Pearl was finally relocating back to Lagos after moving in with her parents two years ago after her divorce got finalized. Even though Fred had left the house to her, Harmony and her parents advised that she moved back home when the pandemic hit. They feared that she would sink into a deeper depression than she was already in. Not minding her mental state, Pearl’s parents made sure to express their disappointment towards her, for not only returning back home a single woman, but for also being the reason why her marriage didn’t work out. Not to forget that it is also because of her, that a mother was mourning the relationship between her two sons, who were now sworn enemies.

She colored her mother dramatic but took awareness that she had burned a lot of bridges that needed amending – her relationship with her former in-laws, Fred and even their mutual friends, some of which subtly cut her off expressing loyalty to Fred. Others stopped inviting her to events. The message was clear enough. But Pearl, only cared to extend an olive branch to Fred’s mother.

It’s been three years since her separation from Fred and two since the divorce. Yet, her mother still instructed her to send peace offerings to her ex-in-laws every Christmas holiday. It was an exhausting ritual. It made her seem as if she were begging for Fred to take her back. Each time, his mother would assure Pearl that she still loved her as a daughter and would talk to “her husband” on her behalf. After year two, she’d accepted my fate as he never picked up her calls or responded to the numerous messages she left on his WhatsApp. And now that he was in a serious relationship, she just wasn’t going to be that ex. 

The one time Pearl spoke to a therapist, he advised her to cut all ties with her in-laws if she wanted to close that chapter of my life finally- that was the plan. But first, she had to deliver the fabrics and gold jewelry her mother had packed in her luggage.

“Can you take me to go give those gifts to Fred’s mum? Please.” Pearl placed her palms together towards her sister, Harmony as she escorted her to her car.

She turned sporadically and shook her head.  “Absolutely not. You can take any of the cars left but I’m not going with you.” 

“I can’t drive from V.I to Egbeda without a driver’s license?”

“Then call an Uber please. It’s too awkward. What if Fred’s there, Banji even…” her eyes widened as she called out more scenarios, “or even his girlfriend. Imagine all of them being there too. God forbid.”

A sense of nervousness crept up on Pearl at the possibility of seeing Fred. What if he storms out angrily or ignores my entire existence? What if he throws me out? She thought. Although he wasn’t a vicious person, his ignorance towards her over the years was enough proof that he wanted nothing to do with her. 

“You know what? It doesn’t even matter. I’d be in and out of there in ten minutes, tops.”

***

Pearl sat in the cold parlor, as she waited for her ex- mother-in-law as the maid told her to.

Thirty minutes had gone by before Fred’s mother shut her bedroom door and made it down the stairs. Each slipper slapped against the tiles timely, and her bulky gold bangles slammed against each other as Mrs. Fakomi adjusted her over-starched bubu announcing her presence to her visitor. 

Pearl startled and stood up as she watched her entrance. Her expressionless face turned into a surprisingly wide smile. She reciprocated. “Good afternoon Mummy.” She said as she prostrated, nearly reaching the ground before getting pulled back up. She sat at her signal.

The woman sat cross-legged as they held each other’s stare, waiting for the other to speak. Pearl was determined to leave as soon as she could so she took up the responsibility and reached for the box of jewelry and bag of fabrics that her mother had packaged for her. “It’s so good to see you Ma. I just thought it would be appropriate to visit since I’ve relocated back to Lagos and I haven’t been able to see you in person since.” She smiled and took it from her, placing it on the side table.

“God bless you. Thank you. Your mother was telling me about your plans to move back. I think it’s a good one. Congratulations.”

“Thank you Ma.”

Pearl reached for her phone to order a ride home before bombarded with unwarranted questions that should be of no concern to a normal ex-mother-in-law. 

“Lanre bring that wine and two glasses for me!” She yelled out to the help, ignoring all of Pearl’s declines. The help drew a side table to Pearl’s feet before more words dropped from Mrs. Fakomi’s lips.

“You have to drink something at least. It’s a thing to be glad about - that we can even sit down and be on speaking terms after everything that transpired. It’s not every mother that’ll allow you to still come around after two of her children were put against each other, you understand?”

Pearl canceled her Uber request as the art of guilt tripping had won again. She gnashed her teeth slightly and nodded affirmatively.

“And like I’ve expressed before Ma, I’m very grateful that you have still shown me love. There’s not a day that goes by that I do not regret my actions.”

“It is well. You’re a good girl.” That gave Pearl more validation that she wanted it to. She smiled and relaxed more into the chair as Fred’s mum went on.

“And we even thank God for the spirit of forgiveness. Even Fredrick and Olubanji are now in a better place. No one prays for their children to be in such a situation. Everybody has moved on.” She said as she tapped her visitor’s arm reassuringly.

“I’m honestly so glad to hear that because I’m just at the point in my life where I want to move on and just focus on being happy within myself and my family.”

The pair spoke more about Pearl’s plans in Lagos and the renovations she had pending for what used to be her and Fred’s matrimonial home. They laughed over some wine and Pearl received unsolicited advice on how to attract a man after a divorce, of which she would take none into consideration. 

“You know Fredrick says he wants to marry this young lady…What’s that her name?” she taps her head lightly, hoping for a name to pop up.

Pearl tilted her head in confusion. The normalcy at which that information was given made her question what reaction was appropriate for her to give. It reminded her that this particular setting was far from normal. 

“He has even bought her ring. I don’t really know the boy’s plans jare.” She hissed as though tired of hearing the affairs of her children after many failures.

Even though Pearl had no plans to try and get back with her ex-husband, a part of her was upset at the fact that he loved someone else enough to remarry. She was only now getting her life back and Fred had skipped several levels. And had God created Nigerian mothers with any form of sensitivity and discretion? 

She said nothing and looked at her watch. She reached out to her phone to check the time to make it more obvious.

“You have somewhere to be?” The woman said concerned.

“Yes actually. My sister and I have dinner with some friends later on and I need to beat this traffic.”

“That’s true. Egbeda to V.I is no joke. But if you can wait a bit, Fredrick is on his way to bring me something. Then you both can go back to that side together.” She suggested.

Absolutely not, Pearl thought to herself. “I can’t wait Mummy. Thank you.”

...

*An excerpt from my short story, ‘No Matrimony.’ *

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