BROKEN...OR NOT? - EPISODE 11

BROKEN…OR NOT? – EPISODE 11

EPISODE 11

            *IJEOMA*

I struggled to hold on to the documents that the lawyer handed me and they fell carelessly from my hand. “I…I am sorry.” I said as I tried to lean over and pick the documents, Omololu immediately bent and gathered the documents. He passed the documents to his lawyer and stood behind him.

            “You just have to sign in the necessary places and all is done.” The lawyer said.

I panted heavily as I stared at a silent Omololu. “I…I…I have to sign?”

Omololu stepped in. “Please give us a minute alone.” He said to the Lawyer. The lawyer nodded and walked out. Omololu took a deep breath as he knelt before me. “I…I don’t know what to say.”

“Omololu, you are letting go. You…you told me that you only want to laugh with me in this life, you…you said there was no life without me, do you remember? I…I have that picture we took in the wood? Do you remember?” I said as tears flowed freely down my eyes. “Lolu, I…I don’t want to go on without you, I am sorry.”

He drew closer to me. “Ijeoma…I…I don’t know how we got here, but, my…I.” He took a deep breath and clasped his hand in his head. “I…I don’t want to do this.”

“Then why are you doing it? You are driving me crazy, Omololu!” I screamed. “I can’t let go off you, I am no one without you. I was stupid and I regret everything that happened that night. I felt embarrassed when you showed up and I didn’t know what to do and I am sorry. I was foolish, Omololu. Please forgive me.” I cried.

            He took my hand. “Stop it, Ijeoma…just stop it.”

“Let’s talk about everything. Let’s talk about why I didn’t acknowledge you in my speech, let’s talk about why I never came back. I just wanted more from life, I got so carried away and I am sorry, I want to make amends for everything. Please Lolu, think of everything we’ve shared, think of Tiwa. Think of me, when we were young, hungry, tired and in love, I just want to go back to us.” I cried.

            Omololu swallowed as he tried forcing back tears. “It’s too late.”

            I took his hand. “Omololu, it is never too late. We…we can start over, let’s start over. You, me, Tiwa, let’s start again.”

                        “Olivia is pregnant.”

            My head spun like a carousel as Omololu’s words echoed in my head. “I…err…I…”

                        “I know it sounds…I…I don’t even know what to say, but, I just don’t know what to do right now. I am sorry, Ijeoma.”

            I took a deep breath and wiped my tears. “Where do I sign, Omololu?”

            *OMOLOLU*

            I swallowed hard as I stared at her. Her face was pale and she was now wiping her tears. “I…I…”

                        “You can send the papers over to me in the morning. I am tired, I need to sleep.” She replied as she turned the wheelchair away.

            Tiwa stood before us. “Tiwa…”

                        “What is going on, Dad?” she asked.

            Ijeoma smiled faintly. “Your Dad and I were actually talking.”

“So, who do I get to stay with after the divorce is over?” she asked. “Do I get to live with you on the grounds that my Mom is incapacitated? Is that the agreement? Do I have weekends with her?” she asked, staring at us. I could see the disappointment in her eyes as she stared at us.

            I took a deep breath. “Now is not the time to talk about this, Tiwa. We…we would talk about everything later.”

                        “I don’t want to talk, Dad. I just want to sleep.” She replied and left for her room. Ijeoma drove her wheelchair and followed her.

I crashed into a chair slowly as I watched Tiwa and Ijeoma go upstairs. I couldn’t bear to see Ijeoma sad but I honestly couldn’t do anything. The more I tried to find reasons for her action, memories of that night at the party played in my head.

The door opened and the lawyer walked in. “Omololu, what’s next?”

            “I don’t know.” I replied and walked out.

***

Tiwa scribbled down in her notepad as she listened to some music. She tried to find some peace in the music and air as she relaxed in the garden. She had watched her parents talk about their divorce and it just started to dawn on her that things might have gotten out of hand after all. She cried so hard at night but there was no one to console her as her Mom too was crying all night. Maybe music would cure the pain, maybe Sharon could teach her to dance the pain away too, but she couldn’t go to Sharon, there was no rehearsal today.

Tiwa stared at the gate as it opened and Grandma walked in. She raced down to the gate to meet her grandmother.

