Love Me Again – Episode 9

© Christabel Hilda Anani. (Loudest Thoughts)

“When a man takes the bold step its worth whatever comes out of it”

The next day was Saturday, I just woke up and struggling out of bed. When I heard my dad yelling and my mum telling him to take it easy i quickly rushed down in my morning coat.

Just to meet Clyde on his knees and my mum preventing my dad to flare up again.I took another look at him on the floor and then my dad I rushed towards my dad.

Dad: Hold it there, young woman.

How long have you been seeing this woman beater? Answer me, is he the reason for your weird attitude lately.

You don’t eat, you don’t come out of your room neither do you go to work. Girl I won’t tolerate this again.

Listen to me carefully, go pack up your things, am sending you off to your aunts end, and you get the hell out of my house.

Clyde: Sir am sorry, Babs I just want to make things right I could hear my dad still yelling.

Me: Clyde you better go now, and don’t come back.

At least this time he listened to me and left Everyone went their separate ways. After 30minutes, I went to my dad’s room and met my mum still calming him down.

Me: We need to talk.

Dad: What about, the fact that you kept seeing that woman beater after all he did to you. And had the guts to let him in to my house?

Me: Dad I hope you haven’t forgotten this is my house too. And I have the right to bring in whoever I want to.

And how do you know what he did to me or didn’t do to me. Besides I didn’t even know Clyde would go that extent to step his foots in this house.

Yes I know he came down to London, yes I met him some few times, Yes he is the reason for my weird attitudes.

But I never said anything about Clyde beating me up, and confirming it was the reason we divorced. But Dad don’t you think am old enough to be wherever I want to.

For Christ’s sake am 28 years, i have lots of years ahead of me, to meet a lot of men, if I want to. To have fun, build a family if I ever will.

Can’t you just support me, like you always do when I achieve something? You even go an extra mile for me when i fail.

How is this one different, How is my failed marriage not your priority.That you have to embarrass your fellow man in that manner.

You can’t send me off to my aunt’s place like some kid unless you want me to rebel and leave again. This time around i might leave forever.

I was walking away when my mum spoke up and told him i was right. I waited to hear what he will say but he just stood up and went into their washroom.

______

I went back to my room and realized i missed several calls from an unknown number. I decided to call back.

Me: Hello, I missed a call from this number .

Unknown number: This is Clayton Hotel as I mentioned earlier, do you know anyone here, please I might not have heard her mentioning it earlier, I quickly gave him Clyde’s name and asked if she could pass me on she asked to hold on which I did.

Clyde: Babs is that you, I hope you are okay.

Me: What were you thinking Clyde? What came over you, at least give me a heads up. I hate you for this now.

Clyde: Am sorry Babs,I was just thinking of making things right.

I didn’t care what your dad would do to me so far as he would forgive me for your sake, am willing to come to your house every now and then besides you were not exactly happy the last time we met.

Me: The more reason why, you should have stayed away from my house You better don’t try it again

Clyde: Babs am still in love with you, if that’s the only way to get you back I will

Me: Get ready to loose me forever then.

Clyde: Does this mean you forgive me, Babs do you still love me.

i think I should come over more often, if two slaps from your dad can make you forgive me then I will want to take that every day, until you take me back.

Me: No to your first 2 questions but I hope you are okay, did you get your face looked at. Does it still hurt, if it does get some ice on it?

Clyde: Yes it hurts, it will need your touch, why don’t you come over Me: And where will I tell my dad am off to, i suddenly found myself easing up and smiling at his silly comments Get some ice on it, you should be fine.

By the way what happened to your cell phone, you called on the hotel line.

Clyde:I can’t tell, I think i might have dropped it accidentally in your house.

It was in my shirt pocket, i think when i got slapped and I fell on my knees it dropped Kindly check for me Me: Really, you did this on purpose so you can come back for it huh.

Clyde:Common who would want to come back for that kind of slap?

Me: Meaning you have agreed not to come back here. Thank you And don’t think you are so smart, you think I would bring this phone over,

i will send my driver to you later on.

Have a good day gentleman we hanged up, just then daddy came in.

Dad: Hi dear, how are you feeling.

Me: Am fine dad, He came to sit on the bed with me.

Dad: You know your well-being is my top most priority. Sometimes I still think you are my little girl And I will do anything to make you happy and protect you from any one that wants to harm you.

As you said earlier, you are old enough, so I won’t send you off to your aunt’s but don’t try threatening me of leaving forever, you don’t want to ki*ll me right.

Me: Dad I love you, and I don’t want to do anything that will ki*ll you. Whiles in Nigeria, there was no day I didn’t think about you guys My husband always say I should give it time that you will come around.

So many times he tried calling the house for me but I stopped him Dad he is a good man, but he has some stuff am sure he needs to work through Whatever happened and we divorced, I don’t want to talk about it either.

Can you give him the chance to get to talk to you? He always wanted to.

Dad: Does that mean you have forgiven him and want to go off with him again.

Me: Dad i didn’t say that either, what am saying is Clyde has a lot of pride and for him to come in here after telling him you might ki*ll him shows he regrets whatever he has done and wants to apologize.

Dad: He hasn’t done anything to me, to apologize for, He should be apologizing to you, he dare not step foot in this house again Whatever you want to do I won’t stop you, Just tell him i don’t want to see his face ever again in this house.

And he dare not try taking you away to a no man’s land.

Me: He has apologized, am sure he wronged you when he married me without your blessings He wronged you when he broke Daddy’s little girl’s heart.

