Chapter 75

THEIR FATHER

"Mummy! Mummy!" The soft tiny voice called out to Obi while she slept.

"Mum! Wake up now!" The tiny infant voice drawled causing Obi's eyelids to flutter. She hesitantly sat up and rubbed her eyes before yawning.

Asserting her consciousness by blinking further, Obi heard her son call out to her again. "Muuuuummmy!"

Sitting up and pushing her back against the headboard of her bed, Obi calmly stared at the two pairs of eyes twinkling in the dark like owls on a tree at night. She made no statement still very much sleepy and exhausted but her silence further convinced the boys that she needed more tapping.

They tapped her leg and repeated "Mummy!" with a high pitched sequential rapidity that sent sleep packing.

"God please no more twins" Obi muttered before speaking to her children.

"ọ gịnị? What is it?" She croaked staring at the clock to figure out why she had a somewhat early invasion.

"Mummy! The party is today!" Chukwuemeka yelled still disappointed with his mother's lack of enthusiasm.

Obi finally pieced out what time it was and glared at her two children.

"What party biko! It is 3:45 am.. 3:45"

"Our party! You forgot! Mummy you forgot!" Chukwuebuka declared without concealing his disappointment.

"Your birthday party?" Obi enquired still trying to garner composure

"No! Our birthday is next week! End of the year party "Chukwuemeka replied with a chuckle

"End of the year party? Your school end of the year party?" Obi's brows arched up

"Yes!" the two boys chorused in unison

"Does it start by this time? It's too early and mummy is very tired. Let's just wait till 6am."

They threw Obi a disappointed look before scurrying off the bed. Obi heaved a sigh of relief and hoped to proceed with her prior engagement before they came rushing back.

"Mummy! We forgot to say good morning! " They climbed on to the bed and chorused the greeting before reluctantly stepping down. They made a move to leave before turning to Obi.

"Can we say good morning to the baby?" Chukwuemeka suggested

Obi slowly pulled the top of her very loose pajamas up exposing her steadily growing bump and gestured that they got it over with. The boys placed their little hands on her stomach.

The feel of their hands made her remember the time Benjamin felt her stomach

Can I feel them?" Obi could remember his voice as if he was there

"You shouldn't be moving"

"Please"

"They're too small, I don't think you can feel them"

"You'd be surprised, I think they can feel me" Benjamin had declared with a smile

"You seem to be smiling a lot for someone who almost died"

"I'm passing on a trait to my sons"

"How would you know if they're boys? I'm scared of that gender"

"I know they're boys, with all the masculine cologne you've sniffed, it'll be an error if they turn out to be girls".

The smile that crept on to Obi's face aroused her son's curiosity as he bent down to kiss her stomach and whisper words she couldn't hear. The little boy eyed his mother and proceeded to rub her stomach.

"What did you say to him?" Chukwuebuka enquired curiously

"I told him that when he comes out, I'll give him all the toys Dad bought for me, even the ones uncle Obiefune bought"

The name shot down her smile down

Chukwuemeka whispered his own words with a grin. She missed him terribly and hoped that she could at least still have his friendship, she never wanted to be his enemy but somehow she had turned herself to one.

"What did you say?" Obi asked the grinning boy.

"I said, please don't be a boy. I want a sister mummy" He declared with a sweet smile

Chukwuebuka was clearly disappointed with his brother and they soon began to bicker about which sex was better to have as siblings.

"If God gives me four boys won't I run mad? I've not been able to deal with just two"

The two boys stopped bickering and stared at their mother who was now resting her head on the headboard.

"Mom, will daddy see the baby now that he's in heaven?" Chukwuebuka asked concerned

Obi gestured that the boy comes closer and when he did she held him with her right hand while Chukwuemeka crept to the left side.

"Yes, he's seeing us right now and I think he's going to have a hand in deciding whether we'll have a boy or a girl. From the way I see it your father has already applied for twin boys"

The boys laughed at Obi's tone before she went back to sleep. Luckily for her they were also affected and dozed off in a matter of minutes.

