DIARY OF A TORMENTED HUSBAND

Episode 37

It’s been a few days since Tasha told the children about the divorce. It hasn’t been easy on any of us but life must go on. Life without Tasha is not the same.
The wounds she has inflicted on the inside are so deep words can’t even begin to decipher the ache in my heart. That woman was everything to me, when I married her I was the happiest man on earth I was so excited, it felt like I had won myself a jackpot. And when we had our girls, I was content I always thought we would grow old together but look at us now.
Isn’t it funny how life can change in the blink of an eye? What we love, our happiness and security can all be taken away and one word “DIVORCE” can change everything.
When you marry someone, you build your life around them & even though you know that things are not moving as good as you would want them to, you hold on so tight and hope that they eventually turn around. And then one day they walk up to you and ask for a divorce because you are no longer what they need to be happy, “How the hell did we get here?”
Anyway, I am sitting in the living room on the couch looking at a photo Album of Tasha’s which contains several pictures of our family, she left the photo album for the girls so they can look back at their lives.
There is a bright smile on my face as I stumble on our wedding photos. In those photos, Tasha looks happy and content. She was wearing a simple mermaid gown but she looked gorgeous.
Lord, what happened to us? I wonder, for a moment there I squeeze my eyes shut and think about all the good times we shared especially in the early years of our marriage.
“You have to let go,” a voice says in my head.
“I know,” I respond before I open my eyes and fix my gaze back on the photo album.
I hope that man loves her as much as I do i hope he makes her smile and I really- really hope he is worth it. It is about 20 minutes later when a knock comes at my door. I walk to the door and open it, to find a delivery man standing on my door step.
“Fred Sakala?” he asks
“Yes.”
“I have a parcel for you.”
“Okay.”
“You just have to sign for it,” he says handing me a pen and showing me where to sign. After that he hands me a big manila envelope and says, “You have a nice day Mr. Sakala.” and he walks off.
I close the door, walk back to the couch and sit down. I open the envelope, I go through the contents and what I discover makes me sick to my stomach, there is a white paper with the words, “Petition for Divorce” written in block letters followed by Tasha’s formal signature.
So this happening? I grip on the paper tightly as betrayal and hurt stings deeply within me. Tasha is seriously divorcing me, I thought she would wait a little longer but it seems she is in a rush to marry her new lover.
I quickly read through the rest of the paper and neatly swerve the pen along the line next to my name. Staring at my signature for a moment, I would do anything to save my marriage but it’s done & I just have to accept things as they are.
*****
Standing in front of the mirror I eyes myself critically in the mirror, my dress is elegant and sexy, the makeup is on point and my hair looks amazing. “I am a beautiful woman, any man would be blessed to have me as his wife, I am a keeper, I am the favour,” I say these words to myself over and over again.
Satisfied with myself, I walk away from the mirror then I grab my car keys and purse.
I walk out of the house and get into my car I throw my handbag into the passenger side and drive off. I am in high spirits as I drive towards Fred’s house, since Tasha moved out and she is pursuing a divorce, I figured this was the right time for me to have Fred all to myself, he is hurting and I know men heal by having sex with someone else, I will offer him this and more, Fred is the man for me, I am certain now more than ever. sexy mermaid wedding dresses
