Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Praises and loud claps could be heard from the Church close to the house. Genevieve sang along with them and even danced.

"If you continue that way, you might miss the procession. You know you are taking the sermon, " Reverend Nwachukwu said while he laid out his robe and a sash that was the liturgical colour for the season.

"Help me zip my blouse," Genevieve said, coming to back him. He began to zip the cloth but the zip got stuck halfway.

"Find another dress. You are now fatter than this one," He said, dismissing her and going to fish out his cufflinks. Genevieve recovered quickly from the comment. She did not like to add weight to the extent of abandoning clothes.

"Come and try it again."

"We're almost late," He grumbled, returning to the zip.

She pushed in her back and he zipped, this time the zip Seperated and the cloth was condemned.

"I told you, " he said, returning hurriedly to pick his white robe and sash.

"It's spoiled?" Genevieve asked in partial disbelief, already pulling down the cloth while walking to the wardrobe.

"Please wait. I have an alternative."

"I will be in church. We're already late," He said and exited the room.

This time, she found a red skirt suit and wore a nude camisole peeking from the V curve of the jacket. When she came out, about fifteen minutes later, her husband was standing in the parlor.

"Thank you, " She said, pecking his lips while he stood with a frown, refusing to smile.

"Kamsi said she's not going, " he said, heading to the glass slide door .

"She's weak, " Genevieve replied then called out, "Bia, Chisom come and lock up! "

"You people should pray for me. "

The Vicar was already in the car and she was about climbing in then she turned to the owner of the voice.

"We would, baby. Send me a text when your hubby comes. Make the food."

Kamsi nodded and shifted back for the car to reverse.

"Kamsi, ngwanu take care of the house, " Reverend Nwachukwu said as he steered the car towards the gate.

Kamsi nodded and waved at them as they drove out. She sat on the balcony after they had left. Chisom and Onyedikachi had gone for the first service and were back. They formed a duo choir and their voices resonated in the entire house. Kamsi was sure that if she could hear them that way from outside, the people outside the fence might be convinced that a church has started in their compound.

She went into the kitchen and began to cut onions to prepare jollof rice. Halfway cutting the onions, she measured out an amount of rice that would be enough for the whole house and put it on fire. Her stepmother wanted the rice at just a little amount because she had other things planned out in her food timetable.

She had tried to delete the idea of cooking for her husband but her stepmother had insisted, saying it did not come out right not to serve him food. She was right but Kamsi knew that her husband would not eat because of his arrogance and obvious anger. It was best the whole house was forced to eat the food instead.

"What can I help you with? " Chisom asked from the kitchen door.

She turned and smiled at his presence. "Grind pepper, crayfish and Turmeric for me."

"Tomatoes?"

"I love to cut it," she replied.

"Onyi! Sister is cooking. Come to the kitchen," he called out to his brother while he arranged the blender.

Onyi later came to the Kitchen still wearing the black plain trouser he wore to church and a white singlet.

"I'm hungry, " He announced, yawning widely.

"What's stopping you from eating ?" Kamsi asked from where she stood cutting tomatoes in a tray placed on the cupboard.

"Laziness," he replied, smiling.

Immediately Chisomaga put on the blender and the noise made whatever Onyedikachi was saying not to be heard.

"Thank you for the rude interruption," he said to Chisom before leaving the kitchen .

He returned with a half loaf of bread. "Which flask is the egg? " he asked as he moved to the gas to heat up water for his chocolate milk.

"No egg for you, " Chisom replied and immediately turned on the blender again.

Onyedikachi stood and impatiently waited with annoyance. It seemed the grinding took longer this time.

"Where's the egg? " he asked once the grinding machine was turned off.

"Mummy did not add you to the budget. She said she asked you to fry it and you didn't so she assumed you have stopped eating egg," Chisomaga replied then burst out laughing at the horrified look his brother had on. Kamsi laughed too, easily relating to the situation.

" I didn't refuse. I only told her I would burn it. Ah God! Mummmmy," He groaned exaggerating his frustration. "Should I wash the rice? " he directed to Kamsi in a very meek tone.

Kamsi eyed him suspiciously then nodded, "Yes please. "

"I'll be in the parlor in case you need me to do something for you, " Chisom said while he reached for a towel in the top rack to wipe his hands.

"Okay. Thank you."

Seeing that Chisomaga had left, who was the only one that could mock him, he asked in the same unusual meek tone.

"Sister please permit me to take one egg, just one."

