Chapter 20: Spill it out

Itohan woke up at 11am those on salary woke had long settled in their respective fields, the children that had gone to school that morning are through with the first half of the day lesson and are on break, while farmers are their farms preparing to return home before it will get to noon so as not to experience the hot weather. She was so shocked when she looked through the window to discover that the sun is already hot, she tried to stand up from the bed and discovered that her body was in pains. When she remembered what happened between her and Ifada last night she smiled to herself, finally the man she so much desire want her and had promised to work hard to love her even if he was not in love with her now he will be committed. After turning to and fro on the bed for sometime Ifada came into the room with a tray of food in his hands."Good morning Itohan, how are you" he said smiling at Itohan."Fine and you?" she said briefly, Itohan is a woman of few words and Ifada is aware of this. "Fine, I brought food for you, you don't need to come down from the bed, and I will bring it to you" he said and took the food to her. He sat on the bed with Itohan and watches her eat quietly while his mind was wondering about how to fulfill his daughter wish. The night before he buried Ose, she had appeared to him in his dream crying that she does not want to go to the spirit realm and wants to come back to the world and be Ifada child, even is her other cannot conceive again at least he can get married so that she can come back last night after he had sex with Itohan he saw Ose smiling at him in his dream, he was so happy because Ose had blessed the union already. Ifada was not ready to do what his daughter spirit requested at first because of the love he had for Itoya but never had he expected that Itoya would abandon him and run to Uromi with her mother, the disappointment had turn to blessing for him because if his wife had followed him he would not had being able to make Itohan his woman and fulfilling his child wish. After eating Ifada cleared the plates and sat close to her, looking at her longingly, when Itohan looked at him she was shy because she had not been too close to any man since she come of age and she still find it difficult to believe that Ifada of all men will want to have her as his woman so she put her head down. "A kobo for your thought" Ifada said smiling; he moved closer to her and used his hand to wrap her looking into her eyes. "I don't think it is necessary" she said still putting her head down."Whatever you say or do now is necessary, spill it out" he said with his face on her chest. "I don't know how to put it, is this for real, me and you"."yes, I told you before I was too blind to see your love for me and to appreciate it, but now I will make sure I put everything right by marrying you two days from now" Itohan was shocked at the development she never expected things to be this fast, but....."What about Itoya" she asked sadly looking at Ifada expecting the worst."Am an African man, am entitled to marrying as many women as I want, if she wants to come back she is free but if she feels staying with you in this house and seeing you and me being together is not acceptable to her she can find her way. Thank God that the house is big enough to contain her. It's her choice I will never let you down Itohan" Itohan was so touched by his considerate speech towards her, she was relieved.At noon they both set out to see their parents to discuss the marriage that will be conducted in few days. Their parents were happy when they saw Ifada and Itohan coming hand in hand, it was like a dream come true because this was what they had been expecting ever since they (Itohan and Ifada) were young, especially mama Ifada she cannot remember the last time he saw her son this happy. The two parties of parents were grinning from ear to ear with joy.The marriage was discussed and conducted as planned, it was not a big marriage but Itohan was satisfied. The marriage was between the two families. The bride price was paid and Ifada family presented gifts to Itohan family members, two Itohan family members were chosen to follow her to her husband house. They escorted Itohan to her husband house and Eseiwi who just started writing her examination that very day was not opportune to attend the marriage between Itohan and Ifada. The day before the marriage Ifada told Eseiwi that he was going to marry Itohan the next day, she doesn't have anything to say, she does not know what happened between Itoya and Ifada the only thing she knows is that Itoya did not come back home with Ifada when she was supposed, the marriage was too fast to her but she was not in the right position to say anything her major concern is that she is well taken care of and the matter of adults is a complicated one, whoever is fulfilling her wish does not matter.Itohan and Eseiwi were left at home the next day after Itohan people left her place and Ifada had gone to farm. That was when she discovered that Itohan was as caring as Itoya but more knowledgeable in culinary and far neater than Itoya; they lived happily together so Eseiwi was able to complete her examination in a peaceful and harmonious environment.