This is a bonus for the public holiday. Enjoy!
âI donât want to go with her.â
Toniâs lips pressed together in a silent sigh. She had this overwhelming fatigue she couldnât do away with. Duke woke up with a fever and Ruby with a mood. Both of them were to spend the weekend with Nkechi as directed by the court. Toni had won full custody while Nkechi was given visitation rights. She was allowed one weekend with the children in a month and also one of the holidays in the year. The judgeâs final decision hadnât gone well with her, but so far she was being mature about it. She wasnât the only one upset over the new turn events. Ruby had fostered a temper since Toni broke the news to her.
âRuby, babyâŠâ Toni sat on a kitchen stool beside her. She was engaged in her favorite pastime of coloring while her mother waited for her in the living room. âItâs just for the weekendâŠâ
âShe doesnât love us! She left us and left daddy when he was sick! I hate her!â
Toni looked to Leticia for help. Leticia, standing by the kitchen window, returned the look with a blank face.
âYou canât hate your mommy, Ru.â
âBut I do.â
âShhhâŠstop saying that.â
âShe hates us.â
âShe doesnât. If she did, she wonât be here.â Toni almost bit her tongue for her lies. âSheâs made some mistakes but sheâs here to undo them. Give her a chance.â
âNever.â
Toni remembered Markâs words in one of his videos about Ruby. She can be an unforgiving little brat. Try never to hurt her.
âOkay, promise me one thingâŠâ
Ruby maintained her frown.
âPromise me, Ru.â
âWhat?â
âThat you will try not to cuss at her or be disrespectful and that you will take good care of Duke while youâre there.â
Ruby stopped moving the felt pen in her hand. âIâll try.â
âAnd youâll watch everything your mommy does very well,â Leticia added. Toni gave her a side glance. âIf she hits you, call me immediately.â
âYes, Aunty Tisha.â
âThatâs my girl.â
âCall me anytime you feel like, okay?â Toni requested, rising up. Ruby nodded. Toni picked the childrenâs overnight bags and together they went into the living room. Nkechi was seated with Duke. He was cuddled to her chest. The sight made Toni jealous.
âAre you ready?â Nkechi asked Ruby. The girl gave no response. She shifted backwards, leaning on Toni.
âItâs okay, darling.â Toni rested a hand on her shoulder as Nkechi rose up. âTomorrow evening, Nkechi. No later than 6 p.m.â
âWeâll be going to church for an evening programâŠâ
âNo later than six, Nkechi.â
âEbube, letâs go,â Nkechi stretched out her free hand to Ruby. The girl ignored it and walked ahead of her. Toni followed them with the bags and ensured that the kids were both seated safely in the backseat of Nkechiâs car. She stood until they drove out of sight. She muttered a prayer of protection for them. These days she was learning to pray, although she wasnât sure whom she was praying to or even if she was doing it properly. She had silently uttered gratitude after the judgeâs final decision at court a few days ago. She simply wanted to be grateful for being considered worthy enough to take care of the children that had changed her life and come to mean so much to her in a short while. According to Khanyi, her love for Ruby and Duke was a projection of what she still felt for their father. Toni had disagreed with her, assuring her that what she felt for them was in many ways stronger than what she had borne for Mark. And this was the truth, which was why it was particularly painful to see them leave her presence with their mother.
When she returned to the house, Leticia was waiting with a glass of wine.
âThis early morning?â Toni asked, taking the glass from her.
âWe have too many bottles in the house. We should look for every reason to finish them.â
âSo whatâs this one for?â
âYou successfully cutting your apron strings without drama. Weâll also be toasting to the fact that you had a civil conversation with me yesterday on the topic of masturbation.â
Toni hissed.
âYou said if your dry spell continued you might try it.â
âDid it occur to you that I was sleepy when I said that?â Toni began towards her room.
âBut it was said still. Iâll get you a beautiful rabbit dildo.â
âPlease donât.â
âOr just go back to Andre.â
Toni placed her glass of wine on her dressing table and gave Leticia a sharp stare. âIâll slap you the next time you mention that name out of nowhere.â
âWhat if I ease into mentioning it?â
âI donât want this conversation to continue, Tish.â
âYou want to go back to himâŠâ
âYouâre not listening.â Toni began undressing.
