Sometimes the heart…#36–39

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First loves don’t always fade. Sometimes they wait. A story about second chances, soulful glances, and the roads we take to find our way back.

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Read: Sometimes the heart…#32–35

36.

By the next morning, she renewed her efforts and tracked Mrs. Fawaz to the cafeteria where the other woman polished off some unidentified meal at a corner with coffee as she alternated between her mobile and a tablet in front of her.

Adaobi hardly did breakfast; a cup of coffee held her together until 11 am or noon, when she indulged in a hearty brunch.

To occupy the same space with Mrs. Fawaz and appear in her line of vision, Adaobi feigned interest in the spread of freshly baked snacks displayed at the counter, raising her voice slightly as she asked for their prices. She also inquired about Mrs. Fawaz’s food and was told the other woman had walked in with it.

Mrs. Fawaz’s head stayed lowered and focused, even as more staff streamed into the cafeteria for their daily morning fix, increasing the noise level substantially.

After her purchase, Adaobi lingered, making small talk with other staff and one or two of her subordinates. Her eyes darted frequently in Mrs. Fawaz’s direction.

Still no luck. The woman seemed oblivious to her immediate surroundings.

Then Jide Attah ambled in and made a beeline for his boss in the corner. Adaobi watched. Mrs. Fawaz finally lifted her head, but Jide’s form partially obscured her view. Adaobi shifted a little to the right, positioning for optimum exposure as Mrs. Fawaz arose to her feet.

Minutes later as she strode by with Jide beside her, a chorus of ‘Good morning ma’ rose from the small gathering in the middle of the cafeteria.

Naji glanced sideways, her gaze sliding over about six staff in a blur of smiling faces. She acknowledged with a smile and a response without breaking her stride.

She’d woken up refreshed…and ravenous, craving something spicy and red. Thankfully, there remained some pieces of the chicken she’d given to Tayo three days prior. Three of them and piping hot cafeteria coffee had done the trick. She was ready for another day ahead.

Adaobi trailed her movements out of the cafeteria; Mrs. Fawaz hadn’t even noticed her. She felt like a sore loser.

Tayo stuck the glowing cigarette stick at the corner of his mouth and began to type. She wasn’t taking his calls but responding promptly to his messages.

Can I call you, please? He tapped out. It won’t take more than five minutes.

The reply took longer this time. When it came, it consisted of two letters: Ok.

He speed-dialled in a flash and took out the stick. ‘I’m sorry about yesterday.’ He began when she answered.

‘Ok.’ Her low voice was devoid of emotion.

‘What did you see?’

‘Does it matter?’ Still difficult to determine her emotional state.

‘Yes, Enajiomo.’

‘You and Ada in a…’ Her voice trailed off; now they were getting somewhere.

‘Look, she kiss -,’

‘Spare me the details, Tayo. You don’t owe me an explanation.’ The low tones rose slightly. More directions.

‘Don’t I?’ His rustic note challenged. ‘I thought we were on a break and not over.’

A beat. ‘Yes.’

‘And you’re fine with someone else kissing me?’

‘I didn’t say that.’ She paused. ‘You know what? Can we have the discussion we didn’t have yesterday? Can you, maybe, free up some time tomorrow?’

‘Sure, why not? Let’s sort this out and know where we both stand.’

‘Exactly!’

‘See you at noon!’

That went very well, didn’t it? Tayo thought, jamming the stick into his mouth once again, puffing furiously, his anger simmering like milk coming to a boil. Well played, Adaobi! Well played!

‘Kemi thinks something happened yesterday,’ Ruona said, ‘She doesn’t know what.’

Maro leaned against the door, one hand supporting his head, a pensive look on his face. ‘Hmm. And you girls are sure there’s trouble in paradise?’

Ruona nodded. ‘Since Saturday night. Tayo’s still smoking. Kemi hasn’t heard a telephone conversation between them. She says she always knows when they are on the phone together; her brother’s face is different,’ she went on. ‘Even before we left town, I hadn’t seen him in the house, and he’s forever here. That’s like three days ago. Not the norm.’

‘She should try asking her brother what’s up,’ Maro ventured mildly.

Ruona stared at him, shaking her head. ‘She doesn’t know how to.’ She paused. ‘Your brother is his bestie. Can you find out for us?’

He shrugged. ‘I don’t know. My brother and I may be chummy, but matters of the heart of his friends are a long shot,’ he explained. ‘Unless he starts the gist or there’s an opening somewhere. It’s not something we discuss freely.’

She sighed.

‘Aren’t you and your sister quite close? Why can’t you ask her directly and hear from the horse’s mouth?’

Her eyes widened. ‘Are you crazy? How would I even start? Where will I find the words to talk to my elder sister about her love life?!’

Maro’s expression became serious. ‘No, I’m not, but I’m crazy about you, Ogheneruona.’ The words tumbled out of nowhere. ‘I’d like us to go steady.’

The ensuing silence brought their surroundings into sharp focus for her. The gentle descent of twilight lighting the sky in burnt orange hues, creating indiscernible shadows. Two parallel lines of solar-powered streetlights resuming for the night shift. A steady stream of traffic as people returned from their various places of day jobs. Her sister’s white Civic in the driveway. And Maro finally expressed his feelings, shattering her illusions.

‘Say something, Rona,’ his deep tone urged gently.

