CHAPTER 41

SUSAN

Susan shuts down her laptop in frustration. This is the fourth job she has submitted all requirements for, she waited a long time for feedback after all the online interviews she has honored and online tests she has taken to prove that she is qualified for the job, only to get a mail that she wasn't shortlisted. With a bigger reason to nag at her husband that evening, Susan waits for Henry's arrival. She hates the neighborhood, Henry promised her that his neighbors are very friendly and would make her feel at home but she doesn't feel welcome at all in their midst. Ever since she arrived with him in the United States, they act weird whenever she is around them or walks in on them having a discussion. Being from an African home, she understands what

it means whenever people give you such

countenance, it's for you to speak words to your

feet where they can hear and be on your own. She has learned to keep her distance whenever Henry isn't home or when he is even out with them, she will rather sit all by herself in the house and watch television shows all day which can be exhausting at times, or stay on social media which she is still finding so hard to adjust to as it was never her number one preference right from time. She misses her friends, she misses her environment, she missed Bode and her work colleagues, even though they had annoying attitudes, they weren't as worse as her neighbors here. She had prayed that the last interview she honored comes out positive so that she can get out of these four walls, get something more tasking doing with her time, and some dollars into her account to make up for the savings that she has been spending. "Now I'm back to looking for available jobs in my field and attending interviews" she scoffs angrily, before her arrival here, Henry made it look like she was just going to pick up from where she stopped in Nigeria,

but here she is, three months gone, she is still living the life of a full housewife when she wants to get out there and show people here what she has to offer. She wishes she had settled her differences with Bode before she left Nigeria, but after she left the hospital where he was admitted, but she became occupied with her wedding plans that she forgot about him or their fight. Also, her leave which fell in between that period didn't make them get to see and talk about the issues at the office "He must have been so angry about her decision and her outburst for him not to even attend her wedding" she thought out loud. Well, she didn't take any offense, it was impromptu and it was a very small one that didn't need much crowd as such. She can't believe she didn't get to see him at all since their misunderstanding at the hospital, Susan feels guilty that instant but finds it hard to reach out to him on the phone based on how they left things.

Susan hears her husband drive into their driveway, She increases the volume of the TV show and pours her full attention on the show to act like she didn't hear him or his car engine go off. Henry walks in and drops his car keys loudly on the table when Susan didn't make a move to welcome him or say any greetings "What's going on?" he calls out loud to Susan who still ignored him. He goes towards the console and switches off the television "Susan? Did you not hear me come in?" Susan rolls her eyes at him and welcomes him reluctantly "What's with this attitude?" he sighs and brings out an envelope

from his suitcase, he hands it over to Susan who

turns away immediately "have it, it's your test result, I picked it up on my way home"

"Why are you handing it to me? It's yours, you requested for it remember?" Susan tries to walk away but he stops her "I am sorry, but I was just concerned. You should be more worried if I don't act concerned that we have been trying to get pregnant and it's been futile" Susan stares irritatingly at him "Trying? Henry listen to yourself! We have been married for three months and you are telling me I have a problem because I haven't gotten pregnant? Just three months! Then you forced me to get checked at the hospital, now you have the result. I'm sure you saw that I am clean that's why you are apologizing! Reverse would have been the case if

the result showed that there was a problem with

me! Go get yourself checked! You might be the

problem here" Susan walks out on him without

waiting to hear his response.