Chapter 50 EYES WIDE OPEN

Warning: This chapter is long, and might give you the feels.

E V E

Nobody says a word.

Nobody moves.

I'm frozen into place as Nathan presses me to his side and refuses to let go. I know he's trying to get a rise out of Aurey, but I'm not able to stop it. It feels like I'm underwater and struggling to breathe.

Aurey stares at us disbelievingly. Scournfully. Shamefaced, I drop my gaze to the floor and stare at a pebble close to my feet.

A dull ache settles in my chest as I realise what he must be thinking . . .

That Nathan and I are an item.

The thought is repugnant to me, so raising my head with the aim of setting the record straight, Nathan opens his mouth and blows everything out of proportion.

"Hello, brother!"

I silently groan but mentally cheer as the imperceptible bonds in my limbs finally loosen. I struggle out of his grip and move away from him, shepherding the children to me.

Taye suddenly begins to cackle, and I hear a gasp from Aurey who spits out words that make me flinch.

"You married him and have kids as well."

He stumbles backwards, almost falling in the process, but catches himself and bends at the waist as if a great pain struck him in his guts.

I know how covetous he used to get, most especially when it had to do with another man being around me, but having the perception that I have kids with Nathan and probably married to him as well is definitely going to break him.

I decide to set the record straight once again, but as I open my mouth, Taye beats me to it with a loud chuckle.

"Him?" She jabs a finger at Nathan and with a vehement shake of her head, lets out a spew of words. "Naah! Nathan got the short end of the stick. The two of them are just friends. If you must know . . ." She points a finger at the children. "They're yours."

Lightening unexpectedly flashes across the sky, illuminating everything in an eerie whiteness. Thunder isn't far behind as it rumbles. The sky darkens imperceptibly as the clouds chase down the first droplets of Autumn rain. It seems we've all been beset with the malady of lethargy because even when the rain begins to fall heavily, no one makes a move.

Probably because the shade over the door covers everyone . . . except for Aurey.

As the rain pounds him mercilessly, he slowly straightens up, and a myriad of expressions flit across his face. Prominent amongst them is shock. It steals across his face like a looming shadow, blocking out every other emotion.

After what seems like eons, he shakes his head as if clearing it of invisible cobwebs, swipes a hand across his now wet face, and looks up at Taye. "Please, don't tell me things you think I'd like to hear. I don't think I'll be able to take it."

This time, Kehinde answers him. "Oh stop with the melodrama. The children are yours, okay, now you can rejoice."

I'm actually taken aback when Nathan lends his voice to Kehinde's. "Yeah, Segun, you're a lucky father of two lovely children." He mumbles something under his breath, steps out from under the shade, and walks off into the rain, his steps slow and burdened.

I can feel the disappointment oozing off him in waves and I feel sad. I know he wishes he was Tay and Kay's dad. He'd even talked about adopting them but I always shut down the idea.

I swing my eyes back to Aurey, shocked when his knees buckle and hit the ground. Rivulets of rainwater stream down his face and into his eyes. His shoulders shake with a force that is scary in its extremity.

"I have . . . children?"

His shocked unbelief tears a rent in my heart and I feel moisture sting the corners of my eyes as I gaze at him.

"Why? H...how? W...when?" He shakes his head, clearly befuddled.

Kehinde huffs and crosses her arms in front of her, and Kay whimpers furtively as he tugs at my dress. This instantly breaks the spell Aurey had been weaving around me. I immediately stoop to his level, noting how red his eyes are, a clear indication he's been rubbing them. I scoop him into my arms and rise, cooing into his ears and trying my best to soothe his frazzled nerves. I know he wants to sleep but won't do so unless I sing to him. I settle for bouncing him on my lap instead.

Taye sighs and moves to where Aurey is still kneeling on the wet ground looking confused. "Please, get up." She takes him by the hand and hefts him up and he allows it. "I think we all need to come inside." Even though she's informing everyone, her eyes are on me, silently pleading.

I nod and lift Tay into my arms as well, groaning with the effort of carrying two sizeable children. She was already falling asleep on her feet.

Taye moves towards me to relieve me of my burden by taking Kay, but Aurey stops her. "Please! Let me, if it's okay by you." He looks to me for assurance and I can clearly see the desperate plea for me to say yes in his eyes, so I sigh resignedly and nod.

He lifts Kay easily into his arms and takes Tay from me as well, and walks into the house. I expect him to ask where their rooms are, but he just heads towards the archways that lead to the bedrooms.

Exhaustion steals into my limbs as I walk to the sitting room and slump into an armchair. I close my eyes, wishing today was like every other day; drama-free. I sigh and open them only to see identical faces staring down at me with varying expressions pasted on them.