I will make Fred comfortable and then I will seduce him, after he has a piece of me, there will be no turning back.
I get to Fred’s house an hour later and pull up in his driveway, stepping out of my car, I head for the front door, I knock twice and wait, the door is opened a minute later by Prisca, Tasha’s friend.
Prisca and I lock eyes, we hold the gaze for what seems like forever before she breaks it and smiles at me, “Hey,” she says
“Hello, is Fred in?”
“Yes,” she steps aside and allows me to enter.
“What is it about this woman?” There is something about this woman that doesn’t ring true and it seriously gives me the creeps. When I enter the living room, I find Fred and Patrick playing cards. I didn’t expect to find Patrick here, he called in the morning and asked if we could spend the afternoon together but I told him I would be held up.
“Babe,” he says
I manage a weak smile, “Hey,” I walk over to him and lightly kiss his lips.
“I thought you had a busy afternoon,” he shots me a questioning look.
“Ya, I had a lunch date with a friend but she canceled so I thought I would come over and cheer Fred up.”
“I see,” he responds.
“Hey buddy,” Fred greets
“Hey you. How are you?”
“I am trying.”
“Okay, “I sit down next to Patrick and Prisca joins us a little later. “Lunch will be served soon,” she announces.
“Thanks,” Patrick responds
They continue playing cards while talking about random stuff though Fred isn’t talking much, the divorce issue is still affecting him, I really wanted this afternoon to be just about me and him.
“Isn’t she your wife’s friend? What is she doing here?” I ask when Prisca walks back to the kitchen.
“Yes, she is Tasha’s friend, to be honest with you I don’t know why she is here but if you ask me, she is here for the same reason as you.”
My heart slams hard against my chest, “Which is?”
“To sympathize with me.”
“Oh.”
“I don’t think she should be here?” I say
“Why?” Prisca shoots in, I didn’t even notice she was standing on the door way.
“You are Tasha’s friend, you probably knew she was cheating and now you are here being sympathetic towards friend, what really is your motive?”
She laughs, “Tasha is my friend but I am not happy with what she did, I am only here to help Fred get by,” she snaps
“I know your type,” I respond
“And what is my type?”
“I want everyone out of my house,” Fred yells before I can respond
He catches everyone off guard.
“I don’t need your sympathy, just leave my house already,” he says
Patrick stands, “Babe I think you should leave,” he says
“Yes leave,” Prisca says
“You too,” he points at her and I burst out laughing.
“Leave!”
“Fine,” I shake my head and walk towards the door, Prisca grabs her bag too and walks behind me.
I head straight to my car and just before I get in, she grabs my hand and I turn around.
“Fred is my Best friend’s husband, I know they are going through a rough patch right now but he will forgive her soon because he loves her so back off,” she warns
I am about to respond when my phone rings, I pull my hand from hers and get into my car.
“I am watching you,” she says before she marches off.
“Hello?”
“Auntie I have been waiting,” Fatima says, her voice is impatient.
“I told you I will sort you out soon.”
“This wasn’t part of our agreement, you promised to pay as soon as I accomplished my mission.”
“But you pulled out.”
“A deal is a deal, pay me my money or I tell Fred you sent me to his house to work as a maid so I could spy on him and his wife.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Watch me.”
“Ba Fatty, you are threatening me?”
“Auntie just send me my money, I have bills to pay,” she hangs up before I can say else. That girl is stupid, she will regret threatening me, for peace’s sake, I will settle her I don’t want her to ruin the only chance I have to be with friend.
***

