Palm lines - Episode 26

David's POV
I walked into my room to find Cynthia drinking again. Beside her was her mom, she stood up from the bed on seeing me. 
"Good evening Ma" I greeted.
 "My husband" she began, "You should try to talk to her, I've been telling her not to drink that no situation should make a good woman drink, she's not even listening" she said in our dialect.
"I better go" she added leaving the room.
 "What is it again? Is it not enough you went over to the school today to warn" "She told you right?" Cynthia asked, "You have what you wanted, we  just severed our ties, she doesn't want to see me again"
"Do you think I'm a fool? I saw her, I saw her David and she's pregnant, did you get her pregnant?" She asked, "Not in that way" I answered then I shut my eyes.
I wanted to lie but I couldn't.
"Cynthia if you can just calm down and let me explain the whole thing to you" "What's there to explain? That you cheated"
"I didn't even know her when I slept with her. It should have been a one night stand but we met all over again"
"She's a sl*t, I know what I'll do to her the next time I see her, she's so good at pretending and acting so nice and perfect, meanwhile she slept with my husband. I'll show her how insane I am"
"Please don't tell her" I begged, "Why?" She asked moving close to me. 
"She doesn't even know" I answered,  "How is that possible?" 
"She was drunk" I answered. 
"And you took advantage of her" she folded her hands

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/palm-lines

. "I didn't" I answered, "I didn't take advantage, you don't understand what happened"
"I can't imagine how she will feel when she finds out about what you did" she smirked.
"Please don't"
"Why?" She asked, "Give me one reason why I shouldn't rat your ass out. I mean if she finds out, she'll be out of the picture for good"
"I'll tell her myself"
"Lies"
"I promise I will, I have a business deal to close with some clients, when I get back from Atlanta, I'll tell her. You have my word" 
"Okay" she smiled pouring a drink then handed it to me. "Let's celebrate" 
"To what?" I asked, "Good riddance to bad rubbish after your return and if you don't meet up with the end of the bargain, I'll do you the honours of telling her" she raised the glass up gulping the drink all at once then she coughed and laughed.
How did I get entangle with a mad woman? I asked myself.

