Sacrilege – Episode 44

Sacrilege – Episode 44

© Adeola Nissi

Deolu kissed Laura on the lips and stared deep into her eyes. Laura saw the hesitation in his eyes, like there was something he wanted to tell her but wasn’t. He was holding some things back, Laura could see it; she knew him too well. His eyes held secrets, secrets he was yet to confide, a vague knowledge. She still hadn’t asked him about the place he went to when she ended up alone at the beach and he still hadn’t told her also. And she didn’t want to ask him, she wanted him to tell her. Laura touched his face, enjoying the sensation of his beards tickling her palm. “You sure you want to go in there? You need rest” Deolu whispered.

Laura smiled gently. “I know… but I have to see dad; I won’t be able to rest if I don’t” she said and Deolu nodded.

He glanced out the car briefly. “Tito is waving”

Laura followed his gaze and saw Tito standing just outside the hospital all alone in the soft darkness of the night. Laura smiled in her direction before turning back to Deolu. “You’re not coming in” she realized.

Deolu gazed at her for a brief silent moment before giving a soft smile. “There’s something I need to take care of, I’d be back soon”

Now, Laura was beginning to get worried. “Want to tell me about it?” she asked.

Deolu smiled. He leaned forward and kissed her. He brushed his thumb against her cheek. “When I get back”

She was still worried but she smiled. “Okay” she opened the door of the car and got out. In a few seconds, the car backed out of the park and disappeared into the traffic of the night. She sighed and turned to face the hospital that had encapsulated her life for the past few weeks. She couldn’t wait for her fathers to be discharged so everyone could start living life again. She headed for the hospital and Tito met her halfway through. “Hey…” she called as she got to Laura and started walking with her to the hospital. “Is everything okay?” Tito nodded meaningfully towards the road.

“Oh yeah… uhm… he had to take care of something” Laura answered.

“I see you patched things up.” Laura gave Tito a bland look. “What? Your body language does not suggest that you are still leaving him to Teju; I don’t know what put that stupid idea in your head in the first place” Laura swallowed. “What are you guys going to do about Teju and the child, especially now that she is… ill?” Laura took a deep breath and Tito frowned at her. “He doesn’t know yet” she realized.

“Can we not talk about this now? Please?” Laura massaged her brows in exhaustion.

Tito stopped Laura with her hand to her elbow so she could properly assess her. Her brows drew together as her eyes flashed in anger. “You went to see that mistake of a sister, didn’t you?” her mouth twisted in disgust. “Typical of Margaret, I am sure she got you all mushy and pitying her condition, didn’t she? I bet you are already justifying her actions right now”

Laura sighed, shrugging out of Tito’s hold as she continued her journey to the hospital entrance. “Another thing I don’t want to talk about”

Tito snorted. “Doesn’t look like you have a choice. Your mother and Jane are waiting inside the hospital.”

Laura’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Great! Just great” she muttered. “Have you seen dad? How is he?” changing the subject seemed the thing now and knowing Tito, anything about her dad would work as a perfect distraction. The last thing she wanted to think about now was her kidnap.

Tito sighed. “Like I know. Those damned doctors refused to give me access to him all through yesterday, same thing today”

“Oh well” Laura glanced at Tito just as they got to the entrance. “Someone could stand up to you, that’s a first” Laura joked absently and opened the door, allowing Tito only the roll of her eyes as they entered the hospital. Laura felt a tiny chill as the hospital scent washed over her and thought she probably was also developing the phobia for hospital. Just days away and it seemed her lungs had been relieved to breathe fresh air, now; the scent came with a vague headiness she had never really noticed before. It was probably because she had been spending so much time within the four walls of the hospital. Now, she really understood what Tito had to go through. Indeed it would be beyond terrible if after staying so long, either one or both of her dads died; getting over it would be nigh impossible.

As she walked into the hospital, Gloria and Jane saw her and rushed towards her. Laura drew in a breath as she pasted a smile on her face. “Laura… my dear…” Gloria got to her and enclosed her in a bear hug. Laura was grateful for the hug but she knew she really had to get home. Deolu was right; she should have gone home to rest. Meeting Margaret had drained her, made her really edgy and testy; she wanted to cry at how pathetic everything was. The sight of Tess in Jane’s hands broke her heart. The poor child had her eyes all swollen; she probably couldn’t understand why she hadn’t seen her mother all day.

Gloria pulled back and stared into Laura’s face, her eyes looking bright with unshed tears. “How come nobody told me anything? How are you my dear? Are you hurt? Did they hurt you?”

