Clad in a simple leaf-patterned navy blue and white kaftan made with the traditional adire fabric. Molade appeared to be watching the cars that sped by as they drove along the Ibadan – Lagos expressway. She was lost in thoughts to another time when she made a similar trip. The road was not this terrible. Those were the days when it took you just a little over an hour to get to Ibadan from Lagos. Like this journey, she was driven by the same driver, Jamiu, who has been her personal driver from her teenage years to her adult life. Her brows creased in deep thoughts as they made their way to the ancient city. She could count the number of times she had a reason to come this way despite its proximity to Lagos. Molade was jolted from her reverie as the car turned off the main road onto a muddy road meandering around deep potholes that laced the road. She jerked forward but for the seat belt that held her from hitting her face against the headrest of the front passenger seat. “Sorry, madam,” Jamiu apologised. She waved him off, knowing that it was not his fault. It probably will cost the government little or nothing to get the road adequately fixed. Molade looked around, taking in her surroundings. At the same time, she wondered if her findings today will reveal her fears ever since she saw the document this morning. The driver slowed the jeep down beside a woman roasting fresh corn for sale to ask for direction. He was about to drive off when Molade passed him a few thousand naira notes to give to the woman. She was beside herself with joy and rushed to wrap a few of the already roasted corn in newspaper to give to them. Jamiu declined and drove off, watching the room in his rearview mirror as she swirled and moved from side to side, dancing with joy. The money would cover her sale for the day and, if not more. Jamiu brought the car came to a halt in front of what looked like a hospital. Molade gazed at the small-sized building with its white paint turned grey peeling off, a few broken glass windows replaced with wood. She could see the queue of people spilling to the hospital entrance, leaving her wondering what a weekday would be like if the weekend was this busy. “Do you want me to go in for you?” Jamiu asked. Molade managed a small smile. Jamiu uncannily knew her so well, but why wouldn’t he|? He’d known her all her life.
Tade swallowed hard. Clenching and unclenching his fist.
“Who is she, Tade?”
“Who is who mum?” He knew who his mother was referring to but would rather play dumb.
“I hear there is a lady you’ve been seeing.”
He turned around, blowing air through his mouth. Not only was he exasperated, but his patience was also wearing thin. His mother had never approved of any girls he brought home in the past. She made it her life goal to make their lives miserable and scare them away from the Thomas fortune. She all but considered them social climbers and gold diggers. No one was good enough for her son. Sadly, mothers do not marry their sons and either willingly or begrudgingly must accept their sons’ choice. Solape was one tough cookie who stood by him and against his mother’s wish. Their love won, but in the end, he lost her to death. It was as if she had been proved right, and she did not fail to remind him at every opportunity she could.
“When I told you she was not for you, you would not listen. How does a young girl who is not even 30 die from cancer?”
“Mum, cancer is not an age-related sickness. People die from cancer, young, old, middle-aged and even babies.”
Molade Thomas rolled her eyes.
“She was not meant to be in this family. She was bad luck. In our history, people don’t die below 70. My grandmother was 90 when she died, my grandfather was 101, my great grandfather was 98 while his wife choices die at 106. You are the first widower in our lineage.”
“Mother, will you stop?” Did you come here to berate me on a death, we humanly could do nothing about. You should be happy I am healing and moving despite how hard it is. Solape is unforgettable.”
“Tade dear, I can’t hide my displeasure of your marriage to that girl and what her death has caused to our family. Do you know what is being said out there? That we sacrificed her.”
“Mother, why do you waste your time listening to an idle talk from people who have no job? Where do you get the time for gossip with the work you do managing the Thomas fortune?”
“I keep my ears to the ground. Information is power.”
“There was no winning with his mum.”
“So who is this girl? What’s her name, who are her parents? Does she know your family?”
“Mother! Stop!! She is just a friend. When and if it becomes more, you will be the last to know. Don’t for once think I am ignorant of all you did to the ladies before and including Solape. I forbid you from doing anything to make her uncomfortable, or I will disappear from your life, and this time for good. You will never see Toni or me again.”
If there was anything Molade learnt in business was when to retreat in a battle.
