I never knew my husband is a dead man…
Part 3
It was still early when I started my trip down to Frank’s village, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Smith said to me. It felt like a ringtone in my head that just wouldn’t stop. I arrived at the franks family house in the village and everywhere was quiet.
“Where did everyone go?” I said to myself.
I knocked countless times on the door but no one answered, I walked around the house looking for his family but no one was around. I became scared wondering if everything is alright with them, I sat outside wondering what was happening then I saw his mother coming into the compound with firewood on her head and I tried to help her with it.
“No my child don’t worry, its not good for your condition please leave it”, she said to me while dropping it at the door step.
“What brings you to my house today? And you didn’t inform me that you will be coming if nit I would have prepared something for you”, she asked looking at me in a suspicious manner.
“I tried calling you several times but you don’t answer my calls, nit to even return them. Alot has been happening and I need answers so I decided to drive down here”, I said sitting at the pavement gaining my strength.
“What answers are you talking about?” She asked rolling her eyes in a very suspicious way and you could tell she’s hiding something.
“I want you to tell me everything about your son, my husband Frank”, I said to her looking straight into her eyes.
“He is your husband why can’t you ask him?” She said trying to change the topic.
“Ma I will ask again, am here because am husband goes missing everytime and comes back like hasn’t seen food for days or even weeks. Mama if you don’t tell me things I should know, I will first hold you responsible for my husband’s constant disappearance”, I replied her with anger because I needed to know what’s going on in my marriage.
“Okay fine I will confess everything, me sef am tired of pretending”, she said begging me.
“Tell me everything and no lies”, I said to her.
“Frank is not my son, I don’t even know who he is. One day I was going to my farm when I saw him there seated in a white long dress asking me to be his mother for few days so he can be able to marry the girl of his dreams but I refused because I don’t know who he was. Frank begged me and even offered me a huge sum of money just to be his mother for few days till the marriage rites where completed and I accepted. Frank told me not to tell you about this if not there will be consequences”, she said inhaling and exhaling strongly.
“What?”, I was shocked to my bones.
“My child that is what happened, I told my husband about it and he made me accept the offer since we needed the money to settle some bills in the house. I don’t know who frank is and I have never seen such face in this village before am sorry my dear please forgive me”, she almost knelt down begging me but I had to stop her, where I came from it’s a bad thing to left your elder kneel and beg you.
“Mama you killed me, my whole marriage and relationship has been built on lies”, I said while tears rolled down my eyes.
“Am sorry my child”, she begged but her voice went mute as I walked down to my car.
Tears rolled down my eyes repeatedly, I drove out of the compound as she chase after me begging. Why will all this happen to me? My trust for Frank has been broken, the love I have for him has gone into thin air. How can I explain to people or to my family on what is actually going on in my marriage.
Just then Smith came into my mind, and I decided to give him a call. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to hear what he had to say to me but I needed to see him and ask him few questions.
“Hello, Smith I will like to have that talk with you”, I said over the phone.
“Come straight to my house, it’s the best place to talk for now. I will send you the address right away”, he said.
“Alright”, I replied and ended the call.
Few minutes I arrived at the address Smith sent to me, it was am old house like those rich British people who colonized us. The compound has a water fall, garden, and a play ground. I knocked the door but no response, the door sprang open in few seconds after knocking.
I walked into the house and it was beautiful and cozy, I saw lots of old frames of white people and some couples who looked like frank facially.
“You like the place?” Smith asked from behind which startled me.
“Oh my God, you startled me”, I said.
“Sorry”, he said as he chuckled.
“What is this place?” I asked looking curious.
“It’s my family house, this has been the family for generations. I brought you here so you could see facts and not just words”, he said giving me a big photo album.
I sat down holding the photo album, taking my time looking at the phots in it. I saw photos of little children and then their parents, as I move further I saw photo of Frank and smith together holding hands and I was shocked.
“Frank is your truly your brother?” I asked as hot tears rolled down my eyes.
“His name is Mike, Mike Walsh the first of his kind. Our family has held on to the legacy of this house and it was Mike’s turn but he passed away when he was on his way to marry the love of his life Emily. Our parents also died shortly after Mike passed away leaving just me to this big house and so many maids and workers. I paid them off and made them stop working here, since I had no one to share it with”, he said tossing around the living room.
I cried so loud that I could feel my belly ache, I haven’t eaten for a while and I didn’t care, I wasn’t hungry either.
“Am so sorry Jane, Mike has been dead for a long time now, I have heard so much about spirits and people coming back from the dead I never knew it was real”, Smith said.
“God! How do I tell my parents about this? That the man I married is dead man, a ghost and am pregnant for this ghost”, I screamed.
Smith tried to comfort me but I was not having it, I needed to see frank or Mike whatever his name is face to face and asked him why he is doing this to me. I don’t care the consequences but I will face the ghost have been sleeping with, married to and pregnant for.
Smith got into the car with me because he was scared of me facing frank alone, I drove off along side with the photo album. So many questions popping in my head which I really don’t have answers to, if the man I love is dead man maybe I should die with him.
© Tishania Ginikachi
