BROKEN

BROKEN EPISODE TWO

Ndegwa drove me home in silence, he knew he needed to ask if I was okay but from the conversation earlier, I somehow made it clear that I didn't want to be bothered..Ethan fell asleep in my arms yet again and I hoped he never got to wake up for the better part of that night. Let me tell you about my baby boy.

I gave birth to Ethan prematurely and he had to be put in an incubator for like two weeks for he had a breathing problem that was corrected and I eventually took my baby home, during that time my baby was in an incubator, I was alone for Melvin travelled alot for business and what hurt most is that he wasn't there for the birth of our son and the three weeks he was in an incubator he had no idea what I was going through.

There was no one to take care of me because first forward Melvin's family didn't accept me as their sons wife. Melvin's mum told me to my face that I would never be a part of them because I had no class and was not fit to sit on the table with them so when I gave life to Ethan, not even a phone call to congratulate me and did that hurt me, yes. I had no one to call family.

I grew up in an orphanage after my parents died in a fatal road accident when I was only seven. My elder brother ran away after my parents burial and rumors had it that he went to the city and was once seen rolling with the street boys. I have no truth to that though I have never seen my brother since then.

Melvin had a brother who was slightly younger than him. Leo was my favorite in Melvin's family. He never shared the same sentiments with their mother so most of the time he would stand up for me and put everyone else in their place. Leo was out of the country when Ethan was born and immediately he heard of his incubation he called everyday for his progress and when he got a chance he came to see me in the hospital infact he was the one who took me home with my baby the day we got discharged and where was Melvin, he was working...

Ndegwa: madam, we are home.

Ndegwa's voice interrupted my thoughts once again and I looked outside to confirm that we were really home.

Ndegwa: how was the situation at the hospital?

He eventually managed to ask. Any concerned human being would ask and I couldn't lie to him because Ndegwa knew I was a very jovial person. When driving me around, he wouldn't need to turn on the radio because we would talk from business, politics, sports. Yeah it was weird but I'm that informed about things going on in the society.

Me: Melvin got into a road accident. He has been hospitalized.

Ndegwa: I'm so sorry for that. Is he stable?

Me: I think he is. He will be fine

He nodded then I opened the door the the passanger seat then took my phone to sort him out but he told me not to pay for that ride. He said that night he was just being human and he was glad to take me to the hospital.

I thanked him then got out with my baby and went to the house as he drove away. It was late in the morning, say around one pm. I took Ethan to his bed then I got on mine and lay there staring at the empty ceiling. I didn't want to think because thinking made me cry and I had alot of answered questions. Melvin was in a critical condition and if he didn't get that surgery, he was going to die. Was it the right thing for me to walk away like that knowing his life was in danger, was it fair that I didn't get to listen to his explanation and why was Jade being too rude?...

Jade called me telling me she was going by bus since she was not so sure about her boarding a plane though her man had offered to pay for her tickets. She had a phobia for heights and all she thought about was everything that could go wrong when they were up there and we laughed about it as she became dramatic on how she would jump out of the plane should things go wrong.

Jade was that best friend I never had. She was ever present in my life and everything I went through, she knew about it. She knew about the fights with Melvin's mum, she knew about his aunt's insulting me and she knew that the only back up I had in that family was Leo. Leo never liked Jade, they had never gotten along since I knew them and none of them would tell me why they couldn't stand each other's presence and I even asked severally if they had history together and they both denied. I loved them both so I had to put up with them not standing each other.

I fell asleep deep in my thoughts and the next thing I heard was my phone ringing so loudly that it really freaked the hell out of me. My phone is always on vibration but I must have turned on the volume because at times I miss calls when I'm not close to it.

I checked the caller and it was Melvin's mother. The call came in at exactly 6:00 am.

I knew why she was calling and as much as I didn't want to talk to her, I had to pick that call and hear what she had to say to me after God had exposed Melvin's web of lies..

Me: hello..

Lorna: hello to you too. Benta?

Me: yes,

Lorna: do you want to kill my son so that you can keep his money to yourself?.

Me: why would you ask me that?

Lorna: why would you ask me that (mimicking me) you Benta, you left my son to die in the hospital after you refused to sign for his surgery.

Me: are you not his mother, why don't you come and sign for your son's surgery, oh..and when he called to tell you that I refused to sign for the surgery did he also tell you how he got in the accident and who he was with?

Lorna: listen to you talk to me like you were not taught some manners, but do I blame you. If your dead mother would have been alive she would have put some brakes into that mouth of yours. See, it's the orphanage in you talking. What do you know about...

Me: I'm not going to listen to you insult me for something I know nothing about. I will not sign for that surgery mother. If you care too much about your son's money, board a bus to the city or better still let him die so that you can have all his money. Good day mother!