            “Tiwa!” she said with a huge smile and then pecked her. “How are you?”

Tiwa’s face gave her the answer. “Grandma, I can’t take it.” She replied as she hugged her tight. “You are God-sent.”

            “Neither can I. Maybe we should just go back to Ibadan.”Margaret suggested with a chuckle. “Let’s go and see your Mom.”

*IJEOMA*

I could read the shock on Tiwa and my mother-in-law’s face as they walked in. They kept staring at themselves and then back at me. “What is it?” I asked with one of my best smiles.

            “I…I thought you would still be in bed.” Tiwa said dumbly.

I stared at my wristwatch and smiled. “This is 9am and even though I have the luxury of working from home, I won’t just sit around here doing nothing.”

            “Mom, are you alright? Is there a problem?” Tiwa asked looking worried.

I smiled as I downed my coffee. “If by that you mean, did yesterday happen? Yes, it did and I fully remember everything. I’ll sign them today, don’t worry. Your Father would be free of me in a couple of hours.” I replied and drove my wheelchair in my mother-in-law’s direction. “I have missed you.” I said with a smile.

            “Going to the lawyer’s?” she asked.

I shook my head in disagreement. “Not yet, I have to see my physiotherapist this morning. Now more than ever, I need to get on my feet.”

            “The right attitude to start a new day.” She replied with a smile. “I’ll be glad to go with you.” She offered.

I smiled faintly. “No, you don’t have to. I want to stop at an old friend’s place.”

            “Friend? Other than Austin?” she quizzed.

I nodded. “Yes. Take care, Mom. I’ll be back later on.” I smiled in Tiwa’s direction. “Don’t worry, I am fine.”

The session with the therapist was swift and I enjoyed trying to stand again. I did fall a number of times, but in my heart I knew I’ll still stand again and that day, I honestly couldn’t wait for it. I drove my wheelchair out of the hospital and approached my car.

            “Ijeoma?”

I turned as Omololu approached me. “What are you doing here?” I asked. “Oh wait, I know, you want me to sign the divorce so bad that you tailed me down here? I’ll sign it, Lolu.”

He swallowed. “I don’t have it here.”

I nodded. “Then I want an hour with you.” He blinked. “We are going to talk about everything we never did and after then, I’ll sign your papers.”

*OMOLOLU*

I carried Ijeoma in my hands as I took her into my new house. “I just bought this place and the stairs won’t be comfortable for you.” I started as I explained why I carried her from the wheelchair. I set her on the chair. “I haven’t moved in here yet, but Olivia and I would be making decisions on when we would.”

            “Are you sure?” she asked.

I stared at her. “What do you mean?”

She wore a cocky smile. “Nothing. Can I have a drink?”

            “This place isn’t set up yet and I can’t get you any drink except water.” I replied as I opened the small fridge that Olivia had put in the house in case of any romantic getaway prior to when we move into the place. I saw a bottle of champagne in the fridge with a red ribbon and I knew it had to be Olivia’s. My conscience judged me as I placed my hand around the bottle, but I didn’t mind, I felt the need to drink with Ijeoma and so I returned to her with the Champagne.

            “Why do I have the feeling that you were trying to get me into this place for a reason?” she asked as I poured her glass. “Do I find it attractive that my soon to be ex is trying to seduce me?”

I swallowed as she ran her eyes through me. “Ijeoma, this won’t work.”

            “What won’t work? The fact that I am trying to get a drink from my husband, oh, soon to be ex-husband?” she asked with a smile.

I shook my head and took a seat. “Don’t play dumb with me and you know quite well what I am referring to. You should have done this that night, I’d have melted.”

            “And you know why I never did?” she asked. I raised an eyebrow. “I couldn’t.” My face was stoned. “I know it doesn’t sound right, but, I didn’t know how to face you when I came over to see you that night.” She continued. “I…I was just lost for the right words and you were in that woman’s place-”

I scoffed. “You said ‘Omololu, I am sorry’ and you walked out.”

She nodded. “Omololu, I am still sorry and I know I have put a lot of things ahead of you ever since I got that job-”

            “Ijeoma, you don’t understand. I wanted you with us, Tiwa was sick, she had her birthday and she wanted her mommy, you sent money to us.” I replied angrily.