She smiled sadly. “All I do is for you. It is hard for people outside our circle to love you, you will be surprised to find out that you are only a means to their dreams – a ticket out of poverty and nothing else.”
Tade tugged at his beard. He’d been so bust lately and could not keep up with his daily shave so gave up and tried the look which Dunni did not mind.
“Not everything is about money. In case you have forgotten people rarely connect me to the Thomas fortune. There is a reason my surname is Braithwaite. I am tired and need a shower. Please let yourself out when you are done.”
Tade stopped midway and turned to look at his mum. There was a time when she meant the whole world to him. Molade Thomas was first his mother before transforming into this monster with no feelings, he could barely recognise. She thought everyone was out to get a piece of the Thomas fortune. No one was good enough for her. Her choice was Made, her best friends daughter, but the girl was a spoiled brat who refused to grow up. He wanted to do life with someone who had a semblance of normal, not some rich kid who could not even hold her toothbrush without being assisted by personal maids.
“Dunni is an architect and a partner at her firm. She is not interested in my money because she has no clue I am the son of the richest Black woman. So don’t go sending your goons to spook her. I have not asked her. However, I intend to and if she says yes. You will respect her and keep your distance if you can not love her like your daughter. I will not allow a repeat of what Solape suffered in your hands. I stayed in Nigeria because Solape kept hoping you will come around and love her. She wanted you to have that time and bond with Toni. That girl was an angel, someone you lost the of the opportunity to know. I hope you won’t make the same mistake with Dunni. Life is beyond money and business connections.”
He sighed and walked away. Dunni had to meet his mother at some point, but that would be long after she agreed to marry him . He was not going to let his mum jeopardise his second chance at love. Dunni was someone special. The bond between her and Toni was one he could only have imagined but never thought possible.
Molade Thomas smiled at Tade retreating figure. He could be in his mid-thirties, Chief Medical Officer at Lekki Consultant hospital, but he was first her child. If she gave in to all the threats thrown at her, she would not be who she is today. Many felt because she was born into the Thomas wealth, she had it all smooth. Life was not a bed of roses. She worked hard to be where she was today. Her father’s wealth and connection may have helped. Still, her doggedness and tenacity put her ahead of the park in the Nigeria and Africa business sphere which was primarily dominated by men.
She would do what she had to do. Every single detail of that’s girls life will be checked. She would be dissected like an insect, and if she didn’t meet the requirements, Tade would be the one to reject her not Molade. She will not lose her only son to a social climber or gold digger.
Solape proved to be a rare gem, but she would never acknowledge that to anyone. She was not only beautiful, which was one of the reasons Tade lost his heart and sense to her, but she was resourceful and knew how to use Thomas fortune to her advantage. Take this house for an instant.
She threw her gaze around the house, refusing to give in to any sentiments recollecting all the girl’s effort to win her approval. She would have preferred someone who was not that weak. Solape wore her heart on her sleeve and thought the whole world will love you if you were nice.
The news of her death broke Molade. She was still angry. How does cancer snuff the life of one so alive? Her hard exterior cracked in the walls of her bedroom the night she was informed of Solape’s demise.
Tade and Solape had announced they were going back to the US for vacation the family had gone during Easter. When she quizzed him, he said they just wanted the time to themselves. It was a rude shock when Tade called to tell her Solape was gone.
That she’d been diagnosed with cervical cancer on their last vacation. They did not want to alarm family members since a mere operation medically advised would solve the problem. According to Tade, initially, Solape did not wake up from the operation but did hours later as the medical team battled to resuscitate her. One day she was recovering from the operation, and the next day she went into cardiac arrest and died. The girl was not sick; she just died.
Molade wiped her silent tears away as she sat in the living room of her son’s house, pulling herself together. This was a part of her the world will never get to see. No one knew that she pulled strings behind the scene to make the girl succeed.
Solape related with her like she was oblivious to Molade’s cold demeanour. So she would visit her every week at the office, same time and same day. Molade cleared her calendar for those visits, and no meeting was scheduled within those hours. She argued she was only polite, but she enjoyed every time spent with that girl in hindsight.
Solape would talk about Toni, her business, the wins, looses who gave her problems, who was friendly, Tade etc. The talk was usually one-sided because Molade will only grunt or blatantly ignore her. Still, surprisingly the girl will be back the next week and the next so while she came to love the girl fiercely in her heart, she refused to show it outside.
