Chapter Twelve
Catherine groaned in pain, her ribs hurt, and her vision was blurry. And her scalp was sore from being violently yanked repeatedly. The effect of the sedation was gradually wearing off, and as it did, she began to feel pains she hadn't felt moments ago. Her body ached and each time she tried to move it, she suffered even more.
Her brain was fuzzy. Her mind cloudy. She glanced around the room and realized for the first time since she woke, that she wasn't in her bedroom. The unfamiliar space sent panic through her spine. Her anxiety grew at the sound of the approaching footsteps and indistinct chattering. As the door to the room pushed open, she struggled to pull out the drip attached to the back of her palm.
"Catherine"
Deji hasten to her side before she could pull out the drip. Catherine persisted, her eyes fixed on the drip. Her teeth chatter in fear. Deji's attempt to hold her back failed.
"Ifemi"
Deji sobbed, pulling her into his embrace, holding her tight, regardless of her resistance, he didn't let go of her. Catherine stared at him blankly. Recognizing him, she stopped struggling and ease up in his arm.
"I'm sorry. Ifemi"
He apologized for leaving her on her own, for not protecting her when she needed protection. Above all, he was sorry for letting them bully her. Heck, he was sorry for a lot of things, but one thing was certain, and that is he'd never leave her side again.
"Didi?"
Her voice shook in his embrace.
"yes, I am here. You'll be fine"
He consoled.
"she is still in shock"
The doctor had told Deji when he inquired about his wife's condition.
"She will be fine. All she needs is good rest"
Abike sprang to her feet as she sights Deji coming out of the Doctor's office. She shrunk as she met the fury in Deji's gaze. Her eyes were wet with tears. As he matched past her without a word her heart raced, she feared for what he'd do. What would happen if he chooses to confront their parents? His silence spoke of his anger towards her. She could sense it and in many ways, she believed that she deserved it. If she hadn't been too scared to interfere then Catherine would have still been in good health.
***
Catherine had returned from a long work on the beach with Abike to meet the fury of Tim and his wife. Upon sighting them in the garden, Catherine in the company of Abike crossed the patio to the mini garden, where they sat, sipping wine.
"iya mi ti o dara aṣalẹ, baba mi ti o dara aṣalẹ"
Abike greeted, kneeling before her parents and bowing her head, as she awaited their responses before raising to her feet. Catherine watched fascinated, after Abike left, she proceeded to do the same. But instead of the usual smiles, she met a cold disapproving gaze.
Catherine felt an increasing tension lurking in the atmosphere. The burning gaze in their stares bore through her body into her soul. The blood in her veins rushed to her head, her throat dried up from the intense feeling in her stomach.
As expected the blissful day hadn't ended peacefully as it had begun. Catherine found herself caught up in a crossword war with her supposed in-laws and all hell had broken loose, following a warning from Helen to end her marriage with Deji.
Catherine had in what appears like a polite way, refused the proposal offered by Fumi, and ended up infuriating the trio.
Furious by Catherine's objection, Helen scampered after Catherine on the staircase pulling her by her braids. After what seemed like an endless struggle between the ladies, Catherine ended up at the bottom of the stairs, unconscious.
Deji dashed to Catherine's side as she stirred for the fifth time in her sleep. He had whipped himself all night for her trauma and stayed awake all day ensuring no harm came to her.
His heart suffered and grieved. Hate and more hate grew roots stuck deep into his mind. He hated Helen for Catherine's pain and his parents for their support and greed for power rather than his happiness. And Abike, even though she had no hand in it, he blamed her too. She was supposed to look after Catherine while he was away but she had failed in the simple task he'd assigned to her.
Above all, he hated himself more. He hated himself for being selfish with his love. He blamed himself for letting her sacrifice so much for him, yet he couldn't protect her even in the face of danger, he'd walked her right into the den of lions without a sufficient safety strategy.
As he watched her sleep, his intellect buzzled with 'what ifs'. 'what if she had died?' 'what if she had lost the pregnancy?'
The pregnancy. If he could not protect his wife, how then would he protect his child? As he stared at her flat tummy, a fresh agony plagued his heart. He hadn't known they were expecting until today.
As he pace around the ward he'd retained for Catherine only, he comb through the little strands of hair on his scalp with his fingers. With Anxiety gradually creeping into his self. He made his choice. A choice he hadn't dared to make before.
And he chooses his wife and unborn child