she found out from Chioma that he had been in the same village where she was without reaching out to her months later, she realized that he wanted to distance himself from her.

Obi could remember how she tried to catch up with her farm clearing partner by waiting longer than she usually did at the farm. She waited and waited for a whole day but there were no signs of people around the area.

The next day she came earlier than usual and when she heard a noise, she was overjoyed. Part of her hoped that it would be the man who had named the place "their favorite spot"

When she finally got to the farm, it was as if nobody had been there. Instead she saw two students creeping out of the bush. Obi felt so disappointed as she headed back to her house. Akubueze paid her a visit the next week having heard of her arrival at the village and enquired of her well -being.

He managed to cheer her up with lots of fruits and amusing stories about the turn his life had taken. He no longer appreciated being feared, he preferred his name and genuinely made efforts to relate with villagers.

"You know, I was ready to donate one of my kidneys to Benjamin for him to live. He was really a brother to me when I had no one. That was why I could accept your marriage to him. At first I was jealous and disappointed and I had thought he betrayed me. But after I thought about it, I realized that he really did deserve a chance at happiness. "

Obi smiled at him stretching her legs on the cane chair where they sat." Thank you for thinking about it, it means you were a good friend to him"

"It was a sacrifice not only I was willing to make. When the doctor announced that Benjamin had found another donor I was there. I was overjoyed, I knew Benjamin has a lot of money to purchase things like that but deep down I was scared for my friend"

"We all were" Obi interrupted

"When the doctor announced the name of the other donor, at first I was elated then the name sounded so familiar that I had to confirm from Benjamin. It turned out that his cousin was willing to also donate and the good thing was that he was a match. It was just a miracle, Benjamin's other kidney was not as horrible as the other and one good one could have done him good. Fortunately for him, he had even gotten two and quickly at that till a deceased donor could be found. I wish he waited a little bit more, nwanne m alaa(My brother left) just like that"

Obi remembered what Akubueze had hinted about Obiefune during Benjamin's burial and it struck her that he must have been the cousin he spoke about.

"Do you mean his cousin Obiefune?" Obi asked with trepidation as she sought to affirm her assumptions

"Yes that one... Ukaegbu. That young man is kind."

Obi felt suddenly disconcerted as Akubueze confirmed that it was indeed Obiefune. Her mind went back to the day they had been in their children's room while he cleaned their shoes. Obi's face paled as she recalled their conversation that night.

"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"

"Which are?"

"To be selfless and to make you happy" he had said

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

Obi remembered being confused with his statement "How do you plan on doing that? Making me happy? I am already married"

"By giving my all "Obiefune had replied with a smile. "Just promise me that you would be happy, no matter what honestly, that's all that matters.

Her thoughts drowned Akubueze's words.

Obiefune was willing to make a sacrifice to keep Benjamin alive so that she would be happy. Did he really love her that much? A man with a battered pride as he had lost part of his manhood. A man who did not have full rights over his children, a man who was willing to sacrifice more for her. Obi's heart formed the question even before her brain processed it.

Why?

"I love you very much Obi, I have always loved you and maybe I always will.

Obi's brain could only process Obiefune's words. A tear slipped out of her eyes.

"I am always saving you"

She had accused him of wanting her husband dead.

"You are a heartless man! Benjamin is there dying and you're already playing a stupid role that nobody gave you. Who knows you might even be wishing for his death!"

The memories seemed to all come back to haunt Obi as she shook her head.

"Your place! Your p.. Place. Was it your place to disclose the paternity of my sons to me! If you had told me! I would have done something! We could have saved him!" She yelled

"Obi the surgery is two days away, he didn't make it till then, nobody could have stopped this from happening besides they're my sons too, I think that accords me the same right as you"

"I could have! We would have pushed the date forward. You knew and you did nothing! Did you want him dead? I mean he has everything you wanted right!"

"Obi I never wanted my cousin dead, I.... loved him"

"Yes you loved him, of course you did. You loved him so much that you were kissing his wife while he was sick!"

Obiefune had truly meant all the things he said to her and she was too blind to see it.

