Grace David: Liberty series; Episode 2

Episode 2

Bang! And her eyes flew open; she was completely disoriented for a whole minute until she was attracted by the fluttering curtains and the raging sound of the wind. It was about to rain again and she had left the French doors open as she always did when she was in the studio painting. She ran to lock the doors before turning to the framed life-sized painting of Jeff. Thankfully it was still intact. She decided to call it a day and turned off the lights before descending the stairs, Uju had left the television on again and who else would turn it off but her. The silence that followed intensified the hollowness in her heart, her eyes scanned the spacious living room that was tastefully furnished and she sighed, a lonely feeling that was all too familiar crept upon her. Jeff was away again, recently even his presence did little to fill the gaping hole in her heart, not that he didn’t try- the hole was just too big for a human to fill.

If only I had children. She thought wryly and shook her head. She had travelled down this road before and had only succeeded in draining herself.

She switched off the lights and made for their room where Jeff’s signature cologne clung to every fabric and everything reminded her of him. If she wasn’t certified sane she had be worried, but why this sudden need to have Jeff all to herself? She had known eight years ago that signing the marriage register meant long lonely nights, but then she had had high hopes of having at least two Jeff juniors running around and keeping her busy. She changed into her nightgown, the one Jeff claims puts him on overdrive and dived under the covers as the first drops of rain hit the roof and the window panes.

“I wish you were here,” she whispered to herself and managed to shut her eyes.

                           ***

The arms wrapped around her waist made her smile even before she opened her eyes; she turned to face her husband and earned a quick kiss. He must have taken the first flight from the Murtala Muhammed airport Lagos and had let himself in with his key just to surprise her. How like Jeff to do the romantic spontaneous things. He was wearing day old stubble and looked weary, but managed to look breathtaking as usual.

“You naughty man, why didn’t you alert me of your arrival?” 

“This look in your eyes is worth all the trouble,” he nestled closer and held her gaze.

“How was the conference?”

He rested his head against the pillow sighing heavily, “powerful, but one whole week of having the spirit energised tires the body,”

“Why not take a bath while I make breakfast, what will you have?” she sat up to look down at him.

“Do you still know how to flip those bad pancakes of yours?”

She laughed, “you’ve only been gone for a week not a lifetime, come on takeoff those rumpled clothes and to the bathroom with you young man,”

She bounced off into the kitchen where Uju was already mopping the floors and boiling water for tea. “Good morning ma,” she greeted curtseying briefly.

“Good morning dear, how was your night”

“Fine ma,”

“Good, Uju the television doesn’t go off by itself,”

The girl looked a little embarrassed and remorseful but by tonight she would repeat the same mistake, she apologized and went to switch off the electric kettle. In a matter of minutes the batter was ready and she was pouring it onto the skillet when Jeff walked into the kitchen his leather slippers making a low slapping sound against the cold marbled floor. He came to wrap his arms around her and she squealed, “Unless you want burnt pancakes young man you better go sit at the table like a good boy,” 

He grumbled playfully and went to sit at the island table where he dipped his hand in the margarine tub; she couldn’t explain his love for margarine.

“Are we not having syrup with it?” He asked.

She turned around, “we ran out of syrup so Uju ran down the street to get it,”

The expression on his face puzzled her as he spoke in a low angry tone, “why is that girl here?”

She stuttered, “To keep me company, after the media unit meeting two nights ago she followed me home,”

“I have warned you to keep her out of my house, you can be her spiritual mother without bringing her into your home, the last time she was here I specifically told you that the vibes I get from her put me off,”

“But that’s not fair, the girl is fine,”

“Fine? Okay fine let her keep coming since you don’t want to listen to me,”

“That’s not it, it’s just that I was so lonely and you are hardly around,” she hadn’t meant to sound so accusatory but the words were out before she could stop them.

“Well, Pastor Mrs. Ojochide Umolaojo you knew what you were getting into when you said I do eight years ago, I am trying, I thought you understood your role, my role,”

She shook her head trying to fight the tears threatening to break free, “not anymore Jeff, I want children, maybe if I had children I wouldn’t be missing you so much when you are gone,”

He was silent for a while as he considered her words before saying coolly, “the batter is getting burnt,”

She swung to action, putting the stove off, she turned to face his retreating back as he left the kitchen.

“Why did you have to say that?” she chided herself as she batted her eyelids repeatedly to stop the tears.

Uju walked in looking harassed and even an insensitive man could tell that she had been privy to the conversation.

“No syrup ma, so I just bought jam instead,”

“We have jam Uju,” she sighed heavily looking away.

TO BE CONTINUED

Post By: Grace David

IG: graycee_David

Facebook: Grace David