Chapter 44 ROAD TRIP

SEGUN

Thrill upon thrill runs through me as I hold on tightly to Eve.

I'm excited at such closeness.

I know I shouldn't feel this way right now, but what's a man to do?

I've been deprived of her warmth for far too long.

I know being with me physically is the last thing on her mind, so I force my mind to the task at present.

She's begun to sob now. Silent tears that drip down her face.

I know she's trying to hold it all in. She obviously has a short fuse right now, so if I make further moves to console her, she won't like it. So I let her have her moment.

I know --- okay, I hope she'll talk to me when she's ready. Where we're going is just an hour's journey, maybe more, but I've got fuel in the car and time on my hands.

I hold her like a delicate flower until we get to my car and I open the door and lower her inside, then I secure her with the seat belt. She's very sensitive now. I have to be extra careful.

I notice car park has all but emptied. No more showy, ostentatious looking rides. Only a few are left, prominent amongst which are two limousines, probably used in bringing the bride and bridegrooms.

As I pull away from the church compound, another limousine drives in. This one has the 'just married' tag clearly emboldened on a plaque at the front.

Ha! Good luck with that.

Eve faces away from me, staring at the cars we pass. I'll bet her mind is still dwelling on what just happened in the church. Then I remember I need to give her something. So I clear my throat. "Um. . . Princess?" She doesn't budge. "Eve?" Still nothing. "Baby?" She turns towards me.

Bingo!

"Did you say something?"

Or not!

"Yeah, there's something in the back that's your's."

She frowns, her brows furrowing fiercely. "Mine?"

"Yeah! Go on, check it out."

She twists and tries to turn around, but the seat belt hinders her movement. So I look for a convinient place to park on the side of the road, and turn to her. She's still struggling with the seat belt.

Sorry princess, sometimes it gets jammed.

"May I?" I ask in a hesitant voice.

She pauses and turns slowly to look at me, then nods timidly.

My fingers make quick work of the jammed seat belt. In no time, she's free of its restraints and leans over and picks up a paper bag from the back.

It crinkles noisily as she opens it up. "My clothes? How did you get ----"

"Your sister!" With rising excitement and a sheepish grin plastered onto my face, I continue. "She gave them to me because. . . well, because she believed --- we both believed you would need them as a change of clothes." Plus a whole lot more of your other clothes, too.

All she's able to do is stare at me, mouth agape.

"She's a fiesty one, your sister." I continue. She frowns, so I rush on to ameliorate the situation. "I hope that's okay?"

She gives a little nod. "It's fine." She doesn't bother asking any more questions.

I know a truck load more will come later. And that's fine by me. All she needs to do now is get some rest. I smile to myself as I remember the events that ensued.

I got a call early this morning. It wasn't quite six 'o clock yet. An unknown number flashed across my phone. I was uncertain as to whether to pick or not.

I was glad curiosity won me over. The person on the line introduced herself as Taye, said she was Eve's sister and she wanted us to meet up soon. At first I was confused, thinking it was a trick, but yet again curiosity took over, this time, mingled with intrigue.

When we met up thirty minutes later at my place, my eyes had widened when she handed me a bag of some of Eve's already - packed clothes, saying she trusted me to come up with something to stop the wedding from taking place, seeing as Eve was clearly reluctant in getting married to her intended.

Not only did I have the right information to stop the wedding, I had Eve's sister's trust as well. Thankfully, it had all walked out well.

I start the car now, ready to move on, but Eve clasps my hand loosely and angles her body towards me. "Thank you . . . for . . . everything."

Relief floods through me at her words. I thought she'd be upset.

I nod and give a small smile.

"Where are we going?" She suddenly blurts out with a slight frown on her face, plunging my heart into worry and uncertainty.

I want --- no, I need her to trust me. Actually, I desperately pray she learns to trust me.

"A surprise." I reply, side - eyeing her.

"I don't need anymore surprises. I've had enough to last me a lifetime." She says this in a small dejected voice.

"Princess! I promise you I will never do anything to put you in harm's way. You wanted me to take you away from here, right? Well then, I've decided to take you somewhere for some days. To a place where you can forget about today and every negative thing that's being going on. Please, baby, I need you to trust me."

