Chapter 80

UNCERTAINTY

"These boys are definitely going over to your parents for holiday. They could spend more time with them and I'll finally rest. The two of them have broken a total of 5vases, an uncountable number of plates and now just look at! Look at what they did to my chair! They want to drive me insane! "Obi lamented as she observed what remained of her brown colored cushion.

Chioma observed her friend who was almost on the verge of tears. She was amused by her friend's reaction and fought very hard to stifle her laughter.

"Chioma this is not funny! How am I going to fix this? Who even gave them so much ink? And where are the people who are supposed to be watching them?" Obi called out to her siblings who were preoccupied with themselves to even stay with her children.

Chukwuemeka and Chukwuebuka were covered in so much black ink that only their eyes could be made out on their face.

"They look like the walking dead! " Chioma stated laughing

"All of you were present in this house when this happened, now look at my children, just look at them! You are supposed to be supervising them"

Ifenna and Oluebube laughed at the picture before them, much to Obi's disappointment while Tobe made efforts to remedy the situation.

"They were with brother Obiefune, that was why we left them alone. " Tobe hinted at observing the container of ink which was almost empty.

Obi, Chioma and Funmi had gone to the market to get things for the Christmas celebration hoping that she had enough chaperones for her children at home. Jude was left with his own children and Chioma was the only one who did not worry about such.

"Wait Obiefune was here with them? He must have been the one who got them the ink or paint or whatever this is! Tobe, biko help me move this chair to the store"

Ifenna and Oluebube took the boys by their hand and led them to the bathroom for them to be cleaned up.

"These boys are something else! Why would Bibi buy them ink and leave them with it? Where is he by the way?"

Obi rolled her eyes at Chioma settling herself on a seat because of her exhausting experience at the market.

"It is true o, I even forgot we went out together. He must have left them for a reason. So what is happening with you two? I know you have been dodging this conversation but honestly I feel like the two of you are just missing a big opportunity to be together. God decided to use my cousin Benjamin, may his humble soul rest in peace, to grant the two of you liberty to be together and suddenly you decide you are going to settle things in court! Inukwa m "(imagine)

Chioma settled beside Obi who made no attempt to respond to her statement and glared at her.

"Ọ gịnị kwanu? (What is it?)It is the right thing to do, besides I still need time to mourn my husband. Besides your brother does not want to marry me and neither do I. Honestly just drop this whole thing, things are not going to work out between us"

Obi sighed deeply "I don't know who I want to kill first, you or Obiefune. Gịnị ka ina ekwu ihe a? (What are you even saying?) All of a sudden, my own brother doesn't want to marry you!"

Chioma threw her hands in the air out of exasperation.

"Chi honestly I don't know why you are disturbing yourself. Your brother said to me on that day and I quote

Benjamin the so called better man decided to treat you like an Object, passing you off to me like some gift. Did he think he was doing me a favor? If they're not ready to contest that will, I'll make sure I do it with my last dime. And it's not because I don't like the idea of being wealthy, it's because I don't want to marry you. I used to want to but now I don't want to marry another man's widow. It does not speak well for me, besides I have made plans to move on and live my life and honestly I am ready to be so selfish this damn time! That I would only put my own needs above everyone else's"

Chioma's eyes widened out of shock." Bibi said that! Obiefune my own brother said that! Was he drunk? Was he high?" The question drew Obi to laughter

"I don't blame him for saying all those, to be fair I had been quite difficult to him. And maybe it is for the best, so stop trying to push the two of us together. Your dream was for us to become sisters in laws and finally you are marrying my cousin so it's a win-win situation Inugo. Stop stressing yourself, we were not meant to be, besides your brother has a woman now and it would be unfair to impose such on his happiness "Obi replied on a grim note

“Bibi has gịnị?(What?) Who said that? And why do you sound so sad about it? Obi just say the truth, I am your friend and I know you very well. Do you still love Obiefune? "

"She's quite young and very beautiful, her name is Alison." Obi promptly replied getting to her feet

Chioma recognized who the lady was and smiled" You just gave me an abstract answer, stop evading biko. Just give me a straight answer jare. Do you love him or not? "

"Does it even matter? Your brother is with someone and quite true I care about him. Why won't I, he's the father of those monstrosities in the bathroom whom I love so much. Besides maybe I don't need to love two Ukaegbu's, I already love one soo much. "Obi reached out to Chioma and patted her shoulder.

"Thank you so much for the gift, I forgot all about it and I was even hoping you would mention it while we were at the market, but you didn't. You sef and secret gifts, but it is very beautiful and I love it"

Chioma was completely clueless about what Obi insinuated and stared at her with her mouth wide open.

"Are you just trying to change the topic or is the new way of rendering people speechless? What are you talking about?"

Obi was bemused by the answer she was getting from Chioma "Ah Ah now! The necklace I saw on my bed. The gift? Didn't you leave a gift for me?"

Chioma shook her head slowly while Obi was surprised.

