Chapter 76

A NEW CLAUSE

"So you are coming back today? I hope it's before the meeting, you can't arrive late. . Ngwanu I can't believe you're a graduate Tobe. It feels just like yesterday, biko mee lọta. You deserve a feast. And make sure you come back before 1pm ịnụ, I'm so proud of you! Alright, take care"

Obi ended the call with Tobe who had just finished his final exams. She had literally watched her brother grow into a man and the fact that he was responsible enough to finish his education without problems was one thing Obi was grateful for.

The times where she heard tales of young boys joining secret cults that led to their untimely deaths or even being involved in vices that led to their expulsion often shook Obi. She had never been on a school campus and could not fathom the kind of pressure certain students were on, but she did have faith that her little brother would excel.

Ifenna and Oluebube came back that morning because of the message passed across to them and the brief Christmas holiday that the school had granted them. The girls distracted themselves with conversations with the boys about what had been happening since they went away. Her sons chirped like over fed birds leaving no detail out while Obi prepared lunch in her kitchen.

Chioma had gone out with Chukwudi, the two couldn't get enough of themselves much to Obi's amusement. If not for the businesses that held him up Chukwudi would have been spending all his time with Chioma.

The previous week had both unsettled and excited Obi. Something about Obiefune's return had brought her out of the gloom she had locked herself and slowly happiness was creeping in. She could remember running her hand around the photograph taken of her and Obiefune with their children. It felt so right as she stared at their happy faces. The picture was worth making a portrait of. The picture and the thought of having a family with Obiefune made her giddy with excitement and for the first time she felt her baby move with a suddenness that made her smile.

"Maybe they wanted the same thing too" Obi thought to herself. The fact that she thought of the possibility of having twins was owing to her husband's dying wish. A tinge of guilt attacked her heart as she thought of Benjamin. How can she move on? It would be unfair to him

Obi still revived the events of that day in her mind like it had happened yesterday. After taking pictures with Obiefune whom she was utterly surprised to see, they went down to the children's dressing room where the boys changed into their original outfit.

The boys were thrilled to see Obiefune each hounding him with questions that he did well to answer.

He helped Chukwuemeka out of his clothes while Obi struggled with a sprightly and inquisitive Chukwuebuka . She struggled with the buttons of his shirt while Obiefune had already done that of Chukwuemeka and was at his shoe lace.

"I missed you! Nobody plays war with us again, Daddy is in heaven and you just left us. Uncle Tobe is always reading, he said we are a bunch of nuisance and the game will not propel his academic advancement." The little boy chuckled as he mimicked Tobe's voice." Aunty Ifenna says over seriousness will kill him"

Obi chuckled at the boys words and so did Obiefune. His throaty laugh pulled Obi's gaze to his and their eyes met for a brief moment before they continued with their task

"Uncle Tobe is so boring, he says we should be playing scrabble. Did you see when I sang on the stage?" Chukwuebuka enquired

"Yes I did, you were so good eh, I owe you a new collection of toy cars" Obiefune stated causing the boy to squeal

"Uncle what of me now? Didn't you see my own part was harder, mummy ọkwá ya" Chukwuemeka asked. The way he addressed Obiefune made Obi's heart cringe and for a moment she felt disappointed that the boys couldn't address Obiefune by what he was to them.

"I'll get you those too, you boys made me so proud today. If you continue at this rate, you'll have girls swooning over you in no time. You might even serenade them and get them to fall in love with you" Obiefune addressed them smiling. He had finished with Chukwuebuka and opted to help Obi with Chukwuemeka. His hands brushed hers for a brief moment and Obi felt a surge of currents emanate from the spot and dissipate down the root of other parts of her skin. Obi could tell that goose bumps were slowly creeping to her skin when she stared at Obiefune. He was oblivious to the things he was doing to her and probably didn't feel the same because his eyes never left the little boy till he finished.

Obi's eyes were glued to his face seeking for a way to strike a conversation with him.

"Mummy what is serenade? Did daddy do it for you?" Chukwuemeka enquired

The question pulled Obi out of her thoughts and she struggled with the answer as her brain decided to fail her at that instant.

