Unfulfilled promises 2 Episode 40&41

UNFULFILLED PROMISES P2

Written by Audrey Timms

The Great Finale

Episode 40-41

A week later Oleng and the kids moved into Eric’s new house. They had gone shopping together for all the things they needed in the house; furniture, electronics, kitchen utensils etc. Eric hadn’t wanted a single pin removed from Dave’s house and Oleng had agreed with him. They planned on giving some of the things out and selling some. They also planned on selling the house. There was so much joy at the relocation.

People talked of course! Oleng went to her favorite saloon in the estate to fix her hair before the final move and heard two women talking about her. They didn’t know she was the woman in particular. They even twisted the whole story to make it juicier. She had smiled throughout. The hair dresser had given them signs to keep quiet but they didn’t notice. When Oleng was through, she greeted them and introduced herself. Till her dying day, she would always laugh at the shock on their faces. Busy bodies!

She continued planning her wedding with joy. She no longer wanted a large wedding. She just wanted to be joined together in holy matrimony with Eric. She was however extravagant in ordering her Vera Wang wedding gown from America when she fell in love with it at first sight on the internet.

When they informed Eric (Jnr) that they were getting married, he was joyous and said it was about time. Oleng and Eric went to Dave’s family to tell them of their intending nuptials. His mother gave her blessings in tears. Aunty Vien was ecstatic at the news. She came over for the weekend and met Eric (Jnr). Unsurprisingly, she and Eric (Jnr) got on well like a house on fire. Zinny and Eddy also came to visit with their two sons where Zinny apologized to Eric, claiming if she had opened up to Eric years ago about Oleng, they would probably have reconciled earlier and she wouldn’t have married Dave but she had never really believed his intentions towards her friend were genuine until the day he got drunk, broke down and cried when he found out Oleng had married Dave. Guilt was killing her in the part she played in keeping the two love birds apart. Since they were together now and so happy, Eric shrugged it off. Forgiveness was in the air. She apologized to Oleng also for keeping things about Eric from her but she knew Oleng wouldn’t have listened to her no matter what she said, that was why she’d insisted on Eric being the one to tell her. Oleng had shrugged it off too. She was too happy to dwell on what might have been. No one was perfect. They had all made mistakes. Marvy and Kelly sent their well wishes also.

They were so happy together in their new house even though Eric (Jnr) was moody sometimes, especially when he rejected calls from his grandmother. His father had encouraged him to answer her calls,to hear what she had to say but he had told him he wasn’t ready to talk to her yet.

They were all watching a movie one Sunday afternoon after coming back from church when Segun, Mrs Akpan’s gateman called Eric on his mobile phone. He had given him his number incase of an emergency. He was informed by Segun that Oleng’s mother was in the hospital. She had been rushed there by him three days ago; she had a stroke. Mrs. Akpan didn’t want anyone to know about it, she had wanted to die a lonely death but Segun hadn’t been able to stop himself in calling her family.

Despite his animosity, Eric left for the hospital. Oleng and Eric (Jnr) refused to go. When Eric got to the hospital and saw the poor state the sleeping woman was in, he knew Oleng and his son just had to come and see her; at least to say goodbye.

He went home to get them. It took him three days to convince them to come along with him. He felt if she died without them seeing her, it might haunt them for the rest of their lives. They finally agreed to go with him to the hospital after he had told them they were acting just like Mrs. Akpan.

When Oleng saw what her mum had become on the hospital bed, she could only stare. Was this the vibrant woman she had known all her life looking like a scarecrow? Memories of Dave flooded her also. It had been like this with him too.

Eric (Jnr) flung himself on his grandma the moment he came into the room. He sobbed bitterly, begging her for forgiveness. She was surprised to see him.

“It’s okay, baby,” she weakly told him.

Eric couldn’t bear to look at her for long. He left the room with Erica to go and look for the doctor. What the doctor said didn’t please him at all. Oleng’s mother had a very short time to live.

“It’s okay, baby,” Mrs Akpan kept telling her weeping grandson in a weak voice. “I’m glad you came. You brought so much joy into my life. You made me human again because I was losing touch with reality because of my bitterness. You taught me to cry again. Something I’d forgotten how to do.”