"I didn't, I already gave you all the things I bought for you, besides the only gift I am offering you with my whole heart is my ball- less handsome brother"

"That's very strange, maybe it was Tobe then, I'll find out. And stop calling your brother ball-less he's not exactly inactive down there. It functions quite well, he's just not productive and I'd very much prefer the necklace to him thank you" Obi stated with a grin and aroused Chioma's curiosity

"How would you know he's still active? You are affirming the active state of the private organ of a man you want nothing to do with. Obi that sounds strange doesn't it?"

Obi was suddenly embarrassed as she realized the implication of what she had stated. She cleared her throat and tried to salvage what remained of her thoughtless confession." It's not like that.. I just.. It's just that... Well he should be? "

Chioma focused her eyes on Obi's face waiting for her to finally finish her statement.

"Stop staring at me like that biko! It makes me very uncomfortable" The embarrassment caused Obi to flush furiously

"Like what! I am just waiting for you to finish your poor attempt at lying. Did you have sex with him? And please don't tell me it's the night before he left at the family house after Benjamin's burial"

"No! Of course not! Why would you!...." Obi paused "Why would you think we did such? I wouldn’t disrespect Benjamin like that" She finished with a whisper

"I don't seem to recall seeing Obiefune in the guest room where others slept and honestly something of that nature has happened before"

"You seem to also forget that back then I was not married" Obi retorted

"So if the two of you didn't do anything, why are you blushing?"

"Well because I am embarrassed, that's why"

"Have you thought of the possibility of that gift coming from Obiefune? I'm just saying, did you check for SIS? "

"I don't think your brother would want to buy me gifts and there was no SIS" Obi slowly got back to seat and sat down after she discovered that Chioma was not ready to let things go

"Why?"

"We had a fight because I told the boys who he was to them without his consent. He came over and he was not very happy about it. We said things to each other and I just... Well he didn't buy the gift that's what you should know"

"You can't be too sure Obi, my brother has a habit of hiding gifts and you should know that. He is also very bad at bearing grudges, maybe it was a peace offering. Trust me, that is how I've been able to keep him on a leash. He's too sensitive, Obiefune cannot handle not being in good terms with someone he loves "Obi tried to interrupt but Chioma continued" And no matter what he says, I think Obiefune is still very much in love with you and also does want to marry you, it is just his ego and your ego that's in the way. Maybe all he needs is that gentle nudge from you. With how things have been going on between the two of you, I think Obiefune is just afraid. You have done and said things that'll make a man who is obsessed with you have a rethink"

"That might be true, but I have already apologized. I didn't mean it when I said I wished he died instead of Benjamin. But honestly Chioma after my last encounter with Obiefune I am positive that he doesn't love me. Maybe we are still attracted to each other, which is not so difficult to develop. We share a history and two sons that'll always bring up remnants of what we used to feel for each other but right now, Chioma I can assure that the love is not there. "

"What else happened during the confrontation?”Chioma threw in out of the blues

"What? "

"You seem so sure that Obiefune does not love you. Something must have happened for you to sound this positive. "

Obi thought of how to evade but knew she was a hopeless failure at lying and decided to come clean.

"We almost had sex that day" She observed Chioma's face brighten up in a matter of minutes.

"I knew it! That's how you figured out his activeness"

"No! It is not and I am not proud of it. Something happened one day when I slept with him"

"Slept with him?" Chioma interrupted amused

"Slept on the same bed with him and my sons and also the second time he kissed me. I happened to find myself on top of him and.."

"On top of him?" Chioma cut in once more, posing Obi a level of frustration with her explanation

"I woke up on top of him and stop interrupting me. I woke up on top of him and he had a Ummm, I felt his arousal and that was purely biological. You should know that as a nurse. The second time I think it was because we hugged for so long and this last almost... Was because of my pregnancy. I think somehow I am getting these urges and since he is the only male around , it just happened. Besides he was in my bedroom and you should know that confrontations often lead to that"

Chioma was almost rolling on the floor when Obi finished." Only confrontations between lovers! Obi the two of you are just wasting time that you do not have! "

"It was sexual attraction and our rage probably pushed us to it" Obi declared in her defense

"Or it is simply the love you have for each other that has birthed this sexual attraction. Seriously Obi think about it!"

Obi was about to respond before Obiefune walked in shirtless. The pair grew quiet while he observed the two women before his eyes fell on the floor.

"What did they do with the ink? " He enquired with concern

"They painted the chair " Chioma replied laughing. She quickly got up and excused herself. She seemed to have forgotten something before she came back and spoke to her brother. "Bibi, ironically speaking! Learn to wear more clothing. We don't want to make people uncomfortable!" Chioma smirked at Obi, who glared at her with fury.

Obi slowly got up to leave before Obiefune stopped her.

He cleared his throat before scratching the back of his head. Obi struggled not to stare at his body but failed hopelessly. Her eyes somehow found a safe place to look upon, his birthmark.

