Chapter 3 WHEN REALITY STRIKES

E V E

I ride the waves of hot and cold air hitting me instantaneously, causing me to shiver. It's not the draft of air blowing in through the half - wound down window that's the cause ---- no.

The reason is the heat emanating from Aureliano as he glares at me with hooded brown eyes framed with full, long lashes. Even though he's angry, it doesn't take away the fact that he looks absolutely hot.

"Princess . . . whether you like it or not, I'm coming inside with you."

"But -----”

"No buts!" He cuts in, shooting me a stern look that brooks no argument.

We've been bickering back and forth for the better part of thirty minutes on the last lap of the drive back to Lagos.

I don't want all the drama of him coming inside the house and meeting mum and dad with all the questions that would definitely go with his presence, but Aurey insists on coming in with me and seeing my parents and even being introduced as my boyfriend.

That. . . is where I draw the line.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not ashamed of him. On the contrary, he is a sight to behold, what with his wavy hair, smoky hooded brown eyes that blaze when they're directed at me, a long aristocratic nose, and full brown lips. Don't even let me get started on his tall, lithe form and awesome dress sense.

But heck, I almost got married, and then shortly after that, I waltz off with a stranger for over a week and then I waltz back in with said stranger, and introduce him as my boyfriend. . .

NO! Just no.

I prefer to ease gently into it after a few weeks of him coming around and them getting used to seeing him. Now that's more like it.

I'll concede a bit today though, at least to him coming inside the house.

"Princess . . ." He says warningly, waiting for my response.

Sometimes he treats me like a child that I'm definitely not. At times it angers me, but I'm tired now, and so not ready to argue. My nerves are too tightly wound up for that and we're very close to home anyway.

So, slumping my shoulders in defeat, I nod resignedly. Aureliano smiles briefly, but soon after, it slides off his face as he puts his attention back on the road. I know he has some reservations about meeting mum and dad.

Then why insist so much?

We're both silent for the remaining part of the ride, except for the hum of the engine as it glides smoothly along the road.

Not long after, he stops the car in front of a familiar black gate and I unlatch the seat belt, pick up my bags from the back seat and hop down without another word. I nervously stand in wait for him to park the car and join me.

Seconds later, he joins me and interlaces his fingers with mine. Breathing in deeply, he clutches my fingers tightly and we begin the match towards the heavy brass door that would soon open to reveal. . .

"Eve, my baby!" Someone shouts, or squeals, I'm not quite sure exactly. What I'm very sure about, is, the door hits the wall and bounces back on its hinges as it's flung wide open. With agility that is envious for someone her age, mum bounds down the steps and bulldozes into me, causing me to careen backward, loosening the hold Aurey has on my hand. While she has my neck on a chokehold, I see dad standing against the doorway, smiling fondly at me.

With such a vibrant display, you'd think they haven't seen me in years.

While mum is still fawning over me, I glance to my left to see Aurey standing awkwardly and watching the show. I cough gently to hint mum, but she doesn't take the cue.

Dad would definitely catch on, so I cut him a look and instantly he climbs down the five sets of stairs to where Aurey is standing and scratching the back of his neck and staring at the ground.

He always seems so together and in control, but seeing him now looking so unsure of himself makes my heart melt more for him.

I watch as Dad pats him on the shoulder and shepherds him up the stairs and into the house, so I decide to coerce mum to do the same. She reluctantly let's go of my neck, enabling me breathe easily once more.

An awkward silence descends in the air, once we are all situated in the sitting room. Dejavu hits me hard when I remember Aureliano being in this same sitting room, in the absence of my parents. I reminisce on how he had looked around, checking out the family pictures and moved around familiarly in the kitchen, deftly bringing out foodstuffs from the cabinets, and crowning it all with the exquisite taste of the spaghetti he'd cooked that day.

I think that was the day I began developing feelings for him.

I watch now as dad moves to the bar that's tucked into a corner. He comes back some seconds later, clutching two glasses, half-filled with a yellow-tinged liquid. He hands one to Aurey and sits down opposite him with a genial smile on his face.

Ah! It's talk time.

When Dad breaks out the whiskey, he's usually in a good mood --- an expansive mood, more like, and very ready to talk your ears off.