Any words meant as a reply stuck in her throat. She wouldn’t even look at him. She didn’t know if she was more afraid of saying yes… or hearing him take it back. She turned away and fiddled with the locks, swinging the door wide open. ‘Goodnight, Maro.’ Was all she could muster eventually before making her way to the front door.

He didn’t go after her but waited until she was admitted inside before gunning the engine, making a U-turn and heading through the estate gates once again.

His expression hovered between mild confusion and indecision. He rubbed his shaven head. He’d promised to wait a while, allow some time to elapse for her recent break-up, then he’d declare his intentions.

Being close to her these past few days tested his resolve. He found himself falling harder for this long-haired beauty as she relaxed in his presence and opened up her world to him, invariably pulling him in.

He circled the roundabout. Had he just blown his chances with her?

Kemi: u r bck?

Ruona: Maro wntd 2 take mi clbbing 2mrw nite, dnt knw agn

Kemi: wat dya min?

Ruona’s next message detailed Maro’s declaration to Kemi who took her time responding to the revelation.

Kemi: ❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍 YAAAYYYY!!! Finally!

Ruona: u knw?!!

Kemi: eh naa. Iz he nt ma frnd?

Ruona: wat?

Kemi: wia did u tink all d taim spent wit u wuz goin 2? 2 b ur frnd? tlks nonstop abt u evrytaim, so wat did u say?

Ruona: I tld him gudnite

Kemi: ha! dnt u laik him?

Ruona: yes.

Kemi: den watsamata? u laik him, he’s craycray 4 u, gr8t combo.

Ruona: dnt knw, didnt xpt it

Kemi: ok, so wat do u want 2 do?

Ruona: I dnt knw, he’s clld 3x. ddnt pik. Snt a txt. Ddn’t rply.

Kemi: ah, y naa?

Ruona: dnt knw wat 2 say, awkwd

Kemi: slp on it den, u’ll fil beta 2 say yes 2mrw, hw’z ur sista?

Ruona: gon 2 bed, says she’s tayad. doesn’t knw y. 3rd day in a row, goin 2 d hsp 2mrw to chk hrslf. Tayo nko?

Kemi: hsnt cum home b4 930 dis wk

Ruona: wer u abl 2 fnd out wat hppnd yest?

Kemi: nutin o. suspt it wsnt gud, hed him tlkg to dr. steve on d fon las nite, sundd angry, cudnt mak out wat he wuz saying

Ruona: so u dnt knw if it has 2 do wit ma sista?

Kemi: nope

Ruona: & Maro says he cnt ask his broda.

Kemi: lts face it, non of us can ask any of dem, dere’s 2 pple btw Ty & me, whish mouth will I use to ask? unless he tlls mi sth or opens up abt it

Ruona: 1 prsn btw Naji & mi, & neva tlkd abt her luv laif b4

Kemi: dis tin is goin 2 1 wk o! laik ply, laik ply, & we cnt do anytin abt it. Siddon luk na dog naim.

Ruona: 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Kay, liv me o!

Kemi: tis true naaa. Ty jst cam in, l8tr

Ruona: Kk

37.

Soft fingers drummed on her folded arms. Ruona didn’t stir until they became insistent, accompanied by her name. ‘Aunty Ruona,’ A child’s voice called in the still, semi-darkness.

She opened one eye.

Standing by her bed in his favourite pyjamas was Rasheed. Did he want to use the bathroom and needed company again? She didn’t say a word, and made to shut the eye when the boy spoke again.

‘Aunty Ruona, my mummy’s on the floor,’ he said.

Both her eyes flew open. She partly rose from the bed. ‘What did you say?’ She asked slowly, uncertainly.

‘My mummy’s lying down on the floor,’ the boy repeated innocently, and she cleared off the bed and shot through the open door.

The only light glowing in the room shone from Naji’s bedside lamp. Her grey nightgown skimmed her knees, and the scarf around her head clung to the back of her head with a strand of hair. Naji lay stretched out on the floor in her room, unmoving; her calves and feet in the doorway of the en suite bathroom, while the rest of her body sprawled well within the room. She must have been leaving the bathroom when…whatever happened to her?!

Alarmed, Ruona stooped by her elder sister and shook her shoulders. ‘Naji! Naji!’ She called out in fright.

No response.

Her heart hammering wildly against her chest, Ruona dashed back to the room she shared with the children and groped under her pillow for her mobile phone. The device lit up once her finger grazed the screen; 1.30 am. Who could she c -?

‘What’s wrong with my mummy?’ Rasheed’s voice from below distracted her fleetingly. ‘Why’s she not waking up?’

She crushed the boy in a tight hug. ‘She’ll be all right, Rash. Go back to sleep.’ She tucked him in beside his sister and closed the door behind her, disbelieving every word she’d just uttered. She was scared stiff and tried in vain to stop herself from trembling. What was wrong with Naji?!

She crouched by her side again and shook her. No response still. Her knees wobbled as she straightened. Naji had complained about being tired recently, she remembered fleetingly. And without thinking further, she called the first person who came to mind.

His ringing phone jarred him out of a restless slumber. Hadn’t he shut off that alarm? He thought as his hand patted its way towards the vibrating device at the head of his bed. Then, through his fog, he remembered he hadn’t activated it in almost two weeks.

The name which lit up the screen had his eyes wide open in an instant. ‘Rona?’ He spoke into the phone.

Her distressed tone shot him out of bed even quicker. ‘I’m on my way.’ He promised and hung up, scraping around for a T-shirt to throw over the pair of black joggers he’d fallen asleep in.

