Altered Vows: A Chance For Redemption (Final Episode)

Bisola was cast back to that dark time in her life after her husband confessed his infidelity and being the source of the dreadful disease she had been diagnosed with, that night they had cried in each others arms, they wept through the night.

Anger came the next morning.

She was angry, bitter. Why her?
How could her husband do this to her? How could fate be so cruel? He said it was just once, just once and he got infected with HIV?
How was she sure it was just once?

She felt like screaming out her pain! She felt like tearing away her skin! She felt like dying.

She wept. She was broken and wished she could weep her pain away.

Her husbands attempts to soothe her infuriated her more and she lashed out at him in anger. He took it calmly , still apologetic and this worsened her anger.

She totally forgot her children were going to school in her grief. Feyi, the maid must have prepared them, because when she remembered the house was quiet, an indication the children weren't home.

Her children, who will care for them after she and her husband were dead?
Oh God! She wailed.

She struggled for calm, she had wept enough. This wasn't her, she knew better.

What was to do in times of tribulations?

The answer came to her loud and clear; go to God in prayer.

She knelt on her bedside to pray. Word failed her.

Refusing to give in to the threatening tears, she picked up her Bible. It opened to 2nd Samuel chapter 12, she began reading. It was the story of Prophet Nathan's visit to King David, after David committed adultery with Bathsheba and he had her husband killed to cover up the sin.
Verses 20 to 23 of that chapter spoke clearly to Bisola; when the child that was the product of the adultery died, David
got up, washed and changed from his sack clothes and went into the house of the Lord and worshipped, after which he requested for food and ate.

His response to his servants query on his behaviour in verse 22 and 23 was: <em> "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The lord might be gracious to me and let the child live. But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me".</em>


"I got so much inspiration from that chapter, my interpretation of it was; like David, I couldn't do anything about the situation. It had happened, rather than focus on the pain of it, I needed to move on." Bisi wiped tears from her eyes. "I must tell you Marian, it wasn't easy." Bisi took Marian's hands in hers. "I couldn't pray, all I could say was; God help me. And that was really all I needed to say, He did help me.
Have you thought about what you really want to do, where u want to go from here? Have you asked God to help you through these trying times? His grace is really sufficient for us."

Bisi paused, tears were flowing down the faces of both ladies.

"Eventually, my husband and I began to pray together again." She continued. "We comforted each other, we made peace with the situation and decided to make the best we could of the life we had. We went back to the hospital to consult with our doctor on how to manage the disease. The doctor asked that we undergo another test to ascertain the present level of the disease, there we got the miracle of our lives. Both our tests returned HIV negative. My understanding of that positive result was to free my husband from the guilt of sin. My dear, those were dark days for me. I felt betrayed, I thought my life was over, but God saw me through it.
Ask God to see you through these. I'm not here with any ready-made answers, I cannot tell you what to do, the mortal me doesn't even know what I would do in a circumstance like this, but I know I would ask God to help me through it."

Marian wept, she wept away the pain and betrayal and anger of the past weeks.
Bisi held her as she cried.


"Would you like some water? Or anything else?" Bisi asked softly when Marian's sobs subsided.

"I'm fine." Marian wiped her tears.

"I think you've come to a decision?"

Marian nodded in affirmation.

"Let us pray."

Both ladies bowed their heads as Bisola led them in prayers.



~


As Marian walked back into her house after waving off Bisi, she felt profound peace. Like the weight of the world had been lifted of her shoulders. Bisi's visit had been such a blessing to her and she was grateful she and her husband had this chance to redeem their marriage.

She shut the door, picked up her phone and dialled her husbands' number on speed dial. Even his caller ring-back-tune felt refreshingly fresh for she hadn't called him in a while.

She smiled when he answered his call almost immediately.

"My love." She said.

******

Here ends the 'Altered Vows' series, I hope you enjoyed it, it was inspiring writing it. I learnt from it and I hope you did as well.

Read more stories on www.chinmaeke. Thankyou, see you at the next story.

Altered Vows: A Chance For Redemption

A week after Daniel left the house after dropping the children off, he returned with two large shopping bags, hiding behind a bouquet of flowers.

“Daddy!” The children ran to him. He hugged each of them and walked to her.

“I’m sorry.” He said kneeling at her feet.
Mindful of the children; she got up and went into the bedroom, he followed her.
“I’m sorry.” He repeated.

The dam of all the pent-up emotions burst and she burst into tears. He cried with her.
"I got a call from Danladi.” He said through his tears.

She looked at him sharply expecting the worst.

“I’m very proud of you, and very ashamed of myself.” She watched him in silence, tears rolling down her face. “He said he’d never met any woman like you. He said I don’t deserve you. He has paid the contract.”

“Oh now we know why you’re back!” Marian snapped angrily.

“Marian?” Dan was perplexed.

She shrugged. “He paid the money, good for you. Finally I did something right!” She said sarcastically wiping her tears.

“I don’t understand Marian, we should be happy, rejoicing. We’re out of the woods.”
“I’m happy! Can’t you see how happy I am?”

“Marian?”

“I need to check on my kids.” She left the room.

Dan sat wondering why Marian wasn’t happy at the good news. Wasn’t this what they had waited and prayed for? Was she still upset over the Abuja thing? That was in the past, and all things have worked for their good; the contract has been paid and Danladi had promised more contracts. What was her problem? This whole thing was getting him angry.

“Marian!” He called her in anger, he could hear her and the children in the living room. He heard Julian tell her he was calling her. He knew she heard him call and was just ignoring him. This escalated his anger.

She walked in defiantly after some minutes, and leaned against the closed door.

“What’s your problem?”

“Really, you can ask me that?” She countered.

“Yes! Because I can’t understand why…..”

“You return home, a week after you walked out on your family. A week during which you refused to pick my calls, or reply my texts, IMs or email. Not caring that I was worried, not caring how we fared. You are not returning home because you’re sorry, no, you’re returning home because; oh! The contract has been paid, the contract which you sold me out for. And you’re wondering why I’m upset? If you don’t know, I can’t help you.” She snapped struggling to keep her voice down for the sake of the children.

“I’m sorry.” All the anger was gone out of him.

“Yea, so you say. I hear you, I want to believe you, but I’m sorry I just can’t draw up the required excitement!”

The ensuing silence stretched out. Dan stared at his shoes while Marian stared at him.

“Well, if there’s nothing else, I have to go cook up a pot of ‘my morality’ for my children.” She couldn’t resist inserting the dig, after all he used it first.
Daniel helplessly waved that she could go. He couldn’t believe how he’d made a mess of things.



Weeks later, the situation in their home was deteriorating. Dan and Marian were at loss as to how to repair their marriage. Marian knew she should snap out of the funk into which she had sunk, but was helpless as to how to go about it. She was constantly irritated, spending money given to her by her husband really depressed her. She was either ignoring him or snapping at him at the slightest provocation.



Dan was at a loss as to how to show Marian he was sorry. He couldn’t talk to her, her body language discouraged it, and when he braved it, she either snapped at him or ignored him. Marian was usually the cheerful one brightening the home, now she was silent and sullen. He missed her, he missed the sparkle in her eyes. He was even considering letting her get a job, he just didn’t know how she’ll manage the home, kids and a career. He was both concerned and worried, which led him to speak with his cousin; Bisi about it hoping for an insight into how to solve the situation. He didn’t like the idea of discussing his family issues with another, but Bisi was his cousin, a pastor’s wife who was involved in women’s ministry. Bisi had scolded him thoroughly after he told her the whole truth, but had promised to speak with Marian.



Marian let Bisola Biboko into the house. She had called earlier about the visit. Sister Bisi was her husband’s cousin and the person she was closest to in the family. Bisi had been a blessing to Marian since she was married into the family especially in the recently financially trying times, and it was always a pleasure to see her.