She nodded sadly. “I am sorry. My boss won’t let me go.”

            “You chose your boss over us, you chose your career over me, you chose the press and the spotlight that night and even when they asked you, what did you say? It was nothing. You called me nothing.” I replied as I walked over to her. “Do you know how I felt as I left that place? Ridiculous! I roamed the streets of Lagos that night asking how you could ever do that to me.” I yelled. She was already in tears and she bowed her head. “I want you to look at me, you want to talk? Now, we are talking, what if I did that to you? I denied you before the world, would you ever forgive me?”

She was silent.

            “Can you?” I asked.

She remained silent as she sobbed.

I nodded. “I didn’t think so, but, I am so crazy about you that I don’t know what I’ll do without you, I am afraid to lose you.”

            “We don’t have to do this.” She replied. “I had lied to my boss that you were away and in good condition, so, so when you showed up-”

I scoffed. “So you were ashamed when you saw me? Oh…Of course you had to be, I didn’t wear a tux.”

            “I can’t say you are wrong and I don’t know how to defend myself but all I can do is tell you that I am sorry and tell you that I want to be with you all my life.” She replied.

            “Ijeoma-”

She cut in. “I know I was wrong, I know I have made mistakes along the line and I know that I have hurt you and our daughter but I want to make it right, I want it to be you, me and Tiwa. I want us to back together. I want us to be a family again.” She continued in tears.

*IJEOMA*

Omololu clasped his hand in head as he stared at me. “W…What do you want? My life is falling apart and all this is because of you.” He said and turned away from me.

            “I just want you to forgive me.” I replied with my head bowed. “Can you forgive me, Omololu? Can you?”

He remained silent as he leaned against the wall.

            “Omololu, I…I will never be the same without you and I don’t want to go on without you, I don’t want to laugh without you, I don’t want to live without you, I don’t want you to go away.” I continued as I fought back the tears in my eyes.

He walked up to me and took his seat beside me. “I am sorry, Ijeoma. I am sorry we are we got to this.”

            “Is there any way back for us?” I asked as I stared into his eyes.

He blinked and used his fingers to adjust my hair. “I…I….I don’t know.” He said.

I nodded. “I know I deserve everything coming to me, but you don’t deserve what is coming to you. You don’t deserve to be unhappy with another woman, Omololu, there used to be us, no one could come in between us and I would give anything and everything to take us back to that time when we just had to hold our hands and everything was alright. I want us to be friends again, I want us to fight again, I want us to kiss and make up, I want to laugh together, I want you back.” I said.

He stared at me with a smile and took my hand in his. “You have me, Ijeoma.”

I couldn’t take back the smile that formed on my face as Omololu took my hand. “Omololu, are…are we back?”

He smiled. “Can we try?”

The door opened and Olivia walked in. “What is going on here?”

I stared at Olivia as her eyes burned angrily. “Good evening, Dr. Olivia.” I said.

Omololu rose up to meet her. “Olivia, what are you doing here?” he asked.

            “What am I doing in our house?” she asked.

I cleared my throat. “Omololu, can you take me out of here?”

Olivia walked over to me. “We should have a good talk someday, Ijeoma. How about you sign the divorce quickly?”

I smiled faintly and looked around. “I only use fountain pens, have one?”

She stared at me. “I won’t go down without a fight.”

I smiled. “This isn’t a fight, Omololu is mine.” I replied.

            “Lolu?” She asked as she stared at him.

He took a deep breath. “I’ll just take her to her car.”

            “Clearly she needs help, but she won’t be getting it from you.” She replied.

He stared at her. “Olivia, I…I don’t want any argument, let me just…I’ll be right back.”

Omololu lifted me off the chair. “Where is her chair?” She asked.

            “I’ll be back.” He replied and took me to the car outside. “I am sorry about that.” He said as he helped me to my seat in the car.

I smiled. “It’s fine. I know what I am up for.”

            “Are you sure? Olivia is never pissed; I am not being fair to her.” He replied.

I took a deep breath. “I’ll see you later; I have my pen whenever you are ready.”

*OMOLOLU*

            “What was that about, Lolu?” Olivia asked flying at me as soon as I walked in.

I took my seat. “Ijeoma wanted to talk.”

