Sacrilege – Episode 46

Sacrilege – Episode 46

© Adeola Nissi

Laura’s eyes drifted open, staring into the medium lighting of her matrimonial bedroom. She blinked and turned on her side to stare at the lovely face of her husband. She could gaze at him forever. Even while unconscious, his presence always made her feel a sense of safety, like nothing bad could happen to her when he was around. Laura brushed off the spongy mass that covered a part of her eyes so as to stare at her husband. Her heart squeezed and ached for him. Even in his sleep, his brows were drawn together in worry. Though he was asleep, he didn’t look the least relaxed, he looked like someone who was about to step into the boxing ring with a renowned wrestler and Laura knew why, she didn’t know why she hadn’t even figured it out earlier.

They had talked into the night after he picked her up from Tito’s place. She knew it had been a good decision to keep her little hospital mishap away from Deolu when he arrived looking like he had just taken a glass of gall. Of course, he had tried to cover it up but she knew when something was eating him up. She had a good feeling it was the reason he had left her at the beach. Tired as she was, she pressed and got an answer she should have figured out on her own – Teju.

How could she not have figured it out? Deolu cared so much for Teju; it could only be something about her that would tie him up in a knot. It had taken her a while to get used to Deolu’s closeness with Teju when they were newly married. She could not understand how someone who was not Deolu’s relative could be so close to him. She felt threatened by Teju, especially since she was such a beauty to behold. But after a while, she got to understand why Deolu kept Teju so close. He took his time to explain things to her till she decided to bring Teju close to herself. She started seeing Teju as Deolu’s sister and Deolu never hesitated to show Laura where his priorities lie. It was the more reason Teju becoming pregnant for Deolu had been like a blow in the gut because Laura had finally come to see Teju as the sister Deolu never had. But still, after all said and done, after knowing the truth about what had transpired between Deolu and Teju Laura was pleased to realize she wasn’t the least bit jealous of Deolu worrying Teju. She had known the news of her health would be a huge blow to him and it hurt her a great deal to know there was next to nothing she could do about it. When they talked last night, he had revealed that it was the reason he left her at the beach. Apparently, he had pieced the puzzle and deduced something was wrong with her sudden decision to leave him for Teju. It has been a trying season for them. Their union had been tried and their love had been placed in the balance but despite all the pain and betrayal she had felt, Laura knew if she had a chance to pick her husband all over again, she would still choose Deolu because no one had shown her as much love as he has.

Deolu shifted, her gaze calling him out of his state of unconsciousness. His eyes drifted open slowly and Laura smiled into his face. His eyes softened. “Morning, Mr. Rigs”

“Hey sugar” his sleep doused voice croaked as his hand went up to bring her head down for a quick kiss.

“I can’t be so sweet this morning, I haven’t cleaned my teeth”

Deolu grinned and brought her head down again, this time for a deeper kiss. “That’s the icing on the cake”

Laura chuckled slightly, allowing the laughter to fade as a small concerned look crossed her face. “Feel better?” She asked.

There was no need pretending not to know what she was referring to but Deolu kept the smile on his face unwavered. It was bad enough that they talked about Teju way into the middle of the night, thinking about her predicament right now was the last thing he wanted for himself and definitely the last thing he wanted for Laura. “I’d be fine, don’t worry about me” Laura smiled. “You hungry, you barely ate anything last night?” Laura shook her head; the mere thought of eating something made her tummy reel. Curiosity and worry laced Deolu’s brows. “You alright?”

“No… I’m pressed” Laura grinned as she pushed away from Deolu and out of the bed. She was aware of his gaze on her as she walked into the toilet. Normally, he might give a remark about how she swayed her behind at him as she went to the bathroom but the mere fact that he didn’t made it pretty obvious to her just how much Teju’s illness affected him. She shut the bathroom door and leaned against it, closing her eyes briefly. Her heart raced in her chest and anxiety took over her, the one she had been careful to keep away from Deolu.

Stepping away from the door, she moved on quiet feet towards the small bathroom rack where she kept all her lady needs and deodorants. She stopped right in front and blinked. She stomped her feet and stared restlessly at a container. She didn’t want to do this; God knows she didn’t want to keep her hopes up again. It had been six years and constant shattered hopes; she didn’t want to risk the chance of hurting herself again.

