Chapter 43 HOW TO BREAK UP A WEDDING

EVE

I watch the dark clouds glide by high up in the sky. Heavy rainfall has given way to a light drizzle. Light thunder rumbles overhead.

I haven't slept a wink all night.

I know a bride is supposed to get her beauty sleep so as to look fresh the morning of her wedding, but I just couldn't get any.

My brain just wouldn't shut down.

As a result, my eyes feel dull and gritty, like sand has been trapped inside them. I feel lifeless -- like an empty carcass.

I drag myself away from the window and sluggishly go take a bath.

What kind of bride am I that doesn't want to luxuriate --- to make herself soft and pliant for her groom?

The unwilling type, that's who I am.

It must be the quickest bath I've ever taken -- under ten minutes. Dawn hasn't yet broken by the time I take a seat at my dressing table and stare with unseeing eyes at my reflection.

This is the same position Ebere meets me when she waltzes into my room some minutes later.

She berates me for sitting around doing nothing, and begins bustling around. She opens my wardrobe and brings out my wedding dress which lays in its clear plastic sheath. She lays it on the bed, all the while talking non-stop. When she see's I'm unresponsive, she comes to where I'm still seated, still staring at nothing.

My mind is blank.

Not blank on-the-sea-shore kind of blank, but zoned-out zombie-blank.

Taking my hands in her's, she talks in soothing tones, but my mind has refused to join my body. It's in another era, probably another life time, cooking up imaginary dreams, while my body remains here, tingling with nerves. It feels like the beginning of the end, like I'm getting ready for my death, not my wedding.

Ebere continues to speak, oblivious of the roiling emotions within me. I'm sure she has an inkling because of the sole fact that I've refused to utter a single word.

My room seems to suddenly come alive as the door opens and Taye comes in, heading the troop of bridesmaids who slept over the night before.

Ebere saw to it that all ten of them, our former university school mates, had gotten to my place and on time to, for the final dressing and rehearsal of the bridal train some days ago. They file in, giggling and jostling each other like high school teenagers. My eyes widen when I notice they're all bedecked in matching silk house coats with the inscription: E marries F!

I'm quite sure this is courtesy of Taye. She probably had them custom made in London.

Their faces are covered with colourful butterfly-shaped masks, and as I watch in rising consternation, she arranges them on my bed in order of height and complexion.

Can you imagine that?

Five light skinned females on the right. Two brown skinned one's in the middle and three dark skinned female's on the left.

Talk about diversity.

I roll my eyes when she beckons on me to join them.

Of course I don't make a move.

Ebere talks to me with her eyes, sending pleading looks to me, while Taye sends me death threat looks. What a contrast.

I give in finally, throwing my hands up in the air as I rise to join them on the bed. At the behest of Taye, each of the bridesmaids twist themselves, posing in unnatural postures.

I'm placed against the headboard of the bed, wrapped in a beautiful white silk nightie Femi bought. He said he wants me to wear it on our wedding night. I say to hell with what he wants. It's all about me. After all, I am the bride.

After being subjected to forced smiles as different pictures are taken by Taye and the fawnings of everyone claiming how beautiful I look, I breath with relief when I'm finally able to go back to my blank state at my dressing table.

Champagne is popped and passed around freely in flute glasses. I watch as it fizzes and bubbles over, spilling some of it's content onto the floor.

Someone puts on an upbeat song, and they all begin to dance. My room is abuzz with laughter and merriment and I just feel like vomiting. After awhile, Ebere shepherds them away to get ready.

The next few minutes are very invasive for me as the hair and makeup people make their presence felt. They tilt my face in different angles while I sit with a stone like facade, wishing I was anywhere but under their ministrations.

By the time my face and hair have been beat and tortured into unnatural looks and styles, I'm almost jumping out of my skin from taut nerves.

Not one word has slipped past my lips, not even when mother comes gushing over how pretty I look, not even when I get into the limousine decorated gaily with large ribbons crisscrossing it, ending in a large bow at the front with a large inscription reading; ABOUT TO BE MARRIED.

What finally cracks my silent veneer is when the car pulls up in front of the church. Anyone passing would see a beautiful bride in her elegant resplendent dress, the epitome of blissful peace.

But I'm a mess -- a quivering mess. And it's beginning to show.

My hands shake uncontrollably as I clutch the bouquet of fresh blood red roses in my hands.

