Morning prayers were a very huge part of the Chike's household's daily routine. Coming from a strong Catholic background, June and Joana's mother Gladys never allowed anyone to leave the house without them all praying together, no matter what time it was or how late they were going to be. Every morning they gathered in the living room where she occasionally led the prayers or sometimes appointed one of the twins to.
This Friday was no different with her leading the prayers and shortly after, they all went back to their various routines, the girls preparing for school and the parents preparing for another day at the pharmacy. She got into the kitchen to prepare breakfast and by the time she came out, June was helping Joana dress her hair in a ponytail, both of them already in their uniform.
"I see you girls have resolved whatever issue you had before," Gladys said to them with a smile.
"Yes mom, I couldn't stay mad at her forever," Joana said looking up to her sister, they never felt closer than ever.
"So your breakfast is at the dining table," Gladys said, cutting their sisterly moment short. "Eat up fast so you can help me open up the store before you head to school."
"Awww," June grumbled. "Aren't we going to say goodbye to daddy first?"
"Goodbye to daddy?" Gladys sounded puzzled. "Where is he going?"
Joanna frowned.
"Daddy didn't tell you about the medical seminar he is attending this weekend at Abeokuta?"
Seminar? Gabriel never said anything to her!
"Oh, that!" She chuckled, placing a hand on her head. "I forgot, you see what old age is doing." She smiled displaying a set of full teeth.
Joana curled up her lips in skepticism.
"Sure... Come on Ju."
Together, June and Joanna headed for the dining room. Gladys wanted to march up to her husband for an explanation.
Why would he lie to his kids and add to his sins? Hasn't he done enough already?
She couldn't bear the thought of her girls hearing their parents quarrel and how it would affect their psyche. Instead, she decided to leave it till her daughters left but passed out time by finishing up the remaining house chores.
"Bye, mom." June and Joanna had said in unison before they left.
"Bye!" She replied, waving at them. She dropped the broom in her hand the moment the door closed behind them and marched straight to her room where her husband was folding up his clothes in his luggage.
"Shameless man," She insulted with one hand on her hip. "So you finally decided that there was no other way for you to disgrace yourself, you decided to sink even lower by lying to your children."
Her words didn't seem to move Gabriel, for the moment at least. He remained quiet and continued his packing. It only made Gladys more furious.
"It is you I'm talking to, stupid man." She tossed over the bag, sending folded clothes flying in a random direction. In a moment of hot anger, Gabriel raised a clenched fist at Gladys who cowered at the sight of the blow aiming at her face. Luckily, Gabriel retreated at the last minute.
"You want to beat me eh?" Gladys said wasting no time in continuing from where she left off. "Gabriel, you want to turn me into your punching bag, is that right? Go on, beat me. I can see now that you're already finished."
"God! woman what do you want from me," Gabriel screamed. "You're the when to talk when you started all of this. For the past six months did you ever utter a word to me except in the presence of the twins? I try talking to you but you don't even reply. What do you want me to do."
"At least I wasn't the one who decided to go chest after 18 years of marriage."
Here she goes again, Gabriel said in his mind and sighed.
"You don't even give me the chance to explain. What happened between me and Chioma was about seven years ago."
"And that is supposed to make it easier?" She glared.
"No but believe me when I tell you, it was just a one-time thing and I ended it there because I didn't want to lose you and our kids." He tried to take a step closer but she didn't let him. "I only got to find out six months ago that she had been struggling to take care of our child--"
"Your child?"
"Yes, my child. I don't mind the fact that he was gotten out of wedlock, he is still my son and I have a responsibility to take care of him... Chioma had denied me that for all these years because she wanted to keep to our agreement."
There was a brief moment of silence between them until Gladys broke down in tears. He rushed to comfort her, putting his arms around her as they sat on the bed.
"Lair!" She said sniffling after a few sobs. "I know the reason for all this was because I couldn't give you a male child."
"Gladys, why would you think such a thing?"
"Admit it, that's the reason you went outside in the first place, to look for what I couldn't give you. I'm sure you were filled with so much joy when you found out it was a boy."
"Come on Gladys, stop it. You know I love you and the kids and I can't trade you for anything. It's just... I have a responsibility to him, I owe him that."
"Then send them money," She cried. "You don't have to go there."
Gabriel began to stroke his wife's hair slowly. He understood where her insecurities came from. His kinsmen haven't been making it easy for her as regards the issue of a male child and her major fear was that she and her daughters would be cast and a strange woman would take her place.
"Honey, put yourself in her shoes, how would June and Joanna feel if I only sent money home and was never present for things like birthdays and graduations? It would wreck them emotionally. I lied to them because we haven't talked and agreed on anything and it would be better if we broke it to them as a united front."
He pulled his hands away and forced a smile. "I'm sorry but I have to go." He said finally then got up to his pile of clothes on the floor. He placed them in the bag quickly and zipped them close.
Gladys didn't say a word. She sat with a face buried in her palm. She was still angry at him but now was embarrassed at herself. She wasn't thinking straight or being kind like her Bible told her to. She couldn't help it and for six months she had turned her home into a war zone. A war she and her husband fought as enemies in silence without the notice of anyone else including their daughters and it was too late to go back now.
Gabriel left without saying a word. With her face buried in her palm, she heard him leave until the sound of his footsteps became faint, and then finally she heard the door open and close shut.
* * *
The steamy aroma of Nescafé filled the air from its disposable cups on most of the officer's desks. Orders were barked and received all around. Officers with paperwork moved from the storeroom to their desks then to the counter and back to the store. Moral offenders were forced to sit in a section with handcuffs on as they waited for the officer in charge to grant them bail. Those who seemed to be there for complaints or other similar business all sat in a different corner, waiting to be called upon by the secretary.
Maryam felt lost immediately as she walked right through the doors of the police station. It was her first time being in one and it felt strange. She never imagined it being so busy with all kinds of chatter here and there. She stood there for a while, long enough for a policeman to notice her.
"Good morning ma'am, can I help you with something?"
His voice startled her a little.
"No- Uhm, I mean yes... I want to make a complaint."
He gave a reassuring smile to calm her down.
"Oh, okay. First, you have to collect a number from the secretary. You see that seat over there?" He said pointing to the right with a finger. "You will have to wait there for a while. We are quite busy this morning."
"No no, I can't stay long. I have to be at work very soon."
"I get that, and so does every other person here too--"
"No, you don't get it," Maryam countered. "It's an emergency... I think the father of my child is missing."