Banji, one of my neighbors owned a car, but had not returned from work. Just as I was wondering what to do, his Toyota Camry car was driven in.

‘Look who’s here,’ he said. ‘The groom has finally returned, but where is the bride?’

I smiled and shook hands with him. ‘How’s everything with you?’

‘Fine o. We dey. I can see that you really enjoyed your honeymoon. See how your cheeks are rosy.’

‘Oh, it’s the grace of God.’

‘How’s your wife? Is she in the house so that I can say hello to her?’

‘No. I’ve got a new home now. I’ll soon be moving my things out of this house.’

‘Oh? Where are you now?’

‘Ilupeju. I’ve only come to take some stuffs and my car.’

‘Wow! You’re really moving up.’

I smiled. ‘Thanks. See, I need to get battery to get my car started.’

He looked at the Highlander and nodded. ‘That will be no problem.’

He went on to remove the battery of his car, got some cables from the boot of the car and made the right connection.

‘Go and start your car, now,’ he said.

The Highlander came into life. I revved it up a bit. With the engine still running, I got down to thank him.

‘We’ll be seeing again,’ I said, shaking hands with him. ‘Thanks a lot.’

‘Yeah. Regards to your wife.’

I waved at him and drove off. Just then, my phone rang. It was an unknown number.

‘Hello,’ I said. ‘Good evening.’

‘Good evening,’ the caller returned. It was a female voice. ‘You didn’t even bother to call me since you got married.’

I was instantly on my guard. It was Ms. Judith on the line.

‘Good evening, madam. This must be a new number. This is not your number that I have. How are you, ma’am?’

‘Fine. What happened to your lines? I’ve been trying them for weeks now and they could not get through.’

‘I actually travelled out of the country,’ I explained. ‘I came back just last Friday.’

‘You didn’t even inform me that you’ll be travelling.’

Did I have to inform her? ‘Sorry about that,’ I said.

‘Okay. And you didn’t ask about your baby.’

Oh God, not again. Why did she have to refer to that matter again?

‘How’s the baby?’

‘It’s a boy,’ she announced proudly. It’s going to be a bouncing baby boy. He’s doing just fine. In about two months, there will be delivery.’

I whistled softly. How times time fly.

‘Eh, we thank God for that,’ I said, for lack of a thing to say.

‘I hope he will take after you, Frank.’

My heart started thumping. Why was she saying all these?

‘Er, it will definitely be okay if he takes after me.’

She laughed over the line.
‘Alright, take care of yourself, Frank. Bye for now.’

‘Bye, madam.’

She disconnected the line. I was seriously becoming disturbed by this her action. Why did she have to bring up an issue that we shouldn’t be discussing? I sighed and shook my head.


The Love Grotto: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/the-love-grotto/28460

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CasNova:
Nice work.

Thanks

Ride on.

My heart started thumping. Why was she saying all these?

‘Er, it will definitely be okay if he takes after me.’

She laughed over the line.

‘Alright, take care of yourself, Frank. Bye for now.’

‘Bye, madam.’

She disconnected the line. I was seriously becoming disturbed by this her action. Why did she have to bring up an issue that we shouldn’t be discussing? I sighed and shook my head. The car drifted with the busy traffic. It was obvious I would not be arriving home on time.

About fifteen minutes later, my phone beeped again. It was a WhatsApp message and it was from the last number that called my phone. There were different pictures sent.

Judith took selfies with her big, nude tummy in different postures to show her pregnancy.
My heart started hammering again. Why did she have to do that? 0h, Lord.

I deleted the pictures. If by chance, Ruth went through the messages on my phone, how would I explain Judith’s half naked bodies on my phone? I could not even discuss her matter with Ruth. Not now. I prayed not ever.

But Judith seemed determined to keep sending the pictures of her protruding belle. Every week, she would send pictures of her naked tummy from different angles.

I could not bottle my resentment anymore, so I called her.

‘I thought we had an agreement that what happened between us would be kept as top secret, madam,’ I said.

‘Yes, we did.’

I was nonplussed. ‘Why then did you keep sending me pictures of your pregnancy? What if my wife goes through my phone and finds them? How would I explain that?’

Her answer shocked me. ‘Frank, you can’t imagine how glad I’m about the pregnancy. I’m so glad that I’m soon going to be a mother.

Honestly, I don’t give a hoot if the whole world knows the real father or not.’

I could hear the beating of my heart. I gripped the phone to my ear. ‘But that was not our agreement,’ I protested.

‘Our agreement was I must not claim the child or even refer to him as mine.’

‘I didn’t say you should claim the child,’ she said petulantly.

‘Okay, ma’am. But what if my wife gets to know with the way you keep sending pictures?’