âYou miss himâŠâ
âShut up, Tish.â
âYou desperately need himââ
âHe has a girlfriend!â
Leticiaâs face fell slowly like melting wax. âWhat? When?â
âWho cares? Iâm done with him anyways.â
Toni went into the bathroom. Leticia followed. âYou saw them together?â
âHe told me himself. Tochi also told me. Theyâve been a thing for a while.â
âOh God.â Leticia downed her drink. âWe have to break them up ASAP.â
Pushing her weave into a shower cap, Toni stepped into the shower stall. âWe have to do nothing.â
âIâm having a mini heart attack.â Leticia clutched her chest and slid to the floor dramatically. Toni was forced into laughter, but it wasnât the happy kind. Her heart was also experiencing its own pain. She hadnât been herself since Andre confirmed Tochiâs words about his present relationship status.
âAnnoying Frenchman,â Leticia muttered, eyes lined with tears.
âYou can say that again.â A spurt of water from the shower head squirted on Toni and she shut her eyes. For the stretch of time that she bathed, all she could think about was the children. They were her safe place when memories of Andre tried to get into her head to destabilize her.
âLetâs go to the spa,â Leticia said out of her melancholy. Somehow she had managed to top her glass of wine. âIâll pay. Letâs just go and get pampered and forget life for a while abeg. Dre is getting me depressed.â
The spa was a new one, not far from where they lived. Toni and Leticia had facials, deep body massages and finally sat to sip tasty smoothies as they received pedicures. It was while Toni was in the middle of explaining to the smiley-faced Filipino woman who was painting her toenails how she wanted it done that Imadeâs wife suddenly walked in.
She was an intimidating woman with a tall frame and skin so fair that from afar she looked Caucasian. Rose-read lips pursed in snobbishness showed a frown as she went towards Toni and stood before her. She had on a ruffled cotton-chambray shirtdress. Toni suspected it was a Burberry. Some chick had stopped by at the office a few weeks ago to sell a knockoff version of it.
âIâd like a word with you, Antonia.â
Always in control of every situation she found herself, Toni showed no reaction. She straightened her posture slowly and asked one of the pedicurists to give her intruder a foot massage.
âIâm not here for that.â
âNeither am I here for a word with you. We can compromise as you sit and accept a foot massage while I listen to what you have to say.â
The woman gave in, settling into a chair that was placed beside Toniâs.
âIs your friend going to be sitting with us?â she asked.
âYes.â Toni found herself liking the huskiness of the womanâs voice. She had never been a fan of her TV show. She had always considered her too feminine-centered.
âSo whatâs this intrusion of my private time about?â
âFor starters, stop seeing my husband.â
Toni tried not to display her default arrogant smile which always appeared whenever she was facing an antagonist.
âI was just joking.â The woman smiled, slipping out of a pair of heels. âRelax. Imade and I have an avant-garde marriage. Our arrangement is solely for business. We were never in love, and I doubt that weâll ever be. He wanted to buy my fatherâs company; I, on the other hand, saw the potential in him to become great. Contracts were signed and we became husband and wife. We are both allowed to have side pieces as long as the pieces do not threaten the marriage itself or the business reputation of either of us.â
Toni hated to be referred to as a side piece.
âAnd thatâs why Iâm here, really.â Rita pulled out a long white envelope from her handbag. âTry not to gasp,â she said, handing the envelope to Toni.
Toni took out photographs that depicted Rita and a man having sex in various positions at different times and locations. âThose pictures were taken over a span of six years. There are more. I had no idea that I was being watched. The manâŠheâs Imadeâs cousin. Iâm sure you know him. It was his father who committed suicide, whom Imade took over from at CIPRON Oil.â
Without meaning to, Toni made a frown.
âYes, judge me, but when you love somebody, nothing matters. I love Malcolm. I was stupid to think that Imade wouldnât find out about us. Heâs done so and now heâs threatening to divorce me right at the moment we began planning to have our first baby together.â
âBaby?â Leticia tossed out her head to look at Rita. âArenât you like old?â
âWhy is she talking?â Rita questioned.
âBut you are allowed side pieces?â Toni asked.
âNot family members or close friends. I crossed the line with Malcolm, and Iâm going to get punished. He will divorce me and give me next to nothing. I wonât even get my fatherâs company back.â
âOkay.â Toni returned the pictures to the envelope. âHard luck.â
Toni saw pain in Ritaâs eyes that disappeared with a fluttering of long eyelashes. âI am going to lose everything, Antonia, including the baby Iâm supposed to have with Imade. Malcom has dumped me already because he doesnât want a scandal. I canât afford to lose what I helped Imade build through the years. Iâve lowered my pride and begged and cried but he wonât budge. He wants to get rid of me. The moment those pictures are released, itâs enough grounds for him to divorce me, based on our marriage contract.â
âIâm really sorry, Rita. But I still donât see how this is my business.â
âImade is crazy about you, Antonia. I know my husband well and I know when he falls in love. Heâs been in love with you for years and now that he has you, heâs not going to let you go.â
âSo?â
âHe will listen to anything you tell him.â
âAnd you want me toâŠ?â
âSecure my place.â
âMrs. Harrison, I donât want to get involved in this.â
âBut you already are.â Rita pulled out a second envelope. Toni took it from her warily. Within it were pictures of her and Imade having sex.