            “And you brought her to our home?  Our home!” she asked.

            “Olivia, I am sorry if I upset you.”

She scoffed. “If! You did. You might as well have taken her into our bedroom.”

            “Don’t be so dramatic, Olivia. And I don’t like how you spoke to her, she might be in a wheelchair but it doesn’t give you the right to disrespect her.”

            “Did you just say your wife?”

I nodded. “She hasn’t signed the papers and that means we are still legally married.”

            “And what about me,who am I to you?”

I blinked as I stared at her. “Olivia, you…”

            “What am I? Your mistress! Your whore! What am I? Am I just carrying your baby?”

I walked up to her. “I am sorry; I didn’t mean to hurt you. I am sorry.” I said as I pulled her close for a hug.

***

Tiwa passed her grandmother a glass of water. “All our scheming have got us nowhere today, Grandma and I are super tired.”

            “Your ideas haven’t been so perfect too.” Margaret replied.

Tiwa smiled. “What if they really get separated? Can I live with you?”

            “This place suits you, I hear you now go to Lord Tanner? I got the video for Magic Time and I loved it.”

Tiwa smiled. “I love being here; I want to see what my family would be like together.”

            “I hope you can see what your Dad and Mom were once like, you’d be proud of it.” Margaret added.

            “Did you always love my mom? I mean, Dad told me that she lived with you for the greater part of her youth.”

Margaret nodded. “Ijeoma has always been my daughter too. She used to be so frail and nothing like the perfection you see now, but beneath that perfect lady is still the frail little girl I once knew, but she grew up. She smiled as she continued. “But what she never lost was her love, she could light up anyone’s life with her love and that’s how she crept into our lives and she could never leave.”

            “Can my Dad forgive those days when we had to go through a lot and she wasn’t there?” Tiwa asked.

Her Grandma was silent.

“I can forgive it, but I know he cried at night and he was always looking at her pictures until he went back to meet Dr Olivia.” Tiwa continued. “I think Dr Olivia is a good woman but I really want my mom, not her.”

            Margaret relaxed in her seat. “In the end, this decision is your fathers’ to take and I hope you know that.”

                        “I do, but, don’t I have a say?” Tiwa asked. “I know he loves her and she loves him, why can’t they just be adults and talk? I mean, adults should talk, right?”

            Margaret laughed as she stared at Tiwa. “I have had enough of you, child. Let’s get something to eat.”

            *IJEOMA*

My driver pulled up in a neighbourhood I hadn’t been too in almost a year. I had been thinking of my discussion with Omololu and I knew that I had to make some things right too, even though I knew I didn’t have to claim total responsibility for it.

My driver opened the door and helped me out of the car. “Thank you.” I said. “Wait for me here, I’ll be back and if I am not, well, that’s it.” I said with a smile and drove my wheelchair on.

My heart pounded as I thought of the words I would say when I arrived at my destination. I stopped at the door and pressed the doorbell. There was no response after the first chime and so I pressed it a second time. I took a deep breath as I heard footsteps approaching the door.

The door creaked open slightly.

            “Hello Sharon.” I said with a smile.

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BROKEN...OR NOT? EPISODE 10

WELCOME BACK!

Here's a bonus episode and the next Episode comes up on Wednesday as usual.

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NOW, EPISODE 10

BROKEN…OR NOT? – EPISODE 10

EPISODE 10

PRESENT DAY

            *IJEOMA*

            Tiwa pushed the door open and I drove my wheel chair out of the hospital. “Do you think I did well?” I asked.

            She stared at me blankly. “The therapy, right?”

            I nodded in agreement. “Yes, did I respond well?”

                        “Yes, you did. But, Mom, what are you going to do about that night?”

            I took a deep breath. “I don’t know and right now, I need you to go for your rehearsals.”

                        “But Mom, the rehearsal isn’t until the next two hours.” She replied.

“I know, but the driver would drop you there before I return home, it’s good for you to start on a positive note.” I protested as I beckoned to the driver who had taken some comfort under a nearby shade.

*OMOLOLU*

Mom slammed the door for the umpteenth time as she walked through the living room to the bedroom without any real purpose; at least, it wasn’t obvious to me. “When are you going to stop pacing, Mom?” I asked as she dropped a magazine and picked up a glass cup.