"Daniel told me of his shameful action." Bisi delved right in once they were done with pleasantries.

Marian sighed.

"I must say I admire you for your courage to stand in the face of temptation." Bisi went on.

Marian couldn't say anything, her heart was so heavy, she couldn't put into words all the emotions she was feeling.

"How are you, how have you been holding up?" Bisi asked.

Marian nodded her affirmation.

"I cannot claim to know what you're going through right now, though I have been in a slightly similar situation."

"Similar situation?" Marian asked shifting to the edge of her seat.

"Yes, I have been betrayed by my husband, felt the worst possible fear....." She trailed off staring into space.

Marian stared at her in confusion, what was Bisi talking about? "Your husband....?" She asked in disbelief.

"No, not really, but he did expose me to harm. Remember my testimony of how God overturned two HIV positive results?" Bisi asked smiling wistfully.

"Yes I remember....."

"You know, we never tell the full story in public testimonies." Bisi laughed softly. "And I haven't ever told anybody the full story, but I feel I should share with you. My husband cheated."

Altered Vows: With My Body (3)

Mindful of the fact that Danladi hadn’t been to see her, she didn’t prepare for bed. She glanced at the time, past nine, when there was a knock on her room door.
It had to be Danladi; she had told the staff she required nothing more from them for the night, so it couldn't be them.

Peeping through the peephole and confirming it was him, she opened the door and smiled nervously at him. “Hello."

He entered and shut the door behind him and drew her into a bone crushing hug.

“Okay, I guess you’re happy to see me.” She said when he released her, trying to lighten the situation. She consciously tried to put some space between them.

He laughed richly. “You’re nervous, don’t be. Stand back let me get a good look at you.”

He gave her a thorough look-over, and she returned the favour.

He looked the same as years ago, not one ounce of fat anywhere on his tall lean, Fulani body. He looked almost boyish in jeans and tee-shirt, he could be mistaken for a regular guy.

“The years have been kind to you.” He said.

“Same as you.”

“Three children you say?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t look it.”

“Thank you.” She blushed beneath her dark skin.

“Why don’t we get comfortable, we did pay for the whole suite not just the door.” He joked.

They went in and sat in the mini sitting room and caught-up on old times and old friends.


As the night progressed, Marian’s discomfort grew. Danladi showed no sign of leaving, on the contrary, he had made himself comfortable.

As though on cue, he got up and excused himself to use the rest room.

Marian was alarmed when she heard the shower running, and was waiting for him at the far end of the room when he exited in a bath robe.

“Why are you standing far off there?” he asked.

“What are you doing?” she countered.

“I don’t understand.” He seemed truly perplexed.

“I don’t either. It appears as though you’re ready to go to bed here.”

“Yes, I thought we had an understanding?”
“What understanding, that I would sleep with you?”

“Yes, isn’t that why you are here.”

“Excuse you! Are you forgetting I’m married, same as you.”

“Your husband sent you here.” He pointed out coldly.

“What does that mean?” As she asked the question, the answer came to her, and she was horrified.

He saw illumination dawn on her, and shook his head sympathetically. “Eleven years later, you’re still naïve.” He said, approaching her slowly.

“I can’t, I made a vow to my husband before God.” She refused backing away.

“And he pimped you out.” He spelt out coldly.

He attempted to touch her, she pushed him away and ran to the opposite side of the room.

“This isn’t about the contract. This is about you and I. A man who will love-vendor you out for money doesn’t deserve you. I want you, I’ve always wanted you. Name your terms, name a price and its yours. If you want me to marry you…..”

“I AM MARRIED!” she screamed.

“Doesn’t matter to me. Your marriage is over. The day a man decides to send his wife to sleep with another man is the day the marriage ended. Let me take care of you, give you a better life. Name your terms.” He persuaded.

She ignored him and ran to the wardrobe, she dragged out her suitcase and began packing.

“Ok, keep your marriage. This will be our little secret. I’ll give you anything; name it. I’ll pay the contract first thing in the morning even if it’s from my pocket. I want you, I haven’t stopped wanting you.”

She stopped and turned to him. “I made a vow, to honor my husband with my body. I will not share it with another, regardless of the circumstance. Even if my marriage is over, I’ll leave with my dignity.”

“You are making a big mistake, your husband doesn’t love you.” He said as she walked to the door with her suitcase. “Where are you going, it’s late. Okay, stay. Lets talk about this rationally like adults.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” She left the hotel room.


It wasn’t until she got to the hotel lobby that she asked herself where she was going. It was late, and the people she knew in Abuja didn’t know she was coming into Abuja.

She spied Danladi’s car outside. She marched purposefully to it and tapped on the window. The driver woke from his nap with a start and rolled down the window.

“Oga said you should drop me at the airport.” She said.

“Yes ma.” He came down to stow her luggage in the boot, got in and started the car engine. On the drive to the airport she prayed she could change the ticket she had for the next available flight. She refused to think of the scene that just happened at the hotel room, or the scene she would meet back in Lagos. She couldn’t believe Dan could do this to her. She refused to believe it.


*

“You’re back already?” Dan asked in surprise when he opened the door to his wife the next morning. “How did it go?”

Marian refused to answer, she pushed past him and went into the bedroom.

She was tired in the body and in the spirit. She’d had to sit in the airport all night as the next available flight was for 6:15am.

“I take it the trip didn’t go well?” he asked following her.

“It didn’t.”

“You couldn’t just do this one thing right!” He accused.

“Excuse me?”

“You claim to love your family, yet you couldn’t convince your ex-boyfriend to pay what is owed me?”

She sighed sadly. “Daniel, did you send me there to sleep with Danladi?” She asked him point-blank.

He stared at her in surprise. “Ehm, I. I. I expected you to do the needful. We need that money Marian, can’t you see how bad things are?” He spread his hands helplessly.

“Chikadibia!” she called him by his native name. “How could you? I am your wife!” she cried.

“Yes! But desperate situations call for desperate measures!”

“Every other sin is outside the body but fornication, adultery. Daniel! You pimped me out!” she screamed at him.

“What was I supposed to do? That was our one chance! And you blew it! All you had to do was be nice to him and this morning we would have been out of the woods! It’s the morning after, has the world come to an end?”

“Daniel!!!” Marian was aghast, was this her husband?

“I’m going to pick up our children, cook your morality for them.” He grabbed his car keys from the dresser table and left.

Marian screamed in frustration and sank to the floor in tears.

Altered Vows: With My Body (2)

.....“Hello?”

“You know, I get many calls from people who claim to know me, but none thrilled my heart like the call from you.”

Marian recognised the voice instantly. “Danladi!” She cried warmly. “I mean, Honourable. Or how are you ministers addressed?”

“My name is still Danladi, and I am surprised you are still Marian Okoro. Those Igbo boys are blind?”

Marian laughed nervously. “Actually, it’s Marian Ifechieme. Mrs Marian Daniel Ifechieme. I used Okoro so…”

“So I’ll know it’s you.” He concluded. “How are you, it’s been like, how many years?”

“Eleven.”

“Eleven years and we meet again, or speak again. I lost your number, and apparently you lost mine as well, because we lost contact.

“Yes, imagine my surprise when my husband told me you were the new minister for works that he had just met with.”

“I met with your husband? Forgive me, I can’t remember the name. I meet so many people it’s difficult to keep up.”

“He is one of the contractors for the Greenland estate. He did the landscaping and beatification.”

“Oh! Ok. Sordid business that estate. The former minister messed everything up, each contract will have to be verified before they can be paid.”

“Ah Danladi, that was why I was calling you. If you can help us, my husband borrowed for that project, he has completed it, and our creditors are at our door.”

There was silence from the other end of the phone.