âIâm as dangerous as he is. Thatâs what he fails to understand.â
âSo, let me get this straight⊠Both of you signed a contract, agreeing to have an open marriage and yet you wouldnât trust each other? Youâre both sickos.â
âNo, we understand each other very well.â
Toni returned the envelope to her. âThen show him these and threaten to let the world know.â
âHeâll laugh in my face and dare me to do my worst.â
âNot with me in those pictures. Imade would never play with my privacy like that. But you know what? Iâm done with him anyways. You can have your husband back.â
âOh, you dare not leave him now, Antonia.â The menace in Ritaâs tone elicited a grunt from Leticia. âWeâre in this together. Me and you. You will continue what you both have and ensure that my place in his life is secure. When you speak to me about him, he will ask something of you in return to accede to your request. You will give him whatever he asks for.â
Toniâs laughter was long and scornful. âMadam, you are out of your mind.â
Rita dropped a hand on Toniâs knee. Toni looked at her after. âI have lowered my pride to come to you,â she said almost inaudibly. âAnd this is because you are a woman of substance in your own right. I know you are smart too and youâll do the right thing.â
âIâm doing nothing. You and Imade should sort your weirdness out.â
âAntonia, I am not a woman to be toyed with. I have done everything to see Imade where he is today. Everything. And in that same way I would bring him and anyone else down who stands in the way of my intentions.â She let out a dry smile. âBut we wonât have to get to that if you do your part.â
Rita lifted her hand off Toniâs knee and picked her handbag.
âThanks for the foot massage.â
She rose up, slipped her feet into her heels and walked off.
âThat is the strangest conversation ever had between a wife and sidechick,â Leticia commented, slurping noisily from her straw.
âNot the best time for your wisecracks, Tish.â
âI warned you about Imade. I told you he was trouble.â
Toni stirred her smoothie, replying nothing to Leticia.
âWhat is paining me in this whole thing is that I have to pay for her foot massage as well.â
Toni drew out a debit card from her handbag. She handed it to Leticia.
âI was just kidding. The treat is still on me.â
âNo, itâs on Imade. He and his wife are about to drag me into some shit that stinks badly. We can as well start enjoying the benefits of it.â
Leticia accepted the card with a wild smile.
***
Salma was taken. From the moment he showed up at her door a few months ago, looking casual in t-shirt and jeans with stringy dreadlocks packed in a short ponytail, bulgy eyes gazing into hers with a questioning look, she knew she was going to fall for him.
âWho are you?â she had asked.
âIâm Maliq. I came to make your hair.â
Salma touched her hair as if just remembering that it existed. âSorry, I donât understand.â
âComfort told me you needed a hairstylist.â
âOh.â
Salma and Comfort had developed a weird bond. When both women stopped making Raji the mutual denominator in their lives, they found a common ground and worked on their issues. Raheemâs little accident might have also been responsible. Salma had been helpful during the period, making a mark on Comfort with her kindness. They managed an open-minded rapport these days. Sometimes when Comfort stopped over to pick Raheem, she stayed for a glass or two of zobo. Sometimes it was Salma who stayed longer than she should at Comfortâs. They would speak about the kids, and once in a while, about Raji. One of the days, Salma had been bold enough to ask Comfort if she had slept with Folarin.
âNo.â
âDonât you want to?â
âNo.â
âI wish you did, just to make sure Christieâs heart gets broken a million times over.â
âSalma!â Both ladies laughed and then Comfort went serious. âWhy donât you hate me the way you hate her?â
âBecause you were not my friend, lying to my face, while you slept with my husband.â
âChristie has changed.â
âAnd that change has nothing to do with me. But seriously, sleep with Folarin if you want to.â
Comfort shook her head. âIâm no longer that person. And Folarin is too much of a good man to try that nonsense with.â
They hadnât had another conversation after that. It was as if both of them were scared to let what they had delve deeper. So they maintained it on the surface, keeping it cordial and respectful. Salmaâs hairstylist, five months ago, had relocated to Canada without informing her. She had only found out when she tried the womanâs line and someone else picked up the call and delivered the not-so-happy news. Comfort had been at the house that day.
âMy hairstylist is good,â she had said. âI could give him a call on your behalf.â
Salma hadnât heard the âhimâ in Comfortâs statement.