‘Well, who will tell her? Are you going to tell her?’

I shook my head. I didn’t find this funny at all. ‘No, I won’t tell her, but what if by chance she sees the pictures?’

Again, I was confounded by her next answer:

‘Well, if she does, tell her the truth.’

‘What!?’

‘You’ve not committed any crime in doing what you have done,’ she argued.

‘Telling her will ruin our relationship. She will be very disappointed that I’m having a baby out of wedlock.’

‘So, don’t tell her.’

I was exasperated. ‘Okay, madam, but can you please stop sending those pictures?’

‘Sorry, Frank, but just as I said, I’m just so excited.’

I sighed. Must she break my home because she was excited? ‘Please, try to control your excitement,’ I offered.

‘Alright, but aren’t you happy for me?’

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Interesting work

I sighed. Must she break my home because she was excited? ‘Please, try to control your excitement,’ I offered.

‘Alright, but aren’t you happy for me?’

I imagined that she was right there with me, so I smiled wryly. ‘Of course, I’m happy for you, madam.’

‘Thank you. When the baby finally comes, I’ll call him Francis, junior.’

Now, my head started spinning. ‘Sorry, I’ve got to go now, ma’am. I’ll call you later.’

I cut the connection. Now, what kind of thing was this? What had I got myself into? As usual, I deleted all the pictures she sent. To my relief, she stopped sending further pictures.

I breathed in air of relief. If I thought that was the end of the matter, I was so wrong.

Eight weeks later, about mid-day, I got a call from her.

‘Good day, madam,’ I greeted.

‘Good day, Francis. The baby boy has come,’ she announced excitedly.

I wasn’t really pleased to hear that but I feigned being excited. ‘Ah, congrats, madam. How’s the baby?’

‘He looks so much like you. Congratulations to us. We’ve done it together.’

I sighed. ‘How’s the baby doing?’ I asked again.

‘He’s fine. He’s doing very fine. I delivered him about three hours ago. It’s at that same hospital where you did the donation.’

How I wished she would not remind me of that! What a noble donation. ‘Okay. That’s good. Once again, congratulations, madam.’

I sighed again after she had disconnected the line.

At home, months after our wedding, I continued to be a dotting husband on my darling wife. She never suspected anything about Judith and I prayed things would continue that way.

Our relationship would have been perfect, but I kept nursing a fear that she would soon know about the ‘child’ outside.

Some days after Judith delivered the baby, she called my number again.

‘When are you coming to see your baby?’ she asked.

Here she goes again, I thought grimly. ‘Do I have to do that?’

‘What a question!’ It sounded like she was aghast. ‘Is it an abomination to see your own son?’

No, but perhaps it was an abomination that I should have him in the first place. Honestly, if I had known things would turn out this way, I would have declined to give that ‘donation’ when Judith told me about the proposition.

‘Well, how … how’s the baby?’ I stuttered.

‘He’s fine. When are you coming over?’

I breathed in deeply. ‘Today is Tuesday, What about tomorrow evening?’

‘Okay. I’m always at home as I’m on maternity leave.’

Just then, it dawned on me that I didn’t even know where she lived.

‘Sorry, I don’t even know where you live, madam.’

‘I will text the address to you.’

I nodded as the line was disconnected. Maybe if I played everything right, there would be no problem.

I would not tell Ruth, so how would she get to know? The deed had already been done and the best way to manage it was to keep it as a secret, if need be till eternity, I resolved.



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Nice update

Interesting

Cool

Janet96:



Interesting

Thanks

Carry on.

I nodded as the line was disconnected. Maybe if I played everything right, there would be no problem. I would not tell Ruth, so how would she get to know?

The deed had already been done and the best way to manage it was to keep it as a secret, if need be till eternity, I resolved.

I soon got her text message. She lived at Ogba. I decided that I would go straight from work the following day to pay her a visit. That was what I did. By few minutes after six in the evening, I was knocking at the door of her apartment.

The door was opened and a young lady looked at me enquiringly.

‘Good evening. I’m Frank and I’ve come to greet Madam Judith.’

She smiled and opened the door wide. ‘Oh, please come in.’

I entered the apartment. In the sitting-room, Judith was breastfeeding the baby. She smiled up at me.

‘Hello, you finally made it,’ she said.

‘Yes. How’re you ma’am, and how’s the baby?’

‘The baby is fine. Sit down.’

I sat comfortably on a seat. The room was cozy and presentable. Judith obviously had good tastes. I was offered malt drinks. After she finished feeding the baby, she handed him to me.

‘Here, hold him. Is he not adorable?’

Gingerly, I took the baby from her. Somehow, I felt proud to be a father. Whether legitimate or not, it was wonderful to carry a baby you had fathered. That was my feeling.