At the front door, he debated who to alert first. As he kicked his car to life in the early hours of a new day, the speaker function on his phone transmitted a ringing sound on its third cycle.

‘Hello?’ The rustic tone was sullen from sleep.

‘Bros Tayo, sorry to disturb,’ Maro said. ‘Rona just called me. I think there’s something wrong with her sister.’

‘What?!’ Tayo’s voice notched up some clear notes almost immediately.

‘I’m on my way to the house now. I really don’t –,’

‘I’ll meet you there!’ The other man ended the call.

Maro reversed the car onto the dark, deserted road. He was no doctor, but extremely glad Ruona had called him. He started to dial his brother’s number.

‘She’s going to be ok,’ Maro spoke to the head of hair burrowed in his chest. Ruona was trying to rein in her emotions and making a mess of it. ‘Dr. Tayo found a pulse. She’s going to be alright,’ he repeated, his arms slipping down her satin lime nightdress which left little to the imagination. ‘She’s in good hands,’ he finished lamely.

Within minutes of her call, three cars screeched to a stop in front of the house, four minutes apart — his, Tayo’s and Steve’s. The ambulance from the hospital arrived five minutes after; Tayo had called it in on his way. The volley of simultaneous noise alerted the security guards manning the estate entrance gates, and saw two of them sprinting to the house to find out what was going on.

Tayo and Steve went into physician mode like clockwork — clinically detached, calm, exuding optimism. He noticed his brother took charge while Tayo followed his lead.

Maro sighed with relief when they showed up. His first glimpse of Naji sent his heartbeat into overdrive, then dropped it into his stomach. She appeared dead, lying there motionless. Serene and beautiful like a fresh corpse.

He stared at her, immobilised, trying to find the words as Ruona rambled incoherently when, thankfully, Tayo and his brother arrived.

‘Where are the kids?’ Tayo asked as he accompanied the stretcher bearing Naji out of the house, his eyes on a silently weeping Ruona.

‘Sleeping,’ Maro answered. After feeling utterly useless initially, he remembered the children and checked in on Rasheed and Aisha.

Tayo shifted his gaze to him. ‘Stay here, Maro. Calm her down. I’ll call you from the hospital.’

Steve led the convoy out of the estate, followed by the ambulance, and Tayo brought up the rear.

‘Rona, you should go back to bed. Get some sleep,’ Maro spoke again. They had to disengage soon, or he was likely to embarrass himself in front of her. He could feel every inch of her succulent body through the flimsy material. He hated himself for even having those thoughts in a moment like this, but he couldn’t help himself; the situation had weakened his defences.

As though reading his mind, she pulled away at that instant, wiping faintly bloodshot eyes with the back of her hand. ‘Where will you sleep?’ She asked in a shaky, strident voice, looking up at him.

He stepped back, shaking a leg. ‘I’ll be fine on the couch.’

She turned aside to stare at the chair as though seeing it for the first time. ‘Let me get you a pillow,’ she intoned.

Maro did not attempt to tear his eyes away from her until she disappeared. Only then did stiff legs carry him into the living room and onto the couch.

He yawned widely. What a night! A few hours ago, he hadn’t been sure Ruona would speak to him again after ignoring his calls and text messages.

She returned with a pillow and a duvet, handed them to him, switched off all the lights save for the lone one by the front door, and whispered: ‘Goodnight, Maro. Thank you.’ Her voice caught slightly on the last two words.

For a while, he gazed up into the dimly lit darkness, lying on his back, a hand beneath his head. Once or twice, he checked his phone for a message from Tayo or his brother; again, to check the time — 3.30 a.m.

He drifted off a while later, only to be jolted awake abruptly soon after. Ruona stood by him, her lime green nightdress the first thing to register. ‘I can’t sleep,’ she whispered. For the second time in a couple of hours, he was speechless. How could he help her now? ‘Can I stay with you?’ She continued, giving him the opening he needed.

He rolled on his side and created space between his body and the back of the couch.

Her body heat set him off almost immediately; soft curves brushing against him made him draw a sharp breath. It was unlikely he was going to get any decent sleep afterwards. Then there was the problem of where to put his other hand; it was beginning to feel like a dead weight hanging on the side of his body.

Tentatively, he rested it on her stomach. She immediately captured it with one of hers. ‘Goodnight,’ she whispered.

His breathing would take a while to stabilise.

38.

Naji’s eyes fluttered open; the left lid felt heavy.

Unfamiliar surroundings unfurled before her. Stark white ceiling boards above. The entire left side of the wall revealed ceiling-to-floor length windows covered by pastel-coloured blinds which the sun’s rays attempted to stream. A man stood at the edge of the window, backing her; she couldn’t make out who it was.

The bedside lamp glowed softly from one of the two nightstands by the bed she lay on. Beneath her head, the pillow was unmercifully hard, but the mattress massaged her body gently; a portable retractable table counter hung at the foot of the bed. She still had on her grey nightdress and over it, at stomach level, reached a bed cover in matching pastel colours.

The room measured half the size of hers back at home and gave off a cosy feel. The TV screen, directly opposite and above eye level, mounted on a pedestal, was black and blank. A door, also opposite the bed, could be the bathroom.

She swung her gaze to the right, and a familiar sight greeted her in a recognisable form.

Head bent and tapping away on his mobile phone, the blue-rimmed frames peeked out; he sat in an armchair by the door. She raised a hand, and Tayo looked up, sensing movement.

