If you haven’t read the first part of this story, here’s the link. Kindly read it before starting this one

A year later, we were still together waxing strong in love and in all aspects of our relationship. There was one thing missing. He hadn’t met my mother. He had met some of my siblings but the decision-makers of our relationship hadn’t been met. I met his parents long ago. His father threw a party for his 60th birthday. He attended the birthday celebration with me. That was when he introduced me to his parents. I met his senior brother. I hugged his junior sister. His uncle said, “Time flies indeed. See yesterday’s Ambrose. He’s now big enough to come home with a woman.” His family received me graciously. I built a healthy relationship with his siblings right after that event.

A year later and he hadn’t met my mom or any senior member of my family. He was worried. I understood his worries. I told him, “My father didn’t take care of me. That much you are aware. I’ve lived all my life with my mother. She single-handedly raised me up to be who I am today. I should be happy to take you home to meet her but there is a problem.” He asked, “She doesn’t like me?” I said, “That’s just the tip of the problem. There is more to it than meets the eyes. I will open up to you today. All I need is your support. She’s not a problem as far as I’m concerned. She can only become a thorn in our flesh when we allow her.”

I told him the story right from the beginning. How she pushed Osei away with her interminable demands for money and provisions. I told him the story of the Australian guy and how she came to cling to him. I said, “Currently, she’s in a partnership with the Australian guy. She gets what she asks for from him so she’s trying everything to push me to him. I don’t like him. I’ve told him point-blank that a relationship between us won’t work. He likes me so much he’s relying on my mother to get a yes from me. Because of that, my mother doesn’t want to hear of you or see you. As I told you earlier, there’s no problem with that. I will handle her myself.”

He sighed. He asked, “So what do you want me to do to help?”  I said, “I will take you home to meet her. No matter what happens, stick with me. Don’t listen to what she says and pay no heart to her demands. That’s all I need you to do.” He said, “I’m dumbfounded. I don’t even know what to say.” I said, “I can assure you of this…my mother or no family member of mine would be allowed to interfere in our relationship. I can assure you of that. It’s always going to be us. When it comes to my family and their troubles, I will handle them.”

One fine Saturday I told my mother, “I’m bringing my boyfriend home to see you tomorrow. You’ve never met him. I think where we’ve gotten to it’s good you meet him. He’s a good person. You will like him when you see him.” She retorted, “The only boyfriend I know is the one abroad. All others are just sinking sands.” I told her, “Wait until you meet him. You’ll forget all about the Australian borga and fall for him.” She shook her head. She said, “You kids think you know what’s good for you so won’t listen to elderly advice. You’ll one day come to me and say had I known.”

Sunday afternoon, I took Ambrose home. My mother saw him entering the house but acted indifferently. When Ambrose settled down I called my mom in to meet my boyfriend. She said, “You have no respect for your mother. Who has to meet who? I’m sitting outside here. If he wants to see me he should come and see me here.” I went inside and told Ambros to come out and see my mother. He stepped out with his hands behind his back as if he was a school kid being led to the headmaster’s office. He greeted my mom. She responded nasally. I said, “Mom, this is Ambrose. The man I told you about.” 

She asked, “What did you say about him, I’ve forgotten.” I said, “I told you I would be coming home with my boyfriend, remember? He’s the one.” He looked at his face and said, “Gentleman you’re welcome.” He responded, “Thank you, mom. It’s my pleasure to meet you. Fafa has said a whole lot of good things about you. I’m glad I’ve finally met you.” My mom said, “She said good things about me to you? Did she also tell you that she has another boyfriend in Australia?” Ambrose was quiet. I took over. “Yes, I’ve told him about that guy. I told him he’s nothing to me and I told him he’s still hanging around because you’re giving him a lifeline. Yes, he knows everything.” 

