TOXIC ATTRACTION

TOXIC ATTRACTION EPISODE FOUR

That evening was one of its kind and Nerea being there made it even less awkward between us. Richard and i had to pull out the happy couple card even though we had just been surviving and making do. Nerea was full of good advices, telling us how challenging marriages were but all we had to do was learn communication and trust each other. She promised us that at some point it was going to get so hard that we would wish to quit but what would determine whether we keep going or run, was the foundation we built for our love.

The room seemed small for all of us with all the excitement and the advice but I had to be the cool calm and collected wife that I had decided to be for the past few days. Nerea told me I was yet to meet some of their family members that didn't get to attend the wedding because of how abrupt it had been and only then did I learn that Richard had three more siblings. One lady and two guys. One of the brothers Joram came to the reception while Samuel and Diana never showed up. Samuel I understood was in school at the moment and Diana, Diana she said was a story for another day.

Richard: mum, I think it's about time you get some rest plus my wife should be tired from all the activities of the day.

Me: you should let mama stay until she is ready to sleep. I was really enjoying her company.

Nerea: don't worry my daughter, new couples needs to spend alot of time together, that way you learn each other and its even more important noe that you have a baby on the way.

I smiled and nodded then she got up and as she was giving me a goodnight hug, Richard's friend walked in. The same friend that had acted as my bodyguard when i was still a prisoner in the previous house. He was called Tosh. I didn't like him so much because had it not been for him, i would have left a long time ago.

He greeted mama then smiled at me shaking my hand as if we were best friends. I quickly pulled my hand away them turned to Richard who told his mother that Tosh there had come to take her to the place she was going to spend the night. Apparently they had organized for her to sleep in a nearby guest house. Nerea told us goodnight again and they left. Richard was seated on his chair focused on me the entire time i pretended to be watching Tv.

Richard: how was your day?

Me: good.

Richard: doesn't seem like it.

I turned to him then reduced the volume because it seemed like he needed to have a chat, not that i was really interested but i was his wife and i owed him a listening ear.

Me: you mother made it better. It gets boring being cooked up in the house the whole day with no friends or family to talk to.

Richard: i no longer lock you up or have you watched. What is stopping you from living your life?

I didn't respond to that because i knew if i did i was going to scream it in his face that i didn't have a life and he had made sure of that when he held me hostage, got me pregnant and married me by force. I was supposed to leave all that behind right? I was trying to but it was in the back of my conscious.

Richard: i gave you your freedom back didn't I?

Me: I'm still your wife remember?

Richard: is it that bad to be my wife?

I didn't respond to that either. He was calm more like he was trying to be gentle, nice and stuff but i knew guilt when I saw it. He did not expect to see the Robina he was seeing, the one who talked and laughed with his mum. I had not had a good laughter since my k********g and the forced wedding and Nerea was like a ray of sunlight in my dull world.

Richard: The silence is as good as a yes.

I got up and told him i was too tired and i needed to get to bed. It had not been an easy day, cleaning and seeing his old rugged sofa leave alone putting the house in shape as everything was still everywhere after the move. I left him seated in the livingroom as I went to bed.

Elsewhere

Cleopatra and Ronald had been having dinner talking and watching Tv and all the while she had been trying to reach Robina whose phone was still off. She dropped the phone on the quite frustrated and Ronald turned fo her and saw the discomfort on her face.

Ronald: what is it now?

Cleopatra: I've been trying to reach Robina and her phone is still not going through. Do you think she is still mad at us?

Ronald: she will get over it in no time. I was with Richard earlier today. He even told me they are expecting a child.

Cleopatra: No!.. you are not serious are you?

Ronald: the guy is a good striker even without functional legs i must say. Robina is adapting and with no time, she will see why we did what we did.

Cleopatra: there is no we. It was your decision and you are the one she might end up not forgiving.

Ronald: don't fool yourself, why hasn't she called you if you think she doesn't hate you as much?

Cleopatra didn't have a response to that. All she wanted was to make it right with her daughter but how was she going to do that when she as her mother would have stepped in to save her from everything that had happened but she was too afraid of Ronald and how chaotic the house could have been had she succeeded. She blamed herself but did that mean anything at that time?

Richard followed me to the bedroom and joined me on the bed. The pillows were still creating boundaries between us and i had made it clear that nothing was going to happen between us as long as i was pregnant and he said he could live with that. I had laid on the bed facing the wall and when he tapped my shoulder i turned to him. He had a voucher in his hand.