"Obi I am very sorry about what the boys did. It is actually my fault, I shouldn't have left them with the ink. I was about to help them paint a board because Chukwuemeka said he wanted me to tutor him in math and wanted to create a black board. That was when Jude called me. He told me that he was informed that someone tried to break through the gates at the backyard, I went to investigate and I figured out that it needed to be fixed. I had to help out when the men arrived and I forgot about the children''

"Is it Okay now?" Obi enquired concerned

"Yes, it is. I learnt a thing or two about welding" He replied with a smile

Obi smiled back, his smile was something she wasn't immune to.

She nodded then to walk away once again. Obiefune held her hand hindering her from taking another step.

"That's not all, I should apologize. I owe you an apology for what I did the other night. I shouldn't have kissed you or even subjected you to such..."

"It is fine. It was borne out of rage and I'm sorry for not informing you first before telling the boys." Obi interrupted

"No, it's not okay, what I did was wrong. You are pregnant and you shouldn't be treated the way I treated you. It was pure disrespect to my late cousin and to you. Obi you are not lustful in fact you are quite strong. And I admire that fidelity you've given Benjamin."

Obi was surprised with his statement." Thank... You"

Obiefune flashed her another smile and Obi could feel her heart melt.

"About my visitor..... "

"Obiefune, you don't have to worry about anything. I understand perfectly who she is to you. "Obi interrupted

"You do?" He enquired with a grin

"That’s great. I thought you got the wrong impression because I would never disrespect you like that. This is your house and I'm merely living in it. I wanted to tell you but you had been avoiding me since. I don't know if we should keep what happened a secret because she came around and... "

"Don't worry about it. I am actually very happy for you. You deserve it, you deserve to be happy too. And as for what happened, I would never disclose such "She gave him a forced smile then walked away.

Obiefune was happy that she didn't get the wrong impression and decided he was going to invite his book editor over, more often. It did strike him as odd when Obi told him that he deserved to be happy. Maybe she meant that his book was going to bring him happiness.

He walked into his room and saw Chioma waiting on his bed like an assassin and was startled.

"Just so you know Bibi, She thinks you are in love with Alison and she thinks I gave her a necklace" Obiefune's smile died down immediately and he realized exactly what Obiukwu had meant earlier.

Obi got to her room and began to flip through the pages of the document their lawyer had given her. She could remember his words vividly and their meeting replayed in her head.

You have a very strong case Mrs. ìgwè. This is one of the statutory limitations to testamentary freedom in Nigeria. Provision for family and dependents.

Your husband's testament can be challenged in court on this one ground. Reasonable provision for dependents which The Wills Laws of Abịa state have made provisions for.

In this case named persons whose needs were being maintained either wholly or partly by your late husband before his death are backed up by the law to apply to court for reasonable provision to be made for them under the estate of the deceased, even contrary to the desires of the Testator as expressed in his Will. It is non -arguably stated in the law. This may also include relatives of your husband such as his brothers or sisters which doesn't seem to be the case here if I'm correct.

"My husband was an only child" Obi had stated

"That makes everything even easier and considering that his children are still infants and unborn, there's no reason you won't receive a suitable judgment in the probate court

The man gestured at a book he fished out from his cabinet and both Obi and Mr Igwe glanced at it.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1of this law, where a person

dies and is survived by any of the following persons – (a) the wife or

wives or husband of the deceased; and (b) a child or children of the

deceased, that person or persons may apply to the court for an order on

the ground that disposition of the deceased estate affected by his will is

not such as to make reasonable financial provision for the applicant.

From what you have stated, the main benefactor is your late husband's cousin and even the marital clause does nothing for neither you nor the unborn children and the ones he had been providing for before his demise.

"He did state that his cousin is to make provisions as he deems fit if only we are joined in matrimony" Obi hinted

"Mrs. Igwe it should not just be as his cousin deems fit. There are so many things I find quite funny here. What if the so-called cousin has a spouse and is reluctant to remarry?"

"So what you are saying is that my grandchildren will get their inheritance?" Mr. Igwe questioned with glint in his eyes.

"Certainly Sir"

Obi snapped out of her thoughts and sat on her bed. She was already having second thoughts about embarking on that mission. But she didn't have a choice especially after she discovered Obiefune had a love interest. They were to make appearances in court the next week

"Benjamin you should have just made things easy for me. He doesn't really love me as you thought. Why would you want me to even marry him?" Obi sighed before laying on the bed. She had been sleeping in Chioma's room but decided she had to clear things up with her husband's ghost.

Obi's phone rang and she quickly picked it up.

"Good day Mrs. Igwe , I have been trying to get across to your father in law. We have a new development and I think you should pass the information across to him. The court is embarking on a strike!"

She froze when she heard his statement and when she ended the call, she quickly rushed downstairs to Chioma's room.

"Obi ọ gịnị? (What is it?)Why are you panting? Don't tell me you were running in this condition?" Chioma asked as she noticed Obi's appearance

"You were right! I don't think his ghost is happy. This is no coincidence at all!" Obi replied pacing around the room

"Obi biko I am confused"

"The court is embarking on a strike!" Obi stated warily

"That's normal now, is this not Nigeria? How long one week? One month? "

"No! No! No! 8 months!"