THIRD PARTY IN MARRIAGE
EPISODE 15
Ralph: “Let’s keep her. Let’s help this helpless baby at least it’s just for the main time, her parents will soon come for her. Please guys? Just look at how innocent and beautiful she looks. She reminds me of my little sister whom we lost to small pox back then” he said pleadingly.
Paul: “No way! We cannot keep her. Where will we find the time to stay with her from? She has not even started sitting up yet. Seriously guy, use your head now”
Dickson: “I strongly agree with Paul. We are bachelors and none of my girlfriends will want to help out. We will be on our own”
Ralph: “So which orphanage do we take her to?” he asked resigning to fate.
Paul: “we will ask around for any orphanage in town. Then we will drop her with a matron there. Very simple”
Ralph: “Okay then. Let’s do that”
They bought new cloths for her, bathed her and dressed her up in a pink gown with head band to match. Ralph could not help but fall in love with that little cutie. Her smile could lit up a whole dark room and he wondered who could be the parent of such a lovely baby and how much they must be searching for her at the moment. He shook his head as he watched Paul take snapshots with her, throwing her in the air and hugging her tightly.
They all took it in turn to take snapshots with her and finally set out in their car. They went from one orphanage to another but none of them accepted her. Each time they heard police was involved, they become uncomfortable and start cooking up excuses. By the time they got back home, they had visited all the orphanages google had to offer within the vicinity and yet they still went back home with Annie.
Ralph: “Imagine how much fuel we have wasted today?”
Paul: “What do we do now? Look at the way she is sleeping, even she is tired. But to think of it, she is really gentle or she is trying to bribe us into letting her stay here?”
Ralph: “Seriously, I am in love with this baby. Can’t we just let her stay with us? When we are going to work in the morning, we will take her to the day-care centre down the road and besides we do night sometimes too so we can still have time to take care of her. Imagine having a baby girl in this house? Its intriguing friends” the excitement on his face could not be mistaken.
Dickson: “Well, what can I say? The orphanage rejected her and we cannot throw her away like that. Let’s just keep her till her parents come for her”
Paul: “Okay. Then we have to give her a name? What should we call her?” he said looking from one to the other.
Dickson: “Kemi”
Ralph: “Kemi ko, komi ni, let’s give her a nice English name jare”
Dickson: “Uhnnnnn! What of Nikita? I love that movie ehn?”
Paul: “I am really shaking my head for you. That’s why you want to name her Nikita? I don’t want Nikita. Think before you suggest again o”
Ralph: “What of Annabelle?”
Paul: “What does it mean?”
Ralph: “It means ‘beautiful’” he said pleased with himself.
Dickson: “Well I like it. We can call her Anna or Annie for short”
Paul: “Yeah! It is Lovely. Where is Annie baby? Annie” he mimicked calling out her name.
Ralph: “Wake her up you hear? Annie…” he jeered at him.
===
Weeks passed into months and all of their efforts to find Annie proved abortive. They had gone from one police station to another, even Radio and Television stations yet there was nothing from anyone. No one called to say they had seen a baby looking like her, people only called to sympathize and pray for them. Richard started having a phobia of losing people he loved. He was more afraid of losing Sam and Ophelia who became the centre of his world. He was sacked at the firm he worked at with his wife but then got another job at bank as an accountant. It took him months to land himself that job and it was thanks to his colleagues who had friends in that bank.
He and Ophelia sat at home that Saturday afternoon, talking…
Ophelia: “Haven’t you noticed how Sammy behaves ever since Annie’s disappearance?”
Richard: “I did! Losing a sibling whom you love so much is not that easy. I know how much he loved her. He basically lived for her and now she was snatched right from his hands. Who would be able to live with such guilt?”
Ophelia: “I just hope he wouldn’t do anything silly to himself. I think you need another nanny Richie. I am afraid I will have to get a job soon and that might limit my coming here a lot” she said remorsefully.
Richard: “Or you are looking for an excuse to stop coming here?”
Ophelia: “well you read me quite well. I think I have done my part now, I have been waiting for you to make a move but seems you are waiting for me to go on my knees and propose to you again which I am not going to do”
Richard: “Please don’t leave dear. We still need you here…”he rose up, dipped his hands into his pocket, brought out a small box tied with a pink ribbon, went on his knees, opened the box and said “Will you marry me?”
Ophelia: “Oh my God! Yes I will marry you” she said with relief sweeping over her. “What took you so long Richie?” she asked as he slipped the ring into her fourth finger.
Richard: “Was waiting for the right moment” he said smiling, he rose up and swept her off her feet in a tight embrace. “Thanks for being here baby” he said and kissed her and she kissed him back. He led her by the hand into the bedroom and locked the door….
He slide out of her gently and embraced her so tightly.
Richard: “Thank you honey. I enjoyed every bits of it. Thank you” he said again and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead as she smiled weakly.
===
Two months later, they got married at the Lagos Mainland Marriage Registry and their marital journey began in earnest. She missed Gloria whom she hadn’t seen for months. She started cooking up every form of excuses in order to avoid having s*x with Richard, at first he thought she was just not used to having sexand would get used to it with time but as days went by, her dislike for it kept growing to the extent that he found himself nursing the thoughts of forcing her.
Sammy noticed his dad was becoming unhappier every passing day. He disliked Ophelia with Passion, the way she looked at him made him uneasy. She seemed to be nursing a bad thought in her mind. He tried as much as possible to avoid her anytime they were at home alone.
That evening when he came back from school, as soon as he had stepped in, he heard voices emanating from the bedroom and paused to listen. He could not hear any words in particular so he decided to check. He opened the door slightly and his step mum and another lady kissing passionately and caressing each other’s …, he quickly closed the door but that made them aware that someone had seen them. She quickly dressed up and went to check who it was. When she found out that it was only Sam at home, she heaved a sigh of relief and went over to him.
Ophelia: “How are you Sammy?” she said forcing a smile but he said nothing. “Aren’t you the one I am talking to?”
Sammy: “I saw what you and that pregnant woman were doing and I am only waiting for my dad so I can tell him. Don’t talk to me because no matter what you say I will still tell him” he said folding his arms across his chest contumaciously.
Ophelia: “You will not dare it!” she started yelling but checked herself. “But what exactly do you think you saw?”
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