For that reason, our relations refused to accompany him to the girl's parents for proper marriage, as required by the native law and custom. Such legalization of marriage would have accorded him the ownership of the children.
On the other hand, the girl's parents were not willing to welcome him either. The truth about the matter was that the parents of Chika, the mistress, had given her out in marriage to Mr. Eric Adibe, the son of Mr. Adibe her father’s bosom friend who was based in the United States of America. As at the time she moved into my father's house, it had been six years since Eric left. No one had neither seen him nor heard from him, and there were speculations that he had married a white lady, or he was dead. To cap it up, Chika had been an unhappy and a lonely lady. No man was willing to marry her, even though it was no secret that her husband, was nowhere to be found. Despite her beauty and age, she was very much willing to marry anyone who was willing to take her in because she was afraid of losing out entirely by remaining single all her life.
According to her, if Eric had moved on with his life, she should be allowed to move on with her life too. When Mr. Aaron approached her for marriage, she gladly accepted to be his second wife, despite his age and cantankerous lifestyle. Unfortunately, she never suspected that he would send his wife and children away. She did not mind being a second wife, even if it meant being a slave to the first wife, provided she would be allowed to share the man with her. After these treatments from him, one could imagine how disgusting it was when he showed up in my house unannounced.
On Monday morning, Evans and I were about leaving the house for George's school to check if his name was on the admission list that was just released by the school. Then, he had made peace with me by giving me an explanation on why he came back late. He informed me that his lawyer, Barr. Gary Fuller took him to his club to calm down his stress.
Now, he needed my company since my school, was still on holidays. Nevertheless, Evans was a pleasant person, who cannot be angry for a long time, or bear grudges with anyone. That was one of the attributes I liked about him, although some times, people take him for granted. Now, as he was about turning on the ignition of his car when his phone rang. Then, he picked up his phone, which had not received any calls since Saturday, and muttered. “Who could this be?”
Subsequently, he gave me a searching look as I fixed my gaze on him, wanting to know who the caller could be.
“Hello," he spoke and waited for the caller to introduce himself, before he proceeded.
“I do not get you, Mr. who? Oh! I see. I will get back to you.”
Then, he cut the call abruptly and hissed. Later, I got to know that the caller was the least person that he expected to hear from. Furthermore, because he wanted to avoid ruining my day, he quickly zoomed off, not giving me the opportunity to inquire who the caller was. However, we came back from George's school filled with excitement and thanksgiving to God because George was offered admission into the University of his choice – University of Abuja to be precise. Afterward, my husband quickly transferred five hundred thousand into my account for the processing of his admission. To my anguish, I got to my house to meet a stranger, whose presence was nauseating.
'What should someone who should be in hell be doing in my house? Some people have their ways of spoiling other people's day or, better put, shortening one's happiness.' I thought.
"What are you doing here? Who invited you?”
I yelled at the unwanted visitor all at once while my dumbstruck husband looked on.
"George," I called out with a loud voice, shouting as though he was some miles away.
"Yes, mummy.”
George answered as he ran from his room to meet me.
“Where's Mama? And who gave you the permission to open the door and admit someone you have never met before into the house?" I asked as though the intruder was not there.
“Mama said she was going to the market.”
Now, George, who was already scared, wondered what could have made me so angry. He answered my first question, but before he could think of the answer to my second question, my husband came to his rescue.
“Darling, take it easy," he consoled.
“Why should George open the door for anyone who knocks?” I blurted.
“Just go to the room. I will handle it. You need to rest now.”
Evans said as he patted my back.
Now, he took me to the room and gave me a hug and a passionate kiss.
“I will always love you, my baby. Be calm, please.”
He said and hurriedly went back to attend to the visitor while George quietly slipped into his room.
The last time I saw this man was at my native land when Evans and I were invited by the local church to the Annual Harvest Thanksgiving and Bazaar. Then, he was flaunting his wife here and there. Especially with the most desired male children. He pretended not to recognize me or my husband. I did not expect any better treatment, after all, I was just a woman. I also pretended that I did not recognize him. After we bought several items from the bazaar sales, he walked up to us, smiling sheepishly, and asked.
“Sarah, are you returning to the city with these items? I can help you keep them if they would be too heavy for you to travel with.”
The hostile treatment I gave to him was enough for him not to come close to me for the rest of his life, Now, he was not just close to me presently, but right under my roof. To make me angry the more, without any invitation or any prior notice. Little did I know that he came with a killing intent.