The Turbulence?? (#1 in the Our Side of The Dice series)

1: The Betrothal

Christopher gave me a life that was beautiful beyond what I even imagined. I mean, it was insanely hard for my get over the death of my first husband, Ken. He cared for our children and me like we were his world. It was even more problematic because his family members had the audaciousness to blame his death on me.

They seized all of his property in my custody, insisting that I shall have no right to own those properties. They even sent me out of my marital home! The home we'd worked hard to build together.

I know the African folklore is sick and unbelievable most of the time, but when I got blamed for my husband's death based on alleged witchcraft, I lost my marbles. I could not believe the strange things I heard because everyone knew just how much I loved Ken when he was alive.

I'd loved him above every other thing asides from my kids. But my love fetched me rejection from his family members. I became an outcast.

Nevertheless, I had to be strong for my children, Gifty, and Zion because they were also in pain. They loved their Dad a lot. I could not cry on days when I wanted to because I had to serve as a shoulder to lean on for my children.
Still, I was the one who hurt the most. Ken was the love of my life.

Christopher came two years later and has made me happy ever since. However, there was one standing block I always prayed never to encounter again – bad in-laws.

They make your life a hellhole.

Christopher's mum always made me feel miserable, but I tolerated her. Christopher's undying love for me was my solace but what happened today is seriously the worst of its kind.

Ken's family always pretended to love me until Ken gave up the ghost. They never came around to give me a hard time when Ken was alive. It was until after his demise that they'd shown their true colors, but what am I to do when my marriage is already heading for the rocks with this woman threatening to tear us apart?

...but know that the next time I visit you, I'll be coming along with your betrothed wife, and you know better than to think I'm joking.

With these thoughts running through my mind, I reflect on the infuriating nature of those words. Then, I feel a light, persistent tap on my shoulder, which jolts me out of my woolgathering.

"Mum, why are you crying?" The voice of my seventeen-year-old daughter slashes through the sphere of my thoughts, and reflexively, I adjust my sitting position on the couch. I rub my face with my palms, and I'm surprised to see my fingers looking moist.

Had I been crying?

"I-I was just thinking of a few things. It's nothing. You should go and read your books, " I stutter.

Oops! She's on holiday.

"I don't believe you, but I'd let it be," she replies, completely ignoring the latter part of my speech.

"Dad seemed furious too. He didn't return my greeting when we met in the laundry room a few minutes ago. I initially thought that it was because he wasn't feeling well, but I'm guessing you two fought?"

"Well...not exactly, but... Wait. Why are you even being nosy?" I ask when I catch myself almost wanting to answer her question.

Then, I realize that there might be an actual fight between Christopher and me. Why didn't he try to look for me after the heated argument with his mother? Is he speculating that I didn't hear anything from the conversation? Is he just going to resort to never telling me, so I don't ever find out about it?

"Oh, I'm sorry. I just hope everything will be fine soon." She rubs her palms smoothly against my shoulders. Instead of the soothing effect her fingers are supposed to have on me; I feel like spiders are crawling up on my skin.