Kamsi laughed, "That's why you opted to wash the rice?" she asked then laughed harder, clutching her tummy.

He nodded, pouting and looking at her appealingly.

"Compose yourself joor," She said, waving him off, "If you like do puppy eye also, I'm not giving you any egg. Next time you should learn how to fry eggs."

A loud crazed laughter erupted the whole house. It was Chisom who had been listening to the whole conversation. He came into the kitchen and looked at his brother's defeated face and he laughed the more.

"Onyi, I might buy you eggs tomorrow. I don't like your face," He said, still laughing.

* * * * * *

Kamsi peeped from her window when he came. He didn't even have to knock. It seemed like he called and Idem was already waiting outside the gate for him. Everyone was at home except the Vicar. Everyone was ready to see him except Kamsi because once she saw him, that lodge in her throat bulged to announce its presence.

He was wearing a green senator of a dark shade which matched his light complexion, on his feet were black leather slippers which appeared alien to Kamsi's eyes. She had never seen them before and the dark sunglasses he was putting on was new also. Did he upgrade his wardrobe to come and see her?

He waited for Idem to lock the gate then they proceeded towards the house like he needed a tour guide to help him find the front door. He walked the same as she always knew, with his shoulders set and not sagged, with his steps determined and not sluggish and a face decorated with a frown which would of course disappear once the front door opens. It's not like people change in a week but she just hoped he would be a bit different, a bit remorseful, a bit understanding. Just a bit.

She retreated from the window once she could no longer see him. She sighed in resignation as she leaned on the wall. She had wanted to concentrate on his face hard enough , to search his heart through his eyes and know if there was still more love for her in there - no matter how little.

"Your husband is here," Genevieve said to her huddled form.

"I know," She quietly replied without looking at her.

The door closed and then footsteps progressed slowly to her bed. Kamsi waited, expecting another lecture . Genevieve sat down on the bed and looked at her while she spoke.

"He's making an attempt. You should give him a second chance. "

"He does that. He makes attempts at everything; building and destroying. Because he feels he is in control. " Kamsi replied quietly , still staring ahead.

"I think I know that. You should let him know too. I have been telling you about fighting for your home. Most times it is hard. I know cause I have been there but if he's making an attempt, you should give him a chance again. If nothing changes and you can't cope any longer, my home is your home."

Kamsi felt her thumb as she swiped off a stray tear on her cheek.

"Thank you," She said not just for the moment but for the past years. "Thank you for being there."

"Don't get me emotional, " Genevieve said, getting up from the bed. Kamsi laughed off the feelings as she too was getting emotional.

"Come out and see your baby," Her step mum said before she left and closed the door.

Truly everyone had prepared for Mark's coming. Her stepmother was putting on an ankara butterfly gown that dropped to her ankle, not her usual polo and wrapper, her brothers were on their shorts and polos which had not yet faded. They were setting the dining table when Kamsi came out. They were going about their duties like two obedient cute boys. The wine bottles Reverend Nwachukwu brought out to be refrigerated the previous night were at the table amidst the other edibles, the boys were arranging on the table.

"Good afternoon."

He was seated at the edge of one of the long sofas in the sitting room, the one that directly faced the corridor. Nobody ever sat there because it was right beneath the plasma Television on the wall. Her stepmother was sitting on the one backing the corridor. It was behind that sofa she stood and greeted him.

"Afternoon," He replied.

She moved from the back of the sofa and sat down, facing him. His eyes followed her till she sat down .

"How are you? " He asked, putting on his best smile.

"I don't believe that's why you are, " Kamsi said, angry at the smile that did not want to leave his face.

"I don't believe that either" He said then he looked at Genevieve " It's called manners and I travel with it"

"Table is all set. We should eat while it's hot," Genevieve said.

"There's no need, Ma. I freshened up in a hotel and I ate there also," Mark said.

Kamsi looked at her stepmother with an 'I told you so' look.

"Well, wine then," She said, refusing to back down as she marched to the dining.

"Do you know I have called your line for every second this past one week? He asked, leaning forward with his elbows placed on his thighs and his fingers loosely intertwined.

Kamsi did not respond but instead walked to the dining and helped to carry the wine glasses in a tray to the center table . She sat back after that until her stepmother called her up to pour the wine.

When it got to Mark's turn, she stood in front of him with an outstretched hand containing the glass of wine. He accessed her for a while before he accepted the glass and Kamsi returned to her seat.

