The Candle In The Wind – episode 9

The Candle In The Wind

Episode 9

Tony drove in,side the Idile’s compound as if being pursued.

We alighted from the car and ran straight to the front door.

My heart was beating so loudly that it didn’t need a microphone before it would be amplified!

What would greet my eyes when I enter?

Jesus!

We pressed the ring and waited shortly before it was opened to us.

“Good afternoon” Abigail greeted us, a faint smile on her l-ips.

She could still smile?

Even though the smile was faint, I was not expecting that kind of expression from her.

I had expected that she would be wailing or sad or shocked especially from her reaction on the phone the other time.

I checked Tony’s face too and read the same confusion.

We stepped into the sitting room and I saw a big bowl of half-eaten popcorn and a medium bowl of ice-cream on the glassy stool with the cool 3D images from the television- Barbie Series.

So, Abigail could still watch cartoon as she munched popcorn and scooped ice-cream?

Wow!

What then was wrong?

“Where is mummy?” Tony asked and I jolted back to reality and nodded

“She is in the second sitting room. She is with daddy.” She explained, coyly

Daddy?

She saw the question in my face and smiled

“Daddy came in the same minute I called you. It was a coincidence” she explained

“But you said he wasn’t around” I retorted

“That was what mummy and I thought” she said, fumbling with her hands

How could even mummy think that her husband was away while he was around?

Were they that distant from each other?

Huh?!!!

And wait!

Why was Abigail shy?

This was a girl that spoke with me with open mind and all…

why is she being coy and shy and irritatingly slow this afternoon?

I looked at Tony and realized that he was sweating under his nose.

Was he feeling uncomfortable?

Was there something that I didn’t know?

Leaving all that aside, I cleared my throat and faced Tony

“Can we go in,side now?” I asked, twisting my mouth to a side.

Whatever it was that was causing the atmosphere to be this way, I didn’t know but I obviously was not comfortable with it.

Abigail w¡dened her nose

“I think mummy would want only Bro. Tony in,side.” She said and I paused to look at Tony’s face.

What was all this about?

“I think I would want her in,side with me ma!” Tony said, stressing the ‘ma’ with his eyes w¡dened.

Abigail looked somber

What was happening between these two?

Exactly what?

Tony held my right hand with a sense of authority and ownersh¡p and calmly but strongly pulled me with him as we left the sitting room for the other one.

I was more than dazed!

What was he doing?

Why was he behaving like that?

It felt like I was in between two lovers

Were they in a relationsh¡p and then a problem came along the way and he wanted to make her jealous by pulling me?

I started burning in my heart so greatly.

If that was the case, there was hope of reconciliation nah!

If they reconcile, what would be my own hope and portion dear Emmanuel?

As I mo-ned from in,side, the heat in my heart like volcano erupted and burst into my face as my face became bombarded with small balls of sweat.

I snatched my hands from his in anger.

“What is the meaning of all this? Exactly what? Am I meant to be a football passed from one player to the other? Do you even know that I am a grown woman at all? Why are you doing all these?…” I blurted out suddenly

Did I sound jealous?

Did I sound anxious?

Were those questions enough or should I add more?

Why were they toiling with my emotions?

Why, why, why???

I was furious and mad, closing my eyes as I spoke bitterly.

He paused

Then he smiled

“Are you kinda jealous?” he asked with his nose raised, his face clouded in a funny look.

Blood rushed into my face.

“What!” I exclaimed in a husky voice.

He chuckled.

“Don’t worry. I don’t like Abigail like that” he said, smiling.

My heart dropped

I wanted to scre-m loudly and clearly into his face that “Who cares?”

But I do!

I did!

I really did care!

While I was still trying to put words together, he opened the door leading in,side and stepped in.

He looked back and saw me still staring into space.

He smiled and pulled me by my right hand.

I slapped his hand off and hissed silently

Bad boy!
>>>>>

Pastor was seated on the settee when we entered and on a closer look, mummy pastor was asleep on his laps.

She was sleeping peacefully, both of her hands held his knees as if her life depended on that.

I was touched!

In that instant, I forgave the pastor all of the ills I had against him.

He kept on brushing her low cut hair with his hands. He did it with love and care and my heart lept for joy.

This is how it was meant to be!

“Good evening sir” Tony greeted

“Good evening Bro Tony” he replied, smiling broadly

“Good evening sir” I greeted too, genuflecting respectfully

“Hmmm, our bride-to-be!” he exclaimed laughing heartily. I smiled too

I didn’t understand what he meant at all.

I didn’t know if it was just a cliché that adults use or if he meant that my hands have been searched for in my marriage by some men.

I didn’t want my case to be like a young pregnant woman who was being greeted by lots of married woman as being ‘Iya Ibeji’ and because she felt that the people saying it must have meant it from experience and that it must be twins for real, went to the market and bought her things in twos until people told her that it was a costly assumption as it was a norm for most Africans to hype people that way.

I didn’t want any costly assumption and I therefore kept mute.

I was happy that they were looking just cool together.

“Daddy, I feel like taking a shot of both of you together. You look so lovingly godly together”

I didn’t even care if my adjective order was correct. All I wanted was a way of conveying my utmost gratitude for such rom-ntic representation of a beautiful godly home.

Pastor laughed.

Oh how handsome he looked

Enjoyment galore!

“Of course you can my dear daughter” he said and I smiled as I quickly brought out my digital camera.

This was just good for Facebook.

I racked my brain for the umpteenth time for the best title or post that could match the pictures.

After getting some really good shots, I smiled to myself and gave a thumbs up to daddy who laughed out in response.

Tony wore a small smile as he watched on in silence.

>>>>> It Continues still <<<<<<

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