The two of them betrayed me, how do I handle this?
Dear Reader,
Today's writer though advanced in years still wants to keep her home and enjoy a blissful companionship with her husband.
A lady she helped out of a difficult situation and who is like a family member wants to take her home and happiness away. She needs your help.
Monica Taiwo.
Dear Taiwo,
You may wonder why at my age I allow issues like what Iam about to narrate to you bother me, but, of course, I am only human and besides, I see the whole issue as betrayal of trust. My husband betrayed me and the lady I helped out, set up and helped to live above poverty level betrayed me by sleeping with my husband and she is gradually sending me out of my matrimonial home. She has destroyed my marriage, a marriage I have built for over 27 years.
It all started about nine years ago. I went to the shop and my husband who is a businessman and politician went to attend one of his political meetings. As I was driving in, I saw a young lady with a baby strapped on her back speaking with the gateman. My first impression was maybe she was a beggar, but a second look at her changed my mind. She had this finesse about her and she looked better than a beggar. I called the gateman to find out what she wanted. The gateman told me that was her fourth visit, and that she wanted to see my husband. I asked him to allow her in and I spoke with her and she told me that she was in a kind of problem and a political associate of my husband asked her to see him as he could help her. I asked her in and made her comfortable. During the few hours she had to wait for my husband, I learnt some things about her. I learnt she was a graduate and married with three kids. The four -months- old baby girl she came with was her third child. In short, she needed financial help. I asked her to wait and see my husband and she did.
When he came, he listened to her but said he couldn’t do anything for her, he dismissed her. I saw she wasn’t happy, I called her back and pleaded with my husband to do whatever he could to help her out, no matter how small. He asked her to come back the following day, she did and he gave her a substantial amount of money to start a business.
Since then, Cecilia, (that’s her name) became a regular visitor in our home. I introduced her to all my children, I have three daughters and they all took her in like a sister.
She also introduced me to her family, I met her mother and husband. In fact, my husband helped her husband to secure some good contracts. When he (Cecilia’s husband) began to misbehave because of the little money he was able to make, my husband and I had to call him, speak with him and call him to order. We were like a family. I stated earlier that I met her mother and other family members, in fact, we became family friends. She was nice to me, and I can say without mincing words that she had a good background and was well brought up. Because of this, I took her like my own daughter and her kids like my grandchildren.
In fact, when my mother died, she stood with me during the burial rites and party more than anybody. Shortly after my mother’s burial, one of my friends, in fact my childhood friend and my best friend, called me to ask about Cecilia and the connection she has with my home. I told her everything she warned me to be very careful as she suspects Cecilia was having an affair with my husband. I told her that couldn’t be possible as Cecilia was happily married with children and lived with her husband. She was not convinced, and when I asked her why, she told me she perceived some moves by Cecilia and my husband during the party and she was not too comfortable. I dismissed her misgivings and forgot about the issue.
Something happened when our youngest daughter was getting married. I noticed that majority of my husband’s friends were relating freely with Cecilia in fact instead of asking me for anything , they would ask her. This situation bothered me though I overlooked it.
Two years after, I travelled overseas on holidays and I asked my cousin to stay and take care of the home because the housemaid I had then was rather young.
When I returned, I learnt some funny things. My cousin told me that Cecilia was a constant visitor to the house, I wasn’t so shocked about that but that she slept over several times in daddy’s room.
I asked my husband but he denied. I called Cecilia and asked her about what I heard, I was shocked at her behaviour because she was so confrontational and she was rude to me. I was so surprised and I had to inform my children. My eldest daughter promised to call her. When she did, Cecilia behaved to her exactly how she did to me. I don’t really know what happened afterwards but my last daughter, told me she called and reported her to her husband. My husband only came home and picked a serious quarrel with me and told me that he would deal ruthlessly with me if Cecilia’s husband threw her out of the house or make any problem with her.
I asked how he got to know, he told me that Cecilia’s husband called him and also reported that my daughters were very rude to him on phone. I called my children and spoke with them to let sleeping dog lie, but instead of solving the problem, it aggravated it, as they were annoyed that their father supported a total stranger against me.
Anyway, that was about two years ago. The new trend now is that Cecilia has finally moved out of her husband’s house, into the apartment rented for her by my husband. I found out about this through one of our drivers. In fact, he took me there although I did not enter, he also showed me the shop he rented for her where she has a big boutique.
I tried to hold my peace but when I could not take it any longer I asked my husband. Of course, it led to a big quarrel at the end of which I had to leave and went to stay with my daughter in Lagos. The most painful thing is that he did not accept or deny that he was having a relationship with Cecilia or that he was the one who got her the apartment.
When my daughters tried to reach Cecilia, the one who got through to her on phone learnt from her that she has just delivered a baby boy for my husband.
My husband and I are not young and I believe this is the time we should sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labour, but Cecilia is invading my peace. I can’t even talk to my husband. He also does not stay at home again. Most of the time he travels, I guess he goes to stays with Cecilia and I have also virtually moved to Lagos with my children.
Please help me. I want peace at my old age, and though it may sound funny, I want my husband back.
Ayodele Aina
Ibadan
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