Chapter 26: CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Later that night, I sat down for a long talk with Laide after the disappearing act she pulled. I knew it was a difficult time for the whole family but she needed to learn how to handle problems with more maturity than that.

She narrated her ordeal, about how she wandered and got stranded in an unfamiliar place without money. She met someone who helped her get home and I was grateful to the person.

“Laide, do you have any idea how worried you made us?” I asked. “Especially mom, you know how bad her health was a few years ago, it would be worse if anything triggers it again.”

“But why would she keep something like that from us?”

“She was waiting for the right time and you know that.”

She sighed.

“Listen, some things are not easy to say. Try to understand that. All we can do now is just help them out whichever way we can and pray that dad recovers while he’s getting medical attention.”

She was silent but her jaw was clenched tightly.

“Never repeat what you did yesterday, I was worried about you. You know all the kind of bad things that happen these days.”

“I wasn’t thinking, I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“It’s alright but you know what you have to do now?”

“Apologise to mom?”

“Exactly.” I nodded.

“I left my phone at home.” She shrugged and looked away.

“You can use mine.”

“Fine.” She sighed.

I didn’t leave until I was sure she made the call to our mother. Later that night, I got out my laptop and booked a flight for Mr Jacobs along with a reservation at the hotel. I couldn’t deny the slight thrill of excitement that I got knowing that I would stay at such a luxurious hotel.

I had never been there but I had heard it was a 4-star hotel and one of the best. I made a mental reminder to speak to a representative from the finance department the following morning to make the payment. But then, I decided to also write it in my work to-do list. I went to check on Laide who was already fast asleep on the couch.

“Come on, get up and go to the bedroom”

She groggily stood and did as I told her to. When she left, I locked the doors and windows before I also went to bed.

I had a rude awakening. My phone rang consistently and I reached out to put it on silent mode when I caught a glimpse of the caller ID. It was Akin. I quickly turned the phone face down but it did not erase the fact that he called me.

I checked the time, it was 2 a. m. Slowly, I raised the phone to face level and saw that I had three missed calls from him already. It must be important. I reluctantly picked up on the fourth call.

“Eniola mi.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear and glanced at the screen to confirm that it was really him.

“Are you alright, Akin?”

“I have never felt better… or more miserable.” His voice dropped down a notch.

“Why did you even call me?”

“I’ve missed you so much.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“I made a mistake, I am so sorry.”

“Why are you rambling nonsense, Akin?”

“I’m not ready to get married…to her.”

My heart thumped at his words.

“W-what is that supposed to mean?”

“I miss you…I miss us.”

“Well it’s a bit too late for us isn’t it?”

“What if… what if I make her get rid of it?”

I gasped and scrambled out of bed as I began to pace the bedroom.

“You will do no such thing, Akin. Just forget about me, trust me when I say I am pretty much over our relationship. You ruined us with your own hands but don’t ruin another woman’s life too. Goodbye.”

I ended the call, put my phone on silent and forced myself to climb back into bed but sleep did not come easily that night.

The day before the trip to Abuja, my suitcase was halfway packed and I had told my family about the business trip I had to accompany my boss on. Laide was with mom and I visited dad two days ago to check on his health.

The doctor’s report still made my heart pang with worry whenever I recalled his words.

“I’m sorry but nothing can be done for him at this stage to recover the damaged liver tissue. It’s beyond repair. However, we can consider a liver transplant and this has to be done as soon as possible in order to save his life.”

The doorbell rang and I checked to see who it was.

"I come bearing small chops," Lara grinned but it dimmed when she got a look at my face. “What’s wrong?”

I told her about the state of dad’s health and the operation that he needed.

“No one in my family has that kind of money, Lara. What am I going to do?”

"Don't worry. I'm sure God will raise help. Um, maybe we can do newspaper adverts?" She perked up.

We both knew we grasped at straws.

"You know he wouldn't want it all over the news."

Neither of my parents would want that.

"Then God will just have to make a way," Lara said firmly.