One looks amused while the other is plain angry.

They're both waiting for me to say something, so I square my shoulders and face Taye.

"You shouldn't have told him about the twins being his."

It's easier to point fingers at someone other than at yourself. Unfortunately, I forget that three other fingers point right back at one in the process.

Taye cocks her head to the side and trains her gaze on me. "I shouldn't have done that?"She gives me a look that screams of unbelief and shakes her head as she continues speaking. "Segun is their father, and even if you don't want anything more to do with him - which I know isn't possible - at least don't deprive your children of their father's love."

"I disagree!" Kehinde's voice snakes out coldly.

I wince as her voice takes on a waspish tone.

When I was younger, I would always confuse her and Taye, never being able to tell them apart, most especially when they were together. But when Kehinde opened her mouth to speak, then I knew who was who. Her voice has always had a high-pitched tone to it, but now, it's taking up a more shrill quality.

I know she's mad at me for allowing Aurey inside the house, but I just couldn't see him suffering. He'd looked so sad when Nathan had held me to him and truth be told, I wanted to move away from his hold but I was still in shock on seeing Aurey at my doorstep.

"That man . . . " Kehinde jabs her finger in the direction of the bedroom where Aurey took the kids. ". . . is just your baby daddy, nothing more. He takes negative energy with him everywhere he goes. I need you to remember that, so don't get it into your head to start having feelings for him all over again."

Ah! But they never stopped.

I shift awkwardly on the chair, about to reply her when Taye beats me to it.

"Cut it out, Kehinde, whether any of us likes it or not, they're forever bound by virtue of the kids they have together. No one can take that away from him, not even you." She sighs and her voice becomes softer as she moves closer to her disgruntled twin. "Just look at how Kay took to h---"

"Kay?! Is that his name?" Aurey appears looking happier than when he first arrived at my doorstep.

His jacket has been removed. He probably left it in the children's room. His broad shoulders are on display and the sleeves of his shirt have been rolled up. Hair peeks out from his forearms and I follow the trail as it disappears inside the seams of his shirt. I know where it leads to. I've traced those same hairy lines with my mouth countless times to forget.

I become hot and bothered as memories flood my mind. Memories of our brief, but blissful time together.

"My son's name is Kay?" He asks again with more intensity, this time.

"Yes! It's short for Kehinde." I proffer, shaking my head to clear it of wayward thoughts, and stand.

Coffee!

That's what I need right now.

I practically high-tail it to the kitchen when his voice stops me in my tracks.

"Can I join you?" There's a silent plea in his voice. It sails across to where I'm standing and gets embedded in my heart dislodging the ice surrounding it. Before I'm able to say anything, Kehinde replies him in a voice that brooks no argument.

"No, you can't. My sister and I would like to talk to you."

I breathe a sigh of relief and continue with determined steps towards the kitchen.

I honestly can't deal with his questions or judgment right now.

The warmth of the kitchen enshrouds me like a welcome cloak as I step into it. The smell of Taye's savoury egusi soup hangs thick in the air. I remember licking my plate dry and exclaiming how different, yet delicious it tasted, because she had burnt some of it. It was an excellent blend of bitter-sweet.

I just never prepared myself for the after smell it would elicit.

The acrid smell rides on the air from the thin draft of air coming from the sitting room and sails into my nostrils, tickling it, a reminder for me to leave the windows open if I don't want the rest of the house to get affected by the smell.

The green tiny pinpoint of light from the microwave has grown into an incandescent glow in the dimness, casting its light on the coffee maker sitting opposite it in the corner - one of Nathan's many gifts.

He knows.

He knows nothing can come of his gifts nor his stifling attention, yet he continues to shower me with both. When he saw he was getting nowhere with them, he turned his attention to the children but even that backfired.

Try as he might, the children persist in calling him 'unc,' which is short for uncle. Whenever he is addressed as such, his lips would set in a disapproving straight line and he'd immediately withdraw into his shell.

I know I probably wouldn't be alive if not for him, but try as I can, my heart and body still belong to someone else. That someone is in the other room, presently being grilled by my sisters.

I try to quell the racing thoughts spilling like hot larva into my mind and centre my attention on what I'm doing, but too late - scalding coffee spills all over my hand, eliciting a scream from me likened to the crescendo of an orchestra.

Hurried steps approach as I cradle my injured arm to my chest. I try not to whimper when someone takes it in theirs, but the pain once more catches me by surprise.

Something cool gets smeared all over it and the haze of pain stops immediately.

"Is that better?"

