The Muritala Mohammed international airport, Lagos was filled with arrivals and departures. The arrivals with their belongings finding their way through the crowd, looking around for their family members or arranged taxi drivers that have their names tagged around their neck. Those that had no family members waiting for them were being dragged by different drivers.
“Let me help you with your belongings, I am a careful driver or let me take you to your destination” they said.
Laurel fell into the last category of people; a 22 year old fair skinned lady, who just got back from India.
’’You look just like my younger sister, will you allow me take you to your destination?” A short, plump and potbellied driver walked up to her. He looked dirty but she was impressed by his spoken English though she knew he lied about her looking like his younger sister.
“24 Musa street Ikeja’’she told him
“Williams’s house”? He asked and she nodded in response returning back his smile.
He grabbed her belongings, placed them in his car boot and opened the door to the back seat for her. She thanked him and climbed on removing her sunshades. With a shuddering sigh she rested her back trying to relax, wondering why her brother had refused to come pick her at the airport. He sounded tensed on the phone when she told him she would be coming back which was unlike him. He had always begged her to come back before their father’s death .Well, maybe she misinterpreted his reaction.
It was seven years ago, when she left for India, exactly two years after her mother’s death. She was 15 and was through with her O’ levels. Her father had wanted her to go to the UK for university education but her aunt insisted on her coming to India so she could watch after since her mother was dead. India was a wonderful place and her aunt was a very nice lady, who treated her like her own still she was missing home; always longing to see her father and brother, anticipating their hugs and pecks. Finally, she was going home but her father wouldn’t be there to welcome her and her brother seemed not to be happy about her coming home.
With a deep breath she shifted on her seat
“I’m thirsty, can I get bottled water around here?” She asked the driver
“Yes, there is a shop ahead of us, I‘ll stop there’’ he said and halted the car
After some minutes he pulled in front of a green gate with the inscription welcome to the William’s house etched on it. She climbed down and muttered to herself “home at last” smiling at the same time. Then she pressed the bell while the driver brought down her belongings .She paid him and he zoomed off.
A couple of seconds later the gate was opened.
“Laurel”
“Segun “she flung herself on him
“It’s so good to have you back home” he whispered holding her in a tight embrace
“Really?” you are squeezing me’’
“Oh!” he said and released her
She must have misinterpreted his reaction, he thought
Smiling they scrutinized one another
“You really have changed, you look more beautiful”
“Thank you…..and you look more grown up, I have missed you”
“Me more” he smiled affectionately at her “come on in there is so much to talk about” he said and helped with her belongings.
The compound was still the same, the flowers still retained their position looking well-trimmed and lively which gives the compound its spick and span look .The building has been repainted but with the same cream and green colour.
“It’s really good to be back home” she said on entering the living room, breathing in the smell of home “where is everybody?” She asked
“Everyone ……like?”
“Common I know daddy is dead, I meant nanny and the other workers, didn’t you tell them I was coming back?”
“Hello” a female voice interrupted them
She turned to see a fair skinned lady climbing down the stairs with a glass of wine in her hand. It’s certain she was in her late twenties, 29 for a guess, she was smiling charmingly at her as she walked towards her
“You must be Laurel?” She asked with an outstretched hand
She nodded her head in response as she took her hand in hers
“I have been dying to meet you in person, look at you, you look more beautiful than your pictures that I have seen”.
“Thank you” laurel said yet she was not flattered. She looked at Segun so he could introduce them but instead he excused himself
“I‘ll take this to your room” as he carried one of her boxes
“So you are…….?”
“I am Roseline, your father’s new wife”
“Excuse me?” she asked in bewilderment, “my father died 6 months ago, how is it possible you are his new wife?”
“Of course he married me before he died”
“He never mentioned you to me”
“Well he told me a lot about you”
“That’s surprising, he tells me everything”
“Well, I don’t know about that, you are welcome back home anyway”
“Thank you” she took a long pause before she replied
Laurel scrutinized her as she walked back the stairs. She was wearing a cream coloured body con dress which was way too above her knee. It clinged to her body revealing her nice figure, her legs are straight and her skin spotless, she really is a beauty, any man could get attracted to her including her father. She would understand if he got married to her anyway it’s better than sleeping around but he should have at least mentioned her.
Segun appeared just in time
“You didn’t tell me father re-married” she accused him
“That’s because he didn’t”

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