Back to grandma

Lara remembered. Tolu had advised her after her wedding to put Mike's name on everything her parents left for her. He would manage it for her since he'd asked her to be a full home wife. 

      And she did, just that.

     She shifted her gaze to Tolu and the latter shrugged triumphantly. She doesn't seem to feel affected by her piercing gaze at all.

      “Fine. Since you already suggested a divorce, you've made it easier than I thought” Mike declared and pulled his slacks on. He strolled to the bedside drawer and pulled out a brown envelope.

    He walked back to stand before Lara and brought the papers out of the envelope, stretching it out to her “Sign it and get the fuck out of my house” 

     Before taking the papers, Lara fixed her gaze on Mike. Just like that, their marriage was ending on the account of infidelity. He'd said he loved her countless times in the past.

    He'd told her she's his life and that he'll love her for the rest of his life. Was he lying back then or he'd forgotten those promises of protecting and supporting her for the rest of his life.

    Can his love for her vanish so quickly, within two years of marriage or it never truly existed? Gosh! She doesn't know what to think or say at that moment. All that mattered was signing the papers and getting the marriage over.

    She took the papers and read through it quickly. It states that they were divorcing on mutual understanding. They both do not own the other any compensation whatsoever.

    Lara sighed softly. He was fully prepared for her. He'd got the divorce paper ready and was just waiting for her to discover their love affairs. Besides, did they stage the sex act, making love with the door open, was it deliberate?

    Lara signed the papers and went to the closet, moving her belongings into her suitcase. By the time she was through, Tolu was done with showering and changing into another dress.

    “I have one confession to make to you,Lara. Mike and I have been together before you got married. He wished he hadn't met you first after we started dating and he promised to make me his wife someday…” she was rattling on but Lara didn't pay her any attention.

     Lara pulled her suitcase and walked out of the bedroom. She approached the door when she saw Sara arrive. The older woman stares at her. Without a word.

      “Lara” Sara called and came over, glanced at her and let her eyes trail to her suitcase. She knows the discovery was shocking and too sudden for the poor Lara,but she cannot help it.

    Mike insisted that he has to make it known somehow. Tolu was threatening him with an abortion and he couldn't afford to lose that pregnancy that was conceived on the bed of love and affection.

    “Have you always known,mother, that your son was involved with another woman? You've always known, right?” Lara asked, her eyes going reddened and her voice shaky.

    Sara nodded. She cannot lie to her, it was of no use. The marriage has ended, she's no longer her daughter in-law. She would say things to the extent that she knows.

     “And yet you kept it away. You didn't caution him about the sanctity of marriage and the sacredness of his vows. You complain about why I haven't been able to give you a grandchild but you have no problem with your son being involved in extra marital affairs? Why, why mother?” Lara asked.

     “Yes,I know I should frown at it, but how can I allow your inability to be pregnant halt my bloodline? Mike is my only child and I Long for a grandchild. If you were in my shoes, wouldn't you do that?” Sara replied, justifying her actions.

     She doesn't have any issue with Lara being her daughter in-law. She cannot as well be unconcerned about not having a grandchild as well. So she had to turn a blind eye to what she knew about her son and his mistress.

     And eventually, it pays off. She's expecting a grandchild already. And Lara still hasn't gotten pregnant.

   Lara shook her head and replied “If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't do that. I won't be a part of what is wrong. I will never succumb to accepting wrongs simply because of the pursuit of a grandchild.

    You know why, I believe that whatever you do to others, will always come back to you. It's called Karma, mother. And it will eventually unveil itself at the end” 

    Lara pulled her suitcase along into her car, thank goodness, she's still got that one in her name because she rides it around when she needs to get groceries and items for the family. That's the only property she's got, with her name on it.

    She slipped behind the wheel and took a last glance at the apartment before driving off. That used to be her home, filled with happiness and excitement,love and a future of happiness ever after when she got married and moved into it with Mike. 

    But that future has melted into oblivion. It was never destined to come into existence. Now, she's returning to her grandma. The old woman will be broken and shattered.

     Her grandma doesn't like Mike from the beginning but chooses to accept him because she told her how much she loved him. Now, that love has faded in his heart and she's left with nothing.

     When she arrived at her Granny's, she parked the car, got her suitcase and stood before her door. Her feet were heavy, her emotions let loose.

     She knocked on the door and she heard her granny's voice saying she was coming over when her tears let loose. She couldn't control it as it cascaded down her cheeks.

    Her grandma opened the door and was surprised to find her granddaughter at the door, her tear filled face and her sad looks and countenance. For some seconds, she didn't say anything nor ask her why she was looking so demoralised.

    She glanced at her suitcase and at her face again. Lara was sobbing profusely and without a word, her grandma pulled her into a hug and brought her into the house. She pulled her suitcase along as well and shut the door behind them.

     “He'd divorced you right, he'd found fault with you and possibly hooked up with another woman, huh?” grandma asked, sitting beside Lara and placing her head on her shoulders.

    Lara nodded amidst tears. She couldn't respond with words. She's broken and shattered. Everything seemed to play afresh in her memory and she sobbed the more, her tears wetting her grandma's shoulders.

     “Cry to relieve yourself, my child. I won't ask you not to cry. Your pains can only be understood by you alone but I'll gladly offer you my shoulders to lean on” grandma stuttered 

    She knew a new phase of Lara's life was about to begin.