Episode 7: Beyond the Bloodline
Kemi’s POV
The drive back home from the hospital was quiet, but my thoughts were anything but. I couldn’t shake the image of the receptionist’s face when she said I’d already been there that morning. Her words played over and over in my mind.
“Madam, you were here a few hours ago. We already attended to you.”
How was that possible? I had been stuck in traffic for hours, watching my last chance at motherhood slip away. Yet, she spoke with such confidence, as though she had seen me with her own eyes.
I managed to get home. All appetite to eat had suddenly disappeared. I was filled with fear. I staggered inside, feeling defeated. In what seemed like ages, Jide’s call came in. I managed to pick up and sound as calm as possible.
“Hello baby, how was it? I hope it wasn’t a painful procedure?”
Those words pierced through my heart, and I wished I could experience any physical pain if it meant I could have my baby rather than the pain I felt inside. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks.
“Darling, you won’t believe what happened. I was forced out of the hospital today, and the nurses claimed I had already had the procedure earlier today. Doctor Ann was nowhere to be found.”
“Wait, babe, what are you trying to say? The Doctor Ann you’re talking about can never miss an appointment with a patient, talk more of leaving without attending to you or contacting you. Come, what time did you even go to the hospital?”
At that moment, the question hit me like a bombshell. My chest tightened, and I swallowed hard. “Babe, I was there at 3 p.m. I encountered heavy…”
I couldn’t finish before Jide burst out. “What? 3 p.m.?”
“How did that happen? Are you okay? Do you know what we’ve spent on this and how far we’ve gone? How could you ruin this for us? How could you be this mean and cruel to your own husband? You know what fatherhood means to me, and you had the guts to ruin this chance for us!
“Do you even have any idea what it took me to leave the office countless times to accompany you to various hospitals to find solutions? Do you know how much I’ve wasted on this? No, I don’t think you understand. After all, you don’t know what it means to work or make money.
“Wait, let me get this straight. Does this mean you don’t really want to carry my child or something? So Mama was right after all. You were sent to frustrate my life. How could you even do this to me?
“Haven’t I been a very supportive and loving husband to you? What haven’t I done for you, Kemi? Why did you decide to ruin this chance for us?”
“Baby, please, it’s not like that. It was…”
He cut me off immediately. “I’m not done. How dare you interrupt me? You know what, Mama was right. I’m spoiling you. It’s high time I put an end to your madness. I should have listened to Mama.”
Before I could say a word, he had already hung up.
“God, who have I offended? Have I not served You diligently? Please, have mercy on me. I’m losing my once-loving husband because of parenthood. Please help me, Lord, and save me from this dilemma,” I cried.
I tried calling my husband countless times, but he wasn’t picking up. At a point, I realized he had blocked my line. Panic set in as I kept trying his number, hoping he would pick up, but there was no way.
Three days later, Jide was still nowhere to be found. I was really worried. Later in the day, I got a call from his brother’s wife in the village.
“Kemi, Ekaaso ma. How are you doing?” she greeted warmly.
“I’m fine,” I replied weakly.
She then asked, “Why didn’t you come to greet me as usual?”
“Village? My husband is in the village?” I asked, stunned.
“Yes now. He’s been here for like two days, and I was wondering if you came back with him and refused to come and greet me.”
I faked a smile over the phone and apologized, explaining that I didn’t travel with him this time.
“Okay,” she said casually and hung up.
How could my husband do this to me? Traveling to the village without me was not usual. After our last conversation? Besides, we hadn’t visited Mama ever since she started suggesting different young ladies for Jide to marry. Him visiting her now was quite unusual.
I was really scared. I couldn’t focus the entire time as my mind kept roaming. I was so scared I could barely touch food.
—
Later that weekend, Jide came back and kept to himself. He refused to talk to me or eat my food.
I tried explaining and pleading with him, but he slammed the door on me countless times and threatened to leave the house if I disturbed his peace.
I let him be, hoping he would come back to himself and at least hear me out.
In the midst of the whole chaos, I couldn’t go back to the hospital—not without my husband. We really needed to dig for answers together, but my husband wasn’t seeing things my way. In fact, I was gradually losing him.
This continued for weeks. Jide would come back, ignore me, and either buy or cook for himself. I kept trying to please him. I cooked different meals—his favorites, various delicacies. But he wouldn’t even look at them.
I decided to up my efforts. I bought new nighties in his favorite color, styled my hair, wore his favorite perfume, and ensured everything about me was perfect.
That evening, he came back from work, visibly stressed and unhappy. I greeted him warmly, but he ignored me. However, I noticed how he tried hard not to look at me twice. He walked straight upstairs to the guest room.
“Hmmm… this man is forming hard to get,” I muttered to myself. “I won’t relent. After all, he is my husband. I won’t let the devil have his way in my home.”
The next day, I prepared even more. The house was sparkling clean, his favorite food was freshly made, and his favorite drink, Tiger Nut Smoothie, was waiting.
This time, I put on a skimpy skirt and a red crop top with tiny rope at the back to hold it in place for easy access. I kept my leg legs crossed and turned on some melodious song. The atmosphere was different and felt different and special and I knew it. The moment he stepped in, I ignored him. I didn’t rush to welcome him as usual since he has been pushing me away lately. I greeted him and kept watching a movie series with the song still playing in the background. He went upstairs and I could see from the corner of my eyes that he was staring at me half way.
Well I pretended not to notice. He went to the kitchen to cook I guess, and the aroma of his favorite meal hit him so hard. I pretended I was carried away. Then I quietly tiptoed to the kitchen and saw him “tapping” food directly from my pot while looking around like a thiéf in his own house. I almost burst out laughing. Thank God I had a good hiding sport to view his every movement. He then took one tigernut drink, drank it a little and added water to it so I won’t know he drank out of it I guess.
He then cooked a little noodles as cover up so I won’t know he ate from my food.
When he was done with his drama, I tiptoed back to the sitting room and sat like I saw nothing. He later returned and started pacing around the sitting room partially blocking my view.
I focused on the series I was watching. He then complained that I knew he needed to watch a match but my selfishness won’t allow me to understand. I quietly dropped the remote and walked up to our room. While going up, I missed a step and almost fell but he was quick to catch me in his hands. I stared directly in his eyes. Grateful I didn’t slam my tiny waist.
He held me and stared at my lips for a while before wrapping his lips around mid. Next, he lifted me up in his strong arms. I could feel his heart racing. I tried to hold my breath so I won’t breathe too fast. I had this sweet feeling and butterflies in my stomach just like someone having her crush for the first time.
We got to our room and he finally dropped me on the bed and helped me remove my footwear. He massaged the leg I hurt and admired my leg down to my skirt and uttered the word “bàd girl” I giggled. He joined me in bed and helped me with the dress. “You smell so good baby”. Wow! He finally stopped calling me by my name!
I was almost dancing within me while he got busy.
Moments later, he asked for real food this time. I brought them to him and the drink he has already mixed with water. He laughed and asked if I could get him another one, that one was obliviously not too tasty and he loves it rich. I did as he requested and he ate like a hungry lion. I smiled deep down within me with a feeling of triumph sweeping through me. Yes! I have my man back. Or so I thought.