            “Is there a restriction on how I move around in this house?” she asked.

            “Mom, I know you aren’t exactly thrilled about Olivia’s pregnancy.”

She scoffed. “Thrilled? That’s a long word for how disappointed I am. What are you going to do about it?”

            “Nothing, Mom. I…I will just talk to Ijeoma and we would start the divorce proceedings. I have already set up an appointment with my lawyer, I’ll talk to him by noon.”

She relaxed in her seat. “Is this what you or Olivia wants? You don’t want Ijeoma anymore?”

“Mom, I don’t know. I…I still want to be with Ijeoma, but, I don’t know what to do now, my hands are tied. Olivia is having my baby and I can’t allow my child to be born without a father.”

She nodded. “Of course not, I won’t want that too. But, are you going to be happy with Olivia? This is a family we are talking about, you need to have love in it.”

            “Ijeoma broke my heart even when I thought she loved me, so, does love really matter, Mom?”

She took a deep breath and drank some water.

***

Tiwa sat in the hallway nodding her head to some music as she waited for the start of rehearsals. The studio was empty, rehearsal was an hour away but Ijeoma had forced her down earlier. Sharon approached from the hallway and Tiwa immediately rose to greet her. “Sharon!” she called.

Sharon smiled. “Tiwa Johnson, right?”

            “A…Amazing! How did you remember my name?” Tiwa asked as she joined her.

Sharon shook her head with a smile. “I memorize lines for drama scripts, your name won’t be a problem.”

            “That’s possible, but, you must have thought about me for a while to remember my name.” she replied.

Sharon nodded. “You got me on that one, I actually thought about you. You are a charmer.” She continued as she opened the door to a room. “This is the general room where we have our rehearsals and all, I usually come a bit earlier so that I can take the time to dance.”

Tiwa smiled as she skipped through the room. “You should teach me.”

                        “I am not a dance instructor and I don’t dance for the passion, I dance for pain.”

Tiwa stared at her. “Pain?”   

“To dance the pain away.” Sharon replied as she took off her shoes. “So, tell me about yourself.” Sharon started.

Tiwa cleared her throat. “There is nothing interesting about me, I just want to act. I really love the Lord Tanner Show and I want to go on trips with them too, you know, take part in roles and start being a functional actress too.”

                        “Have you thought about school and what you might have to give up?”

Tiwa nodded. “I am fully aware of the risks.”

Sharon laughed. “Sweetheart, you are not. If you are fully aware of the challenges, you won’t want to jump on the next Lord Tanner bus.”

                        “Why not?” Tiwa asked.

Sharon took her hand. “This is not about Lord Tanner. This is about you. Lord Tanner is the best thing that has happened to our age and generation; it has given me and a teeming population of youths like you the opportunity to showcase their talents. Just look at our last show, ‘Magic Time’, it was a complete sell out and I am dead sure that the next show is set to beat this one, but, my concerns are for you. I left my job to be here and I am proud of it and that is because I am an adult.”

                        “Can’t I merge it with school? I know I don’t school here but I can talk to my parents and make things work.” She replied hopefully.

Sharon took a deep breath. “Rehearsals are in the evening after school, if you can juggle both, you are fine.”

“I will juggle both.” Tiwa replied confidently. Sharon smiled and leaned against the wall as she took her seat on the floor. “You have a very kind heart, any man in love with you is lucky.” Tiwa continued.

Sharon laughed. “Oh Love! Love is just wrong! I…I have been in love all my life and it has gotten me nowhere.” She said. She paused and then stared at Tiwa. “Is it okay that I talk to you about it?”

                        “With all pleasure.” Tiwa replied, beaming with smiles.

Sharon blinked and then pulled out a picture from her wallet. “That’s the man I love. His name is Austin.”

Tiwa swallowed. “My Uncle goes by the name Austin.”

“That’s nice. Anyway, back to my Austin, he really is a sweet guy, but, I…I don’t know, I didn’t know how to accept his best friend, she is a married woman and they were so close and her husband was not near and I didn’t feel comfortable.” She started. She smiled as she pulled out another picture from her wallet. “This is Austin, I and Ijeoma, she is his best friend. She is so pretty, smart and the type of woman any man would fall for, I almost couldn’t blame Austin when he bailed on me for her.” She said.