“Danladi?” Marian asked to confirm he was still on the line.

“I hear what you are asking, but it’s a difficult situation. In order not to be shown the door like my predecessor, I have to do everything by the book.” He explained.

“I understand Danladi. All I’m asking is that you maybe, pay him an advance, or speed up the process. I’m desperate Danladi.” She threw caution to the wind. “I have three children Danladi, there’s no food for lunch for them. No money for school fees when school resumes, if we survive that long. Our rent expires in two months; the bank my husband borrowed money from will fore close on our assets at the end of the month. Help me Danladi.”

“How did your husband make such a mess of the whole situation?” Danladi asked.

“He was assured he’ll be paid before the project was completed.”

Danladi exhaled. “Let me see what I can do. You know if you had married me, you would have lived a life of luxury.”

“I love my husband Danladi. Besides, aren’t you married now?”

“I am, two wives. Still, you would have been the first and only.”

“All that is water under the bridge now, Danladi.”

“Perhaps, perhaps not. Anyway, I have a meeting now. I’ll get back to you.” He ended the call.

Marian cradled the phone to her chest and prayed for God’s favour. Snapped back to the present, she went back into the sitting room to check on her children.


*


“Did you call the minister today?” Dan asked Marian after dinner later that night. The children were in bed, and Dan and Marian were preparing for bed.

“He called me. He said he would look into it.”

Dan lit up in excitement. “That’s my girl! Tomorrow you call again, did he call with his personal line?”

“I don’t know, but it was a different line from the one you have.” Marian couldn’t explain it, but she felt uneasy about this whole thing and couldn’t share in Dan’s excitement.

“That must have been his official line. Tomorrow you call again. Ah! The payment is near, I can feel it.”

He snapped his fingers and did a little dance as he went into the bathroom.

When he came out a few minutes later, she broached a topic that had been on her mind for a while; “Dan, I was thinking. It’s time for me to get a job again. It’s been over six years, and Adaeze is now in school. I could…….”

“Get a job that you’ll be returning by ten pm. Who’ll be here for the kids when they return from school?”

“I thought of that, and, even if it’s a teaching job so we can close at the same time.”

“No.” Dan refused with a note of finality. “So because this past year has been rough you’re now insinuating I can’t cater for my family?”

“No my love, I was just thinking. My qualifications are just wasting, and……”

“I said no! You just concentrate on getting your ex-boyfriend to pay my company. That’s all I ask of you.” He switched on the television, switched to a sports channel and settled into the bed to watch.

Marian couldn’t believe this was her husband. He had stopped her from working six years ago with the promise that she’ll pick-up when the children are in school. Now the time had come and he was refusing. She was getting restless and couldn’t continue to sit at home, particularly, they needed a second steady income Dan’s business was one that could dry-up for a long while before picking up, and he was still refusing her getting a job.
She was hurt that he was beginning to make it look as though she could take care of the delays with the ministry.
Calming herself, she went into the bathroom for her nightly routine.

*

Two days later, Danladi called again. She had been on pins and needles wondering why he hadn’t called. Daniel hadn’t spoken to her except to ask if she had called Danladi.

“Hello Marian.”

“Hello Danladi.” She answered crossing her fingers for luck.

“I apologise, it’s been work, work, work, and more work. How are you?”

“I thank God. You sound tired.” She observed.

“Trust you to notice. This job isn’t easy. All the rest of you see are the allowances, not the work.” He chuckled.

“I bet the allowances make up for the work.” She quipped.

‘Yes it does. I’ve missed you. Why don’t you come to Abuja, my treat? So we can catch up.”

Marian laughed nervously. “I’m a married woman with three young kids. I can’t just pack up and take a trip.”

“Surely there’s someone who can watch the children for you. Ask your husband, and get back to me.” He offered.

“Ok, but I doubt it.”

“Ask him.” Danladi insisted.

*

The next day, she flew into Abuja on the midday flight. A car was waiting for her at the airport, and she was driven to a hotel and installed in an executive suite.

The speed with which her husband agreed to the trip amazed her. Almost as if he was expecting it. The children were taken to his cousin’s house; sister Bisi, who was told that Marian had an urgent job interview in Abuja. Daniel drove her to the airport and warned her not to return without a check from the ministry. This whole thing was so bizarre to her and she felt out of her depth.

Her hotel suite was beautiful with a scenic view of the city, her bar and refrigerator fully stocked. The staff had kept bringing food and snacks to her; she feared Danladi’s instructions were to fatten her up. She hadn’t spoken to Danladi after she called him to tell him her husband approved of the trip. Saheed was the one who called with the details of her flight, and the one who met her at the airport, extending the ministers’ apology, and informing her he’ll be with her later in the evening.

She was so nervous; she took a moment to pray. Prior to this whole contract fiasco, she hadn’t been deeply religious. But she found that of recent, prayer calmed her anxiety, and helped her to see straight and persevere.

Mindful of the fact that Danladi hadn’t been to see her, she didn’t prepare for bed. She glanced at the time, past nine, when there was a knock on her room door.

ALTERED VOWS: WITH MY BODY (1)

As Marian dished lunch for her children she prayed it wouldn’t be their last meal. She prayed her husband would return with some good news, preferably with some cash for dinner.

How had things gotten this bad? She asked herself over and over again. A few months ago, her husband’s construction firm won a contract for the landscaping and beatification of a federal housing estate in Abuja.

They had celebrated; they were now playing in the major league, no more petty ‘bricklayer’ construction.

Just as he was about to be paid a mobilisation fee, the minister for works and housing had been redeployed. The minister of state for the ministry had urged the contractors to begin working, assuring them of 100% payment once he is confirmed as the full minister. Daniel; her husband had gone on to pour all his savings and even borrowed against his assets to finance the project.

Unfortunately, another person had been appointed minister. He had taken four months to ‘find his feet’, and just when he was about to approve payment he was accused of financial impropriety, which led to his sack, and once more they were in limbo. No new contracts were forthcoming for her husband, as things stood she wasn’t even sure they could execute a contract were they to get one. Now, a new minister had been appointed, her husband had flown to Abuja this morning to see the minister, Marian prayed for luck.
Ifeanyi, her six year old first son tapped her and brought her back to the present.

“Mommy!”

“Yes dear.”

“Adaeze is crying.” He said.

It was then Marian heard the cry of her youngest. Oh Lord! She prayed silently; help me get through this, she had been so far into her thoughts she stopped listening for her children.
“I’m coming. Here, carry your food.” She gave him a plate of food, while she carried two plates and they both went into the dining table.

“Julian.” She called to her second son, who was so engrossed in the cartoon he was watching. “Come and eat.” She set the dishes down and lifted Adaeze, who had walked to her and wrapped herself around her legs.

“Hey you, why are you crying?” she jiggled her soothingly. “Were you missing mommy?” She planted kisses on Adaeze’s face. “You know you’re the prettiest girl in the whole world, my princess, daddy’s princess.” Adaeze had stopped crying by this time. “Mommy made jollof rice.” She sat at the table with Adaeze on her laps.

“Julian!” she called again. He hadn’t moved from the front of the television. ”Come and eat, now!”

Julian grudgingly got up, and walked backwards, his eyes glued to the screen. He moved his plate to another chair from which he could still watch tv while he ate. Meanwhile, his elder brother was half way through his meal.

Marian ate a spoon of rice to confirm it was cool enough for Adaeze; she scooped another and attempted to feed the child. Adaeze shook her head in refusal and refused to open her mouth.

“Sweetie, aren’t you hungry. You should be hungry. Eat some rice.” She tried again.
Adaeze refused.
“It’s very sweet. Ifeanyi isn’t it?”

“It’s sweet.” Ifeanyi affirmed.

“Very sweet.” Julian added.

