Romance – Page 2 – 21stcenturybelle

The Dice#16

My heart bleeds for Moses but hey! Life is filled with twists and turns. The story continues. Happy Friday guys!!

Dunni smiled at Tade’s text message, feeling warm all over. “Looking forward to this weekend.”

She was more excited about falling in love than the concept of being in love?

She shrugged off the look of disapproval she could literally see on Moses’ face like he was standing before her. That was a phase in her life she had to close and move on. If a relationship could have happened between them, it should have long ago, or so she liked to think. She did not need his approval on who she could date.

Dunni replied to the text, “same here.”

I better get back to work, she muttered to herself, putting her phone away. She had just finished her Skype meeting with Ola and Moses. Ola was due back next week, but Moses had to stay back.

She hated the feeling of emptiness that his absence triggered. She could not explain the reason for the feelings than allude to the close relationship they shared. However, she reached the conclusion that things had to change.

She could not wait for Ola to come back. She smiled as she remembered the grief in her mother’s voice when she was told Moses would be away longer than expected. Dunni loved to tease her mom of Moses being her acquired sixth child.

“He will come before you, dear. You will still remain the last,” was her mum’ swift response.

It was a sore point for Dunni, growing up she hated the fact that she was the last and had often begged her mum to have another child so that she would have a younger one.

“Not to worry mum, Moses will find a way to come to home at least twice before the end of the project,” she encouraged her mum who in turn teased back that Dunni needed it more.

Mother and daughter laughed about it as they caught up over the phone. Dunni had been very busy lately to make the trip to visit her mother in Ibadan.

She could not wait for Moses and Ola to come back and get her life back not that she had any before now.

*****

Dunni did not have any difficulty locating the house. She meandered the muddy dirt road grimacing with every roll of her tyres at the need to go straight to the car war wash. She heaved a sigh of relief when she turned into a well-tarred road, a look of wonder on her face when she saw the edifice of a house situated on a cul de sac. She blared her horn as the electronically controlled gate smoothly slid into the left side. At the same time, the security guard stood by the right in his sharp blue shirt and black trousers. Did anyone need a security guard with an electronic gate she wondered? If the house looked gigantic from the outside, it was humongous when you drove in. The house was a masterpiece design. She fell more in love with the architecture the moment she stepped out of her car. Tade was already out walking down the mini road that led to the car park filled with exotic cars that Moses will hate to know he missed when she told him.

“Wow! What a piece. This is a beauty. Did you say you want to sell it or rent it out?

“Tade smiled. She is doing a number of you. I should be jealous because it would be nice to get half the look in your eyes for me than a house.”

“I can’t help it. Houses are my dream and passion. That’s why I am an Architect.”

“What about a tour when you settle down?”

“Oh, I would be delighted. Thank you,” Dunni gushed with the excitement of a little child.

“Where is Toni?” Dunni asked, a frown forming on her forehead, afraid she had not noticed the girl in her moment of ecstasy drooling over a house?

“She is inside -suddenly remembered that her room had to look perfect. She wants to show you her room and all the drawings pasted on every available wall space in the room.”

“I think you have a budding Michael Angelo. You just don’t know it yet.”

“Ha! I can’t wait, and it better translate into money during my lifetime,” Tade joked. One could not miss the pride in his voice.

“Would you mind if I took a tour of the house? She is beautiful.”

“Is the house now a she?” Tade asked with raised eyebrows and a tinge of amusement spreading over his lips.

“I like to think of houses as women, and it has nothing to do with feminism,” Dunni warned.

“I know,” Tade answered drily which earned him a laugh from Dunni.

“What was that?” She asked getting more intrigued with her attraction to this man and excited that it was the same, and he was not hiding it.

She would not think what next and would simply enjoy the moment. Relationships don’t have to always end in marriage; maybe that’s why ladies burden themselves with too much pressure looking for Mr Right rather than enjoying the relationship. She was going to go with the flow for the first time. Just let’s see where it would lead her. No demands, no expectation just out of having a good time and being a friend.

“Do you want to share?”

She turned aghast that she had tuned out.

“I am so sorry.”

“That’s fine. It’s just funny the way you’ve turned all excited like Toni when she’s offered a new toy.”

“Did you just call me a little girl?” Dunni asked with a frown and her hands akimbo mustering every effort to look stern amidst the laughter building up and twitching at the sides of her mouth.

“I think you need some excellent grandma spanking, she tried in the voice of Big Momma.

Dunni wowed and ahhed around the house as Tade gave her the tour.

“What’s the name of the architect?” Not sure but it was some Arab guy, Solape met while doing her masters.

“Does he live in Nigeria?”

“Oh no, he lives in Abu Dhabi- they met in the UK.

“He is very creative.”

“I think so too, but hey! That’s not my department. It is just sad she could not have lived long in the house she was so passionate about.”

Dunni turned her gaze away from the view to Tade. The pain in his voice mirroring the anguish on his face.

“You miss her?” Dunni asked which sounded lame even to her ears.

But if Tade felt so too. He did not say but answered her question without missing a bit.

“Every day and in every way. Buttercup is the spitting image of her.”

“Talking about Toni, I have not seen her.”

Dunni glanced at her watch and gasped! “I can’t believe we’ve spent over one hour touring the house. I think I should go and check for her.”

She turned around to go in search of Toni but not sure which direction.

“This way Tade propelled her forward, holding her hands as he led her through the maze of walkways and doors to the living room.

Toni was propped in one of the setees watching a cartoon that had just finished. Dunni recognised as Beauty and the Beast. The little girl’s face brightened with a broad smile that tugged at the strings of Dunni’s heart.

“Do you want to see my room?” Toni asked with excitement that rubbed off quickly on Dunni.

“Yes, I will be more than happy to, and she tickled Toni who squealed with delight running off in the opposite direction.

“I’ll leave you two and finish the cooking.”

Dunni smiled, she had momentarily forgotten Tade was with them.

“You look good together. Solape will have been pleased to meet you.”

“The pleasure would have been mine to see the lady who raised such an impressionable young lady.”

“Are you saying I had no hand in the job?”

“No, Dr Braithwaite, You must have done a fantastic job too. Just that we were talking about the mother. You did not come across as one with a jealous streak in him.”

“You women think that we are all wood and stones without emotions. I know a lot of men who do as much as raising the child as the women, but all you hear is society singing the women’s praises. It is not encouraging at all. I think we the men should revolt at society’s injustice.”

I can just imagine you, men, with clothes stripped and rubbed in ashes like the Aba women’s riot of 1966.