            Tiwa stared at the picture. “Did they have an affair?”

“He always said that Ijeoma would never go out with him, she was tied or loyal or in love with her husband, we hung out together on a couple of occasions and she honestly seemed like the type of woman who has values and always stood by them, so I think I believe the fact that they were just friends, but you and I know that it is obviously going to be complicated. People don’t stay just friends like that, I guess.”

            Tiwa stared at her. “Do you want him back?”

“I do, if he wants me ever again. He made a choice and walked away from me and I doubt if he regrets that, we haven’t spoken in a while now.” She replied. “What hurts is that I have never been able to move on, my life is just all about Austin, I really wish things were different.”

                        “Is that why you dance?” Tiwa asked.

            She nodded in agreement. “Exactly.”

            The door opened and a man walked in. “You are always here.”

                        “Tiwa, meet Tolu Tanner, he is the Director.” Sharon said. Tiwa rose as they exchanged greetings. “She is Tiwa Johnson, a young enthusiast and I think she’ll do great with our team.”

            Tolu smiled faintly. “Nice to meet you, Tiwa. I’d love to see you during the rehearsals.”

                        “I would do my best.” She replied.

            He nodded with a smile. “Great! See you guys soon.” He replied as he walked out.

*IJEOMA*

            Austin walked into my office. “Your secretary told me you were here, what are you doing here?”

                        “I told Tiwa about that night.” I said as he took his seat.

            He blinked. “Everything?”

                        “I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the rest. She was already in tears when I told her the part that I walked away from him.” I replied.

            He took a deep breath. “What are you going to do?”

                        “I don’t know. I just want to cry about it.”

            He nodded. “Now is not the time to cry, you have got to do something about it. You have to talk to Lolu, try to clear the air.”

                        “It would be hard.” I replied. “We have never been able to talk about it.”

            He adjusted his jacket. “Now is the time to talk about it. You love him, it’s clear he still loves you, what is stopping you?”

                        “What about you? Are you never going to look for Sharon again?” I asked.

                        “Forget about Sharon and I.” he replied and walked out.

           

            *OMOLOLU*

                        “I just got off the phone with my lawyer; he said I can file for divorce and permanent custody of Tiwa on the grounds that Ijeoma is incapacitated.” I said.

            Mom flipped the page of her magazine. “Is that supposed to be music to my ears?”

                        “Mom, Olivia and I are having a family, I can’t abandon her.” I replied.

“Do you love her? Or are you grateful to her?” she asked as she dropped the magazine. “Son, I am not going to influence this decision because a child is involved, but, I don’t want you to be miserable all your life, you have to think about this decision carefully and decide if you are up for it. In the end, it is your call.” She replied.

            I knelt before her. “Mom, I love Ijeoma, but, Olivia has been there for me and I can’t let her down now, especially now that she is carrying my baby.”

                        “Are you willing to sacrifice your love for Ijeoma?”

            I took a deep breath. “I don’t know if Ijeoma is still in love with me, there are a lot of things that still leaves doubt in my heart and we…we can’t get past those things.”

            She kissed my forehead. “It’s your life, Son.”

            ***

Sharon passed Tiwa a can of coke and a pie. “This used to be my ritual with Austin, we would eat Meat pie and have Coke for lunch, he never liked it, but for me, he would have it, and anyway, I think you are an amazing actress.”

                        “Thank you so much for the opportunity.” She replied.

                        “I am positive that you would be on the next tour with us, you did very well in the rehearsal. You are made for the spotlight.”

            Tiwa blushed faintly. “I feel so honoured.”

                        “You should be, you are very dynamic and your style is unique.” Sharon replied sipping her coke. “So, how do we meet your parents to transfer you down here?”

            Tiwa cleared her throat. “My Dad is a very busy man and same with my Mom too, but if you can give me any information, I would be glad to pass it down to them.”

                        “There is really nothing from us; I just want you in Lagos when the next session starts so that you could be part of the Lord Tanner Cast.” Sharon replied.

            Tiwa grinned. “I would be transferring here before September; there is nothing to worry about.”

                        “That’s cool.” Sharon replied.