"It is a love song that people sing directly to the one they love especially, one performed below the person's window in the evening" Obiefune promptly replied

"I don't think daddy did that, he said mummy fell in love with her because he was always carrying her on his shoulder"

"And his cooking!" Chukwuebuka chipped in.

Obi felt a bit uncomfortable with the way her sons were discussing things that happened with Benjamin freely with Obiefune. She saw that he didn't seem affected by it, instead he was amused but still hoped they would change the topic.

"Uncle, have you serenaded a girl before?" Chukwuemeka threw in

Obiefune laughed before answering the boy

"No, I haven't"

Chukwuebuka clearly disappointed with his response gave him a scowl before adding "Is that why you're not married?"

Obi flinched at the words and wished her son had never mentioned that fact.

"No, that's not it. In fact I didn't need to serenade girls to get them to fall for me. My good looks alone did that for me, besides the girl I fell in love didn't live in an environment suitable for such." Obiefune replied causing Obi to scoff and grin.

"They did not have a window? A house?" Chukwuemeka enquired

"No o, they actually did, so many houses in one place. And her window was close to that of her mother's, who threatened to deal with me..."

Obiefune whispered the last part into the boy's ears and did the same with his brother. Their faces had shock and fear written all over it.

"Thank God you didn't "the boys replied in unison

"Yes o, they would have thrown me out of the compound. I did give her something better"

The curiosity of the boys was suddenly aroused

" What? "

"I inscribed our names on a tree, right on the spot I realized that I was deeply in love with her. It took me days but she did love it. " he paused then added "right after she almost killed me because she thought it was for another girl"

Obi cleared her throat as the words resounded in her head

"Girls are so dramatic, I bet she was too dramatic too” Chukwuebuka Opined leaving a permanent smirk on Obiefune’s face and his mother’s mouth agape

“So why didn't you marry her? Where is she?"

"It's a long story, I'll tell you next time. Let's go see aunt Chioma and my parents.

The boys practically ran out at the mention of Chioma, leaving Obi with him. Something Obi had been craving for ever since he arrived. Obi suddenly felt awkward being left alone with him and the sudden silence that ensued with her children's departure made her even more uncomfortable.

Obiefune finally broke the silence as he helped her up. "When do we get the pictures?"

"Oh, before we leave. It is called" wait and take "Obi replied with a grin

"It is so wonderful how the world keeps developing. It used to take up to 3 days when we were their age"

Obi nodded and smiled at him still lost for words

"You've grown bigger, iri gbuo la mmadụ na nri. (You’ve finished all our food) How much do you eat now?" Obiefune teased

"Enough for three people, you can't blame me" Obi replied with a hearty laughter

"Twins?" Obiefune's brow arched up as he enquired

"I'm not sure but it might be. Listen Ummm Obiefune I am so...."

Obi was interrupted by her sons who dragged out the pair. "It's dance dance dance time!" The boys choruses breathlessly Obiefune flashed a smile at Obi before gently leading her to the dance flow.

They met Chioma who was just staring at families dancing to Christmas songs. The boys pulled her to her feet and she started whirling around with them as they danced to the song "Feliz Navidad" by Boney M.

Obi laughed so hard at how Chioma was trying to move her body. And soon her parents joined her on the dance floor after welcoming Obiefune. She reached out for a seat and settled down but Obiefune held her hand and pulled her to her feet again.

"Biko I can't dance to this song, I'm not exactly in the right condition to"

"Tata, don't worry I'll help you move around. You can’t be sitting, all these parents are dancing it'll make you look odd"

Obi froze for an instant when he called her by that name.

"Isi?"

"You're just making excuses, see that fat pregnant woman over there is dancing. Just look at how she's shaking her body. Is she not in the same condition as you are? "

Obi turned to the woman shaking her body so energetically with her protruding belly.

"If she continues dancing like this she'll have this baby here." Obi yelled as the music became louder and he laughed heartily.