This is 2012, we wear African designed attire looking like men stepping off an edition of the GQ magazine. All strutting the streets of Victoria Island, beautiful specimen of the male species. No noise. No words, just a single placard with words Dads contribute too.”

“Really,” Dunni laughed hysterically. “I got to go to Toni, I will be right back if I don’t lose my way.”

“You can’t miss it. Turn left, right and left—the door with the picture of a pink teddy.”

Tade smiled pleased with the way they connected. Dunni made him laugh and forget his pain. He missed Solape every day, regretted the role he played at her last moments, the guilt eating at him. But with Dunni, he felt so alive again. It was like a breath of fresh air, and he wanted to keep taking it in for the rest of his life.

Slowly Tade before you scare her off. He cautioned himself.

Food ready and table set. Tade set out to look for his daughter and their guest. He could hear Dunni’s soft voice through the partially closed door. He stood outside the door listening, not wanting to interrupt.

Dunni was reading one of Toni’s books, he read to her before going to bed, and it appeared she was doing a better job than he’d done.

His heart contracted. Was it possible to fall in love so quickly with someone? He wanted her, and at the same time, the timing did not feel right.

He knocked and waited for an answer. Toni answered, knowing he was the one.

Tade swallowed his breath, completely taken with the sight before him. Toni cuddled in Dunni’s arm which held the book for her to see as she read.

He knew he was totally lost to this woman, and there was no going back. He only prayed for time to mark his dead wife’s first anniversary before making any move.

The evening went incredibly well, and it was time for Dunni to leave. Toni cried, not wanting her to go. What Dunni did not know was Toni was not the only one who was reluctant to let her go. Tade wanted her to stay not just for a single day, but forever. A forever he had no right to ask of her.

The Dice#14

“Sometimes what you are looking for comes to you when you are not looking.” Unknown – if you know the author please send the name. Gracias

Dunni rubbed the back of her neck with her left hand turning side to side. She sat in her a car blaring her horn for Sule, the security guard to open the gate. A few seconds later it dawned on her Sule had travelled to his village this morning to visit his sick mother.

She grudgingly opened her door and walked barefoot to open the gate but was stopped midway when she heard “Auntie Dunni” in a very familiar child’s voice.

Her gaze fell on Toni from her art class and wondered what she was doing around the area. The girl ran out of the car and towards her flinging her small frame into Dunni as she wrapped her small arms around Dunni’s middle.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, bringing herself to eye level with Toni.

The girl was yet to answer when Dunni heard a baritone voice behind her, “Toni.” she rose and turned almost crashing into a man.

“Yes, dad,” Toni answered. Giving Dunni a clue to her relationship with the owner of the voice. But nothing prepared her for the handsome man standing at 6 foot 1 inch, well built and broad shoulders, but still could not hold a candle near Moses. Why did she have to compare every man she met with Moses.

Toni’s dad cleared his voice.

“Sorry for startling you, and sorry she almost toppled you over. She thinks everyone is as strong as her dad,” he joked.

Dunni smiled and could not help herself from blushing, although hidden by her caramel complexion.

“She’s just herself. Kids are all the same.”

“Tade Braithwaite,” he introduced himself, stretching his hands out to her. Dunni Adesida, she replied, shaking his hands. She was amazed at the strength and softness of his hands and wondered what he did for a living.

“I am a doctor,” he said chuckling.

“Was it that obvious?” Dunni smiled self consciously knowing she must look a sight, standing barefoot and without her wig, she had removed and thrown to the backseat of her car?

“I get that all the time.” He replied with confidence devoid of cockiness.

Scratching his head looking unsure of himself with a boyish charm Dunni found endearing. The guy had done nothing, and she was completely smitten. She must be a pathetic case. Was she that desperate for a man in her life?

“You must be Dunni, the art teacher,”

“One and only,” she replied and repeating his line.

“I get that all the time,” Tade laughed nodding his head in approval. He liked her already.

The adults had forgotten about Toni until she tugged at her dad.

“Daddy, can we visit Auntie Dunni over the weekend?”

Tade looked helplessly at Dunni.

“Auntie Dunni is very busy, but you always see her in class every week.”

He would not have minded any visit with this goddess of beauty standing before him. She’d taken his breath away. She was beauty personified with her round-shaped face, light brown eyes that drew you in, a pretty button nose and thin lips with traces of plum cherry lipstick.

He swallowed hard. He had not felt this way when he met Solape. Theirs was a love that grew over time. Here he was staring at his daughter’s teacher with like a lovesick teenager.

Can this be love? He must be suffering from not having any woman in his life. What was wrong with him? Solape was barely cold in her grave, and he was ready to replace her. Gather your acts together. A voice from within scolded him.

“No, it’s no problem. I am free this weekend and can squeeze some time for Toni. Dunni felt it was her way of helping the girl who had gone through the pain of losing her mum at such a young age.

Tade had no idea that he was holding his breath until he released it at her response. He was not sure who was happier at the prospect of visiting Miss sunshine, him or his daughter.

“You can drop her at 4:00 pm with the maid if you’ll feel more comfortable.”

Here he was getting his hopes high, and she appeared to want nothing to do with him. She had to try harder if she wanted to get rid of him.

“I could come if that’s alright. We don’t have a maid.” He was happy about that fact but would have lied to be there.

Dunni looked at him queerly, unable to hide her curiosity, “Who cleans for you?”

“We have someone who cleans over the weekend.”

“And cook?” she asked, not convinced that it was just him and his daughter.

“I do that myself.”

Dunni’s eyes bulged. “You cook?” Not many men she knew cooked. Moses was one of the few she knew. She was doing it again.

“We could invite you for dinner someday.”

She loved the way he made Toni a part of the invite.

“Please come, my dad’s food is delicious,” the young girl bragged on her father’s cooking skills.

“I am not sure I have a choice here,” she winked at the child. “You’ve convinced me to try it.” Turning to speak to the father, “I’ll check my calendar for some possible dates, and let you know when you come over on Saturday.”

Tade felt something tugging in his chest all and more intrigued by this woman. Who was she, and what was her passion? What made her happy? What made her sad?

He kept his thoughts well hidden behind the calm look he used for all his patients.

“Okay, Buttercup, we have to leave. Miss Dunni must be tired after a long day.” Tade stretched out his hands to take his daughters’ in his.

“That’s a nice name. What’s the story behind the name?”

“That’s a story for another day. This young lady here is tired. Thank you for your time, and we are sorry for bumping into you like this. You must be tired after a hard day’s work” Tade apologised although reluctant to leave her presence.

“No worries,” Dunni waved her hand into thin air. “Toni is a delight.”