‘Hey.’ His voice hoarse, face seamed with weariness, slight bags beneath those brown eyes. He seemed to have aged five years. He called out to the man by the window. ‘Sam.’

In total contrast to Tayo’s T-shirt, jeans and drained countenance, Dr. Ijeh looked well-rested in a checkered blue, long-sleeved shirt tucked into black trousers and a long, thin peach-coloured tie. ‘Good morning, Mrs. Fawaz.’ He smiled faintly at her, striding towards the bed. ‘You gave us quite a fright last night.’

Naji made to sit up when a dull pain introduced itself to her head; she slammed her eyes shut instantly. Many questions roamed her mind, topping them was Dr. Ijeh’s presence. He was the new hire, the new o-

‘Don’t try to get up yet,’ he cautioned belatedly. ‘You must have hit your head when you fell. There’s a bump here.’ A finger brushed past one of his brows.

Why wasn’t Tayo saying anything? She wondered. She’d feel better if he did than Dr. Ijeh. The other doctor was clearly in charge. It made her uncomfortable. She knew his speciality.

‘What happened? Why am I here?’ She finally spoke, trailing Dr. Ijeh’s progress as he came around to the same side where Tayo sat silently, observing her. He’d stopped looking at his mobile phone screen, had stopped typing.

Dr. Ijeh stood at the head of the bed, a faint whiff of his scent drifting by. ‘What do you remember, ma’am?’

‘Going to the bathroom,’ she said after a long moment of contemplation.

‘You lost consciousness afterwards,’ he informed her gently. ‘Your son found you and cal-,’

Naji’s face suddenly suffused with anxiety. ‘My children, where are -?’ She began to ask.

‘They are fine,’ the rustic tone answered this time. ‘In my house with Ruona, Kemi and Maro.’ Then lapsed back into his silent, watchful mode.

‘Have you felt unwell recently, Mrs. Fawaz?’ Dr. Ijeh resumed his line of questioning.

Naji nodded slowly. ‘Unusually tired for the last couple of days.’

‘What about that thing on the stairs on Wednesday? Any recurrence?’

‘No, but I woke up famished yesterday morning.’

‘Did you eat something the night before?’

She nodded. ‘A lot.’ Say something, Tayo. You’re making me nervous!

‘Have you ever passed out before?’ Dr. Ijeh continued. Apparently, it was his show; his boss just provided an additional audience.

Slowly, Naji nodded again. ‘NYSC camp during the parade and…’ She paused. ‘…and when my husband died. Then, when I discovered I was…’ Her voice trailed off, and she looked up at Dr. Ijeh. ‘Am I p -?’

He confirmed with a nod, a wide smile dissolving the stern features. ‘Yes, you are, ma’am. Positively pregnant. Congratulations!’

Naji’s eyes flared, Tayo noticed. She hadn’t known, hadn’t the faintest idea at all. This came as a complete surprise. A most delightful one for him, at least. And probably the last thing she’d hoped to hear this morning. But then Dr. Ijeh’s presence must have raised her suspicions. He was, after all, the new head of the obstetrics/gynaecology department.

‘I’m going to leave you now,’ he continued. ‘ I need you to eat and freshen up, then I’ll be back to discuss antenatal schedule and medication and taking it easy from now on.’

Naji couldn’t look at Tayo. She was pregnant! With his child! A sudden flutter — panic or joy, she couldn’t tell — rippled through her. ‘Will I go home today?’

Without a glance at his boss, Dr. Ijeh responded. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘But –’

‘I don’t want a repeat of last night’s episode, ma’am. I understand your younger sister doesn’t live permanently with you,’ he explained. ‘I hesitate to release you back to a house where you’re the sole adult. Besides the risks involved,’ now he glanced at Tayo, ‘I like my job here.’

Naji met her beau’s gaze finally. Nothing in his expression reacted to Dr. Ijeh’s statement. Those brown eyes were laser-focused on her and totally unreadable. As though he were present for observation purposes only.

After the door shut behind Dr. Ijeh, Tayo rose to his feet and stepped closer to the bed. ‘How are you?’ His voice was less hoarse, more its usual rustic quality, and doused with concern.

She didn’t look away. Once again, he failed to lead with what she’d been sure would follow. ‘Fine. Thanks. What happened last night?’

He gave her the concise version. Rasheed’s discovery. Ruona’s call. Maro’s call. Ending with: ‘Everyone’s fine and at my place now. Ruona’s sleeping while Kemi’s watching over the kids. Maro’s going into the office to tell Mr. Ayodele and your team, then home to catch some sleep too.’

‘Thank you, Tayo.’

He nodded. ‘Don’t scare me like that again, Enajiomo,’ he whispered.

She said nothing.

‘If you feel funny, don’t wait days before…’ He shook his head. ‘Do you want any outfit in particular, or should I choose for you for your change of clothes?’ He asked suddenly.

‘Anything loose will be fine.’

‘Hospital food or something from your kitchen or fridge?’

‘Let me try the hospital’s first.’

‘Ok.’ He turned to go.

‘And Tayo…?’

‘Yes?’

‘We have to talk.’

‘I know.’

A nurse, in the hospital’s sky-blue uniform, posed by the foot of the bed when Naji emerged from the bathroom minutes later. She held two bags — Naji’s black handbag and another containing clothes. ‘Good morning, ma,’ she greeted. ‘Dr. Olukoya dropped these off for you. And I’m supposed to ask you what you want for breakfast so that I can tell the kitchen.’