Swallowing hard, her hand reached out and lifted the container to reveal a pregnancy test strip. Last night when Gloria had gone back inside the hospital to get drugs for her, she had returned and called her aside. Not only did she get some drugs, she also bought a pregnancy test kit. Once again, her heart had been placed on the spike, at the risk of being shattered. Her period has never been regular so she never could keep tabs to know when she missed her period. She did not want to hope again, did not want to experience the pain of seeing a negative result. “I know you’re scared. You don’t want to get your hopes up again and I get it, I understand. But once there’s life, there is hope. Just give it a try” Gloria had said to her last night.

Taking a deep breath, she reached out and grabbed the pregnancy strip. She just hoped she’d be able to keep a straight face in case she turned out negative; it was bad enough that she might be hurt but hurting Deolu also would be really terrible. Resignedly, she moved to the toilet and sat on the seat. Holding out the stick beneath her, she placed the stick in urine stream.

Deolu frowned at the bathroom door and pushed out of bed. It had been minutes since Laura went in there and he wondered what was keeping her. He approached the door and knocked gently. “Laura? Are you okay?” he asked gently. He got no sound from the bathroom. “Laura?” a cold shiver engulfed him as he had a momentary vision of her sprawled lifeless on the bathroom floor. With his head rising, Deolu yanked the door open, a vicious look in his eyes. He nearly collapsed in relief as he saw Laura standing, breathing and looking pretty unscathed by the washing hand basin. He released a heartfelt sigh, right before he saw the tears in her eyes. “Laura?” he approached her. “Hey… what’s the matter?” his brows drew together as he wiped her tears. Then, he saw the pregnancy strip she held and froze.

Deolu’s eyes lingered slightly on the strip then he swallowed and lifted his eyes to hers. “I told you to stop using this thing, Laura; I don’t like seeing you like this. We would have children when God wants” he cradled her cheeks.

The smiled Laura tried wobbled as more tears slipped down her cheeks. “It is now, Ad…” she managed through shaky lips as she lifted the strip. “I am pregnant”

*****

“Jane… Jane” Tito whispered as she tapped Jane as quietly as possible so as not to wake Tess. Jane popped open her sleepy eyes, blinking.

“Uhn?”

If Tito wasn’t so agitated, she could have smiled. It was morning; yet, Jane was still deep in sleep. Talk of someone who doesn’t let her troubles get to her. “Jane wake up, I have to go to the hospital”

That seemed to wake her fully as her brows drew together. “Why? Is something wrong?” she glanced out the window to see that the darkness was just lifting.

Tito swallowed. “No… I’m sure it’s nothing.” Hoping to convince herself but failing. “Just take care of Tess, okay? There’s everything you need in the kitchen but I left some cash on the dresser in case you need anything”

Jane smiled, amused. “I have my own money but I don’t mind. Take care okay?” Tito nodded and headed out with her car keys.

The drive to the hospital was nervewrecking. Though the distance from her house was not much, it just seemed as though she couldn’t get there fast enough. It has been a while since she drove, hadn’t driven since she saw the ghastly accident which very nearly claimed her father’s life. Her heart slammed in agitation as she drove. Gloria had told her that nothing was wrong but why did she keep replaying horror movies in her head. She kept wondering if Gloria had been lying and something was wrong. It was odd enough that she called so early, worse that she asked Tito to come over to the hospital. Tito tried to regulate her breathing and push down everything that suggested that something might be wrong. Just minutes back, she had been nursing the fact that maybe she wasn’t under a spell after all, now this? After so much days and weeks spent waiting, believing and hoping, Tito wasn’t sure if she would be able to remain sane if she had to bury yet another person she loved dearly.

Zooming into a parking space in front of the hospital, Tito got out of the car and locked it with her button as she fast paced towards the hospital. She busted into the hospital and instantly spotted Gloria. Every step she took closer to Gloria had her heart pounding in her chest till she could audibly hear the echoes of her fears. Gloria turned and gave her a bright smile. Tito blinked. She couldn’t be smiling so bright if something bad had happened, could she? Taking in a calming breath, she pulled to a stop in front of Gloria. Unceremoniously, she asked. “Dad?”

Gloria smiled; it was probably the most natural smile she had seen on the woman’s face ever since the accident. “He is awake” she declared. “He has been asking of you”

Tito blinked. “You can tell me the truth, you know? I can handle it” Tito insisted.

Gloria smiled at Tito. “I am telling you the truth, Tito, and I have called Laura also, she should be here soon.” It was so understandable to know why Tito was so skeptical, poor girl has had to go through so much in her life. Mark had nearly suffered a relapse earlier but the man was such a fighter, the doctors were still amazed that he had survived such a ghastly accident. “Come, let’s go and see him” Gloria said instead.

