MY WEDDING NIGHT Episode 22 FINALE – “you have to testify against Esther and her accomplice.

“you guys should please call the police” Damian’s mother cried on my shoulder while one of the guys in the room left instantly to do her bidding. I also threw a look at my brother who quickly brought out his phone and called detective Jeremiah. “the police will soon be here, please stop crying. You got to consider your eyes” i begged solemnly.
“let’s go to my room dear, we have a lot to talk” she said softly, pulled away from me, grabbed my hand and led me to her room while my brother stayed behind {with the other men in the room} to keep an eye on Esther and her so called cousin who hid his face with shame.
On getting to the old lady’s room, she prepared two cups of hot tea, offered one to me and drank the second one. “i’m so deeply ashamed of myself. I’m so sorry for everything. Seriously i have known Esther for such a long time. I never believed she was capable of committing murder in a foreign soil” she apologized softly with tears in her eyes.
“i have nothing against your behavior towards me. Most women would do the same. So please stop troubling yourself” i begged.
“we are heading back to the states in two days. Hope you are coming with us?” she asked. I breathed deeply and looked down. Seriously i wasn’t expecting such question because all my focus was on exonerating myself to avoid standing trial in America but things now has changed. I had every reason to go with them, if not for anything else but to participate in my husband’s burial. But i just felt indecisive when she popped up the question. I couldn’t utter a word.
“you have to testify against Esther and her accomplice. They will stand trial in my country, moreover you also have a big role to play in my son’s burial” she pushed softly. “i know mum, but i do have some unfinished things i have to take care of in Nigeria. I also can’t stand the courtroom. I know how the justice system in your country works. Esther’s defense lawyer will try to tear me apart. I really can’t stand any of it, not after all i have passed through already. My heart is very broken. I need time and space to heal. I believe the tape will be enough to convict her” i answered softly, tears filling my eyes.
“what are you saying?. You mean you are not traveling with us?” the old woman asked curiously. I dropped the tea cup i was holding, drew close and stared at her. “i just need only three weeks to recover and tidy up myself. I will come over in the fourth week. Please” i begged. She breathed deeply and swallowed hard.
“it’s okay, i understand your position. I will keep the burial things on hold till you join us. But Esther’s trial will commence immediately we arrive the states” she said softly. I unsuccessfully tried to fight back the tears building up in my eyes.
Detective Jeremiah walked into the room that very moment with a smile on his face.
“the suspects are now in my custody but i’m afraid i also have to take Mrs Damian with me. You know she’s supposed to be in jail” he addressed the old lady who quickly sprang up to my defense
.
“she’s not going anywhere with you. Moreover how the hell did she get out from your custody in the first place?. I don’t care how you do the paperwork. She’s not stepping her foot in any police premises again” my mother in law protested while the detective laughed and winked at me.
“please you have to report to my office very early tomorrow. Hope you understand” he said to me, bowed to the old lady and headed out of the room. My brother however left with him while i spent the night with Damian’s mother and we really spent the whole night discussing and consoling each other like two old sisters….
I returned to my brother’s house by 7am the next day, Spent some happy moments with my sick mother before freshening up for the busy day ahead. I equally called my old father on phone and broke the good news to him. Finally four days later, i traveled to the village with my mother and devoted three weeks of my time caring for her. I equally used the opportunity to make peace with God and seek his forgiveness.
Slowly the fourth week approached, bringing more bright moments into my life. I was now a changed person. A strong Christian and a cheerful giver. But the most surprising moment of it all was when Damian’s mother surprised me with a visit early Tuesday morning of the fourth week. I never knew she was in Nigeria nor had any idea she was coming to my village.
She came with my brother who smiled as he noticed the surprised look on my face.
“we came to get you young lady” the old woman said as she hugged me. Three days later i found myself in America. Hmmm the reception they all gave me over there was quite stunning and three days after, more good news graced me. I did a pregnancy test which confirmed i was pregnant.
But it never really was all fun to me over there because I had to perform the last burial rites for my husband and equally testify on Esther’s trial, something i sincerely wanted to avoid but had to do in the end.
Esther got twenty five years sentence with her accomplice at the end of the day. As at the time of writing this story, I’m still in the states with Damian’s mother. Yea i’m happy but not entirely happy because no matter what, I’m still a widow.
As for detective Jeremiah, I promised to handle the education of his first child, equally promising to take the boy along to the states the next time i travel home. The detective was like an angel to me and without him, I won’t be writing this story.
THE END