Adaeze was a picky eater, and her brothers were used to their mom’s tricks to get her to eat, and diligently played their part.

“Bread!” Adaeze said. This time using her hand to push her mother’s away.
Marian sighed, if only this child knew how bad things were.

“Eat rice now. Daddy will buy bread on his way home.” She cajoled.

“I can eat her food.” Julian offered. He had finished his.

“Hear that, princess. Eat your food so Julian doesn’t eat it.”

After much cajoling, Adaeze ate some of the food, still insisting on bread.

*

Her husband returned as she was washing up the lunch dishes, from his countenance she could tell he didn’t make much progress. She served him the little she’d saved for him and they went into the room to discuss.

Ever since, her oldest had innocently told his playmate their neighbour's son that his daddy borrowed money from the bank, they had stopped discussing serious issues in the children’s presence.

“He promised to look into the matter!” Daniel said before she asked.

“That’s the new minister right?” Marian asked as she tidied the room.

“Yes. The honourable Danladi Usman.” Daniel reclined on the bed.

“Danladi Usman. I used to know someone by that name, back in school. We’ll keep praying.” She sighed and dropped some clothes in the laundry basket.

“It might be him, because this guy is youngish. You’re so hopeless with current affairs.” Daniel teased. “Other women would have researched the man their husband was going to see, what if it were one hot chic?” He picked his phone and googled ‘Danladi Usman’, he clicked on a page that opened on a picture of the man and passed the phone to Marian.

“That’s him!” she exclaimed. “That’s Danladi! He came to UNN for a course or something sha. Stayed for a year, during which he pursued me relentlessly.” She laughed and passed the phone back to him smiling. “You see, maybe if I had agreed, I would have been a minister’s wife now.”

She joked as she sat beside him.”

“Are you serious?”

She laughed. “He used to tease me that fate already knew I was to be his wife, that’s why my parents gave me a name that could be both Muslim and Christian.”

“So what happened?”

“He just packed up one day and left. He finished his course. He called a few times after, but since I didn’t want to encourage it…….. Anyways, the Danladi I knew was a good man, if he said he’ll look into it, he will.”

“Yes he did. I just had an idea, why don’t you call him?” Dan said.

“Call him for?” Marian asked puzzled, sitting beside him on the bed.

“Maybe he could speed up the payment for old times sake.”

“You can’t be serious. It’s been like ten years, what if he has forgotten me, what if he bears a grudge?”

“I doubt it, Hausa’s don’t bear grudges like that. Besides, I trust you to soothe away any grudge. You didn’t study Public Relations for nothing.”

“He’s Fulani. Besides, what has a PR got to do with anything, and, do you have his number?”

“You know how to handle people, and he gave me his card. Might not be a direct line, but you could introduce yourself with your maiden name.” Dan was getting more excited by the second. He was dialling already and switched the phone speaker on. It was answered as it almost rang out.

“Hello. This is the office of the Honourable minister for works and housing; Mallam Danladi Usman, my name is Saheed, how may I help you?” a cultured male voice spoke through the phone.

“Ehm, my name is Marian Okoro, I want to speak with the minister.”

“The minister is in a meeting, would you like to leave a message or schedule an appointment?”

She looked to Dan for the next move.

"Leave a message" he whispered.

“Please tell him, Marian Okoro from UNN called. I will call back, when can I call back?” She said.

“Is it official University matter?”

“No, no. it’s personal. When can I call and speak with him?”

“I do not know madam.” He replied with a note of finality.

“Ok. Tell him I called, Marian Okoro, UNN.”
“Yes madam.”

She ended the call, her heart beating wildly.

“You see, that wasn’t so difficult. I predict, one or two more calls and you will speak with him.” Dan said, a call came in on his phone. “Are you there?” was all he said before ending the call.

“I need to see someone.” He got up and got dressed. “Let’s split the money I have.” He handed her A thousand Naira with the warning; “Stretch it far.”

Dan went out and Marian began to calculate how to stretch One thousand Naira.

*

Marian was in the middle of a ‘report fest’ the next morning when her phone rang. She was frazzled from having to prevent a battle between her boys. There was 'no light’, so the boys had to play with themselves. One or both of them had made Adaeze cry, and they were trading blames, in the midst of which she had to calm a screaming Adaeze. She would have ignored the call but for the fact that she was waiting to hear from a friend whom she had asked for a loan.

“Both of you, kneel down, hands up and close your eyes.” She ordered the boys.

“Mommy its Ifeanyi.”

“No, its Julian.”

The boys traded blame.

“Now!” Marian screamed. The boys immediately obeyed. Even the crying Adaeze stopped her wailing. Marian picked her phone and glanced at the screen, her heart sank, not the call she was expecting, an unregistered number. She hesitantly picked the call.

“Hello?”

“You know, I get many calls from people who claim to know me, but none thrilled my heart like the call from you.”

Marian recognised the voice instantly. “Danladi!”

Today begins the <b>Altered Vows</b> series. Stories inspired by happenings around us all.
Today's story <b>'Till Death'</b> is the story of how one mistake can be detrimental not just to you, but to your family.
Read, enjoy, let me know what you think, and share.</em>


*

The fifteenth of June 2011 dawned like every other day. Bisola Biboko was soon to realise that day was the first of the rest of her life. As a Christian, she considered the day she got saved as the most important in her life - right beside her wedding day- but she added the day she learnt she was dying to the list.

She had woken up as usual for the past fifteen years beside her husband Seyi. The family prayed together, she and her maid prepared their four kids for school and she dropped them off at school. All these, normal daily activities. Her day veered off routine when rather than drive to her supermarket, she drove to the hospital. A persistent cough was the reason she went to the hospital. she couldn’t remember exactly when the cough began but it had lingered and instead of getting better, it worsened.

Her sister had commented on it the last time they spoke on the phone. The painful, dry cough seemed to have an inverse relationship to treatment. Cough syrup, organic honey, palm oil, bitter kola, lime juice, antibiotics, any and everything said to treat cough, Bisi had taken all without success.

After months of self medication, Bisola had gone to the doctor for tests. Even if it were TB, she rather she treated whatever it was and be free. The doctor, her family physician, had listened to her complaints and sent her for comprehensive tests. Two days later, she was back for the results and she got the most shocking news of her entire life. Not just did she have Tuberculosis, she was also HIV positive! How?

Her last child was two years old, and as is hospital policy, she had comprehensive tests while pregnant, and was certified disease free. How could she now be HIV positive? After birth, Funmi (her baby) was also tested and was disease free. There had to be a mistake somewhere. She hadn’t been ill since then as to receive an infected blood or be pin-pricked, and she wasn’t one of the aesthetic types as to be infected via unsanitary beauty practices. She had never cheated on her husband.

‘’Oh Lord Jesus!’’ She moaned, trembling hard from shock.

‘’Mrs Biboko?’’

She heard the doctor’s voice as though from a far off place. She stared at him sight unseen, tears running down her cheeks.

‘’Madam, are you alright? I know it’s a lot to take in now, but there are anti-retro viral drugs you can take, combined with a healthy lifestyle, you can still live a normal life.....’’

The doctor spoke gently to her, she shut out his voice. His tone of voice reminded her of over ten years ago, when this same doctor had told her she needed help conceiving. Ten years later, she had four healthy children all conceived naturally by the grace of God and this same doctor was now telling her she was HIV positive!

‘’God forbid.’’ She whispered. ‘’That is a lie! A lie from the pit of hell.’’ She got up clutching her handbag to her chest. ‘’I refuse to believe that report. That is satan's report.’’

"Mrs Biboko?"

"Doctor, why have you allowed yourself to be used by the devil to torment me?"

"I beg your pardon Mrs Biboko?" The doctor retorted sharply.