Dunni got back into her car, once they left and drove through her gates. It was then she remembered she had not asked what they were doing in the area. Did they live here? She wondered. What happened to her there? She was practically drooling over the fine specimen of a man. And she was happy about it. For a long time, no one had inspired any feelings in her except the confusing feelings she had for Moses which she needed to stop analysing and this man she met today may just be her gateway ticket out of Mosesville. She still was not able to dispel her continuous comparison of Moses to any man she met. A good thing this stranger was meeting up in every way.

She went to bed that night with thoughts of Tade Braithwaite, and not the usual to-do list or design ideas in her head before going to bed. Dunni could not wait for the weekend. She slept with a broad smile across her face.

*****

Sule was still not back, and she had to open the gate for Toni and her Dad. She made a mental note to install an electric gate similar to the designs she used in a lot of her clients’ houses but never considered for herself.

She could imagine Moses and Ola’s surprise when she tells them she’s installing an electric gate. The guys were into every form of technology while it took her a long time to catch on. There had to be a need first, and others may have tried it out with positive feedback before she could venture into any trial of a sort. Well now is the time.

Dunni chose the garden to host them because the weather was good. Toni can play around the garden. She’d ordered jollof rice, fried plantain with stewed chicken and beef and vegetable salad from her food vendor, and also ordered a medium size box of small chops made by Twelve Baskets.

The Chapman drink, she opted to make by herself. That was relatively easy for a culinarily challenged person like herself. Cooking was not her fort. And she was not ready to make a mess of an outing because the food did not come out well.

She was putting everything away and arranging the crockeries in a basket on a small table beside the garden sofa when she heard the horn at the gate.

She tried to quell the giddiness she felt as she went to open for her guests, excitement filling every fibre of her being.

It was quite a sunny day, clad in yellow shorts, a white tank top matched with yellow sandals. Dunni wished she could throw her wig aside, but was plagued with the need to make a good impression, unlike the other day they first met.

Tade drove in his black Porsche car. She grinned. What was it with men and cars?

“She is a beauty,” she commented and was rewarded with a smile that reached Tade’s eyes. “I love women who have good taste in cars.”

“Don’t be deceived. My male friends have schooled me well.”

He laughed with a ring she had come to identify as his signature laughter.

Toni came out of the car with a tray of finger foods covered with a transparent cling.

“These looks yummy,” Dunni praised taking the tray from the little girl and leading them to the garden on the left side of the house.

“I hope you don’t mind. The garden seemed the best idea so Toni can have space to run around. We could go inside if she wants to do so later.”

“No, the girl will love you to bits for this. She loves the outdoors. I am not able to indulge her with that luxury between my work and the need to rest. Her favourite place is the Lekki conservatory centre.”

“Really? I go there a lot as well. I’ve seen some of her drawings but just thought they were merely drawings. She must be such a green thumb like my mum. You should try gardening with her.

The two adults settled on the garden sofa while Toni went straight for the swing.

“You’ve got a beautiful place,” Tade commented, wondering if there was a man in her life and thought it was not very intelligent of him to have assumed she was available.

He had discreetly checked her ring finger when they met. There was neither engagement nor a wedding ring, and that was good enough for him. Nevertheless, he wondered the wisdom of coming.

Dunni tacitly avoided responding and shouted to Toni so she could hear from the distance. “Do you want a drink now?”

“No! I have one later,” Toni shouted back squealing with glee as the swing went higher.

Dunni poured a glass full of Chapman and dropped some crushed ice into it, handing it over to Tade.

“Thanks, this is nice, he commented after sipping the drink.

“Thank you, that’s one of the few things I can do in the kitchen. The rest is a disaster.”

Tade smiled, relishing the cold drink in the hot weather even though they were under a shade.

“I hope you don’t mind me leaving you. I need to take care of my guest. You are the maid today.”

Tade guffawed. Suppose I get to sit sipping this drink and relaxing. I don’t mind being the maid. I will leave you guys to catch your fun.

“Or would you prefer inside?” She asked thoughtfully. Squinting her eyes from the sun rays that fell over her face where she stood. “Maybe watch football or something on the TV?”

“Thanks but I am fine here.”

“Awesome, see you later,” she waved and ran to meet Toni.

Tade chuckled, she could afford to run with a slim figure. His thoughts went places that dared not be viewed on a TV screen. The shots she wore showed off her slim long straight legs.

He sipped on his drink, but he was drinking in every bit of Dunni’s beauty as he watched her with his daughter. They made a good picture of a happy family. She could easily fit in them.

He wanted this girl. He was not sure love at first sight existed, and for someone who has been married once, he was not sure what had hit him. He hoped that she felt the same way he felt or would feel the same way eventually.

Most importantly, he prayed for time to mourn Solape before bringing another woman to replace her. He felt guilty that he could have a second chance at love when the love of his life lay cold in the grave.

He lay back and closed his eyes hidden behind a set of Versace dark shades. He was not going to think of Solape now. He would when he got back home. Dunni may even be married or have a fiancé and was just being nice to them. Yes, another voice argued that he could lie to himself for all he wanted. He was going to have a hard time getting her out of his mind.

Dunni thoroughly enjoyed the company of father and daughter. She had so much fun that she was amazed at how quickly the day came to an end.

She was more gutted than Toni when it was time for them to leave. Dunni wished she could hold onto the moment not minding the work that waited for her.

They were not the only ones. Tade lingered as long as he could even helping to clear up but the evening finally came, and they had to bring the visit to an end. He was no nearer, knowing her than he did yesterday. Their talk had centred on his daughter and her antics.

“Would next week Saturday or the next to be good for you to come over and try my cooking?”

Toni, who has leaning on her dad tired and playing with the buttons on her dress, was suddenly alert and looking up at Dunni with hopeful eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips with hands clasped together like she was saying a prayer.

“Say, yes! Say yes! Say yes,” Toni chanted.

Dunni playfully put up an act of thinking so hard before replying Tade. “The week after next will be okay. I have next weekend loaded with work.”

What she did not say was today had cost her one day set back on her work schedule. She’d had to stand in for more executive meetings and briefings than her share with the absence of Ola and Moses although she could not complain.

“Sounds like a plan,” Tade responded while Toni leapt up with glee.

“What’s your address, please?”

“We share the same fence, but you have to drive round to the next street to our access the entrance.”

“Oh! I guessed you lived around the area but did not know you were that close, which makes us neighbours.”

“We rarely use your side to drive in, but last week, construction work was going on along the road to our normal route and diverting traffic to this end.”

That kind of explains why she had never run into him before. Dunni thought to herself.