Obi's rest was short-lived when Chioma came into her room. She moved the boys to the other side before creeping onto the bed beside Obi. She warily opened her eyes and smiled at Chioma. "Don't tell me you're here because of the party too"

"Mba o, I'm here for something else"

Obi yawned for the umpteenth time before availing Chioma her part sleepy attention. "ọ gịnị?"

She snuggled close to Obi before speaking. "Chukwudi proposed to me and I accepted"

Obi chuckled lightly before responding" I know! I was relieved with the news when I heard it. You too have played this hanky panky game for too long. Chineke emela, I can't wait for you to feel what having a pot belly feels like"

Chioma smiled at her friend "Who told you? I felt it was not the right time to announce it, with everything that's been going on in your life. "

"The boys did, they saw Chukwudi do the deed. Anyways Chi I am not offended. I have dealt with so much this year, it's only good news like this that I want to hear. I am so happy for the two of you "Obi replied

"Thanks babe, also I was wondering if I could invite my mom for the children's party " Chioma added slowly

"Honestly Chioma I don't know, your mother has been going all out grandma on my children and you know that I haven't even told the boys anything. Besides the two of us don't get along very well, I feel as if it is a terrible idea"

"Obi, dad also wants to come. I know the boys don't know yet but honestly my parents are thrilled that they have grandchildren. It's not everyday that your brother without testicles produces children out of the blues. Obi biko just allow them for my sake, for the sake of my future children, your god children. As a welcome to the family gift. "

Obi reluctantly agreed to her request especially because of Mr. Obidike who she really respected, which drew a squeal from Chioma .

"Your mother is not buying my children phones! "Obi warned sternly turning to her pillow

" She won't ịnụ.... Obi is everything okay with you? I know that for the past four months you've been more withdrawn than you usually are. I know it's not easy and I can't actually fathom how it feels, but I just want you to make a move at your own happiness. I still feel like I live with your shadow sometimes and I miss you and I mean the real you "

Obi nodded, sinking her head to the pillow" I have changed so much in a short while. I just wish everything could go back to normal. I always wake up in the morning and just stare at his photos. I use his cologne because it makes me think he's here. I've been using my mother's pomade for years and honestly I think a huge part of me died too when my mother did. Benjamin revived it a little and now he's gone too. The worst part is, I don't even know who I used to be" Obi stated on a somber note

Chioma reached out and patted her shoulder" Everything will be fine. Have you ever thought of letting go of all those attachments? Maybe they're anchor to this change that has enveloped you. Maybe you need to discard those things and just learn to accept fate. They would obviously understand, just think about it ịnụ "

Obi nodded" Now that you've successfully limited my nap time, when is the wedding? "

" May...... Chukwudi and I are not in any rush "

“May? I nụkwa m. Did everyone decide all of a sudden that May is the month for weddings. Besides it's five months from now, next year would just make it sound too far, which means you people are still in a rush jare. Daa Nkem and her sisters are also having their weddings then. It's dee Ogbo that I do not understand his own relationship"

Chioma's paroxysmal laughter pulled the children out of sleep and she took them to their room to bathe them.

Chioma had spoken earlier with her brother who planned on arriving at Umuahia much later. Obiefune had changed his phone number and email, just because he didn't want anyone to reach him. But unfortunately for him, his plans fell through and his Visa was denied.

He stayed back in Lagos and decided to finish a project about his book whilst working hard to get the embassy to rectify their problems with him.

"Bibi for me it's a sign! Maybe God doesn't want you to leave the country till you hear Benjamin's dying wish. Besides Obi has not been herself since you left. I know she's covering some of it up with grief, but I can tell she misses you"

"Chioma biko, I have thought things through and I think I deserve to move on, I should have a long time. She misses me but she wants me dead in place of Benjamin and I don’t even blame her, they were married after all. We are just not right for each other, besides how do you think people will see us. She is Benjamin's widow and I am his cousin. I honestly do not want to add more thorns to my flesh "

" Since when do you care about people's opinion? You did not care about that when you were kissing her months ago. Do you still love her? "

"Of course I do, I don't think I'll ever stop caring about her but I need to put my life in order. I need to live and probably hope to love just like she did"

"I'll be coming back today, apparently Mr. John saw it necessary to send an investigator to me. It's not as I disappeared o. They can't read the will without me according to him and the deadline is approaching. Help me tell Obi that I'll be coming back"

Chioma deliberately hid that piece of information from Obiukwu and anticipated her reaction while she helped her nephews prepare.