"Doctor!" She returned to her seat. "Were you not the same doctor that told me I couldn't get pregnant ten years ago?" She spoke in the gentle persuasive voice often used for children. "Today, I have four children." She held up four fingers. "All born in this same hospital. Now you've come with this..... Haba doctor!"

Doctor Salami sighed. Obviously, she was in a state of shock and not processing the news. "Madam, that was based on scientific diagnosis, as is this. The tests were run twice." He paused. "Madam your husband will also have to come in for tests...."

"God forbid!" She spat, rising to her feet. "I reject it! Back to sender!" She repeatedly moved her hand over her head, casting out every evil. With that she turned around and left the office, leaving the doctor staring after her mouth agape.

*

Eight days later, after a seven day dry fasting and prayers during which she locked herself up in her room and refused to see anyone, not her husband, nor her four children. She went to another hospital for another HIV/AIDS test. Two hours after her blood was drawn, she was invited back into the doctors consulting room and given the same result. She was still HIV positive.
How? How could she be HIV positive? She broke down and wept. In her fifteen years of marriage she had never strayed on her husband, not even in her mind. How was her husband, an associate pastor in a popular Pentecostal church going to take this news? Where did she get this terrible disease from?

Broken and frightened, she took a cab home, returned to her room and continued to cry her heart out. Her maid, Feyi kept knocking on the door and entreating her to open and tell her who died. When her children returned from school, Bisi tried to quieten her sobs, not to alarm the children. However, Feyi must have told them something was wrong because their voices and play was subdued, even the TV volume was unusually low. Bisi’s heart broke further. Her beautiful babies, who would care for them after her death? A fresh equally disturbing thought occurred to her; if she had HIV, she must have also infected her husband. Bisi wept, wishing this was a nightmare which she would soon awake from.

The children were confused as to why their mother was crying. The house was in mourning, and only their mother knew why.

*

When Pastor Seyi Biboko returned from work on that day, from the door he sensed something was gravely wrong, and he was disturbed. His wife had been in seclusion for the past seven days. What she was praying for, he didn’t know, but he prayed along with her. He knew none of their family had recently suffered any mishap or was in need, neither had he heard of any misfortune befalling a parishioner. Feyi opened the door when he rang the bell, greeted and let him in.

‘’How are you Feyi?’’ He asked as he walked into the sitting room. Her response as she took the shopping bag and his bible was drowned in the children’s excited welcome scream.

‘’Daddy!’’ Oreoluwa and Ifeoluwa, his two older children ran to him in greeting. He hugged and lifted them, carrying them with him the couch. He noticed the younger children asleep on the couch.

‘’How are you children?’’ He asked smiling fondly at them.

‘’We are fine daddy.’’ They chorused.

‘’What did you buy for us?’’ Ifeoluwa asked him, her two front missing teeth on display.

‘’Ask Feyi to wash some apples for you.’’ He sent them to the kitchen. ‘’Feyi!’’ He called.

‘’Sir.’’ She replied drying her hands on the apron as she came into the sitting room.

‘’Take this children in to bed.’’ He instructed, rising to his feet. ‘’Where is my wife?’’

‘’She is inside sir. Mummy has been crying since.’’ She replied, gesturing with her hands.

His heart sank, his fears were confirmed, something was definitely wrong. He went to her bedroom door and knocked.

*

Bisi heard her husband return from work and knew he would be coming to her room soon. Still she was startled when he knocked on her door. Wiping her tears, she composed herself and opened the door. She had to tell her husband, she had been a faithful wife for fifteen years and hadn’t hidden a thing from her husband. She wasn’t about to start now.

She opened the door. Unable to look him in the eyes, she let him in and shut the door behind him.

He pulled her into his arms in a reassuring hug and she burst into tears. He led her to the bed and they sat, still with his arms around her. He let her cry for some minutes till she reduced to sniffles.

‘’What’s the problem?’’ He asked softly, wiping her tears.

She slowly pushed out of his arms and looked at him. She opened her mouth but no words came forth. How do you tell your husband of fifteen years you had HIV?

‘’You are my wife, whatever it is, tell me.’’ He reassured her, his gaze on her very tender.

‘’I went to the doctor.’’ She began. ‘’The doctor said….’’ She couldn’t go on, she stuffed her right fist in her mouth to muffle the painful shout about to burst from within her.

‘’What is it, what did the doctor say?’’

Pastor Seyi feared and expected the worst. Could it be Cancer? ‘’What did he say?’’ he asked again, his heart racing.

‘’The doctor said I am HIV positive.’’ She whispered emotionless, staring straight ahead.

The ensuing silence was so silent, Bisi looked at her husband to confirm he'd heard her, he was staring sightlessly into space, silent tears rolling down his face. She fell to her knees and took both his hands in hers.

‘’I swear, I don’t know how it happened. This is the devil’s handiwork. I have never cheated on you, I swear on my life, I swear on my children.’’ She cried desperately.
He pulled her up, back to her sitting position. Sitting side by side, they both cried.

He remembered the encounter, it was a one off, but like they say; once is enough. As a faithful husband and pastor, he hadn’t been prepared with a prophylaxis. He had succumbed to pressure and temptation and had sex with a woman not his wife.
It was the pastor’s retreat in Abuja two years ago, a pastor colleague of his had encouraged him to unwind. Back at the hotel after the retreat, Pastor Dafe had called an acquaintance of his, who came with a friend of hers. They promised discretion, his wife had just had their last child and hadn’t recovered from the birth, the temptation was great and he yielded.
The sin had weighed on him for months, it was only after a parishioner testified to having received divine healing that he was relieved. Two years later, his sins had found him out. It had to be him, he could vouch for his wife’s integrity. He had brought this terrible disease into his house. He had infected his wife with HIV.
He screamed hoarsely. ‘’God!’’ he cried out.
How did this happen to him?


Bisi was startled out of her tears by her husband’s scream. In their years of marriage she had never seen him shed such tears. It was her turn to comfort him.

‘’It was me.’’ He whispered hoarsely.

‘’What?’’ she asked softly, she didn’t hear him well.

‘’It was me. I…….. There was a woman.’’ He mumbled out.

Bisi froze, she couldn’t believe her ears, her hearing must have gone bad for what she was hearing these past days, were too horrible to understand. What was her husband confessing? Pastor, faithful husband and father, she could vouch for him.

Slowly, he untangled himself from her embrace; he looked her in the eye and whispered. ‘’I cheated.‘’

As he confessed, Bisi remembered her wedding vows:

<em>For better or worse,
In sickness and in health,
To love and cherish,
Till death do us part.</em>

A hollow laugh emitted from her. They had pledged those words to each other on their wedding day. The irony was; her husband had altered those vows. He had found a way to take her with him in death, or send her ahead of him.

Deola's phone rang again, and she ignored it again, it was Helen, her friend and shop assistant. She quickly typed a message and sent to her informing her she won't be coming in to the shop today. Immediately she sent the message her phone rang again, it was her mother this time, and she won't be satisfied with a simple message, Rufus was looking at her suspiciously.
"Hello mommy." She said when she answered the phone.
"Adeola, where are you?" Her mom asked over the phone.
"I'm, I'm at... I had a quick stop before going to the shop. Why do you ask?"
"I have this weird feeling concerning you. Are you okay?"
Trust her mother and her maternal instincts. "I'm fine mom. Let me call you later."
"I hope you are okay, you don't sound all right." Her mother persisted.
"I'm fine ma. Talk to you later." Deola quickly ended the call before her mother probed further. She switched her phone off to forestall other calls.
"We can't just sit here doing nothing, we should call the police." She said to Rufus.
"Barrister Ateke will soon be here, then we know what next to do." Rufus replied. He got up from the chair by the door. "I'll go give Peter a hand with the interviews." He walked towards the door. "Don't leave the suite." He ordered at the door before leaving the suite.
Deola broke down in fresh tears.




