HOUSE OF THORNS : EPISODE 11 – 20

HOUSE OF THORNS

Episode 20

Vivian was talking with her mother about what had been going on in her life. She wasn’t shocked to see that her mother wasn’t as excited as she should her to be on the news of her pregnancy, but she was shocked at how she had a way of dem0nizing her whenever issues involved Leonard.

“Vivy, every woman wants to see her daughter get married and raise children with her husband. But if what you’re telling me now is that you’re abandoning your husband after all you two have been through, then I’m going to tell you to think again” her mother told her.

“Mum! I cant believe you’re sounding this way. How in God’s name do you think I’ll choose a man who can barely perform his manly duties at this stage of our life over the fruit of the womb I’ve come to believe I’d never have?” Vivian complained.

“Did you say a man that can’t perform his duties? I hope it’s not what I’m thinking Vivian. I hope for your sake you’re referring to something else” her mother said in anger.

“I’m not talking about something else mum. I’m talking about his inability to make me feel like a woman. I’m just a young woman, and I have needs. If he cant fulfil those needs, then what’s his use to me as a man?” Vivian fired, not caring how angry her mother was getting.

“It’s a shame Vivian, that you have failed to grow up. Sometimes, I look at you, and I wonder if I really birthed you. How can you in the space of one month decide to tag a man imp0tent when he’s clearly doing his best to overcome the trauma you put him through? Have you stopped to think about the fact that he’s only in that condition because of you?” her mother said again, this time totally exasperated.

“Mum! I’m.not talking about what caused his problem, I’m talking about the fact that he has lost the ability to make me feel like a woman, and mum, if I hadn’t found out about this pregnancy, I’d have ended up getting myself a man, man enough to do the needful. But since I’m pregnant now, I do not need the mental stress of having to live with him and get his job done by another” she said emphatically.

“So your plan is?” her mother asked, her legs shaking furiously in anger as she sat looking at the embarrassment she gave birth to. “And don’t tell me you’re about to birth a child whose father no body knows!” Mrs. Bradford screamed.

“Calm down mummy. Nobody said I don’t know who his father is. I may have met him in the most awkward circumstances, but he was able to get me pregnant after all! And before he left that day, he had told me something incredible. In his words “don’t h@te the player, h@te the game. You enjoyed every bit of what we just got now, you should admit that I’m better than that poor thing you call a husband. And if you ever need me to take you down the lane of pleasure any day, all you have to do is give me a call” Vivian said, giggling childishly.

“So mum, I’ve decided to get across to him. Tell him that I’m pregnant and see what I can do to make him take responsibility. Mum, I’m going to make him want my baby and I, that you can be sure of. And please don’t lecture me about decency, I’ve gone past that stage as it stands now!” Vivian declared.

“Your father will be turning in shame and anguish in his grave right now Vivian. He’d be so disappointed at the kind of daughter you turned out to be. And I’m so ashamed that you didn’t think well enough to know that you’d have been way better having the IVF your husband suggested and raising a happy family with the man that loves you so perfectly. ” she told her and walked away in anger.

Vivian looked at her mother as she walked away, and could only smile in satisfaction that she had been a able to pass the message she’d been so afraid of, to her mother. She was going in search of Jeremy.

Maybe it was because Leonard said it, or maybe she hadn’t given much thought to it before. But now that she thought of it, he really liked how manly, Jeremy was with her. She liked how he could tame her even when she had her thoughts on Leonard that day.

That day, Vivian got in touch with Mary, she knew no love was lost between two of them, but she needed to get the information she wanted from Mary.

Mary was delighted to hear what Vivian had to propose. She wanted Mary to help her get Jeremy to take responsibility for her pregnancy, and in exchange, she’d help her dreams of being with Leonard become a reality.

“I may have left Leonard, but I know how to get him where I want. So if you’d work with me and make Jeremy to accept me and the baby, then I can assure you that Leonard will be all yours in a twinkle of a eye” Vivian assured Mary, her eyes twinkling with delight.

“Vivian my friend, I hope you see now that we truly can be friends? We need to make a toast to this collaboration” Mary said as she got up to pour them drinks.

“You know I can’t drink that for now” Vivian told Mary, while rubbing her stomach excitedly and playfully.

“Pardon me my friend. I have just been too excited I didn’t remember that you’re pregnant” Mary said and got up to get Vivian a glass of water.

“To a perfect switch of men!” Mary proposed. “To a happy forever” Vivian toasted and they clanged their glasses joyfully.

“So tell me, how are you going to get me Leonard? You know how obstinate he is, and how much he abhors me as of now! “ Mary asked as they sat there talking and strategizing.

“Its simple. Just as you have made plans to announce to Jeremy that I’m pregnant for him, just like you have explained how he’d not want his first child to be born far away from him, we’re going to make Leonard beg for your hand in marriage when he finds out that you’re pregnant for him” Vivian told her co villain.

“Aren’t you mistaken here? I told you I was unable to get him to go all the way with me that day because of Tricia and her sister. So I’m definitely not pregnant” Mary lamented

“But you can get pregnant if we get you two in a room, with no escape route for him. I assure you that delivering a heavily drunk and helpless Leonard to you on the day you’re in your peak will only be a piece of cake for me. All you have to do is make Jeremy give me the status and companionship this child would be needing” Vivian boasted.

“We have a deal then” Mary said, swaying happily to the kitchen to get them something to eat. They dined and wined in true happiness and genuineness of heart, as friends, tentatively for the first time.

That night, Vivian planned to sleep over at Mary’s house as they needed to swing into action immediately. But Mary wanted otherwise. She needed Vivian to leave before Jeremy arrived for his dirty deeds with her, for that day.

But, to make Vivian be at ease, she let Vivian have Jeremy’s contact, to enable her get in touch with him before she (Mary) had the chance to talk with him, one on one.

As soon as Vivian got to her mother’s house, she got on the phone with Jeremy. She introduced herself as the one her friend set up with him some time ago, but was shocked at the response he gave.

“I sleep with a number of girls their friends set up with them on a regular basis, so if you’re going to talk to me, go ahead and make a video call or better still let me be. I can’t remember you!” he told her proudly like someone talking about a heroic achievement.

Vivian’s mouth was agape in shock at the bluntness, she knew the implications of what he had just told her, he was a bI00dy cr!minal, but he was also the father of her unborn child. She needed him, she told herself and she dialed his number to video call him.

“Ah ha! If it’s not the pretty faced sweetheart!” he mocked as he saw her face. “I need to see you” she told him, ignoring his remarks.

“The he1l you do! I had been expecting this call for so long. I knew you’d certainly not be able to stay by him after getting the dose I offered you that day” he continued.

Ordinarily, Vivian shouldn’t have been able to take his taunts and mockery, but she knew she had to. He was the only man that had made her pregnant after the doctor said it was nearly impossible, after all.

So she spoke with him extensively, getting him to tell her where she could find him, before she hung up.