The Single Chronicles: The Other Woman

Yaba. 

I forgot to call to my friend and tell her I’m gonna be busy tonight. Studying will have to wait because I have a date. Okay it’s not a date. It’s more like a get together with a man. So it should be a date right? No. He told me it’s not a date. He was very specific about that part. Not a date. It’s just dinner with a friend  – depending on who is asking because he’s not comfortable with the labels relationships bring and this only applies if people see us together, which rarely happens because we always find new dinner spots.

I look at the mirror and smile. I definitely approve. My white lace strapless dress that he paid a tooth and nail for looks amazing on me. Talk about my curves. I got that booty with the breasts to match. He won’t be able to resist me tonight. Red lipstick on, gold eye shadow and dash of my favorite perfume later, I quickly wear my dark blue suede heels and comb my weave out. I love myself, I love the man that spoils me more. He is a God send.

I hear my phone ring and I quickly rush to pick it up knowing its him.

“Hey you.” I say

“Are you ready? I’m outside.”

“I’ll be right there.”

He cuts the call and I quickly pick up my white clutch and head out. Thank God it’s evening. I wouldn’t want my fellow students to see me looking like this and getting onto a big car. It’s complicated. They wouldn’t understand. Students have a way of assuming and then creating stories from assumptions which then create unnecessary problems. I’m not in the mood. His car is parked outside my boarding house gate and I quickly get in and sit in the passengers seat.

Here he is, late 30s, 38 to be exact, with a youthful face, dark hair and spectacles; Mutale looks at me and smiles. This is the man I’ve been with for two years now. The love of my life. Soon to be more. I reach out and kiss his cheek. Won’t be giving him lip service till late, don’t want to ruin my makeup and besides he won’t let me kiss him before dinner dates.

“How was your day?” He asks as he drives away from my boarding house.

I finally relax. I know people I know will not see me out where ever we end up going. It’s our secret.

“It was ok. Lecturers and their assignments. The usual. How was work?”

“It was boring I guess. Contracts and all. You look beautiful by the way.”

“Thank you. You know you got me this dress when you traveled to Mauritius two months ago?”

“Really? I have taste hey. It’s beautiful. I love it.”

I smile with pride. He is happy and that’s all that matters. I met him through a girlfriend of mine at her birthday party; my girl,who is now an ex friend used to date him years ago before they broke it off and decided to remain friends. I figured she was still in love with him while she played hard to get when he wanted her back, but alas I guess she kept playing hard to get while I played nice with him. The girl hates me now because Mutale liked me more and he stopped paying attention on her. Ladies and attention from any Jim and Jack.

The first time I saw him I knew I had to know him, but thankfully I didn’t have wait long because he approached me after my then friend had gone to see her other guests and we talked. We became friends and somehow along the way we became more. Though I truly don’t know why my ex friend chose to leave him and pretend friendship was the way to go because this man spoils me. Maybe that’s why she’s still angry with me, because her source of income was gone. Well, I had him now and he wasn’t leaving me.

He drives us to a restaurant I’ve never been to before in longacres. I swear it’s like he searches for places before he comes to pick me up. It’s a beautiful place. When we walk into the restaurant people turn to stare at us. We look beautiful together. We are just perfect. In our own bubble.

Dinner is a happy affair. As usual he goes all out. Spoiling me with anything I want. I look at him blessing the stars that I met him and that he picked me. Everyday I pray thankful to God that he brought this man in my life years ago to the today. We have been through the good and bad and in the end, I was the most important person in his life and that was about to change.

I reach across the table and touched his hand. This is it, I’ve been waiting for this moment for two weeks. I am so nervous.

“I have good news.” I tell him.

He looks at me. My one and only. I hope what I tell him will be great news for him.

“I’m pregnant!!” I say aloud and put my hand on my mouth. Waiting.

I watch his face hesitantly. I can’t read him. He keeps quiet as if deep in thought when a smile breaks on his face. He grabs my hand and kisses it repeatedly.

“Oh my gosh Thelma!!! Oh my!!! Thank you. Thank you.” He says. “This is the best news ever!! I’m going to be a father.”

I smile. I feel like crying. See what I said. He’s a God sent. I feel my emotions try to overwhelm me but i push them away. He is happy. So am I. We are happy.

“How many months?” He asks as he looks at my still flat stomach.

I laugh. Already looking out for a bump. Not yet..

“I’m two months along. It won’t start to show till I’m 4 or 5 months.” I say

“When did you find out?”

“Remember the night we had sea food and I got sick. And I went to the doctor the next day?”

He nods.

“Well, I got sick because of this.”

“But that was weeks ago.” He says

“Yes. I kept it a secret. I wanted to be sure and not get your hopes up because some doctor was wrong. So I got my own pregnancy kits and tested. Well I’m pregnant.”

He kisses my hand.

“I can’t wait to see you huge.” He says excitedly.

I smile at him. He’s like a little boy on Christmas when he realizes Father Christmas brought him his favorite toy. I’m happy I’ve made his day brighter. Our lives are about to change.