I was so focused on my pain I didn't realise Aurey was the one applying a paste on my hand. I glance at his hand, only to see a green plant with short thorns on either side. Thick gelatinous juice oozes from where it has been cut open. I recognise it as one of the potted plants in the sitting room.

He sees me staring in confusion at it and decides to explain.

"It's an Aloe Vera plant. Its juice is very potent because it heals wounds and scars." He hesitates a bit before speaking in a low voice. "My mother taught me." He avoids my eyes as he shuffles on his feet and continues speaking in a low tone. "It should be fine as long as you don't cover it." He notices my hand is still in his, so he gently drops it onto the tabletop and moves back.

"Hmm hmm! Are you okay, Eve?" Kehinde stands a few feet away, worry etched all over her face. She doesn't wait for me to reply, she surges ahead. "Barely has he come back and you're already having accidents." She throws daggers at Aurey with her eyes.

"It was entirely my fault, K, I wasn't paying attention." My voice tethers on the edge of exasperation. She needs to stop giving him a hard time. No one but me has that right.

"I know that, but you were obviously thinking of him." She raises her forefinger in the air. "Be prepared, because if you allow him back into your life, this is just a little example of the bad tidings that'll befall you all because of this gu--"

"That's enough, Kehinde." This time I let the anger flow as I push away from the table and move to stand in front of her. "Look, I understand you want to protect me, but there's a definite thin line between protection and witch-hunting."

When I'm done, I'm left breathing hard.

Her mouth falls open as unbelief tattoos itself all over her face. Her mouth closes and then opens again, as if ready to say something, instead anger settles on her face like a venomous mask. She turns on her heels but then stops as if an afterthought struck her, then turns round to look at me and a pitiful look steals into her eyes. Finally, she hisses, turns around, and stalks off.

The heavy bang of the sitting room door seconds later shakes the very fabric of the house.

"You finally put her in her place." Taye materialises at the door, smiling like a proud mother bird witnessing the first flight of her chick. "I know she's my twin and I love her, but sometimes she can be unbearable and a bit overbearing." A grimace ghosts over her face as she comes fully into the kitchen.

"Segun, you and Eve need to sit and talk about the white elephant in the room - the two years you two were away from each other must have been hard for the both of you. Tay and Kay have unfortunately woken up and it has stopped raining, so I'll be taking them to the park. How does one hour sound?"

"Thanks, sis." I move close to her and give her a peck on the cheek.

She smiles at me, pats Aurey on the back, and leaves the kitchen.

As we stare at each other, I hear Taye talking to Tay and Kay gaily. She's always been good with children. Unfortunately for her, the child she was supposed to have by the surrogate was stillborn. It broke her heart, but with the birth of my twins, her joy came alive once more and even though it's shameful to say, she has become more of a mother to them than me.

"Tay and Kay?" Aurey speaks out, startling me.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

"Tay and Kay. . . " The words roll off his tongue like he's tasting them. Suddenly he smiles. "Cool names."

"They're short for Taiwo and Kehinde." With my arm held to my chest, I walk to the sitting room, expecting him to follow, but he doesn't. It's just as well because I need to quell my suddenly racing heart.

Half a minute passes and then I hear his slow and measured steps on the vinyl-covered floor. Eventually, he comes into view holding a tray. Once he gets close, he puts down a teacup on the table from which thin wisps of steam emit upwards in a long trail, and then flashes me a smile. That's when I see tiny crow's feet scattered around the corners of his eyes.

He looks tired and wan.

I take my time to study his face as he busies himself putting another steaming cup of coffee beside mine.

Even before he settles himself in a seat opposite me, the words flow out of my mouth raw and unhinged. "Why are you here?"

I knew all those years ago, that dating Aurey wouldn't be a walk in the park. The man is a conundrum of contradictions. The Aurey I used to know was brash and aggressive, yet jocular and spontaneous with large bursts of energy, but the man seated before me now seems to be a different person altogether.

It seems his spirit has been exchanged somewhat. Now he seems calmer and introspective.

I trace his face with my eyes, picking up on things I initially missed. Not a shadow of a beard remains on his face. This makes him look younger yet older at the same time. The gold stud earring that used to grace his left ear is absent. Suffice it to say, he's a totally different person from two years ago.

I'm left wondering how things would have panned out if he had this same temperament and look when we were dating.

I watch as he picks up the teacup and saucer and bends his head to take a large gulp. I know it's scalding hot, yet he doesn't so much as wince.

To keep my thoughts at bay, I pick mine up and mirror his actions, my eyes still on his face.

Suddenly he lifts his head and I'm taken aback at what I see. His face has a pinched expression and his eyes - they're red and brimming with tears.