" What of the Vicar?" he asked after he took a sip.

"Still in Church. I left before the service ended." Kamsi watched her stepmother explain. She still had not put the glass she had in her hand on her lips.

" Actually Ma, I don't know if there would be some hindrances but I want to take my wife home," Mark said after dropping his glass on the centre table. "Of course, not without narrating the issues that led to her being here in the first place and hoping that you would give your best judgements."

Kamsi dropped her untouched wine on a side stool and listened, eager to hear his own side of the story, his defense for the pain he put her through. She had always been the one telling the story. She wanted to hear it from a different angle where she might now be portrayed as the villain. Mark was silent as his eyes remained steely on her and she raised an eyebrow. Go on, now.

"I'm all ears," Genevieve said, breaking eye contact between the couple .

He began his very selective narration from when she started working, skilfully omitting that he stopped her from going to work by tearing her appointment letter. He launched into Okechuku's case and her painting.

"So you see something wrong with her side hustle? " Genevieve asked, calmly. She crossed her legs, relaxed on the sofa.

" You See, I don't see anything wrong with side hustling but it's just the one she chose to do," He replied then leaned back in the seat. All the while he had been sitting out with his elbows rested on his thighs.

"But you have a problem with painting? " She asked once more.

" My point is, why does she want to do that when she has a job?" He said, hitting his hands on his lap to punctuate his statement which was uttered in exasperation.

" Now, you are taking me on a merry -go- round. Don't get annoyed. Not just yet," Genevieve said, calmly again while Kamsi relaxed into her seat, an open palm cupped her chin with lips turned down.

"I'm not . It's just that I have to set things right," He said trying to regain a calmer pose.

"One more thing I want to also get right. As your way of setting things right, did you lock your pregnant wife outside the house at night ?" It was Genevieve's turn to balance her arms on her thighs while she waited for his response. It was like an attack pose.

"I did not, " he said, sounding like someone defending himself in the Court of Law. "I was angry that night. When I opened the door a while later she was no longer there. Where she slept is best known to only her," He finished off looking at Kamsi.

" I slept in your car," She said in a normal tone, like she did shiver that night, like she did not cry herself to sleep, like the memory did not wound her each time.

His reply was silence as he looked at the glass slide door which was pushed to cover only one part and a net stood on the other side.

"If you still feel you are right after this whole one week then I don't know why you are here," Her stepmother said.

"You have obviously chosen your sides. I should go and come back some other time, " He said.

"It's not what I implied. You should be ..."

"You should go," Kamsi said, taking words from her step mother's mouth. She said it in a normal tone and her eyes on the centre table.

Mark shook his head in disbelief then let out a small laugh.

"You have said enough. Get up and leave."

It was not a request or a statement that disguised its tone. It was a command, donned in its full regalia. Mark was unmoving but Kamsi knew that it was not about how long he stayed, he was still the same. She had thought that even if it's once he would let out an apology. Kamsi was ready to accept even a whisper of it.

Genevieve moved closer to touch her but she immediately shrugged off her hand and stood up.

"What did I not do or what did I do wrong ?" She shouted, letting out her frustration. Genevieve bowed her head as her daughter announced her pain.

"The only wrong I did was to love you. I did it for so long that I felt it was right . I have blindly followed you and listened to you, obeyed you ! What more do you want from me? "

Now she broke down. She forced the tears back, wiping furiously as they kept streaming down her face, relentlessly .

"Kamsi, sit down," Her stepmother said in a pleading tone while watching her in apprehension .

She could not sit down. She could not move herself at that point . She was not ashamed to let him see the pain she was passing through.

"All I actually wanted was just your love and support but you prove to be so difficult. You think everything questions your authority! "

She stood in front of him, trying her best to look brazen with a tear streaked face as Mark walked to her . She knew he could not slap again. No, not right now.

"Let me hold you " He requested, pulling her body into his embrace.

Genevieve exited the room silently, leaving the couple in the sitting room. Kamsi relaxed for a moment, her head against his chest, she took in his scent - A mixture of his lotion and perfume . She felt herself melting and she felt betrayed by her weak emotions.

"Please leave, " She let out as low as a whisper because at that moment she was unsure if that was what she wanted.

"Please leave, " She said again. This time, she left his chest and stepped back. She was looking at him straight in the eye.

"I would leave," He assured her, walking past her to the door.

Maybe it fell or he left with it but all her composure was gone and slowly, she lowered herself to the ground hugging herself from a sudden cold.