Chapter 36: Chapter 36

"We're actually missing the point  I'm desperately trying to make," Mark said.

He returned the next day very early in the morning even before Onyedikachi and Chisom left for school, before anyone stepped out of the house. Nobody relayed details of the last meeting  to the Reverend so he decided not to leave early for work but stay back . He was wearing a white polo over his new track suit trouser. He sat back with a narrowed eyes set on  Mark waiting for him to make his point.

"We are focusing more on my response, not what caused the response, " Mark said.

"Does it mean that what caused your response was enough reason for you to lock her outside?" Genevieve asked then looked at her husband. "Like this is where I try to understand this but I fail."

Mark rubbed his hands together while the Reverend raised a hand to quiet her but she continued, "I was not this mad till he came yesterday and still thinks he did the right thing."

"Mummy, he has heard you. It's okay. He has heard you. Please go and give the boys money for lunch," The Reverend said.

Genevieve left the sitting room and the two were left in the silence. Reverend Nwachukwu was relaxed in his seat, had his legs stretched out in front of him, his feet placed on top of the other, shaking them while with a hand, propping up his chin.

"Sir," Mark spoke, "If we should address this the way it should, you would note clearly that her attitude does not or did not speak good of a married woman. She was going to meet a man at night for Christ sake! " He finished off. His voice rose with his anger.

"Calm down, young man," He smiled knowingly at Mark. "Let's  hope for all our sake that you do not trust the man she was going to meet and not that you do not trust your wife. If that's the case, you should have followed her for security reasons because you said, it was at night and anything could happen at night."

"Now," He said, sitting out, "Another thing that should have been considered is the time wasted outside. How long did she stay? " He paused, like he did while on pulpit, waiting for his audience to digest his point.

Mark remained silent, while he listened, he had an arm  on the cushion and the other on his thigh.

"But!" He said suddenly with a raised finger, "There's no way we look at this situation and we would praise your actions. You went too far, young man. You went too far."

"You said that we failed to address the part the woman played and I refuse to be one sided so I would do that. I have spoken to her already and her mother has but let me also say this, Kamsi has always loved to draw. That landscape painting up there," He pointed to the wall, where there was a painting of the sun very close to the sea. "She did it."

"You said, it was late at night then open up a shop for her so she doesn't have to sell after work hours. What I'm trying to do here is offer solutions. We have laid blames for so long and it's leading us nowhere. Even if Kamsi is wrong. You did a greater wrong. You should find some humility in you and apologize to that woman. "

He stopped speaking and held Mark's gaze for a while before Mark looked away and nodded.

"A wise man once said, the husband is like a king in his home but for peace to reign, he comes down from his throne and humbles himself to associate with his subjects."

When he stopped talking, he relaxed back into the seat. "Have you eaten? Have breakfast with us."

"No, thank you Sir - not just for the food but for your time," Mark said, pacifyingly.

"It's my job," The Reverend said, getting up, "As a father."

He walked to the window and peeped out to see if his car was washed and there were splashes of water all over the black Honda. He then turned back to Mark, "Let me show you to your wife's room."

"Thank you, Sir," Mark said, rising up.

There was a knock on Kamsi's door. She sat up, coiling her legs, yoga style while she leaned back against the wall. The knock sounded again and she spoke this time,

"Come in"

She had been expecting her stepmother to come in and preach to her so she would go out and meet her husband but it was Mark. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise then immediately, she composed herself as he shut the door behind him. He was wearing a white polo and washed jeans, his feet were bare. His footwears were probably outside the front door. She was in the kitchen when he came but she heard his greeting in the parlor and immediately rushed to her room.

"Can I sit? " He asked .

"No. I don't have a seat. You can stand." she replied, folding her arms beneath her breast.

He moved to the window, beside her bed and looked outside then at her.

"I took my leave of absence this month, " He said.

Kamsi knew that already. He normally went for it in November or December. He didn't go for it in November so she knew it would be in December.

"I have made arrangements. We're repainting the house before Christmas. What color do you want? "

Her head snapped up to look at him. "What are you doing? " She hissed.

He sighed then rubbed his hands on his trouser pocket. "I didn't mean to hit you that morning. I was very angry. "

"Hmm," Kamsi scoffed. "You. Did. Mean. To. Hit me. Any man that can leave his wife to sleep outside can do anything. "

"Kamsi, don't say that. You know it was out of character for me."

"It's something..."

"I'm sorry," he said, looking at her smallish frame on the bed. "I am sorry "

It felt like ice, it felt like a very chilled water was poured on her being. It ran down slowly, soothing every bitterness in her, It softened her hardened heart and gave way to tears. Maybe because those words rendered were words he hardly spoke.

She immediately wiped off her tears and brought down her legs to the floor. From where she was seated, she stared out through the window, to the gate house, the two cars packed in the compound and to the barbed wire fence.

"The harmattan seems like it's coming late this year," Mark spoke, his eyes regarding her. "All the plants in the garden are dead though."

Kamsi smiled. He was giving her updates on the house. Encouraged by her smile, he continued,

"I'm getting a promotion next year . The position is like a big competition but I have something I'm working on. it's huge," He said, beaming with smiles like a proud child praising himself before his mother.

"You will get it, " she said, without looking at him.

"Thank you, baby."

She nodded, "So, is that all for the updates? "

"We're buying chickens again. Those ones died," He said.

"It's a lie! " Kamsi exclaimed in disbelief "What happened to them? "

"Maybe hunger or dehydration. I forgot them and it seems Timothy did too. One died but the other two were very weak so Timothy carried them all away."

"That's bad."

"When are you coming home? That place is too big to live in without you."

Kamsi looked at him then moved back into the bed and folded her legs once more. "I don't know, " she replied.

"What do you mean by that? "

"I want to stay here for a while, maybe I will come back next year, " She said, then looked at him.

He shook his head and laughed.

"That arrangement is not convenient for me, " He stated.

"I'm doing what is convenient for me. It doesn't always have to be convenient for you. Your tenure has ended."

"Way forward, baby - That's what we're looking at. Let's talk and make this thing work," He said then moved to the bed and sat, taking her hands in his.

"It was just a painting I went to sell and it was to someone you know," She said and took back her hands.

"I was uncomfortable with the arrangement. Please let's put all of that behind us. Please."

She was silent. Her eyes roamed around his features and searched his face, his eyes, maybe she found what she was looking for - a little love and she nodded.

"Would you like to go back to my hotel with me then we can leave tomorrow? "

"No."

" Next tomorrow? "

She nodded and allowed him to hold her hand once again. His thumb caressing the visible veins on the back of her hand .

"I would come pick you, tomorrow evening."