“Oh, grandma, why did you lie to me? I trusted you!” Eric challenged still in tears.

“I was afraid; afraid of losing you to your parents. I lost your mother to my sister. I didn’t want that to happen with you.”

“But it wouldn’t have happened, grandma because I love you. We would have all been together. I’ve a right to know them ’cause they’re my family too.”

“I know that now. I was just doing what I thought was best. I felt since they had Erica, I could have you all to myself.”

“Oh, grandma, I love you.”

“I love you too, baby.” Tears rolled down her eyes.

Oleng who had been standing at the door like a bystander was shocked to see tears rolling down her mother’s eyes. That was the strangest thing she had ever seen in her life. She couldn’t stand it. She rushed out of the room.

Eric who was still carrying the sleeping Erica, met her outside the room silently crying. He held her and led her to sit down on a bench at the reception.

“What did the doctor say?” she asked as she wiped away her tears with his handkerchief.

He shook his head. “Not good. She’s got liver cancer. If she makes it till the end of the month, it would be a miracle.”

Tears came to her eyes again. “I know she hasn’t been the best of mothers but I don’t want her to die.”

Eric nodded and held her. There was nothing they could do to help her. She was far gone.

Oleng called Aunt Vien and told her what was going on. The latter was shocked. She promised coming down the following day.

When visiting hours ended, Oleng volunteered to stay with her mother. Eric (Jnr) had to be coaxed to go home. Oleng sat beside her mother in that hospital room and memories flooded her as she thought of all her mother had told her the last time they had met. Maybe her mother really did love her but had a weird way of showing it. Being a mother, she had to ask herself, really, what mother wouldn’t love her own child? No matter how she tried to deny it, she knew she loved the sick woman too.

Oleng didn’t know when she dozed off on the chair. She felt a hand on her arm and jerked. She turned her neck around in pain and looked at her mother. The latter was looking steadily at her.

“Oleng,” she said in almost a whisper. “I need to drink water.”

Her daughter quickly got up and fetched her a glass of water. Eric had gone to buy a lot of things for his mother-in-law’s stay in the hospital.

When she finished helping her mother to drink from the glass, she sat down again. There was a long period of silence before Mrs. Akpan weakly said,”I’m surprised to see you here.”

“I’m here because of my son and because I’m not you. I know had I been in your position now, I wouldn’t have seen you.”

“Oleng…” the sick woman began but was cut short.

“Don’t try to deny it because it’s the truth. When I was hale and hearty, you weren’t there not to talk of in sickness.”

“Oleng, I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes but they were done in your own best interests.”

“Really? You’re still saying that? You actually believe that?” Oleng was scandalized.

“Yes, because it’s the truth,” her mother reiterated.

Oleng was lost for words then. So her mother really felt justified in all the things she had done. Amazing! Funny, she didn’t feel any anger or hatred towards her. All she felt was pity. When she wanted to reply her, she found out that the sick woman had fallen asleep. Her daughter found it hard to go back to sleep and was wide awake when Eric and their children brought breakfast for her and her mother the following morning. The kids stayed with her but Eric had to go to work. She had already called her boss to explain the situation of things. Aunt Vien came late in the afternoon and burst into tears when she saw her sister. She couldn’t talk for a long time. She could only stare at the emaciated form on the bed. Mrs Akpan however apologized to her for everything and told her she had done what she thought was best for her child.

Aunt Vien, still short of words, had only nodded in tears. She couldn’t help feeling for her sister. Gone was the animosity she had felt prior to seeing her like this.

When evening came, Eric took Aunt Vien and the kids home. Before her son left, he gave her a well-worn big book.

“After listening to your conversation the day I left her house, I went to her room as you were about to leave to hide. I found this on her bed. I asked dad to take me to her house yesterday. I went to take the diary so I could understand why she did what she did. I sorta understand now. Maybe it will help you too.”

Oleng wassurprised. Her mother kept a diary? Amazing! It ought to be an interesting read. She read the diary throughout the night. She was grateful that her mother slept throughout the night.

On several occasions, she paused to look at the sleeping woman on the bed in amazement. Her mother had such feelings? Unbelievable!