“No… no, I’m fine” Laura answered.

“Are you sure, sis?” Jane asked, worry in her eyes.

Laura gave a reassuring smile. “I’m not hurt”

“Thank heavens!” Gloria swallowed, looking confused. “I still can’t believe Margaret did something this grievous. How can she conceive something so evil?”

Jane shook her head. “I just knew something was wrong with her, she was so pensive throughout yesterday. I didn’t know she could do something like this, I still find it hard to believe”

“Believe it, all right. A leopard doesn’t change its spots” Tito botted in, anger in her voice.

Laura stared at the little Tess, her innocent little eyes watching and rotating from one person to another. She felt a stab in her chest, like Tess could hear all the things being said about her mother. She didn’t want this for Tess, didn’t want the little child to feel she had a terrible mother. Laura kept quiet as Gloria and Jane talked bitterly about their disappointments in Margaret. She felt sick to her stomach. She had to see her dad, she had to see Mark Johnson… in times like these, and he always knew what to do.

Laura held her hands out to Tess, a small smile on her face. Jane stretched her hands and Jane freely handed her over to Laura. As always, the mass of Laura’s natural spongy hair was a point of fascination for Tess who stretched her hand and started playing with the curls. The smell of drugs haunted her nostrils. Why was it that the smell seemed intensified and repulsive? She swallowed the thick lump in her throat and blinked away a brief onslaught of dizziness.

“Laura? Are you okay?” Gloria touched her arm, then touched her neck as alarm shone in her eyes. “You’re running a temperature, Laura” carefully, Gloria took Tess from her arms and gave her to Tito. “Come with me, you look so pale” she said, as she tried to move Laura to the nearest bench. Laura’s belly reeled, God, she felt sick. Her tummy reeled again and she couldn’t steep down the urge to throw up as she rushed out of the hospital.

***** Lunch turned to dinner. Teju couldn’t remember the last time she was that happy. For a few hours, she had totally forgotten about her ailment, it was almost like everything was all right with the world again. Hassan had taken her to a gaming center, she had played so much, and she actually felt like a teenager again. She had eaten way too many things within a short period of time; she might not even need any food the next day. Hassan had not hesitated to steal kisses every now and then, even in public, leaving ladies green with envy. It felt so good to be showered with so much affection again, she had missed this.

Hassan tickled Teju’s waist as they walked into her compound towards her apartment and she laughed, trying to escape his hold. “Stop it” she said chuckling. Hassan held her firmly by the waist. He kissed the side of her head briefly and looked into her smiling face.

“I love seeing you like this” he said. “Happiness is the perfect prescription for you” He couldn’t keep the happiness from engulfing his face. Today was the best day he had experienced in a long time. Making Teju so happy was all he had ever wanted, seeing her face flushed with the glow of genuine happiness made his heart pump with renewed vigor.

Teju grinned, turning around to link her fingers behind his neck. “What’s the dosage, doctor?” she asked, tongue in cheek.

Hassan’s eyes shone with humor. “As many milligrams as possible”

“Uhn? You want me to overdose on happiness?”

Hassan looked on the brink of laughter. “With all pleasure” Teju chuckled as Hassan’s hand went to her waist, pulling her closer as he kissed her. With her impressive model height, Hassan was just slightly taller and her body fit perfectly to his. Teju wondered why she never really noticed just how perfect Hassan was. She probably had been too clouded by her ailment that she couldn’t recognize a complete snack. Who wouldn’t love a man in uniform though? Too bad she had taken ages to recognize this. Teju knew she would suffer for this. She knew without a doubt that she would start wanting things she could never have, things that life had rendered impossible to her but she chose to enjoy the moment. She chose to take as much happiness as she got and create more for herself, they would help in her times of pain. When pain came knocking, she knew now that she could flash her mind back to times like these when she had been so happy; that might make the pain easier to bear.

Folding her hands at the elbows behind Hassan’s neck, her fingers curled in his inch long hair as Hassan deepened the kiss. Worries that her neighbors might discover them did not even flash in her mind until she heard someone clear his throat. Teju jumped back though Hassan still had his hand fixed like a vise around her waist as he glared at whoever interrupted them. Teju turned her head and blanched. It was a ‘she’, apparently. “Hassan” she whispered nervously as she pushed against his shoulders. He finally let go of her waist and she stepped away.

“It’s like I’m interrupting something” Mrs. Aderigbe glared at them with disgust.

Apparently, Hassan almost said.

What a sour end to a perfect day, Teju thought. “Good evening ma” Teju bent her knees in greeting.

