Diary Of a Fusspot 19

I said a quick prayer as the door opened and we were face to face with Mrs. Madu who peered at us through thick spectacles.

She recognized the lawyer and said: “So you people have come to ask me more questions abi?” she said as she ushered us inside. She didn’t know who it was but assumed that I was working with the solicitor.

She led us into a large living room framed with family portraits. The furniture was not pretentious but looked comfortable enough.

“I have been waiting for you people to come sef.” She says by way of introduction. “But I lost you number.”

Mr. Edison raised his eyebrows and I wondered if God had already finished the work before we got here. “How come?” he asked.

“I think you need to find my husband. He sent me divorce papers last week.”

Mr. Edison was at a loss but I quickly caught on.

“You think he has the money?” I asked.

“He must have stolen the money. Why else would he be sending me divorce papers in the post? That ungrateful man. After all I have done for him,”’ she said disgruntled.

I gave a wide smile. “Do you have an idea where he is Mrs. Madu?”

“Can we see the papers?” Edison chipped in.

She suddenly peered at me. “Wait, you look familiar. Have I met you before?”

I felt it was safe to introduce myself now. “I’m Mrs. Amadi. My husband was working with yours.”

Her face lost some of its hardness and I could see some trace of compassion in it.

“I’m so sorry Mrs. Amadi. I really can’t imagine what you must be going through. I’m sorry for even suggesting that your husband was capable of kidnapping mine. ”

“It’s alright Mrs. Madu. I am grateful you’re giving us this information. Perhaps we can trace your husband with this divorce papers.”

“I am just sorry I ever married him in the first place. And my family warned me…” she said and she seemed lost in thought for a moment. “Let me go and get the papers.”

When she left us, I gave the lawyer a look.

“So you see, I wasn’t so crazy in suggesting we come here after all.”

“It’s a miracle,” Edison said. “She nearly chased me away last time I came here.”

She came with the divorce papers. They were postmarked Oregon.

“Well, anyway  the good thing is we know he wasn’t kidnapped,” Edison said. “But now, we have to come up with a plan to bring him home and make him face justice.”

When I got home that evening, I was dancing on air.

“See, I told you we would come out of this thing,” I said giving Ike’s ear a gentle tug.

But he said; “Ow!”  Apparently, I wasn’t so gentle.

I gave him a summary and he was shocked.

“Does it mean that this nightmare is about to be over?” he said joyously.

“Well,  definitely God is working something out,” I said confidently.

He held me and hugged me close and we both thanked God together.

That night we slept in each other’s arms feeling better than we had in weeks.

But there was still the final battle to come.