Preferential treatment for her? Was this a hospital or a hotel? Why hadn’t Tayo come back with her things himself? ‘Whatever’s on the menu will be fine,’ Naji said, taking the bags from her grasp. ‘Thank you.’

‘Ok, ma, and if you need anything,’ the nurse continued, ‘just press this button.’ She pointed to a blue knob above the bed, one Naji hadn’t noticed earlier. ‘It will ring at the nurses’ station.’

‘Thank you again, Nurse…?’

‘Jane, ma.’

‘Thank you, Nurse Jane.’ She was a tad disappointed at Tayo’s absence.

‘I thought you were dead.’ Rasheed’s face on the screen epitomised childish innocence, and he was just as forthright. ‘I was afraid.’

Naji pursed her lips to control herself; how traumatic it must have been for him to see her lying on the floor last night. ‘No, I’m not, sweetheart. I’m sorry for frightening you.’

‘Are you sick?’ He probed.

In the background, she could see Aisha playing big sister to Deji strapped in his walker and trying to feed him. The little girl had come to the screen with an exuberant Mummy! and her interest in the call had lasted all of two minutes. She’d left her brother’s side in search of other forms of distraction.

Yes, the good kind, Naji didn’t tell him. ‘I’m fine now,’ she said in its place. ‘Nothing to worry about, and I’ll be home soon. Be good and don’t cause Aunty Ruona or Aunty Kemi any trouble,’ she instructed.

‘Ok, mummy.’

‘Give the phone back to Aunty Kemi.’

Children under 15 years were not allowed into the rooms, Dr. Ijeh had informed her when he returned to her bedside after breakfast.

Rouna’s phone rang unanswered twice. So she called Kemi instead, who told her Ruona was still asleep and had Rasheed and Aisha come to the phone.

Among the things Tayo had sent to her, he’d remembered to include her mobile phone to connect her with the outside world. She tried his number twice and got an engaged tone twice. She hoped he’d come back soon, though.

Maro and Ruona breezed in late in the afternoon. Ruona gave her a long, tight hug while Maro hung back to give them some privacy. Naji pulled him into their cocoon with: ‘My hero.’

He fought to contain his flush. Many emotions had rushed through him during that harrowing period earlier; none of them had been heroic.

They spent half an hour. The security guard, who’d led the way to her room, told them they had only 30 minutes as instructed by the nurses.

Naji frowned at the information. What the heck?! but promptly smoothed her face when her bump began to hurt.

Where on earth was Tayo?!

Dr. Familoni popped in a while later.

‘Just checking on you, ma’am,’ Tayo’s second-in-command said. ‘Is everything ok? Are you comfortable? Do you like the food?’

‘Is your boss in?’

‘No ma’am. He hasn’t returned since morning. He said he needed to rest.’

‘Ok.’

‘Do you want anything?’

‘Yes, please.’

‘What would that be, ma’am?’

‘Dr. Olukoya!’

Dr. Familoni hid her smile by lowering her head.

Another knock on the door towards twilight admitted Eric and Jide. Still no Tayo.

‘You shouldn’t have,’ she told both of them as they strode in beaming at her, but she was genuinely pleased to see them.

‘Good evening, ma,’ they chorused, stopping by the chair she’d dragged near the bed and now occupied as she channel surfed.

Feeling stronger and better after lunch, she’d left the confines of the bed and checked out the view from her window, playing a little game with herself as she tried to identify several landmarks in the different working and residential communities belonging to SCW. When she became bored, she returned to her bed to ferret out any interesting programs on the TV. Tayo had yet to show up or return any of her calls.

After talking mostly shop with her subordinates, they left 20 minutes later. She figured her visitors were over for the day, and it was barely 7.30 pm.

She disappeared into the bathroom for a long, hot shower. In there, she thought she heard the bedroom door open, but couldn’t be certain. Most probably supper being delivered, she reasoned.

She smelled him, sensed him even before setting eyes on him when she emerged from the bathroom several moments later.

The familiar whiff of musk and lavender suffused the room and assailed her senses. He filled out the armchair like it was made for him, relaxed, legs widespread and stretched out in front of him. The completely black outfit of a collared T-shirt and jeans made his fair complexion glow. It was obvious he’d got a healthy dose of sleep. He looked refreshed, and those brown eyes behind the frames had their original warm, laughing quality.

He rose as she walked further, eyes flickering over her figure wrapped in a large, fluffy towel. ‘Hi.’ The rustic tone washed over her like the shower had a few minutes ago. ‘I’ll give you some minutes to dress up.’ And he disappeared from the room, his scent trailing him.

When he returned, she was perched on the bed in a black camisole and a pair of loose palazzos in muted colours, clothes he’d picked out for her. Her hair, parted in the middle, was let loose to fall behind her ears and rest on her shoulders. Before his visit, she planned to change into nightclothes.

She noticed he clicked the door lock home after he stepped back into the room.

‘I don’t want any interruptions while we are talking,’ he answered her unspoken question.

‘But supper, I’m -.’

He gestured towards the bedside cupboard. That’s when she saw the white shopping bag for the first time. He resumed his position in the armchair. ‘The girls weren’t sure what you’d like,’ he said, ‘so they threw together two dishes and some snacks.’ He paused. ‘You look…better, lovely by the way.’