Pain, like a lance, sears into my thumb, making me gasp and drop it, where it rolls onto the floor of the limousine.

I stare in morbid fascination at the blood that's begun to seep from my thumb, pooling in a circular formation around it.

It begins to drip onto my wedding dress. . .

One .

Two . .

Three drops . . .

Perhaps it's an omen; a sign -- a very bad sign.

I grin like a maniac, until hands grasp my thumb, sheathing it in something warm.

"Oh my goodness! Look at your dress. It's stained. How are we going to get it off now?"

I stare into Ebere's eyes, afraid of the anger and scorn I'll see there, but she too is grinning.

And suddenly I begin to laugh, and she joins in. We laugh so hard, tears trickle down our eyes.

Once the excess nervous energy has petered off, we stare somberly at each other.

Me, wondering what life would be like in a few hours time and she . . . well, I really wonder what's going through her mind.

The other bridesmaids are behind us in another limousine, probably wondering what the hold up is all about.

"Look at your make up. It's begun to run." She takes out her hankie and dabs lightly at my face. "There! As right as rain." Her brows furrow as she contemplates something. "I always wondered how right, rain can be." Turning to me, she asks. "Don't you think the British went wrong with that saying?"

I smile, about to break my silence when someone taps on the tinted windows. It winds down with the press of a button from Ebere's fingers.

"What's the hold up for? Taye pops her head in through the window. "Last minute nerves?" She catches sight of the blood on my dress and her eyes widen. "Did you deliberately stain your dress?"

I obviously don't reply her silly question, instead, I stare straight ahead.

Ebere gives her some excuse and her head disappears.

"Ready!?" She turns to me, pressing on the button once again. I watch as it winds up, wondering if life has a button to wipe away all our problems.

I sigh and nod.

Would I ever be ready to marry a man I don't love?

A man I've become suspicious of.

I did as Tomide told me to. I told Femi I was going to see Chioma at kirikiri police station, but he emphatically told me to stay away from her, that he would handle it.

When next I brought it up, he'd waved it away like it wasn't an issue. And so without telling him, I'd gone to see if what Tomide said was true. Lo and behold, I was in shock when the officer on duty told me Chioma had indeed been moved to an undisclosed location.

All efforts to find out where she was, proved abortive.

Even when I offered money to him in exchange for information, he'd simply laughed and told me to go sort out my 'family' issues.

To make matters worse, Tomide told me he thought he saw someone who looked exactly like Chioma when he went to Victoria island.

He'd warned me he wouldn't be attending my wedding if I decided to go ahead with it.

I don't blame him.

"I told the driver to stop earlier. Are you ready?" Ebere turns to me now enquiringly, breaking me off from my thoughts.

I lick my lips that are lined with glossy lipstick and nod.

She smiles and nods also, turns towards the divider that separates us from the driver, taps on it, and the vehicle begins to glide forward and inside the church compound.

Cars have already begun to grace the car park. Flashy choice cars that glint in the noon day light.

No doubt, Femi's friends and associates are already here to see him get married a second time.

As is customary, Ebere comes out of the vehicle first and goes to the other limousine to rally the bridesmaids.

They all come down and stand in a row of five, each, with their bouquets in hand. Once they are arranged, they walk towards the front of the church where the groomsmen are standing, dressed in black pin striped tuxedo's. They look smart and handsome.

Ebere walks back to me and opens the door. She holds out a hand to me with a nod and an encouraging smile, and I take it, sighing once more as I come down.

As she covers my face with my veil, the sound of the organ starts up.

It is a joyful song, but it sounds mournful to my ears.

"Wipe that sad look off your face and smile." Taye whispers into my ear. "The way you lay your bed, so shall you lie on it." And she moves away to join the girls in front.

"Don't listen to whatever she tells you. Do what you think is right. If at anytime you don't feel comfortable in continuing with this wedding, just say so and I'll put a stop to it." Ebere says tersely, appearing in front of me.

I nod, and she moves to my back to hold the train of my veil.

I clutch the bouquet in my hands, careful this time so as not to get pricked a second time. My thumb still throbs from where it was stung. I spy a tiny cloth wrapped round it, courtesy of Ebere and I smile.

What would I have done without her here?

The song suddenly changes to the famous 'Here comes the bride,' and my toes curl in distaste.

The bridesmaids begin walking side by side with the grooms inside the church.

That's my cue to move.