“How long have you lived here?” Tade asked curiously as to why he had never run into her before not that it would have made any difference.

“I moved about a decade ago.”

“We moved here about seven years ago. Although I am considering moving out of the area and thinking of going somewhere much closer to the island.”

“I know traffic is a nightmare. Do you have anything in mind, build, rent or outright purchase?” Her eyes were lightening up as she spoke the language she lived and breathed in; design, construction and houses.

“Build will have been ideal, but that could take up to a year. I am not fussy about the layout of the house, just something for Buttercup and myself with enough space to run around and a swimming pool.”

“That doesn’t sound much,” Dunni joked which elicited a grin from Tade. She could tell he was loaded with money by the car he drove but a question of where and when?

“I am not into houses; my wife was the one who covered the full details.”

Dunni was confused and did not know her face gave away more than she intended. She thought the wife was dead. Had Amanda not said the girl lost her mum? What had she done? Invited a married man to her house and flirted with him half the time?

“It would be nice to set up a meeting with her. I could help as my work involves designing and building houses. I could link her up with one of our partners who manage estates if she prefers an outright buy.

The brief look of disappointed that flashed on Dunni’s face when Tade mentioned his wife lit a spark of hope that she may feel the same way he did.

“Solape, my wife died nine months ago. I still talk about her in the present. I would be happy to come in for that meeting, but I am not in a hurry, the house is ours and can always sell or rent it out and move to another.

He sighed, shoulders crunching like he was carrying the whole world. From nowhere, Dunni felt like giving him a warm hug.

She knew what it was to lose a father but not a spouse. She could imagine that it must be a lot worse although time they say will heal the pain and she sincerely hoped so for him.

“I’m so sorry to hear of your wife’s. … She could not finish the sentence as she choked the words. She was feeling the sense of loss of her dad all over again.

“Some days are bad, and some days you get by. I am grateful for the time I had with Solape. She was a great woman.”

If ever anything happens between you two, you’ll be competing with a dead woman whose memories are so alive in the hearts of her family. Came the thought came from nowhere.

“We got to get going. Can I please have your number and I will text you the address and possible fix a meeting for the house project?” Tade asked, congratulating himself on how easy that came.

“Sure,” Dunni replied, reeling out her number as he tapped the keys on his phone.

Tade called the number and looked up, expecting her phone to ring.

“My bad! My phone must be somewhere in the house.”

“Are you one of those whose mobile phone functions as a landline?”

“Got me there! My friends have given up, and I keep promising to improve. I do for a little while and fall back to the habit.”

“No worries, I can call you later this evening to be sure you’ve got the right number.”

“Okay, Dunni replied, the thought of speaking to him over the phone left her excited.”

She walked towards the gate to open it for Tade to drive out and waved until they were out of sight.

The Dice#12

“You can close your eyes to the things you don’t want to see, but you can’t close your heart to the things you don’t want to feel.” Johnny Depp

Moses used his key and let himself in. The house was shrouded in darkness except for the light from the Television. Dunni lay fast asleep on the sofa. He chuckled, putting off the TV and switching on the lamp at the far end of the room to give enough light to see but not bright enough to wake her up. He watched her sleeping so peacefully and did not want to disturb her. He glanced at his wristwatch, it was past 9.00pm. He could prepare the guest room Ola used whenever they worked late although Dunni always crashed on the sofa.

He gazed at her tear-stained face listening to the rhythm of her breathing. Dunni was beautiful, and for the years he had known her, he doubted she had any clue of the power of her looks. She had no coquettish female bone in her, which made it easier for her to fit with the boys. He had watched the gangly teenager who they started university blossom to a lovely woman as the years went by. They had been friends for so long that even when he had jokingly told her, she was the one she did not believe him. He had been hoping that as the years went by, Dunni will begin to see him with the same eyes he saw her. Unfortunately, it had not worked out that way. It seemed it would be easier for hell to freeze than that to happen.

Moses had a lovely time with Becca. She reminded him of Dunni in many ways that he was beginning to feel maybe she was the one to help him count his loss and move on.

He was brought out of his reverie when Dunni’s eyes fluttered open. She first looked confused as to where she was but seemed to realise by the flicker of recognition when her eyes fell on Moses face looming over her.

“You are back,” she said more of a statement than a question, struggling to sit up.

“Yeah! You must have been exhausted. It appears you have not been sleeping well this week,” Moses replied, feeling guilty she caught him watching her sleep.

“Don’t we all? How did your date go?” Dunni asked, shifting the attention from her.

Moses groaned, “It was not a date, but our meeting went well. Thanks for asking. I got some contacts from the Expo. Becca is lovely, she reminds me of you. I told her you both will get along well.”

Dunni did not think it was a good idea becoming chummy with Moses soon to be girlfriend. Another procession of exes she had to smoothen the feathers when the relationship ended or went awry.

On second thought, Moses may be serious this time compared to his little or no relationships in the last five years, not that she was counting. She was embarrassed to say she knew every single of the girls he had dated. The ones Dunni knew will not last and the one girl he nearly married but did not. He never told her why they broke up although she pestered him till, she had to give up when he refused to give in. She could not hide her delight when the relationship ended. Jumoke was a bitchy, selfish dimwit girl who had Moses wrapped around her finger. It was good riddance to bad rubbish when she exited their lives.

They had been each other plus one to several social functions they had to attend. She should be happy for Moses, but all she could feel was intense sadness worse than the betrayal she suffered from Emma’s revelation. It was like her heart was being ripped apart.

Moses was sitting beside her with deep concern in his eyes. “Tell me what happened what made you so upset earlier.”

She scooted to the other half of the seat, she was feeling hot with Moses so close by and confused as to why she was so conscious of him. What was wrong with her? She wondered. She was not coming down with Malaria or something.

Dunni narrated Emma’s story and why she was upset that Emma could even buy in the idea for a second when she knew how much Dunni believed in the sanctity of marriage.

“I think you were hard on her. The woman in the story did not go out to hurt her friend by dating her husband. It just happened. And it was only easy to believe, no one is saying you can do such. Still, people in your position have found themselves in worse situations. I think you would have done the same thing Emma did and you are judging her because you only think you know yourself.”

“You are taking sides with her,” Dunni accused.

“I am not taking sides with anyone. I am only being objective. Marry me Dunni, and you will end the drama around you. How many times do I have to ask?”

Dunni’s eyes went round, then she burst out laughing. “Moses, oh, please be serious. Emma betrayed my trust. How can she think I could ever do that to her? That is my point. Not that the stories are not true just the fact that Dunni Adesida cannot stoop that low to start an affair with her best friend’s husband. And as for marriage to you, hell will sooner freeze than I marry you because your dice said so.”