âWhen do you want to do your hair?â
âTomorrow.â
âWhat style?â
Salma showed her a picture on her phone.
âGhana weaving. Iâll tell him.â
Again, Salma missed the âhimâ, which was why she stood confused when Maliq materialized at her doorstep the next morning.
âHairstylist?â
âAre you not Mrs. Salma? Am I in the wrong house? Comfort gave me this address, and your gateman let me in.â
âGive me a moment.â
Salma shut the door and made a quick phone call to Comfort.
âYour hairdresser is a guy?â
âYeah. Maliq.â
âYou didnât tell me.â
âI kept saying âheâ.â
âSeriously, I donât recall.â
âDoes the fact that heâs a guy bother you? Heâs really good and respects women, if youâre scared about having him in your house.â
âNo, no. Itâs just that I didnât know heâd be a guy.â
âJust give him a try. Youâll not regret it.â
âOkay.â
Salma hung up. She stood before a mirror that was hanging off the wall beside the door. Her casual garb of yoga pants and a boyfriend tee gave her a modest appearance. She exhaled and opened the door again.
âCome in.â
Thus Maliq walked into her life, bringing along his magic fingers and calm persona. They became friends in no time. She found out that he was just a few months older than she was, his other name was Taiye because he was a twin, he had never been married, and had a post graduate degree in political science. But he didnât like discussing politics, or hairdressing. He also didnât have that quasi-gay manner many male hairstylists bore. He was all masculine.
Ensuring that he put food on his table, Maliq sometimes engaged in culinary services as a side hustle. Financially, he was nowhere near Raji. In fact, he was so way down the ladder that Salma sometimes wondered if something beyond the ordinary was responsible for her attraction of him. The interesting part was that he had no idea how she felt. He appeared and disappeared from her life every time she wanted to make her hair, which was now more frequent than it used to be. Sometimes she would call him over just to have him change her nail polish, something she knew well to do. She would then keep him engaged in long conversations until he asked to leave. This was usually done in her office. Raji had opened a supermarket for her that was located a short distance from the estate in which she lived. So far, it was a success. The place kept her busy all day; sometimes, into the night. She basked in the elation of knowing she was no longer a responsibility to Raji. There was something freeing about making oneâs money, and not even the stress that came with the business dampened the feeling.
Maliq sometimes helped her with her account books whenever he stopped by. He was good with figures. He was a devout Muslim too â something she absolutely adored about him. One had to get to know him before one realized how committed he was to his faith. Salma drooled over the way he dressed. He was the poster boy for Ankara outfits, always tailored to his lanky frame, with a new design on each attire. Sparsely-bearded, smelling wealthier than he looked, he struck an appearance of style which Raji lacked. Salma would sit in her office and stare at him discreetly each time he entered the premises. She had no plans to let him know how she felt; she was going to nurse her crush until it died or Maliq disappeared from her life.
This afternoon he was here to help her with planning Deejah and Leelahâs birthday party. Salma had always employed the services of an event company to handle the celebration, but this year she wanted something simple. She had casually mentioned it to Maliqâs hearing and he had suggested contacting a cousin of his who was just starting out in the business to take over the planning of the birthday.
âI want to do it myself,â Salma reiterated as he crafted an intricate henna tattoo on her feet.
âMy cousin will handle the stress, and then you can take over the major aspects.â
âThatâs fine.â
A wasp buzzed past her face from nowhere and she jumped up in fright, kicking Maliq in the face and making a mess of all he had done.
âI am so sorry, Maliq.â Salma covered her mouth apologetically, still trying to dodge the buzzing insect.
âItâs okay.â Maliq was more interested in killing the wasp than wiping off the smudge of henna on his face. When he finally smashed a book over the creature, he gazed at Salma with a victorious smile, and for a second it seemed like there was a look in his eyes that was laced with meaning, but he turned away, picking a towel to wipe his face.
âWeâll start again.â
Salma apologized once more and called an employee to bring a bowl of water for her feet. When the bowl was brought, Maliq insisted on washing off the henna himself. His hands were soft and gentle, and maybe a little too unhurried, but Salma laid no complaint.
âYou should go to a spa for a foot massage. You badly need one.â
âMe?â
Maliq didnât respond. He had a habit of not responding to questions that had obvious answers.
âI would have done it but I donât give massages to women.â
âOh.â
The door burst in and Raji made an appearance. His eyes dropped on Maliq and moved to Salmaâs feet and then all the way to her face. Maliq sized him up with a single look.
âHey, sweetie,â Raji greeted.
âGood morning, Raji.â Salma kept her tone formal.
