™
MY STEP MUM IS IN LOVE WITH ME (EPISODE 5)
As my dad opened the door, I froze
Clara quickly collected the tray and the glass from my hand
“Welcome dear”, she greeted my father
With a smile, my father responded
I was still standing like an Egyptian mummy
Everything life left me
Clara proceeded to the kitchen
My father walked up to me and put his hand on my shoulder
“She’s a kind woman. How many women can collect empty plates from their step sons? Her kind is rare”, said my father
I did not have anything as response
I watched as my father walked down to his room
I managed to carry myself to my room
I didn’t understand if I was ashamed or my conscience was accusing me
Maybe my father didn’t notice what his wife was trying to do to me
I couldn’t concentrate anymore
I started thinking about what Nora wanted to tell me
I picked up my phone and dialed Nora’s number
The panic in my voice gave me out
“Hello. Nora”
“Hello brother. Are you alright?”, she asked
“What do you have to tell me?”, I asked
“Don’t worry. When I come back, I’ll brief you”
“Tell me now, Nora”, I ordered
At that point, Nora got the message
All was not well
“What has my mum done?”
I did not have the grace to be patience anymore
In order not to hurt her, I dropped the call
As I was thinking, my door opened
It was Clara
“If your father knows about this, I will deal with you”, she threatened
She closed the door and walked away
I thought of telling my father
But how would I tell him that his wife was after his son?
Indeed, it is difficult to find true love nowadays
I decided to pretend that it never happened
But I was burning deep down me
Maybe Nora would have something useful to say
Few minutes later, there was a knock on my door
It was my father
“My brother is sick. The wife called to inform me. I want to go and see what it is”, said my father
I thought he came to confront me over what happened
So my countenance changed
My father noticed the guilty look on my face
I wanted to tell him, but when I lifted up my face again, I saw my step mum
I became frightened
“Are you okay?”, asked my father
“He will be fine. He complained of malaria earlier. I have given him some tablets”, Clara interrupted
My father came closer and placed his right hand on my forehead, while his left hand rested on my shoulder
He was testing my temperature
“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. Your mum is here to take care of you. You need some rest. Please call her if you need anything”, he assured
I nodded as I sat on the bed
“Don’t worry sweetheart, I’ll be here with him”, Clara interrupted and sat by my side
“God bless you dear”, father concluded
They both hugged themselves and my father left
When I was certain my father had left the compound, I turned to Clara and asked: “now what?”
She smiled and said “nothing”
I stood up from the bed and ordered her to leave my room, else I would tell my father
“And do you think your father will take your words and throw away mine? I dare you”, she threatened
I left my room and went outside
She followed me
I turned to the backyard and she followed me all through
I could not take it anymore, so I provoked
The little sanity in me flew away
“Clara what is your problem?”, I shouted
I intentionally called her by her name perhaps she would get offended
But no. Instead, she smiled and told me how romantic it was for me to call her by her name
I made my way into the building through the back door
I made up my mind to confront her as a man
So I stopped, turned around and asked: “do you really want to hurt my father?”
“Your father doesn’t have to know”, she said
She then told me how she fell for me from the day we met at the restaurant
She said it was me she wanted
She talked about how jealous she is anytime I’m with Nora
“But Nora is your daughter, hence my sister”
“Yes, she is”
“Then why on earth would you think that something can possibly happen between Nora and I?”
“I don’t know. I’m sorry. Let’s not talk about her again”, she said
I left her for my room and locked the door behind me
She came knocking, but I refused to open
She left for the kitchen to prepare something for the family since it was getting dark
Later on, Nora came back from the shop
Few minutes later, my father returned too
I lost appetite that evening
My heart was burning
Father came to check on me and I opened the door for him
I lacked the courage to tell him what happened
He re-assured me that I would be fine
When he left, Nora entered
I got up from bed with curiosity
“What do you have to tell me?”, I asked
“Calm down brother”, she said
“I don’t have time for this” I interrupted
“Okay, but promise me you won’t get mad at me”
I was losing my temper
On noticing my mood, she summoned up courage and gave me the greatest shock of my life
“Mummy, I mean Clara, is not my biological mother.”
© Ezekiel Umoren