“Doesn’t look good from my end” Mrs. Aderigbe said with a look of disgust aimed at Hassan as she sized him up with her eyes. “Aren’t you a little too old to be groping a man in the dark, Teju? Does he even know you are pregnant?” Teju sensed danger. She could feel Hassan’s anger rising, only held back by his respect for old age. Hassan had seen pictures of Deolu’s mum and knew the role she played in putting Teju in the dicey position she was in now.

Teju touched Hassan’s hand lightly, effectively capturing his attention. “I think it’s best you leave, Az”

“I think not” Hassan mouthed.

“C’mon, please” she turned to him, forcing him to look at her. Of course, he couldn’t deny her anything with her looking at him like that. Women are just dangerous, Hassan thought miserably. Totally ignoring Mrs. Aderigbe, he leaned forward and claimed her mouth in a brief but firm kiss. If eyes could ki*ll, Hassan would probably be long dead with the look in Mrs. Aderigbe’s eyes. He caressed her cheek, looking into her eyes. “Don’t stress yourself” he whispered and she nodded. After planting a chaste kiss on her forehead, he walked away and out of the compound.

Teju turned nervously to Mrs. Aderigbe. “What was that?” the older woman snapped.

Teju sighed. “What do you want, ma?”

“Why not start by explaining what you were doing with that lowlife” Mrs. Aderigbe snarled at her. “Do I need to remind you that you are carrying my grandchild?”

“So? I can’t have a life anymore because I am pregnant?” Teju snapped.

“You can add a bit of dignity to the life you have. Isn’t it enough that you went sleeping around when a man old enough to be your father? Now, I came all the way to check up on the mother of my grandchild only to find you here, disgracing yourself like a brain-dead wayward teenager. It’s no wonder Deolu doubted the paternity of this child”

Teju stared in stunned silence at Deolu’s mother for a moment. Anger reared up in her but she tried to hold it back. She took a calming breath. “Ma, I think you should leave; my day has been perfect, I don’t want you to ruin it”

“The truth is always bitter”

“Goodnight ma” Teju turned and stumped towards her apartment so fast, she could hardly hear the break in her footsteps. She heard the enraged voice of Mrs. Aderigbe behind her but couldn’t make out her words in her anger. She unlocked the door to her apartment and entered, slamming the door so hard, it shook the ground. She focused on drawing air into her lungs as she closed her eyes. Hassan’s last warning rang in her head and she mentally tried to get the stress out. Her mind tried to flash back to her perfect evening with Hassan but as a smile started creeping up her face, she heard a firm knock on the door.

Furiously, she turned and marched to the door, ready to pour all her frustrations on Mrs. Aderigbe for ruining her perfect day. she yanked the door open enraged and opened her mouth but her mouth fell slack as she stared at someone who wasn’t Mrs. Aderigbe but still wasn’t unconnected to her. “Deolu” she gasped.

Deolu stared at Teju, his eyes clouded, his mind a whirlstorm of confusion. “Can I come in?”

Teju felt a faint chill. Something was off track. The last time she saw Deolu so distraught was when she had revealed to him that she was pregnant. It was like he desperately needed to punch something hard or scream on top of his lungs but for some reason, he held himself back. She stepped back, knowing undoubtedly that her perfect evening was now irreparable. Deolu walked in and she closed the door. As she turned to him and saw the look in his eyes, she knew it. The hair of her neck stood as she realized that her worst fear had materialized. She saw it in the pain in his eyes as he stared wordlessly at her. She saw how much he was tearing himself apart and her knees weakened with pain and regret. He knew! He has found out!

***** It had been over an hour since he had been sitting there. Frank stared at his brother, his heart breaking at his state. Despite it all, all the years of bitterness, anger and malice, one thing that hasnt changed was that Mark was still his brother. Blood ties are not easily broken and he couldn’t help but feel sorry for alienating his brother. Mark had tried for years to make up for that one mistake he made. He had done everything humanly possible but Frank had only seen the negative aspects of all his intentions.

But now, he had seen the folly of his in forgiveness. Malice and unforgiveness doesn’t only hurt the culprit but hurts the victim as well. Pain bit into his bones as he wheeled the chair closer to Mark. His wrapped up body haunted him. He should have been driving. He should be the one on this bed and not Mark. To think Mark had insisted on driving because he was worried about him… He swallowed. His hand lifted and touched Mark’s arm lightly. He raised his eyes to look at Mark’s face and nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw Mark’s lids shake. Then, his heart literarily as the lids slowly push open, revealing a pair of milky eyeballs.

To be continued

 

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