âA word, please?â
Salma let her feet down and into a pair of slippers. âOne minute, Maliq.â
She followed Raji outside. His visit was about a piece of land beside her supermarket he was interested in acquiring. He wanted to know if she was okay with the idea. In other words, he was just looking for a reason to see her face. Ever since she stopped being intimate with him a short while ago, he had been doing everything to get back in the sheets with her.
âMaybe we should have dinner to discuss about the land in detail?â
âRaj, stop. I told you Iâm not going back to us.â
âSalmaâŠâ
âWe both have to move on.â
âI canât.â
âTry.â She touched his cheek. She still loved him, but he wasnât good for her. She didn’t think they could work as a couple.
âWeâll still talk about the land. Iâm trying to negotiate a good deal. Iâm broke.â
âYouâll be fine.â
His eyes lingered on her in that manner they did anytime he wanted to do more than talk. âLet me run. See you tomorrow?â
Salma nodded and got an unexpected kiss from him. She didnât fight him. She still loved kissing him. Getting rid of him was going to be harder than she thought. When he left and she returned to Maliq, she found that she had gotten into a mood.
âLetâs hold off on the lalĂ© and talk about the party.â
âOkay.â
Maliqâs phone rang. He left the office to take the call. Salma watched him from her glass wall. He couldnât see her but it seemed like he was staring back at her. His bulging eyes that constantly gave him a curious expression were now tapered in her direction. He was laughing. It wasnât something one saw often, and now that he did it, she saw that his teeth were whiter than she had imagined because they were set against dark gums. Salma felt another mood coming on her as she wondered why she felt drawn towards him. Wasnât she tired of men? Hadnât Raji hurt her enough?
She looked away from the wall and picked up her phone to get lost in it. She needed someone to advise her on what to do with her wayward feelings. She dialed Folarinâs number.
***
Folarinâs ringing phone startled Christie. She looked about her and saw the device connected to a socket on the wall, resting on the fridge. She hurried towards it and rejected the call before she realized it was Salma calling. Christie switched on the silent mode.
Folarin was asleep, probably tired from keeping a long night with Tamilore. The girl was teething and generally irritable. Christie would have had her for the night but she had been at the office with her creative team until 2 a.m. She then enjoyed a stretch of three-hour sleep before packing what little she could from her apartment and decided it was time to come home to Folarin. She wanted it to be a surprise, so she snuck in through the backdoor and tiptoed to their bedroom to find him asleep with the infant in his hold. Not wanting to disturb the daddy and daughter moment, Christie returned to the kitchen and fixed breakfast before proceeding to clean the place. It wasnât particularly dirty; it was just that she had missed her home.
She cleaned the living room and guestroom as well. Afterwards, she had a shower and returned to the kitchen for a bowl of cereal. Just about to get a pack of milk from the fridge, she felt fingers run up her sides. Christie let out a yelp, bursting into giggles as Folarin trapped her in a snug hug.
âThereâs a stranger in my kitchen,â he said playfully. His fingers continued to tickle her as he nibbled on her earlobe and neck. Christie escaped his clutch but he caught her again, lifting her off the floor and sending her into squeals of laughter. Their moment was disrupted with a tap on the door. Vanessa was staring at them, eyes heavy with sleep.
âI heard you screaming and I thought something was wrong.â She frowned, rubbing her eyes. âYou woke me up.â
âHow about good morning, Mommy?â Christie asked.
âGood morning, Mommy. Good morning, Daddy. Iâm going back to sleep.â
She had scarcely disappeared when Folarin resumed his naughtiness which finally saw Christie on the kitchen table with her arms around his neck.
âAre you here to stay?â he asked.
âYes. Until we fight and I remember I have my own apartment.â
Folarin rested both hands on the table and kissed her forehead. âDonât go away again. I never wanted you out of here in the first place.â
âMe too, but you needed your distance. Was it worth it, though?â
âMmmmâŠâ he moaned into her ear. âYou smell soooooo good.â
âYouâre evading the question.â
âI so want to eat every part of you.â
Christie abandoned her line of reasoning and went for his lips. She found them warm and wet. Her kiss was thick with bliss. She clung to Folarinâs neck, moaning each time their lips separated, clutching him tighter when they reconnected.
âItâs been almost a year,â she told him. Her eyes glistened. âI want to remember how it feels to feel you.â
Folarin drew her off the table, her legs wrapped around him. They began towards the guestroom but the sudden barging in of Cyrus Junior through the front door interrupted them.
âOops.â He stopped. âIâm sorry.â
Christie let herself down. âHey CJ.â
âHi, Mom. Good morning, Dad.â
Folarin nodded in response.