Give him the chance to make up for it. Please dad, do this for me and i promise not to marry him again.

Dad: Are you sure you are going to keep to your promise. Then I will think about it.

Come down for lunch, your mum is waiting i went downstairs with my dad, thinking if i just did the right thing

On getting there, my mum found Clyde’s phone and handed it over to me.

______

After lunch I went back to my room and called him up at the hotel, told him my driver was bringing over the phone later that evening.

But then at 7pm, i saw myself at the Clayton Hotel.

How did I get there, I drove myself there.

I made the receptionist call about my driver, I was asked to go in.

I gently knocked on the door just for him to open up.

With his towel wrapped around his waist and that his masculine body was glaring at me.

What a temptation, as soon as he opened the door and saw me, he got shocked at the door.

He could not utter a word, at least he tried and the words were not coming out I finally spoke up.

Me: Won’t you let me in or I should go.

Clyde: Come in, my bad. By the way what happened to your driver?

Me: He went home early.

Clyde: Kindly sit on the bed.

Me: I prefer the couch, thanks and you look confused. Are you going somewhere?

Well I have no plans of staying for long, i keep stealing glances while he changes in front of me.

I could just imagine the bare chest, all over me.

I love hairy men, I wouldn’t know what I would have done if he weren’t hairy.

I kept fantasizing over his hairy chest until he spoke up.

Clyde: Kind of, I wasn’t expecting you that’s all, You can stay as long as you want to.

Me: By the way check if this thing still works I handed him the phone.

Clyde: Thank you for bringing this, What should I offer you, I have everything.

Me: Nothing am fine and should be on my way before my dad starts looking for me.

Clyde: Did you tell him you were coming here.

Me: No, am old enough to take my own decisions.

Clyde: Does that mean you aren’t going away from here.

Me: No, just then his phone rang.

Clyde: Can we cancel? Yes I know, I will pay the extra, you just save it. Later then.

Me: I can tell whoever it was, wasn’t happy you cancelled.

You can go, I just came to drop the phone, and it’s working perfectly, I should be on my way now.

Clyde: Are you sure you want to go?

Me: I stood up headed towards the door when he pulled me towards his face.

Held my face up, stared for a few seconds, as if he was looking for some answers.

He searched my eyes for another seconds, and he started kissing me for like a minute and pulled away panting.

Me: Sorry I have to go, I thought him pulling away means i have to get going.

I rushed out of there, as if I just saw a ghost I walked straight to where my car was parked, I heard Clyde calling me but I ignored and drove away.

I went straight home and to bed, my mind hovering and crowded with what just happened.

I kept asking myself what just happened repeatedly.

Clyde didn’t stop calling, I had to turn my phone off I managed to get some sleep, not after fantasizing about the kiss one more time.

I think I love it, it made me feel something different I drifted off to sleep.

______

Woke up late since it was a Sunday, several missed calls I decided to call him.

Me: hello, ermm I was busy.

Clyde: Before you say anything, I would like to say sorry for yester night. Hope I haven’t ruined my chances.

Babs I want you, I need you. Please give me another chance.

Me:I will think about it, please have a nice day.

Clyde: When should I expect an answer from you?

Me: I will let you know I quickly hanged up.

Just then Livie called I gave him the latest gist, he wasn’t too happy about it.

But I told him I will be fine, besides am sure Clyde has learnt his lesson. We talked for a while, and I got out of bed downstairs.

My mum was staring at me, and finally asked I should spill it out. I told her there was nothing to talk about.

She then said whatever it is, if I am happy she will support me. I said thank you and asked what he thinks about Clyde.

Since before we got married they didn’t get the opportunity to know him that well. She said from afar he seems like a nice guy, but she is yet to have a talk with him.

I wondered how she is going to do that without pissing off dad, besides she doesn’t know where Clyde stays. Days turned into weeks, Clyde comes over to my work place to take me for lunch.

He comes over to my house but had to wait outside for me Sometimes we just sit outside in his car and have long chats Or take walks in my area, I just could not stop admiring him each and everyday.

One working day, he came for me for our usual lunch I was quiet busy so he just sat there in front of me, while I finished up Just then my dad came in, their eyes met and I was kind of nervous.

Clyde: Hello sir, Good afternoon.

Dad: I can see you are busy here my daughter, was going for lunch, Wanted to find out if you will tag along but let’s meet at home.

Me: Dad sorry another time. I have plans already.

Dad: Young man, Saturday 7 pm, my house. Don’t be late, I believe you can find your way.

Clyde: Yes sir.

When he left, Clyde asked me what just happened I have no idea either, I was just staring at you guys. Clyde then decided to cancel our lunch date so I can go with my dad.

I watched him go away sadly, I then went ahead with dad’s offer Lunch it was at ‘’spicy’’ his favorite spot I can’t just wait for Saturday 7 pm.

Clyde was so happy about it, I on the other hand was nervous considering I know my dad so well Clyde and I seemed to be doing a lot of talking these days.

And since the last kiss he hasn’t tried any move again.

I was beginning to get worried I mean it’s not like he doesn’t want it too I just want to explode anytime am around him. These are the old feelings I wish never resurfaced again I am beginning to like him gradually again.

The hatred I think I can bear, but this torture of not being in his arms is killing me already Saturday came and Clyde was early as a bird

He came an hour before time.

I was going to take my bath when my brothers prompted me my prince charming is here. The way they said it was funny I quickly put on a short and a tank top, I rushed downstairs.

…to be continued