From Housemaid to Oga’s Wife Episode 10
Martins was alone in the living room, staring at the TV without really watching it. The silence in the house was becoming too heavy for him. No sound of cooking from the kitchen. No footsteps. No laughter. Just him and the ticking wall clock. Days passed, then weeks. He had tried to keep himself busy with work, but once he returned home, the emptiness reminded him that Nnenna was gone. The house didn’t feel like home anymore. He missed her voice, her cooking, her presence. He didn’t even know where she had gone since she packed her things and left the house he rented for her.
One Saturday afternoon, he was lying on the couch when he heard a knock on the door. He opened the door and saw Jessica standing there. Her face was calm. She wore jeans and a T-shirt and looked nothing like someone coming for a fight. Martins stepped aside and allowed her in. He was not sure what to expect from the visit. “I’m not here to argue,” she said as she sat down. “I just came to talk.” Martins nodded. “Go ahead, Jessica. I’m listening.” She looked around briefly, then turned to face him again.
Jessica cleared her throat and said, “Martins, I’ve had time to think. I don’t think I ever loved you. And I don’t think you truly loved me either.” Martins looked surprised but remained quiet. “From the beginning, I felt like we were just trying to please our families,” she continued. “We never had that real spark. No true connection. I tried to force it, but it never worked.” Martins folded his arms and leaned back.
“I’m tired of pretending too.” She said.
She gave a small smile and added, “You’re free, Martins. Free to be with the woman you truly want to be with. If it’s Nnenna, then go for her. I won’t stop you.” Martins sighed and lowered his head.
“Thank you,” he said. “You don’t know what this means to me.”
Jessica nodded. “You’re a good man, Martins. I believe you’ll be a good father too. I just want both of us to be happy, even if it’s not with each other.” Then she walked to the door and left.
As soon as she left, Martins picked up his phone and called Nnenna. She didn’t pick up immediately. He called again. On the third ring, she answered. “Hello?” she said. Her voice sounded tired but calm. “Nnenna, it’s me, Martins,” he said quickly. “Where are you? I need to see you.” There was silence for a while. “I’m in the village, with my aunt,” she replied.
“Why do you want to see me?” She asked.
Martins smiled. “Jessica came today. She said she never loved me and that I’m free to marry you.” Nnenna was quiet again. Then she said, “Are you serious?”
He replied, “Yes. Very serious.”
“I gave birth last week,” Nnenna said softly. Martins stood up from the chair in shock. “You’ve given birth? Already?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied. “It was safe. The baby is fine. My aunt helped me call some traditional midwives. Everything went well.”
Martins couldn’t hold his excitement. “Nnenna, please send me the address. I’m coming to see you right now.”
She laughed quietly. “Are you sure you want to travel down here?”
He answered quickly, “I want to see my child. I want to see you too.” She gave him directions to the village. Martins packed his bag and left immediately.
The journey to the village took hours. Martins drove through narrow roads, passed small markets, and finally arrived at a compound with a zinc-roof house surrounded by mango trees. An old woman came out to greet him.
“You must be Martins,” she said. “Come inside, Nnenna is waiting for you.” Martins stepped into the house and saw Nnenna sitting on a wooden chair, holding a baby wrapped in a soft cloth. She smiled when she saw him.
“Martins,” she said. He walked to her and knelt down beside her. He looked at the baby. “Is this our child?” he asked.
Nnenna nodded. “Yes. It’s a girl.” Martins gently touched the baby’s hand. “She looks like you,” he said with a smile.
Nnenna looked at him. “Are you really ready for this? To be with me, raise this child with me?”
Martins raised his eyes to meet hers. “I’ve never been more ready. I made a mistake trying to marry someone I didn’t love. But I won’t repeat that mistake. I want to be with you.” Nnenna sighed.
“I’ve been through a lot, Martins. I won’t lie, I was scared. I didn’t know if you’d still come for me.” Martins held her hand gently.
“I’ll take care of both of you,” Martins said. “Let’s go home together.”
Nnenna turned to her aunt. “Aunty, he wants us to go with him.” The older woman smiled. “He’s the father of your child. You should be with him if you trust him.”
Nnenna packed her few belongings. Martins carried the baby bag. They left the village together that day and returned to the city. Martins arranged for a nurse to check on Nnenna and the baby regularly. He also hired a nanny to help Nnenna so she could rest well. Slowly, their life began to take shape again.
Six months passed quickly. The baby was growing well. Nnenna looked healthy and happy. She had gained back her strength and resumed taking care of the house. Martins planned a small wedding with only close family and a few friends. He didn’t want anything loud. Nnenna wore a simple white dress and Martins wore a blue native outfit. They exchanged vows in a small hall and signed the marriage certificate. Martins’ parents were not present, but he didn’t care. He was happy. After the wedding, they went back home and had a small reception. The neighbors and friends who came celebrated with them.
That night, as they sat in their bedroom, Martins looked at Nnenna and said, “I know we started this journey in a difficult way. But I promise to make it worth it.”
Nnenna looked at him and smiled. “I’ve already forgiven everything that happened in the past. I just want peace and happiness for us and our child.”
Martins stood up and carried their baby who was lying in a baby cot beside the bed. “This girl brought us together,” he said.
Nnenna nodded. “She’s our blessing.” They both laughed quietly as the baby sneezed. The new family was finally complete.
THE END
© Nabih Aben