Barrister Ateke found the article on Lady Ada Briggs interesting and like his wife, he also found some suggestive comments in the articles. But then, Lady Ada had always been ambitious and had this 'she deserved better' air. He or anyone who knew the family could pick holes in her assertions, but he had bigger problems. How could a senator as well known as Tom Briggs be abducted like a nobody? There was more to this whole thing, he smelt a rat somewhere and this was definitely an inside job. Ateke reminisced on the conversation he had with Tom just a few hours ago in which Tom told him Deola was pregnant and he should buy her a house in Lagos and set up a trust fund for the child. He must have been abducted immediately after they spoke.
Ateke sighed slowly, he needed to call the inspector general of police, but he had to get to the guest house and know the situation. This was ugly business. He willed the car to hurry.




The thug known as Slow was feeling on top of the world. Reclining on his bed in his room at his hideout he counted his blessings. He had in his custody the distinguished senator Tom Briggs. In his life of crime this was his biggest job yet. Senator Tom Briggs, the cousin to the sitting president, the brother-in-law to the powerful ruler of the Niger-Delta, the rumoured next senate president of the federal republic. This was a very big fish he had in his custody.
Puffing on a rolled wrap of weed, he grinned widely. The man definitely had enemies. Two different people had ordered his death, but Slow couldn't help keeping the man alive for a few more days. Afterall, a man like him should be worth more alive than dead.
Muscle, one of his associates entered the room. "De man say he wan make call." He announced to Slow in pidgin english, the language of the hood.
"Ha! The senator wan make call. Hu e wan call?"
"I know for am?" Muscle laughed exposing yellowed scanty dentition caused by a mixture of numerous fist fights and bad oral hygiene.
"Make I go see am, if na moni call, make I call I'm pipu." Slow got up and made his way to the other room in the unhurried gait that earned him his name. Slow was short for Slow Poison, he moved and spoke slowly, but was very deadly.
"My honourable senator." He hailed the senator as he entered the room where the senator was held and bowed in a mock salute. The room was sparsely furnished. The senator was sitting on a chair beside a hard looking bed. He looked up when Slow and Muscle entered the room.
"Muscle says you want make a phone call?" Slow went on in quite good english.
"Yes, I need to call my lawyer, and I need you to name your price so we can have this whole business sorted out." The senator replied.
Slow laughed, and Muscle laughed with him despite not knowing the reason behind the laughter.
"I like you senator. You are ever honourable and straight to the point. I should name my price." Slow mused. "How much senator, how much is your life worth to you. How much will you pay considering two, not one, two people paid me to eliminate you, and one of them is someone very close to you." Slow sat down on the hard bed.
They were both silent for some minutes.
"I knew this had to be an inside job. Who was it?" Senator Tom asked after a while.
"Ah senator!" Slow shaked his head in negation. "I'm equally honourable and can't divulge my business partners."
"Fair enough. So, how much?"
"I'm thinking on it, thinking of a price that won't be an insult to us both. I wouldn't want to devalue you." Slow laughed as he got up and left the room, Muscle tagging behind.
Senator was puzzled, the thug seemed to want to make a deal, but he doubted the sincerity of the deal. He had seen the hoodlums faces, and they must know if he left their custody alive all the security operatives in the country will be on their trail.
He thought of Deola, his beautiful serene Deola, and the baby she was carrying. He wanted to live dammit! For Deola, his baby, and his two children.
Who was the insider who gave him up, he needed to find who it was, and he needed to speak with Ateke, to give him some final instructions in case he didn't come out of this alive.

In Abuja
Lady Ada Ahaba-Briggs ended the call on her blackberry and looked into the mirror to ensure her make-up was still intact, good it was and she looked beautiful as always, no signs of the inner tension she was feeling. The plans she had just put in place were irreversible, she had had enough of playing second fiddle to men, three generations of strong Ahaba women playing second fiddle.
A maid knocked discreetly on the door.
"Enter." She said in an aristocratic English accent that she worked hard to maintain.
The maid pushed open the door and entered dressed in a maids uniform, clutching a magazine. She curtesied before she spoke.
"Madam the magazine you've been expecting is here." She extended the magazine.
"Drop it on the dresser and leave." She instructed suppressing her excitement.
The maid dropped the magazine, curtesied and left shutting the door quietly behind her.
Ada quickly picked up the magazine and removed the wrapping bag and she grinned widely with joy. There she was, on the cover of a premium lifestyle magazine with the title; ladies behind power- Lady Ada Ahaba-Briggs. She looked stunning even if she thought so herself. Ada quickly moved to sit on the bed and opened the magazine flipping straight to the article on herself. Reading through her grin widened if it were possible, the writer really portrayed her in the light she wants to be seen and the photographs were so good. She loved the quotes they highlighted especially the one about she and her husband never having had any quarrel in their fifteen years of marriage, those little girls who run around her husband should put that in their pipe and smoke it. The highlights of her acts of charity, her social position, the writer really deserves a token of appreciation. The conclusion about her possibly running for public office herself? The world should watch and see. Her phone chimed indicating a new message and she was jolted back into the real world. She picked up her phone and read the message. She shouted for joy, the day just kept getting better and better. She rang the bedside bell to summon a maid to get her a bottle of wine, she needed to celebrate. She thought wistfully of calling up her friend Lucy to celebrate with her and decided against it. Friends can bring a person down faster than enemies. She powered on her music player and selected Neyo's champagne life.




Lagos
Deola and Peter arrived at the guest house in record time, he quickly parked in front of the senator's cottage, and they exited, both their faces looking grim as they walked briskly into the cottage where they met Rufus, the guest house manager and the head of security. Rufus was on the phone, when he noticed Peter he said into the phone "Peter just got here, let me brief him." He ended the call.
"Guy, what sup?"
Rufus scratched his head in frustration. "After you guys left, the senator said he had a skype chat with the Barrister, I was to return in ten minutes. I was right in the car all the time, when I returned, he was gone, the door ajar, no trace. His laptop and phones on the bed." Rufus said his voice breaking.
Deola looked around, everything was as it was when she left over an hour ago except for the missing senator. This whole thing seemed surreal to her and she expected someone to shake her awake soon.
"Did you check all the exits?" Peter asked, he turned to the guest house head of security. "I want to speak to all the security men on duty, all the staff, from the front desk officer to the maid, everyone in this guest house, someone had to have seen something."
"I've rounded them up already and called for backup security." The head of security replied.
"Oh my God!" Peter exclaimed. "Have you called the Barrister?" He asked Rufus.
Rufus cleared his throat. "Yes, he was the one I was on the phone with when you came in. He said he'll charter a plane and be here asap." He replied gruffly.
"Your guest list as well, I want to know everyone who has been in this compound since last night." Peter added.
The guesthouse manager and head of security both snapped into action and went to provide the requests.
Both men couldn't believe this was happening, a senator of the federal republic kidnapped on their watch. Their facility catered largely to government officials and captains of industry and they had a reputation for safety and privacy, so how had this happened? As the men left the senators cottage, both men were sure they had lost their jobs and prayed the police didn't rope them in as accessories to the kidnap.