I groan to myself, contemplating how best to go about cooking up an excuse to allow Aurey free to go on his merry way home when mum beats me to it. "So, young man . . ." She cocks her head sideways, and fixes him with a baleful glare. "Where did you take my daughter to for a good one week?"

There's something off about her tone.

Her brows have almost disappeared under the deep furrows of a heavy frown inching across her forehead and her eyes are glaring daggers at him.

It feels like two people have suddenly begun playing ping pong inside my head. I fist my hands and wait for the explosion I'm sure will come soon if mum continues this line of questioning.

Luckily . . . dad saves the day.

"I expressly gave the young man permission to look after Eve, especially after what almost. . ." He visibly swallows with some difficulty. ". . . transpired." He finishes his statement with a look like he just swallowed a bitter pill.

Mum presses her lips in a firm thin line and says nothing, still, I can feel the strong disapproval oozing out from her, directed at Aureliano.

"Alright!" I stand up. This has gone on long enough. "Dad, mum, it's late and he needs to get going."

"Aren't you going to at least tell me your name?" Dad stands up also, looking disappointed, same time as Aurey does. I see the first real smile on his face since he stepped into the house. That makes me happy.

He glances at me briefly and then looks at dad before replying. "Aureliano, sir." He sounds confident, proud even. That initial telltale nervousness has all but disappeared.

I see a flicker of a frown on Dad's face. Clearly, he wants to ask more, most probably how a black man can bare a Spanish name, but he restrains himself, nods, and thanks him for bringing me back home safe and sound.

Once he says his goodbyes and I'm finally able to escort him outside, I breathe a sigh of relief.

He takes my hands in his and kisses me chastely on the forehead, lingering close to me for a bit, no doubt breathing me in. When he pulls back, there's an indecipherable look on his face.

"I've got to get going, baby. I'll call you tonight. Video call?" He waits for my response. I nod with a smile and he continues, spurred on by this. "Maybe you can give me a show later, you know, wear something sexy and maybe . . . ouch!"

"Aurey, will you behave. You're standing in front of my house and you're talking dirty. Mum and dad could hear you."

He gives me a sheepish grin, pecks me on the cheek, and gets into his car. He guns the engine, puts the car in gear, blows me a kiss, and drives off.

I stand and stare, long after his car has disappeared from my view.

*

"He fucking got away?" My blood boils with anger on hearing the news.

Dad shoots me a warning look but says nothing. I know he'll let my cursing slide this time because I'm angry.

Scratch that, I'm livid.

How could Femi have gotten bail?

A part of me expected it --- anticipated it even. You don't get to have so much money, power, and influence and not use it to your advantage.

I sigh as I ponder on this.

"He reached out to Kingsley the lawyer, to let us know he is ready to pay you for any damages caused." Dad continues.

I bite back the expletives that spring to my tongue. Dad would definitely not appreciate it, this time around.

"Well, at least he's contrite." Mother shrugs indifferently. "Eve, baby, you should just accept what he's offering and move on." She intones, with a bored look on her face.

I stare aghast at her, wondering where that statement came from. Why is she suddenly on Femi's side? It's almost like she is actually happy he has been let off the hook.

Dad glances at her in disgust, rises from the chair, and stalks off.

I make a move to follow suit when mum's voice stalls me in my tracks. "I hope that young man didn't touch you, Eve?"

Oh, mother, you don't even know the half of it.

Feeling rebellious, I turn back around and face her, my lips curling into a smirk as I reply. "Oh mother, if this is your way of asking if your twenty-five-year-old daughters is a virgin, you'd be sorely disappointed."

With that, I turn around once more and move swiftly up the stairs, not minding the gasp I hear escaping her lips.

As I walk up the stairs, something niggles at the back of my mind. Mum's disapproving look directed at Aurey, no doubt, but as I settle down in my room, the feeling doesn't dissipate. If anything, it grows in size and magnitude.

It's not until I'm under the shower washing away the tiredness of the day that it literally hits me.

The look on Aurey's face earlier on as he pulled away from me was one of worry.

Oh shit! I hope Roxy isn't planning something bad.

-@-

S E G U N

I watch from the rearview mirror as her reflection recedes until it completely disappears.

Anxiety blooms wildly in my chest.

Why the fuck do I feel this way?