The drive to the children's school was chatty and they laughed at most of the things her children told her.

"That boy chijioke, miss Angela warned him but he did not hear. Do you know that he pooped in front of the class while rehearsed and the whole class laughed at him" Chukwuemeka stated

"I think it's the fault of the parents, they should always mind what they feed their children. It's not always about loading food in their flasks" Chioma noted and Obi concurred

"He's the one playing King Herod" Chukwuebuka exposed with a grin

"Let him not display a Herodic poop today o" Chioma replied. Her phone buzzed and she found out that her brother had arrived. She texted him the location of the event center where the party was being held, claiming that she went on an errand there.

"Onye? (Who) Chukwudi?" Obi asked bringing the vehicle to a halt in front of the building.

"No! It's emm my mummy, they're on their way"

The event started minutes after they arrived and when Mr. Okechukwu and his wife arrived, Obi felt slightly uncomfortable. She hadn't cleared the air between her and his wife. They focused on the children rendering performances on the stage. Obi watched with enthusiasm and amusement as a little girl played the pregnant Mary.

"Push, Mary Push, Push out the savior of the world now" the boy portraying Joseph stated and the crowd roared with laughter

"I did not see this in the Bible" Obi whispered to Chioma who was also quaking with laughter.

"That boy totally forgot his line and improvised, chi m o!"

Her two sons were in costumes, they were amongst the three wise men. Obi smiled as they mounted the stage and began to demonstrate what they had been taught.

The children with another boy began a song and presented gifts to the baby who the 8year old Mary was struggling to hold in place. Obi suspected that the baby was the one who had released a Herodic poop this time with the way Mary's face contorted. The little girl was indeed struggling to act. Obi thought it amusing that a parent would donate their child for the play, even though a teacher acted as a chaperone behind them. The curtain made her inconspicuous but the audience could hear low whispers from time to time. At a point, the human baby was replaced with a toy, much to little Mary's relief

We three kings of Orient are

Bearing gifts we traverse afar.

Field and fountain, moor and mountain,

Following yonder star.

Chukwuebuka was the first to sing handing Joseph a nearly wrapped gift while singing passionately.

Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,

Gold I bring to crown Him again,

King forever, ceasing never

Over us all to reign.

Obi was filled with pride as she watched her son demonstrate and she could tell with the smiles plastered on the faces of the Ukaegbu's that they were swirling with pride too. Her eyes briefly met that of Chioma's mother and she nodded at her before averting her gaze. The other boy presented the second gift before it got to Chukwuemeka's turn.

Myrrh is mine: Its bitter perfume

Breaths a life of gathering gloom.

His demeanor as he sang his own part brought tears to Obi's eyes. The little boy demonstrated as he sang what the third gift symbolized. She locked eyes with Chioma who patted her back and whispered into her ears.

"I think he has beat Bibi's performance if he made you cry"

Sorrowing...... sighing..... bleeding dying,

Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

Chukwuemeka ended the song with tears brimming in his eyes.

After the presentation, the parents clapped in unison and whistled for their children on the stage.

"That was a wonderful performance don't you agree?" The MC enquired as he stepped on to the stage. The little children took a bow before proceeding to get off the stage. The MC held Chukwuemeka back and whispered something in his ears that made the boy smile.

"So this little boy and I have agreed that he will not step off this stage till his parents explain how he got this amazing talent of making people cry.