                        “We never completed our discussion about your Austin and that Ijeoma Martins.” Tiwa started.

Sharon nodded. “Yeah, Tolu Tanner walked in on us then. Well, you know almost everything, Austin prefers to be with his best friend than be with me. I guess I was impulsive in making him decide.”

                        “Have you tried to talk to him?” Tiwa asked. “Because I think the real problem here is that nobody wants to talk!” Tiwa argued.

            Sharon paused as she stared at her. “Excuse me? Where is that coming from?”

            Tiwa gasped. “I am sorry.” She immediately downed the rest of the Coke. “Thank you for the Coke.” She added and hurried away.

            *OMOLOLU*

            I poked my head in with a smile and a flower in hand as I walked into Olivia’s office. “You are not on my patient list” she said with a smile.

            I nodded with a smile. “I know, but, I…I want to make things better between us.”

                        “Really?” she asked.

            I nodded as I passed her the flower. “That’s for you.”

                        “It’s beautiful, thank you.” She replied, admiring the tulips.

                        “That’s not all.” I said as I passed her a bunch of keys.

            She stared at it. “You got me a car?”

                        “I won’t get you a car with a bunch of keys, that’s our new home.”

She screamed and rushed over to me to hug me. “Thank you so much, Lolu. I love you.” She said and leaned over to kiss me. I turned my face for a kiss on the cheek on impulse. “What was that?” she asked looking aghast.

            I swallowed. “I…I am sorry. I…I…”

“-Just save it, Lolu. You don’t really want to be with me. When was the last time you made love to me? You have been giving so much attention to Ijeoma and neglecting me, how fair is that?”

            I took a deep breath. “I am sorry? I…I…”

                        “Just leave.” She said, taking her seat slowly.

                        “I am trying; it is not easy for me.” I replied.

She scoffed. “Really? It was easy for you to be with me before now, ever since you returned here on this custody thing, you have relived everything with her. How am I sure that you haven’t slept with her?” she shouted. “Are you cheating on me with her?”

Heat flushed across my face. “I have to go, you are out of control.” I said as I rose to my feet.

            “Everyone leaves, you can go.”

I swallowed. “I have chosen to be with you, accept it.” I said and walked out.

***                 

                                    “My name is Tiwa Martins.” Tiwa introduced as she got to the security check post.

                        The Security man checked through a book. “She is expecting you. Top floor.”

            Tiwa nodded and hurried into the building. Austin approached her from the elevator. “Ms Martins, what are you doing here?” he asked with a smile.

                        “I came to get my mom.” She replied.

            He smiled. “Where is your ride?”

                        “I took the bus.”

            He nodded. “Of course, your Mom is in a meeting right now, you want to have some lunch with me?”

                        “Are you asking me out?” Tiwa asked grinning.

            Austin chuckled. “You are so full of it, Ijeoma would have my head.”

                        “You won’t even dare.” She replied. “Where are we going?”

                        “It’s a tuck shop just around.” He replied leading the way.

            Austin pushed the door open as they got to the shop. “Meat pie and Coke.” He ordered. “What would you have?”

                        “I have had Coke today.” Tiwa replied with a grin.

            Austin stared at her. “Wipe that grin off your face, I don’t like it.”

                        “Do you have Coke and Meat pie for lunch every day?” she asked.

            He nodded as he took a bite. “Yeah, it’s my favourite.”

                        “Really?” Tiwa asked giggling.

            He nodded. “Yes and why does it sound so funny to you?”

                        “Nothing.”

            He sipped his Coke. “I heard you went to the Lord Tanner rehearsal, did you see Sharon there?”

                        “No. She wasn’t there.” She lied.

            He swallowed. “I just thought you might have the opportunity to meet her one on one, I think she is a nice lady, if she hasn’t changed.”

                        “I see…” Tiwa cooed

            Austin sat up as he stared at her. “Tell me, what do you know?”

                        “Nothing. I…I know absolutely nothing” Tiwa replied.

            He nodded in agreement. “So, what do you think about your Mom’s therapies?”

                        “She was able to move two steps with crutches today, and she rolled her back on that ball quite well. What’s it called anyway?”

            He shrugged. “No idea.”

                        “Do you miss Sharon?” Tiwa asked.