Mammoth butterflies have begun to fly around, upsetting my stomach. But I force myself to put one foot in front of the other, exactly the way the wedding planner had taught me to.

No rush, because it's your day. Her words, not mine.

I stop at the entrance to the church. Inside, it's bursting full with people. They're all standing, facing the alter. A few of them catch sight of me and the stares and whispers begin. Mum peeks her head out from the front pew. She gives me a wave and a smile, but I can't bring myself to return it.

Dad had warned me he wouldn't be giving me out, reason being that I'm getting married to 'please my mother,' not myself.

That's an atom of truth there, dad. But only just an atom.

Dad had warned me earlier

I glance behind me, and stare at Ebere from beneath my veil, and she nods and smiles at me encouragingly.

I can't begin to count the number of encouraging nods and smiles she's given me today.

Concentrating on the floor, I take the first tentative steps inside the church, noticing beautiful coloured petals dotting it.

There's red, peach, cream, white, yellow. . .

Ebere bumps into me and I snatch my head up and continue moving at a faster pace. That's when I catch sight of Femi standing in front of the alter, smiling at me.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen have taken their places at the front seats of the church.

I close my eyes momentarily, steeling my nerves to remain calm as I keep moving forward.

By the time I stand beside him, my breath is already coming out in short bursts. I'm struggling to breath.

Femi holds my hand and smiles at me, and I return it with a tight, forced smile of mine.

We turn at the same time to face the priest and he beams at us in a fatherly way. With his hands raised, he begins the prayers. "We are gathered here today in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit."

Everyone choruses an amen, and the world blurs out of focus.

I'm perched by my window, contemplating the last hours of my spinsterhood status.

From behind me, Taye voices out. "It's him, isn't it?"

I jump in fear, as one hand clutches my chest. "Some warning next time would be nice." I dismiss her and turn around to continue watching the clouds with unseeing eyes. My heart is beginning to settle down after the jumpstart from her.

"I know it's him." She insists.

I turn round to look at her, wondering what she's going on about.

She sighs. Like you'd do with a thickheaded child.

"The young man who introduced himself to me yesterday?" She continues, raising an eyebrow.

I'm still in the dark about who she's talking about.

Then I remember. . .

Batman!

She see's the recognition flitter across my face.

"Aha! Him. Yes, him! He's quite a looker."

When I maintain my silence, she pushes on.

"He's the one, isn't he?" But she's not being sarcastic. She actually sounds sympathetic.

Without even realising, I nod. Short bobs of my head.

"Hmm! And he knows you have a thing for him?"

I raise my shoulders half-heartedly and slump them again.

She begins tapping on her phone, talking to herself in the process. "No, not this." More insistent tapping and flicking of the screen. "No, not this either. Nope! Naa! Woo, definitely not!"

She goes on like this for a few seconds and my patience begins to wear thin.

If I can't sleep, at least I should be left in peace.

"Will you please stop that infernal noise, or go do it somewhere away from my room."

Her eyes flick to mine and then she resumes her tapping. "I'm trying to help you find ways to stop this wedding, seeing as you don't have the balls to do it yourself."

"You did not just say that." I gasp.

Her eyes flick to mine once more and stay on me. "I did and I'm saying it again to your face. "Evelyn Wande Olaitan has no balls to break off her own wedding."

"Do you take Femi Darasimi Durojaiye, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

The priest's voice sounds far off. It filters into my consciousness and I suddenly realise that I'd spaced out.

How many times did he ask that question?

I'm still pondering on his words, when he repeats it again.

"Do you take Femi Darasimi Durojaiye to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

I dart out my tongue and lick my lipsticked lips, stalling for time.

But what can I do?

No one's going to come to my rescue.

I'm all on my own.

In a raspy voice I don't recognise as mine, I whisper. "I do."

The priest gives me a sympathetic look. No doubt he must be used to the theatrics of brides and grooms by now.

He splays his hand out over the congregation. "Before we exchange the rings, I would like to ask this. If there's anyone here present who thinks this couple should not get married for an important reason, please speak up now or forever hold your peace."

A hushed silence descends, exactly the one experienced at the grave side.

I hold my breath and wait, my shoulders tense, silently willing someone --- anyone, to say something, do something.

But the silence stretches on, until the priest turns back to us.

"We shall now exchange the rings."

And my heart sinks.

@

SEGUN

"Oh God please, help!" The traffic has grown monstrous. I'm scared I might not get to the church on time.