She still wondered if the girl knew she was going to die. The last visit before her trip for the operation, she’d come round her desk to give her a hug that was totally out of place.
“I know you love me and thank you for everything,” and she was out of the office like she had never been there.
Tade was wrong. She had the opportunity of knowing the girl and enjoyed those times with Solape.
“Here’s my phone, Moses is on the line.” Dunni looked at him quizzically, “has he been on the line all this while?” “Yes, and please can I have my phone when you are done?” Toni rolled her eyes at him, “Of course you’ll have your phone back, or maybe I should have it?” she asked mischievously. Ola wagged his finger at her, and he was out of her office. “Hello, stranger,” the sound of Moses’s voice made her almost want to cry. Dunni closed her eyes, letting the sound of his voice wash over her. Taking in the sound of his breath over the phone. She smiled at his silence. He always did that thing – greet and wait for her to speak first. It was a game they played, and she was always the one to give in and break the silence. This time around, she was taken aback by the power in the sound of his voice and how she could literally feel him standing in her office. “How are you?” she asked, forgetting she was waiting for him to speak. “Ahhhh! Are we not too old for this game?” Dunni queried, miffed that he had beaten her to it as always. Moses held his phone tightly, allowing the softness of her voice cut deep into his soul. He was not sure how long he could stay away from her. He wanted to see her, gaze into her eyes and feel the connection they had. The project was taking longer than expected. He’d been tempted so many times to take a week off, but he knew what that would do to the project, and he was not ready to take that risk. This was a massive project, and not only did he need to do a perfect job, but he also had a reputation to maintain for future projects. He heaved. Savouring the sweetness of Dunni’s voice and the smile he could imagine on her face would do for now. Ignoring her question, he asked, “How are you?” “Fine as can be. So much work to do here but we got it under control. And yourself?” “These guys here are slave drivers. I don’t think they ever rest. Trying hard to keep up.” “I think you are the chief slave driver. They must be rushing to finish the project to get rid of you.” His peals of laughter could be heard over the phone, which brought a smile to Dunni’s face. “I don’t mind getting rid of me too if it would bring me to you.” “Is that a line engineered by the toss of your dice?” Moses groaned in frustration. Dunni laughed. “I am not the one who makes critical decisions from the toss of a dice.” “You should try it sometime,” he retorted drily. “Yeah yeah!” He wanted to ask of Mr Flowers, he heard Ola alluding to over the phone but was not sure if he really wanted to know. Ignorance they say is bliss. The jealousy he felt was suffocating him. For all, he knew this could be one of Dunni’s many admirers that would fade away with time. The thought of anything else was too scary. Losing Dunni would make life not worth living. This was no cliché. It was his reality. “It’s been so hard to keep in touch. Your phone is either dead or just ringing.” “Guilty as charged. It’s the timing. I have called you a couple of times and gave up. On other occasions, it’s the wrong time. Your midnight over there is morning the next day here. It would be nice once you are back.” “That should make me feel better, but something tells me, the work you have for me will be worse than the slave drivers here.” “You could not be more right,” Dunni concurred. Moses wanted to spend more time talking with her, but he knew he had to let them go, she had work to do. “You sure you are good?” he asked Dunni again. She wanted to tell him of her heart troubles but changed her mind. He was facing a challenging project, and she was insensitive by wanting to dump her personal problems on him. “Nothing I can’t handle,” she replied. They chatted for a few more minutes before Ola came back for his phone. Dunni rounded up with Moses and passed the phone to Ola. “Guy, I need my phone,” Ola spoke into the phone now on video.” “Dunni, your phone should be charged by now, but I don’t think you should be using the business time to chat.” “What!” she grabbed his phone back while he objected throwing his hands up in resignation. “That’s precisely what I have been suffering since you left. Please wrap that project up, or you may not find me in Designtex upon your return.”
” Why did I not think of a video call, Moses you look like a stone age man. I could walk past you and not recognise you.” Dunni teased him going around her table to Ola so Moses could view the two of them at the same time.