I studied the baby as he slept off on my hands. Truly, he had the same shape of head and facial features as I did. I had no doubt the baby was truly mine.

After about half an hour, I stood up to go. ‘Accept my heartfelt congratulations, once more, madam. I pray that the almighty God will make the child grow in grace and in His will.’

‘Thanks, Frank. Thanks for coming.’

I had a feeling that the presence of the young lady who was probably her relative prevented Judith from talking intimately with me.

I nodded and left the place. Even as I drove to Ilupeju, the image of that cute baby boy remained in my thinking. What a cute baby.

How I wished it was Ruth that had given birth to the baby.

On getting to the Ilupeju home, I met my darling wife already at home.

‘Hello, darling. How’re you today?’

‘Fine. The traffic must have been terrible.’ She glanced at the big gold-plated clock in the sitting-room.

‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘The hold-up between Ikorodu and Ketu was dismal.’

We moved up to our bedroom upstairs.

‘Have you heard that Aunty Judith has given birth to a baby?’ she asked.

My heart started thumping. ‘Has she?’


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Nice update

Ride on.

We moved up to our bedroom upstairs.

‘Have you heard that Aunty Judith has given birth to a baby?’ she asked.

My heart started thumping. ‘Has she?’

But how did Ruth get to know? Then, I remembered that Judith was our former boss at Apezlinks.

‘Yes,’ Ruth replied. ‘She called me this morning to inform me. We’ve got to see her and greet the baby.’

My heart was still thumping, but I managed to keep a cool mien.

‘Yes. Congrats to her for the baby.’

We entered the bedroom. I removed my canvas shoes and changed from my jeans and t-shirt to a light-blue, cotton pajamas.

‘She also said very soon, she and the father of the baby will be tying the nuptial knots.’

I raised my brows as I felt blood leaving my veins. ‘She also said that?’

‘Yes. It will be lovely to see her marry, won’t it? A nice woman like Aunty Judith should settle down with a good man. I will gladly attend her wedding.’

It was one topic I didn’t like, but I had to pretend to like it. ‘Yes, indeed, it will be a great thing when Ms. Judith finally settles down with a man.’

‘Maybe this Saturday, we can pay her a visit.’

I nodded. ‘That will be okay.’

On Saturday morning, Ruth and I decided to visit Judith. Ruth gave me the address Judith had sent to her. All along, I pretended that I didn’t know where Judith lived.

I drove the Mercedes Benz while Ruth was perched to my side. At a point, I asked an ‘okada’ rider the street where Judith lived, just to drive home my point.

The same young lady that opened the door for me the other time was at hand to usher Ruth and me inside the apartment. I was relieved when she greeted me as if she didn’t know me before.
Judith was glad to see us.

‘Hey, Frank is more handsome than ever,’ she commented and turned to my wife. ‘I can see that you’re really taking good care of him. It’s good to be married, you know.’

‘Yes o,’ Ruth replied gleefully. ‘If I don’t take good care of him, who will?’

Judith entertained us with sumptuous food and drinks. Along the line, she handed the baby to Ruth to carry.

‘Oh, what a cute baby,’ Ruth gushed as she stared into the eyes of the baby boy.

‘Yes, he takes after his father,’ Judith replied.

‘Oh, what a lucky father he is. He should not waste time in marrying his baby mama and taking care of mother and child.’

Judith smiled while I remained mute. My mouth was dry.



The Love Grotto: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/the-love-grotto/28460

I was really enjoying this story at the beginning but not anymore! This Frank guy is such a stupid simp. Always saying yes to everything and never take a stand. What a pussy and a softy!

SirMichael1:
I was really enjoying this story at the beginning but not anymore! This Frank guy is such a stupid simp. Always saying yes to everything and never take a stand. What a pussy and a softy!

More.

Oh, what a cute baby,’ Ruth gushed as she stared into the eyes of the baby boy.

‘Yes, he takes after his father,’ Judith replied.

‘Oh, what a lucky father he is. He should not waste time in marrying his baby mama and taking care of mother and child.’

Judith smiled while I remained mute. My mouth was dry.

Before we left, Ruth gave the bag containing baby products and other gifts to Judith.

‘On behalf of the two of us,’ Ruth said. ‘This is for the cutest baby in town.’

Ruth was staring at the baby while she handed him to his mother. Judith stole the moment to wink at me. Whatever that meant, I made no response.

‘Thanks you so much,’ Ruth said. ‘If I were Catholic, you will be his godmother while Frank will be his godfather.’

Ruth smiled at the joke while I could only manage a grin. We left the place. Even in the car, while I drove home, Ruth kept talking about how cute the baby.

