Chapter 8: Fire-breathing dragon mother-in-law

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Easineya Mwango stood by the lounge entrance, flipping through the mail. She looked up at the sound of stilettos clicking on the tiled floor.

Constance Mwango, a short and petite woman with curves in all the right places, approached her wearing a copper ruched side bodycon dress paired with black ankle boots. Easineya gave her a scrutinizing look.

“Isn’t it too early for you to be dressed like that?”

“Morning to you too, mother-in-law,” Constance replied sarcastically.Easineya scoffed. “Mother-in-law? Sometimes I forget my son is married.”

“Well, he is. Anyway, I’m attending a fundraising brunch at the hotel. Are you coming?”

“And fan the flames of the gossip mill? No thanks. I’ll sit this one out,” Easineya said with a chuckle.

Constance gave her mother-in-law a tight smile, knowing she was doing it on purpose.

“It would mean a lot if you came,” Constance said.

The Lilly Pond was a charitable organization promoting family values, founded by Constance and sponsored by Njolomba Industries.

The foundation helped underprivileged families through financial support, educational scholarships, and job creation.

“That’s not going to happen,” Easineya said flatly, then looked up.

“Is it true?”

“What is?”

“Abel mentioned something to me.”

“Your son and I talk about many things. How am I supposed to know what he told you if you’re vague?” Constance replied, irritated.

She knew exactly what Abel had said but wasn’t going to give Easineya the satisfaction.

“He mentioned, in passing, that you’re thinking of adopting.”

Constance sighed. She didn’t need this today.”I might have hinted at it.”

Easineya chuckled. “And what are you for?”

“What?”

A sharp pain pierced Constance’s heart. She couldn’t believe she could say that. She more than anyone knew how desperately she wanted to be a mother. Seven years of trying; five miscarriages and three stillbirths were all she had to show for her marriage to Abel.

A marriage she was sure barely existed.

“That’s why he married you, isn’t it? It sure wasn’t to be part of the decorative furniture,” the proud woman said.

“Though if that were the case, the decor seems to be outshining you.”

Constance fought back the tears that stung her eyes. “You’re being mean.”

“Am I? How? Tell me. You claim to be his wife, but what have you to show for it? If you had truly tried, you wouldn’t be thinking of adopting strays.”

Well, maybe if your son spent more time loving me instead of chasing skirts, I wouldn’t be this desperate, she thought bitterly.

“This is between Abel and me, mother. As husband and wife,” Constance said instead.

“Wife?” Easineya chuckled. “Please. I’m sure there are at least three other women out there claiming the same. You better get that foolish idea out of your head. I’m not going to let you spoil my family lineage with the filth you pick up from the streets. It’s appalling enough I have to deal with you for the rest of my life.”

Constance glared at her.”I too have my limits, mother,” she warned.

Their’s was a marriage of convenience.Constance had always liked Abel, but she had been invisible to him. His eyes belonged only to Sinikiwe. She had tried every trick to seduce him away.

He couldn’t resist her charms, and he always fell for them but as soon as the thrill faded, he returned to Sinikiwe, leaving her abandoned.

Then everything changed that night. He was in trouble and needed her. All she had to do was be his alibi, and he would grant her any wish.

Marriage, she demanded.

She made him marry her and forsake Sinikiwe.

He agreed readily. She was surprised, but ecstatic. She didn’t care what trouble he was in, as long as he was hers. Even when she heard the rumors and rape accusations.

How time flies and changes people, Constance thought as she battled the stare-down. Easineya had begged her on her knees to save her son. Yet seven years later, here they were.

Easineya remained as arrogant and conceited as ever.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Interpret it however you want,” Constance said, turning on her heels and walking away.

Easineya watched her daughter-in-law leave, barely restraining herself from grabbing the vase by the door and hurling it at her retreating back.

“The audacity,” she huffed in disbelief, unable to fathom that the woman could threaten her.

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Constance hurried through the condominium lobby straight to the elevator. She needed to vent, and only one person understood what she was going through.

Gwendolyn Mumba. Her savior and accomplice.

Her marriage to Abel had succeeded only because of her.

Back then, it had seemed perfect.

The perfect life.

But all it brought her was tears.She thought being Mrs. Abel Mwango meant she had made it in life. Didn’t she have a grand kitchen party and wedding that left her friends from the ghetto envious? She was moving up from nobody to the young lady of the Mwango household.

Did she not visit her parents every other month with no less than three entourage cars, flaunting her wealth in the name of being a good daughter? She always ensured there were enough branded groceries from Game, Shoprite, Pep, Pick n Pay, Spar, and other stores.

She made her friends and family jealous, no doubt—but at what price? Night after night she cried herself to sleep. Day after day, she died a little inside from the lack of love. She envied her sisters’ simple, happy marriages.

She would give up all her wealth for a day to feel the kind of love her sisters had.

No one but Gwendolyn knew what she had done to get where she was. The elevator opened on the seventh floor. She headed straight to Gwen’s condo.

She let herself in with the security code.

Gwendolyn would know what to do.

She always did.When the doors opened, Constance froze at the sight before her.

Gwendolyn lay on her back on the sofa, her skirt hiked to her waist, moaning softly with eyes closed. Her blouse was unbuttoned, and a buff, sweaty naked man furiously pounded into her while he squeezed her nipples between his fingers and kissed her hungrily, eliciting moans from both.

Constance could have silently walked away and let them continue, except the man lost in ecstasy was her husband, Abel Mwango.