EPISODE 7
BY NISSI ADEOLA
I sat down in my office fighting an inner battle. My inability to have a child was giving me so much turmoil.
Every time my period skips a day, I buy pregnancy test sticks to test myself personally with the hope that it would turn out positive. The calendar has now become my best friend
and I never passed a day without checking the
calendar. It was like an addiction. I had attended to a patient who was scared about her pregnancy because it was her first and
she had been told that the first issue is always very difficult. I had advised her carefully, assuring her that she would be fine.
She became very calm and enthusiastic, asking me if I had children of my own.
She apparently is not someone who follows
gossips if not; she would not be asking me that. I was flushed with all kinds of emotions but I did my best to hide it while she was there. I told her that I was still expecting and she
was sympathetic saying that she knew I would be a very great mother.
Immediately she left, the tears I had kept at bay came cascading down my face.
I checked the date again and saw that it was not even close to my date.
I had so many baby things given to me as wedding gift over two years ago but they are
all still brand new. I dried my face with a hankie but my spirit was still down.
An idea struck my mind and I was immediately on my feet. My pastor always preached about taking a leap of faith and that is what I am going to do – I am going to decorate my child’s bedroom. I passed on duty to my assistant,
picked my bag and headed home.
I remembered Richard told me he just got
a new assistant and that I was to meet her today for introduction sake but I already felt weak.
I sent a message to Richard, explaining to him that I was a bit down and needed rest, knowing that he would call soon. I entered my car and
zoomed off.
Oyinade arrived home and flung her bag on the sitting room couch, frustrated.
Apart from her initial encounter with Richard
Branson, she had been ignored every other time she came in contact with him. He barely even glanced at her twice, throughout
the day despite her deliberately cunning
approaches.
She had initially thought today would be
splendid but she ended up feeling low and humiliated even though Richard did not do anything physically to warrant her humiliation.
She had called Ronke on her way so she was not surprised when her door flung open with Ronke letting herself in as was her usual habit.
“BRH baby, ki lo n se e? Talk to mummy” Ronke asked immediately she entered, heading straight for the refrigerator to fix herself a
drink.
Oyin hissed and narrated everything to Ronke all over again even though she had done that already on the phone. Ronke drank slowly
while Oyin rattled on. When she did not stop talking and Ronke was already tired of hearing, she screamed until she stopped and was
glaring at her.
“What’s your problem girl?
Did I not tell you I have a plan? Aahhh, I tire for you o” Ronke said exasperated.
Oyin eyed her annoyingly.
“You dey craze. Why you no talk am since u enter?
You dey there dey drink my expensive wine”.
“Just shut up and listen.
When you are through, you would know that you owe me, big time” she paused to sip her drink, deliberately taunting Oyin.
Receiving a stern glare, she smiled and continued, “You would have to put up with Richard’s coldness for a very short period. Before you can carry out any other plan, we need to create conflict between them.
We need to break their trust in eachother”
“OK…” Oyin said impatiently.
Ronke continued.
“So, I made a research today and discovered the perfect tool to use. Belina had an Ex
who is crazy about her. He is still unmarried and I believe he is still in love with Belina.
After searching for a while, I got his facebook
address and after going through most of his status uploads and some other things, I noticed that he still has feelings for her so we
need to get him because he can help us create the discord we need.
There is no love as strong as your first love.
Do you grab?”
Oyin assimilated this for a while and smiled,
appreciating Ronke the more.
“OK, so how do we contact this guy, genius?”
she asked cynically and Ronke smiled, very proud of herself. She brought out a little piece of paper which had a phone number written on it and held it out.
Oyin’s eyes widened in surprise and admiration as she collected the paper;
“You little witch. How did you get this?”
“Very easy. The man actually made his phone number public on facebook, I guess it worked to our advantage” she said grinning.
“But what if he doesn’t accept to do this?” Oyin
asked what had been on her mind since the
launching of the topic.
“Then, we would have to persuade him. A good
amount of money should do the trick but if his male ego won’t accept it, we would give him something no man can refuse.
You know…” she said smiling slightly.
Oyin got the message and smiled openly. “You are evil”.
“We both are. You realize you owe me big time,
right?”
“Of course. I know that you are not free babe, not even to your friend”. Ronke laughed while Oyin dialed the number.
I finally finished the arrangement and decorations and I stood appreciating my efforts. All the toys and decorations
adorning the room created a child-like feeling and aura that would definitely draw children like magnet. When I left the office, I had made
straight for a toy shop. I bought everything my heart fancied. Buying those things brought hope and joy that I would have a child – my child – who would play with them. Even
though I knew that I would not let a room separate me from my child at night, I knew that he or she would grow old enough to own a room like this one.
I had created time to put something on the fire
before Richy arrived because he surely had a lot to do at work being a Monday.
Richard had called immediately he got my
message, asking me thousands of questions and giving loads of instructions like, don’t stress yourself, rest, eat, sleep, etc.
I quickly ran into the kitchen with the fear that
the food was already burning and I got there just in time to take it off the gas.
I was hungry but too tired to eat so I went to the sitting room to wait for Richard. Immediately I hit the couch, sleep enveloped
me.
I woke up some minutes later to the touch
of Richard’s hand. He kissed my forehead softly and smiled.
“How are you sweetheart?” he asked and I smiled faintly, a bit dizzy. He looked at me closely like he was studying a lab specimen
and frowned.
“You look worn out. Did you work up yourself?” he asked.
I looked away and narrated all the events of the day from the time the pregnant lady came into my office to the time I fell asleep on the couch. He looked at me and when I was done, he pulled me into his arms, placing my head on his broad chest.
“You know I love you, don’t you?” he asked softly and I nodded.
“You know God loves us and knows what is best for us, right?” he asked again
and I nodded.
“Then, you have to believe and know that God sees our desire for children.
He has given us children only we cannot see them physically. That we can’t see God does not mean he does not exist but we live by the
assurance and believe that we would see him
someday. The same applies to this; we cannot see our children physically but we are not barren. Don’t lose hope, honey. God tests
married couple in various ways, this is our test, we must pass it. OK love?”
I nodded and held him close. Even in a thousand years – if I am still alive – I would love my Richy.
He kissed me deeply and held my face in his hands. “Can I see the room now?” he asked with a smile and I grinned at the thought of
what his face would look like when he beheld my mastery.
I jumped up and pulled him along like a child would her father. He was flushed when he saw the room.
His eyes rotated from my face to the room and around the room in utter disbelief, probably trying to imagine how I did it.
He pulled me into his arms and kissed me.
“Well, you should be ready to give birth to a whole football team because children would beg God to be sent here if only to touch these things” he said smiling as he lifted me off
the ground into his arms.
“Woah…” I yelled laughing and struggling to leave his arms.
“I am hungry” he said breathlessly.
“Well, there is food in the kitchen”
“The food can wait” he said covering my lips with his.
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