I thought long and hard about what she just said. Now, she was making sense. To be honest, I hadn’t given a thought about what she just said. As hurtful as it may sound, this woman was making sense. And the earlier I began to take her very seriously, the better for me.
“I think you’re making sense, Aunty…” I began to nod my head slowly in agreement.
“Of course, I’m right,” Aunty Meg shot back at me, her voice rising as she spoke. “Do you really think his wife genuinely loves you? Yes, I know you told me she’s a nice woman but deep down inside her, do you imagine she will be happy with you? A young girl like you coming from nowhere to share her husband with her? And not only that, you have given her husband what she couldn’t give to him, a child! So, you think she will be sincerely pleased with you? She can’t. It’s not possible.”
“And let me shock you, Anita,” Aunty Meg continued, speaking with even more conviction now. “Do you think for a moment that MD loves you more than he loves his wife just because you have given him the child she couldn’t give to him? Is that what you think?”
I looked at her and then looked away. I was not sure what to say anymore.
“No, please, give me an answer, do you think he loves you more than he loves his first wife?” he asked again.
This time, I nodded. “I should think so,” I answered unconvincingly.
“You should think so,” she snarled at me. “Siddon there and be thinking. Listen to me and listen good, my dear young lady, you can never take the place of his first wife, no matter how many kids you give to him. That’s one of the reasons he rarely spends the night at your place. What you owe him is his child, that’s what he places high premium on right now, not necessarily you.”
I looked up into space for a long spell and just shook my head. This was starting to look really scary. “So, what do I do now?” I asked, totally puzzled.
“You start thinking and planning, dear,” Aunty Meg returned. “You start letting MD know that you’re starting to get worried about your future and he needs to show you some guarantee or proof that you’re well covered and taken care of.”
I was really confused. This was a whole new territory for me. It’s no familiar terrain at all. If I brought this subject up with MD, wouldn’t he start thinking somebody has been telling me something? Wouldn’t he start thinking I am starting to become difficult lady for him? Wouldn’t he start thinking I was in the relationship for money? And that’s one impression I would not like him to have of me.
“Thank you, Aunty Meg, I will start work on all that you said,” I said to her.
“And when do you hope to do that?” she asked me.
“Right away,” I said to her,
“Ah, are you serious? It’s like you have suddenly woken up,” Aunty Meg said to me.
“You can say that again Aunty Meg, you have opened my eyes to something I had not given a thought to…..” I returned.
“But I am worried about something, Aunty Meg,” I said to her.
“Yes, dear, I’m listening.”
“Will MD not find it displeasing if I confront him with my demand? How can I possibly convey this to him without him thinking I am being difficult or unnecessarily paranoid?”
Aunty Meg shook her head. “You’re not being paranoid, you’re only being careful and protective of your future and that of your child, that’s all,” she schooled me.
And she was right. I certainly have to be protective of my future and that of my boy. It will be a shame if, after putting everything I’ve got into the relationship only to be messed up by his wife when the chips are down. I must make him do the needful but the question is, how do I go about it without getting him edgy?
It was the following day that I raised the issue with MD. I had just finished serving him his favourite egusi soup and swallow and he was enjoying every bit of it. I was also stroking his ear and playing with him by the side. Then, I decided to bring up the subject.
“Darling, there’s something I want to discuss with you and it’s very important,” I started slowly, feeling slightly nervous.
“And what could that be? I’m sure it’s about money and nothing else. So, how much exactly are you trying to get from me this time?”
I smiled nervously. “That’s where you’re wrong, MD, it’s not exactly about money per se but it’s still connected to money somehow.”
MD beamed me a big smile. “It’s not exactly about money but it’s connected to money, so what is it, then?”
I cleared my throat and drew closer to him. He was done eating now and just finished washing his hands. “I am worried about my future, MD and that of my child,” I began. “I am scared of a situation where, God forbid, if something happens to you, what will become of me and my son?”
MD gazed at me. He was obviously shocked. He wasn’t expecting to get that from me.
“So, what is it, dear?” he asked, looking at me with deep seriousness etched on his face.
“I want to know if you have made a provision for me and your son in your Will!”
MD was silent. It was now it dawned on him where I was coming from.
“Anita, what is going on? Are you expecting me to die anytime soon or what?”
I didn’t need anyone to tell me, MD was already feeling very displeased with me….
…to be continued