âIâve been calling your phone, Mom.â
âItâs on silent and in my handbag and my handbag is in my room.â
âI figured. I went to the house and it was locked. I guessed youâd be here.â
âIs everything okay?â
âYeah. Yeah, everythingâs cool. Just wanted to hang out with you guys. With everyone.â
âWith everyone? On a Saturday? This early?â
âYeah. Weâre family, right?â
Christie felt his comportment was odd. He never spent his Saturdays with her. He was most times passed out after clubbing the night before.
âAre you high, CJ?â she asked in the sweetest tone.
âNo.â
âDrunk?â
âNo.â He laughed. âCanât I just come home and be with my parents and sisters again? I miss us as a family.â
Christie looked at Folarin. She saw suspicion on his face as well.
âIs the police after you?â
Laughing again, Cyrus Junior headed in the direction of the kitchen. âEverythingâs chill, mom. Stop stressing.â
She got a peck on the cheek from him as he walked past.
âOdd,â she whispered to Folarin.
When the boy reappeared again he had drinks with him. âI love you guys. Dad, Iâm sorry for what I did. Itâs never going to happen again. I love you.â
Folarin crossed his arms across his chest. âWhat is going on, Cyrus?â
âDrinks?â He waved the canned beers at them, smiling.
âCJ?â Christie called inquiringly.
âOkay, sit. I have something to tell you.â
His parents remained standing.
âPlease?â
They sat together, hands held in each otherâs. Cyrus Junior took the couch opposite theirs.
âWere you rusticated from school?â Christie questioned. âBecause if you were, I promise you Iâm sending your ass off to Covenant and youâll be starting from Hundred Level.â
âIâm still in school.â He opened all three cans and took a long gulp from one, burped and faced his parents. âMom, Dad⊠I think I might have gotten my girlfriend pregnant.â
He went for a second gulp which was longer than the first. When he put the can down, he looked from Christie to Folarin.
âI hope this is a joke, CJ,â Folarin said.
âNo. Sheâs pregnant and she wants to have an abortion and I donât want her to. Iâm going to be a dad.â
Christie was quiet. She wasnât sure she understood his words or what was happening. She stared at him blankly.
âMom? Are you okay?â
âShe doesnât understand what you just told her. Repeat yourself.â
Cyrus Junior had a go at the second can of lite beer and it was only when the last drop went down his throat that the news hit Christie.
âOh my God!â She gasped like one coming out of a trance. âYou did what?!â
âMom, chillâŠâ
âCyrus Junior Ekpenyong, you better be joking right now! Tell me you are joking!â
âIâm sorry, Mom.â
âPregnant? You got a girl pregnant? Are you crazy? What is wrong with you?”
Cyrus Junior went for the third can as Christieâs eyes came to tears.
âThis girlâŠwho is she?â Folarin asked.
âLily. You donât know her.â
âWho are her parents?â
âI never met them. Theyâre not rich, though. She can barely even take care of herselfââ
âAnd you got her pregnant? Oh God! What is wrong with you? Why would you be so careless and so stupid?â
âCalm down, Chris.â
But Christie was just getting started. Folarin and Cyrus Junior sat in silence as she expended her emotions in an outburst. It went on for a while and when she finally stopped, she rose to her feet.
âIâm calling Cyrus. He has to knowâŠâ
âMom, please⊠Please, donât call him.â
âCall him,â Folarin instructed.
âCome on, Dad. Please, donât. You know heâs extra. Heâll tell me to get married to her or even worse. Donât call him.â
âThis is a serious situation, Cyrus JuniorâŠâ
âI know.â
âYour father has to be involved.â
Christie disappeared into her bedroom. She slumped on the bed and broke down, stirring Tamilore awake. The infant crawled up to her and lay on her lap. She took out her phone from her handbag as Tamilore tried to find her way to her breasts.
âTami, no. Stop it.â Christie pushed her away. She protested with a cry but Christie ignored her and connected with Cyrus. She explained the situation to him; he promised to come over before sundown.
âStop crying, Chrissie.â
âIâve failed as a mother. I was not a good example to him.â
âShut up, dear. Youâve been an amazing mother, considering everything. Relax. Donât let it stress you. Iâll be there when Iâm through with business here.â
A crippling feeling came over Christie when Cyrus got off the line. Tamilore demanded for her attention with a whimper. Christie picked her off the floor where she had fallen and covered her face with kisses and tears. She undressed her and was in the process of taking her to the bathroom for a shower when Folarin walked in.