Back at the senators cottage, Deola suddenly jerked upright as though possessed and rushed into the bathroom, she searched behind the door, behind the shower curtain as though the senator could be hiding there. Not finding him she rushed into the bedroom and pulled the doors of the walk-in closets open, it was empty except for a few of the senator's clothes. Deola shut the doors, collapsed on the bed and began to weep, silent heart wrenching sobs.
Peter and Rufus had watched her cautiously when she went on her searching spree and when she began to sob they looked away uncomfortably, she was not their woman to comfort, the senator had instructed them to accord her the same respect as his wife and as such they didn't know what to do with her.
Peter scrolled through his phone book and dialled a number, he walked into the sitting room and stood at the window. The call was almost ringing out when it was picked up at the other end.
"Yes?" A soft masculine voice answered at the other end.
"I need your help." Peter said into the phone.
"I'm listening."
"My boss has just gone missing in your hood."
"How did your boss go missing in that fortress of a guest house and under your watch?"
"I wasn't here, anyways, we need info. We want to know where he is and who ordered the hit."
The voice at the other end chuckled. "With your fancy P.I credentials from the U.S of A that should be no challenge, what do you need me for?" The voice sneered.
"This is no time to go into all that, we need to find him fast."
"It will cost you." The voice said after a few minutes of silence.
"I'm not authorised to make any offers, but you know we are good for the money."
"You have an hour to get me 500k for calls or else I'm out.
"Done."
The voice grunted and ended the call.
Peter rubbed his eyes, they were feeling gritty. He walked back to the entrance to the bedroom.
"I'll go question the security, you stay with her." He said to Rufus. He picked the senator's phones from the bed and pocketed them as he left the room.




Abuja
Barrister Ateke Sylva dialled his wife's number as his chauffeur sped towards his home.
"Honey, are you still at home?" He asked her when she picked the call.
"Yes." She replied as she was about to unlock her car door. "I was just about to leave...."
"I need you to pack a bag for me, for a few days. I'm going to Lagos, something has come up with Tom." He hesitated to reveal anything to his wife whom he knew was an unrepentant gossip. At this stage that he didn't know what he was dealing with, the fewer the people that know, the better.
"I was just about to call you, guess who granted a tell-all interview?" His wife went on.
"Beatrice I don't have time for chit chat, please have the bag packed and waiting for me at the door."
"Ok honey, but its Tom's wife, she..."
"What happened to Tom's wife?" Barrister Ateke asked rising to the edge of his seat.
"She's on the cover of Top Woman magazine...."
"Beatrice!" Ateke interrupted his wife.
"Ok, I'll go pack the bag, but I urge you to read the article, I have this uneasy feeling about the motive behind it."
"Ok, I will." Ateke agreed to shut her up. "I'm ten minutes away from the house."
"Ok, ok." Beatrice ended the call and walked quickly back into the house. Summoning a maid as she went.

The atmosphere in the room could only be described as tense, very tense. The woman; Deola was seated at the dresser, putting finishing touches to her makeup, while the man was seated on the bed, fiddling with his notepad.
Deola's phone beeped signalling a new message, she picked it up and read the message. "You transferred money to my account?" She asked some seconds later. "Yes." He replied.
She laughed without humour. "Of all the possible reactions, I never thought this will be your reaction. Money for what? An abortion?"
"Off course not." He got up from the bed and came to stand behind her placing his hands on her shoulders, she looked at him through the mirror. "I don't have a clear line of action thought out in my head right now, give me a few days to think about it, all I do know for sure is; we are having the baby."
Her eyes filled with tears. "I love you baby." She whispered.
"I love you too my jewel." He replied.
She got up and turned into his arms and they hugged long and hard. "That's enough, he said gruffly. "I have a flight to be on, and you have a business to run." He looked at the expensive wristwatch on his wrist. "My flight is in an hour." They disengaged slowly, she gathered her makeup off the dresser into her bag while he put on his shoes.
"Peter will drive you home and make arrangements for a personal driver for you. I don't want you driving in your condition." He said.
"I can still drive." She protested.
"I insist." A discreet knock came through the door. "That must be him. Peter?"
"Sir!" Peter replied from the other side of the door. Deola crossed to the door and unlocked it. Peter stepped into the room and shut the door behind him, he was the stereotypical body guard; burly, wearing dark jeans, dark tee-shirt and a tan jacket, completing the look with dark aviator glasses.
"Good morning Senator, good morning Ma." He greeted them.
"Good morning Peter." She replied.
""Peter." The senator acknowledged. "You will drive Madam home, and make arrangements for a driver for her. To resume immediately, you will return to abuja when that is secured. Rufus and I will proceed as scheduled." The senator instructed.
"Yes sir."
Deola bent and hugged him. "I love you." She whispered.
He waved her away and she laughed, her first true laughter since she broke the news of her pregnancy. She walked out of the room following Peter knowing the senator hated pda's.
Senator Tom quickly sent an email to his lawyer before leaving his suite at the guest house. He had a house committee meeting in two hours.



Deola was certainly feeling lighter than she had in days. Now she could make plans towards the birth of her baby. Whatever else the senator decided she was keeping her baby. As she changed her clothes at her parents house to go to work, she hummed Bruno Mars 'count on me'. She stopped and whirled around to face the door when her mother came into her room.
"Adeola, who is that man who drove you home?" He mother asked with an air of disapproval.
"Ma, its Tom's driver." She quickly backed her mother, dressing hurriedly. Not wanting her mother to see her naked. Though her stomach was barely bulging, she didn't want her mom to suspect till she tells her herself.
"You and this Tom, my daughter nothing good comes of dating a married man o!"
"Mom I have to hurry, I have an important client coming in today." She grabbed her handbag and practically ran past her mother out of the house.
"Your brother and his wife are coming for dinner tonight. Come home early." Her mother said following her.
"Yes ma. Love you." She ran out of the house, got in the car and Peter drove out of the compound.
Her mother stood at the front door watching her drive away. Deola was her youngest child, a child she had in her old age. She had Deola when she was forty five and had retired from child bearing when she discovered she was pregnant again, when the youngest of her four children was twelve years old, and as such Deola had been pampered and lacked for nothing.
The child was just twenty three, too young to be in a relationship with an older married man. If only her husband were alive, he would have nipped the relationship in the bud before it blossomed. Her initial permissive behaviour towards her ensured that Deola didn't take her serious. Maybe she could ask her oldest son Kola to speak with her.



Deola was almost at her shop when Peter received a call through his head set. All she heard was his side of the discuss, but she heard enough to know the senator was in some kind of distress.
"What is it?" She asked anxiously when he ended the call.
"There's a problem back at the guest house. I'll drop you at your shop and return there." He replied.
"No, I'm going with you. Let's go now. What happened, is the senator ok?"
"Madam, the senator wouldn't be happy if..." Peter protested.
"Take me there now." She commanded in her sternest voice.
"Yes ma'am." As soon as he could, Peter turned into a road that will lead back to the guest house.

Lara and Titi are standing beside Titi's fiance's car in the church driveway, gisting. A young man exits the church and approaches them.
"Hello again ladies."
"Hello Pastor" They both chorus.
"Sister Titi I came out for you to properly introduce your friend."
"My mistake, pastor meet my very good friend Lara, Lara Mathews. Lara, pastor Smith Asante, associate pastor." Titi does the introductions with a speculative smile. They both shake hands.
"Nice meeting you" Lara said.
"My pleasure." He said. "Sister Lara do you have a contact card with you? He asked.
She hesitates "Sure" she hands him her business card, he studies it.
"It says here you are a multilingual translator, beautiful. That gives you and I more to talk about. I will call you. Ladies, excuse me, I have another meeting I should be at." He said.
"Ok" Lara said.
"Ok pastor, take care pastor." Titi said.
He walks away. When he is out of earshot Lara turns to Titi.
"What was that about?"
"I don't know, pastor came to introduce himself." Titi replied.
"Why?" Lara drawls out.
"I don't know, but its a good development. Let me gist you more about him, he works with DPR, and in case you didn't guess he is Ghanian, expatriate salary!" Titi explains excitedly "and he is very single and very hot!"
Lara laughs softly "Titi you never seem to amaze me the way you can reduce a man to his bank balance, his looks and availability. Anyways, Ik and Fabian are coming out. Remember; no matchmaking."
"Off course, I'll just let things happen naturally." Titi promises in a falsely contrite voice.
"Yeah right!"
"He is asking for your number, should I give him?"
"Nope. Change the topic."
They change the topic as the men get closer.


