Chapter 1

SARAH

My marital journey has been a shadow of what I had envisioned. With hopes that my marriage could be better, I decided to give my husband a special treat. It was his birthday, I organized a surprise party for him and also planned to break the news of my pregnancy to him.

The spark of our love died with each passing day after our wedding ceremony. However, I want to rekindle the spark today, been a special day for him.

“It is late. Why is he not back?” Debby asked, making me look at my wristwatch.

“I have no idea.” I sighed, gesturing for her to sit beside me in the dining room.

“Let me give him a call.” She said, without wasting much time, she picked up her phone.

“Debby, don’t call him. The beauty of the surprise party would be ruined.”

Debby was my husband's younger sister – in fact only sibling and she scolds him whenever he is wrong. Sometimes, I felt she was disrespecting him but then, he accepted his wrong. I guess it was out of the love they had for each other as a brother and sister. I had invited her over as a surprise too to her brother.

“What do you mean? He usually returns home before this time.” With a furrowed brow, she pointed at the wall clock. “Could it be something is wrong? If he returns when we have fallen asleep, then the aim of the surprise has been defeated.”

“Let’s exercise patience,” I assured her but my thought whispered to me that there was sense in Debby’s words. I don’t want her to call him. The shock and joy on his face when he sees the cakes, wines, and different dishes on the table and the people present would mean a lot to him thereby igniting the hope of a happy home.

“Now I see why you both are yet to have a child or say, children. He is always busy with work even when you both should be making babies. You both have been married for five good years. There is a lot I should talk to my brother about.”

I smiled, her words made me shy but she had a point. All she said was valid, she was in her late twenties, and I admired her sense of reasoning and understanding.

“If you are tired, please have your rest. The moment I hear the sound of his car…” I paused and looked at her. “I will reach out to you before getting the door.”

Her expression showed that she wasn’t in agreement with my suggestion. Could it be that Caleb, my dear husband didn’t find me worthy to celebrate his birthday with? At this point, I recalled his last birthday, he returned from work very early but after two hours, he left the house. I didn’t even know when he returned home the next day. Will history repeat itself today?

“Finally, Caleb is back,” I said, after hearing a car horn. Wearing a bright smile, I couldn’t explain why I felt so elated. Maybe because thoughts of him not coming home tonight were rendered invalid.

“Everything is in place,” Debby uttered as she switched off the lights.

“I’ll answer the door,” I said. I stood and quickly went to open the door. I have to make things work at least for the sake of my unborn child. As I entered the sitting room, I gazed at Caleb’s picture which was framed and hanging on the wall before opening the door. To my surprise, I found Silas at the door and not my husband.

Silas was my husband's best friend and business partner. He should know why Caleb is not home yet.

“Hi Silas,” I greeted warmly.

“Hello Sarah, sorry I arrived late. Is the party over?”

“Over?” I asked, not able to hide my confusion. I gestured for him to come in and I locked the door.

“Yeah, I had to finish some official assignments. On the invitation card you sent to me, the party was stated to start by 8:00 PM.”

“Alright, but…” I was unable to complete my statement because he interrupted me.

“Where is he? Is he enjoying himself and pretending not to hear my voice?” He asked jokingly.

“Your friend is not back. I have been anticipating his arrival.” I said trying to hide my pain with a fake smile. “You guys are always together. You should know his whereabouts.”

“Come off it,” Silas glanced at his phone. “It is past nine and your husband left his office around 5:00 PM, making it known that he was closing early so he could have fun since today is his birthday.

I heaved. “Where could he be then?”

“I promise, I have no idea.”

“Silas, come with me. You can have a drink before he arrives.” I suggested, but I could feel tears welling in my eyes.

He nodded and followed after me. I put on the lights.

Upon seeing Debby, he was surprised. He and Caleb had been friends from childhood so there was no how Silas wouldn’t know Debby.

“Look who we have here,” Silas said happily as he took the seat opposite Debby.

“Good to see you, Silas,” Debby replied with a bright smile. “However, your friend is not yet back home. Is there something you would like us to know?”

“Nothing, my dear. We deserve an explanation from him when he returns.” Silas wore a serious look.

“Alright…,” Debby said reluctantly.

I sat beside Debby. They chatted about their memories when they were much younger, filling the air with laughter and happiness. I leaned on the chair and closed my eyes. My childhood memories also flashed through my mind. I recall how Caleb got me gifts and spent time with me and I returned the gesture. Throughout my college days, he was jealous whenever I received gifts from other male friends. But after marriage, everything changed. I would have said he was pretending to love me genuinely before marriage for reason best known to him, but I can’t bring myself to accept that.

Two hours after Silas’ arrival, Caleb had still not returned home. All I spent to make his birthday memorable turned out to be a waste.

“I have to go now, it is late,” Silas said with a low tone. “Take care of yourself.”

My feet were too heavy to move because of how embarrassed I felt. In response to him, I gave a nod and waved at him.

Debby yawned. “I have to go to bed.” I faked a smile. I felt forsaken. How could the man I love? The man I exchanged marital vows with stayed out this late without bothering to call me to say why.

He has not been the best husband to me but I did not expect him to treat me with such disrespect. I placed my head on the table, and with so many things racing in my mind, I eventually dozed off.

The blaring sound of the doorbell disrupted my moment of peace. I hissed and refused to get the door.

Debby came downstairs and she greeted me with a smile. She threw glances as though she was asking if I spent the night in the dining room. She must have read my mind and decided to get the door.

“Sarah, someone is here to see you.” Debby’s voice drew my attention. After minutes of patting my face and wondering who came to see me at seven in the morning, I went to the sitting room.