Obiefune managed to turn her around few times dancing to the music

Feliz navidad

Feliz navidad

Feliz navidad

Prospero año y felicidad

Feliz navidad Feliz navidad Feliz navidad Prospero

año y felicidad

I wanna wish you a merry Christmas I wanna wish you a merry Christmas I wanna wish you a merry Christmas From the bottom of my heart

Obi laughed so much enjoying every bit of the time she spent there. It had been so long since she felt that happy. As Obiefune kept twirling her around also laughing at the scenery Obi realized the message the universe had been trying to pass across for months was very simple. "Obiefune meant not just peace but also her happiness". She had laughed so heart when she heard the news of the woman who went into labor at a school event.

Obiefune had left immediately after they arrived her home and she was disappointed when he turned down her offer of sleeping over. He told her that he wanted to spend time with his parents.

She shook off the thoughts and proceeded with her cooking, deep down she found herself wanting to impress Obiefune with her food. Tobe arrived at 11 am and Obi insisted that they waited till everyone called for the meeting arrived before they had their lunch. She playfully slapped Tobe's head when he claimed the idea was ridiculous.

Obi knew that she took extra hours in preparing with the sole intent of impressing Obiefune. She laughed at her somewhat amusing attempt at gaining his attention. She applied her mother's pomade and sprayed a generous amount of Benjamin's perfume with a light make up before stepping down. She had a glance of herself at her mirror and acknowledged the fact that she looked like a pregnant mare seeking the attention of a stallion.

It wasn't long before Obi felt her tummy churn in an uncomfortable manner. Something made her stomach uncomfortable and she blamed it on the cooking she had been doing. Maybe the fish was affecting her in some way.

Mr. John arrived early followed by Obiefune who Obi was excited to see Mr. ìgwè and finally Jude. She insisted that they have lunch before reading the will and they were pleased with the idea. Mr. Igwe passed presents along to the boys apologizing for his absence at their party.

After lunch everyone except the children went to the living room and awaited Benjamin's will.

Obi became rather nauseous as Mr. John proceeded with his job but tried to hold it in. Something must have aggravated her the sudden discomfort but unfortunately she didn't know what it was.

The last will And Testament of Mr Igwe Benjamin Obinnaya

Mr. John displayed the documents so that the occupants of the room saw the self -proving Affidavit, displaying the date the will was prepared with Benjamin's signature and Jude as his witness. When they affirmed what they saw, Mr. John proceeded.

I, Igwe Benjamin Obinnaya, residing at 1 Obiora Crescent , Umuahia, Abịa state, declare this to be my Will, and I revoke any and all wills and codicils I previously made.

Obi struggled to maintain composure as beads of sweat encased her body. She did not understand what was happening to her body.

Obiefune tapped her and asked if she was well as he noticed how pale she had become. But when she assured him that she was good, he averted his gaze to Mr. John.

The lawyer began with the first article about the identification of Benjamin's family members before proceeding to payment of his funeral expenses and his debt.

Mr. John continued down to the distribution of his property. He relinquished some of his property in Enugu to Obi's siblings each getting an equal percentage and also a few millions of naira at their disposal. Obi's eyes grew misty and even her siblings were overwhelmed with what they heard.

The lawyer proceeded while Obiefune still wondered deeply why he was present at the meeting.

Benjamin left some jewelry he had acquired from his mother to his father. He stated that his father was to do as he pleased with them while he left some for Obiukwu.

Obi struggled further to keep her stomach still, determined to get to the end of the meeting before dealing with her ill health. Sadly the more she tried the more she failed.

I give the rest of my property and all policies and proceeds of insurance covering those property including ;All my hotels at Enugu, Abịa state, Imo State, Lagos state as well as my estates in the aforementioned states, with sole rights to management and access to my savings in my banks to Charity.

Heads snapped and Obi was stunned by what she heard. Everyone was surprised by what the lawyer said, but when Mr ìgwè sought to oppose, Mr. John continued.

The sole ownership of the aforementioned would be passed to my Cousin Mr Obiefune Ukaegbu, if and only if he is joined in matrimony with my wife Mrs Obiukwu Iheoma Igwe a year after my demise.

Both the shock from the statement and Obi's Ill health forced her to empty her bowels at the spot scarcely seconds after Mr. Igwe finished the reading the words