“It is not my dice saying so now. It’s me asking you.”

Dunni threw a throw pillow on Moses. “Please be serious. I am pouring my heart out to you, and you are making light my predicament.”

“We can make a pact. Should we both still be single at 50, then we can get married to each other.” Dunni smiled, her heartbreaking and wishing Moses was serious with the proposal and not some joke or effort to make her feel bad.

Moses smiled sadly. Dunni will never see him for what he is, a man madly in love with her for sixteen years. Maybe it was time he moved on.

Fear to Fall

Parts of this work first appeared on this blog under the title, Omowashe Omorishe.

Fear to Fall is set in the sights and sounds of the boisterous city of Lagos chronicling the life of a career-driven Nigerian lady in the banking sector.

The twist and turns of life’s curveballs are thrown unexpectedly; the intertwining of romance, friendship, loyalty and family drama leaves you captivated and wanting more. To what length would you go for the one you love? This is a book to tuck away and lose yourself in the wonder of contemporary Nigerian romance told in a first-person narrative. You would love, laugh and cry with the characters.

Available only in ebook format on #okadabooks #applebooks #amazon#rakutenkobobooks #tolino #vivlio #barnes&noble #scribd #baker&taylor #overdrive #24symbols #bibliotheca

The Dice#10

Some friends are worse than enemies. If you find a good one, keep them close, for they are diamonds.

The weekend came faster than she expected. Good thing she had a date with Emma. Dunni did not know how much she had missed their time together until Emma showed up with their favourite wine, Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato. Dunni had ordered the ice cream and masa, and some grilled spiced meat popularly called suya.

Wearing a mini jeans skirt and a yellow fitted tee-shirt, Dunni slotted the USB drive into the Samsung TV and settled to watch the Matrix.

It was an intense two and a half hours film. Anyone seeing them would have thought they had exams to write after the movie.

“Gosh! That was so my movie!” exclaimed Emma. There should be a sequel.

“Yours truly is a Nigerian. If the film does not have part 2 or 3, then it is not complete. The film is okay as a standalone.” Dunni argued.

“Well, I still feel there should be more.”

“You could write to the producers,” Dunni teased.

“I just might,” Emma replied, seriously thinking of it.

“Wow! Now I have to face the not so nice part of driving home when all I want to do is go straight to bed. “You could sleepover but don’t know how many husbands will let their wives do that.”

“Definitely not Greg.”

“I am surprised that he has not called you all this time.

Emma laughed. I warned him not to monitor my time out. He had the kids to himself and will see me when he sees me.

“Hmm, is that the boss lady speaking or Emma, the docile wife,” Dunni teased.

“Boss lady, sometimes we mothers and wives need the time to let down our hairs and be girls again. We get too bogged down with our roles as wives and mothers and forget who we are, what our dreams were and who we wanted to be. Then the kids are out, hubby has made a good career. In contrast, we have either gotten stuck in a flexible career or remain sit-at-home mums feeling defeated, and that the world is our enemy.”

Dunni looks on thoughtfully.

“Aww, should not have said that,” Emma apologised.

“None of what you said is wrong. It makes a whole lot of sense and useful information for the future when I fulfil my mother’s wish of taking on the MRS title,” replied Dunni.

Emma looked at Dunni with remorse. “I have to ask you for forgiveness before I share this with you and I don’t want you to be offended. The last time you called me, I was a little bit off because I had allowed someone to mess with my head. Don’t ask me who but I was told to be careful of you being a single lady and all…. The possibility that you may have something to do with my husband. An affair or a love child whatever. I was stupid to let that get to me,” she grimaced.

Dunni sat stunned at Emma. “You believed that crap about me?” asked Dunni, disappointment was written all over her face.

“I am sorry, Dunni. She had shared the story of two friends we knew who used to be really close, and the other friend had her children for the friend’s husband. Every time her friend asked her who the father was, she never said, and they were tight friends. All the while, the two women had kids for the same man only that one was married and the other was outside. They were tighter friends than we are. I don’t think it was the intention of the friend to go after her friend’s husband. Just that stuff happens, and I shudder to think such should happen to us.”

“It is depressing that you could think that of me. I would protect what we have with my blood, Emma if it means me going out of your life for good I will do it before such evil befalls us. How can you even think about it? That I will go after your husband. This is crazy. You have messed up with my head too. Gosh, good for you to share but bad for us to still be close friends.”

“What do you mean?” Emma stuttered, seeing the angry look on her friends face.

“I mean, our friendship is over. I can’t come near you or your husband without me thinking that somewhere you may have thought I could cause a rift in your home. I am not that friend and trust has been broken the moment you believed I could betray you.”

“You are joking, right?” Emma asked, shocked at Dunni’s reaction.

“No, I am not, I can’t be friends with someone who finds it so easy to think the worst of me. If you don’t mind, I think I need to be somewhere now.”

“I am sorry, Dunni.”

“Apology accepted. We can be acquaintances, but we can no longer be close friends.”

Emma felt Dunni was taking this out of proportion, but nothing she could say or do at this moment will change her mind, so she grabbed her bag and car key and left.

Dunni did the same as soon as Emma was out. She drove around aimlessly until she found herself in front of Moses house. What was wrong with all her friends? Her mother stopped mounting pressure on her while her friends had picked the baton even her gate man appeared not to be left out!

The Dice#9

Dunni stood up from the sofa to get to her desk when she caught sight of a gorgeous caramel skinned lady dressed in a knee-length navy blue suit. She was about 5 feet, 8 inches tall with long box braids cascading down all the way to her waist.

The fact that the lady was with Moses piqued her interest. She wondered if there something beyond work as she watched their interaction. The way Moses’s eyes lighted up and the grin across his face like he was practically eating from her hands increased her curiosity. Suddenly she remembered an idea to run by Ola.

Moses stopped holding the mystery lady by her arms as he introduced her.

“Becca Williams meet Dunni Adesida, one of the principal partners. Dunni, Becca Williams, MD La Forte Designs. She is the interior designer who handled the Lekki Horizons Estate. I met her yesterday at Akin and Anu’s function. I think it would be nice if she handled the Awoyaya Gardens Project.”

Dunni stretched out her hand to shake Becca warmly and smiled at Moses neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his proposal. She excused herself to Ola’s office, leaving Moses with his guest. There was no way Becca or whatever she was called would handle her project. She already had a reliable designer. Moses could use her for his project but not hers. She fumed still in that state when she got to Ola’s office.

