TOO FAR TO REACH 56

 TOO FAR TO REACH 56

It was nearly one year since Jeff and Pumulo last set eyes on each other. Emmanuela was now close to three months old and she was looking all the more angelic. Jeff had finally made up his mind to arrange for divorce and he contacted his sister for the same. Nancy was not pleased with the end result of everything but she knew there was no other way out.  Nancy had gathered enough information about where Pumulo might be and she and Jeff embarked on a journey to look for her to begin the divorce process.

Jeff was back in the country, he was fit and doing better than before. He had since begun hitting the gym and working out often like before. Being able to walk again felt like a second chance at life and Jeff did not want to waste this time. Not one day did he forget Pumulo but a part of him convinced him that she must have already aborted Japhets baby and started her life. Jeff had posed his relationship with Hannah his therapist before coming back to Zambia. South Africa no longer felt like a place he wanted to stay, it held too many memories and maybe he needed time away. He was still not ready to come to cloud investments, that was a closed chapter in his life.

It was a normal sunny day in Lusaka, October had hit hard and Jeff was looking forward to visiting a couple of his previous favourite joints to have a drink or two. Booked in at the Hilton garden inn hotel, Jeff was reliving his previous life all at once. His life did not have much meaning before and he admittedly knew Pumulo had added flavour to it. Looking at Lusaka town from his room window, Jeff imagined one last look at the woman whose heart had made him complete. There was something about Pumulo that was not ordinary, she was beautiful inside and out, to understand why she had done what she did was not a journey Jeff was ready to embark on.

Dialing his sister’s line, Jeff took a deep sigh and continued staring through his window. He had landed the previous night and went straight to his hotel room. Leaving south africa was the best decision he ever made for himself as he had land he seriously wanted to work on while in Zambia. However, he promised Hannah he would be in touch once his divorce was finalized. Hannah had a hard time believing especially knowing fully well that he was madly in love with Pumulo.

“Good morning sis… any progress?”

“Jeff.. calm down.. can we at least have lunch? You know we need to catch up and everything and also discuss this as a whole”

“Sis…”

“no Jeff… you don’t do things like that. Let’s talk.. let’s have a conversation.. how do you just come and straight away we go about this divorce. You yourself told me this girl is the most genuine woman you think you ever met and I agree. I got to know her, she did not appear to me like someone just after your money. Calm down.. let’s hear first if she even had the baby and whether it’s yours or not.. remember.. she was your wife. It’s a possibility the baby is yours”

Jeff sighed heavily, this topic was something he avoided. His mind was made up. He needed to divorce.

“Can I at least see you my brother? Please?”

Nancy hurriedly dressed up to join her brother for lunch at the hotel. Jeff was not so eager to discuss this with his sister but it had to happen. Nancy was just about to start off when her phone rang again. It was Jeff changing the lunch location. They were going to have lunch from the mall.

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Pumulo was just preparing to celebrate her daughter’s 3 months birthday when Ms Charlotte knocked on her door. Pumulo had made it tradition to dress her baby to celebrate every month and take pictures on her phone. Ms Charlotte knew this and her first thought was that this knock had something to do with that.

“Hai my darling.. how are you today?”

“I’m good.. sorry for the mess I was just trying to get this girl ready for some picture”

“Oh never mind” Ms Charlotte said with a smile.

She had a big brown envelope in her hands and Pumulo was wondering what it was. Ms Charlotte was full of surprises and she thought this had something to do with it. However, the look on her face told a different story. Ms Charlotte was settled on a kitchen stool in Pumulo’s mini apartment before giving her the envelope.

As Pumulo opened the envelope Ms Charlotte explained

“A gentleman came looking for you, he said his name was Jeff”

Pumulo’s heart skipped and she looked at Ms Charlotte in shock.

“He dropped the envelope for you”

Pumulo quickly opened it and inside was a notice of divorce. Jeff was seeking divorce for irreconcilable differences and stating adultery as the main reason for the divorce. Jeff was also demanding full ownership of every asset stating that Pumulo contributed nothing in the marriage except devastating him. Jeff also stated that given the period they had been apart, he was sure there was no turning back. Pumulo read the divorce papers out loud before concluding with a sigh.

“You need to talk to him” Ms Charlotte said.

“Madam, does this look like it’s coming from someone who wants to talk?”

“No my dear.. don’t be too harsh. If he really knew that he has Emmanuela he wouldn’t have done this”

Pumulo got emotional

“I don’t even know what I want. I am just so upset” she cried.

“Pumulo… have you not tried to reach him? He has a child he needs to know”

“and then? Our marriage is broken aunty… let us proceed with the divorce.. then I will let him know about the child later”

Ms Charlotte strongly opposed

“Calm down. Feel free to appear for this hearing and then give your side of the story”

**************************

Prior to the date of their hearing, Pumulo received a message on Facebook from Hannah, Jeff’s therapist. It was exactly a month and just a day before Pumulo could appear in court with Jeff.

“Dear Pumulo,

I know you were never expecting to hear from me. I write this for two reasons.. one which is obvious by now if you are in court and the second which is that I thank you very much for splitting Japhet and I. I always knew about your affair with him but I cared about you enough to save your marriage. Japhet and I have a son together, we met in college and had been cohabitating since. Over time Japhet had become emotionally abusive and distant, I was always trying to let go but I couldn’t find the strength. We lived through our differences knowing we were in a foreign land and could easily be deported. Getting a job was a blessing and a complete shock after how long I had been searching but surprisingly learning Japhet and I would work together was even more shocking. It was not planned. It was fate. We agreed I would be leaving as soon I as I saved up enough money to find my own place. I did not search about your affair, Japhet told me himself and much as it broke me, I found comfort in Jeff. He is by far the most amazing man I have ever known. As you finalise your divorce, I hope you do not despise me, Japhet has not once stopped bragging here about the life you have planned together and congratulations on birthing him a son. He told me. Please don’t make this any harder for us, I am expecting Jeff’s child. Jeff knew this only recently, he is ready to take me in as his wife. Thank you again for breaking my home but you were a blessing in disguise. Feel free to come and join Japhet. He has a home and insurance. I hope you last”

Pumulo was in the midst of so much confusion and shock that she stopped doing her make up and sat. It was Emmanuela's 4^th month birth celebration and they were going to have lunch. Ms Charlotte planned this lunch to destruct Pumulo from the divorce hearing which was scheduled for the next day.

“Pumulo.. are you ready?”

Ms Charlotte walked into Pumulo’s room and she met a devastated looking Pumulo sitting on the floor.

“Honey what is going on?”

Pumulo handed the phone over to Ms Charlotte who read everything through. She couldn’t help but laugh.

“So this guy lied to her that you have a son?”

“Ms Charlotte, that is not even the issue. She is expecting his child and she is also settling with him soon””

“My darling.. this girl could be lying about the child.. she’s trying to force you to give Jeff the divorce at all costs, I highly doubt there’s any truth in all this..”

Pumulo replied angrily “but to what end?? Why would she tell all these lies?”

“You clearly have no idea to what extent women are willing to go to get what they want.. you need to be smart about tomorrow’s appearance in court. Trust me my dear, I don’t believe a thing she said here”