"We will call Mr. Obidike and tell him the truth ,right after you explain what exactly transpired between you and Chidozie" Agatha demanded as she settled back on the bed .
She had told her husband that she had a pending discussion with her sister immediately Obanma left.
"I told him she's not his "
"Ngozi you'd have to tell him the truth,besides I don't think he believes you . Why would he show up here after so many years ? "
"He can't know the truth , what do you think everyone will think of me ?"
"Exactly what they'll think of you if you do not say the truth. You have been in a coma for years, you truly did not witness what this whole thing did to your children. Ngozi be reasonable,all of us are tired of the lies,hate and shame. You didn't have an affair with Dozie but he was found half naked in a room with you and Iheanyi claims there was more that transpired between you two. Ngozi biko you've remembered so many things,now is the time to set things right "
Ngozi seemed disconcerted with different emotions playing on her face . She reclined to the bed where her sister sat and exhaled.
"Chidozie said he was going to talk to Chidiogo about it,I didn't know he didn't. After my miscarriage he decided he was going to intervene. He had rejected so many times when I asked for help saying it was not right for him to interfere in another man's marriage. I almost lost my life, I believe that made him rethink his stance. Obanma had seen Iheanyi on some days during his escapades with his concubines . I got fed up , I had to leave because I was slowly dying on the inside. Chidozie sent his son Onyedikachi to give me a parcel.
He said it contained the deeds to the land and had encouraged me to leave with our youngest children. I had suggested that to him. Obanma and Obinna were too young to be left alone but Adaugo and Chijioke were quite older.
Chidozie said he wanted to get a buyer but he couldn't.
That morning I could remember hearing him greet people before he got to the door and started knocking.
He came into the living room and he saw ..."
Agatha couldn't help the thudding of her heart as her sister narrated the incident that had occured at her home years ago.
"Ngozi what did he see ?"
Ngozi took in bouts of deep breaths and continued with her story .
"He saw him.. I c..ant .. remember his name , his face ... He saw the man. He said he would reveal the truth to Iheanyi,he would make us pay."
"Ngozi you'd have to try hard to remember what he looked like . O di mkpa. We can't get him if we don't know what he looks like . He could have had a hand in the attacks on your family too. Even though I won't be surprised if Chidiogo knows who he is "
"I can't remember his face , he didn't have a face . His voice seemed so familiar "
"Ngozi try to remember something else. How did Chidozie's clothes come off? Why were you in your wrapper?"
Ngozi closed her eyes, trying so hard to remember.
"I was never clothed , I wanted to shower .. . He was a thief ! He came into the house.
No! No! Chidozie thought he was a thief . He attacked first , Chidozie thought he was going to rape me . He attacked the thief . He punched the thief twice and he fell.
Chidozie told me to run !
He hit Chidozie on his head and ...and .. " Ngozi's eyes suddenly flew open and she turned her sister.
"He had a gun! Agatha he had a gun . He said we will both die if we moved ."
Agatha's hands went to her lips as the revelation shocked her more.
"Chidozie told me to sit and obey all he commanded.
He said everything was going to be fine. The thief laughed he said " what you've denied me ,you've given freely to all. This one is another one of your lovers . "
He told Chidozie to strip and he did . He said we should walk into the bedroom and he said we'd die if we screamed. He laughed Agatha, he said Iheanyi would see for himself. "
"Ngozi what else happened ?"
"He ...he locked the doors and said he'd shoot whoever comes out first. I couldn't think straight , I feared my children running into him.
Chidozie said I should be calm that the thief was looking for a way to escape. Chidozie told me he would break the door after a while but he fell"
"Agatha what do you mean he fell?what pushed him?"
"It was the gun , the thief had hit him on the head before. I was out of my mind , I whispered his name. I tapped him and shook him but he didn't open his eyes. "
Agatha could see the stream of tears that traveled from her sister's eyes down to her cheek .
"When he opened his eyes ,he tried to sit up but fell and I held him. It was then the keys rattled . "Ngozi swallowed hard
"I thought the man had come to end our lives and the door opened, it was Iheanyi who stood there. His eyes blazing in anger . He called me a whore and how my escapades with Chidozie had been revealed to him. "
"Chidozie told him to calm down so that they would discuss but he walked away . Chidozie got up and followed him and I did too, pleading for him to listen."
Iheanyi went berserk even as we tried to explain. He ran out of the house and I tried to search for Chidozie's clothes but we couldn't find it. I ran into the bedroom to fetch a wrapper but when I came out Iheanyi had a gun pointed at Chidozie. Agatha I screamed and called for help even as they struggled with the object and Chidozie called for Iheanyi to calm down.
