The Nudity of a Woman: The Snap

By Felicia Owadara

The Nudity of a Woman reveals the mystery that shrouds Angie and Charles' love life. Caught in between a grandfather and grandson's cold war, Angie's trust was exploited by the two because of her erroneous belief about the base of the problem, and her naivety nakedly exposed her vulnerability to the paranoid Charles, who also suffers from extreme toxic-phobia. His domineering facade is used to cover his weakness, and in this twisted love-hate journey, someone is bound to get hurt as hidden family secrets unfold. There is little a person can bear before breaking.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Dec 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781779412546

Felicia Owadara

Felicia (Sam) Owadara is a graduate student, currently undergoing her doctoral degree program, and lives in Winnipeg. The Nudity of a Woman is her debut novel, and the standalone work is the first of the series. It is a story inspired by her Irish friend's character, jokes and candidness about human travails and triumphs. She hopes to entertain and engage her readers' mind beyond reading the text, and to dialogue with the intents of each character in the twisted plots.

Book preview

The Nudity of a Woman

The Snap

Felicia Owadara

The Nudity of a Woman

Copyright © 2023 by Felicia Owadara

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-1-77941-253-9 (Hardcover)

978-1-77941-252-2 (Paperback)

978-1-77941-254-6 (eBook)

Dedication

To Eimear, seeing the Irish world through your lens was spectacular.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Extra Chapter

Author Note

About The Author

There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.

― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Chapter One

It was late afternoon in 2013 when Angie left Dublin. As her car sped toward Galway, leaving Clara town behind, her mood heightened like the unpredictable Irish weather. The sky was gray and gloomy, heralding the arrival of the rains, as was the mood of the woman behind the wheels. When a relationship goes awry, self-blaming often precedes it as each tries to vilify his or her partner for what inevitably follows. What precipitated the cold war between the couple didn’t begin on the wedding day but long before the dating cycle. However, three incidents on their wedding day alone were enough to remove the dirt from Angie Gale’s eyes. Or at least should have been able to give the clueless and naïve young woman an insight into the complex life of Charles Perez Modicum. Unfortunately, she was too blind to see it.

She had unknowingly caught a glimpse of a woman at the front of the hotel on the Galway Bay golf course, the marriage venue. When the couple’s car left, the dazzling and elegantly dressed middle-aged woman in a blue satin fitted gown with a halter neck and a rouched bodice paired with gold accessories was out there, standing alone gracefully and confidently, neither waiving nor responsive to the well-wishers. She walked into the wedding venue with grace and confidence and showed off her flawless skin. Her long black hair was styled in a sleek bun with a few strands framing her face. It was like she dressed up for a show, something beneath someone of her age. Her eyes were sparkling with green eyeshadow and mascara, and her lips were painted with a bold red lipstick. She carried a small clutch purse that matched her shoes and jewelry. Angie tapped the groom to ask about the woman.

Charles, who is that beautiful and excessively dressed woman?

Who? Charles stared in the direction where his bride pointed, and his countenance suddenly changed to that of anger and disgust. She is of no consequence.

But why is she dressing up like this to a wedding? I don’t remember seeing or coming across anyone like this in your family before. Why is she here?

What? Why are you so fixated on irrelevant people on a day like this? Look, Angie, you and I are the bride and groom. We should be the centre of attention, not the other way around. I am surprised at your curiosity on a day like this. Could it be you are more interested in a middle-aged woman than the dashing, handsome and elegant man before you?

How can you say that? I am just curious about how exaggerated her appearance is. She seems odd, don’t you think so?

Then you needn’t be curious about attention seekers like her. I should be the centre of your universe on a day like this. Don’t you think so, too?

It was obvious that the groom was not enjoying the conversation. Thus, the bride’s attempt to gauge a response from the groom about the woman’s identity met with a strong rebuttal. Charles didn’t tone it down when he accused her of being nosy, an unbecoming attitude of a well-mannered woman. Besides, on a joyous day like theirs, he expected his bride’s attention to be all on him, the groom. Angie placed her head on his shoulder and flirted with him to stop him from throwing a tantrum.

The second incident happened at old Grandpa Philip’s home right on the dance floor when Charles declared that staying a night at Leister’s Mansion (Charles’s family home) was out of respect for his bride’s family and nothing more. On that same night, Grandpa Philip (Charles’s grandfather) invited the couple to talk privately with them and presented her with his late wife’s necklace. Angie failed to grasp the innuendos, which could have signified the subtle war between him and his grandson. Or perhaps she chose ignorance as a companion because it was not hard to hear Charles’s subtle but succinct rude words to the old man, his grandfather.

