Chapter One
Outside a brown metal door, Adjust Black paused and squeezed the sheet of paper in her hands. She took a deep breath, trying to ease the pain of the contractions that had become a regular part of her day. False labour, the doctor had called it. He had told her there was nothing to worry about, that it was normal among pregnant women and didn’t necessarily imply labour. He recommended activities like rest, walking, and drinking water to help relieve the pain. A few minutes into these activities, she found that the pain subsided.
Adjua was glad that the contractions didn’t indicate any actual labour. Whether it was real labour or not, Mensah would hear from her. With barely a knock, she pushed open the door and walked in, not waiting for a response.
“What are you doing?” Mensah said, quickly fastening back the shirt he had been taking off.
The room was dimly lit, as was every room in this hollowed house. She didn’t know why someone who enjoyed the light of day would consent to living in such darkness. But it didn’t matter anymore because she was done. Done with this sham called a marriage. Done with living with a man who made her feel like she was walking on eggshells around him. It had been bearable when she thought him a kind saviour who had rescued her from being homeless and given her unborn children a father after their biological father abandoned them.
But now she saw who he truly was. A manipulative, cold and heartless man. “When were you going to tell me?” Adjua hurled the piece of paper at him.
Other times, she would have been scared. He had been her boss for less than two months before proposing they get married. In name only, he had said, “I just want a mother for my son, and I promised to be a father to your children and provide for you all for the rest of my life.” He had also said. So grateful and desperate, she had said yes to him, not knowing the life he had promised he had planned to take away.
He grabbed the paper from her. After a quick perusal, he fired –“You have no right to go through my things.”
“I have every right” Closing the distance between “Hear me, I have every right. I tiptoed around you all this while because I was grateful that you’d marry a woman like me who was heavily pregnant and with no help.”She chuckled humorlessly. “ I even made excuses for you … that a heart was hidden inside your cold and stiff exterior.”
He folded his arms, anger glittering in his eyes.“I never asked for your gratitude, fear, or faith in me. I married you to mother my child, so do that.” Adjua fought back the urge to throw the first pillow she could lay her hand on his condescending and unapologetic face.
How could he be so callous and unrepentantly stiff despite her discovery? She looked at him for a while. “You know”, Adjua smiled sadly, “You are so pathetic.”
“You will not speak —”
“I will speak to you however I want Mensah Black,” she said with a chilly calmness that shut him up. “What has made you become this way? You emanate such…coldness that you only have to walk into a room, and the warmth is gone.” Adjua bit her lips as another contraction hit. She would not let him see her weak.
After a quick breath, she continued, “Even your son isn’t spared. Do you know that boy runs in the opposite direction the moment he sees you coming?” She pushed back the sympathy that began to rise at the hurt in his eyes. Today, he’ll get a dose of the bitter medicine he gave him. “You’re hurt? No, you shouldn’t be. After all, you’re planning to render him fatherless in a few months by that letter from your oncologist” And leave her a widow with three children, she said silently.
“Stop,” he warned. Adjua could tell his anger was full and desperate to spill, but so was hers.
The contraction came. This time, the pain was more than the last. “Were you ever going to tell me?”
Without giving it contractions, Mensah looked directly into her eyes and said a cold “No.” She couldn’t tell what hurt most, his words or the contraction that followed—almost as if it were a reply to his coldness.
Adjua nodded, tearing her gaze from him because it hurt more to look at him. She had suspected his response, but still … it hurt to hear him say the words. She felt like crying, but she knew if she did, her tears would be more for him than for herself. “Please call the lawyer to begin the annulment process.”
She didn’t know whether to feel surprised or angry at the surprise on his face.“Aduja —” Mensah began, but she intercepted him.
“ —Please, Mr.Black” ” she said, referring to him like she did when she’d been his secretary at his Kente factory. “My mind is made up”
She turned away from him and was grateful he didn’t try to stop her. The moment she touches the doorknob. She heard a never-wrecking scream that she later realised was from her as the contraction hit her. This time, the pain was soul-wrecking, bringing her to her knee.
Chapter Two
Adjua was surprised when Mensah carried her out of the car in his arms, but she was too weak to complain. She focused the little strength she had in appraising the man she’d married. This man intrigued and puzzled her. He had helped and cared for her these past few weeks more than anyone in the thirty years of her existence. The birth of the twins hadn’t been the walk in the park the months of their pregnancy had been. It hadn’t helped that she ignored the contractions —thinking it was the regular ones- until it was too late.
Mensah elbowed the door open, unconsciously pulling her closer to himself. If they had been a normal couple, she would have told him how much she loved how he smelled—she would have even rested her head on his chest. But that was not the case—for they were not a normal couple.
