Chapter 39 8

Marry someone else to get over the one you love.

But BEWARE: The heart is a fragile thing. It could break into pieces.

EVE

Hello!

I'd like to re - introduce myself.

I'm 'Future Mrs. Faseun.'

No, it's not a joke.

This is real. As real as the earth is spherical and the sky is blue.

He's caring, supportive and attentive to my needs.

So why not.

But then, why does my heart feel so heavy?

Like sinking sand.

"Are you happy?"

I look down at the ostentatious yellow 100 karat diamond ring sitting snugly on my finger, then my gaze wanders to the three men serenading me with their violins. I take in the food in front of me -- a spread of the finest exotic foreign food starters, enough to feed a town, and I stare at the wide, helium - filled balloons scattered around, with the inscription 'will you marry me,' splayed on them. I see the men in white uniform, idling by, waiting for instructions from us and then I look up into Femi's smiling eyes --- eyes that are crinkled at the corners with lines.

I take in his dark skin, well - groomed white goatee and imagine it's a full shock of dark tightly sprung beards, instead, with full brown lips.

I see eyes --- piercing eyes that are filled with an intensity that hitches the breadth in my chest.

I see his face, one that I'd been seeing frequently in my dreams and I can't help the tears that spring to my eyes.

"Oh my baby. Don't cry! I'm very happy we will soon be married. I can't wait for you to become my wife."

I lift the corners of my lips with some effort, but I'm sure it looks more like a grimace.

Too bad, because that's all I can manage now.

As he rattles on about preparations for the wedding, my mind goes blank, centering on one thing only.

Our baby would have been a year old today. Did you know I secretly named him Wreign?

Did you know I imagined us living together in a modest bungalow -- the three of us?

I also imagined having another child with you, a girl this time. A little cutie that looks just like you.

We would have named her ---

"Eve!"

I blink away the spell of dreams and glance at Femi.

"Yes?"

"I was confirming if you were Catholic, because I know your parents would want you to get married in the Catholic Church, if so."

I nod as confirmation and he continues prattling on.

And I continue my day dreaming.

If the accident that made me barren didn't take place, we would probably have had a football team. You wouldn't have been able to keep your hands off me.

Something niggles at the back of my mind.

Barren.

I groan into my outstretched palms.

Femi needs to know that I can't have more children.

I'm sure he'd want children from me.

Once more, tears fill my eyes and slide down my face in a rush.

"Aww! You're so happy we're getting married aren't you? Cry my dear, cry. It's a good thing to let out all the tension. I will take care of your every need, I promise you."

I stare in horror at him. Once again he's mistaken my tears for those of joy.

It's time to burst his bubble. "I . . . I'm not happy. I'm actually very sad."

The frown that replaces his smiling face cheers me up, but only by a fraction.

There's no way around it. He needs to know, so I surge on. Instead of looking at him, I stare at a mole on the side of his neck.

Was it there before? Never noticed it.

As I speak, I stare at the man that I'd spend the rest of my life with, but my mind has been transported elsewhere.

I try to convince myself that with time I'd learn to have feelings for him.

Who knows, I might even learn to love him.

But. . . you only love once in a lifetime.

Shaking my head, the tears pour profusely from my eyes now, and with a fist stuffed into my mouth, I stifle the scream that threatens to spill from my lips.

Femi is beside me in a jiffy.

"I don't care if you're not able to give birth. As a matter of fact, it's wonderful news. It's like music to my ears." Still kneeling, he takes my hands in his. "I don't want more children. Two are more than enough for me."

Two?

He keeps talking, oblivious to my confusion at his admittance of having two children.

"They aren't children anymore, though. They are full grown male adults. So my dear soon - to - be - wife, I don't want anymore children. I want us to travel the world together in style, fete you with the best of everything. I want to make the world an oyster at your feet. I want to --- will definitely, give you everything."

Yes! His words dry up my tears, alright, but not out of sheer happiness. Quite the opposite, actually.

I'm in absolute horror at his admission of not wanting more children.

What if I wasn't barren?

What if my reproductive organs were working perfectly?

What if?

Would he have broken off his marriage proposal when he found out?

Shaking my head from left to right, I jerk up from the seat, stumbling when I feel the sway of the yacht.

