Must Read: My Husband

7 years ago

Must Read: My Husband

Adetoun glanced at the screen of her phone,she touched the
silent button and continue to stare at the ceiling fan,She sat
propped up on the bed her arms on her leg,she wore her hair
down,with minimal make up on her face.If she was thinking it
wasn’t obvious due to the way,the magazine was spread on her
leg.
She turned the pages absent mindly,staring at the pictures and
the words,she saw her phone blinking again,she didn’t pick the
call for loss of what to say to her caller.
Priye had been calling non stop and he was beginning to get on
her nerves with his frequent calls,she picked her phone and
switched it off,she looked up when the door open.It was
Rekia ,she was wearing a blue pinafore over a white fitted top,on
her feet were a pair of flipflop.
“Babe.” She called coming to seat by her on the bed,she brought
out a set of necklace from her purse,stretching it towards her
friend.
Toun collected it and examined it,”This is beautiful.” She said
fixing it around her neck,they were a necklace,bangles,earring
made of delicate white stone.”And I’m sure this must cost a
lot,you don’t have a job and yet you buy the most expensive
things money can afford.”
Rekia smiled,”All thanks to God and my late parent,anyway
that’s a story for the Gods o.How about we do lunch?”
Toun declined the offer on flimsy excuses to which her friend did
not agree,after some persuasive words she surrendered.Rekia
located a new African kitchen that opened of recent where they
had a sunptous meal of pounded yam and egusi soup with
palmwine to step down,the restaurant looked good,classy just
the way she liked it and their meals palatable.They were about to
leave but another car was blocking theirs.They had to inform the
attendants who announced the plate number so that the owner
could move it so as to make way for theirs,it was a surprise
when Ade sauntered outside,he looked quite handsome in a
brown tailored material and shoe to match.
He embraced Adetoun and carefully explained why he had not
call,which was because he got robbed at gunpoint later that
evening,his car,phones and other accesories were snatched from
him,stating this as an excuse he quickly produced a phone from
his pocket.Adetoun saw that it was a new one,which made her
believe his story and why would he tell a lie anyway.she stored
Hannah’s number first and then hers.
“I know you have a lot of question to ask,but this is not the place
to do that.” Ade smiled,embracing Adetoun again before driving
out his car to make way for theirs.He waved as the ladies
zoomed off.If only he could back the hands of time,his heart
raced quickly at the thought of a name that rang in his
heart.Hannah.

Adetoun made good use of the journey home to gist rekia,not
leaving out any detail on how things existed between Hannah
and Ade and how things finally collapsed.Rekia only contributed
a word or two,they were almost home now.
………
It was a very bitter friday when the remains of Lucy was placed in
the heart of mother earth,her parents and family were there all
clothed in black and shades.But Taliroyce was no where to be
found.Even though she couldn’t find him among the
wellwishers,she knew he would be somewhere crying out his
heart.She looked at Lucy’s baby standing quietly beside her
grandmother and she felt nothing but pure pity for the boy.Jane
had cried more than the bereaved,this was because,she thought
she could and should have helped her friend a long time ago.

But what could she do when Lucy denied her offer of
assistance,she wept day and night after the incidence and this
was beginning to get at her husband who had tried to comfort her
to which his effort were not appreciated.She sniffled again,wiping
the back of her palm across her nose,she picked the kleenex by
the bedside.Everywhere she went,all she saw was Lucy pleading
with her to speak to her mother not to punish her husband.
It sounded odd and it was beginning to drive her crazy the things
she imagined,she needed to speak with Lucy’s mother as soon
as possible,and she didn’t want to bother the grieving
mother.she felt a tap lightly on her shoulders,she must have
dozed off again,it was her husband.He was draped in his
pyjamas.he held a tray containing bread jam,pepper ketch up,tea
and a piece of watermelon in his hands.he placed it on the
bedside stool,his eyes not leaving his wife.
“You should eat something now.” He said,his eyes were cool and
his hands gentle on her skin as he helped her out of her
clothe.Jane was surprised to see her kids at the other end of the
bed,fast asleep.Eve had her legs all over her brother’s body.She
got into the shower,and the warm water did a lot to soothe her
heavy heart.By the time she was out,her kids had been carried to
their room.Jane had a silent dinner in bed.
She heard voices or so she thought,but then she listened
again,she couldn’t have been mistaken,she pulled a shirt on and
hurried down the flight of stairs.alas she was right,the voices
had been coming from the sitting,her husband and one other
man,Toye.
“Hey dear.” Toye made to cross over the space between himself
and Jane,but Jacob would not let hik,he kicked the stool and it
stopped in front of his wife,his eyes throwing daggers at his wife.
“Toye this is a bad time,maybe later.” Jane said forcing a
smile.she placed her hands on the rail of the stairs,eyes closed.
Toye kicked the stood away furiously,and quickly grabbed
Jane,”What happened to you? Did he harm you?” He asked in
anger looking Jacob.
Jane disentangle herself from him,”I’m fine.” A fine tear escaped
down her face.Jacob must have done his calculations right,as
two hard punches landed on toye’s face breaking his nose in the
process,blood streamed down his lips.jane came in between the
making Toye to miss the third punch.
Jacob was fuming,”How dare you touch her.” He shouted,his face
was hard and his fist curled in a punch.
Toye looked from an angry husband to a wife who’s eyes
pleaded for mercy,he wiped the blood away from his lips and
walked out with Jane running after him,she was pleading with
him not to get mad.

At that instant,Jacob looked at his fist and rained heavy blow on
the wall,he rushed up the stairs and grabbed his car
key,charging down blindly,he rushed out and kick started the
car,he was out in a minute almost hitting his wife as he drove
away.