            He paused and smiled. “I miss her. But, she has moved on and so have I.”

                        “Have you moved on?” Tiwa asked.

            He nodded in agreement. “I will move on”

                        “Much better.” Tiwa replied grinning.

            *IJEOMA*

            I turned my chair as Tiwa and Austin walked into the office. “It’s about time you showed up.” I said to Tiwa.

                        “Don’t scold her, I took her to have a pie.” Austin replied.

I nodded as I grabbed my bag. “Did you get the compulsory invite from the Chairman on the couples’ dinner?” I asked. Austin looked blank and from his reaction I could guess he had no idea. “Anyway, I have to be home early, we are leaving now.” I continued.

                        “Are we going to see my Dad?” Tiwa asked.

            I stared at Austin and then back at her. “I don’t know about that, Tiwa. There is a restriction and until we get the court to rescind that decision, I am afraid, nothing can be done.”

            She nodded in agreement. “I know about that, but he once broke the law to be with you.”

                        “I am not jeopardizing his freedom for escapades.”

            Tiwa grinned.

                        “What?” I asked, put off by her grin.

            She smiled. “Nothing, it is just the use of the word ‘escapade’. It…It sounded not you.”

            I scoffed and drove my wheel chair on and she followed with Austin.

            The Chairman approached us as we stepped out of the elevator. “Is this the famous Ms Martins?” he asked, staring at Tiwa.

            I immediately cut in. “She is my daughter.”

“When would we ever get to meet your infamous husband here at the firm?” he asked with a grin. “Anyway, I don’t think it will take long. There is a couples’ dinner for the partners here soon, let’s see who you tag along with.” He said with a cocky smile.

            I swallowed hard as the Chairman walked away in smiles.

                        “He hates you, Mom.” Tiwa said.

I nodded. “I know, but he has no choice but to put up with me till I am ready to squash him into bits.” Austin cleared his throat and I smiled in Tiwa’s direction “I meant till I can manage him.”

                        “Mom, I am not five.” She replied with a smile.

            I smiled back. “Let’s go home.”

            *OMOLOLU*

I wiped the tears welling in my eyes as I stared at Ijeoma’s picture from when we were teenagers. We had taken the picture during one of our excursions in high school. We had inscribed our names and a love symbol in a tree in the wood during a field trip.

Flashback

            “I think we could carve a love shape with a stone.” Ijeoma suggested.

I stared at the stone in her hand. “It won’t do a good job and we would still be struggling with the edges when the trip is over.” I replied.

            “Do you have a better idea?”

I fetched a knife from my backpack. “This is a better idea.”

            “What are you doing with a knife?” she asked, perplexed.

I smiled. “I knew it was a field trip and so I brought it.”

            “Don’t tell me you brought a knife for this purpose?” she asked, smiling.

I pulled out a drawing from my bag and handed it to her.

            “Omololu, you have envisaged this moment.” She said with a smile.

I nodded. “I always wanted to do this, so, shall we?”

            “How do we capture this moment?” she asked.

I smiled wider. “I brought my Mom’s polaroid.”

She started to carve on the tree and I followed suit. When we were done, I set the Polaroid down and we took a picture together.

            “Omololu, can we be together forever?” she asked as we walked back to join the group.

I laughed hard as she spoke so seriously. She then started to laugh too. “Ijeoma, I only want to laugh with you in this life, there is no life without you.”

*IJEOMA*

I stared at a picture of Omololu and I when we were teenagers, we had carved a love symbol and our names on a tree in the wood during a field trip. The picture was old but I still loved it, it gave me the moments of Omololu and I. I replaced the picture into the shelf and I adjusted my neck chain. I had made up my mind to go and see Omololu; I was prepared to fight for what we once had. I threw it away and I had resolved to get the man I love back.

I rode my wheelchair out of my room into the living room. Tiwa was in her room, so she had no idea that I was going on the ‘escapade’. The doorbell chimed as I entered the living room. I drove over to the door and opened it.

            “Omololu…” I said with a smile.

He didn’t smile back. His eyes were red as though he had been crying, he stepped back a little and a man approached from behind him. I stared at the man in a black suit.

            “This is a file for divorce from my client.” The man said as he handed me the envelope.