Ola looked up and could not hide his smile when Dunni walked in. He had wondered how long it would take her to barge into his office complaining of the new designer Moses had just recommended.

“I did not know we were shopping for new designers. I thought we were happy with the works of Exquisite Interiors and Bubbles Interior designs.”

“You will have to ask Moses. I don’t think there is any harm in introducing one more designer considering the number of projects we have to execute. He was introduced to her and requested she bring her portfolio. Who knows we may need her soon.”

“She won’t handle any of my projects,” Dunni announced Ola to disagree.

Moses strolled in whistling the song baby, now that I’ve found you by Alison Kraus. She knew the song as it was one of the soundtracks in the list of songs in his car.

Dunni rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Moses be serious. What have you found, a good designer for our projects or what?”

“She is the one,” Moses replied dreamily clasping his hands together.

Both Ola and Dunni turned to look at Moses like he had grown a horn or something.

“What do you mean she is the one,” Dunni tried to keep her voice regular, she could barely breathe as she waited for Moses to say something.

“I have finally found her. The one I have been looking for,” Moses answered.

Dunni busted out with a peal of forced laughter that sounded strange even to her ears. “See you when you get back from La la land.” She turned to Ola, “talk to him. I will not be there when it all falls like a pack of cards.”

Moses kept whistling with this look on his face Dunni had not seen since he dated Sophie Adams in his third year at university. That was the only serious relationship Moses had been in. She was not privy to why they broke up. His other relationships have been less intense. Moses breaking up with Sophie had led to her break up with Benji. She was spending more time with Moses knowing he was shaken from the break-up and wanted to help.

It was one of the worst moments of his life since they had become friends. Her heart ached for him in that period, and she felt she owed it as a friend to be with him. Benji, for some reason, had always seen Moses as a threat even when he knew Moses was involved with Sophie. She had to keep telling him then that Moses was only a friend and nothing more. Dunni called off the relationship when she could no longer take the badgering. Benji has trust issues, and Dunni could not deal with it. He was one of the few guys that got on with Moses and Ola, but somewhere along the line, he had let jealousy ruin what they had.

Moses and Dunni got closer during that season of their lives. She had not had any relationship after Benji, she still felt stung by his betrayal. It was barely a month after Dunni broke off with Benji he started dating another girl in her dorm. There has been no one after Benji. She just could not find anyone she connected with.

For a weird reason, she found herself comparing all the men that came to Moses. None of them measured to him. She wanted someone who understood her like Moses.

Dunni sat behind her desk, lost in thoughts. She was not sure how she got there. She worried that Moses may get hurt with this new relationship. At a time, she had to reprimand herself not to take Panadol for someone else’s headache as was commonly said. Who knows it may not work out like all his other relationships? Moses was a grown man she could not be worrying for him like she was his mother.

Searching for a drawing pen, she got busy on her project with a little frown on her face. Not sure why she was bothering her head over Moses relationship.

The Dice#8

Dunni walked into the office mid-afternoon on Monday still tired from acting as a chauffeur to her mum and aunt over the weekend.

All hell broke loose when they found out that Kemi was in the hospital and had undergone a surgery. An emergency family meeting was called where the family decided Kemi was moving out of her matrimonial home until there was a change in her husband. Otherwise, the family was ready to support her to file a divorce.

Dunni sat through the meeting, wishing she was anywhere but there. The arguments got heated, and some elders were almost at the point of brawling. Insults were hurled from one end of the room to the other like a tennis ball across the tennis table.

Unfortunately, she was unable to accompany Moses to his party. She had to work on Saturday and Sunday night to meet up with her deadline. Her mother and aunt were still in Lagos.

Dunni dropped her mum off at her elder brother’s place on the mainland before heading to work. Her mother still found time to complain about how quiet Dunni’s house was and what a difference it would make with the presence of a husband and children.

It was on her lips to retort that at least it was better than the boxing ring of a house her married cousin had found herself.

******

Dunni was glad to be in her office. She made her way straight to the fridge at the right corner of her office.

Taking out a bottle of cold water, she turned the cap open and guzzled the water in one go in a bid to quench her thirst. The heat outside was unbearable, and the slow traffic did not help.

Dunni gazed through the glass window overlooking the prestigious offices of some of the Nigerian banks on the busy Idowu Taylor Street. She never got tired of appreciating the edifices, the structures were intricate work of art. Dunni was glad to be inside though, the scorching sun outside could make a perfect toast. Taking off her jacket as she felt the cooling effect of not only the water but the Air conditioner now blowing cold air over her face. She basked in the luxury of the cooling relief.

Stepping out of her four inches Louboutin shoes, she retrieved her flats from under her table, settling for comfort rather than a luxury. The shrill noise from her phone had her scrambling to pick the call but not without hitting her head, wincing as she rubbed her head in a bid to rub the pain away. When did her ring tone change to such a miserable sound. If not the closeness of the noise, she would have no idea it was her phone. She checked the caller wondering why Emma was calling her at this time. The last time they had a conversation, something she could not place was amiss, but she had been too busy to follow up on any of Emma’s drama.

“Oh, Emma,” she sighed into the phone.

“Were you expecting someone else?” Emma queried with a giggle, Dunni could hear over the phone line.

“Not really.”

“I have not heard from you in a while and decided to give you a call.”

Dunni rolled her eyes with a weak yes. She still remembered their last conversation and how off Emma had sounded. Still, it appeared that whatever was bothering her at the time must have gone away.

“I am fine, just being busy.”

“Yeah, Moses said so. We met yesterday at Anu’s baby’s dedication. I thought he would come with you.”

“He mentioned it, but I could not go as I had other things to attend to.”

Wishing Emma to hurry and end the call. She had a busy day ahead of her and starting late was not helping matters. Another girl chit chat call during office would set her back by days if she wasn’t careful.

“Yeah,” Dunni answered drily.

Emma usually caught up with her monosyllable answers except for this time she appeared oblivious to Dunni’s reluctance in engaging in a conversation.

“It would have been so good to catch up. I have missed you.”

“I have missed you too.” Dunni smiled as she walked around to sit on the sofa’s she used for her clients.

“What about this weekend, your place or mine?” Dunni asked. She could hear the hesitance in Emma’s voice before she responded.

“Your place, I guess.”

“Geeez!” Dunni, let out a laugh. “What is up, Emma? I feel you’ve got something up your sleeve and you have to come out with it.”

“Not on the phone, see you over the weekend. Ice cream from the Chocolat Royal!”

“See you then babe, got to go back to work or this weekend may not happen.”

