SHADOWS OF DECEIT
Episode 6
Chidi walked into the kitchen, where Grace was humming a tune as she cooked breakfast. He couldn’t help but smile, despite the tension with his mother.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Grace turned around, a spatula in hand. “Hey, handsome. What’s wrong? You look like you’ve lost your last friend.”
Chidi sighed, releasing his hold on her. “It’s my mom. She’s being…difficult.”
Grace’s expression softened. “What happened?”
Chidi took a deep breath, recounting the conversation with his mother. Grace listened intently, her eyes filled with empathy.
“I’m so sorry, Chidi,” she said, setting the spatula down. “We’ll get through this together, okay?”
Chidi nodded, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. “Thanks, Grace. Just talking to you makes me feel better.”
Grace smiled, her eyes sparkling. “That’s what wives are for.”
Chidi chuckled, pulling her into a hug. “I love you, Grace.”
“I love you too, Chidi,” she replied, her voice muffled against his chest.
As they hugged, Chidi knew that he had to find a way to make his mother understand that their journey to having children was not an easy one. But with Grace by his side, he felt like he could face anything, he kissed her and then left to prepare for work.
Later in the day, Grace’s friend Linda visited, and they were chatting and laughing in the sitting room, enjoying each other’s company. They were discussing their friend’s upcoming child dedication and what clothes they would wear. The atmosphere was lively and joyful, with both women excitedly sharing their thoughts and ideas. They were giggling and teasing each other, having a great time.
Just as they were deep in conversation, Grace’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Kate, walked into the room and sat down, her presence immediately changing the atmosphere. Linda greeted her warmly, with a big smile,
“Hi, Ma! How are you today?”
But Mrs. Kate’s response was curt, and she ignored Grace’s greeting altogether, not even acknowledging her presence. The room fell silent, and Grace felt a pang of discomfort, sensing the tension.
Mrs. Kate engaged Linda in a conversation about the child dedication, asking her questions and showing interest.
“So, Linda, tell me more about this dedication. What’s the plan?”
Linda explained the occasion, and Mrs. Kate listened intently, her expression unreadable. But when Linda finished, Mrs. Kate’s expression turned condescending.
“Oh, that’s really nice,” she said, rolling her eyes at Grace. “Unlike someone who can’t even boast of a miscarriage.”
Grace felt a sting from her mother-in-law’s words, and she bent her head in shame, her eyes welling up with tears. She struggled to hold back the tears, feeling a lump form in her throat. She couldn’t believe her mother-in-law would say such a hurtful thing, especially in front of her friend. Linda, sensing her friend’s distress, shot Mrs. Kate a disapproving look, but said nothing, not wanting to escalate the situation.
The room fell silent again, with only the sound of Mrs. Kate’s heavy breathing breaking the tension. Grace’s heart raced, and she felt like she was under attack. She wondered why her mother-in-law was so determined to hurt her, and why she couldn’t just leave her alone. She felt like she was walking on eggshells around her, never knowing when she would strike next.
As Mrs. Kate stood up and left the room, Linda immediately turned to Grace and apologized for her mother-in-law’s hurtful words. “Oh, Grace, I’m so sorry she said that. Please ignore her, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
Linda got up and sat down beside Grace, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Relax, my friend, God will definitely give you a child of your own. You’re an amazing person, and you’ll be an incredible mother. Don’t let her words get to you.”
Grace nodded gently, still crying, feeling a mix of emotions: sadness, frustration, and helplessness. She felt like she was doing everything right, but somehow, it wasn’t enough. She felt like she was being constantly reminded of her inadequacy, and it was taking a toll on her self-esteem.
Linda handed her a tissue, and Grace wiped away her tears, trying to compose herself.
“I’m just so tired of her constant criticism, Linda. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around her, never knowing when she’ll strike next.”
Linda hugged her tightly. “You’re not alone, Grace. I’m here for you, and I know Chidi loves you no matter what. We’ll get through this together, okay?”
Grace nodded and cleaned her face, trying to compose herself after Linda’s comforting words. Linda stayed for a while longer, chatting and laughing, trying to lift Grace’s spirits. But eventually, she announced she would be leaving, and Grace saw her to the door, thanking her for coming.
As soon as Linda left, Grace went back to the sitting room and collapsed onto the couch, overcome with emotion. She cried her eyes out, releasing all the pent-up tears and frustration she had been holding inside. She cried for her mother-in-law’s hurtful words, for her own feelings of inadequacy, and for the pain she felt every day.
She cried herself to sleep, exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster she had been on. She lay there, curled up on the couch, her body shaking with sobs, her heart heavy with sorrow.
Hours later, Chidi came home from work and found Grace lying on the couch, her eyes red and puffy from crying. He gently tapped her, and she slowly opened her eyes, revealing the pain and sadness she had been feeling.
Chidi’s heart sank as he saw the state she was in. He knew something was wrong and asked her what had happened. Grace told him everything, from her mother-in-law’s hurtful words to her feeling of inadequacy and frustration. She told him about the pain she felt every day, the feeling of being a failure, and the fear that she might never be a mother.
Chidi listened, his anger growing with each passing moment. He wanted to protect his wife from the pain his mother was causing, but he felt helpless. He knew he couldn’t change his mother’s behavior, but he could be there for Grace.
As Grace spoke, Chidi’s eyes filled with tears. He felt his heart breaking, seeing his wife in so much pain. He knew he had to be strong for her, but it was hard when he felt so powerless.
He consoled her, holding her close and whispering words of encouragement. “You’re not alone, Grace. I’m here for you. We’ll get through this together.” He gently led her up to their room, where she could rest and feel safe.
As they lay in bed, Chidi held Grace close, feeling her pain and sadness. He knew he had to find a way to make it stop, to protect his wife from the hurt his mother was causing. But for now, he just held her, letting her know she was loved and cherished.
To be continued……