Anyone who called the beautiful Angie a naïve girl was right because she bore her ‘nudity’ in the open for all to see. Her simplicity of life turned her into a molded wet clay in Charles’s hands. As their marriage progressed, the gap between the couple became wide. Later, she found solace among the older generation in Modicum’s family—Aunt Ciara and Grandpa Philip. They were like protectors shielding her from Charles’s burning furnace of absurd and complex personality. Ciara Homer was a younger sister to Grandpa Philip, married to Sir Lucas Homer, who died two years after Angie’s marriage into Modicum’s family. The sixty-two-year-old woman became a source of support to her brother in their old age. Ciara had a knack for wicked, crude jokes that often threw Angie off balance. Even when she became philosophical, that sassiness never left her.

Aunt Ciara’s voice rang in Angie Modicum’s brain circuit as she sped toward Leister’s residence in Galway. A wedding lasts only for a day; marriage is its reality. Don’t take a man’s promise so seriously; it is like an oath given under intoxication. You will always feel disappointed when the man sobers up. The memory brought a wry smile to her face.

Every woman had her sixth sense, but only a few were courageous enough to face their worst nightmare. Angie would rather cocoon herself to shield her mind from unnecessary worries.

Recently, her mind had been preoccupied with some of the old woman’s past comments about men’s unreliability. Had she not met Sir Lucas Homer in the past, she would have believed that the man was scum because of the way in which his wife analyzed marital vows. However, it took her almost a decade to finally accept and face the truth about the old woman’s comments. No one knew Charles Perez Modicum better than his aunt Ciara Homer.

The elderly woman had once said, I can’t trust a face like Charles. It represents everything I dislike in a man.

Angie remembered asking, Why?

Well, for one thing, an unfaithful man is like a disloyal dog—he has difficulty controlling his impulses and constantly wanders away from home. I don’t say he’s one, but his appearance is nothing short of those repulsive traits. Those sarcastic words in the past were a source of lifting her mood, but now a source of pain as the truth about her husband’s wayward life became more poignant, slapping her in the face.

Angie’s fingers were thumping the steering while reciting those words. It was one of the usual times of the year when Angie missed her time with the woman, who was now residing with her daughter, Annamaria, in the States. At that time, Grandpa Philip was still alive and resided at Leister’s mansion; their relationship was that of an elder to a child. Unlike Aunt Ciara, the old man didn’t have a knack for fun, as much of their time together was structured around learning and honing her artistic skills. Even though there were a few instances when she bantered with the old Philip, they weren’t comparable to her times with Aunt Ciara’s banter and conviviality. A wave of emotion flooded her, bringing back memories of past years. They were nothing short of negativity and full of hints, which Angie blindly ignored. Perhaps her mind shielded her from waking up to find herself married to a foggy dream.

In 2005, if anyone had told Angie that she would join the list of insecure women, she would have laughed it off. But eight years ago, many things had not changed for her. Aunt Ciara had not left Ireland, so Grandpa Philip was still alive and in charge. Recently, though, a lot has changed in the relationship between Angie and Charles Perez Modicum. Before, she had no reason to doubt her husband; now, she dreaded the uncertainty in her relationship. To the outside world, her life was perfect.

Out of boredom, she joined a group of older women near her home in Dublin. Among a few groups of these senior citizens at the Catholic diocese where she found support, her life was pathetically pitiful and a constant worry to them. Angie had made several adjustments to her life to fit in. She declined a career prospect at her former university. Angie graduated as a physicist and one of the top students. She gave up a lifetime dream of becoming an astronaut, relinquishing a fully funded research offer. And for what? She took the role of wife and filled the shoe of the lady Modicum, perhaps too seriously.

The Modicums are wealthy property owners in Ireland and ventured into different business terrain, but they weren’t the type who flaunted their wealth, which made Angie misconstrue the extent of the family’s power. Nonetheless, the impeccable performance of the late Henrietta (Charles’s grandmother) was a constant challenge to her, the shoes of whom Angie sensed would be difficult to fill in a complex family like the Modicums. Therefore, as she set many expectations as a wife, she had a few for her life partner, too. She desired a loving, caring, and understanding man because that’s what made a good home.