Moses swallowed with no come back for her as he drank in her beauty like a thirsty soul. If her voice was making a mess of him, seeing her was breaking every resolve to be patient. He had to find a way to make Dunni begin to see him in more than the capacity of a friend and business partner. “Now I think you need to leave. You are using business time for frivolities.” Dunni smirked, happy to have the last word as she ended the video and handed Ola’s phone to him, pushing him out of her office.
“Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.” Robert H. Schuller
Two months went by, and Dunni did not hear from Tade much to her disappointment. He had sent flowers and a thank you card to her office the following Monday after lunch at his place. Dunni dug into her bag frantically searching for her phone that was ringing somewhere from the depth of her bag. In frustration, she emptied the contents of her bag on the table just as the ringing phone stopped ringing. There you are she spoke to her phone and grimaced at her lack of social interaction that she was now talking to her phone. She needed to do better, start going out and meeting people rather than spending her weekends behind her drawing board and back to the office again. Moses was still away in China, and Tade had totally ghosted her. The call had not ended, it was the battery to her phone that died—another rummaging on the table in search of her charger. Dunni was organised in everything but the contents of her bag. Receipts from months before used and new tissues with ideas and drawings barely readable were part of the items on the table. A cosmetic bag with items enough to fit a suitcase yet never used was all part of the contents spread on her table. She had attempted housekeeping many times, but it only took a couple of days, and all the discarded items were back. Her designer bags were to die for on the outside, but the inside was a no go area. Ola walked in, with his eyebrow twitched to the side in question. “Looking for something?” “Don’t go there.” She warned him with the scariest of looks that she could muster. Ola guffawed. “Here, you can have mine.” “Are you stalking me now?” She took the charger from him gratefully, swirling her seat around to plug the charger into the socket behind her. “Thank you, that’s what I missed while you were away.” “Moses was trying to reach you. He was the one on the phone.” “Now it makes sense you walking in with a charger.” The guys knew her like they knew themselves, and that was one of the joys of working together. They had a synergy that worked and could even tell what the other was thinking. This had worked for several deals and negotiation they had to make. So, when Dunni had to handle the company in Ola and Moses absence, she was filled with pride at the fantastic job, despite her lack of faith in her abilities. “How is Mr Flowers doing?” “Fishing for the information you won’t get?” Dunni replied, masking the pain of rejection that haunted her. She has been regularly checking her phone from any message from Tade but none. It was not like they planned any after her visit, but she just assumed texts and calls will follow just as it had been before their lunch date. Not that it was a date anyway. She wondered if she was so out of the dating game that she missed the signs. It was all there, or so she thought that Tade was into her, but she must have been wrong. Its hurts. Dunni wondered if she was desperate? If there was just a parent-teacher relationship. Why had he sent the flowers to her office? Thankfully he’d been smart to sign the card with his initials, TB and that she was grateful. Rubbing her temple with her fingers in a cyclical motion, which she did whenever her migraine started. “I am eager to unmask the mystery guy. You know he has to pay respect to us and gain our approval before…” Dunni did not let him finish when she replied too sharply than she intended. “So you can scare him away like you all did to the guys on campus.” “We did not scare anyone away. I guess the guys coming did not have good intentions and did not want to get into trouble for nothing.” “My point, they did not have to think of you guys to come to me,” Dunni argued. “You never complained before why now?” Ola asked bewildered at Dunni’s outburst. “I am doing some soul searching. I think guys stayed away because they were afraid of you guys while it was cool on campus. It’s not cool anymore.” “Hey! You don’t need to get worked up. We did nothing to scare anyone then and obviously we are not doing any of that now. But since when did you start bothering. I got the impression you were happy with your life the way it was.” Toni kept mum. She had shared too much. “Does this have to do with the mystery, Mr Flowers?” “That’s not open for discussion.” “You sure?” “Yes, boss.” Dunni did that whenever she wanted to get rid of Moses or Ola or get them off her case. They both hated that term. They were all partners, and no one was a boss.
Although a work of fiction, Fear to Fall is didactic, as it tells of how unpredictable and brutal life can sometimes be; throwing you curveballs
— Read on blog.okadabooks.com/fear-to-fall-book-review/
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.
“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.
“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.
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 ofromance, 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
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!
21stcenturybelle 