He catches me just in time.

I really should learn not to wear heels on this yacht.

"Wha. . . what if I were able to bear children, what would you have done?"

He holds me close to him and I cringe.

Am I going to feel this way anytime he comes close to me?

What would I do, when he wants to have sex?

Fresh tears threaten to spill from my eyes and I blink them away furiously.

"If that were the case, I'd have still accepted to marry you." Still holding me close, his voice takes on a tender note. "You might think this is far fetched, but I love you."

I suddenly remember Segun's words --- words he threw carelessly at me in the hospital when I was down and out.

I will make this relationship work. I have no option. I will go ahead with this marriage. I will do it, even if I have to die trying.

Yes! The world will see a happy to - be bride.

So help me God!

I steel myself, raise my head and smile tremulously at Femi.

"You asked me earlier on if I was happy. So yes, I'm happy. Very happy. I can't wait to marry you." I even manage to lift a finger to his cheek to pat it awkwardly.

His smile is the brightest I've seen in all the time we've been together.

I even think I see moisture at the corners of his eyes. . . or it might be a trick of the light.

He holds me tightly to his chest and memories of another hard, well - defined chest floods my mind.

The violins start up once again, this time, with a more up - beat tune.

The men in white uniform begin clapping as Femi moves me around deftly to the song.

Even though I've never done a waltz before, I expertly follow his movements. He makes it easy as he twirls me around, dipping me in an arc repeatedly.

Once again, my mind travels down memory lane.

Femi disappears before my eyes and in his place, stands Segun.

He's shirtless. The tattoo on his chest gleams in the dim light.

So do his eyes.

And he can't take them off me.

I watch, mesmerised, as his head dips towards mine. The intensity in his eyes are doing things to my body in ways I can't explain.

His lips find mine and melt way all my defences.

I moan into his lips as his hands find their way down my body, cradling my bum and molding me to him.

A growl escapes his lips, which breaks me out of the spell I was under.

When we break apart, Femi's eyes look glazed.

I can't believe I was under the illusion that he was Segun.

"I. . . I'm sorry I didn't behave like a gentleman just now. It's just, when I'm close to you such as now, it's difficult not to touch you."

I mentally groan and nod, willing a tight smile to spring to my lips.

"It's okay. We are going to be married, anyway."

I manage to disengage myself from his hold and tell him I need to use the ladies.

When I get back, we dance a few more times and continue the conversation about the upcoming wedding, with him doing most of the talking. When the conversation begins to wane, I plead a headache and we finally depart for my place.

I had wanted time to keep the information of the recent change in status to myself --- to have some alone time to make sense of becoming the fiancee of a wealthy man that I'm not in the least bit attracted to . . . but no such luck, because Femi insists on following me inside the house and informing my parents about the new development.

Once he breaks the news to them, dad throws me a sharp look and mum squeals and jumps up from the chair she's reclining on and comes to hug me.

"I'm so happy for you, my sweetheart. Finally! You'll be a married woman, but one with wealth and power."

Oh mother!

She takes a hold of my finger with the huge ring on it and sighs wistfully.

If you like it so much, I can give it to you.

Dad stands up to his full height of six feet and turns to me. "Eve! I'd like a word with you -- alone."

Without looking at Femi, I follow dad into the lounge. He sits on a chair, makes himself somewhat comfortable, and pierces me with a gaze.

Just say it! I know you're dissapointed in me.

Clearing his throat, he begins speaking words that touch my heart to no end. "All my life, I've done nothing but let you be independent and support your wishes. Not just you, but with your siblings as well. I let you all find your path way in life, trusting that you'd all make the right decisions. And none of you, till date has ever let me down." He stands up and comes to where I'm still standing by the door. "Your mother and I named you Eve, because you were so breathtakingly beautiful as a baby and now." He looks at me with a hint of sadness, pride and fatherly love. "You have grown into a beautiful young woman and I'm so proud of you. I couldn't ask for more. But tell me one thing, just this one thing; do you like this man enough to marry him?"

He searches my face earnestly, looking for something.

Oh dad! How can I tell you how I truly feel? You would be heart broken and I don't want you to share in my burden.

"Eve! I am your father. It is my right to share in your pain, it is my place to carry your burden. Don't spare me anything that ails you. I am here to help you."