Tito walked like a statue beside Gloria. She had been hoping and waiting for this time and her heart pounded in anticipation. As they got to the room which had housed her father for weeks, the door was opened and tears clouded Tito’s eyes as her father’s eyes opened for the first time in weeks and gazed right at her. “Dad” she gasped. A tear drop rolled down her cheek as she rushed towards the bed. She would have thrown herself on him if the nurse hadn’t been quick to remind her of his delicate state. She showered kisses on her dad’s face as tears rolled down her face. She wasn’t the teary type but she just couldn’t stop her tears. It was like something was actually going right for the first time in her life. “Oh, dad… I am so glad you’re alive”

A smile graced Mark’s face and she might have imagined it but it seemed he had tears in his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, Princess”

Tito’s mouth shook and she dashed away the tears that rolled down her cheek. “I was so scared… I was scared I would lose you too”

Mark shook his head slowly and pain flickered through his face as he raised his hand to her face, cradling it softly. A mischievous smile settled on his face. “Not a chance. I still haven’t seen you in your wedding dress.”

Tito laughed and cried almost at the same time. It still felt surreal to know that after weeks of torture and pain, she was finally talking to her father again. “Then, I am glad I am not married yet, you might have disappeared on me” she muttered through tears.

Mark smiled but his eyes were laced with worry, pain and something really close to regret. “I’m sorry baby… I’m sorry I caused you so much pain”

Tito shook her head. “You’re here, dad. That is all that matters” she bent to place a kiss on her father’s cheek.

Mark brushed his padded hand through her hair, wishing he could feel her tresses against the pads of his fingers. “I love you, baby” he whispered.

The door burst open and Tito pulled back just as Laura practically raced towards the bed. She was already in tears as she got to the bed. “Dad, oh dad” she sobbed as she bent beside the bed, cradling Mark’s face in her hand, kissing his face in much the same way Tito had. She seemed incapable of words as she cried, letting her tears do all the talking for her. Tito stepped back and saw Deolu standing all smiles, beside Gloria. Mark couldn’t prevent the tear that rolled out of his steel eye, disappearing into the pillow beneath his head. After all he had done, he could not believe everyone could forgive him. It was more than he deserved, God knows, he would have totally deserved it if everyone decided to abandon him in the hospital. He had hurt them in ways unimaginable just with one stupid act. Laura showered his face with kisses and he didn’t feel bad when her tears dropped on his face. If he didn’t have the strength he needed to stay alive, he just got it.

Laura’s joy knew no bounds. It was like God had chosen this day to turn away her captivities. Wasn’t it enough that she awoke to the wondrous news that she was pregnant? Seeing her dad now, awake, it was like suddenly, all the sufferings of the past few days had actually been worth it. As she spoke with Mark and he made subtle jokes of the accident, Laura had never felt more alive and happy. Then, in the atmosphere of happiness, she publicized the good news. “I’m pregnant” she announced. The jubilation was out of this world. Mark, despite himself seemed like he wanted to leap out of the bed. His eyes danced with happiness as Tito and Gloria went around hugging her and Deolu. Her world suddenly felt complete. But there were still tiny ‘buts’. Margaret was one, and she still hadn’t seen Frank, haven’t had the courage to see him. She was going to have to.

“It’s like I am going to be an aunt again” Tito grinned.

Laura’s smile was from the bottom of her heart as she whispered to Tito. “Go get your man so I can also be an aunt soon” Tito rolled her eye and Laura grinned. They looked at Mark and knew their favorite gossip partner definitely did not miss that exchange.

***** Tito sat outside Chris’ apartment, waiting for him. She did not want to call him; she wanted it to be a surprise. She had spent the entire day at the hospital and on her way to Chris’ apartment; she had actually turned on the music in the car and danced all the way down. She couldn’t wait to tell Chris all that had happened, but not only that, she couldn’t wait to tell him just how she felt about him. Her heart beat in anticipation. She couldn’t wait to end this perfect day in the best way possible.

As she heard someone approaching, she sat up straight. Probably a neighbor, she thought, knowing Chris would arrive with his car. But as the gate opened and the person entered, Tito’s brows drew in a frown as she stared at the familiar figure that approached. Of course, she would know that perfect feminine shape and angelic face anywhere.

Tito pushed up to her feet as the lady came to stand in front of her, sizing her up. Jealous rage bubbled within her as she raised her head. If ‘barbeque’ thought she could intimidate Tito, then, she must be living in fairytale land.

To be continued

 

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