My Dream Marriage

“What is that?”

I gasp in shock but compose myself when I see Rana standing in the hallway. “It is my picture collection.”

“Can I see it?”

“Not now because I have not finished collecting them. I will show them to you when I am done okay?”

“When is that?” So inquisitive.

“A month or so.” I leave him and enter into the bedroom. I need to keep them away from anyone. I open the drawer under the study table and retrieve the old camera. Now I have three items that I need to keep away although I don’t know what the camera has in it or maybe I am just keeping a useless thing. Where do I keep them? Yeah, the drawers. I keep them back inside the drawer that is in the closet and secure it with a key. That is settled but how can I rest knowing that Grace warned me never to show them to anyone? I don’t know who to ask and I would want to know why there seems to be a big secret behind it.

***

“When is uncle Edward coming back?” Rana asks me as he plays a game on his iPad in our bedroom. “Very soon. You miss him?”

“Yes auntie, he always gives me whatever I want.” That is what all children like about someone, as long as you meet their needs, they become sworn friends to you.

The door opens and in comes Edward. “Come in,” he tells whoever is with him. I look behind him and the devil herself, follows him. How dare she come here? No, why would Edward bring her here?

“Edward, why is she here? What is she doing here?” I stand abruptly and confront him. “Hi Neera,” she waves her filthy fingers at me. “I don’t need it, you can keep your greetings. Edward, answer me now!”

“Since you insist, she is here to keep me company.”

“Company? What do you mean?” He seems to surprise me everytime. “She is my girlfriend. Rana, please leave us for a minute. I will see you downstairs, okay?” He sends him away and that is okay because he needs to deeply explain himself.

“Edward, a girlfriend? I am your wife why would you have a girlfriend? Edward I knew you used to stay with her in your new house and you have never told me anything about it.”

“I never told you because you are not in a position to know about it. So don’t worry about me not telling you.” He shrugs unapologetically. “What do you take me for? Who am I to you Edward, don’t you even have the slightest respect for me?”

“The question should be, who are you to me? Do you think getting married to me gave you the right over me? Not at all, now I had told you to pack and leave this room, what are you still doing here?” He asks. “Why? Because you wanted to bring this whore here? Edward you have been cheating on me? Why Edward, what have I ever done to you?” Tears start forming in my eyes but I blink them away.

“Watch your tongue young lady, don’t you ever call me that,” Valen sneers as she sits on the couch. She seems to be enjoying this drama. “Don’t talk to me, aren’t you even ashamed of yourself? Can’t you find your own husband?” I wonder why an intelligent woman like her can’t find a man for herself other than going after other women’s husband’s.

“Neera, I won’t sit and let you talk to my woman in that manner so, if you know what is good for you, shut up and and leave this room peacefully unless you want me to throw you out.”

“No, Edward I won’t. I am your wife and I won’t let this woman take my place while I am watching. She is leaving right now,” I say walking towards her and try to pull her off the couch. “Don’t you dare lay your filthy fingers on me,” she says moving away from my reach. “Filthy? If I am filthy then who are you? A whore or a slut?” “Neera, you need to stop and leave this, do you really like drama?” Edward asks pulling me away from her.

“Edward, she must leave. Have you forgotten that I am pregnant?” Maybe this will make him go easy on me. “Pregnant? That is the reason I preferred her over you. How dare you cheat on me Neera and even get pregnant for another man?” There we go again.

“Edward, I did not cheat on you and you know that. This is your child and I won’t let you stay away from your responsibility. “How would I know when you used to sneak out of the house and go to see him? Neera, we are done here. You are leaving this room this minute. I don’t want to stay with you any longer. Come with me,” he drags me by my hand to the closet. “Pick up whatever that is yours and leave. I give you five minutes, don’t make me wait too long.”

“Edward no, if you want we can do the DNA then you assign a private doctor. Please, this child is yours, I swear,” I put my palms together in supplication.

“Edward, what is going on here? Oh Valen, you are here,” I can hear Piper’s voice. “Hello Mr and Mrs Lawanson.” Valen greets, I think both of Edward’s parents are here. “You look great, it’s been long since I last saw you. How have you been?” Piper asks her. “Very fine, I missed you.”

I walk out of the closet to go and meet them, maybe if I talk to them they will talk some sense into that thick head of their son. I find Piper disengaging from their hug with Valen.