“You are amazing.” He says. “Is there anything you need? Tell me what you need. Whatever it is.”

“Well, I’m in 3rd year you know. So I don’t know how I’ll manage with school and all. Walking. Going to the doctor’s appointment. Getting groceries so that I eat healthy.” I say

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll ensure you are well taken care of. This is my first born. Our first born. You will be fine. I will not let the mother of my future child suffer. Whatever you need I’ll provide.”

“What about your family? My family?” I ask worriedly.

“I will talk to my family. I’m sure your family will want to meet my family about the damage charges and all. Have you told your mother yet? Or your Aunt?”

“No. Not yet. But I have to soon.”

Don’t worry. It will be done. I’ll tell my family about this. Damage will be paid.”

I frown. Damage? That’s it? Shouldn’t there be more for us?

“But what about marriage. I thought we discussed this months ago.”

I see him look away. Will he marry me? Or will he leave me with the baby? I thought the whole essence of this was marriage in the end like he promised me. He looks back at me and smiles.

“Baby. You know my current situation is still inappropriate. It will be soon. Don’t worry. Besides are you telling me your life with me has been bad this far. It’s been two years no?” He says as he pulls a black suede pouch from his jacket.

I reach out and take it and open it. Thoughts of marriage evaporate from my mind as I see the diamond bracelet. See he’s still spoiling me. This is why I love him.

“Now that you are pregnant, expect more from me. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I respond.

He is so happy. I can’t bear to bother him with what’s worrying me. I instead let him stay happy. I will talk to him another day. Soon. We stay on for desert, chocolate cake and icecream, amazing, the baby approves of this desert. I’ll need more.

The drive home is one word. Electric. My man is so happy nothing can phase him. He looks at me with wonder. As if he’s seeing me for the first time. I wonder why I never got pregnant earlier if this is how it was going to be. He suggests we go to a hotel, any hotel but I am against it. But I don’t want to miss my early morning class and he understands promising to take me out of town on the coming weekend to relax. I gladly accept.

When we get to my boarding house he takes my hand and kisses it.

“You have made me the happiest man alive. Whoa. You are carrying my son or daughter. What more can I wish for?” He says. “My life is perfect. Absolutely perfect. Thelma!! I love you.”

Suddenly I hear a low tone and he reaches out in his jacket and removes his phone. He looks at the screen, frowns and He picks up..

“Hello.”

He looks at me and smiles.

“Ahh yes.. I didn’t forget…. I had an important business meeting to attend to….. I’ll be home soon….. Just finalizing a few details….. You can go to sleep…..I’ll let myself in…… Yes I have keys…. Oh….. Mum came today? Well I didn’t pick up earlier because I’ve been busy…. I’ll see you when I get home….Goodnight.”

He cuts the call and puts his phone back in his pocket.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go to a hotel?” He asks.

He reaches out and kisses me. Only kisses me after dates. Not during or before but after. Only hotels or lodges but never his house. I pull away, look at him and shake my head. I need my rest, the excitement has caught up with me. But then again I feel angry that he thinks I’m so foolish that I wouldn’t know, I should let this go but then if I do I risk getting stressed and high blood pressure.

“Was that your wife?” I ask silently.

He keeps silent.

“I thought you said she was leaving town for some months for work.”

More silence.

“So what are you going to tell her about this pregnancy and the baby?”

“When the time comes…….”

“Which time comes? I’m already pregnant. She failed to give you a child and I managed. So when what time comes?”

“Come on baby. I respect my wife. I just can’t throw this on her just like that.”

“Two years Mutale. Two!! Surely you knew what sex would bring. You didn’t prepare yourself for such a thing happening?”

“Look. I’ll tell her.”

“And the divorce?”

“Thelma. Listen. Just calm down. Everything will happen in its due time. Don’t stress yourself out. You are pregnant.”

“Maybe I should abort. There is still time. Then maybe you will see I’m serious.”

“Baby listen. Everything will be………”

I cut him off. “I’m going to sleep. I have class tomorrow. See you on the weekend.”

Before he has the time to grab my hand I leave the car. He promised me we would be together. That his wife was leaving.  That they were on separation and soon going through divorce proceedings. Was he lying to me? Am I that gullible? I quickly close the gate to the boarding house so that he doesn’t follow me. I walk to my room and sit on my bed. Maybe I should have aborted. I still can. It won’t be my first time and I can deal with the pain of it. But I already told him I’m pregnant so I should stay pregnant and milk the situation for all its worth. Who knows. Maybe he will eventually leave the ugly wife.

I will not cry. No. Never. After all he told me they sleep in separate bedrooms because she can’t give him a child. I believe him. He sleeps with me not her. Why should I cry when I’m the mother of his first born. His only child I tell myself. He promised I would have everything I needed. He said he loved me. We are in this together forever. It’s our baby no matter what anyone says. It’s his baby. My baby.

My baby. His baby that is in me and I are his priority. 

Nothing can change that. His wife will have to leave.