Richard: i got some money and booked you a session at a massage parlor. Maybe that will help relax your body and its also a thank you gift for the stress of taking me go the bus stop everyday and facing humiliation of all sorts.

I took the voucher and checked it, then looked at him quite speechless. I couldn't tell if the guilt was eating him up some more or he was just being a loving and caring husband.

Me: thanks but I don't think its necessary to spend money on such things especially with our living condition and the baby on the way. We need to prioritize what to use the money on.

Richard: i know that. I just wanted to appreciate you, you deserve it.

I said another thanks then put the voucher under my pillow and closed my eyes to catch some sleep. I could feel his eyes on me. He probably expected a hug or something of sorts but i wasn't going to thank him for making my life miserable because whatever he was trying to fix was already broken.

The night was quite long. There wasn't much turning and tossing but the sleep wasn't comfortable either. My mind was never at ease even in my sleep and it all went back to the day of my wedding when the doctor told me i was pregnant. Nerea must have known. I saw it in her eyes how she looked at me when the doctor and I were done with the checkup and how she insisted on asking the doctor go tell her what was wrong with me. Was it her plan for Richard to get me pregnant before the wedding and why did Richard keep me locked up after i had s*x with him, was it all so that i wouldn't access the emergency pills and who else would have put that idea in his head if not his mother. She was too excited giving advice on newly wed stuff but what if it was a plan they had a along to make sure i was stuck with her son?

The following morning i got up and did some cleaning then prepared breakfast so that when Nerea came she wouldn't have to wait long. At the guest house i understood she only had to sleep and clean up but food she was going to eat at our place until she was ready to go back.

I prepared Richard for his shower as usual but having been a Saturday, he was not going to job so early and trust me when i tell you that four months later, i still had no idea of what Richard did with his life out there and that's just how uninterested I was.

Richard: how's my love this morning?

He asked making his way into the livingroom where i had already set the table and sat on the couch waiting for everyone else. The sound of the word my love was not music to my ears. I didn't want pet names from him leave alone anything close to sweetheart my love and the likes. I was Robina to him and that's how it should have stayed.

Richard: i just said good morning..

Me: i heard you. Good morning too.

Richard: what's with the attitude, I have barely said a word to you and you already look like you have moods.

Me: the mood swings comes as a package with the pregnancy. I thought your mother taught you that too

Richard: my mother..

Me: she should have mentioned it when she asked you to keep me from going out to access contraceptives when you had s*x with me..

The silence and the look on his face sold him out, so it was true that that was exactly what had happened.

Richard: how did you know that?

Me: you must look at me and see a very stupid person huh?

Richard: I did what i had to do to keep you and make you mine. Leave my mother out of it, she did everything she could to support her son but i cannot say the same for your mother.

That comeback hit like a football in the faced kicked to intentionally cause harm. That response made me keep my mouth shut because he was right, at least his mother fought for him unlike mine who sat and quietly watched my life fall apart.

Richard: I'm sorry.

He said when he realized how damaging what he said could have been.

A few minutes later, Tosh and Nerea showed up and as usual she was jovial and all excited about having to spend another day with me. We exchanged greetings and she hugged me then showered me with praises on how well i was taking care of her son's stomach and Richard sat quietly watching us and when he spoke, he announced to his mother that she was not going to stay another day and both Richard and Tosh were going to see her off that morning as they left the house. We both looked at her surprised on how soon he had arrived on that decision.

Me: i didn't complain on having mama around. Are you trying to make me look bad babe?

I asked with a smile on my face obviously trying to put in on the open that I had nothing to do with that decision.

Richard: of cause not love, its just that the guest house cost a bit more expensive and you know mama can't sleep in our house.

Nerea: don't worry you guys, i will go and next time we will make better arrangements. We have alot of time ahead of us and you my dear, you can always visit whenever you want. My doors are open to you.

It was beginning to get awkward even for Tosh so i welcomed them to have breakfast as Richard changed the subject. I got up to go get the remaining tea from the kitchen and when i got to the kitchen door and turned to look at Nerea and Richard. I saw them make some gestures and Richard shrugged his shoulder like he was trying to communicate something to her and in my mind, i knew i had just caused trouble in paradise. I was not going to fall for the mother Teresa saintly act from Nerea when she was also just as guilty as my father being the mastermind of my forced marriage to his son. They were playing a game and i intended to be the captain of it. My life as a wife was just beginning and I swore to be the last person they remembered when i sink this ship called marriage.