Just look at even Vivian's mother is crying and she only cries when she's asked to pay electricity bills for her boutique"

The crowd roared with laughter because most parents were aware of the woman's plight as she often stated it in PTA meetings. Obi laughed as, she remembered the words of the woman

"My problem is that this school is slowly turning to NEPA, you'll charge us and make promises yet you won't keep any of them. If I cry here like I've been crying for my business that has not received an inkling of light since I started paying, you people will not like it o. After crying I'll just withdraw my children, I mean it! I can’t pay such huge amounts as fees and watch my children perform poorly academically "

Obi found it funny that the woman threatened the school with tears. Other parents like, Mr. Peter and Mrs. Nancy were ready to tear the headmistress apart.

"Who is your mother?"

" Mrs. Obiukwu Iheoma Igwe" The little boy promptly replied.

"Mrs Obiukwu Iheoma Igwe please come up to the stage"

"Are you sure you didn't misplace the names young man? If your mother is Obiukwu, which name will your father bear?"

The parents laughed and even Obi laughed at the silly joke. When was her name never an issue?

She stepped on to the stage and hugged her son before standing behind him.

"You don't look like a mother, young man I told you to call your mother not your sister!"

The crowd roared with laughter and Obi found herself suddenly shy.

"I wonder when your mother got married o. So Mrs. Obiukwu how did this young man become so talented? Do you have an actor in your house? This boy cried while singing that song, it's not everyday that you see such talents and passion"

Obi laughed so hard "Honestly I don't know, I think it's what he learnt from the movies. Unfortunately we don't have Nollywood members in our family, maybe we can start from him"

"I think the father will know better, the father of this boy should climb to the stage. We need to investigate this matter. Mrs. Obi wants to hide the secret from us, fathers are always truthful. Mothers can lie eh"

The crowd roared with laughter and the women booed the MC.

"I just received a call from my mother, no food for me tonight" he continued and the women roared with laughter.

"The father come o" Obi called the MC's attention to explain things to him, but when he saw Mr. Obidike rise, she felt it was better if he stood in for Benjamin.

Chukwuebuka ran out from the backstage and joined his mother and brother. Obi turned to face the boy and whispered how proud she was of him. The distraction kept her from ascertaining when Mr. Obidike got to the stage.

"No wonder these boys look like oyinbo. Very handsome daddy, I remember when I was young, I used to tell my friends that I was adopted. Please don't ask me why?" another laughter ensued from the crowd

Obi was distracted with her son's costume that almost fell off, pregnancy made it difficult to bend so she took longer than usual to get her son in order.

"Oya tell us the truth! How did you produce this Ramsey Noah? "

"Their mother was a cry baby, I think that's where he got it from"

Obi was stunned by what she heard and quickly turned to affirm that it wasn't her imagination. That sounded so much like his voice.

She saw him smiling at the very amused crowd before he slowly turned to face her. At that instant her heart leapt with joy and she struggled to maintain her composure on the stage.

"I said it! Fathers are truthful"

Obiefune walked to the part of the stage where they were and stooped low to hug the boys. The other words the MC spewed sounded incoherent to Obi as his presence drowned everything.

He stood up to face her before whispering into her ears "You see what you passed on to our sons, now the whole world knows you're a cry baby." Obi smiled at his words

"Chioma did this, didn't she?" Obi questioned staring at Chioma who could not hide her excitement from where she sat.

"Yes she did and I think you're right. We should stick to the original clause. Because for a girl with a boy's name, you certainly do not look like one."

He flashed Obi a smile that made her heart thump furiously and she smiled at him.

"You're their father abi?" The MC asked Obiefune and he grew speechless. He stared at Obiukwu who nodded at the MC. "Yes, yes I am" Obiefune replied

"The man was right after all, his wife is Genevieve Nnaji, she's already crying. This is not Nollywood o"

Obi laughed blinking away the tears that formed in her eyes. Something in her had come alive all of a sudden and it was because of the man beside her. As they walked down the stage after taking pictures, the boys practically jumped on Obiefune out of excitement as he guided them into their dressing room with Obiukwu. She still couldn't believe he was there with them and she only hoped he would be willing to stay.