‘Thank you.’ She slid off the bed to peer inside the bag. ‘Is there a time limit for visitors to the hospital?’ She transferred the bag to the foot of the bed and atop the retractable.

‘No.’ Something in his tone caused her to spare him a glance, but his face gave nothing away.

‘Well, someone gave everyone who came to see me today half an hour max,’ she told him.

‘I left that order in the morning.’

She lost a grip on the first container out of the bag, and it slammed a little too loudly onto the counter. She glared at him. ‘Why on earth would you -?’

‘You needed to rest, Enajiomo. Like me, you obviously haven’t been sleeping properly,’ he countered. ‘And I think I know exactly why. You were agonising over just how to blow me off eventually, get me out of your life.’ He rose and approached her.

The bag and its contents forgotten, she turned fully to him. ‘So you think my fainting was psychologically related?’

A small dip of his head. ‘Among other things. Physical stress. Emotional build-up and the added strain of a growing foetus. I think the first trigger was –’

‘The first trigger was you and Adaobi swapping spit!’ She snapped.

He stepped closer. ‘And I tried to tell you this before, but you wouldn’t hear me out. She kissed me, Enajiomo, not the other w -,’

‘You think I didn’t realise that later?! I was pissed at myself for -,’

He halted three feet away. ‘So put me out of my misery -,’

They spoke at once. When he noticed, Tayo stopped first, his eyes narrowing.

She went silent, too.

‘What are you saying?’ The rustic tone had lost some of its feistiness.

She waved at him. ‘Your stance, your words, Tay,’ she began. ‘You’re battle-ready. That outfit says it all.’

‘Because our circumstances have changed overnight,’ he responded. ‘I was going to accept whatever bitter pill you threw at me, but seeing you, seeing you lying there last night, I knew I wasn’t going to let you go without a fight this time. The news about the baby, well, it took my resolve a notch higher. I want both of you. So here I am.’

She closed the gap between them, lowering her gaze. ‘Oh Tay, I wasn’t…’, she paused, and made another restless motion with her hand. ‘I was coming to tell you that I didn’t want to spend the next 17 years without you.’

She felt his gaze on her as he absorbed her words, his rigid posture thawing ever so slightly.

‘Even without knowing about the baby?’ He finally asked after what seemed like ages; the rustic tone was calm, tentative.

She confirmed with a nod, then looked up at him. ‘To be with you and let you raise my kids as yours would be worse than breaking your heart a second time. I couldn’t do that to you. Once I realised I wanted to be with you, I knew it would involve having your kids…’

He opened his mouth to speak, but she continued.

‘It didn’t matter what you’d said about being content with mine. Like I said before, they’d always be your step kids, always refer to you as Uncle Tayo and never answer to your name,’ she continued. ‘Yes, I’d hoped not to have any more kids and focus on other things like my career, but that was before we met again, before I realised how important being together was.‘ She paused and glanced down at her stomach. ‘Perhaps, it’s a little too early, this pregnancy.’ She shrugged. ‘But it’s here now and we’ll take it one day at a time, plan with it, around it.’ Her gaze swept up to meet him. ‘Though I can’t promise you three kids, Tay. Let’s see what happens after this one arrives.’

The impassive expression on his face did not prepare her for what he did next. Wordlessly, he gathered her into an embrace. ‘Enajiomo,’ he muttered into her hair.

She circled his torso with her arms and rested her head on his shoulders. ‘A wise man, about your height, once told me that if you find someone you love in life,’ she began.

‘…you must hang onto it and look after it,’ he finished for her.

‘I didn’t do a great job the last time. I want to make up for it and I…I have a strong feeling I’m going to enjoy doing it.’ She felt the bubble of laughter rumble in his chest.

‘Why the next 17 years, though? And not more?’ He wanted to know.

‘I have to start somewhere.’

‘Indeed, you do.’ He drew away as he spoke. The next thing, his glasses came off. ‘And this is a good place to start. ‘ He lowered his head towards hers and claimed her lips with his.

When they took in lungfuls of air later, only the silence in the room interspersed with the thudding of their hearts. Their breath mingled, full of everything left unsaid.

‘I’ve been denied you for a week, babe,’ he broke in quietly, replacing his glasses. ‘Can I just say that you have a lot of work to do?’ He teased and steered her to the bed.

She smirked. ‘I know.’

‘And you’re not going back home.’ He stood behind the counter and continued the task she’d abandoned midway when their emotions ran high. More packed bowls appeared out of the bag followed by cutlery and eating bowls.

Naji’s smirk vanished fast. ‘Why not?!’

He paused the ongoing arrangement. ‘I shudder to think what would have happened if Ruona hadn’t been around. Or perhaps your condition was something more serious? What do you think the story would have been this morning?’ He picked up a spoon. ‘You’re moving in with me.’

Her forehead crinkled. ‘You can’t just order me around -,’

The spoon made waves in the air. ‘Actually, I can, and you know I’m right.’

‘Is it me, or have you become a little high-handed in the last 24 hours?’

‘I’ve always been this way. You just ignored it.’

She shook her head and shifted towards the spread on the counter. ‘This is not Tayo I know.’

He shrugged. ‘You’ll get used to him, the one who has a 50% stake in what’s growing inside you.’ He tapped two different containers. ‘Spaghetti or rice?’

She pointed to a third at the edge. ‘What’s that?’

He glanced at it. ‘Samosas & spring rolls.’

