The Blue House S03 E05

Dapo waited for the children to be in bed before he confronted Ronke. “So what have you been telling Sister Funso?”
Ronke gave him a weird look. “What have I been telling Sister Funso? The only thing we’ve been talking about is choosing a good secondary school for Joke. What did she say I told her?”
“You’re lying. She came to me today after the fellowship and accused me of being a bad parent. She couldn’t have been so bold to say such a thing if you didn’t tell her what been going on in this house.”
Ronke didn’t know how to respond to Dapo’s accusations so she laughed and nestled herself into the bed.  

“Don’t turn your back on me, I’m still talking to you!” Dapo was furious, he preferred it when Ronke talked back at him it was better than her silence which he took as a dismissal. How dare she dismiss him?
“What is there to talk about? You’ve already concluded that I have been telling her stories.”
“So you’re calling me a liar?”
“Please don’t wake the baby.” Ronke said over her shoulder.
Dapo yanked her arm back, forcing her to face him. “Look at me when I’m talking to you!”
Ronke laughed a mirthless laughter, shook her head and said calmly. “Dapo if you ever touch me like that again you will regret it! I want to sleep now, do not disturb me.”
Dapo was stunned, Ronke had never spoken that way to him in the fifteen years they had been married. She had always been the meek, submissive wife. “You’ve changed!” He said subconsciously.
“Yes, you changed me.”
**********
Olayinka was tired of being a housewife. Her leg had healed sufficiently but now her mind was restless because she was always worried about how she could make things better between her and Effiong. She was busy enough in the house but she needed to get out of it and relate with other people, she badly wanted to reintegrate herself with her work. So, she had begun to search online for jobs and to speak to her former colleagues, but what she found was either below her qualification or too involving like her other job. She had made a mess of things already so she didn’t want a job that would make her reconciliation with Effiong impossible because she was barely around.
Then she remembered that she had always succeeded in business, and she loved organizing events. Wouldn’t it be a great idea to start a business in events planning? She returned online looking for helpful information on this latest desire and began to dream of the things she could do and the benefits of doing her own business. Her browser was full of ideas for events planning and it was this that Effiong saw when he got back from work. Olayinka had gone to get him a glass of water when his eyes strayed towards the laptop and he became interested in what she had been researching.
“Effiong?” Olayinka called in a soft voice, she hadn’t meant for him to see it. She wanted to finish up her research before deciding whether or not she wanted to do the business.
“Events planning?” He queried.
“Yes, I was thinking of starting my own business.” She set the water down on a stool beside him, avoiding his eyes.
“I didn’t think you’d be interested in events planning.” He said with a hint of a smile on his face, the idea was fascinating.
“Well I didn’t think so too but I don’t want to go back to my old job. I want to start some thing new.”
Effiong stared at her for a few minutes. “Well, sit down and tell your sales boy what ideas you have!” he patted the space next to him.
“Eff…”
“I was just teasing.” He waved his hands dismissively. “Sit down and tell me what you’re thinking!”
“Really? Okay…” Olayinka sat down eagerly and shared her ideas with him and in that moment, Effiong and Olayinka created something new. They talked late into the night, giddy with the excitement of generating ideas and mapping out strategies. Effiong also realized that even though it would take a while to work out their issues, he still really loved Olayinka. When they finally grew sleepy, Olayinka said an awkward goodnight to Effiong, wishing he would come back to their bedroom. He didn’t.
“I’m not ready to take that step yet.” He said to himself. He lied.
**********
Helen had just finished brushing her teeth and washing her face. It had been a restless night and she had a long day ahead of her, she wrapped her dressing gown around her and dragged herself out of the bathroom. Obiora was standing outside the bathroom door.
“Morning?” Helen said wondering what Obiora was doing outside the door.
“Morning sunshine.” A smile curved his lips and Helen thought two things: he looked so handsome and he must be sleepwalking. He never called her sunshine and she had been unhappy with him last night.
“Are you okay?” she asked suspiciously.
“Yes I am. I’m just tired of our cold war. We need to talk.”
“Obiora I don’t have time…”
“That’s precisely why I’m at this door. I knew you’d say that.” He took her hand and pulled her to the bed.
“Look I really don’t…”
“Helen stop pretending that you don’t want us to resolve our issues. Now sit down and let’s talk like the mature adults that we are.” Helen sat down and folded her arms across her chest.
“I’m seated.”
“Thank you sunshine.” Obiora smiled again.
“Would you please stop calling me that!”
“Okay sunshine!” Helen got up angrily. “Okay…okay… I’m sorry Helen.” Obiora said trying hard to suppress his laughter. “Please sit down.”
Helen rolled her eyes and sat down, the man had such an effect on her.
“Why don’t you want me to take the Port Harcourt job?”
“Seriously Obi? I already told you, were you not listening?”
“I was. I guess what I’m asking you is what are you afraid of?”
Helen sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I’m scared that things won’t be the same between us. How will I take care of the children all by myself? What kind of women would you be surrounded by? How will the boys deal with you not being around? Who will help me watch over them while I’m at work? Why do you want to leave us Obi?”
“I’m not leaving you, I don’t want to leave you… if you really want us to be together why don’t you consider moving with me? Let’s all go together.”
Helen sat up. “To Port Harcourt? You’re asking me to leave my job here in Lagos and go and start all over in another place? How can you even think of asking me such a thing?”
“I’m not saying you should do it, I’m only suggesting it…”
“Please don’t suggest such a thing!”
Obiora sighed. “Okay Helen, what is the way forward? We need this job and I’m not willing to pass it up. I’ll come home every fortnight and do whatever I can to make things better for you but this is not an opportunity I want to let go.”
“But they haven’t even offered you the job so why are we having this conversation?”
“Err…I’ve been called for a final interview.”
Helen sighed and put her hands in her head.
**********
Kunle searched the street frantically looking for house 12. He found it eventually and pulled up in front of it, his mind thinking of what he would say to Banke. He had called his boss to say that he had urgent family matters to attend to and so would be late. He guessed that Banke would still be home around this time since her workplace was a short distance to where she was staying now.
He told the gateman that he was a colleague and had been asked to come over to pick her up. He let him in and gave him directions. He walked to her front door and stopped, took a deep breath in and knocked. He could hear her shuffling around and when she finally opened the door he just stared at her. She looked more beautiful than ever.
“Kunle what are you doing here? Where’s Teniola.” She asked looking past him.
“I’m here alone. Can I come in?”
“No, this is a bad time. I’m running late.”
“Please Banke let’s talk. I miss you.”
“There’s nothing to talk about Kunle. I wanted to talk but you wouldn’t listen but it’s okay because now I’m free. I can do whatever I want without you making me feel bad about my decisions.”
“What about the plans we made? What about Teni?”
“Plans change Kunle and I’m taking Teni from you. She needs her mother.”
“How can you just turn your back on us?”
“You turned your back on us when you stopped being the man I thought I married!”
“I just wanted a better life for us, can’t you see that?”
“Your definition of a better life is suffering to me. You know my background, I can’t live the way you want me to live. In fact, I’ve realized that we’re not compatible. Let’s end things amicably and move on. I’m sure you’ll find someone else who will understand you.”
“But I want you Banke.”
“You don’t have me anymore Kunle. Please leave, I’m late.”
“Banke…” Kunle reached out to her but she slammed the door.
Kunle stood there shocked, his mother had been right. Banke had moved on without looking back, but he believed he could still win her back. He wouldn’t be discouraged. Behind the door Banke exhaled and make a mental note to call her lawyer today for a progress report.