Dad, ever astute to my unspoken words. Our minds have always worked in synch.

I smile sadly as I feel the sting of tears in my eyes. I look away, blinking in the process. I wouldn't want to alarm him because he'll call off the wedding himself, if he so much as see's a single tear drop from my eyes.

But I need to tell him. I must tell him.

Yes dad, I will unburden my heart to you --- here and now.

As I open my mouth to speak, the door opens and mother bustles in.

"What are you two doing sequestered in here? It's getting late you know, and your fiancée is eagerly waiting to speak to you before he goes home." She comes close to me, tears shining in her eyes. "Look at my baby, all grown up." She throws herself against me, hugging me tightly. After awhile, she releases me with some reluctance, takes my hand with the ring on it, gazes at it longingly and then wipes at her eyes that are shining with wetness. "Come on! Let's go see your fiancée now."

And taking me by the hand, she leads me out of the lounge.

I glance behind me to see dad looking at me keenly.

He knows.

He knows I have some objections against the marriage. But he will reluctantly go with whatever I decide.

Once we get to the sitting room, Femi stands up from the chair with a beaming smile.

When I glance at mum, she mirrors his exact same smile and I'm just over it all.

I decide to go along with a resigned spirit and a heavy heart.

Femi's mouth moves but I hear nothing --- feel nothing, not even when he hugs me.

I'm thankfully numb.

When he leaves, I sag against the wall in relief.

Kicking of my shoes and throwing them in the corner --- something I've never done, at least not when I became an adult --- I begin to walk up the stairs, head bowed, weight of the world on my shoulders.

I'm half way up the stairs when mum's voice halts me in my tracks.

"Where are you going to, sweetie? Come back down, let's discuss your impending marriage. You can't possibly feel sleepy now. Aren't you excited?"

Mother is clearly on a roll. And I'm helpless as to how to stop her.

Resigning myself to my fate, I turn round and begin the torturous walk down the stairs. Each step down puts a brick on my already overburdened heart.

"Leave the girl alone, Evelyn!" Dad's voice cuts through the air like a knife. Sharp. "It's late and she's tired. She needs her rest. Let her go to bed. You can talk to her in the morning."

His voice brooks no nonsense and so do his footsteps. They ricochet against the tiles, petering off as he walks away. The silence is resounding, so is my mother's non existent voice.

I breath a sigh of relief, turn around once more and continue my ascension to my room.

Tired and worn out, I feel for the switch situated near the wall and flick it on. As light floods my room, my heart almost jumps into my mouth when I see Tomide sitting on my bed.

"Wha ---?"

"I heard everything." He gets up and comes to stand directly in front of me. "Are you really going to marry Segun's boss?"

I flinch at his words, but shrug it off and move into my room.

"I really don't need this drama right now Tom. I'm tired and I need to re ---."

"How do you think Segun would feel when he finds out you're getting married to his boss?"

I walk back to the door and close it. I have a feeling I'm going to exchange heated words --- scratch that, I know I'm going to shout and cuss Tom out, right about now.

Once I turn round to look at him, he says four words --- just four words that make the words die in my throat.

"Please, don't marry him."

The raw pain on his face is scary, wierd even, because I don't understand why his feelings are so invested in my current situation.

"But ---"

"I went to Kirikiri police station today to see Chioma. The shocking thing is, she wasn't there. No one wanted to tell me about her whereabouts. Something is fishy, Eve. Something is fishy around Mr. Faseun, your future husband, and I don't like it."

"What do you mean?" My voice comes out in a whisper.

"It means, dear coz, that things aren't what they seem and I aim to get to the bottom of it."

I'd told Femi about the situation with Chioma, but he'd waved it away, saying he would take care of it and I shouldn't bother myself.

I hadn't thought anything about it then, but now with Tomide's recent findings of her not being at Kirikiri, it gives me pause for thought.

I walk to the bed and slump into it. "Are you insinuating he has something to do with it?"

"I don't think, coz, I'm almost certain. Do this tommorow morning. Call Femi, tell him you want to go to Kirikiri police station to see Chioma and hear what he has to tell you. His answer will tell you everything you need to know."

And he walks out, leaving me with an empty hollow feeling.