Chidozie wasn't strong enough, I knew that and I didn't even interfere. Some children came and started yelling, I told some of them to get help and they ran off. Obinna ran to where I was terrified and I held him . The next thing I heard was the deafening sound of that gun and Obinna went limp in my hands. I looked at my son's head and blood trickled from his forehead down to my hands." Ngozi quaked uncontrollably as she continued the tale and even Agatha began to weep .
"Chidozie withdrew in shock and even Iheanyi stood still. Chidozie couldn't believe his eyes, I could tell from the expression he wore. He started coming towards us and that was when the second gunshot sounded and I saw Chidozie fall to the ground . I couldn't scream , my lips quivered as I stared at Iheanyi and all I could think within me was that he was going to shoot me too. I truly wished he had ,maybe it would have been punishment enough. Watching my son's corpse Agatha it took life out of me"
"Iheanyi acted like a monster and he killed that innocent man. Ngozi we have to tell Chidiogo the truth. We have to tell the king, everyone about this and we have to figure out who that man was first. Everything about Obinna's burial screamed Osisioma all around it. He's the one who would have benefitted the most if Chijioke had been eliminated. Nne there's so much to do"
"Agatha, do you think everyone will hate me when I reveal the truth?"
"Ngozi I'm certain they will if you don't reveal it . Ngozi what did that stranger mean when he said what you had denied him? Did you have any admirer back then? Maybe that's how we would figure out who this man is?"
"I have always had many admirer, men who wanted to sleep with me despite knowing I was married to Iheanyi"
"We'd have to figure out who that man was, but for now we have to find a way to contact Mr. Obidike. He needs to meet with his daughter"
*******
Onyedikachi seemed sated for a while just staring at Obanma as she lay asleep beside him. He couldn't help the joy that bubbled within his being as the sound of Obanma's soft breathing enveloped him. He had missed her terribly and loved having her near him.
Her soft scent seemed stronger or maybe he had sniffed her so many times just to be certain that she was really back with him.
Onyedikachi placed a kiss on her forehead and withdrew gently still dazed by her presence.
Obanma rolled to where he lay spreading her legs all over his person even while engulfed by sleep. Onyedikachi chuckled lightly at how every part of her body lay over his despite the enormous space on the bed.
Onyedikachi tried to gently untangle himself from her body but even found himself even more entangled between her arms . She positioned herself such that she lay on top of him.
It was almost impossible to breathe but he couldn't help but feel amused.
"Few weeks without me and you've gotten even worse in bed "
Onyedikachi's chest began to rumble until a chuckle escaped Obanma's lips.
She opened her eyes to stare at him while he grinned at her action.
"You made me give myself away"
"I should have known you were awake you little witch" He chuckled even as she placed the subtlest of kisses on his forehead.
"I love you Onyedikachi" She declared with a glaring smile and he exhaled deeply .
"Mma , I love you more" He had longed to hear those words from her
"Do you feel hungry ?" She had asked almost immediately scrambling off him like a cat who had stepped on fire .
Obanma dove into the snacks that he had purchased for her and he was tempted to ask for some as she practically moaned while munching the cookies.
She turned to him with a smile as he stared longingly at her.
"Onyi I ga-..."
"Eri? " He moved closer to the edge of the bed and stretched his hand to receive a broken piece which he threw into his mouth .
"You were much generous when you were younger , I miss that Mma"
Obanma laughed so hard that she began to choke. Onyedikachi quickly fetched her a glass of water which she used to quench the uneasiness.
"Everything has a price , even stinginess" He declared as he rubbed her back gently.
They sat close to each other eating in silence until it was the last piece of the cookie which they broke into equal halves and ate .
"Onyi are we still getting married?"
Onyedikachi was quite astonished and held her hand as he noticed her uneasiness. He placed a kiss in her palm then her lips and she sighed in contentment.
"We'll get married tomorrow if you just say the words. Papa Nnukwu has told the Umunna already ,he always believed you were not my sister"
Obanma chuckled as she recalled the times spent with the old man.
"With everything that has happened, I thought you would want to wait "
" I'd make you my wife this morning if I could Mma. Nothing would deter me from that "
"I'll have to tell mom and aunt Agatha the truth. I'll also tell Chijioke and Daa ."
