MORE THAN A CARVING CHAPTER 25

MORE THAN A CARVING
CHAPTER 25

“Yes, you are the baby’s godfather.” “Wow! I’m honoured too.” “Now we can leave.” Ireoluwa said with a smile. “Yeah.” Iwalade said and then turned to Gbotemi. “Please drive safely.” “I will and you take care too.” He said. “I will. Thanks.” Iwalade replied. Gbotemi carried Ireoluwa’s bag and they left. Fullhouse called his wife on their way to Ife and he promised he will be home before they arrive. They got to Ife in the early hour of the afternoon, Fullhouse was already home to receive them. He had already prepared food, and they all ate. Gbotemi rested for like an hour and then returned to Lagos that very day. When he left, the couple sat on the couch in the sitting room. Ireoluwa rested her head on his chest. Fullhouse did not return to work that day, he decided to stay home with her for that day. “How’s the baby doing?” He said caressing the baby bump. “Fine, I guess the baby missed you, you need to see the way the baby was kicking on our way home.” She said and Fullhouse lowered his head to speak with the baby. “Aww……You are excited to meet me, same here. I miss you too.” He said quietly to the baby and then said to Ireoluwa, “Thank God you came back, and I couldn’t stand your absence.” “Thanks for that confession.” She said teasingly and the two smiled. In the evening, before they go to bed, Fullhouse bathed her and tucked her in the bed.
Iwalade was all alone in the hospital again, Mrs. Williams was very busy and even her Saturdays were meant for one meeting or the other. During one of the weekends, Mrs. Williams finally came to spend the weekend. Mrs. Badmus too was around that very day but left later in the night after tending to her daughter’s needs. That night, Iwalade went to bed and then woke up in the middle of the night, screaming. Mrs. Williams jumped out of sleep and quickly rushed to her side. “Iwalade are you okay?” “My baby…..my baby…..” Iwalade held her baby bump and kept on wailing. “Nothing is wrong with your baby, Iwalade.” Mrs. Williams said, trying to calm her. She checked all over her body, she was fine and she wasn’t bleeding. “My baby….. My baby.” She cried the more.” “Okay, you know what; let me call a doctor to come check you.” She said and left the room. Because of their connection, she was able to get a doctor to come check on Iwalade. The doctor tested her and instructed the nurses to take her for an ultrasound that midnight. The ultrasound shows that the baby was alive and well. Mrs. Williams and Iwalade who was wheeled in a wheel chair returned to Imisi’s hospital room. The nurse helped her into the bed and left. “A life for a life!!!” Iwalade kept on repeating these words and Mrs. Williams didn’t understand what she was saying but she knew she had seen something in her dream for her to still be crying after the scan has shown that the baby was fine. “Iwalade, you can talk to me, did you see something?” She asked but she didn’t reply her. “I know we are not on the same page lately but you can still talk to me. This baby is also my…….” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word. Iwalade didn’t tell her anything and she was awake all night. In the morning, which was Sunday morning, Mrs. Williams persuaded her to eat but Iwalade said she wanted to fast, after persuading her to no avail, she let her be. “Please, give me your mum’s phone number.” She pleaded with Iwalade and she gave her the digits. Mrs. Williams called Iwalade’s mum and explained all that happened that night, she also told her Iwalade insisted on fasting despite her condition. Mrs. Badmus told her she will come down to the hospital after the church service. Mrs. Badmus arrived later in the afternoon, the two mothers exchanged greetings. Mrs. Williams then excused mother and daughter. “I will be at the reception.” She said and left. “Iwalade, what happened, did you see something in your dream?” Her mum asked and Iwalade started crying. “My baby…..Mummy, my baby must not die, I must not suffer in vain.” “Talk to me, what did you see?”“Okay…..I saw a little boy walk up to me in a beautiful garden, the boy was so cute, he looked so much like Imisi. I was still adorning the boy’s beauty and then he brought out a folded paper and gave it to me. I collected it and unfolded it and the paper reads, ‘A LIFE FOR A LIFE.’ By the time I looked up to talk to the boy, he had vanished.” “I reject it in Jesus name. Your child will not replace Imisi’s life; the two of them shall live in Jesus name.” Mrs. Iwalade renounced. “Amen. Mummy….I’m carrying a boy child, do you now understand my fear. Mummy mi ema wo mi ni ran (don’t look at me like this)” She cried. “I must not lose my child.” “I am praying for you oko mi (my daughter) everybody is praying for you and I believe God will answer our prayers, you will not lose your baby in Jesus name.” Mrs. Badmus said. “Amen.” “Now pull yourself together.” She said and helped her daughter to clean her face. “When do you want to break the fast?” She asked Iwalade. “6:00pm.” She replied. “3:00pm is okay my daughter. You need your strength, the baby also needs it.” “Okay ma.” She agreed. “Gift does not come to work on Sunday, right?” “Yes ma.” “Okay, let me go and get food for you, I should have brought food for you but I couldn’t go back home after church service, my mind was already here.” Mrs. Badmus explained. She then took her purse and left the hospital room. By the time, she got back, it was already past 3:00pm, Iwalade was praying when she entered, when she was through praying, she ate her food. In the evening, Mrs. Badmus announced to her daughter that she was leaving since Mrs. Williams is sleeping over, so she left. She met with Mrs. Williams at the reception, and she stood up immediately she saw Mrs. Badmus. “Let me see you off.” She said and they both walked out of the hospital. Then she noticed she wanted to take a cab. “You want to take a cab?” Mrs. Willliams asked. “Yes. I don’t know how to drive and my son who should have brought me is not around, he has a function to attend.” Mrs. Badmus explained. “Okay, let me call my driver, he is still around, I’ll tell him to take you.” “Don’t worry madam, I can find my way.” “No, I insist. Just consider that I’m the one stressing you out. Your daughter would not have been here if not for my son.”“It’s alright; I pray all these will not be in vain in Jesus name.” “Amen.” Mrs. Williams said and then called her driver to bring the car to the gate. The two women stood by the hospital gate. “He is coming.” She informed Mrs. Badmus. “Okay, thanks ma.” “Iwalade refused to talk to me and it breaks my heart.” Mrs. Williams opened up. “Can we really blame her?” Mrs. Badmus said. “You are right, it’s my entire fault.” “You are too hard on her.” “I regret that now.” “As her mother, I was supposed to fight for her, I wanted to put you in your place but I only look away and pretended as if I didn’t see anything since Iwalade herself knew what she signed up for.” Mrs. Badmus poured out. “We were good friends.” “I know, and I know it breaks your heart that she slept with your son but it has happened and it has happened, we just have to accept fate.” “I’ll do the needful.” Mrs. Williams said. Mrs. Badmus saw how remorseful she was, she decided to tell her about the dream Iwalade had, and then Mrs. Williams broke down in tears. “You mean, the life for a life means the baby Iwalade is carrying will replace Imisi’s life?” Mrs, Williams asked. “Yes.” Mrs. Badmus nodded, holding her shoulder to comfort her. “But I pray, that will not be their portion.” “What is the meaning of all these, sincerely I’m tired. What kind of family did I marry into for God sake?” “It’s not your fault, you didn’t know, that is why people are being advised to pray well before saying I do, there are some terrible curses running in some families.” “You are right; if I know all these, will I marry into that family?” “Then you should appreciate Iwalade who saw all this coming and still stood by your son.” “I really appreciate her, God sees my heart. I know if it were to be ladies of Imisi’s age they would have run away by now. So, I’m grateful to God for bringing someone like Iwalade into my son’s life, it’s just that I’m heartbroken.” “I understand, I’m a mother too, if I am in your shoe, I may even do worse.” Mrs. Badmus said. The driver showed up and parked beside them, Mrs. Williams signaled for the driver to wait. “Just help me beg her.”“I don’t need to; Iwalade is not a bad person.” “I know.” “She’s a child I don’t joke it, Iwalade gave me so much strength and courage when I was raising my kids all alone without a husband. She cares so much about people and even makes their burdens hers.” “I know she’s a wonderful human being.” Mrs. Williams admitted. “Then make nice with her.” “I’ll try my best. Let me release you. Thank you so much ma.” “Thank you too. Goodnight ma.” “Goodnight.” Mrs. Williams replied. The driver came down and opened the back seat door for Mrs. Badmus, she entered and the two women waved at each other. Mrs. Williams went back to her son’s hospital room, it was already dark, and she met Iwalade at the balcony gazing at the sky. “Iwalade.” Mrs Williams called out softly and she turned to look at her. “Welcome ma.” She bowed slightly. “Your mum told me everything.” “She did what!” She sat upright. “Iwalade I’m not your enemy.” “With all due respect ma, we are not friends either at least you made that part of our relationship clear.” She said and Mrs. Williams went on her knees. “No….no….no ma.” She quickly stood up and helped her up and the two started crying. “How did we get here, Iwalade? How did we get here?” She said as they cry on each other’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for everything ma.” “No, don’t say that, I should be the one apologizing, I’ve wronged you.” “I shouldn’t have slept with your son.” “Don’t you think that is not a coincidence, let’s just put the past behind us and move on?” “Okay ma.” “Can you forgive me?” “I’ve done that before now.” “Thank you.” Mrs. Williams said and the two hugged each other. That was how the rift between them settled.