I hanged up and threw my phone on the bed then sat and buried my face in my hands. I was so mad but that was nothing. Everytime Lorna and I spoke, the conversation never ends any better.

Her touching on my dead mother broke my heart every time and again and it always got me thinking that maybe if my mother was around, my life would have turned out much better..

A few minutes after Lorna's call I got another call from Leo this time and I knew he had been told everything. Leo had been away. He had gone to Nigeria to collect fabric for his business and yes he had a very big fabric shop where he sold Ankara and also made shoes and bags from the African prints. He was doing well.

Me: hey..

Leo: hey.. how are you?

Me: I'm okay.

Leo: that's a lie. Try another one.

Me: how do you know I'm lying.

Leo: because the tornado winds just blew you off a few minutes ago. My mother is crazy you know that right?

Me: she called you?

Leo: yeah. And she's told me you want to kill her son.

Me: yeah, she said the same to me.

Leo: so tell me, why have you refused to sign for the surgery?

Me: Melvin lied to me Leo. He was to board a plane for his business trip so how did he end up in a road accident with my best friend by his side?

Leo: and by best friend you mean Jade?

Me: yeah..

He made a sigh and was silent for a short while.

Me: are you there?

Leo: yes I'm here, listen dear. It is for your own good that Melvin remains alive. You are my brother's wife fine but you know I care about you and your welfare right,

Me: yes.

Leo: go back to that hospital and sign for that surgery. Wash that blood off your hand and if Melvin has to die, don't let it be because you were involved. There's alot I need to tell you Benta but Melvin has to be alive.

I took a deep breath. Leo's words startled me. What was it he had to tell me and why didn't he tell me before?

Leo: hey..

Me: hey..

Leo: sign for that surgery. I will be back by Friday okay?

Me: okay.

Leo: give my nephew a high five okay?

Me: I sure will..

I ended the call then got up from the bed went to check on Ethan who was still asleep and I thought I could use those few minutes to shower and get dressed for the hospital. Maybe Leo had a point. If Melvin died because I refused to sign the forms it would be all on me. His mother would make everyone believe I killed his son so that I could keep his money. Melvin had millions of shilling stuffed in his account and we had invested into real estate and as classless as I was, my brains functioned just fine because despite being a stay at home mum, I helped Melvin manage his business and alot of times he responded well to my business proposals and truth be told. We were doing well.

I took a shower, got dressed, bathed and dressed Ethan then I had breakfast and called Ndegwa again. I had to because babies were not allowed inside the wards and Ndegwa besides being my driver, he didn't mind baby sitting a few minute as I went in to take care of the situation.

We got to the hospital and I got out and walked in. I asked to see Dr. Mila but was told told Dr. Katrina was the one who was around so they let me see her.

I knocked on the door to her office and she opened with a smile on her face, what was she always smiling about, was it that she knew something I didn't know or she was just being "doctorly" and nice.

Dr. Katrina: Benta, it's good to see you.

I didn't say anything to that. I smiled briefly then sat right opposite her.

Me: I'm here to sign for Melvin's surgery.

Dr. Katrina: wow, that is good. That is what we were waiting for and I'm afraid he does not have much time.

She reached for a drawer and pulled out a form and handed it to me then gave me a pen too.

I perused through the form then eventually signed it and as soon as I did that, I got up and told Katrina I was leaving. She told me she would give me a call Incase of anything and I nodded then thanked her and walked out. I didn't go to Melvin's ward to check on him because I didn't want to see his lying face, I walked along the corridor and when I exited I saw Jade walking towards the entrance and when she saw me, she stopped and we came face to face.

Jade: so, did you finally decided to sign for his surgery?

Me: why do you care about what I have to do for my husband and why are you here in the first place?

Jade: husband!

She laughed and once again I was surprised at her reaction. What was really going on.

She tried to walk past me but I blocked her way.

Me: what does that mean?

Jade: get out of my way Benta. You are very naive and stupid to think Melvin would ever marry a low life like you. How could you be so blind?

She said shaking her head and now I was completely lost. What was Jade talking about?

She pushed me out of her way and made her way inside but I couldn't let her. I ran after her and grabbed her arm and she looked at my hand and pulled hers from my hold.

Jade: get your filthy hands off me Benta. We are in a hospital and if you keep coming at me like that, one of us will end up admitted here and it will not be me.

She looked me from head to toe and left me standing there.

There was something going on. Something I had been so blind to and thanks to that accident that things were now popping out. Could it be that Jade was having an affair with Melvin hence that kind of a talk and what was she doing in that hospital checking on aMelvin a day after the accident?