You need to stop it! Seriously. You told them about my pregnancy when I haven't even disclosed that information to anyone! What is your problem? Stop trying to fill in his role, he just died! What we had was in the past and honestly we have no future, you and I. So stop! Stay the hell away from me and stop fixing things in this house! "

"Obi I am only trying to help! That's all I've been trying to do for you. Is that wrong? What did I do wrong? Please tell me"

"You are here and he is not"

More tears seeped out of Obi's eyes while Akubueze became alarmed. He tried to speak to Obi, even apologized for bringing up her late husband because he thought him to be the reason why she cried.

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

Obi could remember how much Obiefune craved intimacy with her. Yet he settled for a kiss, a kiss she didn't realize was what he saw as payment for giving her up and saving her husband. A kiss she threw to his face while she accused him of wanting her husband dead. Obiefune still stayed with her when she had requested his presence after the burial.

Obi realized at that moment why nature had decided to punish her when she arrived at the village. It was the same reason that led her to where it all began, their spot.

The universe was trying to send a clear message to her, her peace was tied to Obiefune's.

Obi stood up wiped her tears and bade Akubueze a farewell that he saw strange before proceeding to call Chioma.

"I haven't been able to reach him for days. I think Obiefune just needs time alone"

The words broke Obi's heart the more. She wished she could fix things with him badly.

What should have been grief turned to longing. When her sons arrived two months later, Obi hoped Obiefune would also show up. She spent time with the children and even found out from them that Obiefune's mother had been visiting them constantly while she was away. Obi wasn't pleased at first but she realized that the woman also had a right to her grandchildren.

"Obi he's in Lagos now. He called me yesterday to tell me. Apparently he was in the village before he left" Chioma had told her after she dropped the boys.

As the time approached for her to leave the village, she realized exactly what she needed to do. A night before her departure with her sons, daa Nkem had announced about her marriage and that of her sisters. They all planned to wed the same day, after waiting for so long for such to happen.

Obi's father had arrived at her house before she did and he came with grave news. It turned out that Obi's step mother was in almost the same predicament as her late husband's.

The news made Obi subject members of her household to a mandatory test to ascertain the state of their kidneys.

Her father had explained the urgency of the situation and requested for her assistance. The money, Obi willingly gave her father even though it drained what was left of the money her husband used to stock in her account.

She had visited them at the hospital after the surgery and could see how grateful her step sisters were. She could feel how surprised they were when they saw her. Obi knew that she visited because it was the humane thing to do and her father was pleased with her effort.

Benjamin's death was slowly putting things into perspective for her. It taught her how easily people could leave the world and she knew she had to salvage what remained of her relationship with her father. She started by visiting his recuperating wife and it seemed well accepted.

Chioma teased her of having a pot belly as her pregnancy progressed to the fourth month. People always showed her sympathy whenever they recognized her as Benjamin's widow. They all encouraged her and gave her piteous looks that she had grown accustomed to. She was either getting such from her children's school, Church or along their street.

Her mind went back to the situation she had at hand. Her sons were to celebrate their 9th birthday without Benjamin and also Obiefune was supposedly coming back because of Benjamin's will. He had successfully kept her out of his life for months and she did not blame him for it. Obi only wished that he at least thought of his sons.

"Mummy, aunty Chioma's mummy said she'll buy us phones for our birthday!"

Her sons, declared pulling her out her thoughts. Obi was uncomfortable with the announcement and decided she would have a word with Mrs. Ukaegbu.

"Where's your aunt Chioma?"

"She's with Uncle Chukwudi, should I call her? I don't think we should go there mummy, Uncle Chukwudi is kneeling down in front of her with a ring " her son whispered into her ear chuckling

Obi had been furious with Chioma for allowing her mother to make promises that would only cause her problems but when she found out that Chukwudi was proposing to Chioma she decided it was unwise.

Finally the two had decided to stop fooling themselves.

Obi led her children into the house and decided to prepare dinner. It was just the three of them besides Chioma who visited occasionally. Her sisters had already started school while her brother was in his final semester.

The house felt different without the other occupants and Obi felt terribly lonely. Maybe it would all change in the nearest future, she did not know for certain. She often slept with her sons but decided to sleep in her room, to give Chioma and Chukwudi enough privacy. As she lay on her bed with her hand on her growing baby bump, she realized that her life had slowly lost its meaning. Others moved forward while she was at a place she did not want to be. Was it because of Obiefune? She did not know the answer to that but she believed strongly that time would tell.