With bated breath, I wait for her reply.

She nods and settles down further into the seat.

Thank God!

I'm a bundle of excited nerves as I drive onto the intersection, ready to take us out of Lagos. Soon enough she's fast asleep, curled onto her right side like a kitten, almost hugging the door.

I keep glancing at her, intermittently taking my eyes of the road.

My thoughts run riot as I take in her side view. Even in sleep, she looks tired.

What did that bastard do to you?

She stirs and smiles. "Nothing. He didn't do anything. I just couldn't get any sleep last night." She shifts slightly and turns to face me with a tired smile.

I never realised I'd spoken out aloud.

The sky suddenly turns dark, mirroring my feelings.

Soon, the rain would come pouring down and after that, the sun would shine once more.

And that's how it will also be for you too, my love -- for us.

No more dark clouds in your life, just sunshine. I'll make sure of it.

But Mr. Fash did a lot of bad things to her. He conned her and hurt her, both physically and emotionally. I clench my fists on the steering, wishing it were his head, instead.

I'm suddenly scared shitless of the depths of my feelings for her. We still need to have the 'us' talk. I sigh as I try to constrain the burble of excitement growing in the pit of my stomach.

The wind picks up, whining and howling a scary tune. It rattles against the windows, threatening to come in. Luckily, Eve is asleep once again. Soft snores emanate from her slightly parted lips. When we run into a little patch of traffic, I turn towards her.

I run my gaze across her features and down her body, then I sweep my eyes back up to her face again, drinking in her feautures.

My fingers leave the steering and reach out tentatively to touch her cheek. They lightly sketch it, tracing a path way down to her chin. Her nappy curls are twisted tightly in an unnatural style on top of her head. Ouch! That must hurt. Some of her hair is straighted and let loose in twirls, framing the side of her face.

Wanting to continue touching her, I shake my head, deciding against it and settle instead for wrapping my finger around stray hair tendrils, testing their silky texture.

As I wrap them around my fingers, I notice dried tears on her face, caking her powder. I try to scrub it lightly without waking her up, but it does little or nothing. Exasperated, I give up and settle for caressing her cheeks instead.

Traffic eases and I'm forced to let go of her and keep moving us forward.

Anger surges through me once more as I relieve the events of today.

Damn Mr. Fash.

For the umpteenth time, I curse him.

Chioma didn't tell Eve everything. Thankfully.

Good thing too, because she might have been scarred and scared, looking over her shoulder, wondering if she was being followed.

That bastard Faseun set men on her, tailing her every move. Everywhere she went, they moved too.

The only place they didn't enter, was her house.

They even set a tracker on her car. The one he bought for her.

That car has got to go.

They knew when she and her cousin went to see his girlfriend that had almost committed suicide.

When the two of them eventually left the hospital, the men swung into action, bribing their way through to find out what had transpired in the hospital.

They cornered a nurse, who with just ten thousand naira, told the men that Eve was pregnant. Fash put two and two together and decided to stage an accident to get rid of her --- our baby.

He needs to go down, ASAP!

I trust Eve's parents to do the right thing.

Unfortunately. . . not much will come out of it, because as soon as they turn their backs, he would be let out of jail. . .

That is if he'll get in there in the first place.

He has power and tentacles in almost every state of the country. The man could up seat the president if he so chose.

Yes! Seven years in his employ opened my eyes to his works and 'dirty deeds,' as well.

We hit yet another patch of traffic and I glance at Eve. She's still sleeping peacefully. Even in her tired and vulnerable state, she's a beauty, a sight to behold.

She needs to know that I care. That I'll be here as long as she'll have me.

I need Eve in my life. I need her like yesterday.

This feeling is new.

It's also scary as hell.

I honestly have never felt such need for a woman in my entire life, not even when I was with Roxy.

I'm beginning to think she put a hex on me.

As I drive closer to our destination, Eve stirs.

Yes princess, you're a wilting flower right now, but I'm going to get your petals blooming, once more.

Just you wait and see!