The diary started a few days after she was born. She couldn’t even call it a diary per say because it didn’t have dates. It was mainly Mrs. Akpan’s thoughts. She wondered why her mother didn’t write the dates.

My baby is so small. So little and delicate. I feel it’s because of the abortion I tried having that failed. I so wish she were Umoh’s daughter. Can’t help the love I feel towards her despite my loss.

Another one was…

What do I do? Been so sick. So sick I couldn’t carry nor breastfeed my baby. It has cost me greatly. My baby doesn’t recognize me again. She cries anytime I carry her. She always stretches her hands to Vien to carry her. Have I made a mistake in asking my own sister take care of my baby since she’s nursing one too?

The next one had…

It’s official! My daughter has chosen my sister over me! She doesn’t recognize me as her mother. She wants to be with Vien all the time. Vien wants me to still hold her always, that perhaps she’d get used to me again but how can I continue to hold a baby who cries continuously and stretches her hand towards Vien whenever she enters the room.

Yet another…

There’s no need for me to remain here. So much sorrow! I need a change of location. Can’t watch my baby joyous in the arms of my sister anymore. Can’t watch Umoh pass in front of the house on his way to the office anymore. I have a friend in Portharcourt. I’ll go there for a while. I’ll try to forget I have a daughter and lost love here.

A while later…

Finally in Port Harcourt. Can’t help the anger I feel towards my daughter. First she cost me the love of my life by existing, then she chose my own sister over me. I’m so mad at her even if she’s just a baby. I’ll get over it.

There were inconsistent entries in the diary of how she had tried dating but found men distasteful until some weeks before she had come to take her from Aunt Vien to Port Harcourt.

I just watched a movie. No way, my daughter will not follow the same road I took. Men will not play her for a fool like me. I’m going to fight for her. I have to take her from Vien. Vien’s a softie so she won’t give her the right upbringing. I’m going to bring my daughter up to be wary of men; I’m going to train her the hard way. Like this movie, I’m going to withdraw emotion, concern and my presence from her. Look how the heroine’s daughter turned out-Perfect!

Some months later…

My daughter is with me now. She’s still so small. Haven’t seen her in almost two years. Saw Umoh and his family. This is so unfair! I have to leave Calabar immediately. My baby cried bitterly throughout the journey. She would fall asleep, wake up, realize where she was and start crying again. Even though I felt like crying, I allowed her to cry. She needs it because if I have my way, she’ll never see her aunty again. The moulding must start now so the softness she’s used to must be washed completely away. She must not end up like me.

Oleng understood now why her mother had kept saying she chose Aunt Vien over her. It wasn’t the time she had been shipped to Calabar. It was when she was a baby. But she hadn’t known what she was doing then. Surely her mother couldn’t hold that against her!

She read on of how her mother tried to mould her. She was shocked to discover that her mum had been in town some months she used to think she travelled out. She’d stayed in various hotels just so she could leave her daughter to cope without her except for Tessy. She had wanted Tessy to be an elder sister to her. She knew Tessy was a worldly-wise person and so was the best person to teach her daughter the way of the world. Her mother hadn’t known Tessy wasn’t there for her either.

She read on and on of her disappointment that Oleng allowed Eric to come to the house and the pregnancy. She was shocked to read that her mother had wept the day she gave her grandson to his foster parents. She had loved Eric (Jnr) at first sight too.

That very day…

I can’t stop weeping. I shouldn’t have carried the baby before giving him to the Adenirans. He’s so little and beautiful. I can’t help loving him. My grandson. But I have to be strong. He’d only hinder her progress in life…..I love you, baby Eric

She wrote of how she got information from her private investigator telling her about her grandson. Those had been wonderful days to her.

As the years went on, she wrote very little until when Oleng had graduated and came to visit. She had been so proud of how beautiful Oleng had become and the fact that she was now a graduate. Oleng was shocked that she had used that man, Wale as an experiment to get her reaction towards men in her life. Her mother became very bitter in her writings after the incident and Aunt Vien’s visit.