âThe girl will be coming over.â
âWhat girl?â
âCJâs girlfriend.â
âI donât want to see her.â
âYou have to, Chris.â
âThis is not happening, Fola. I donât want to believe itâs happening.â
âHe showed me the pregnancy test results and a picture of an ultrasound. Itâs happening. Weâre going to be grandparents.â
Christieâs knees almost gave way. Folarin took Tamilore off her hands. âHey. Itâs going to be fine. Itâs not the end of the world.â
âIâm a bad motherâŠâ
âYou are not.â Folarin left her with a kiss before he took Tamilore into the bathroom. Christie returned to the bed. Her thoughts threw her into her past recalling the day she had given birth to Cyrus Junior. She had hated him at first sight after two days of active labor. Everyone who was in the room with herâCyrusâ aunt and sisters and her motherâgushed over him.
Heâs so handsome.
Most beautiful baby Iâve ever seen.
This one na oyinbo.
Christie, you gave birth to your carbon copy o.
Heâs an angel.
But Christie had felt nothing for him. All she saw was Solomon. When her mom placed Cyrus in her arms, she held him awkwardly and kept her face on the wall ahead of her. Memories of what Solomon had done to her along the years forced her into tears. Cyrus Junior was taken from her and a week would go by before she would hold him again. That second time he had looked up at her, but her mother said he was still unable to see. Christie passed him back to her in a hurry. That night, Solomon came into her room, bringing him along. He lay on her bed and placed him between them.
âOur son. He looks just like you.â
âPlease, take him away.â
âYou need to get used to him, Christina. We made him together.â
Christie jumped off the bed and backed away from father and son as far as she could. âTake him away!â
âChristinaâŠâ Solomon rose up. He seemed surprised at her behavior. âWhat is wrong with you?â
âTake him away! I donât want to see him! Get out!â
Their mother charged in. âWhatâs going on?â
âI told him I donât want to see him but heâs not listening!â
âSolomon, you took the baby from his cot? What is wrong with you?â The woman snatched Cyrus Junior from him. âSolo, stop disturbing your sister.â
She hurried out. Solomon went to Christie with slow, deliberate steps. He arrested her eyes in his.
âYou hate him.â
âLeave me!â She slammed her palms on his chest.
âBut heâs never going away. He is your son. He is my son. Both of us made him. Nothing is ever going to change that.â
Solomon tried to touch Christie but she broke away and ran into the bathroom. She shut herself in until the next morning when her father broke the door and dragged her out. Christie was depressed for weeks, cut off from everyone. She heard Cyrus Juniorâs cries, felt her body stir towards him in a way she didnât understand, but no matter how much she longed for him, she couldnât bring herself to touch him. School started, giving her the escape she needed from her life. She saw him on the occasion. Not even her marriage to Cyrus a year later and the freedom from her family pushed her into accepting the boy. He only became a part of her existence after her parents passed away. It was difficult to be affectionate towards him, but with Cyrusâ help they developed a relationship as the years went by. Folarin had then come into her life and helped heal the chasm between them.
Christie had never considered herself a good mother. The men in her life were better parents than she was. In many ways she believed she had let Cyrus Junior down. She wasnât surprised that he was towing the path she had towed by becoming a single parent. She longed to go back and start from the scratch â to hold him closely when he came into the world and had only her to look up to, to watch him grow and be there for him at the major milestones of his life and every other day when he needed her. If only she could⊠Maybe it would fix some foundational issues that were never addressed. Maybe this mess they were in could be avoided.
Folarin returned to the bedroom with Tamilore. Christie didnât feel like it but she insisted on dressing her up and feeding her. When she went to pick a change of clothes for her, Tamilore crawled off the bed to the floor and set her feet into motion in Christieâs direction. Christie stopped.
âSheâs walking.â She held her breath. âMy baby is walking. Chief, look!â
Tamilore displayed a toothy smile, stopped in her tracks and called out for the first time, âMama.â
Christie had her hand to her chest as her eyes watered. Smiling to himself, Folarin made his way out of the bedroom.
***
âArenât you going to wake up?â
A soft palm caressed his cheek as the unmistakable feel of heavy breasts rested on his chest.
Andre opened his eyes. Camille was smiling into his face. He thought she looked perfect. Too perfect. He saw she had makeup on, and it just occurred to him that he had never seen her without makeup. He doubted that she would look unappealing but he was curious to know what she would look like bare-faced.
âDream about me?â she asked in French.
âAlways,â he lied in French. She laughed and rested her head on his chest.
âSimone just left. She took Jozi for the weekend. We have the house to ourselves.â She lifted her head again. âWhat do you want to do from now until Monday morning?â
Think about Arinola.