‘I wish I will have a baby as cute as that,’ she said. She turned to face me. ‘Don’t you wish you’re the father of such a baby?’

This time around, I smiled. Inside me, I felt proud my baby was regarded to be so cute.

‘Yeah, but don’t you worry,’ I said, still smiling. ‘I’m sure the baby you will give me will be cuter than that.’

On the eight day of the baby’s birth, Judith sent a message to me that the baby had been christened Francis Ayodele Aka. She also sent some pictures of the boy. Now,

I decided to keep the pictures and saved it on my phone and memory card.

When the baby was a month old, some pictures were also sent. The same thing was repeated when he was two months old and three months old respectively.

When the baby was six months old, I got a surprise news from Judith.

‘I will be relocating to London with the baby,’ she said.

‘Really?’

‘Yes. I’ve got all the papers. Next week, we’ll be traveling.’

‘So soon?’ I could not hide the surprise from my voice.

‘Yes, it is meant to be a surprise.’

I felt she was leaving with a part of me. I meant this. For about nine months now that Ruth and I had married, she had not yet conceived. Initially, I had shrugged it off, but in the last couple of weeks, I had started to get worried.


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Interesting update

Awesome05:
Interesting update

Thanks.

Nice one

Ride on.

I felt she was leaving with a part of me. I meant this. For about nine months now that Ruth and I had married, she had not yet conceived. Initially, I had shrugged it off, but in the last couple of weeks, I had started to get worried.

Why could she not conceive? To me, nine months was long enough to wait for conception. She didn’t appear worried about it, but I felt something was wrong somewhere.

‘You’re going with the baby?’ I asked Judith.

It was an unnecessary question. Would she travel abroad and leave a six-month old baby behind?

‘Of course. Why don’t you come around and say nice farewell to him?’

I nodded to myself. Apart from the first week of his birth, and apart from his pictures, it was months ago I saw him. ‘Okay. When I close from work today, I’ll be there.’

She seemed delighted. ‘See you, then.’

I sighed as I disconnected the line. At the close of work, I drove from Sagamu to her Ogba residence.

She was the one that opened the door.

‘Hello, madam,’ I greeted.

‘Hello, Frank.’ She came to give me a hug.

‘How’s baby?’

‘He’s sleeping. Come and see.’

She took me to her bed-room where the baby was cuddled up in bed. I stared at him briefly and smiled.

‘You’ve not come around to see him for about six months,’ she said accusingly but gently.

‘I’m sorry.’ I looked like I really meant it.

‘You’re forgiven.’

‘Thanks, ma’am.’

I nodded at the baby and returned to the sitting-room. She was on my heels. ‘You’re really traveling next week?’ I asked.

She smiled. ‘Of course. It will be good for Frank junior, won’t it?’

I nodded. ‘I guess he’s a lucky boy.’ I sat back relaxingly on a couch.

‘What do I get you?’ she asked.

‘Anything.’

She left the sitting-room. About a minute later, she was back with a tray containing a pack of fruit juice, a glass cup and a small bottle of ground nuts. She set a stool before me and put the tray on it.

‘Thanks, ma’am,’ I muttered.

‘Can you do me the favor of dropping that ‘ma’am’ and ‘madam’ stuff?’

I looked surprised. ‘Well, I …’

‘Just Judith will be okay.’

I tried a grin. ‘Well, if that’s what you want.’

‘Yes, that’s what I want.’

I grinned again. ‘Okay, ma’am. I mean okay, Judith.’

She smiled encouragingly. ‘How’s your wife?’

‘Oh, she’s fine.’

She nodded. ‘I guess she’s smarter than me.’

I looked at her curiously. ‘What do you mean?’
She allowed some seconds of silence. ‘She’s smart to have you all to herself.’

I slowly put the glass cup I was about to lift to my lips down.

‘I still don’t understand you.’

She smiled again. ‘Oh, come on Frank. I was supposed to get you before she did. I was supposed to become your love before you talked to her. I guess I dilly-dallied and lost a golden opportunity.’

I opened my mouth. ‘But all that existed between us was official cordiality.’

‘That was what it looked like, but I wanted more than that. At a point, I was wondering if you were a real man. Weren’t you a man? Didn’t you understand when a lady wanted a man? I had hoped you would get the message.’ She sighed.

‘It was either you didn’t get it or you ignored it.’

I was amazed. ‘That can’t be. You only needed me to donate something vital, and I did so, there’s nothing else.’

‘There is. There has always been.’

I opened my mouth in awe again. ‘I can’t believe you. You’re older than me. You were my boss!’


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Lovely update.

Nice one,keep it coming

Interesting update.

Interesting stuff.

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Nice story.