The writings were few in between until she went to collect Eric. She tried to stay aloof towards him but couldn’t resist loving him. Her writings became consistent and joyous. It was obvious she really loved her grandson. She wrote she couldn’t share him with his parents and how she planned to keep him forever.

When Oleng came towards the end of the diary which was about a week ago, she felt as if she had just finished watching a soap opera. Her mother wrote of how lonely she was and how she missed her grandson. Now she knew she had taken a wrong approach towards raising Oleng. She should have just shown her love because with love came trust and loyalty. Her grandson, despite the fact that he wanted to be with his parents and sister, had chosen to stay with her because he loved her. She wrote had she done that to Oleng, her daughter would never have gotten pregnant but she hadn’t known. She had thought she was doing the best for her. Now after all her efforts, she was alone and dying. What a wasted life!

Oleng had to close her mouth while sobbing in order not to wake up the sleeping woman. She wept at the wasted years and efforts!

to be continued

Episode 41

##########

Eric and Aunt Vien were alarmed when they saw her appearance as they came into the hospital room the following morning. For an answer to their enquiry, she gave her aunt the book and begged Eric to take her home.

When she had rested and refreshed herself, she told Eric all that she had read. Eric was stunned.

“While I don’t in any way support what she did, I understand now,” Oleng quietly said in the silence that ensued.

She thanked her son for giving her the diary. When they all went to the hospital later in the day, one look at Aunt Vien told them she had gone deep into the diary also. Her eyes were red and puffy from weeping. Her sick sister was still sleeping.

“I didn’t know. I didn’t know she felt that way when you would cry for me. I didn’t know she was hurt. She hid it well and even made it look as if she hated you because she couldn’t marry Umoh. I didn’t know. I didn’t know,” she said as tears rolled down her eyes again.

She felt so guilty for not trying her best to help her sister. She had thought her inhuman because when their beloved mother had died in an accident, Linda hadn’t cried. Now she knew indifference outwardly but hurting inwardly was her way of grieving. Linda had never wanted to look weak. She continued shaking her head in sorrow.

When Mrs Akpan woke up the following day, she could barely talk. Oleng held her hand and said, “I understand.” with tears running down her eyes and showed her the diary. The dying woman had nodded and tears had run down her eyes too.

##########

A month later, Mrs Akpan died in her sleep. Her doctor was surprised she had made it that long. He felt maybe it was because her family had been with her every blessed day. They had taken her home and Oleng had resigned her job to take care of her mother. Not that she had really needed the money from the job because Eric could take care of them and she still had Dave’s inheritance money also.

Eric (Jnr) had been inconsolable when she covered his grandmother’s face with the sheet. Oleng had tried to hold him and at the same time stop herself from weeping also. He had refused to go back to school in Chicago until the last day he’d say goodbye to his grandma. She had then called Eric and Aunt Vien, who had had to go back to Uyo, to tell them the sad news.

They had all mourned her in different ways but were glad there had been peace among them before she died, though she had really suffered before her death. She had depended on everyone around her for cleaning up, eating and even going to the toilet, she hadn’t even been able to talk. The once vibrant, arrogant and bossy woman had been reduced to a state a little better than a beggar on the street. Oleng had been amazed that she could easily forgive her mother for all the pain and sorrow she’d caused her in her life. She had her selfless fiancée to thank for that. It really paid to be surrounded by the right people.

A week after her burial, late Mrs. Akpan’s lawyer called them to read her will. He informed them that she had changed her will a week before she was taken to the hospital. Oleng felt it was to wipe off their names for keeping her grandchild. She and Aunt Vien were surprised at how wealthy she had been. She had invested in a lot of things. They were even more surprised when the lawyer read the things she had left them. She had even left something for Erica. The bulk of her wealth went to Eric, her grandson, but wouldn’t come into it until he was thirty in order for him not to squander it before maturity. More shocking was the fact that she left a tidy sum of money for Segun, her gateman, who had taken care of her when Eric left.

He beamed with joy even though he was in shock. He was grateful he hadn’t listened to his fellow gatemen who had been urging him to steal all the money he could get in the house since she had been too weak to even stand and run away fromthe house. Others had even suggested he rented a lorry to park away all the valuables in the house for sale. It seemed his goodness to his late employer had paid off. He had more than enough now to start the business he had always wanted and bring his wife and small son from the village. He was glad he’d been good to her.