Andre was scared that his thoughts might have made it through his lips and so he pulled Camille closer and kissed her. She tasted like chocolate while he tasted like stale wine. He made a comment about that and she laughed.
âYou know I donât mind.â
âLet me wash out the sewage in my mouth.â
He left the bed, nursing a morning boner Camille tried to toy with as he walked away. In the bathroom, he took a leak and brushed his teeth. When he opened the door, Camille had breakfast laid on the bed. Again, he thought to himself that she was too perfect. She ticked everything on his ideal list for what a textbook wife should do and have.
Commendable character traits
Motherly instincts
Intelligence
Sexual skills
Culinary skills
Religious attributes
Enterprising nature
She made the average woman come off as plain, in addition to possessing a body that constantly made it hard for him to think rationally. Andre was sure Camille was his dream woman. The only problem was that he stopped dreaming about the ideal woman a long time ago and fell in love with what the dice cast for him which was Toni. It didnât matter that she constantly liked to pretend that he meant nothing to her or that she had no qualms falling into another manâs arms just to prove a point to him. None of that mattered to Andre. She was all he wanted, even now that Camille made it her occupation to keep him from looking elsewhere. He was certain that if he ended up marrying Camille, he was going to make Toni his lifelong mistress. But it was not an idea he toyed with. Toni was too much of a woman to be a sidechick. It was a pity she didnât realize that.
âClassic French breakfast of croissant with tartine, juice and cafĂ© au lait,â Camille announced, smiling proudly. Andre wasnât hungry for food. He was hungry for the curvaceous goodness beneath her nightshirt. He was one of the numerous men who could conveniently get lost in the body of a woman while tethering his heart to another.
He had met Camille at a function organized by an Ivoirian for Ivoirians living in Nigeria. She had caught his eyes when she made an entrance. Every man in the place and even the women couldnât help but ogle the dark, curvaceous eye candy she was. It was one of those days when Andre felt the world was at his feet because of certain entrepreneurial victories, and thus he indulged in thoughts of rewarding himself with the slim but shapely goodness of Camilleâs body. When lunch was served, he took up the space beside her and learned a few things about her. She was half-Ivoirian and half-Togolese but had lived most of her life in France and was now in Nigeria to pursue her dreams. For leisure, she loved swimming, baking and spending time with kids.
âI am that aunty everyone leaves their children with,â she had said in her heavy French accent, laughing as Andre watched her in fascination. They spent that night in a hotel and it turned out more pleasurable than anticipated, with the exception of the moments when he mentally kept comparing her to Toni. He hadnât expected to see her after that but they bumped into each other at a supermarket. She was with her friendâs children and he was with Jozi. They had lunch together as the kids occupied themselves with games and other distractions.
âI want to see you again, Andre. I really like you.â
Andre gave a quizzical look that pushed Camille into laughter. He didnât like his women hitting on him, but he was going to make an exception with her. He needed the distraction.
They began with lunch and dinner dates. She was a talker; he was done opening up to women, so heâd sit and listen, hand beneath his chin. She made all the moves, from kisses to inviting him to her home and subsequently showing up at his. He simply went with the flow.
âThat look in your eyesâŠâ
Camille walked towards him slowly as he stood by the bathroom door. At the sight of her nipples pushing through the thin fabric of her top, he felt a certain type of weariness that had plagued him since Toni left his life. He was weary of himself, tired of his ways, annoyed that he had used his own hands to sour his soup. Things he now did for leisure and fun left him feeling sullen. There was no satisfaction beyond the somatic. And just like he had done twice the night before, he would make love to Camille and forget about her the instant it was over, even as she remained in his arms.
âYouâre a very quiet man, you know that?â
âThatâ was pronounced as âzatâ. She had an exotic tongue and an outlandish body. But her mind was plain. Toniâs mind was an endless journey to places he had never been.
Camille drew him into the bathroom and shut the door. She put her arms around him. His hands palmed her bum. His body responded to hers in arousal. It was she who demanded for his lips, she who touched him knowingly, she who opened up herself to him. When they were over, he thought to himself that someday soon she would come to realize how much she was putting into them and how little he contributed. That dayâŠor night, she would get tired of him and walk away. Meanwhile, he would enjoy what she had to offer while seeking another opportunity to get back with Toni. He and Leticia had a plan in the works. He wasnât confident it would fall through, but he was going to give it all he got when the time came. Toni must return to him no matter what it took.
©Sally@moskedapages
Thank you Sally for this. I miss Toni and Andre, I pray they work it out. Why do I feel Maliq has a sinister agenda?
Well we’ll see how it goes.
Thank you, Mariam