Chapter 37
” I’m so sorry to hear this Ife…. Was she sick?”
Omar asked.
” Yes she was…. She had a partial stroke when she found out Mr Coker had been married before with two children….. he had brought in Richard to the house, claiming that Richard was a son he had out of wedlock and his mother died a long time ago….. my mom was compassionate and took him in….. but years later, she discovered that everything Mr Coker ever told her were lies…. That was when she had the partial stroke……All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
I was greatly affected that period of my life, that I had to go see a psychologist…. That was where I met Zoey….. Zoey encouraged me and helped me regain my emotional stability…. Until we became so close and addicted to each other….. initially she refused a relationship with me…. Claiming she was Six years older than me…. But she eventually succumbed.
I was left with the responsibility of taking care of my mother while I drew strength from Zoey’s encouragement and positivity around me….. until one day.
She eventually became pregnant for me and lost it in a car accident. I was so devastated but I eventually overcame it and our love grew stronger…. Until one day, Zoey disappeared and I couldn’t reach her!!…. I combed every nook and corner of the town searching for her, but I couldn’t find her… Until one of her colleagues opened up and told me Zoey had travelled to South Africa.
I was so broken by the news that I vowed by my mum’s sick bed, never to get married…..
Shortly after this, my mother died and I was thrown off balance…..
Those were the darkest times in my life Omar….. and I had questions in my mind….. because my mom had already began to recuperate so fast and it was unfathomable to think she would die suddenly.” Ife narrated and sighed.
” A month after my mom’s death.” He continued.
” Her personal maid who left immediately after her death, contacted me and asked that we meet up…..
I agreed and set a date to meet her….. she was the one who confessed to me that Mr Coker connived with the doctor to give my mom the wrong medication which led to her death….. A week after her confession, the maid was found dead In her sitting room…. In what seemed to be ruled out as suicide.”
Omar gasped.
” I’m really so sorry you went through this Ife….. I wish you had confided in me…. we would have gone through it together.” Omar said sadly.
” I’m sorry Omar, I didn’t want you to go through any stress because of me.” Ife replied soberly.
” From today…. No more secrets between us….. do you promise that?” Omar said.
” Yes!!…. I promise you Omar….. can I get a hug now.”
She smiled broadly and gave him a warm hug.
*Three months later!*
Ife arranged accordingly the last stack of files on his table and rested a little. The company was expanding at a pace he never expected, and that meant he had more work to do.
Today, he had been engaged in one meeting or the other and was exhausted.
But he had promised Omar yesterday that they would both go for their baby shopping together today. So he had to close early from work. In exhaustion, he closed his eyes briefly to take a nap but the incessant ringing of his phone jerked him awake.
It was an unsaved number, but his instincts told him to pick.
” Hello….” He voiced.
There was a slight pause from the other end.
” Hi Ife…. It’s Zoey….. it’s been a while I saw you….. I just needed to give you more time to come around….. but I think it’s time we talked things out….”
Ife mused and wondered how she got his number.
He threw the question.
” Zoey…. Please how did you get my number?” He asked her.
There was a brief pause.
” How I got your number is not important right now….. I know you are married now, and would like to keep your distance….. but I believe I still owe you an explanation regarding why I left the way I did…..” Zoey said and paused.
” And I know you also desire an explanation.” She continued.
” Ife…. I just want us to meet and talk.” She said.
There was a pause from Ife.
” Fine…. but that wouldn’t be today cause I’ve got a lot of activities stashed up for me.” Ife answered.
” Ok…. What about 2pm on Saturday?….” She asked.
” It works for me….. where do we meet up?”
” let’s meet at our favorite spot at the beach.” she said.
He sighed.
” Ok then.” He said and hung up.
Grabbing his suit hunged on his chair and his suitcase, he exited the company’s building and headed home.
Omar was on a call with Binta when he entered.
” Hey love.” He greeted and kissed her on the cheek.
She blew him a kiss and rounded up her call.
” How was your day my love?” She asked him.
” It was busy and brain demanding.”
” hmm!…. Sorry…. Hope you are not too tired?”
” No dear….. I’m okay thanks.”
” Any gist for me?”
He chuckled and paused.
” Zoey called me.” He said.
Omar’s brow creased into a frown.
” What does she want?”
Ife smiled.