He didn’t say it, but she knew he blamed himself. He blamed himself for her near-death experience in his bedroom that night. The contraction had suddenly come with a force she couldn’t bear. But for the excruciating pain, she remembered nothing else except the gentle voice of Mensah holding her hands, begging that she didn’t die on him as she slipped from one stage of unconsciousness to another. Thankfully, Aunty Tolu, a nurse, had miraculously shown up like an angel. Right there on the floor of Mensah’s room — that was before out of bounds to her, she gave birth to her babies. The bleeding had been so bad that she had passed out by the time the ambulance arrived, and she was rushed to the hospital.
Postpartum haemorrhage, the doctor had called it.
The weeks that ensued after had been a painful flutter of drugs, drips and blood transfusion and all that time, Mensah had been there by her side. There was no time she woke up to find him missing. Adjua remembered during the first days in the hospital when she realised she couldn’t feed her children how he had been there, solid and reassuring as she cried. Weeks later, she was back home with her three children. It’s funny how the dominating unpainted structure of Mensah’s house now felt like home.
Closing the door behind him, Mensah flicked a switch on the wall. At once, the room was flooded with bright white lights. Akua gasped at the sight before her. “What happened here?” She blurted out. Her heart fluttered with excitement. Gone was the hollowness, the dry green wall, cockroach brown chairs, creaking ceiling fan. The room before her… felt homely – looked homely. The walls had been repainted white with yellow panellings that brimmed cheerfully. She raised a pair of curious eyes at him, lost for words.
Mensah let out a slight cough, avoiding eye contact with her. “You didn’t seem to like the way it was. Aunty Tolu was the brain behind the designs, though,” He said casually, as though he had not just turned his life upside down for her. What did these changes mean?
“Thank you” ” she simply responded, unsure what else to say.
“You’re welcome,” he said, carefully lowering her down to the mustard-coloured sofa as though she were an egg. “I… we have a surprise for you,” he added uncomfortably and moved to open the kitchen door.
Immediately, the empty room became filled with the familiar and smiling faces of Aunty Tolu, her husband Uncle Mofe, Adjua’s best friend and—
A little darker-haired boy of eight ran and flung himself with such force at Adjua.
“Bernard!” Adjua caught him. She shook her head as Mensah moved forward – probably noticing the strain in her voice. Let them be happy at this moment.
“I thought you were not going to come back” He sobbed bitterly on her neck.
Chapter Three
As Adjua heard the door press close and Mensah progressed into their room, she shut her eyes tightly. Hopefully, he’ll think she is asleep and soon retire for the night. They had taken to sharing the same room since she returned from the hospital because Aunty Tolu and Uncle Mofe, whom she’d thought were Mensah’s family relations, moved in. How blind she was. How had she missed the difference in their surname? Aunty Tolu and Uncle Mofe were not even Ghaninas, to begin with. How had she missed all the signs?
She had sensed something was wrong with the mood that day. At dinner, the feeling had only intensified. Mensah, Aunty Tolu and Uncle Mofe have been shooting weird glances at themselves all day. She had thought the honeymoon of the two days since she’d returned was finally over. Because Aunty Tolu, who was always chatty and bubbly, was awfully quiet all through. And Uncle Mofe’s, who always asked for a second helping, had barely finished his food. Mensah might have been his usual calm self if she had not occasionally cut him stealing glances at the clock. She had scanned her mind and the events of the past few weeks, wondering what the problem was until they had told her –
“Adjua.” She held her breath, thankful her back was turned to him so he wouldn’t see the tears rolling down her cheeks. She didn’t want to transfer her problems to him more than she already had. He’d done enough already. He had his ailment, and she knew he hadn’t done anything about his health because he’d been busy taking care of her.
He must have bought her ruse because he didn’t call her name again. She heard his footsteps around the room, and then silence prevailed. Adjua’s eyes opened on their own as she felt a calloused hand on her face—wiping her tears. Her eyes opened of their accord, magnetting to Mensah’s honey eyes. Something about the difference in his gaze, the kindness and warmth she recognised in his eyes from their time in the hospital, broke a sob out of her.
“Mensah” Adjua threw herself into his arms. The bravado she had clung onto as she was told the news deserted her, and she wept bitterly and uncontrollably. “I said so many horrible things when I thought he had abandoned us. I remembered days I cursed … how was I to know that he had died … he had loved me .. he had kept his promises,” She managed amidst tears.
***
“Thank you for accommodating Femi’s parents,” Adjua said, breaking the comfortable silence that had ensued as he placed baby Enam to sleep beside her twin sister Haniah in their cradle. Their coming into his life has been nothing short of a blessing.
It had been a week now since they had revealed to Adjua that Femi, the biological father of his twin daughters, had not abandoned her as she had assumed. But had been involved in a ghastly car crash that had taken his life. He knew she still mourned despite the strong front she put up. Her strength so far had opened his eyes. It had made him see that one could mourn without shutting everyone out and being self-destructive — as he did when mourning his first wife and love, Gifty.
