Episode 2
She was heading home from a church service, singing some praise songs. Rachael was feeling the peace and joy that came with worshiping and praising God at the prayer meeting.
Just as she was about to turn and join the small road leading to her sister’s Flats who she had gone to visit, she noticed a man standing by the side of the path. He was busy talking on his phone.
Rachael excused herself as she made an angle to avoid bumping into the man. He stopped her and greeted her. “am fine thank you” Rachael answered cheerfully. The man extended his hand. “am Joe” he said.
”oh Rachael” she responded shaking his hand. “sorry to bother you but my friend directed me to these flats but I can’t seem to locate the exact flat.”
Racheal had explained the place Joe asked about.
The following day she met him again coming from the neighbour’s flat. They greeted each other and that was the begining of their friendship. They exchanged numbers and communicated frequently when she had gone to work as a marketing manager of ZSIC insurance company in the copperbelt.
After some time, Joe insisted she got a transfer back to livingstone where he was managing his father’s company. Their love grew stronger and a year later they married with a powerful wedding ceremony.
All this time Joe had pretended he had stopped drinking and was a loving and caring man to Rachael. In her heart she was convinced he loved her and would always be there for her.
Until one day, 6 months down their marriage he came back home late and drunk, his attitude towards his wife changed, he would scold her, come back home with his clothes stained either with women powder or lipstick. Each coming day he turned from bad to worse….
She got pregnant and hoped things might change a little, but no he didn’t bend, not even after knowing his wife was going to give him a son. All he did is leaving Rachael money as if that was all she needed.
Back to the present….
Rachael looked at her son who had waken up and his tiny fingers struggled to push the showel covering him. She sighed and wiped a tear droping from her eyes and lifted him up. She put him close and brea$tfed him. It was now passed 14 hours and her husband had not shown up at the hospital..
At home Joe had received a call from Monica around 7 hours that morning and he prepared himself ready to go and see her. He loved his wife but for some reason he had fallen in the trap of Jessy. A woman he recently employed at his company. Her beauty and charm had caught his attention, he found it boring being with Racheal eapecially after a night he had spent with Jessy at a hotel where they had a company conference with other business men and women.
The problem with Jessy was she was too demanding and had succesfully managed to force Joe neglect his marriage.
As he drove to the hospital He received a call from Jessy who had demanded he wanted to see her that morning.
”What is it Jessy?” he had asked her upon reaching at her apartment, of course the one he had bought for her.
“I missed you she said luring him to join her in bed.” Instead of turning her down and head to the hospital to see his wife, Joe decided to stay on and spend the whole morning at Jessy’s.
He looked at his watch, it was 15 hours.” I have to get going” he told Jessy who was still in her small night silk dress.
She poured herself some wine as she folded her legs on the chair by the bar, ”and why is that?”. She said sternly looking at Joe.
”um uh i have to see my wife at the hospital. I was told she was in Labour and I have to check on her and see how it is going.”he explained almost begging.
“Oh so am just to be used uh?” Jessy snapped standing up to face him.
”how many times have you promised me your time and commitment.? Now here you are talking about your stupid pregnant wife.” she added angrily.
Joe sat down to reason with her. Telling her how much he loved her and promised to make up time for them, by the time he left her place heading to the hospital, it was already 17 hours. He rushed to the ward as directed by the nurse he met up from the reception.
He was told his wife was discharged an hour before he went there. He felt panick and guilty he had done that to her family. He couldn’t even be there to receive his baby boy. Slowly he made his way to the Jaguar car he had packed outside. He grabbed his phone and dialed Racheal’s line as he joined the main road driving with one hand, the phone rang for the fifth time without her picking, as he drove on, he planned the story he would give his wife as an excuse for not being their when she needed him the most. He somehow felt bad he had not lived up to his promises, feeling the urge to change especially for their child..
As the wall fence to his house emmerged, he drove right to the gate, the gate man opened the gate at his first hoot. “how are you boss?” the gate man greeted him.
” am fine” he answered not really paying any attention to him..
“where is my wife ?” Joe asked as he locked the car. ” oh boss am sorry but your wife just left, she came back in a taxi some 40 minutes ago and entered the house with a baby. She later came out with a big suit case and went out.”
”What? ” Joe screamed, “what do you mean she left? How could she just leave without saying anything?”
“And boss”, the gate man added ” there’s more to that”. Joe gazed at him still trying to digest the fact of his wife leaving with bags . “what now?” he snapped.
“Boss she left the baby” he added in a low voice.
Instead of answering him Joe ran to the house and banged the door open. in his bedroom he found the baby sleeping peacefully and a note besides him.
Joe,
By the time you read this. I would have gone, I cannot take it any more. I married you and trusted you because I loved you with all my heart, but you have sudenly turned into this person I cannot cope with nor understand. I can’t do this anymore. Am going to start over. but I cannot do it with this child. I leave him in your care. You will take care of him as he deserves and I hope for his sake you will change for the better. I love him very much, but I can’t live with a part of you. I want a complete start over and I hope to find happiness and peace once again.
Good bye.. Rachael..
Joe folded the note as his hands shook, drops of sweat fall off his forehead. “oh my God Rachael how could you?” He sat down holding his child and cried.” You supposed to still be in the hospital. And you came back home, abandoning our new born baby and left. What have I done?” He whispered to himself.
Click 3 below to continue reading
