It was a regular day, and Nina was meeting an old friend for lunch. She had not seen him in about ten years, but they had been in communication via telephone and social media. The last time she saw him, she had been going through a divorce, and his marriage was on the verge of a breakup. She knew it had eventually ended as hers had but she didn’t know what he was up to. Was he remarried, or perhaps seeing someone? She had no idea as he never talked about that aspect of his life and she never asked. Their conversations had been few and far between in the last decade, and when they occurred, they were to talk about how one could help the other.
This lunch meeting had been set up because Nina needed his help. She was interested in renting one of his properties. When she had initially contacted him to discuss it a few weeks ago, he informed her he was out of the country and would call her when he returned. He did, and they arranged to meet up for lunch. As she entered the restaurant, he rose to greet her.
Nina immediately had a flashback to another time, actually, the first time she had met Chris. It was 17 years ago, and neither of them had been married. A mutual friend had introduced them because he thought they would make a good pair. And at first, it seemed that way. Their first meeting had been magical, love at first sight but then for whatever reasons, the other meetings that followed were a real nightmare, all they ever did was fight, and it soon became clear to them and those who watched them from the sidelines that they had no future together. So, without saying anything about it, they just drifted apart, he got married and so did Nina, but then neither of their marriages worked out.
“Hey, Nina.” Chris smiled and embraced her as she reached the table where he was. “Please, sit down.”
“Thank you, Chris.” Nina sat down beaming. “You look well.”
He smiled his thanks. “So do you.” He looked her over. “It’s good to be able to see you again finally.”
They spent the next few minutes exchanging pleasantries and then they ordered their food. As they ate, Chris mentioned that he had asked her to meet him up because he wanted to discuss something important. Nina raised an eyebrow. What could he possibly want to discuss with her? She wondered. She had been under the impression that this meeting was all about her wanting to rent his property for her business.
“So, what would like to discuss with me?” Nina asked.
Without much ado, he began to speak. He had been married to his first wife for several years without a child, and when the marriage ended, he was so frustrated and desperate to have a child that he got four girls pregnant at the same time. Nina’s eyes widened in shock even as she gave thanks silently that she hadn’t been trying to swallow at the time; she might have choked on it. He went on to say that unfortunately, none of the girls had a baby. Two aborted their pregnancies, a third miscarried hers and Nina didn’t hear what happened to the fourth. And then he decided to remarry. Now he was remarried, but his wife had complications, he had taken her to many experts, and they all said she couldn’t have children.
“Oh Chris, I am so sorry to hear that.” Nina’s voice was just above a whisper. He must feel devasted.
He sighed and smiled. “What happened to us, Nina?” He asked momentarily changing the subject.
Nina gulped. She didn’t like the way he was looking at her. He was now remarried, what did it matter what happened to them?
“It’s all water under the bridge now, Chris.” She responded with a smile. “It was not meant to be.”
“You know sometimes I think of you, and I feel like the man who made his girlfriend his wife and his wife his girlfriend.” He had a trace of sadness in his eyes.
Nina began to think that coming out to have lunch with him was a bad idea. She had no idea he had remarried, and she did not come to rekindle any flames, she just wanted to discuss his property which she wanted to rent for her business! This was awkward, to say the least!
“Well, Chris, I believe that if we were meant to be together, it would have happened.”
“I believe it can still happen.”
“Really? How? You are married.” Nina reminded him.
He hadn’t forgotten. He went on to offer Nina a deal. He thought that since she was now single, they could get back together again and have children together. Nina couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Listen, Chris, if you had come to me with this proposal when your first marriage ended, perhaps I would have considered it, but now, there is nothing to consider; you have a wife!”
He went on and on talking a lot of nonsense as far as Nina was concerned and she had stopped listening. But what she deduced was that he wanted her only so she could give him children. He would send her to live in America while he lived in Nigeria with his wife and he would visit her regularly. Try as she may let him know that this was madness, he persisted. Finally, Nina snapped.
“Listen, Chris, this proposal of yours to make me a concubine and baby-making machine might be acceptable for some women but not for me. You need to look elsewhere. You see, there are many women out there with no purpose for their lives who will jump at a chance to be your concubine and baby-making machine in exchange for living in America, or even in exchange for some rented flat and a second-hand car but it’s not for me. I have a purpose, I know my purpose, and it does not include being a woman on the side, a second wife, a concubine or baby producing machine. I will not allow you to destroy my life and my future. I have dreams, and there is no material comfort that you are offering me now that I can’t give myself, if not today then someday soon. I am a hardworking woman, and I will be able to have the life I want eventually. Besides, have you considered that you might be the one with a problem? Your first wife had two children when she married you, but at the time she was married to you, she had several miscarriages and never kept any pregnancy to full term. Then, you got four women pregnant, and you had no baby to show for it. Now you are remarried, and your wife has complications making it impossible for her to have children. Think about it; you don’t need a second wife or concubine, you need deliverance. And I need to get out of here before you pass on your demons.”
She got up, grabbed her purse and stormed out of the restaurant.
