They laughed, entered their
separate cars and drove off. Coker allowed Margret drive off first before he
drove off. As Coker drove off, Mabel’s countenance gradually changed as the
weight of the drama fell on Mabel and she felt tears forming in her eyes. She sniffed
and brought out her hanky to mop the tears in her eyes so they won’t roll down
her cheek.
Coker looked at her from the rear
view mirror and asked, “Mabel are you ok?”
“I am fine,” Mabel
said.
“But you are crying,”
“Don’t worry, I will
get over it.”
“Please do. He
doesn’t own your life.”
“No he doesn’t. I am
just fed up with all the drama. I wish time will speed up and heal the wound
faster.”
“It’s a process
during which you go through all manner of emotions. It will pass.”
“Yea.”
“Just make sure to
stay away from reminders just like what happened today.”
“I wish I had a clue
what the meeting was all about.”
“It’s not your
fault.”
“Wipe those tears
dear,” Coker’s brother said. “You deserve much more than this.”
“Thank you,” Mabel
said.
“Do you need my
hanky?”
“I have mine, don’t
worry.”
Coker
gave his brother a side-eye look and he faced his front.
Mabel
was quiet most of the journey, only replying whenever Coker asked her a
question or his brother made a comment that she just had to respond to. She was
just lost in thought. It was Coker who brought her back to reality when he told
her they had gotten to her house.
“Oh ok,” she said.
Coker
looked at her and shook his head. He drove into the compound and parked well.
“I will wait for you
to get the things you need,” he told her as she alighted. “So I will take you
to your mum’s place.”
“Ok I will not waste
time,” Mabel said.
She
greeted those she saw in the compound without waiting to converse, and then went
upstairs to her apartment.
“That girl is going
through stuff,” Coker’s brother said when she was out of the car.
“A lot,” Coker
agreed. “But she is a strong woman.”
“I wonder how that Segun
of a guy had the heart to leave such a lovely girl like this.”
“I still think Kemi
has something over him.”
“Maybe, or he is not
seeing what I am seeing. A very beautiful girl with the right shape.”
“In addition to
that, she is very homely, efficient in her work place, and doesn’t mess around.
She is just a wife material.”
“So what then is the
matter?”
“She has to sort
things out by herself. We can only do the much we can to help.”
“Maybe I should
apply.”
“As what?”
“As Segun’s
replacement. She needs someone to comfort her.”
“Please let her be.
She is still hurting. The wound in her heart is still fresh.”
“But she needs a
man…”
“She doesn’t. Right
now, she needs God and her family.”
“Kai, I wish I could
help.”
“You might get the chance to do so, with time.
I know you really like her.”
“Bro, since the
first time I saw her.”
They
were quiet as they waited for Mabel.
Mabel
got to her room, washed her face and hurriedly applied light makeup. She
confirmed that everything she needed was packed and ready to be carried,
checked the switches to make sure they were off. Then she locked the door and
went downstairs. She stopped at Mama Risi’s door and knocked. It was her son
who answered the door. He greeted her.
“Thank you,” she
replied. “Where is your mother?”
“She is in the
kitchen,” he replied. “Let me call her.”
“Don’t bother
calling her. Just let her know I have gone to my mum’s place.”
“Ok.”
She
went downstairs. When she was close to the car, she heard Mama Risi calling her
from a window in her apartment. She turned and greeted her.
“Are you leaving?”
Mama Risi asked her.
“Yes,” she replied. “I
will come back tomorrow.”
“OK. My regards to
everyone at home.”
“They will hear.”
Coker
turned on his ignition and reversed the car. When he was done, his brother
opened the back seat door and Mabel entered.
“Thank you,” she
said.
“You are welcome.”
Coker
drove out. When the car was about entering the road, Mabel suddenly started
looking for something inside the bag she was carrying.
“What is it?” Coker
asked as he pulled over.
“I can’t find my
phone,” Mabel replied.
“Where is the purse
you had with you some minutes ago?”
“Oh, I think I
forgot it in my room.”
“Mabel are you sure
you are ok?”
“Yes I am. Let me go
and get it.”
Coker
reversed back into the compound and parked. Mabel opened the car and came out
to go get the purse where her phone was. A wave of dizziness hit her, she
staggered.
“Mabel!” Coker
shouted and rushed out of the car to help her, with his brother following
behind.
“What happened?”
Coker’s brother asked her.
“I don’t know,” she
replied. “I just felt dizzy.”
“And you said you
are fine,” Coker said.
“Don’t bother about
me. It is nothing.”
“You need to let go
from your heart.”
“You are too nice to
carry such emotional loads,” Coker’s brother added.
“I said I am fine.
Don’t worry about me. Let me go get the purse and my phone, then we can leave.”
“I will go with
you,” Coker offered.
“Ok.”
“Please stay with
the car,” Coker said to his brother.
“Ok,” his brother
replied.
Coker
went with Mabel. He made sure to walk close to her in case she felt dizzy
again. Mama Risi looked from her window and saw Mabel coming back in and asked
her if there was any problem.
“I forgot
something,” Mabel replied.
“Ok,” she replied
and closed her curtain.
At the base
of the staircase, Mabel felt a stronger wave of dizziness and fell into Coker’s
waiting arms.
(...to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
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