I took a flight to Benue, i felt the need to talk to mom about everything that has been happening. I already told her about My s*xual encounter with Erika the other day at the village when she insisted on how i knew Erika. She was very much dissappointed in me.
"Erika's pregnant" i announced in our dialect and mom sighed, "What's the way forward?" she asked, "Have you told her about it" "No"
"Till now? 
"Akoche, Akoche, Akoche" she called my native name thrice, "They say a free mind fears no blame,  tell her before it becomes too late"
"Mama I'm scared"
"Man up and do it already, you made a mistake, you could have prevented but you didn't because of passion, what's so hard about that?"
"Easier said than done mom, it's easier said" I paused, "Just trying to picture how my slap would sound like" I paused and mom chuckled. 
"She's definitely going to slap you" mom agreed. "At least Four slaps"
 "I was even negotiating two" I argued. 
"You deserve more"
"What if I hadn't found her, what if that Nosa had slept with her. Now it would have been a different story"
 "But you guys met for a reason, you're the father of the child. God has blessed you and you have to own up to your responsibility as the child's father"
"Children" I smiled, "She's having twins, two boys" I added and mom smiled too. 
"My grandsons" she chuckled then finally got serious again.
 "I'm still going to insist you see her and talk to her, forget this business trip"
"What do I do about Cynthia?" I asked and she shrugged. "It will be your decision to make, whether you want a divorce or not"
"I do, I made a promise to Cynthia to tell Erika after I come back from Atlanta."
 "How did it get to that?"
"I couldn't deny it in front of her, I told her but she threatened to tell Erika so I told her that I'll do it and she doesn't have to. She was kind of relaxed knowing Erika would hate me for it" tears poured down from my eyes. 
"What do I do mom? She's the only woman I've loved since Juliet"
 "What would you do after Cynthia? If you let Cynthia go? Won't you be lonely as a man" "I think I would have been a lot more happier as a lonely man" I answered and mom laughed.
"I would still be a lot happier without Cynthia, even if Erika doesn't forgive me"
"Should I call your uncles to go see her family?" Mom asked and I shook my head. "Not yet" I sniffed.
"I'm still looking for the day Lawrence would cry like this over love" she commented and I laughed. "You're going to be waiting a very long time" I answered and mom laughed. 
Suddenly I remembered why I felt the need to see her, she has always had a way making things better. "You deserve to be happy" she muttered, "You deserve to have a good wife and frankly I'll be excited if you end up with that Igbo girl" she smiled. 
"She's a very good woman, God didn't just bring her your way for nothing. I don't want to believe God will bring such blessing your way for you to let it go."
"She loves another person and I can't compete with that" "You sound defeated already"
"She said it personally" 
"How are you sure she meant it?" Mom asked, "She's worth fighting for David, a good woman is worth fighting for"
I had my lawyer prepare divorce papers. Mrs Danladi reminded me about her husband so I had an investigator look into the situation.
I got a literal distress phone call from Thelma she wanted me to come back as soon as possible, "Your wife has gone mad, come back quickly if you don't want to take a dead body back to Benue" she threatened. 
I handed the deal into Lawrence's hands then I flew back to Lagos. I called Thelma the moment the taxi driver  drove out of the airport. 
"I'm at your neighbor's  house Sharon's friend's house" she answered and  I drove over to Tuni's house. I was shocked to see Erika there, she was  hugging Sharon who I noticed was crying. My mother-in-law was present too. 
I was puzzled, I needed to know what was happening. I walked over to Sharon, I was worried. "Are you okay?" I asked and she shook her head. 
"What happened?" I asked and Erika pulled me aside. "She came back home to meet her sketch books, paintings and brushes burnt to ashes. Cynthia did it"
"Where's Cynthia?" I asked and she shrugged. 
"No one has seen her yet. Sir if you want my ernest advise, I think Sharon shouldn't be in that house for now. I know I said we should give ourselves space, but she can stay with me for a while" she suggested and I nodded in agreement. 
My mother-in-law walked close to us and she excused us. "What's wrong with Cynthia?" I asked and she scoffed. 
"We both know she's only reacting from being hurt. This is her only way of reacting to hurts," "I know Cynthia has a quick temper, not this. Why would she go as far as burning my daughter's things."
"Cynthia's not well for now"
"Not well?" I asked and she folded her hands. 
"In other words, Cynthia's mad" Thelma concluded, she has been listening in on our conversation. "Please Thelma, don't say that, she's just frustrated" 
"I've always said it that girl has lost screws, Mama Cynthia, if you want to get angry, get angry" "The way out is taking her to the village and then we'll treat her and bring her back" my mother-in-law suggested and I shook my head.
"I don't want her back" I answered and she scoffed. 
"Finally" Thelma yelled and I glared at her. "It's been long overdue"
"Are you doing this because of her" she turned back at Erika who was now with Thelma's baby. "You know that I've condoned a lot from Cynthia"
"And it's not because of her and your babies" she whispered. I guess Cynthia already told her. "You gave her your word and she's waiting for you to tell her the truth that's if you don't keep to your side of the bargain she'll tell her and you know that would be worse than you telling her"
"I'll tell her"
"When?" She asked, "You have a chance now" I looked at Erika. "You better do it real quick" Thelma added and I walked towards her. 
My heart beat very fast as I walked towards her. "Hey" I said to her, and she smiled. "You should talk to Sharon"
"Yes after talking to you" I paused. "I know you wanted your space, but ...." I paused again. "I just want to say, for being there for  Sharon, thank you Erika" 
"You're welcome" she  answered playing with the baby's fingers. The baby dragged her weavon. 
"Ouch" she groaned. 
"He'll take off your wig" I warned,  "It's not wig, you don't even know the difference between weavon and wigs" she laughed now playfully biting his fingers. "Go meet Sharon" she nodded at her and I sat with her. 
"I'm sorry about your paintings, I can replace the brushes, the sketchbooks but I can't replace your paintings back"
 "Can I mourn my drawings in peace?" She asked, "Was there anything you did or said to her?"
"Nothing! I didn't even speak to her at all but you obviously think I said something, you don't believe me"
"I believe you" I interrupted, "I believe you Sharon. Cynthia is getting out of hands, almost as though she's on drugs" I added, "She has always been that way from the start" Sharon argued
****
 Cynthia didn't spend the night at the house neither was she picking up her calls. 
The following day being Friday, my lawyer brought me the divorce papers and settlements so I could review it.
Cynthia barged into my office, "Sir I tried to stop her" "It's okay" I raised my arm and she left.
 "Thank God you're here, I was just thinking of you" I said and she smiled. "Awwn, that's so sweet" she moved to my back wrapping her hands around my neck then she kissed me on the cheek.
 "You didn't spend the night at home"
"Yes. I must apologize for it, I needed fresh air away from the havoc at home"
"After you burnt Sharon's painting. Cynthia how could you be so heartless?"
"That was a collateral damage, the room was opened so i did what you should have done since last year instead of encouraging her"
"Why are you doing all these now?" I asked and she scoffed.
"Because of you David, because of you. Time up, you said you're going to tell her after you get back. What are you waiting for?" She asked and I picked the divorce papers up giving it to her. 
"What's this?" She asked skimming through it.
 "If there's anything you're not satisfied with, let me know and I'll sort it out"
"is this a joke?"
"Screw you to hell David if you think I'll put my signature on that thing"
"Cynthia we can't do this anymore, we were never compatible, you're unbearable, you're crazy  and with you, it's one complain or the other."
"One complain or the other? I wouln't have complained if you didn't have a damn daughter that made me complain every damn time"
"Now it's over"
"okay," she placed her palm against my cheeks when she realized i wasn't joking.
"i'll change okay? I'll be the woman you want, i'll be less controlling, i'll act like that teacher" she arranged the collar of my shirt. "i'll forget my threats, we'll act like all these didn't happen; i'll  treat sharon nicely, we'll get that teacher out of the picture"
"She's in the picture already Cynthia. She's having my babies and i love her"
"Because she got pregnant right and i'm not" 
"Cynthia i still stuck with you even after i found you 30% chances of  giving birth.