I think God must have heard me, because not long after it eases up and I jet off, breaking the driving speed limit.

I speed into the church, pumping the brakes and grimacing as it screeches in protest.

With no more time to spare, I rush into the church, crossing the threshold, just as they are about to exchange rings.

"STOP! This wedding can not go on." I'm panting like it's going out of fashion at this point.

The dash from my car must have burnt about ten calories off me. It's a literal work out.

People turn around in shock, gasping, as hushed whispers begin.

From my perch at the door, I see Eve's parents stand up and turn around but don't make a move, so I continue moving forward before my nerves fail me totally.

The church falls quiet once more as all eyes turn towards me.

I feel like the grim reaper.

Maybe I am, come to wreak havoc on this facade of a wedding that was never meant to be.

Once I get close to Mr. Faseun, I begin to talk, to ventilate - to mouth words that have remained stuck in my throat for quite some time now.

"You told me to back off, because you wanted to make a move on her yourself, so out of respect for you, I decided to stay away. I did it, going against my will and my heart too, because you were like a father figure to me. You brought me from Michigan and took me under your wing, so how could I not listen to you? How could I not trust you would not betray her." I point at Eve.

She looks like she's beholding a ghost. Her eyes are glazed. Her lips are parted, they're covered with a splash of red, making her look more daring. It's not a look I like on her, though.

But her dress --- it was made just for her. She looks wanton and regal at the same time.

I need to make things right. I need to end it all . . .

Right now.

So I push on.

"I asked you if you loved him, but you didn't reply. You couldn't reply. Instead, you chose that moment to slip away, out of my sight, but not out of my mind. That's when I knew I had to fight for you. Please don't marry him, princess." I gauge her reaction. She's silent. Obviously still in shock. It's just as well, because I've not even begun to skim the surface with what I have to tell her — everyone, actually.

I turn towards her fully now. "You're probably wondering why I decided to speak up now. The answer isn't far behind. I guess deep in your heart you've always known it." I pause to collect my thoughts, then I splurge on. "Can't you see? It's because I love you. Yes, aren't no shame in saying it now. I'm telling you to your face. No more hiding. Enough of that!" I say heatedly, shaking my head. "I'll do one better than that, actually. I'll tell the whole damn congregation, now. I LOVE YOU Evelyn Olaitan. I love you so damn much, it hurts me physically." I say the last words in a whisper. Just for her ears only.

The hall has gone deathly quiet, quite like the quiet before an impending storm. But I'm ready. I've got ammunition.

"Don't do this!" Mr. Faseun growls, still standing beside Eve. "Don't do something you'll regret."

I turn back to him. "Regret?" My voice drips with disgust as I look at him. "Oh! You mean I shouldn't divulge all your dirty little secrets? Don't worry, I'll only tell what concerns Eve, here and now." And turning back to Eve, I take a deep breath, and plunge into a cesspool of all things slimy, of things buried --- a cesspool of dirty little secrets. Secrets that would surely rock her world forever.

Only good thing about it is, I will be right by her side to help her get through it. To lend her a shoulder to cry on. Heck, my whole body, too, if need be.

Turning round to the opening of the church, I call out. "PLEASE COME IN NOW!"

And the whispers begin again.

The priest comes down from the alter and walks towards me. "My son, what's the meaning of this? You just interrupted a wedding."

I ignore him and look towards the person gradually coming closer.

The shadow blocks the person's form making it difficult to see who it is, but as she comes closer, her face comes into view.

"CHIOMA!" Eve gasps from behind me.

I turn back to her, my hands open in supplication. "Princess, please relax. It will all make sense soon."

I feel Mr. Faseun tense up behind me and I know I've got him. "You!" He barks at Chioma. "How dare you? You want to betray me as well ?"

Chioma doesn't reply him. Instead she turns to Eve and begins to blurt out everything she'd told me.

"I'm sorry, Eve, it's all my fault. I was jealous of you, because . . ." She glances at me and I nod, encouraging her to continue. "Well, it's no news that I like Segun -- love him actually. Unfortunately, it was not reciprocated." She quickly states. "He chose to show it to you instead. And that annoyed me. So when I visited my uncle here. . ." She points to Mr. Faseun, who visibly blanches. "I expressed my unhappiness about the situation and he said he'd handle it."

"Hold up!" I put up a hand, indicating her to stop talking. "I think you need to start from the very beginning." I feel like a lawyer judging a case.