##########

Eric looked at the white girl seated in front of him and felt like moving across the table that separated them to put his hands around her neck. Yolanda was sniffing and weeping into her handkerchief.

It was a day to his wedding. He came to put finishing touches to his paperwork in his office since he wouldn’t be in for a while. Yolanda had called him that morning to tell him she was in the country and had insisted on seeing him. Eric had groaned and wondered who had invited her to his wedding. He had agreed to meet her in the office for thirty minutes and what she’d told him had blown him away. He cringed in revulsion at the thought that he had once been crazed to think he wanted to marry her.The jezebel hussy had been after him for ages.

Eric cleared his throat. “Yolanda, please humour me. Tell me the entire story all over again.”

Yolanda slowly raised her head up and made a great show of wiping her mascara stained face. She sighed.

“I must say I fell in love with you at first sight. I mean…I had a huge crush on you the size of California. I was heartbroken to discover you had a girlfriend, a beautiful African at that. I wanted you for keeps. I had to resort to drastic measures. I was so glad you decided to go camping with us when I noticed you were moody ‘cause you had a fight with your girlfriend. I was scared when you fell very sick and we had to cut short the camping but a friend of mine laid the idea in my head of telling your girlfriend off you during that period. I was scared at first but when I saw you were ill for some days, I felt fortune was smiling at me.

When Damian took you to the doctor, I got Shane,my brother, to hack into your laptop for your password. I never told you he was a professional hacker. I saw the message you sent to her informing her that you were going camping and might have bad network reception there didn’t deliver. I was shocked beyond words when I saw your girl’s message about her pregnancy. I felt horrible. I knew it was the end of any chance I had with you so I just had to delete it. I got Shane to hack into her yahoo mail and send a breakup message to you from the long-distance relationship saga I heard about Africa. He also made sure all the incoming and outgoing messages were diverted and we kept monitoring it. With shaky hands, I also took your phone and sent a breakup message to her concerning the pregnancy.

I’m so sorry. I was driven by maddening jealousy and possessiveness. I thought you would turn to me for comfort after the break up but was disappointed when I realized my plan had failed ’cause I realized your heart had been captured for life. It didn’t stop me from trying over and over again to get you to date me and sleep with me, but I remained in that disappointment for years because you didn’t even notice me. It always amazed me that you never took notice of me yet you remained moody after so many years of losing her. You even became an alcoholic that time you came back from Nigeria in search of her.

I really wanted to tell youthe bad thing I did over the years but couldn’t because I was so scared you’d hate me for life. When Damian told me you were finally getting married to your childhood sweetheart, I knew I had to come tell you since it seemed safe to say what I’d been keeping for years since you guys are back together again.

Eric, I’m so sorry. Please find it in your heart to forgive me. I was young and foolish.” Yolanda ended her tale with sniffles.

Eric was silent again. So, this self-centred jezebel hussy had caused him and Oleng so much pain for nothing! She was the reason why they’d been apart and had even lost their son.

“Are you here for the wedding?” He asked into the silence. Her face was flushed with relief.

“Yes. I so want to see you two joined together for the sake of my piece of mind.”

“Well,” Eric began quietly. “That means you’ll never know peace because I don’t want to see your ugly face at my wedding. In fact, I never want to see your sorry self ever again.”

Her face crumbled and she placed her hands on the table in a passionate plea for understanding.

“Eric…”

“You do not realise the pain you caused us just because you wanted me to date your ugly self. To think there was a time I wanted to marry you because you were always there hovering around me like a lost puppy with no bearings. That thought spent only a minute in my head.” Each word was like a whip to her. Eric’s teeth clenched. “By the time I’m through with your brother, he’d run away in fright whenever he sights a laptop.” Yolanda’s jaw dropped. “And as for you, you better go and join the secret service or something. If you could plan such a devious thing and keep it a secret for years, then that’s your calling. The time you spent wasting away, chasing me all over America, you would have put it in your studies instead of becoming a drop out now and a mortuary attendant.”