"Why?" His question to my question startles me. "Why, Eve? Why disappear without a trace, why make me think you're dead? Why make me suffer?

His voice isn't just etched with pain. It's laden with despair.

"I looked for you everywhere. I just couldn't believe all this while you were here, pregnant with Tay and Kay. With my children - our children. . . . and . . . you didn't even reach out to me." The teacup begins to rattle in the saucer and I notice tremors in his hands. His knuckles are tightly wound around the stem of the truth of his eacup.

With a great effort, he places them back on the table. Willing to get himself under control, he swipes a hand across his eyes and after a few seconds, continues in a calmer but more quiet voice. "Did you ever plan on telling me about my children?"

His eyes seem to drill holes in my face as he stares at me searchingly.

Suddenly I see what changed him.

My absence.

It broke him just like a broken bone realigning and mending. It would never be the same as it was before. It would take up a different shape and strength.

Its clear as crystal.

I changed him.

That's all well and good, but how do I deal with the pain and torture I went through in the hands of a man I almost got married to? Where on Earth do I even begin to tell the story of a man who was ready to ruin my life before he even set eyes on me, all because he had plans to make more money?

How do I tell Aurey that his father was the reason for all those detestable things and so much more?

How do I even go about telling him that before he showed up at my doorstep today, I never wanted to get in touch with him again?

"I . . ." but the words refuse to flow.

"No!" He puts up a hand, stilling my half-hearted attempts at a reply. "I already know the answer. You don't need to pity me with a lie when the truth is obviously staring me so rashly in the face." He shakes his head and drops his gaze to the ground.

Anger races though me, lightning-fast. It leaves scorch marks wherever it threads, galvanising me to my feet.

"That woe begotten expression on your face with tears clinging to your lashes, the trembling in your hands, and the stooped lines of your shoulders were all me only a few months ago. I was a wreck, Aureliano - a nervous wreck all because of your wretched father."

He lifts his head up immediately and I can clearly see shock splattered all over his face as his mouth falls open wonderingly.

I jab my finger at him. "Your father kidnapped me. He tortured me for a good one month. He was going to trade me into prostitution. I would have been a goner had it not been for Nathan - the same Nathan who you despise so much - He rescued me from that hellhole, and whether you like it or not, he's the reason Tay and Kay are alive today, so excuse me if I'm not jumping with excitement on seeing you."

Hot fierce tears pool in my eyes but instead of swiping at them, I let them flow. Spasms rack my whole frame as I try to keep the detestable memories at bay, but they're on a mission to cripple me.

The first drizzle of tears fall onto my cheeks as my knees hit the floor.

From the haze of pain, I feel hands encircling me, encompassing me in a way I remember and replacing the bitter memories with good ones.

Through the veil of tears, I look into sad brown eyes. They carry the same despair my soul feels. I lift my hands and cradle his face and in a quiet, but broken voice, I address him. "Do you see now, Aurey. Do you see why I stayed away all this time?"

He says nothing except to hold me, his shoulders quaking with unrepressed tears. Suddenly we gaze into each other's eyes and just like a magnet attracting metal, our heads move towards each other until our mouths are mere inches away.

This is Aurey, the man I fell in love with. The father of my children. My forever soul mate.

I close the distance between us first.

I don't know what I expected, but the taste of copper, salt, and water comingled isn't part of it. Ignoring them, I deepen the kiss as my fingers embed themselves inside his shirt.

Suddenly, I taste desperation.

It rises up from us and hovers above until it becomes a living breathing entity, until we can't take it anymore.

Our clothes suddenly seem stifling and cloying, so we divest ourselves of them hurriedly, our heavy breaths mingling.

Whatever spirit possessed us, it doesn't seem like it's stopping anytime soon.

Pleasurable moans escape my lips as Aurey's hands rove over my body.

I remember this feeling. The feeling of his hands on me. The feeling of being thoroughly sated by him.

From the cloud of pleasure, a voice calls out to me.

It reeks of incredulity and unbelief.

"Mummy!"

And I freeze . . .

I'm scared. Scared to see the inevitable truth standing not far off from me.

Aurey scrambles to cover me with his body but it's of no use.

I'm sure they've seen me starkers and in the arms of a man they just met today.

I lift my eyes and Tay and Kay are already being ushered to their room by Taye.

I never meant for this to happen.

I never meant for Aurey to waltz back into my life and turn it upside down once again.

In silence, we dress hurriedly. Once I've put on the last vestiges of my clothes, I utter words I should have spoken the moment I saw him standing at the door.

"You need to leave now."