Read " Dysfunctional " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. Remember when i found that out? We were barely four months into our marriage then i found out it was because you had an ab*rtion when you were just a child. Did i leave? I didn't, i was patient, hoping and condoning your excesses. I've been patient enough, not anymore." i looked at Cynthia in the face. "Not" before i could repeat my dramatic "Not anymore", Cynthia picked up one of the awards on my shelve hitting it on my head.
I groaned in pain and Cynthia ran out of the office, so i screamed out for help. I was already bleeding. 
I woke up to see Lawrence's head above me. "Normally men always dream to see a woman's face when they wake up from battles of life, not the ugly faces of their brothers. "
Lawrence laughed. "Who were you expecting to see, Erika?" "Geez your mouth stinks, what have you been eating, dead fish?" i asked, "I ate fisherman soup with all  species of... From shrimps to periwinkle, to fish" "He's still talking in my face" i complained and he moved back laughing .
"When did you eat it?" "Thirty minutes ago"
"Your brother was on his sick bed and you had the conscience to eat"
"So i should starve myself abi?" he snapped and i laughed touching my head in pain.
"Ouch. When did you get back?"
"i was at the airport when imaobong called me" he paused, "They couldn't catch Cynthia, she left the building before security got notified" he added and i nodded. 
"What happened?" "We were arguing and she hit me on the head with one of my awards"
"Good to have you back brother" he smiled and i sat up.
"They had to bandage your head, mehn you look ugly" Lawrence complain.
I suddenly remembered when Tinu's mother said something about seeing me on bandages.
"She's real" i muttered unconsciously, "What's real" "I met a palmist for the first time in my life and she's real. I hope you didn't tell Sharon, i don't want her getting worried.
"I told Erika, it's friday so they do close early on Fridays."