Episode 38

I am sitting in the doctor’s office awaiting my pregnancy results, I haven’t been feeling too fine the past few days, I have the same symptoms I had when I was pregnant with Sofia, I just want to be sure if I am really pregnant, my husband and I talked about having a boy, I am sure he would be thrilled to know I am expecting.
Speaking of my husband, I miss him terribly I have been away from home for some weeks now my vacation is almost done so I should be heading back home in a day or two.
“Your results are ready and they are positive, congratulations you are two pregnant,” the doctor says when she finally walks in.
My heart skips a beat and a huge smile instantly plays on my lips, “This is wonderful news.”
“Yes it is.”
The doctor and I discuss a few things before I finally leave and drive back home, I am tempted to call my husband but this news is too amazing to be shared via the phone, I am heading back home tonight. I want to surprise him.
As soon as o get home, a book a flight and start packing my things, I am not really sure how I should break the news to him but I want it to be special, something he will always look back at.
“What’s going on?” My cousin Faith asks
I smile, “I am going back home, I miss my husband.”
She rolls her eyes, “I thought you were leaving in two days time.”
“Actually I am pregnant and I can’t wait to break the news to Kai.”
“Awwww!” she screams in excitement.
“I know right.”
“Congratulations sister, I hope it’s a boy.”
“I hope so too.”
“Let me freshen up so I can drive you and Sofia to the airport.”
“Sure.”
******
I rise from the chair and run to the bathroom and throw up, I can hardly breathe as I retch continuously even when my stomach is empty.
Tears stream down my cheeks as the sour smell of vomit fills in the room. This is like the fifth time I am throwing up in one hour, I feel sick and weak as if I have malaria.
I don’t understand what’s happening to me, i have been experiencing constant vomiting and diarrhoea for the past two days, I never experienced these kind of symptoms when I was pregnant with my first two kids, why is this one so different? I am constantly drinking fluids so I don’t completely become weak.
When I finally walk back into the living room, Kai hands me some water.
“Take this,” he says
“Thank you,” I smile at him. He such a gentleman, I fall in love with him every single day. I think Kai is my soul mate because I can connect with him in more ways than I did with Fred.
Speaking of Fred, he signed the papers I sent to him, I am glad he didn’t fight this, Fred is a great man, I know he will find someone who loves him for who he is.
I can’t wait for our divorce to be finalized so that I can start my life again with Kai.
“How are you feeling?” he asks
“Weak and nauseous.”
“It will get better with time.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so.”
I smile, “I love you.”
His phone rings before he responds, he picks it up and stares at it for a moment, “I have to take this call.”
“Sure.”
------------
“Time is running out,” I said to the person on the other end of the line.
“That’s why I called.”
“I am all ears.”
“Have you been giving her the water I gave you?” she asks
“Yes, give her more of the water tonight, it will make her sick, you will drive her to the usual clinic and then we stick to the rest of the plan. I am tired of playing hide and seek, it’s about time Tasha gets to meet her rival.”
I sigh in relief, “Finally, I can get my life back on track.”
“And I can marry the love of my life, you are a life saver brother, I shall forever be indebted to you.”
“You know I would do anything for you right?”
“I know.”
“I took the risk for you.”
“I am grateful, I owe you one,” she says before she ends the call.
-------------
“Home sweet Home,” I exclaim as I throw myself on the couch while Sofia runs upstairs to her room, she obviously missed her toys. I called my sister Trish when we landed and she drove us home.
She said she is meeting someone for some drinks so she couldn’t enter the house, my sister is dramatic can you imagine she charged me for the ride she said something about fuel being expensive. I have never seen someone who loves money as much as she does.
The house looks clean and tidy but although the floor needs to be swept and the furniture encased with a deep layer of dust needs cleaning. This will have to wait until a little later.
I walk into the bedroom and set my bag on the bed then I look around the room and realise that it looks exactly as I left it, it doesn’t look like someone slept in it.
There are no dirty clothes scattered on the floor and the laundry basket is empty, I walk to his closet and search through it, some clothes are missing and when I look around, I realise that one of the suitcases is missing.
What the hell is going on? Where is Kai? Did he travel? I wonder, I talked to him just last night and he said he was home. A sinking feeling tags at the pit of my stomach as a mixture of thoughts & questions fill my mind.
I pick up my phone and call Kai, his phone goes unanswered so I try his office number and listen with worry to perpetual ringing. When I finally get off the bed, I head to the bathroom for a quick shower, after that, I walk into the kitchen to prepare something to eat for Sofia.
Speaking of Sofia, she hasn’t come out of her room since we got back I walk into her room and find her sleeping she has her arms wrapped around her favourite teddy bear, this little girl always melts my heart, I take a quick photo of her and head back to my cooking.
I spend the rest of the day cleaning up and moving a few things in the living room. By 9 pm, I am surprised that Kai hasn’t called me back so I pick my phone and decide to call him again.
“Baby!” He answers
“I have been trying to call you,” I say
“I saw your missed calls, I was just a little held up. I just got home from work, I was actually about to call you.”
“You are home?” I ask
“Yes and the house is boring without you, I miss you terribly.”
For a moment there I am a little confused, what does he mean he is home? Which home is he talking about?
“Kai,” I hear a voice on the other side of the line.
“Who is that?”
“Kai!” it comes out more like a scream and the line drops dead at the moment. I stare at my phone for a second, wondering what just happened.

To be continued