Dunni stared into space with a smile on her face. That’s what happens when your girlfriend knows your weakness. You can’t stay mad for long. She tapped the keys on her phone, entering the details for Friday date night to her calendar, adding a reminder to pick up Suya and Masa on her way home.

The Dice#7

Dunni met a dark, robust ebony woman. With glasses placed over her nose reading the chart who informed her the operation was successful and the internal bleeding had stopped. She had a broken arm and some cuts. Despite all that, she was out of danger and responding well.

Dunni heaved a sigh of relief and thanked the Nurse.

“How soon can we see her,” she wanted to see her cousin.

“Not yet,” came the disappointing response. “Your sister is resting and would not be up for visitors until later this afternoon.”

Dunni refused to correct her that the lady inside was her cousin and not her sister. She wriggled her fingers together, wanting to say more. Moses could tell she was getting apprehensive and retook her hands in his as he joined her. It was becoming natural.

“Can the hospital ensure that no visitors are allowed except us? Her husband is not allowed near her,” he requested, his look and posture intimidating.

“That should not be a problem, sir,” the Nurse assured him. “I have just told your wife that she is unable to receive visitors this morning. I am afraid you would have to come back in the afternoon.”

Dunni gazed at him thankfully. Her heart melting many times over. How could someone read another person so well? She guessed it came with the terrain of working alongside each other for many years. But hey, did the Nurse just say, wife?

She was on the verge of correcting her, when Moses, increased the pressure of his hands over hers. She looked at him, and he shook his head slightly. Dunni stubbornly removed her hand. She was about to speak when Moses explained to the Nurse how worried they were that her husband may come in to finish what he started.

“While the family is yet to decide if we want our sister to go back to him or not.We want to know she is safe here,” Moses appealed to the Nurse.

“As I said earlier, you and your wife do not need to worry. I will inform the Nurse to take over from me and put the information on her chart.”

“Thank you very much. Nurse Akoh,” he appreciated using the name he read off the name tag on her chest.

“Why did you not correct her?” Dunni asked Moses after the left the Nurse.

“She sure won’t want to be taking orders from an unmarried sister about a married sister. And she is entitled to her opinion,” Moses winked at her “Relax. It felt good to be married to you for some seconds there.”

“Oh!” Dunni groaned, “can you be serious, please?”

“Okay,” Moses replied, not without a small smile tugging at his lips.

Dunni could not but help laugh at his feeble attempt.

“Dear 60 seconds husband. I think your services for the day is ended. I am ready to go home, get some food for Kemi and I’ll be back by noon.” Dunni walked out of the hospital towards the car park and Moses followed.

“I can bring you back,” Moses offered.

“No thanks, that would be me asking too much – oliver twist . I don’t want to take any more of your time. My cousin will be fine. I am sure her mum would be on her way to Lagos by now.”

“No worries. Glad to be of help.”

“Thanks for helping me. Deeply appreciated, unfortunately, I can’t repay you.”

“I know how you can. I have a party tomorrow, and I don’t want to go alone. Would you mind coming with me?”

“Anyone, I know?”

“You may not remember him, but Akin was in Agric Economics, one of my roommates in our second year.”

“Is that Akin and Anu? Those inseparable guys.”

“Yes, they got married ten years ago while in America and only had their first child this year. They are back to the country, and it’s their baby’s first year birthday.”

“Would be nice to see them both. Gosh, how do you do it?” Dunni asked. “Keep in touch with all these people? She gesticulated. “I can barely keep up with my immediate family, and here you are taking on people that can form a whole nation.”

“I don’t know, its not something I do deliberately, it just happens.” Moses shrugged. Meeting people and keeping relationships was something he did like drinking water or blinking one’s eyes. You don’t calculate you just do it.”

“It’s a gift,” and that’s one of the many things I like about you. You value people and relationships.

“We all do, we just have different ways of showing it. Are you in?”

“I have some unfinished work for one of the projects I am working on” Dunni responded hesitantly torn between working and going out to have some fun.

“I could help you with that,” Moses offered.

Dunni snorted, “you have the bulk of the work to do, remember?”

Moses suggested she could come over to his place, and they could work together before setting out for the function. Dunni was quick to ask if he would be preparing his vegetable stir rice in snail sauce. Moses replied he was more than happy, but she had to be for it.

“How much, a diamond dice?” Dunni asked with mischief written all over her face.

“Must you always go there?” Moses groaned, and Dunni broke into a giggle. I am not the one who basis all my decisions on a dice.

“If anyone heard you talk about this dice, they would think it was a human and you were jealous of her.”

“No, I am not.”

“Yes, you are,” and both went on with no – yes, no – yes like two naughty children.

“Fine! “, giving up but not without a pout on her face that was so comical that Moses started laughing and Dunni reluctantly joined in.

“Come, let’s get you home,” Moses linked his arms with Dunni, and they walked towards his jeep.

They had barely driven out of the hospital when the music Ara by Brymo which Dunni used for her ring tone came alive from her phone.

“My mum,” she groaned, showing him her phone screen.

“Hello Maami,” Dunni greeted her mother over the phone.

“I am in Lagos with Kemi’s mum. We are on our way to the house. Is Kemi with you?”

Dunni looked at Moses, not sure what to tell her. They had not told them she was in the hospital. She had sent a text that she was with Kemi, and they did not need to worry.

“Yes, Maami, you can come to my house,” Dunni replied, not answering the question about Kemi’s whereabout.

“Where are you now? Do I need to come and pick you from the park?”

“No, your brother sent his driver to bring us.”

“Oh! I will meet you at my house. I am on my way home.”

Dunni cut the phone and rolled her eyes.

“What is with the eye-rolling?” Moses chuckled as he asked knowingly.

“You know my mother; the next thing is to start reeling instructions and all the drama I am not ready to deal with right now.”

“Dunni takes it easy on her, it is a mother’s love, you know….”

“Grrrrr, spare me the preaching. You would do the same if you had my mother as yours.”

Taking his hands momentarily off the wheels, Moses gestured a mock surrender.

Dunni felt guilty. She had not intended the words to come out that way.

Moses never knew his mother. He grew up with his grandma, that was as much as he let on. He rarely talked about his parents and often deflected any conversation tailored in that direction.

She stole a look at him. If he was upset or not, Moses did not let on, and she did not want to make him feel worse if he did not allude anything to what she had said, so she kept quiet.

They settled into a quiet drive that Dunni found discomforting. When she could not help it, she blurted out.

” I’m sorry for what I just said. That was not what I meant. It came out…..”

“bad…” Moses finished the sentence for her with a sad smile.