“Mom, dad, how was your day?” I greet them with a heavy heart. “Neera, what is going on here? You two seem not to stop fighting and causing drama in this house. Why are you always fighting?”

“Mom, it’s Edward. He wants me out of our bedroom.”

“Why Edward, why would you throw your wife out of your room? What has she done this time?” Eric asks. “Dad, you want me to stay in the same room with a cheater? I can’t stand her mom, I don’t want to stay with her and be reminded everytime that she cheated on me when I look at her. I told her to get rid of it but she wants to keep it, you remember the other day I confronted her. So I want her out of this room because I don’t want to stay anywhere close to her.”

“Ask him why he brought Valen here in the first place. Hasn’t he been cheating on me?” I want them to address the main issue here then we can deal with my pregnancy later. She is the outsider.

“That is not the main issue here Neera, I also want to know if you are carrying my grandson or someone else’s child because I don’t want any bastards in my house.” Piper says and I wonder if everyone in this house has the same brain. “This is his child. If you are doubting me then we can do a DNA test to prove it. As you can see I don’t have the capital to bribe anyone. I only want what is good for my child and and I want him to grow with both his parents around him.

“Edward, you can do the test first then you can justify your accusations against her. You can go to the hospital, it’s still early.” Eric is the only sane person here.

“Okay but before then, I still need her out of my room because she is still guilty.” “Edward, can I talk to you for a minute?” Valen asks him and they go to the far end of the room where they talk for a moment before coming back.

“Dad, we are not going to use the facilities in our hospital. We will use a different medical practitioner. So I am going to call him and book a session with the doctor.” So he thinks I am that capable?

“It’s okay Edward as long as you get over with this. I am tired of talking to you over and over again about this matter.” I say.

“Alright then, I am going to make the call and in the meantime, you should be packing and be ready to get out by the time I come back.” He says addressing me. “It’s settled then, I don’t want to hear about that again and I don’t want any fights from you two, you hear me?” Eric asks. “Yes dad.” I say as Edward leaves to make the call and everyone else follows him.

“You should tell me what you do to stay this young,” Valen tells Piper as they leave the room while I remain standing like a forgotten child in a big crowd of people in the middle of the city.

I go back to the closet and take a duffle bag and the first things I take are the three items that are still a mystery to me. I keep them as the first items in the bag and add in clothes to keep off any eye from peeking on them. I choose the clothes that I think could be suitable for me, those that could accommodate me even after a few months. I don’t even know when I’d be able to go baby shopping. I hope after the results come out Edward will become responsible for me and the child. I don’t want to take care of a fatherless child. I wouldn’t imagine a child without his father because I can remember the beautiful memories that I share with my dad and I really want that or more for my child.

More dresses, baggy sweatpants, sandals and t-shirts will do. I feel too sweaty nowadays and I don’t feel comfortable in tight clothes anymore. I think I have enough for now, if I forget anything I will come back since it’s only another room away. I walk out of the room but before I close the door, I look around it and sincerely speaking, this room most of the time has never been enjoyable. I have been sleeping alone most of the time and once in a while have I enjoyed it and I can even count the times, maybe three or four times with Edward. Tears now roll freely down my cheeks and I let them because even if I try to wipe them, I would be only wasting my time.

I close the door and proceed to the other side of the house, away from Edward’s room to a place I can only surrender to my grief without disturbing anyone.

The room is tranquil, with grey curtains that cover the large windows that overlook the city. The bed has grey covers as well, giving the room a calm that sends all wandering thoughts away and replace them with a collected mind that lets anyone relax and surrender to the serenity that it gives. It is not large like my former one but it has the needed space that I need, with a spacious en-suite and a small walk-in closet.

I place my duffel bag down and begin offloading my clothes one by one. I place each one on the hangers on the clothes line and the sandals on the shoe rack. There is a chest of drawers on one side and that is perfect for my mystery items. I will revisit them later after I have settled everything with Edward. I don’t want to mess anything and I want to know the connection between all these people because what Martha told me only made me want to know about them more.

I take out a single photo of my parents and hug it to my chest. I wish my mom was still here, I could have run to her, hugged her and cry my heart out to her. I could have told my father about my grievances and he would have listened to me. We could have hugged and I could have sworn never to come back to this house. I could still have a house, where I could have gone and stay without anyone asking me anything. I wouldn’t have to stay in this prison of a house, but now I have to because I don’t have anywhere to go.