A week later, Natachinyem returned in the company of a furious Oyibo. Within hours of their return, Obichi walked in with her three months old baby. On their arrival as had now become a pattern, Nwamaka retired to her room. Euna had already prepared and was waiting for whatever was to come.
As soon as Obichi arrived, Oyibo wasted no time in going straight to the point. She summoned everyone into the sitting room.

"Mama, what am I hearing about Nwamaka?" she asked.

"How would I know what you heard about her? I am not a mind reader," she replied, simply.

"You are just prevaricating and you know it.
Nwamaka" Oyibo called, turning to Nwamaka who was hulddled in a seat with tears streaming down her face.
"What have you done to yourself? So this is how you repaid Grandma for all the sleepless nights she had trying to raise you?" she asked angrily.

"Sister Oyibo...." she began.

"Shut up. Let me....".

"Oyibo, leave her alone. If you have anything to say, say it to me. Leave her alone," Euna cut in.

"Does that suggest that you are in support of her action?" Obichi asked, surprised.

"Didn't I tell you she engineered this whole thing?" Natachinyem put in.

"Let no one bother Nwamaka. She is my daughter and I take every responsibility for her."

Oyibo could no longer hold herself.

"When did that begin? After grandma's toils?" she flashed. Euna turned from her and refused to answer.

"Who is the father of your baby?" she sked Nwamaka. "Be prepared to go to him because I won't encourage your bearing a bastard here"

After several hours of arguing, laying blames and accusations, there was still no solution to the problem.
Finally, Euna took a stand.

"Say what you like but my decision in this matter is final," she said.

"And what is your decision?" Oyibo asked.

"Nwamaka is going to have this child here and I am going to raise him right here," she answered with a note of finality.

"Impossible. That is not done. Whom do you want to bring this shame upon? A Christian mother whose daughter is a nun? God forbid!"

"Oh, so you haven't even heard?" Natachinyem said. Oyibo and Obichi turned towards her.

"Heard what?" they chorused.

"She has been ostracised by the C.W.O. for insulting the parish priest," she informed them.

"Good God!" Oyibo exclaimed.

"I heard she subjected him to the greatest of all insults that one can never imagine before asking him out of here," Natachinyem told them.

Oyibo was too shocked for words. She sat staring at her mother in utter disbelief.

"You, Natachi, good for nothing fool! The only good you can do to yourself is to dine with those who hate me. Don't worry, when I am ready for you, I will definitely clip your wings, you will see," Euna said to Natachinyem

Oyibo was silent and in thought. Then turning to Nwamaka she asked.

"Who is the father of your baby?"
Uncontrollable tears rolled down Nwamaka's face but she made no reply.

"Nwamaka don't listen to any of them. Stop crying, I am solidly behind you. If Ezekwe has put you all up to this, both you and him have failed," Euna said.

"I am so ashamed of having you as a mother," Oyibo said slowly. "But mother, why do you enjoy causing people pain? What joy do you derive from chaos and confusion? Just look at this, what took Grandma thirteen years to build, you have destroyed within months? Mother, what is your problem?" she
asked helplessly, almost in tears.
Euna merely turned away ignoring her.

"As for you Nwamaka...." she continued.

"Sister Oyibo, please don't say anything"
Nwamaka interjected, prostrating before her in tears.
"Please don't say anything, Just find a place in your heart to forgive me," she pleaded.

"Get up. Let her do her worse," Euna said, dragging Nwamaka from her prostrate position. "Don't beg any of them, you have done nothing to warrant that."

"Mother, you are biting more than you can chew. You will soon realise that. You have remained adamant to all efforts to make you think reasonably. When you finally realise your mistakes, don't call me for anything." Obichi told her.

"You are married, isn't it? Go to your husband's house. I am in my own husband's house." Euna curtly replied

"If you had any conscience at all, you would cringe to mention the name of that husband of yours whom you pushed to an early grave." Oyibo said to her.

Euna was startled.

"You think I don't know, I was awake that night and I heard everything. You destroyed him and now you have turned to Amaka, trying to destroy her too."

Euna quietly sat down not saying a word.

"I am leaving her for you since she was foolish enough to listen to you. You can have her for keeps but never you ever send for me or write to me or visit me. It is all over between us" Oyibo told her.

Euna did not mind. In fact she supported her decision as this would save her from further recrimination. They had talked far into the night and early the next morning Oyibo and Obichi left for their respective homes, vowing never to come back.

The whole drama had left Nwamaka drained and inconsolable. She adored her sister Oyibo and hated making her sad. Immediately she realised Oyibo was against her action, she lost all interest in the plan and regret set in. Noticing this, Euna tried to cheer her up but could not succeed.

Thanks for reading! Check my blog often for subsequent chapters.

LINKS:

• INTRODUCTION
• CHAPTER 1
• CHAPTER 2
• CHAPTER 3
• CHAPTER 4
• CHAPTER 5
• CHAPTER 6
• CHAPTER 7
• CHAPTER 8
• CHAPTER 9
• CHAPTER 10
• CHAPTER 11
• CHAPTER 12
• CHAPTER 13
• CHAPTER 14
• CHAPTER 15
• CHAPTER 16
• CHAPTER 17
• CHAPTER 18
• CHAPTER 19
• CHAPTER 20
• CHAPTER 21
• CHAPTER 22