Like something bad is going to happen?

Like really fucking bad!

I will it away and center my attention on the drive to my place. The roads are crowded this time of the night. Doesn't help that it's a Friday, either.

With a few choice curses were thrown at dumb drivers that think themselves smart and the raising of my middle finger almost a thousand times, I finally arrive home. The lights are blazing in the sitting room.

Who the fuck is here?

Mama?

I park the car in my usual place and switch of the engine but don't come down. I contemplate the situation on the ground for a bit.

Mama would definitely give me the cold shoulder, so how do I go about placating her?

A light bulb flares in my head suddenly.

I'll just be my usual jovial self and make her laugh by cracking a few jokes. So with that thought settled in my mind, I get down and lock the car, moving languidly towards the door with a lazy smile pasted on my face.

As if in readiment for my arrival, the door swings open when I try the handle. A delicious smell hovers in the air. It filters into my nostrils and scintillates my senses, making my mouth water.

Enchiladas?

Mama's making Enchiladas?

My eyes mist up immediately as my chest swells with nostalgia.

As I stand, breathing in the sweet smell in the air and getting more emotional by the second, mama comes out of the kitchen, wearing a kaftan.

"Hijo, you're back." The smile she wears on her face shines with love. How can I stay mad at her with the scent of enchiladas in the air and a smile on her face.

"Enchiladas de Chile Ajo?" I ask enquiringly.

Mama nods, still with a sweet smile on her face that takes me back, almost twenty years.

I close the gap between us and hug her bony frame to my chest. Closing my eyes, I breathe in the earthy spicy smell that I've always associated with her --- the smell of food spices. She's carried this smell around her all these years. I tighten my hold on her and burrow my head in the folds of her kaftan.

"Well, well, well, howdy The King. I love to see good reunions. Looks like the family is complete, once again."

I open my eyes to see Dipo smirking at me.

What in the world is he doing here at this time of the night?

And then Roxy appears from the kitchen quickly followed by . . .

"Good evening, sir." Roxy's daughter curtsies in front of me, eliciting a frown and a grunt from me.

"Well this is dandy and all, but why don't you take this one big happy family elsewhere. . ." I place a hand on my chin, pretending to think. "Like, to your place for instance?" It's my turn to smirk as I address Dipo, raising a brow in question.

"Mama decided we should all come here instead, so she could make her famous enchiladas that I love so much." He beams fondly at her.

I knew I shouldn't have given him a spare key to my place. He obviously opened the door for mama. While that in itself is awesome, seeing Roxy here in my space to reign free rubs me off the wrong way. I've gotta get that key back from him, somehow.

I sigh as I watch mama bending down to talk to Dipo and Roxy's daughter. I should have known mama couldn't resist seeing Dipo. After all, he's like a son to her as well. In the past, I suspected she preferred him to me, what with the fucking goody - two - shoes attitude he always kept up with.

I scowl when I see him tickling his daughter. My eyes graze over Roxy's hand entwined in her daughter's hand and I roll my eyes at this. They paint the picture of a big fucking happy family.

Well go do that on your own turf and spare my eyes from this sappy shit show.

Still holding mama, I turn away from them and guide her to the dining table where plates have been set for everyone. Everyone takes their seat in hushed silence, except Roxy's kid who clearly can't shut the hell up. She keeps bouncing up and down on the chair like an excited elf and chattering non - stop like she's got mouth diarrhea. She's obviously over the moon about seeing both her parents together with her.

Yeah, well, good luck with that.

I'm about opening the dishes 'cause my stomach's been doing belly flops ever since I smelt mama's enchiladas, but she swats my hand aside. I cast her an offending look and huff silently to myself.

She sends me a warning look in return and puts her hands together in a prayer pose.

Oh shit! This is going to take forever.

By the time mama finishes thanking God for all the blessings in her life, I'm almost nodding off to sleep.

"We can now eat." She smiles at everyone at the table and I don't need any further nudge to dig in.

I savour the sweet peppery taste of the enchiladas, with it's meaty, cheesy filling. This is so damn good. Better than I remember it.

With my mouth full, I turn to mama. "Esto es simplemente increíble, mamá, mejor de lo que recuerdo." (This is simply amazing, mama, better than I remember it)

Mama shakes her head and wags her finger at me, but then I capture it in one hand and her eyes soften as I peck her finger lightly.