‘I’ll start with those.’ She stretched out a hand. ‘And I’m not moving in with you. The kids –’

‘Have already selected their room in my house.’ He gave her the container. ‘Aisha gets to see her younger brother, Deji, more and Rasheed confided that Aunty Kemi spoils him the way Aunty Ruona doesn’t.’ He paused to laugh at the stunned look on her face, the container hanging in the air. ‘The kids are way ahead of you. Uncle Tayo’s is the place to be.’

Naji feigned annoyance and snapped open the container. ‘I’m still not moving in with you until…’ She flipped her palm and wriggled her fingers fleetingly, then selected an oblong piece out of several stacked high and stuck it into her mouth.

‘Well, since we’ve put the cart before the horse… that can be arranged. But correct me if I’m wrong, if I remember correctly, I wanted the same thing and someone was dragging her feet.’

‘Whatever, I’m not going anywhere until…’ She bit into the snack, pleased she had the upper hand.

He left his place at the foot of the bed. ‘Then I’ll move in with you.’ The look on her face morphed somewhat. ‘I’m not leaving you alone at night, Enajiomo. The kids can continue at mine.’ She stopped chewing. ‘We have some catching up to do, remember?’

She swallowed and fought hard not to blush. ‘So when can I leave here?’ She asked instead.

He slid onto the bed by her side and shrugged. ‘Whenever your doctor says so.’

She extended the open pack to him. ‘Huh? Aren’t you my doctor?’ Her voice rose in mild surprise.

Shaking his head, he selected two pieces of Samosa then met her gaze. ‘I’m your man, your lover…’ He hesitated suddenly. ‘… and the father of your child.’ A tiny smile tracked his last line.

‘What’s funny?’

His lips extended. ‘It felt good saying that to you, Enajiomo. Finally.’ He paused. ‘I’ll work on the other important title soon.’ He threw the pastries into his mouth.

‘Which is?’

He leaned towards her to whisper in her ear. And despite a full mouth, she heard him distinctly. ‘Husband.’

39.

‘If this is going to be a problem,’ he looked from Kemi to Ruona, ‘speak now or forever hold your peace.’

Both girls beamed at him.

‘No, it’s fine,’ Ruona responded first. ‘We’re ok with the arrangements, but I’m going back to school soon.’

‘Ah, yes, that’s true.’ He turned to his sister. ‘Can you cope with the three kids?’

‘I can stay till Tuesday morning,’ Ruona offered before the other girl could answer. ‘And come back on Friday evening.’

Tayo shot her a grateful smile. ‘I’ll also have the nanny come by once she’s done cleaning at the house. So she’ll help when the kids return from school.’ He faced Kemi again. ‘Are we good?’

His sister nodded.

Tayo had no idea how thrilled the two ladies, sitting at the dining table with him, were. From an uncertain, tension-filled, hellish week that almost ended tragically to glorious, unexpected news of a pregnancy, a most welcome house move and the promise of happily ever after.

‘It’s only for a week,’ he assured her, ‘and we’ll drop in every day.’

‘It’s ok, really,’ she responded. ‘We’ll all be fine.’

He rose from the head of the table. ‘Right. Ruona, we need to get the kids’ school gear and anything else you think they’d need for the week,’ he stated, ‘and for you too.’

‘Oh yes,’ she concurred. ‘Now?’

He nodded and flicked his wrist. ‘Enaji — Your sister will be discharged in the next hour. She wants to see the kids before going home.’

Ruona got to her feet. ‘Let me put on something.’ And disappeared into the passage leading to the rooms.

Kemi made to rise too when his voice stopped her. ‘Do you have a thread? Or a measuring tape?’

His sister’s eyebrows lifted a little.

‘Thread, yes. Tape, maybe.’

‘Get me both if you can.’

More than 24 hours away from her house, Naji inhaled when she stepped back into it on Saturday evening, having spent the last hour at Tayo’s.

Behind her and lugging her bags, Tayo locked the front door. ‘Are you hungry or do you want something to drink?’ He asked, pausing briefly as her gaze roved about the sitting room in its semi-darkened state, fed only by the glow streaming from the passageway.

‘No, thanks,’ she turned to him. ‘I feel tired, I’m going to lie down for a bit.’

She led the way down the passage to her room at the end of it. ‘Was the nanny here while I was away?’ She asked once they both stepped into the room.

The entire house shone. Her room bore no traces of the chaos it resembled after family, friends and strangers worked to save her life on Friday.

Tayo confirmed with a nod. ‘She was at the door when I came for your things. Said you’d called her to come since Ruona was around. So I let her in, grabbed your stuff, dropped them off and came back until she was done. Practically dozed off on the couch until she woke me up to say she wanted to leave.’

‘Thank you.’ She sank gratefully onto the duvet spread halfway up the bed and stretched out. ‘Thank you, Tay.’ Her head found one of the pillows. ‘Why do I feel weak?’

The bed creaked beneath Tayo’s weight when he joined her. ‘Probably your body adjusting to your new condition or telling you to slow down, or you’re truly tired.’ He suggested, snagging a pillow for his head.

She shifted on her side to face him. ‘Mayb -,’ A wide yawn swallowed the rest of her reply.

He watched her shutter both eyelids as her fingers rested lightly on his arm. He continued watching her until her breathing assumed the steady beat of one asleep.

‘Enajiomo?’ He called out softly, moments later.

No response. Just her peaceful visage in repose.

He tried again, a little louder this time around. ‘Enajiomo?’

