HIRED WIFE

. you know how children can be and I bet you won’t want to be remembered by Angie as a bad mother… so please reserve some dignity to yourself and don’t push me Sophie” I warned turning to walk out of the room but Sophie threw a pillow at me

” Fuck you Tony!” Sophie shouted in rage

” And you too Sophie!” I retorted and completely walked out of the bedroom.

I went to the kitchen to fix breakfast for everyone and met Tessy already there preparing Marconi and tea for breakfast.

” How was your confrontation with Sophie? and what have you two decided?” Tessy inquired the moment I sat down on the kitchen counter

” She is packing up and would be out of my house in the next two hours… tomorrow we will sign the divorce papers and peacefully get done with this whole facade I called a marriage!” I answered looking at the pot of Marconi on fire

” Oh okay, no problem.. I’m glad everything has been peacefully settled between you two” Tessy said and continued cooking in silence obviously not in the mood to talk further with me.

I know she is still hurt by what I said about her and Sophie being the same in deceit, deep down I regret saying that to her and want to tender an apology but at the moment I am not in the mood to talk to anyone either.

She soon finished cooking and together we set the cooked food on the dinning table and Tessy called the children out of their bedroom for breakfast.

Tessy, Chioma, Angie and I were on the dinning room taking our breakfast when Sophie angrily walked out of the house with her traveling bags without even saying a goodbye or giving Angie a second glance.

We kept eating in silence until Angie spoke up, therefore putting an end to the silence in the dinning room

” I’m really sorry mummy Tessy for what I had said to you this morning… my mummy Sophie came to my bedroom a while ago before I came down for breakfast and said that what she told me about you were only for joke purposes… she also said that she doesn’t want daddy anymore so she is going away to the States and might not be back to Nigeria again this time around!” Angie said with tears already streaming down her eyes while Chiom and I looked at them in silence not wanting to interrupt

” It’s okay Angel, I was never angry with you in the first place.. and don’t worry about mummy Sophie, I am here for you and promise to be your mummy from now henceforth” Tessy replied using her palm to wipe Angie’s tears, since she was sitting the closest to her

” Thanks mummy Tessy.. I know that I will miss mummy Sophie but since you’re here, I believe that as usual I will still be fine without her presence” Angie said and Tessy smiled before saying to her

” That’s my Angel.. so now lets start with you calling me just mummy like before instead of mummy Tessy.. can you go back to doing so?” Tessy asked and Angie nodded now smiling

” Yes mummy..” Angie said and turned to Chiom smiling

” .. you see Chiom, I told you before that we will be sisters”

” Yes you said so the day I first came here with mummy… but uncle Tony can I call you my daddy too?” Chioma asked smiling as she turned to look at me for a reply

” Sure Chiom you can call me daddy afterall you are my daughter too..” I said smiling and turned to look at Tessy

” Tess I’m sorry if I hurt you with my response earlier… please Crystal can we put everything behind us and start afresh without grudges?” I asked hoping that Tessy forgives me

” It’s okay Ton I have forgiven you.. so now lets give a toast to a new beginning!” Tessy said and together we gave a toast and continued eating happily as a family that we now are.

I sat with Tessy watching as the children played and happily ran round the sand of the seashore and I couldn’t help smiling alongside Tessy to join in the children’s happiness.

It’s a Sunday and Tessy had suggested that we go on a family picnic to help cool off and clear our heads of the week’s happenings.

Truly the week has been hectic and filled with activities:

First is; Sophie and I got officially divorced on Friday and fortunately, I was given full custody of our daughter Angie.

Second is; Tessy completely warned Ben off Chioma and herself. We later heard that he went back to the States together with my ex-wife Sophie, and although I don’t know how true the rumor is but God knows that I care less about those two.

That’s why I had wholeheartedly taken Tessy’s suggestion of a family outing and now here we are at a beautiful sea shore enjoying ourselves.

” Daddy! Daddy! Angie is feeling hungry and me too dad” Chiom said running with Angie to meet me and Tessy at where we sat on the sand

It’s beautiful how they both love and look out for each other like biological sisters would.

” Are you two done playing now?” I asked and Angie nodded followed by Chiom

” Alright Chiom sit and relax with daddy.. let me dish the food and also share the fruits and snacks for everybody okay” Tessy answered before I did and stood up to dish the jellof rice and shared the snacks we brought along with us.

After which we sat laughing, gisting and playing together as one happy family before we finally went home.

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**One Year Later**

I sat down on my bed as I reminisce on how far we’ve come and I feel so fulfilled.