Chapter three

Olanma looked at Emmanuel and shook her head. It could have been so different, so different for them.

It was twelve years ago and she was still a teenager. All the talk was about Richards Adeayo-Martins, the son of the rich socialite and business mogul, Chief OlaOluwa Adeayo-Martins. Most of his children were out of the country, which was expected for a man of his standing. However, he kept Richard back home to learn about the family business. As a result, Richard attended Unilag and studied business administration.

Olanma was not doing badly herself. Despite having uneducated parents, they made sure she had sound education, paying for her studies up to the university level. She also learned catering and a few other handiwork which she used to support herself as she studied Mass Communication.

She had just become the secretary of her department when they started to date. Richard was a smooth talker and often showed her every courtesy. He also showered her with money and gifts, which she saved and added to her business. Her business boomed and she was the darling of everyone, including a phone apprentice who was Ebuka.

Ebuka was two years older than her and much poorer, but he never saw that as a challenge. He wanted her and she could see it in his eyes. However, she didn't give him any chance to express himself as she focused on her studies, business and Richard.

That was until she gave Richard her maidenhead.

Once they had sex, Richard started to lose interest in her, making their meetings less frequent. The money still flowed, but she could feel that something was terribly wrong.

One day, he called her and they had a mind-blowing sex. The next day, he left.

She saw his wedding pictures the next week. Richard had married one returned from the United States. What hurt her the most was that he didn't deem it fit to explain to her, leaving her to her devices.

When she missed her period, Olanma panicked. She knew the implications of becoming pregnant without marriage to her parents and was too afraid of abortion to take that as an option. Luckily for her, Ebuka Okereafor was still interested in her.

So she turned her attention to him and before the belly came out, she had married. Her father was against it but with some talking and money, he relented.

She gave birth to Emmanuel and thought her troubles were over. Ebuka made her to realize otherwise.

"You think that I don't know that that boy is not mine? Just because I didn't attend a university, you think you can pin a child on my head. Do you take me for a fool?" He spat on the floor. " I could have ignored you, left you to your fate. I was warned by my master but I was carried away by your beauty to care. I took you because I love you but I will never call that boy my son!"

So far he was true to his word. He never took care of the boy, never paid his school fees, even treated him harshly, like a servant.She had resisted him initially, but she later got tried of it, as he saw that as insubordination. He also kept reminding her of his status, asking her to give him a child. Fortunately for her, he kept Emmanuel's true parentage from both set of parents. If he didn't, she would have been in more trouble.

When Emmanuel was seven years, she finally gave birth to a child he accepted. They named her Adaeze and since then she had focused on her.

Olanma shook herself from her memories and went about cleaning the dishes. She took it that Emmanuel won't be able to wash them. She looked at Adaeze, who turned and jumped at her with joy. No matter what happens, the lie was worth it. She didn't want Ebuka to think that she can't train her daughter.

When she was done with the dishes, she dusted herself and called Emmanuel.

"I will be going to the shop. Take care of your sister and make sure that you are in the house. I don't want to hear that you were playing outside." Olanma entered the bedroom and changed her clothes before going to the shop.

Her shop was a a small buka where she sold all types of Igbo food- Eva, pounded yam, fufu (another type of cassava pudding) and so on. She had various soups and stews she made in order to sell her food. That was her only source of income since Ebuka forbade her from going back to school after she gave birth to Emmanuel. She didn't mind. What she made everyday was more than what a lot of educated people made and she made sure it reflected in the household. She brought the food they ate and took care of most of the bills, even part of the rent. She also took care of Emmanuel's school fees.

Today business was good, so good that she didn't realize when it was nightfall. She quickly took the money made so far and left some instructions to her staff on how to lock up before she rushed home.

As she got home, she came face to face with a fuming Ebuka.

"Where were you?"

"I was at the shop. You know that I..."

"How many times have I told you not to leave the house for that shop without preparing night food? Do you know what the time is?"

She checked the time and realized that it was 9pm.

"It is....."

"9pm. 9pm and these children haven't eaten night food!" His hands were shaking. Olanma thought that he may hit her.

She quickly knelt down.

"Please, my husband. I am begging you."

"Don't beg me. Beg the children who had to go hungry!"

"Let me go and..."

"I have brought bread for them!" His anger subsided. "They are sleeping. They are going to school tomorrow. I could allow them to stay up for long."

She walked towards him. " I am sorry. I didn't know that the time was fast spent."

"Olanma, you have to do better, especially with Adaeze." He felt quite sad. "Stand up, I don't want drama."

He was right. Some of the neighbors were already looking through the window. She could say who was looking as everywhere was dark. NEPA had struck as usual, therefore everywhere was dark.

She walked into the room, Ebuka following her.

"We have to do better, Olanma. I knew that Adaeze ate that meat, not Emmanuel."

Her eyes went up in surprise.

"I didn't know initially. It was Mr Bode that told me that he saw her eating a big piece of meat. He wanted to caution me that giving small children such big piece of meat can make the child greedy or turn them to thieves."

He shook his head. "I felt embarrassed. I beat Emmanuel because of that. How will he feel? And I know that you knew about this."

Her heart sank.

"You knew about this and you didn't stop me from beating him."

"I didn't... You said that I should never stop you from beating him when you are trying to discipline him."

"When he is wrong, Olanma!" He faced her. "I won't accept him as my son, but I won't ignore his discipline. I don't want to raise a bad child. I want him to do the right thing and become a responsible person."

She looked at him. Ebuka had told her about the way his father dealt with him when he erred, therefore he wanted to bring his children that way.

Emmanuel turned around in his sleep.

"That boy is not my child but he may become someone tomorrow. I have checked his report card and I have talked to his teachers. I know that Emmanuel is brilliant. If we treat him badly, how will he treat us when he grows up?"

"I am sorry. So sorry." She felt like a teenager, even though she was almost thirty.

He squeezed her hands."It's fine. I have fed them. Where you have lapses, I will try and make up. But we have to get it right with the children."

Olanma stood up. "Have you eaten?"

"I am hungry, but not for food." He stood up, held her waist and kissed her.

Olanma felt his member stiffened. She knew what he wanted but she was tired. How to discharge him was her problem.

"Let me have my bath first."

He nodded, nibbling on her neck while his hands ran through her body.

"Make I bath first!"

"Okay!" He left her and walked into the living room

Olanma walked towards Emmanuel and felt his brow.

"I am sorry. Truly sorry, my son." She ran her hands through his hair. She had to do something about the way her husband beats him. To her, that way of dealing with children was ancient and archaic.

She went to fetch water, had her bath and entered the room, expecting to meet her husband ready for her. When she found him snoring, she was relieved. She went to his side and slept besides him.

She loved him.