Against All Odds

Chapter Eighty One:To Let Go

The rains were heavy causing the a little flood in the compound. Obi watched her cousins and other children run around  naked singing and dancing under the heavy down poor.

The trees and flowers swished and wavered in the air and the winds caused fruits to fall. Obi was concerned when the children played under the coconut tree because she was afraid of its fruit landing on their heads.

It had been up to four months since Obiefune left for his book review. It turned out that there was much work cut out for him than he imagined. Obi often spoke over the phone with him especially when he wanted to talk with the boys. Chioma had grown busy with preparations for her traditional marriage which was coming up in the next month.

Tobe had begun to process his results for service after the strike delayed him for about three months. The girls grew tired of staying at home and Obi had to encourage them to start working in her husband's hotel just to keep them busy. Everyone was elated when the strike was called off, most especially Mr Igwe.

They spoke with barrister Daniel immediately who insisted that they wait till Obiefune returns before they proceed with the contest.

Obi had gone with her family to visit her father soon after, they had planned on staying for a day but ended up staying for a week. Everyone else mingled freely with her half sisters and they were very fond of the twins.

Obi rarely spoke with Janet and her other sisters because she always locked herself in her room. Tobe was the one who forced her to move around often. Her father did well to entertain the children and her siblings with stories that were very amusing. Everyone else seemed happy except Obi and she didn't know why.

Chioma had advised that she takes a break from their state which she did, hoping it would brighten things up. Her husband's cologne and her mother's cream were placed in her box even though she didn't use them.

Obi often cried when she saw how things had changed and wished that maybe she could have changed the past. It was difficult seeing Janet and her father so happy with her children and her siblings and she often wished it was her mother instead.

On one of the occasions Obi had decided to prepare food in the kitchen after she assumed everyone else had gone out. She had finished cooking when she realized that there was no pepper.

Obi sought for pepper in the kitchen but had no luck. She sat down on the kitchen and cried while staring at the food because she was very hungry and could not eat.

She was sniffing when Janet walked in. The woman went outside and bought pepper and finished preparing the food for Obi. Obi was skeptical about taking the food from Janet but hunger gave her no choice.

Later at night she went to thank Janet and found her teaching her sons how to make abacha. She saw Obi and told the boys to go away while they spoke and they did. Obi spoke with her concerning and the food and even helped her to finish with the abacha. Janet had even apologized for the incident with her mother's wrapper.

They all ate the food with boiled yam and coversed like a family.
Obi's half sisters questioned her about lots of things about the village and mma's stories because Tobe had shared some with them and they were eager to hear a better version. Obi ended up laughing on so many occasions especially after she tried to demonstrate things the way her grandmother did.

She found it difficult to sleep that night because a part of her felt guilty. Was it wrong to accept her step mother into her life knowing that she was part of the reason her mother suffered while she was alive? But wasn't it a Christian thing to do?

The thought ran across her mind as she walked out of the house. The night  chilly breeze kissed her face and she inhaled deeply.

She quickly stepped down to the veranda where she saw her father seated staring into space. The old man looked at Obi and smiled and gestured that she sits with him.