Chapter 8: The Side Woman’s Fate

"If third oga care about her, e for no leave her for village house, no even put maid for her."

"See her cloth—na ordinary wrapper. Even our lowest maid better pass her."

"And—"

Mama Bisi lower her voice.

"I hear from people wey dey near old madam—"

"This side woman spoil her body before, no fit born again."

"If not, with old madam strict like this, how she go gree make third oga carry side woman?"

Mama Titi shock,

"She no fit born?"

Mama Bisi nod like say e sweet her.

"Third oga talk say e no go let any side woman threaten main wife position."

"No first born bastard go come spoil family order."

"And this time, as third oga don pass exam, old madam happy, so she gree make side woman enter."

Mama Titi come relax, her voice even dey laugh.

"Mama Bisi, you sabi plenty as third madam maid o."

"Side woman wey no fit born—wetin she wan use hold body?"

"When she young, na face. When she old, even maid go better pass her."

Mama Bisi smile.

"Na so e be."

"Our third madam get good heart, na she say make she come carry side woman herself."

Their talk shift from me to Ifedayo and Zainab.

The gentle, caring, loving man dem describe be like my husband, but also no be like am.

Na so I hear say Ifedayo and Zainab don marry for four years.

For the third year, Zainab lose pikin wey don reach five months for belle.

Ifedayo come vex, no wan stay for mansion again, so e travel go study.

For my mind, I dey connect dots—if na me dem talk say no fit born, na Ifedayo give dem story. My body dey cold like person wey fall inside rain.