“No need.“ Mensah cleared his throat “ No need to thank me, I mean”. Taking his seat by her side. “I’m forever grateful to Aunty Tolu and Uncle Mofe for saving your life.” He was grateful he didn’t have to deal with what would have happened had they not shown up at his door. From that day, they had become a family.“They make great grandparents for our three children, don’t you think?”
He heard her soft intake of breath. “What are you saying?”
Mensah smiled tentatively and took her hands. “I’m saying I want us to work on this family God has given us.”
She looked at him like she was seeing him for the first time.”What about your –?” She broke off as if she couldn’t bring herself to say the word disease.
“I’ve been on some meds…spoke with the doctor while you were in the hospital. He said it won’t be easy, but I stand a chance. I just – “ He found himself afraid to ask this favour of her. Hell, why did he even think she’d settle with someone whose life wasn’t guaranteed?
“What is it?” He almost robotically said nothing until he remembered his personal promise to never lie to her. He couldn’t keep her in the dark anymore.
“The next couple of months won’t be easy if I go through with the surgery. I’ll be annoyingly clumsy and bothersome—cracky even, if I’m honest. I know it’s a selfish thing to ask, but would you… could you stay and fight this with me?” He was not a man giving into emotion, but he felt his eyes glisten with tears.
If he were being honest, he was scared that he wouldn’t make it. He wouldn’t get to see his son’s next birthday or his daughters’ first steps or share these moments with this woman he knew he was already on his way to loving.
She lifted her hands to his unshaven face and wiped the tears that had escaped. “We’ll fight this”
Epilogue
Five Years Later
Adjua couldn’t hold back her tears as she woke up to the lovely faces of her family in the bedroom. She had dozed off in a fit of anger, thinking they had forgotten her birthday.
“Happy Birthday, Mrs.Black,” Mensah grinned, placing a pretty cream and pink cake on the bed.
He kissed her tear-stained face. Enam and Haniah giggled at Bernard’s look of disgust. She knew Bernard was happy at how affectionate Mensah had been over the past few years, but he was at that early teen stage where he pretended to be macho and disgusted by everything.
“Even you two”, Adjua chided playfully as Aunty Tolu and Uncle Mofe swept her in a warm hug.
“Daddy said we should surprise you this time”, Haniah said, giggling as her father tickled and scooped her up.
“Me too” Enam stretched up at Mensah —who couldn’t bring himself to say no to his daughters and also scooped her up.
It was hard to believe this man — who easily carried her twin daughters and showered them with love, was the same unfeeling man she had married. Five years had passed since she decided to stay back and fight with Mensah and thought it had been tough but it had been worth it. He had beat the cancer and returned to them all. And also, true to his words, he had taken Femi’s parents as his.
Aunty Tolu and Uncle Mofe, whom they both now refer to as mom and dad, have since moved to Ghana — on their nudge, to be closer to the family – Femi had been their only child.
“Can we cut the cake?” Everyone chuckled at Bernard’s impatience.
“Yes, son, but first… Gather around everyone,” Mom clapped her hands. When everyone was circled around Adjua, she continued, “Now let us sing to the birthday girl” Mom said.
“No,” Adjua giggled, covering her face as her family began to sing what she considered a heartfelt birthday song—despite the few off-key moments.
“Daddy, will the baby hear us sing?” Enam looked expectantly at Mensah.
He paused for a bit, eyes squinting on Adjua’s pregnant belly. “Here,” he gently placed the twins on the bed. “Let me find out,” he inched closer, making Adjua’s heart miss a bit. He then placed his head on her belly, only moving away when she felt the baby kick. He must have felt it, too, because he smiled and winked at Enam. Yes, the babies hear us.”
“What…Babies?” Adjua stumbled on her words, blushing wildly. “I’m not pregnant with twins. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“Yes, I do”, Mensah grinned, sitting beside her. The girls crawled up on his lap.
“Yes, mom. Listen to Daddy. He knows everything ” At the “everything”, Enam made a wide circle in the air to emphasise his point.
They all laughed at Mensah’s look of pride at his daughter’s glowing compliment.” My daughter has spoken,” he said, Turning to Mom, Dad, and Bernard, who had also gotten comfortable on the bed.“Who else wants another twin?” he asked.
At those words, Adjua watched as all her family began talking all at once. Each signifying their acceptance and role in the life of the new twins when they arrive.
“For orphans, we’ve done pretty well for ourselves, don’t you think?” Mensah whispered while the others were distracted.
Adjua looked into his eyes, drinking in the sight of the happiness— that had overtaken the dark clouds in them. She smiled, pecking him on the cheek. “Yes, we have”