Perhaps, I'm the judge in this circumstance.

She nods and continues talking. "I first saw you at the club with Segun. I was unhappy about it because I knew he liked you. That meant competition for me. So I told my uncle about it. I'd normally set him up with my friends. He'd tell me he needed a girl for the night, or two or three days and I'd talk to my friends. They'd jump at the prospect of getting a lot of money for such few days in return." She pauses and heavily breathes out. "So when I told him about you and how much you were getting in the way with Segun and I, he said he'd handle it. All he asked were your names, which I got, when Ebere your friend introduced you to Fiku and I at the boutique. My uncle here told me the game plan. He'd get in touch with you and woo you and steer your mind away from Segun, with his . . . money."

Eve gasps beside me and I turn to see her staring in shock at Femi.

From the corner of my eyes, Eve's sister gets up and announces to everyone. "Alright everyone, show's over. Please leave. There won't be a wedding today, at least not between these two." She points at Eve and Mr. Faseun.

People begin mumbling but no one make a move to stand up, obviously displeased they wouldn't continue enjoying the show, so I sigh and join her. "Did you not hear what she said? GET OUT!"

This galvanises them into action, as they scramble up and begin scurrying out of the church.

After a few minutes, the church empties, save for Eve's parents, the priest, Ebere, Taye and yours truly.

Taye had been talking to her parents, who were staring at us in shock, but now, she walks towards us, and stands in front of the priest. She looks at him with raised brows.

"Um. . . yes, family matter, I'll leave you guys alone." He mutters and trots away to a door, where he disappears inside.

I'll wager he probably has an ear fixed to it so he can hear everything we're talking about.

I move close to Eve once more, but don't touch her. She's throwing daggers at Mr. Faseun with her eyes.

I got you, princess. Just a little more piece of information and the cat will be out of the bag.

"Well then, what are you waiting for?" Taye queries, staring defiantly at Chioma.

Chioma visibly swallows, nods like a scared chicken and resumes speaking. "I don't know much of the details of my uncle wooing Eve, but he called me one day and told me he had employed her as a Project Manager to train the staff in his company. I didn't hear anything from him again until two month later when he told me he had successfully stopped Eve's pregnancy from growing. In my confusion, I went to see him and he briefed me on how he set up a fake accident of a small boy ---"

"And how he bashed my car and sent men to assault me on the road side of an abandoned street." Eve finishes in a whisper.

She almost stumbles then, but I hold her. I knew she'd get this way. I fucking knew it.

When Chioma told me, I was livid. It took a lot of pleading from her not to walk up to Mr. fucking Faseun and beat him senseless.

"My arrest was fake. It was all planned. Everything was planned. I. . . I'm so sorry Eve. I will take any punishment you decide to mete out to me. This all started because of me." Chioma begins to cry, heart rendering tears. But I don't feel sorry for her.

This shit show began, all because of her claiming to love me, all because of her deadly jealousy towards Eve.

You just can't force love on someone. If it's meant to be, then it will. If it isn't, you dust yourself off and move the fuck on.

All eyes turn to Mr. Faseun in shock.

He looks like a cornered rat as he keeps fingering the bow tie around his neck. His eyes have grown to almost the size of saucers.

Eve grips my hand tightly as she addresses Mr. Faseun with grave pain in her voice. "Why? Why did you commit such an atrocity? So I was just a play thing to you? A challenge? An object to be conquered?" Her voice becomes shrill at the end and I tighten my hold on her shoulders, a silent reminder that I'm here as support.

"I . . . " He opens and closes his mouth, closely resembling a dying fish.

There's really nothing to be said. There's no excuse for his bad behaviour.

He did it because he felt he could.

Because he felt he could toy with people's feelings.

Because of the power he exudes. Because of his money.

Because of his wealth.

But there's no excuse for bad behaviour. None whatsoever!

"Please. take . me . away . from here. I need . to . get . out . of . here . now." Eve turns to me beseechingly. Her words slow and full of pain.

I nod, already anticipating this. She leans heavily on me as I guide her away from the mess called Mr. Faseun. I stop in front of her parents.

"Please, take care of her." Her father's hand lands on my shoulder, and stays there. "I'm counting on you to look after my daughter."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Eve's mum is still in shock as she grips the edges of the pews tightly, not able to look up.

We walk away and out of the church without looking back.