” I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have known her. I think all you who have mothers are the luckiest ones. It would be nice to be able to whine the way you all do.”

Dunni punched his right arm playfully. “For the records, I do not whine, and you can gladly have Maami.

“Too late, you know I already do. She is my number one girl.”

“Cool. No need to be jealous. Maami shoes are too big to fill in. I can t compete.

Dunni smiled, her mum doted over Ola and Moses like they were her children. That was Mami, Iya gbogbo ero – mother to all.

The Dice#6

Dunni woke up with a start, reluctant to leave the source of her warmth. The cleaning lady was at work at the far end of the reception, working her way towards them. The smell of antiseptics making her feel sick.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty.”

Dunni sat up, abruptly wide eyes. How did she get into Moses’ arms? The event of the night before all coming back.

She covered her face too shy to look at Moses and groaned, “Did I just turn you to my bed?”

“And Pillow but not complaining. You were as light as a featherweight. Looked like you have not added a single kilogram since we left school, and that was how many years now.”

“Go away,” she playfully slapped his arms.

“It’s not like adding weight will get me a diamond or transform into money. I am happy the way I am,” she defended.

Moses turned her face so he could see her eyes, “you are beautiful the way you are and more beautiful each day”.

Dunni could feel the sincerity of the words. Even though she was plain without makeup and waking up from sleep, she looked everywhere, but Moses, wondering why the words were having such an effect on her. This was Moses for crying at loud.

He turned her to face him again. “Never forget that.” The moment was broken, he had gone big brother on her. She always hated it when they treated her like their little sister.

“And you never forget you are one hell of a guy. Can’t wait for the girl to come and take you off me,” She laughed nervously.

“You would not be the death of me. One minute you get me thinking I am the only girl in the universe. It is bad enough you keep using me to practice. I know the girl is out there waiting for you. You do not have to prove your dice is right.”

Moses sighed. How was he ever going to convince Dunni that his feelings had nothing to do with his dice and he had always loved her? There could never be any other woman for him. It just happened that his dice that was never wrong should never have been cast that night.

Dunni kissed him on his forehead and walked over to the Nurses reception, to find out about the surgery ashamed that she had slept off.

Eyes opened wide. Moses whistled. “Should my hopes be up?”

“Silly, that’s what you get when you go big brother on me,” she stopped halfway and turned back to face Moses arms akimbo.

“What should I do to get out from the brother zone to the boyfriend zone?”

“To get out of the brother zone, stop treating me like your little sister. You know I always hate it when you and Ola did that, and I still do. I am one of the three senior partners at the firm.

And the boyfriend zone? He asked masking the hope in his voice with humour.

“Never!”

“Oh, he clutched his heart like someone who has been shot.

Dunni rolled her eyes and walked away, laughing. Muttering how incorrigible a grown man like Moses could be but secretly loving the playful side of him. While she was profoundly serious, Ola and Moses were too playful to a fault, but they could work to the bones. She loved what she had with them and would protect it fiercely. Even it if it meant never giving her heart to Moses.

The Dice#5

Can you imagine if life’s major decisions could be made from the toss of a dice! I threw the dice today if to publish episode 5 or wait till the weekend and it fell on 5! Haha! I won’t try it next time. But seriously what is your life’s compass? That one thing that guides our decisions both big and small decisions. I would love to hear from you!

Dunni glanced nervously for the umpteenth time at her cousin who lay lifeless at the back seat of Moses brand new 2012 Range Rover.

She was barely breathing. Worry etched all over Dunni’s face as she kept wringing her hands, a sign that she was apprehensive.

Moses took his eyes off the road, momentarily alarmed. It was bad enough they had an almost dying woman in the back of his car, on the other hand, looking at Dunni, she did not seem to be faring well. She looked on the verge of passing out.

He searched for her hands, holding her left hand while he controlled the car with his other hand, wanting to reassure her and make sure she stayed with him. He could not imagine having to deal with two unconscious women before getting to the hospital.

“Your cousin will be fine,” he reassured with more confidence than he felt as the woman behind did not like she would make it through the night. It would be a miracle if she survived the ordeal without being maimed.

“What if we had gotten there five minutes after? She could have died.”

Dunni shivered, pulling her hands from his and wrapped her body like one trying to shield herself from harm.

The drive to the hospital was the longest Dunni had experienced. Lucky theirs was the only car on the road. She stole a look at Moses but could not read his expression. His eyes were focused on the way as he drove along yet sensing her, he momentarily gazed at her the grim look a while ago lost to a weary smile.

She felt guilty for disturbing his sleep and bringing him into her family drama. “I am sorry,” she mouthed a second time that night.

“For what?” Moses asked

“You know…. all this,” she gestured with her hands.

“Dunni, anything for you. You don’t have to apologise. I would have been more upset if you had to go through all of this on your own.”

Her heart did things to her when Moses was so kind and attentive, but she was not going to dwell on it. Moses was that way with everyone. He treated you special. Sadly, over the years, she had watched many ladies fall deeply in love with him, suffering from broken hearts without Moses even trying. She’d been looking for the day he’ll finally introduce a girlfriend or fiancée. She often wondered that if Moses treated random strangers this way, she could only imagine what would happen when the person was his object of affection. She could bet her life on it; he would literally worship the ground the girl walked upon.

Whatever she wanted to say died when Kemi at the back started struggling to breathe. Luckily, Moses arrived at the hospital. And Dunni ran out of the car to alert the nurses barely waiting for him to park.

A stretcher was brought to carry her while an oxygen mask placed over her nose. She had to go in for surgery immediately. The best news that night was the presence of a surgeon whose patient scheduled for surgery declined to be operated at the last minute and was still in the hospital.

Dunni signed all the paperwork scanning through the content briefly and went to join Moses where he sat.

“What next?” Moses asked stifling a yawn. It was 3:55am.

“I was not told how long the surgery will last. I’ll be here. You can go home. I will catch a taxi later in the morning.”

“I think I will wait for you—no need driving again this night.”

Dunni gazed into his eyes in a bid to be sure that this was okay with him. She felt guilty for disrupting his night and wondered if she would have reached out to him this way if he was married. She was not too sure what the wife will feel about it. On the other hand, a glimpse of Ola’s wife was an indication that things may not change. She accepted Dunni’s place in the firm and her husband’s life. They were always in each other’s company at social functions of their clients. She had an excellent relationship with Ola’s wife and hoped it continued when Moses got married.

Placing his arms around her shoulder, he pulled her toward himself, her head resting on his chest. She could hear the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat lulling her tired eyes to sleep as they sat on the hard chairs in the waiting room of the hospital.