The Blue House S03 E08

“Joke! Oh thank God! What are you doing here?” Ayodele looked around, whispering as he spoke.
“I followed you.”
“Why?” Ayodele was angry with this meddlesome girl who kept sticking her nose in his business. Joke was too obnoxious for his liking, no wonder she wasn’t pretty. “Why can’t you leave me alone?”

“I went to the toilet and I saw you tiptoeing around, so I followed you because I wanted to see what you were doing. You’re stealing from Mummy aren’t you?”
“Stealing? No… no… I forgot something here.”
“What did you forget?”
“My book!”
“Which book?”
“Joke, go upstairs now and mind your business!” Ayodele snapped at her.
“I’m not going except you come with me.”
“I said I forgot something in here, when I get it I’ll come upstairs. Go now!”
“I’ll wait for you, take the thing and let’s go back together.”
“Joke…”
“Be quick, it’s cold and Mummy might wake up soon. You know she feeds the baby at night.”
Ayodele stood still, he had completely forgotten that his mother woke up to nurse the baby. “You know what, I’ll take it tomorrow.”
“So why did you come downstairs in the middle of the night?”
Ayodele hissed. “Let’s go!”
Joke shook her head and shivered in the chilly weather. “I know you are lying but I won’t tell Mummy.”
Ayodele looked at her with disdain and appreciation and said nothing.
**********
They sat in the dark, the water they had boiled for their bath had gone cold. They hadn’t been able to sleep, Helen had been crying continuously expressing her worry and frustration over Obiora’s new job.
“We’ll be fine.” Obiora nuzzled her neck and Helen sniffed.
“I can’t stay here alone Obi.”
“You’re not alone, the boys are here with you. I’ll also tell Effiong to look out for you.”
“Why would you do that? Am I a baby?”
Obiora exhaled. “No Helen, I meant to say that I’ll ask him to help you handle the things that might stress you like changing your tire and dealing with carpenters, plumbers… stuff like that.”
“Will you also tell him to sleep with me? Because you know I can’t handle the fact that I’ll be sleeping alone.”
“Helen do you realize that I’ll also be alone? Don’t you think I’ll miss you…?”
“You’ll be alone because you want to be! You’re the one who’s taking a job in another state!”
“I thought we were past this Helen. I’m taking the job for the good of the family, please let’s not go back to that. I know you don’t like it but I believe this job will be good for our family.”
“I can get a better job Obiora, let’s work together to help our family.”
“I know you can get a better job and I encourage you to if it’s what you want… Babe I appreciate your help but I’m responsible for this home.”
“For how long Obiora? How long are we going to be apart for?”
“Only a few years, three at the most.” Helen sagged her shoulders, deeply sad. Obiora was her best friend, it wasn’t just about not having sex, or being solely responsible for the children or handling the household affairs all by herself, it was about being without Obiora’s friendship. Nothing could make up for that.
“You’re stronger than you think Helen, I promise we’ll be fine”
**********
Kunle had hatched a plan, he would speak with Banke’s brothers and solicit for their help. They had always had a strong influence on their sister and could persuade her to return to him. He had also made up his mind that if Banke returned he would soft-pedal on the embargo he had placed on her spending, his home was more important than his ego. These plans made him giddy with excitement and he greeted everyone at the office with vigour. He had even told Nkechi his colleague to “stop worrying about the future, everything will be fine.”
“Kunle” Nkechi peeked in from the hallway.
“Yeah what’s up?” he chirped.
“Someone’s here to see you.” She waved in a slim gentleman with a grim look on his face.
“How can I help you sir?”
“Are you Kunle Agunbiade?”
“Yes…” Something was wrong, he could feel it as he rose.
“You’ve been served.” The man handed him a brown envelope. “Please sign here.”
“What?” Kunle hastily scribbled an excuse for his signature as the sheriff walked out as briskly as he had come in.
“What is going on? Who are you in trouble with?” Nkechi asked quickly moving over to him.
Kunle tore open the envelope hastily praying that his suspicion would be false. He pulled out a sheaf of papers, reading it as his face fell.
“What is it?”
“Banke has filed for divorce and sole custody of our daughter.” He finally said slowly sitting down.
“I didn’t know you guys had issues! Did you cheat on her?”
“No.” Kunle stared into empty space responding mechanically.
“You beat her?”
“Of course not!” Kunle snapped at her.
“Then why?” Nkechi asked baffled, Kunle and Banke were the envy of everyone.
“Irreconcilable differences…” Kunle read from the papers.
“Wow!” Nkechi sighed. “Everything will be fine.”
Kunle shot her a mean look before he remembered that he had said just that to her a few hours ago.
**********
Ayodele was in his room relaxing five days later when his sister burst in.
“Ayo!”
“What is wrong with you Joke? Can’t you knock?”
“You better come outside now!”
“What for?”
“Peace is around.” Ayodele shot up shaking with fear. “Why… what is she doing here?”
“I don’t know, she’s here with Iya Ibeji.”
They tiptoed down the passageway towards the sitting room hiding behind the thick brown curtain and eavesdropping on the ongoing conversation.
“What else do you want?” Ronke was saying.
“You have done your worst!” Iya Ibeji cried.
“You better say what you’re here for or get out of my house!” Dapo thundered, he could barely stand his guests’ presence.
“Please let’s calm down.” Another man said. “I am Toyin’s father, the girl you have been calling Peace. This is her mother.”
“Iya Ibeji? Didn’t you tell me she was your niece?”
“That is not important now.” Peace’s father said. “I have come to talk to you sir. Man to man. The issue at hand is that my daughter here is pregnant.”
The room was silent for seconds as Ayodele’s parents took in the shock of what they had just heard. Behind the curtain Joke shot Ayodele a startled look and she saw that he knew. He had slumped to the ground putting his hands on his head.
“Pregnant?” Ronke voice was barely above a whisper.
Dapo laughed humorlessly then asked. “Who did she say impregnated her?”
“She didn’t say but you sent her out because she was sleeping with your son.” Peace’s father replied calmly.
“Ayodele!” Dapo yelled.
“Sir!” the boy cried from behind the curtain.
“Come here!”