Debbie heard the car pull up and her heart rate sped up.
๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐?
She went up to the window and looked out at the usual after school drama that the kids indulged in whenever their father picked them up from school.ย
As soon as the car stopped, their first-born Michael who was just turning 7 would jump out of the car and start running round the stationed vehicle. Followed by Angela their feisty 5yr old daughter. Jacob will get down from the car and begin this elaborate chase round the car until he was ready to catch them, it always ended up in giggles as he carried both of them , one under each arm into the house and dropped them on the couch .
It was exhausting to watch. Debbie often wondered how Jacob had the energy for this game. The children will never try this with her. By the time she was picking them up from school she was exhausted from work and was in no mood for their shenanigans and they knew it. But not Jacob, he seemed to have endless patience with them. Yes, he was a great dad no doubt. But she wasnโt sure if it was enough anymore. She had a glimpse of what sparks can feel like and she wanted more. She didnโt think she could have it with Jacob.
They tumbled in as predicted and collapsed on the living room sofa. All exhausted from their little game but still laughing.
โOk ok, thatโs enough everyone needs to go back outside and get their school bags, unpack them, then a bath. Including you daddy.ย ย
โYes Sir!โ Her hubby stood up in mock salute. Causing the kids to tumble to the floor. They let out more peals of laughter.ย
Debbie shook her head and couldnโt resist a smile at all the silliness. Michael and Angela rushed to give her a hug first before scampering off to do her bidding.
Jacob came over and gave her a peck on her cheek before heading upstairs.
๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐. ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐.
She remembered the parting hug from Tunde that almost left her in a puddle on the floor. And now she must live with this? When she could explore that?
She remembered his parting wordsโฆhis whisper in her ear causing the hair on the back of her neck to rise from excitement.
โ๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฒ… ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ โฆ๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐บ๐ฒ, ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐โ๐น๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ดโ
Then he was gone. With his words settling at the pit of her stomach and warming her whole body.ย
How can any girl move on from that?
She didnโt tell Titi that part of the story. She knew her friend will have taken the next flight to Lagos to kill him. Was she being foolish? Maybe, but she would always wander about it. Isnโt that even as bad as cheating on your spouse. If she is going to cheat in her mind she might as well cheat in real life. But was it cheating though? Tunde was in her heart first anyway.ย
The fallacy in her logic flew over her head as she contemplated all the reasons, she and Tunde should be together.
Quickening her resolve, she climbed up the stairs to their bedroom. He was just coming out of the shower.
๐โ๐ฆ ๐๐ โ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐โ๐ก โ๐ ๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐?ย She thought.ย ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐โ๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. She clucked her tongue in irritation.
โJacob, we need to talk.โ She said firmly
โYes dear, what about?โ Jacob had stopped drying himself mid-way to give her his attention. She sat on the edge of the bed and licked her lips.
โ I want a break…โ
โI agree with you sweetheart.ย I donโt just want a break; we need a break.โ
********************************
Tunde
He got up and walked to Wanda and held out his hands to her. she took his hands and silently followed him to the couch and sat down. She couldnโt look at him. instead she stared at her hands for the longest of time …and waited.
To Tunde she looked like one about to face a firing squad but was putting up a brave front just before the shots are fired.
How could he convince her he loved her?ย An idea popped in his head. He knew what he had to do. He held on to her hand and said, โI need to make a phone call.โ
โNow?โ
โYes now.โ
โWho are you calling?โ She stiffened and she tried to pull her hands away, but he wouldnโt let her. He held on to her with one hand and dialled with the other.
********************************
Debbie looked up and swallowed
โYou do?โ
โYes of course! Do you know how exhausting this latest project is?ย Honey..โ Jacob rambled on. โI am officially fed up. But I canโt leave now. But once this phase is over. I promise, I will have two weeks just for us as a family.โ
The silly man was talking about work!
โBaby I donโt mean that kind of breakโฆ I mean…โ
โฆrrriiiingโฆ riiing.
The incoming call disrupted her planned speech. She glanced at her phone and almost passed out when she saw it was Tunde calling.
She felt cold. As she looked at her husband then looked at her phone.
โEeer she stammered. let me get this …โ
โok go ahead.โ But he was looking at her differently. It was suddenly dawning on him they had been having two different conversations.
********************************
โYes?โย Tunde heard her voice come through the phone line and he faltered just for a second but ploughed on. Looking at Wanda as he spoke
โHeey Debbie. I just got home.โ
โOh good. I hope the journey was smoothโ
โYes, it was uuuhโฆ Debs I just wanted to apologise for earlier if I said some things I shouldnโt haveโ
โNooo its okay…โ
โโฆI donโt mean to cause any wahala for you…โ
โThere is no wahala… I was actually thinkingโฆโ
โI promise it will never happen againโ
โWait wโฆw what??โ
โYeah. It wonโt. I will not be seeing you again. Unless we bump into each somewhere on the globe. I wish you well from the bottom of my heart. I hope you and Jacob remain extremely happy as I am with the amazing woman, I am blessed to share my life withโฆ
Wanda lifted her head to look at him now… Tunde smiled with tears in his eyes,
โThe most beautiful, he continued,โ the sexiest, the strongest and the most brilliant person I have had the pleasure to encounter. She is my wife, who I have given my whole heart to. And I promise never ever to hurt her again as long as I live.
He wasnโt really talking to Debbie; he was making the declaration to Wanda who couldnโt believe what she was hearing. She was prepared for a breakup speech.
Tunde dropped his phone on the chair without thinking to cut it. He knelt before his wife and begged for her forgiveness. Still on his knees he recited his wedding vows to her again from his heart. โI, Tunde Babalola take you Wanda Babalola to be my wedded wife again to have and to hold from this day forwardโฆโย he stopped to wipe a tear that slid down Wanda’s cheeks. โfor better for worse, for richer or poorer in sickness and in health to love and to cherish forever according to Gods holy ordinance and thereto I give you Wanda my pledge.โ
And he meant it from the bottom of his heart
He rose from his knees and sat beside Wanda and drew her into aย hug.ย
A promise of new beginnings.
*********************************
โEerm ok Tunde.. but Tunde, helloโฆ hello?โย
She shook her head as she started at the phone in her hand. What had just happened here? She turned around and saw Jacob. Her husband of 8 years just staring at her as he stood by the bedroom door. He looked sad.
โDebbie, what kind of break were you talking about?โ
********************************
๐๐ช๐๐๐๐ง!ย ๐๐ช๐๐๐๐ง!ย
The insistent sound of the guardโs whistle jolted me out of my reverie. What time was it? I checked my watch. No way! I couldnโt have been daydreaming for that long??ย
This was ridiculous! I still stretched my neck to see if Debbie was at the side of the road. Of course, she wasnโt it. This was three hours after I had seen her watch that car depart. 3 hrs!!ย The park was almost empty.
I had allowed my imagination take me on a journey involving two complete strangers I will most likely never see again!ย
I laughed out loud as I packed my things. I had given up on reading the Hobbit. Not today, maybe next time.
Maybe I should write that story? Who cares if I canโt authenticate my info? It could have happened like that though … couldnโt it?
Thank you guys!!! No beat me o๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
ยฉOgugua Ajayi