I walked back to Ndegwa's car and asked him to drop me home before he could go about his daily business and through the ride I kept staring at my little boy, holding his tiny hands and watching his tiny eyes roam around with a pretty little smile on his face. He was the cutest little thing I had seen my entire life.

Ethan was a complete replica of his father and he didn't even have my eyes or nose I mean why was God so unfair.. okay that was on a lighter note but can you imagine carry your baby for nine good months then he comes out looking nothing like you..

I smiled at Ethan and he had already started to recognize the expressions on my face. I was sad alright but I didn't want my baby to experience that. Ethan and I had come along way that he was the one thing that made sense in my life besides Melvin.

We got home and I paid Ndegwa and he drove off asking me to call him if I needed to go anywhere and I nodded then walked in and laid my baby on the couch as I sat and rested my back on a pillow.

Now it was beginning to make sense.. almost everytime Melvin was going for a business trip two or three times of those trips, Jade was going somewhere too. To see her mother in the village, to visit her aunt in Uganda, to relax her mind in the coast and Jade had this man who loved her so much and everytime I would ask her to invite him for dinner, she would find an excuse last minute. Was this man my Melvin?..

Jade: do you think this will look good on me?

Me: well it's pink and laced, I don't see how that will not turn him on.

She smiled hoisting the pink panty and stretching it to see if it would fit. It was beautiful.

Jade: you seem to have experience in these things, how is your bedroom game?

I smiled thinking of how weird that question sounded but I didn't see any harm in telling her, maybe she needed to up her game or something.

Me: well, when making love to my man, I always let out the bitchy part of me, you know dance for him as i strip, tease him abit as I give him a lap dance and you know men get turned on by those little moves and when we are at it, the innocence in me disappears and I work on him properly. Men love women who are freaks in bed and it's okay to take the lead sometimes...

She nodded as if she was taking notes and then she decided to take the hot pink panty with lace and some other lingerie. Was I helping her by and giving her tips on what to do to my husband?..

Two hours before the trip..

I walked into the bedroom and found Melvin dressing. I had been in the kitchen preparing him something he could eat before he could leave. He wore T-shirt and jeans and I helped him put on his coat.

Me: babe, how long will the trip be?

Melvin: one week tops. There's a deal I needed to close with some Korean company and I might be forced to stay there atleast 5 days hoping we get the deal.

Me: I hope you get the deal.

Melvin: thank you baby.

We shared a passionate kiss then he walked to Ethan's bed and kissed his forehead. He was asleep. Ethan loved to sleep and I'm not sure who he got that from.

We went to the living room and served him dinner and though he Was in a hurry to leave, I had to make him eat my food. Before Melvin left, he got a call that he ignored twice and when I asked, he said it was one of the guys who stood him up on a meeting and now he was insisting on another meeting and he had no time for that.

Me: why don't you just tell him instead of ignoring?

Melvin: I have, he probably doesn't understand English.

I ignored it and the caller didn't call again.

Melvin finished eating and told me he didn't want to miss his plane. We got up from the table and I helped with his bags to the car. I would have driven Melvin to the airport but i couldn't leave Ethan alone. We kissed then he hugged me so tight and asked me to take care of myself and his son.

I got up from the sofa and walked to my kitchen. I needed to eat and by the way I ate alot when I was stressed just that I never gained weight. When Melvin met me, I was so slim and when we first went to meet his mother, she asked right in my face why I was thin and told me in her house there was food and I could eat as much as my stomach could take, I would have taken that as a joke but the expression on her face when she said that told me that she actually thought I was starved and was just body shaming me. After I gave birth to Ethan, I gained a few more kgs and now I was looking good, good enough for people to check me out and make Melvin jealous.

At the hospital

Melvin was scheduled for the operation in an hour and Jade was there holding on to his hand as if she was the wife. Every nurse and doctor that walked in knew she was except for Katrina and Mila who had met Benta.

Melvin: she signed the form.

Jade: I know, I saw her on my way in.

Melvin: and?

Jade: tried to get dramatic asking why I was here and stuff but I shut her up.

Melvin: how, you told her the truth?

Jade: no but I will Melvin. A lot has already been compromised and she is asking questions.

Melvin: I will be the one to tell her the truth Jade so please keep your mouth shut. This already looks so bad that I don't even know how to face her.

Jade: what, so now you are in love with her?

Melvin: she is my wife.

Jade: on papers Melvin and don't start making me feel like I mean nothing to you because it will not end well for any of us... She has the baby and it's about time she knows the truth. We can't keep on living like this...

That conversation was cut shot when the doctors came to take Melvin into the OR. Jade had to wait for the surgery to be performed. Things didn't turn out as they had expected and now they had created a mess that they didn't know how to pull themselves out of.

What truth were they talking about and why was Jade issuing threats?

Find out in the next episode...