Same response. Silence. Soft rhythmic breathing.

He reached behind his jeans and extracted a black thread, a plastic measuring tape and a masking tape from one of his pockets. Starting with the thread, he lifted her left hand and proceeded to loop it around her ring finger.

A few minutes into the task, he paused momentarily to stare at her in repose, his heart clenching at the thought that he’d almost lost her again. Then he exhaled, and gratitude quickly erased anxiety. She was here. They were together again. Gently, he continued working.

30 painstaking minutes later, he rolled off the bed noiselessly. He strode into the living room with his phone glued to his left ear.

‘Hey man,’ he spoke. ‘Do you have the number for that jeweller in Benin? Where you got Ivie’s ring from?… I’m going to call him as soon as you send it…He’ll open tomorrow for me o. It’s urgent… Ah, he’s Urhobo. In fact, that’s my hook on him. I will tell him I’m marrying one of the daughters of his land… Enajiomo thinks it’ll take a while to get it done, and I told the girls it will be for a week only. Tomorrow’s my best shot to go look through his stock and select one or two. Then, whatever adjustments or additions need to be made. Do they deliver? Fantastic! Send the number. Thanks, man!’

‘What does Ena…jomo mean?’ Kemi stumbled over the pronunciation, wringing Rasheed’s nose, and the boy shrieked, collapsing onto her bosom. The two seemed to have formed a mutually attractive bond.

‘Enajamo,’ the little boy repeated and climbed onto her lap as he mangled the moniker. ‘That’s my mummy’s name.’

‘This one is a child.’ Maro answered from the end of the three-seater where they all sat; Ruona in the middle, bottle-feeding Deji who had dropped off to sleep. ‘Is she the first child?’ He asked her.

Ruona shook her head. ‘My elder brother, then she’s next, then another brother, then me.’

‘Maybe your dad was expecting another son,’ Maro suggested. ‘Then out comes Enajiomo, and your mum goes, “So what if it’s a girl? She’s still a human being, a child.” And the name Enajiomo came to be.’

Ruona shrugged and handed an empty bottle to Kemi, after which she hoisted the sleepy infant on one shoulder and began to rub his back gently.

‘I can’t even twist my tongue around the name properly,’ Kemi said. ‘Meanwhile, my brother spits it out like he gave it to her.’

‘He’s had years of practice.’ Ruona stopped herself from giggling out loud in the nick of time.

‘Or he likes the full version as much as he likes the owner of the name, ‘ Maro supplied. ‘Maybe calling her that has a deeper meaning for him, for their relationship.’

‘Hmm. Omo lo mo,’ Kemi muttered, shielding a smile behind Rasheed’s head.

Ruona rose with Deji and headed for the passage.

‘Just like Ruona’s name,’ Maro wasn’t done yet. ‘Ogheneruonakevwe.’

Ruona pirouetted in the middle of the living room to stare at him in fascinated horror.

He grinned back brightly, white teeth against ebony skin.

‘That’s not how she pronounced it for me o!’ Kemi chipped in. ‘Just Ogenerona.’

‘Thank you!’ Ruona threw at her friend and resumed her pace.

‘So translate,’ Kemi urged Maro once the other girl was out of earshot. ‘What did you just say?’

‘Ogheneruona…’ he began, ‘God did this…’ he went on. ‘kevwe…for me.’ He finished with a straight face.

A sly smile took over Kemi’s lips as realisation set in. ‘Now, if that’s what it means, the addition at the end, then I totally support you, my friend.’

Ruona joined them again moments after they both exchanged a high five and shared a knowing smile. ‘Maro, do you want to go now?’ She asked. ‘Can you wait until after I give Rasheed a bath?’

‘I want Aunty Kemi to baff me,’ the little boy piped up instantly.

Ruona waved dismissively. ‘You people’s love na wa.’

Maro got to his feet and stretched. ‘Kay, see ya.’

Kemi followed suit with Rasheed hanging onto her. ‘Wo, Maro, thanks for coming. Will we see you tomorrow?’

‘Yeah, why not?’ He turned to Rasheed. ‘Bye, little guy.’ They exchanged a series of handshakes. ‘Say hi to Aisha, the diva, when she wakes up.’

‘Ok. Bye, Uncle Maro.’

‘Night Maro,’ Kemi echoed. ‘Oya Rasheed, bath time.’

‘Aisha’s gone for the night,’ Ruona commented. ‘You know how tiring it can be taking care of Deji.’

Maro grinned and opened the front door. ‘se another baby’s on the way? She has her work cut out for her.’

‘Who sleeps before the baby they’re looking after?’ Ruona wanted to know. ‘Only Aisha Fawaz.’

Maro chuckled.

The light on the porch and the streetlights blazing above lit up the completely dark and starless sky as they covered the short distance to the kerb in front of the house where his car was parked.

‘You say you’re leaving on Tuesday morning?’ He stopped by the driver’s door, one hand grazing the handle idly. ‘I won’t be able to take you back. I –’

She flicked her fingers in the air. ‘I know you’re resuming on Monday. I’ll find my way back like I used to before I met you,’ she said with a smile. ‘You’ve done more than enough in the last two days, Maro. Thank you so much.’

‘About that, Ruona,’ he began. ‘I know we haven’t had time to talk since Thursday evening. I want -,’

‘Yes,’ she cut in.

His face adopted a puzzled look. ‘Yes to what?’

‘Yes to going steady.’