She burst into tears.

“Now get your fat a-s from that chair and leave my office. If I so much as see you within ten feet from me or get a message or a call from you ever again, prepare to spend the remaining days of your miserable life in jail with the keys thrown in Niagra Falls. Get out!”

The white girl stood up and rushed out of the office mumbling apologies. Eric had to take in deep breaths to calm himself. He was livid. She’d caused so much heartache and felt just apologising would make things right again. b---h!

He called his sunshine to cheer him up. He told her what just transpired.

“Wow! Imagine her deviousness and callousness!Wasn’t that too harsh, Ricky? You the forgiveness preacher should forgive her.

Eric grimaced. “Enough already with the forgiveness! We forgave Dave and you mother, didn’t we? Besides, she’s the originator of all the pain we went through. Maybe with time I’d forgive her, but right now, I feel like wringing her ugly neck.”

Oleng laughed heartily. “Anyway, I’m too happy to even begin to remember the harm her deviousness caused. I’m just happy her plan failed.”

“Me too.” He leaned back on the chair. “We have a few hours to go before you become Mrs. Conrad.”

Oleng laughed again. She couldn’t help doing that these days. She was so happy. Aunt Vien had jokingly told her to go and have her tear ducts removed since she wasn’t using them again and they were probably worn out from the way she’d abused them over the years.

“I can’t wait.”

##########

“I now pronounce you, man and wife. Dearly beloved, I present to you Engr. and Mrs. Eric Conrad.” The priest declared as Eric and Oleng faced the congregation.

There was a thunderous applause. Oleng knew she was grinning like a ninny but couldn’t help it. This was a dream come true. She felt she would just burst with joy. A lot of people came to hug and congratulate them.

They had sent invitation cards to only a few people, mainly family and friends because Oleng had changed her mind about having a large wedding. It had been a girlish dream of hers but now that she already had two kids, there was no need for that. They were however shocked at the turn out. Their old school mates and friends came,even some of Eric’s friends from abroad.

At the reception, Oleng screamed when Shana Twain came out from the back of the banquet hall where the reception was being held. She sang the song Eric had been playing for her every night, which had slowly become their song as she gradually walked to the front of the hall where they sat. Eric led her to the dance floor with joyous tears in her eyes at the lyrics of the song- You’re Still The One.

When I first saw you, I saw love

And the first time you touched me, I felt love

And after all this time,

You’re still the one I love

Looks like we made it

Look how far we’ve come my baby

We mighta took the long way

We knew we’d get there someday

They said, “I bet they’ll never make it”

But just look at us holding on

We’re still together still going strong

(You’re still the one)

You’re still the one I run to

The only one that I belong to

You’re still the one I want for life

(You’re still the one)

You’re still the one that I love

The only one I dream of

You’re still the one I kiss good night

Ain’t nothing beter

We beat the odds together

I’m glad we didn’t listen

Look at what we would be missin’

(You’re still the one)

You’re still the one I run to

The only one that I belong to

You’re still the one I want for life

(You’re still the one)

You’re still the one that I love

The only one I dream of

You’re still the one I kiss good night

After they had danced and sat down, Eric turned to his wife and smiled.”Have I told you I love you today?” he asked as he took her in his arms.

She cocked her head as if she was thinking and smiled. “Let me see…emm…I think a thousand times already.”

They laughed and kissed. Just then Eric (Jnr) and the three years old Erica came to meet them and hugged them. In a week from now, he would be going back to Chicago again. He had only come back home because of the wedding. He had left for Chicago after his grandmother’s funeral, though he had pleaded with his parents to start schooling here in Nigeria because he didn’t want to be far from them but they had insisted he finished junior high there before coming back to Nigeria. They were all going with him to Chicago, Oleng and Erica having just acquired their international passports. They were going to Miami, Florida for their honeymoon after dropping Eric off in school.

Oleng looked at her children talking excitedly with their father and smiled. She felt so contented. Looking back, all the trials had been worth it. It had made them stronger and their love deeper. She would make sure that all her promises to him of yesteryears wouldn’t remain unfulfilled.

Love is indeed the greatest thing!

Check out the Epilogue