064: A Phone Call Away

As Sophia and Kourtney finished dressing up, they made their way to the dining area, where they were welcomed by the sight and aroma of white rice and fried pepper stew. Joining in on the breakfast, Sophia savored the hot, steamy rice as it went down her throat, bringing a sense of comfort and satisfaction.

Turning to Aliyah, who sat across the table, Sophia inquired, "Have you heard from either husband or Richard?"

Aliyah shook her head gently. "No, I haven't heard anything from John. But don't worry, these things sometimes take time. Maybe something came up that caused a delay," she reassured Sophia. "I'll call John for an update after breakfast as soon as I unplug my phone from charging."

Sophia nodded, grateful for Aliyah's reassurance. "That would be good," she replied, though a hint of unease lingered in her voice.

Aliyah noticed Sophia's concern and turned to her son, Tolu, who sat nearby. "Tolu, can you go and help bring me my phone from my bedroom? I left it charging," she asked him.

Tolu nodded eagerly, a sense of responsibility in his eyes. "Sure, Mom," he replied, standing up immediately to fetch his mother's phone.

As Tolu left to retrieve the phone, Sophia couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety. She hoped for good news about Richard and John's whereabouts, eager to know that they were safe.

Meanwhile, Aliyah watched Tolu's movements with pride, grateful for his helpful nature. She turned back to Sophia, offering a reassuring smile. "They'll be back soon, I'm sure of it," she said confidently, trying to ease Sophia's worry.

Sophia nodded, taking comfort in Aliyah's words. She continued to enjoy her breakfast, hoping that the phone call after the meal would bring the news she was waiting for.

As Tolu returned with Aliyah's phone, he handed it over to her with a smile. "Here you go, Mom," he said cheerfully.

"Thank you, Tolu," Aliyah replied, her expression tense as she took the phone in her hands. She dialed her husband's number, and the phone rang, but there was no answer. She tried again, the tension mounting with each unanswered ring. Finally, the call was declined from the other end, leaving Aliyah visibly shocked and surprised.

The atmosphere at the table grew tense as everyone watched the scene unfold. Aliyah tried calling again, but this time the call didn't even connect. Sophia, unable to contain her concern, spoke up. "What could be happening, Aliyah?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.

Aliyah shook her head, her brow furrowed in concern. "I have no idea," she admitted. "This has never happened before. John has never declined my call, not once in all the years we've been together."

Sophia offered a reassuring smile. "Try again," she suggested. "Maybe it will go through this time."

Aliyah nodded, her hands trembling slightly. "Okay, I'll try again," she said, her voice tinged with fear. She dialed the number once more, but the call still didn't connect.

Tolu, sensing his mother's distress, spoke up. "Don't worry, Mom," he said confidently. "Daddy is stronger than we know. He and Uncle Richard are probably on their way back home right now."

Aliyah managed a weak smile, grateful for her son's optimism. "You're right, Tolu," she said, her voice steadier now. "I'm sure they'll be back soon."

Kourtney, who had been watching the scene unfold with wide eyes, gently tapped her mom, Sophia, her innocent eyes searching for answers.

"What's happening, Mom?" Kourtney asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Sophia smiled reassuringly at her daughter. "Everything's fine, sweetheart. Don't worry," she said, trying to calm Kourtney's fears.

Just then, a sudden vibration caught everyone's attention. It was Aliyah's phone. Aliyah picked it up, her expression tense, and announced that it was an unknown number. She looked at Sophia, seeking advice.

"Should I pick it?" Aliyah asked, uncertainty in her voice.

Sophia hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, go ahead," she replied.

Before Aliyah could answer the call, it dropped. Sophia furrowed her brow, puzzled by the strange occurrence. "What happened?" she asked.

"The call dropped before I could pick it up," Aliyah explained, her frustration evident.

Sophia then asked if Aliyah had any idea who it could have been. Aliyah shook her head. "I have no clue," she replied, her voice tinged with worry.

Aliyah tried calling the number back, but it went straight to voicemail. She tried again and again, but each time, the result was the same. The unknown caller remained elusive.

Frustrated, Aliyah turned to Sophia. "What could be going on?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion.

Sophia pondered for a moment before replying, "Maybe it's just a weird coincidence. The unknown call coming in at this time might not mean anything."

Aliyah nodded, though the unease still lingered in her eyes. "What kind of weird coincidence could that have been?" she wondered aloud.

After breakfast, Sophia found herself in the living room, watching the local news channel on the TV. Her mind couldn't shake off the fact that, even though she hadn't known Richard for a long time, she could tell he wasn't the type to leave without a word, especially without caring if she'd be uneasy about his whereabouts. With her phone gripped in her hands, Sophia dialed Richard's number.

On the first ring, the call got answered, and Richard's voice came through the phone, apologizing for not reaching out earlier. "Sophia, I'm so sorry for the lack of communication. The phone signal here is terrible. We're on our way back to Abeokuta and should be there in an hour or two."

Sophia could hear Mr. Adebayo's voice in the background, "Tell Sophia we're on our way back. Everything went smoothly."

Sophia's heart felt lighter knowing Richard was okay. "Thank goodness! Did you manage to secure the artifact?"

Richard's voice crackled through the phone, "Yes, we have it with us. Can't wait to share the details with you. Sorry, the call might cut off again due to the signal. We'll talk more when we get back."

Before Sophia could respond, the call abruptly disconnected. She sighed, relieved that Richard and Mr. Adebayo were safe and on their way back.