"After that we'll be going home to meet my family too. Mma I will do everything right this time. I didn't tell my mother about the test that proclaimed us siblings . I am so glad that I didn't. "
"Onyi then I think it would be right for us to tell Chijioke together. He's at the village now,he's working on his gas plant. I'd also love to meet Adannaya and her mother "
"You'll love them, Olivia and Ada. Olivia is almost due and they believe it's a boy this time. She's changed Arinze so much and Ada is just growing so fast . Olivia has always been in support of us"
Obanma gave a satisfying grin as she was also pleased to know two more family members who were in support of their relationship.
"Onyi when we have a son in the future can we name him after Obinna?"
Onyedikachi was caught off guard by the question but answered almost immediately.
"Definitely Mma ,maybe that would broker peace between Obinna and I "
Obanma laughed at his teasing words but threw her hands around him. "Obinna has always liked you "
"Easy for you to say, I feel his ghost is angry with me "
"Of course not, I'm certain he did like you from what I can remember. You always played with us. He was just so carefree and happy. Onyi we can name our other son after your father too"
Onyedikachi was so pleased with the idea that he held her tighter to himself.
"I thought you'd be advocating for girls instead"
"We'll have two girls too"
Onyedikachi chuckled lightly as he pictured himself bending to the will of his two daughters who would bear a semblance to their mother.
Obanma exhaled deeply staring into space.
"I'll call Mrs Ukaegbu tomorrow, I have to speak to my real father. I can't help but feel burdened by the truth. It did bring us together but doesn't it seem unfair that the man I've always known as my father is not ? It feels unfair to him and I do care about him deeply despite all that he has done. Is he not also a victim? Onyi I don't know how to go about this "
Onyedikachi placed a kiss on her head and she held his hand. "I'm always here for you, you know that right . But Mma when it comes to things about your father Iheanyi, I'm a little prejudiced. Him not being your father is the reason why we're together today not that I applaud the man who abandoned you "
Obanma seemed speechless for a while before Onyedikachi began to speak about her friend.
"We'll go see Oluchi and her siblings before I go to work tomorrow. I'll drop you off and we can start planning the trip to the village as well. I just want to make sure those kids are with a reasonable relative before I leave "
"Thank you so much Onyi, you are a good man"
Onyedikachi couldn't help the words that came from his lips ." It's an Anambra thing "
Obanma slapped his shoulder and he couldn't help but burst into laughter .
She withdrew from his arms and lay on the bed while he kept taunting her.
"Come here my rove !"
Onyedikachi drew Obanma to his side and began to kiss her . He nibbled her lips , tasted the chocolate they had eaten from her mouth as his tongue swept the corners of her mouth thoroughly.
Obanma pulled him closer to her , she couldn't get enough of his exploration and kisses , she wanted more like a dying patient gasping for more oxygen. She had missed being loved by him and craved him the more as he unraveled those feelings with his touches.
"You are my world, you are my destiny Mma " He muttered under his breath as his kisses extended to her shoulder,down to her bossom.
Obanma explored his body passionately with her hands, sighs of pleasure elicited from Onyedikachi's wondrous exploration fled her lips.
Obanma pulled his face and he hovered over her staring into her eyes.
" I love you " She whispered with a smile which he gave back.
They made love that morning and fell into a needed slumber until Onyi's alarm went off.
Still encased in Onyedikachi's arms , Onyedikachi struggled to get up but he knew he had to with the responsibilities that awaited him.
He woke her with kisses and she grudgingly sat up . Onyedikachi couldn't help but smile at her demeanor but encouraged her to get up.
They ordered their breakfast after they had their shower and set up for the day.
Obanma received a call from Agatha demanding her presence at home . She agreed to arrive after her visit to Oluchi and her siblings .
She agreed to call Mrs Ukaegbu once she got to the house .
Obanma arrived in the afternoon to meet not just her uncle and aunt but also her mother with Mr. Obidike.
She was encouraged to sit and she obeyed after she had greeted everyone including their guest. She noticed how nervous Mr. Obidike seemed and how worried her mother looked.
"Obanma there's something very important that we have to discuss" Nnamdi began not quite certain he knew how to break the news to her.
"Nne do you know this man here?" Agatha had asked and Obanma nodded swiftly. She sat quietly and waited for them to talk but noticed that they had been waiting for her to reveal what she knew.
"He's Chukwuemeka and Chukwuebuka's grandfather, Mr. Obiefuna Ukaegbu's father ..." Obanma could see the discomfort easing off her mother's face as she spoke until she revealed the last thing she discovered about the said man.
"He is also my real father"
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