Lara observed Kola watching her, lost in his own thoughts one time too many. He had also developed a bad habit of mumbling, he didn’t even know when he was doing it, apparently.
It bothered her and she asked him about the mumbling but he said he was praying, that he was always praying, why? Because he was to pray without seizing. Their return from Rio was going on its fourth week.
Lara sensed that he wasn’t being very honest and tried to pay attention anytime he was mumbling near her, it was a lost cause. So she nagged him until he confessed.
He said he hadn’t been a good husband to her in Rio and felt bad about it since he hadn’t acted as the protector he was meant to be to her. He said he had knowingly let her drink alcohol when he knew she didn’t know and if she had she wouldn’t have.
She laughed hysterically when he said it had been the brew that Shola had served them. In her opinion, that had been an excellent wine, sweet enough to appease her sugar tooth and if indeed it was alcohol, why had he, Kola, bought it at the store and served it to them when they had Shola over?
And why hadn’t she had a hangover the morning after? He had no answer and kept on with his mumbling.
She chose to believe him, however, because she too had her own issues to figure out. Her body suddenly had a mind and was doing things apart from her, she assumed she was ill since she was nauseous and ached in weird places. It was so weird she couldn’t tell anyone about it, it didn’t seem like her usual malaria but maybe it had built up more than usual and those were the effects.
When she couldn’t quite endure the sickness she took herself to the hospital, related her symptoms and the doctor prescribed tests be run on her.
The doctor got the results about an hour later and called her in with a somewhat flamboyant smile, she was irked by it knowing what ever the result it couldn’t be mild, not with her symptoms.
She sat down anyways, and the doctor proceeded to announce that she who had been married five years, with no hint of fruitfulness, wasn’t just showing signs but was definitely with child.
She laughed and took her test results to a hospital she was more familiar with. Luckily, Dr. “Kolo” was on leave at the time so she didn’t run into him. The result there was the same, she was pregnant. Lara wasn’t sure how to feel, it was a war between ecstatic and utter confusion.
How on earth could she be pregnant, five weeks pregnant? They said over and over again that her husband couldn’t impregnate her, what had changed?
She recalled that night in Rio, she couldn’t place a finger on all that had happened but she knew how it had left her feeling, it was like no other night before.
Maybe God had finally answered their prayer, it was about time right? Oh, she needed to keep her eyes on the road, she thought as she drove home.
She’d stopped at a pharmacy to buy a pregnancy kit which she used the moment she got home. And there it was, two stripes, she was seeing it herself. She started to cry and give thanks to God on the floor of her bathroom.
She’d called in sick at work so she had the day to herself and she decided to make good use of the time and treat Kola to the news of his being a father.
Uncle Dede had left them so it was perfect timing for a romantic dinner. She cooked Kola’s favorite meal, made a cake dessert and juiced fresh fruit, just as he liked it and as she usually hated doing.
Kola’s came in, caught sight of a candle lit dinner and a breathtaking wife. He asked what was going on with a feigned awe in his voice which she bought. She asked him to change and come to dinner then she’ll tell him.
Kola knew what it was though and rather than be excited by the air of the house when he had come in, his tummy had been as though with lead in it. He disappeared into the bathroom as had become his hideout since Rio, there he cried his eyes sore.
“Lord this should be good news. This was what I was looking for after all and now I have it. Why do I feel this way, ha! Forgive me Lord, don’t let this backfire. Don’t let this be the straw that breaks the camels back. Forgive me and help me forgive myself so I can be the husband my wife needs now. This is all my fault.”
Lara called through the door that he was taking a while so he splashed his face and came out to dinner.
They were in bed before she decided to tell him. She said her big baby was getting a contender. He seemed to not understand and she explained that somebody else was laying claim to her body, then she exclaimed that they were with child.
He paused, as though unsure, then he shot out of bed and was by her side in a blur. He hugged her and kept her in his embrace. He cried bitter tears. She felt a hot tear fall to her shoulder, her husband was happy, he was crying tears of joy.
She kissed his tears away and they lay as man and wife. It was the first since that night in Rio.
That night was not a blur as her husband thought. She was well aware, because no woman could not tell who was in her. She was tired of acting. But as far as she was concerned, if she had the unwritten and unspoken consent of her husband, then no one could hold her responsible.
But that nagging thought kept resonating: would the Lord of her soul forgive her complicity in this adultery? She needed to discuss with Kola, but not tonight.