HEDGED
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Episode 4
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As the days went by, I tried to strike a balance between my relationship with my mother and my relationship with my lovely wife. I was extremely clear about the roles both ladies played in my life, and I was also more than expressive enough to quell any jealousy.
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Tricia would frequently go over to Mama’s place with baskets full of food. She’ll occasionally spend the night or even a weekend with Mama, leaving me all alone in the merciless hands of the cold at night to find solace underneath my blankets.
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Tricia would occasionally return with a gloomy expression on her face, indicating that her visits to Mama’s residence had not gone as planned. But Mama is also her mother, and I shouldn’t make a big deal out of every disagreement a mother has with her daughter, right?
Because I know my mother may be unappealing sometimes, I’ll sometimes attempt to talk Tricia out of her foul moods. I mean, I ought to understand just how difficult my mother can be because I grew up living with her, right?
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Except for the few times when misunderstandings triggered emotions in these two wonderful ladies in my life, Mama and Tricia, my wife, for the first time in a long time, appear to be getting along just fine.
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Mama has suggested that she move in with us on several occasions.
“I’m lonely, Greg.” “I need to talk to someone every now and then. Tricia will keep me company even if you aren’t always at home.”
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Mama made an excellent point. She is elderly and requires all the care she can get.
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Despite the fact that Mama is a “drama queen,” she didn’t need to stress this too much before I got the point.
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Mama has a young girl, the daughter of an extended family member, who resides with her. This youngster does her part around the house. Aside from the little girl, there is yet another, much older woman, to whom I pay every two weeks. I hired her to cook for Mama and take care of things that the little girl couldn’t. These two people were supposed to fill the slit, but they appear to be insufficient to provide Mama with much-needed company.
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As unsettling as it may sound, I was well aware of the possibilities, but I couldn’t have made the decision to have Mama over all by myself, especially because I don’t live alone. If Mama has to move in, she won’t be living with just me, so it felt natural to bring it up with Tricia, my wife.
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After I came home from work that evening, I told Tricia about the situation.
Tricia wasn’t sure if this was a test or if I was just having a casual conversation with “my wife” about my mother perhaps coming over.
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If there is one thing I’ve come to know and appreciate about my wife, it’s her capacity to comprehend how sensitive a subject involving my mom is to me. Tricia tries at all times to be decent with her expressions, even when she is irritated.
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“Mama has a valid point, you know.” “The little girl who stays by her side can only accomplish so much.” Tricia replied as I stared directly through her soul, never breaking eye contact.
I was seeking any signs of deception in what Tricia could have assumed was what I wanted to hear.
But Tricia wasn’t done yet.
“But, Baby, Mama already considers me a rival.” “Do you really think letting her live with us will be an appropriate decision?” “Do you think it’ll be healthy for everyone?”
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I realized as I locked my gaze on Tricia that I’d never been asked a more harmless question in my life.
I couldn’t give Tricia a definitive response.
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I was almost confident that Mama and Tricia would make an excellent team.
I’m almost certain that Mama and Tricia will get along OK, but I’m not sure “almost” is enough to make such a significant decision.
To be continued…
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Moshood Avidiime The Writer