Later in the evening.
Ireti walks into her mom's room. Lara looks up from the work she has spread out on the table. She gets up and joins her daughter on the bed.
"Have you packed your school bag, cross checked your homework? She asked.
"Yes and yes. I'm ready for tomorrow." Ireti replied. A younger version of Lara in looks, speech and mannerisms.
"So how was your weekend, how is grandma? Give me all the juicy details."
"Grandma is fine, the weekend was same as usual. The high point was seeing uncle Tunde. Grandma gave me an envelope to give you." Ireti hands Lara an envelope from her pajamas pocket. Lara opens it, while Ireti watches, reads through the letter, hisses, tucks the letter back in the envelope and tosses it on the table.
"What does it say?" Ireti asked curiously.
"Nothing for you to worry about." Lara replied.
"Is it from my dad?"
"Yes it is."
"And....?"
"Sweetie its nothing for you to be bothered about."
"Is it about him wanting me to visit?"
"Yes," Lara drawls out. "And who told you about that?"
"He called me through Grandma's phone, he told me. He said he will call and speak with you."
"Ok." Lara gets up and returns to the table and her work, pushing the offending envelope away.
"Mom" Ireti drawls out.
"Yes baby, give me a second let me proofread this last paragraph."
"Can I go?"
"May I go?" Lara corrects gently. "And no you may not. We talked about this before."
"But I'm almost ten years old, I'm a big girl. You said when I'm older."
"Yes, but ten years is still very young."
"Mommy!"
"Ireti if you are going to be naughty I will send you to your room for the rest of the evening." Lara snapped.
"Ok." Ireti mimics zipping her lips. "Can I change the TV channel?" She asked
"Sure, but if its a loud program you have to go to the sitting room."
"I'll reduce the volume." Ireti surfs through and settles on a cartoon.


"I've been expecting your call." Lara said as she answered the call.
"Yea, I decided to wait a day after you got the letter before calling." Femi said over the phone.
"You know what my answer will be." Lara replied tiredly.
"Lara its been two years since I've seen my daughter." Femi protested softly.
"So come see her. Come to Nigeria."
"You know I'm busy."
"If you are that busy, there's no point she coming over."
"I will make out time for her."
"No, capital No."
"She's my daughter too!"
"Don't even go there, don't even think it! She is my daughter, yours only biologically." Lara replied heatedly.
"I could sue you for joint custody....."
"And I will make sure you and your mother never see Ireti again till she is eighteen."
"Whew, Lara, chill."
"Ireti is not traveling out of this country without me till she is an adult, and never, ever threaten me. Goodnight Femi." Lara disconnects the call.


"Hello!"
"Lara, where are you, can you do lunch now?" Chichi asked excitedly over the phone.
"Sure."
"Ok, Titi is on her way, let's meet at my boutique. I have big news."
"I can tell. Give me a hint?"
"No, hurry!"
"Ok, on my way." Lara dashes to the room to check her appearance and to pickup her purse. As she is about to lock the door her phone rings, she glances at the screen, an unregistered number. She ignores the call and locks up. The call comes in again as she is about to drive out, she decides to take the call.
"Hello?" She answers in a questioning way.
"Yea my name is Smith Asante, calling for Lara Mathews."

Lara slowly made her way through the house, picking up as she went. A blouse here, a shoe there, a doll there. She smiled at the doll Mary, her daughter’s best friend. Ireti had that doll since infancy and refused to throw it out. Rather she patched it up as it fell apart. Mary just might make a surgeon out of Ireti.
She picked the bits and pieces of clothing away in Ireti’s room, shut the windows and the door behind her as she exited the room. Ireti was spending the weekend at her paternal grandma’s, so Lara had the weekend to herself, that is until the girls got here. The doorbell tinged. Lara smiled. They were here, she went to open the door. She flung the door open and screamed in surprise.
“Tunde!” She jumped on him and the hugged hard and long.
“Lara love, look at you.” He spun her around when they disentangled. “Looking all fresh and fine, like a sweet sixteen!”
She swatted him playfully. Looking past him she noticed Chichi and Titi. “Girls, where did you kidnap him from?” She asked them. “Come on in.” She led the way inside dragging Tunde with her while the girls came in behind. Titi went straight to the kitchen while Lara, Tunde and Chichi settled in the sitting room.
Tunde looked around the sitting room, examining the decor, nodding approvingly.
“Do you approve?” Lara asked him.
“Yes, it does look nice, cozy. Did u do it yourself?”
“Yes I did. Where is the money to pay a designer?” They all laughed as Titi entered with a tray of drinks. She dropped it on the table and they all picked their drinks.
“So where did you find Tunde this saturday afternoon?” Lara asked, picking up the conversation. They gisted all day, the four of them who had been friends since their primary school days. When they were leaving Tunde promised to return the next day to see Ireti whom he hadn’t seen in a long while.
Thirty minutes after they left Lara’s phone buzzed, it was Titi calling her.
“Hello Titi”
“Lara, I forgot to confirm the timing for the church counseling tomorrow. Pastor said its by 4pm.”
“Oh! Can’t it be earlier? That’s when I should be picking Ireti up.”
“No o! I guessed as much so I called Tunde first and made him promise that he was going to show tomorrow. We could pick Ireti up on our way to church and she and Tunde will hang out while we do the counseling. Ik and Fabian have confirmed. Fabian even told me he is anxious to see you again.” Titi rolled on.
“Titi,” Lara interrupted her. “I hope you are not encouraging him?”
“No o! He likes you, and he is a decent man, why don’t you give him a chance? Titi persuaded.
Lara laughed softly. “Titi don’t match make o!” She warned jokingly. “Anyways, if Tunde shows up tomorrow your arrangement should work. You know he is now a hot architect plus hot bachelor.” They both laughed.
“He will.” Titi assured Lara. “Aite, so tomorrow afternoon?”
“Sure.”
“See you then. Dream of the possibility of Fabian.” Titi teased.
“Hia! Does he have enough patience to wait till after Ireti is married?” Lara teased back.
“Eeya eeya! Please! After my wedding that leaves you o!”
“You want to use Chichi’s style on me? It won’t work. She passed it to you, now you want to pass it on to me?”
“It has worked already o! Please end the call Ik is calling me.”
“Aite, blow him a kiss from me.” Lara ended the call. She continued her bedtime preparations as she took a walk down memory lane to her late teenage years, when she found out she was pregnant.

It was the year after her SSCE exams, she was awaiting her university admission. Femi was an undergraduate in his third year in the university which she had applied to. His parents house was on the same street as hers so he served as her contact in the school. Secretly they took the relationship to another level and she found out she was three months pregnant the same week she got the admission to study linguistics. She had to defer her admission for a year. Femi’s parents were divided on what to do about the pregnancy, but Lara’s parents insisted that she bear the child, and her friends Tunde, Titi, and Chichi never deserted her despite them having to take up their own admissions. Nine years later they still remained friends despite their busy schedules. Femi left the country immediately he graduated and she had barely heard from him since then, her only connection to the family was his mother who dotted on Ireti and always insisted that Lara bring her over whenever possible. Both hers and Femi’s fathers had passed on, Lara’s father less than a year ago. Since her father passed on, Lara’s mom had been trying to get her and Ireti to move back home saying she was lonely, but Lara liked it being just she and Ireti. Her career as a translator was a well paying one, with flexible timing. So she and Ireti didn’t need anyone. Least of all a man. She flipped through her bedside tv searching for a soapy movie that will lull her to sleep and when she found one, she curled up in bed to watch it.