His Mother’s Wish – 5

“I am going to do it.”

“You are going to do what?”

Obiajulu met Nnenna’s eyes. “I am going to sleep with another man and get pregnant for him.”

“What? Are you insane, Obi?”

“No, I’m not insane. I want a child, Nnenna. I want to have a child of my own. Eze will never support adoption or IVF…”

Nnenna interrupted. “And he supports you committing adultery so you can have a child?”

Obiajulu shrugged. “He didn’t object to it.”

“Wait. You have told him about his mother’s crazy suggestion?”

“Yes, I have, and he didn’t object to it. It’s not as if he wholeheartedly welcomed the idea, but he made no protests against it. He will accept any child that comes through this way, and so will his family.”

Nnenna stared at her in shock for a long moment before she finally said. “I’m wondering if you have lost your mind or something. Obi, do you know what you are thinking of doing? Where is God in all of this? Where is your faith?”

“Where is God in all my years of childishness? Where is he to heal my husband of infertility?” Obiajulu countered with impatience “God is in heaven, looking down at me and doing nothing to help me. More than three years, I prayed for a child. Did he answer me? No, he, instead, plagued my husband with a problem medical science cannot solve. Nnenna, God is where he is and I am where I am. I am going to do it. Period.”

“I am going to call your mother and tell her about this.”

“You go ahead and do whatever you want to do. But just know no one can change my mind. I want a child and I mean to have one.”

There was another long moment of silence, then Nnenna said quietly. “He might not object now, but what if he does later? What if he uses this against you or the child in future? Have you considered that?”

“Then I will leave him. I will take my child and go if he ever maltreats us.”

“If that then is what you intend to do, why not do so now? Leave him, Obi. I know I said you shouldn’t last time, but instead of doing this, just walk away. Divorce him and start over.”

She didn’t want a divorce. Not yet, if ever. “You know, he suggested we get a divorce.”

“He did?”

Obiajulu nodded. “Yes, he did. But I said no. I don’t want a divorce, I realised. I don’t ever want one, but if it must happen, it won’t be now. I am not leaving my marriage empty-handed. If he can’t biologically give me a child, then his acquiescence to some weird tradition will.”

She paused and confessed. “I am doing this more for myself than for him, Nnenna. Yes, it is his mother’s suggestion and one he doesn’t object to, but I am taking advantage of it to get what I want.”

“You don’t have to take advantage of something so stupid. Just accept the divorce he offered and start your life all over again. You’re still in your mid-thirties and can remarry.”

“You think I want to remarry?” Amused, Obiajulu let out a short laugh. “Nnenna, I have had enough of marriage. If I leave this one I’m in, I will never get into another. Besides, I don’t want the stigma of divorce. You know the society we live in. You know how widows are treated, let alone divorcés. No, his mother made this request and as a good daughter-in-law and wife, I’m adhering to her wishes. That is my story and I will stick to it to the end.”

“You shock me, Obi.”

More like she disappointed her, Obiajulu thought. “Nnenna, they want to protect his image. They want no one to know he’s sterile. Therein lies my own protection. If I do this right, only us will know and they will never publicly accuse me for fear of exposing their son.”

“How sure are you that they won’t?”

“I spoke with his mother. She swore no other ear would hear it. It’s going to stay within the family. And even in the family, only a few persons are privy to this information.”

“Obi, please don’t do this.”

“Nnenna, I am going to do it. It is my duty to give my husband a child and that is what I’m about to do.”

“It’s also your duty to stay faithful to him; it’s a vow you took. What about that?”

“My husband and his family just gave me permission to break that vow.” Obiajulu said, knowing her mind was made up. “This is the only way, Nnenna.”

“No, there’s another way. This is the way you are choosing and I fear you might regret it.”

“As long as I have a child, I won’t.” At the doubtful look on her cousin’s face, Obiajulu repeated. “I won’t regret it, Nnenna. You will see.”