She put up a defensive face ready to rant. I said, “Mom, this is not the time to discuss these issues. I only brought him here to greet you. It’s ok. He’ll take his leave.” She said, “Why are you lying to him? You have to tell him the truth. Tell him you’re already in a relationship with a guy abroad but you’re ok using him for the meantime until the abroad one comes.” I opened my mouth. I expected the worse but I didn’t think she could go that far. I pulled Ambrose away into my room. He asked me, “Are you her stepchild?” I said, “She’s my real mother. Now you see the reason why I’ve delayed? It’s because of all this drama.”

He sighed. He said, “Wow. She’s tough.” I said, “She’s acting tough because she gets oxygen to feed on. Family issues. I know how to deal with it.”

We didn’t talk for days—Me and my mother. I continued giving her everything I owed her but we didn’t talk. I had six months left on my rent but I started looking for a new place. I didn’t tell her anything concerning my life. I went to work and came back home like I always did. I cooked when I had to. I cleaned when I ought to. She thought she was the one not talking to me. I knew I was the one not talking to her. A few weeks later, I paid for a new place. She saw me parking out. That was when she came to ask me what was happening. I told her, “My boyfriend got me a new place so I’m moving there.” She was like, “Seriously? You see why I don’t like that guy? Who comes to pick someone’s daughter without telling the mother anything?” I said, “He wanted to tell you when he was here but you were not ready to listen.” She said, “Then you’ll go alone. I won’t move to a place rented for you by someone who denied me the respect that I deserve. I only giggled.

Days later she asked me, “So what happens to me now that you’re moving out?” I said, “We still have some months left on our rent so you can continue living here. When the rent expired, you can look for a new place or pay and live here.” She said, “Are you out of your mind? Where am I going to get that money from? You will abandon your mother because of a man?” I said, “I’m not your only child. There are two others. When you get a new place, tell them to rent it for you. I’ve tried. They should also take it from here.”

The guy in Australia called me days later; “Your mother told me you’ve abandoned her. What’s going on?” I told him, “I’m getting married in a few months’ time. I moved to the new place my husband-to-be had rented for us. I haven’t abandoned her. I told her to contact you for money since you’ve been the one supporting her all these years.” He screamed, “Is she my mother? I was only helping her because of you?” I said, “So continue taking care of her because of me.” 

That was the last time I heard of him. There’s only one month left on my mother’s rent. She had been calling my other siblings and they don’t even pick her calls. She had never called me since I moved from that house. Everything I know about her, I got the information from my siblings. She told them I’ve destroyed her to the guy in Australia so the guy doesn’t talk to her again. She told them I’m making the greatest mistake of my life and that she would never be present at my wedding because of how I and my boyfriend treated her. At some point, she even cursed me in front of my younger sister. She called to tell me. My heart is pure. My hands are clean so no evil can befall me. 

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Not too long ago I saw her call. She said, “You want me to end up in the street?” I said, “No mom. I told you what to do when the rent expires. Look for a new place and bring the bill, we’ll contribute and pay for you.” Days later she called. She had found a place and was asking for money from me. I divided the amount by three and sent mine to her. I said, “Get the rest from your other children.” Days later she called again, “They say they don’t have money.” I said, “I’ve given you all I have. What else can I do?” Another day she called, “I know you’re doing all this because you’re angry but I’m your mother. Without me there’s no other mother, remember.” 

Another day she called; “I’m sorry, forgive me. Don’t throw me away just because of a misunderstanding. It won’t happen again.” The following day I sent her the full amount. I said, “I didn’t have money but I spoke to my boyfriend and he gave me this to be given to you.” She laughed. She said, “Aww I’m even embarrassed. He did that for me? Send him my gratitude. I don’t even know what to say.” Days later she called. She said, “I haven’t had the opportunity to thank your boyfriend. Can I have his number so I call and thank him?” I said in my head, “Nka ma koa!”

When she got a new place, I went to visit her with my boyfriend. She nearly threw herself on the floor to apologize to him. They hugged. They made up but I’m never giving her his number. Whenever she calls, she’s full of gratitude towards him. She loves him now. All is well. Plans are far advanced. Early next year, we’ll tie the knot and I know she will be there in her Kente cloth 

–Fafa

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