Angie was half-Irish and half-Russian, born in London, and a second child to Ekaterina and Isaac Gale. Angie and her sister Hellen were between the ages of five and six and a half when they were brought to Ireland. The two were left with Grandma Cecilia and Grandpa Timothy when their parents were at the peak of their booming careers. Isaac was a marine engineer, while Ekaterina was a ballerina; thus, their jobs gave little or no time for raising children. Their parents probably thought that their two little ones were best left with the grannies (Angie’s paternal grandparents). After all, the couple initially wasn’t that inclined toward raising a child, not to mention two. If not for pressure from the old couple, Hellen and Angie would never have happened. That might also explain why Angie had a stronger attachment to her grannies than her parents. It perhaps set a stage for her roles in later life and why she often felt deeply connected with senior citizens. Thus, she became a perfect companion for Grandpa Philip in his old age. Perhaps she was the only thing constant and a blessing to the lonely grandfather who had given all hope.

As Philip grew older, many of his activities were carried out within the confines of his Leister mansion. Angie had also found solace in his company as both struggled to support their unfulfilled longing and yearning. Grandpa Philip wanted a relationship with his grandson and great-grandchildren to play with. As for Angie, since she had long abandoned her dream job, her focus had shifted towards making a home with her husband, but none of her desires were ever fulfilled as the couple were never on the same page in their plans or desires. Angie could only support Grandpa Philip by spending time with him.

It was no trouble at all for her to travel two hours to visit the old man every weekend. During the school holiday, she practically shifted base to Leister’s property at Galway to stay with the old man. Despite her assumed closeness to the old Philip, she was never truly able to gauge the man, who always sounded elusive. It was toward the end of Philip’s life that she heard the only closest truth from the man.

During a game of chess, Angie couldn’t help noticing how absentmindedly the old man was. Don’t make that move, Grandpa! Oh no, you’ve spoiled a good game. Why are you distracted today? Is anything the matter? She watched keenly the wrinkly line on the old man’s face.

I guess I am growing too old for this game, or maybe you are getting better at it! You have managed to trap my queen. What a heartless thing to do!

I am not a baby, Grandpa. You are trying to evade my question. Something is troubling you. A problem shared is half solved. You know that too well.

You are still a child to me even though you are thirty-eight. By the way, how is Charles these days? Or better still, what has the prodigal grandson been up to recently?

Grandpa, you are being evasive again. Don’t digress. I want to know what is troubling you. Angie didn’t know that the old man wasn’t digressing but was communicating his real concern.

Young lady, enjoy your life while you still can. Don’t bother about these old bones! My thoughts sometimes embarrass me. How dare I share my most embarrassing thought with you. How long are you staying this time around?

A month, at most. I still want to hone my craft and design skills more. Although my recent designs are getting better, I feel like something is missing. I want to be proud of my handiwork.

I am glad you are taking it with more seriousness. I think you are doing great. With a little more effort, you can even surpass me. Ciara also praised your recent designs in her letter to me. I will say this one thing: don’t take it as a hobby. Think about it. Don’t get me wrong, I am not belittling your teaching job. You can start thinking about it as an alternative means of income. Though I know your answer, you will tell me you don’t need money. Angie, everybody needs financial stability. It is just that some make it a lifetime career that they forget what truly matters. Grandpa Philip moved his knight two squares horizontally while Angie made a promotion move to end the game.

And what is it that matters?

Family and relationship! It is only at the end of our lives that we tend to realize it, and by then, it is almost too late for rectification. Don’t be like this old fool.

Angie stood up to move closer to the old man, and then placed her hand around old Philip’s shoulder to console him. Grandpa, do you have any regrets in life? Something you wish you could have done better?

As usual, my Angie is too smart. Everybody does, but don’t make yours too obvious for others to point out.

So, what is your greatest regret in life, Grandpa?

Family and relationship. That’s enough conversation for one day. I am too tired to bicker with you . . . these old bones need resting.

It had been more than three years since the conversation transpired between Angie Modicum and Grandpa Philip Modicum, but it always triggered all the neurons in Angie’s brain each time she remembered those conversations. For it was the only moment and the closest truth Grandpa Philip ever shared with her in the entire Modicum family’s darkest secret. She drove straight into the property and was welcomed by the housekeeper, Mrs. Jerkins. It was the second time of her visit to the Leister mansion since the passing of the old man. The two women greeted each other and was later joined by Mr. Jerkins. Angie didn’t stay long, she only came by to pick one of her old designs, and