Small talk gets thrown around, as we eat. Finally, Dipo's daughter shuts up and concentrates on her food. Roxy acts like the doting mother as she tends to her daughter, intermittently wiping her chin and feeding her food from her own plate.

I shake my head in consternation.

Why the fuck does Dipo put up with her foolishness, after all, she did to him?

It's not like he's clueless to her manipulations. He knows what she did --- what we both did to him. Yet, instead of pushing her away, he seems to accept her back with open arms.

I see the way he glances at her from the corner of his eyes when he thinks no one is looking.

Hold up! Is he actually falling for her all over again?

Doesn't he realise he's practically a married man?

I decide to wade into things when Roxy shamelessly puts her hand on his arm to catch his attention and he leans towards her.

"Yo, D! A word." He looks startled as he glances at me. I incline my head towards the kitchen as I wipe my mouth and stand up. He follows suit, reluctantly, I'm sure.

After closing the door of the kitchen, I round upon him. "I fucking hope you remember your black ass is on double lockdown with Eve's best friend and your incoming baby."

He looks at me like I've gone insane. "Is The King finally becoming a man?" He bends his head to the side and smirks. "Bro, I'm not stupid, I'm only putting up a show for my daughter, nothing more. I love Ebere, and that is clearly never going to change. Stacy also knows I've got nothing to do with her mom anymore. She knows we can never get together again. We both sat her down and had a talk with her, and by we, I mean Ebere and me. So calm the fuck down, nigger, I got this."

I heave a sigh of relief and grin at him as he continues speaking. "Listen, bro, I know you don't like seeing Roxy here, but please bear with her for the meantime. You know I can't take her back to my place because of Ebere --- you know she's knocked up, plus her hormones are all over the place." He looks at me pleadingly, until understanding dawns on me.

"The fuck, man. You want her to stay here . . . with me?" I explode.

He chuckles amusingly. "Oh come on now, mama's going to be here too, so it's not like you'd be alone with her."

"But . . . but . . . Eve won't like it." I stutter foolishly.

He throws his head back and laughs riotously. When his laughter peters off into chuckles, he begins to mimic me. "I . . I . . . know that she won't. But . . . but . . . you're just going to have to suck it up and explain to her." He smirks and claps me on the back. "I say about damn time! I never thought I'd see the day you'd care for another female so much. Proud of you, bro."

We hug it out for a bit, but just as we are about to pull apart, the kitchen door opens and Roxy comes in with an apologetic look on her face. "I hope I'm not interrupting you two?"

I feel my forehead knotting up as I stare at her. I honestly can't stand the sight of her. And now I have to camp here in my own house for God knows how long. Spurred on by the sudden anger spike filtering through me, I question her. "What the fuck are you doing here, hmm? Nobody fucking wants you. I sure wonder what you've got hovering over mama's head to make her bring you here. So tell me right now what it is." I begin moving towards her unknowingly.

My hands ball into fists. I keep flexing and unflexing them. Suddenly, I find myself standing directly in front of her. She cocks her head to the side and snakes her tongue out to wet her lips. That's a move I once told her was sexy and got my knickers in a twist, but now it repulses me to see her do it.

With something akin to the speed of light, I grab a hold of her hand and squeeze tightly, but instead of squealing in pain, she moans and licks her lips furtively, once again. "You really want to know why I'm here, Aureliano?" Her words come out in sharp bursts like she's in pain, so I increase the pressure on her hand the more and twist it behind her back, such that her back is up against me. I want her to squirm, just like she made me squirm, all those years ago.

"Tell me and stop your fucking games," I yell. "We're not teenagers anymore and I can't fall for your crap again, so talk, otherwise I'll break your arm into two, regardless of your daughter being in the other room."

She throws her head back against my chest and laughs throatily. I resist the urge to snap her neck into two. "You mean our daughter." My hold on her hand loosens a bit on hearing this. She uses this opportunity to twist out of my grasp and turns round to face me. Her gaze is serious this time around, almost somber as she looks at me. "No, I didn't make a mistake when I said it. She's our daughter, Aureliano. She's actually yours, not Dipo's. You're her real father."