When Mercy Runs Dry

Chapter 10: Ikenna Is Coming

By 4pm, Ikenna came to our compound in Amaka Village.

I was inside, blue gate locked, waiting, heart beating.

Mama said, "Ikenna will come by 4pm, he never fails time, he is teacher."

At 3:55pm, I changed wrapper. I combed my hair. I looked at small mirror — eyes red from crying about Mama secret, but face had small glow because I had 4,000,000 from compensation after land case, plus 2,000,000 from Chief settlement, total 6,000,000 now saved.

Chidi was excited, jumping.

"Aunty, Bros Ikenna is fine! He tall! He teaches English! He will like you!"

Papa in wheelchair was awake under mango tree, smiling small.

At 4pm sharp, knock on new blue gate.

Knock knock.

New gate, first knock since Chief Okafor returned it with 10 bags cement.

Chidi ran to open.

"Bros Ikenna don come!"

Ikenna entered. Tall. Dark. Beard small. Wearing white shirt and jeans ironed well. Carrying small bag with drugs for Papa.

He saw me. I saw him. For 10 seconds, nobody talked.

Four years ago, last time we saw at market, I was crying, saying "Mama forced me to marry Emeka in Abuja, forgive me Ikenna."

He said "Adaeze, I will wait."

I thought he would not wait. Four years is long. Boys in Amaka marry fast, two years after school.

But he waited.

"Adaeze," he said, voice shaking.

"Ikenna," I said.

Mama came out, wrapper.

"Ikenna, you came. Thank you for drug you bring for Papa every week when no one came."

Ikenna knelt for Mama.

"Mama, I bring small drug again for Chief."

He gave Panadol and small blood pressure drug.

Then he looked at Papa in wheelchair.

"Chief Williams, how are you sir?"

Papa raised good hand. He tried to talk, slow.

"I... ken... na... good boy..."

Papa remembered Ikenna name! After 2 years silence after poison, Papa remembered Ikenna!

Ikenna knelt before Papa too.

"Chief, I will take care of Adaeze and Chidi and Mama. If Adaeze agrees."

Everybody looked at me.

Me, Adaeze Williams, divorced soon, daughter of most cheerful man, sister to Chidi, holder of 6,000,000, holder of blue gate key.

Ikenna waited 4 years. He brought drug for Papa every week when nobody came. He teaches in community school, small salary 40,000, but he has good heart bigger than salary.

Should I accept him now? Immediately? After divorce not even final?

Mama whispered, "Adaeze, Ikenna is good man. Better than Emeka. Emeka had car but no heart. Ikenna has heart."

Chidi whispered too, "Aunty, marry Bros Ikenna! He fine! He will buy me school bag!"

I looked at Ikenna.

"Ikenna, why you waited 4 years? Why you did not marry? Many girls in Amaka want teacher husband."

Ikenna said, "Adaeze, 4 years ago you left Amaka crying. You said Mama forced you. I knew it was not your fault. I told myself, if Adaeze ever comes back, if she ever divorces that Abuja man, I will still be here. So I waited. I taught in school, I saved small money, 300,000. I said if Adaeze comes back, I will use 300,000 to start small business with her."

300,000. Small money compared to my 6,000,000. But big heart, bigger than 6,000,000.

I said, "Ikenna, I am now divorced woman. In Amaka, people say divorced woman is nobody. You are teacher, you can marry young girl, not divorced woman. Why me?"

Ikenna came close, held my hand gently.

"Adaeze, you are not nobody. You are woman who fought Chief Okafor and collected land back worth 12 million. You are woman who bought blue gate with lock. You are woman who forgave Mama secret. You are strongest woman in Amaka. I don't want young girl who will run. I want strong woman. I want you."

Tears came again. Today I cried too much. Gate, papers, 6,000,000.

Now Ikenna love.

Mama cried too.

Chidi shouted, "Aunty, say yes! Say yes!"

Papa raised good hand and said, slow but clear, miracle.

"Yes... Adae... ze... yes..."

Papa said yes to Ikenna! After 2 years silence, Papa said yes for Ikenna to marry me!

I laughed and cried same time, tears on wrapper.

"Ikenna, I need time. I need to go to Abuja tomorrow to pack my shop 200,000 hair, to divorce Emeka officially. I need to carry Papa to Enugu hospital therapy 700,000. I need to put Chidi in school. After all that, if you still wait, come and see my Mama with kola and palm wine."

Ikenna smiled, teeth white.

"I will wait again, Adaeze. I waited 4 years, I can wait 4 months more."

He brought out small ring. Not gold, silver small ring, 15,000 naira, in small box.

"I bought this with my 40,000 salary, 2 months saving. For you. If you accept trying, wear it. If not, keep it."

Small silver ring. Emeka never bought me ring in 4 years. He said ring is waste of money.

Ikenna bought small silver ring with 2 months salary.

I collected ring. I wore it. Tight small, but fine, shining under lantern.

"I accept to try, Ikenna. Not marriage now, but trying. Come tomorrow morning 6am, follow me to Abuja? I fear going alone to pack shop, Emeka family may collect my hair again."

Ikenna said, "I will follow you to Abuja. I have never entered plane, but I will follow you with bus, 18,000 ticket, I will pay from my 300,000."

Chidi shouted, "Aunty don get new husband! Bros Ikenna don give ring!"

Mama danced small Azonto in compound.

Papa smiled widest smile since stroke. One side mouth smile, but smile that lit compound.

At 5pm, Ikenna left, promising to come tomorrow 6am for Abuja journey.

Blue gate locked again after he left. Chidi locked, happy, singing.

Night came. We ate rice and meat again, with joy, not sadness.

At 9pm, phone rang. Barrister Uche.

"Adaeze, good news. Your compensation 2,000,000 plus 4,000,000 land money = 6,000,000 confirmed in your Kuda. Keep it safe. Use 700,000 for Enugu later. Remaining 5,300,000 for house and shop."

6,000,000! From broke, no 47,000 drug, to 6,000,000 in 3 days! Because Adaeze fought Chief Okafor.

At 10pm, Emeka called.

"Adaeze, I packed your hair 200,000 goods inside Ghana-Must-Go. Come tomorrow Abuja. I will give you peaceful divorce paper. My family agreed. No shame."

I said, "Thank you, Emeka. I am coming tomorrow with my brother Ikenna."

At 11pm, I sat outside with Chidi, blue gate locked, stars bright in Amaka.

Chidi said, "Aunty, tomorrow you go Abuja, you go come back?"

"Yes, Chidi, I will come back. Amaka is now my home. Abuja was husband house. Amaka is my father house. I will bring my hair business to Owerri. I will open shop in Owerri with Ikenna 300,000 and my 6,000,000, we will sell hair together. Our shop."

Chidi smiled, wearing Papa slippers big.

"Aunty, we get gate, we get 6,000,000, we get Papa talking small, we get land for me, we get new Bros Ikenna. God don do am!"

I hugged Chidi.

"Yes, Chidi, God don do am."

We went inside to sleep. Papa slept smiling. Mama slept holding land papers like Bible. I slept with silver ring Ikenna gave, 15,000 but worth 6,000,000 to me.

Tomorrow, Abuja. Last time to Abuja as Emeka wife. Next time, return as Adaeze Williams, free woman, with Ikenna, with 6,000,000.

And next week, Enugu hospital for Papa. Doctor said with 6,000,000 we can try therapy that may make Papa walk small again.

My name is Adaeze Williams, daughter of most cheerful man in Amaka.

Gate locked. Heart open. Story continues.