Must Read: As Deep As The Sea

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: As Deep As The Sea

She swallowed hard and tried to steady her trembling body. She had fallen in love with him and she knew how much he loved her, but, she had not expected him to propose so soon. Was he really serious?


‘God is this really happening?’
“Promise will you marry me?” He went down on one knee and brought out a golden ring from his pocket.
Her heart melted when she saw the ring. She glanced back at him and nodded several times.
“Yes, Gbenga. I would love to spend the rest of my life with you.”
He rose and swept her off her feet.


********


Osagie and his family sat outside the house eating roasted corn and boiled pear.


Prince and Gift had returned home that weekend for the August/September holiday. Their school had just rounded up another session.



“Have you guys picked a date yet?” Gift smiled at her sister. She was glad that Promise was settling down. She would move into her room once she was out of the house. She had always envied her sister’s large bedroom.

“We will pick a date once I have visited his mother and siblings,” she smiled back at her.
“I heard they don’t live in Lagos,” Prince refilled his glass with Five Alive juice.


Promise nodded, “His mum lives in Abuja and his younger brothers live in Port Harcourt.”
“Wow!” Gift shook her head. She wished she was the one travelling all over the country.
“We are going to see Mrs. Lewis next weekend and visit his brothers the upper weekend.”
Blessing nodded in agreement, “The sooner the better.”


“Darling, do we have any leftover roasted corn?” Osagie winked at his wife.
“I think so,” she got up and pulled Promise along. They both headed into the house.


“My first daughter is getting married, I am so happy.”
“Thanks mum,” she followed her into the kitchen.



Blessing placed a bowl of roasted corn on the table and faced her daughter.
“Have you both discussed everything in your past, present and what you want in your future?”
She shrugged.
“What is that supposed to mean?” She eyed her.


“I know all his dirty little secrets mum, take a chill pill,” she chuckled.
“I see. It is necessary and important that you both bear your hearts before you tie the knot.”
“Really?” She drew out a stool and sat down.



There was no stopping her mother whenever she wanted to trash out whatever she considered an issue.


“Yes. Whoever you want to marry must be given an opportunity to accept your past, present and future or reject it.”


Her brows knotted in a frown, “Reject it?”
Blessing sat on one of the stools in the kitchen.


“Listen my dear. Regardless of how good or bad you are, whatever the kind of past you must have had, no matter the kind of future you have imagined, whoever wants to marry you must accept you hook, line and sinker.”


“Or reject you?”
“Exactly.”


Beads of sweat broke out all over her face. She had not thought of it before.



“Whoever cannot accept your past and align with your future isn’t ready to spend the rest of his life with you? It will never work.”



Promise shifted her gaze. She told Gbenga about every relationship she had gotten into, but, she didn’t really expand details about her affair with Keshinro. Does it matter?


She noticed her daughter’s worried expression, “Whatever is kept in secret will eventually come out. Many marriages have broken down because one or both partners hid things from each other. It is better to be rejected now, than when you are already married.”



Promise folded her arms acros her b0s0m. She knew that the divorce rate all over the world had increased. She had also heard of couples living like intimate strangers due to one misunderstanding or the other. She doesn’t want to have a broken home. Isn’t a broken relationship better than a broken marriage?



Gift strolled into the kitchen, “Dad wants his corn.”



Her mother pointed at the bowl of roasted corn on the table. She picked it up and glanced at them. She had a feeling they were discussing something very important.


The moment Gift was out of ear shot, Blessing turned to her eldest daughter.



“Not everybody will accept your past, but, there is always someone out there who will accept you for who you are, no matter where you are coming.”



Promise exhaled loudly. She wondered if Gbenga was that kind of person. What if he wasn’t? Her heart missed a beat. No wonder so many people do not tell their partner about their past. It was difficult to discern whether the person would accept or reject one. It was a painful risk to take, but, it was worth it.



“Thank you mum.”
Blessing smiled, “You are welcome dear. I am always here whenever you want to talk.”
“Okay mum.”


They locked gazes.


“Can I hug you?”
She stared back at her daughter in surprise, “Yes baby,” her voice thickened with emotion.


They both got to their feet and embraced.


Promise felt relaxed. It had been a while since she had hugged her mother. She needed to do it more often.


Blessing felt a tear drop sliding down her face.



She couldn’t remember the last time she hugged her daughter. She had felt closer to her while they chatted. She had longed for Promise’s trust. She hoped she would gain it soon. One day in the nearest future, her daughter would confide in her. These thought filled her with joy.