A SMALL WORLD - SEASON THREE

Copyright © Ufuomaee

EPISODE THREE

Danny had been lost in thought since his lunch date with Oyinda. He was stuck on how he could help him and Temi. Oyinda had really gone too far, and the issue for Danny was that it wasn’t clear that Oyinda was repentant of his actions. He seemed only motivated by jealousy and a desire not to lose rather than real love. But Danny knew that even that was a start. At least there was a will to fight… Maybe that could be worked on, and it could grow.

He sighed as he leaned back on his sofa, resting after the meal of pounded yam and ogbono soup his beautiful wife had whipped up for him. He opened his mouth and let out an unrefined burp.

“Excuse you!” Tolu hissed from the kitchen.

Danny giggled. “It’s a compliment, dear.”

“Hmmm…. Really? I prefer compliments where you get off your butt and do the dishes, and I get to sit and burp!”

Danny laughed out loud. “Leave that for a minute and come and sit with me.”

“I’m coming,” Tolu replied, rinsing off the last dish and putting it away. She came out with the napkin in her hand and dropped it on the dining table before settling on the sofa with her husband. “What is it?”

“I feel stuck on how to counsel a couple that are having problems in their marriage…”

“Hmmm… Do I know them?”

Danny turned to Tolu, wondering if he could disclose Oyinda’s identity. She was his wife and ministry partner after all. But he wasn’t sure if it would make it hard for her to give her sincere counsel. “Maybe… The husband is suspecting his wife of infidelity. Problem is, he hasn’t been faithful himself.”

“Oh, my…” Tolu gave a low chuckle. “Sorry, I know it’s not funny, but… It sounds like karma.”

“You believe in karma?”

“Isn’t “you reap what you sow” an element of karma? I think I do. I know there’s grace, but Jesus did say we ought to do to others what we would have them do to us… Anyway, let me think… Hmmm…”

Danny watched his wife, wondering what she would come up with. She seemed to have a ‘ha-ha’ moment as her eyes lit up and she smiled at him.

“Next weekend, the church is doing a special couples retreat to one resort on the outskirts of Lagos. I was actually hoping we could go for your birthday, but…”

“Oh, wow! That would be good. Do you think I should suggest it to them as well?”

“Yeah, why not? I think they might get a chance to communicate or, at least, learn something that could help their marriage.”

Danny pondered on the idea. “I like it. We could invite a couple of our friends too, like Bolu and Lola, and Oyinda and Temi. It would be a nice birthday weekend for me to have them join us for the retreat. That’s if they are free and interested, of course.”

“Hmmm…” Tolu sighed. “I was hoping to have you all to myself… But I don’t mind sharing you for one weekend. It is your birthday after all.”

“Yeah… Thanks, babe,” Danny smiled. He pulled her to him and kissed her. “It still feels so good to be able to do this to you anytime I want.” Tolu chuckled, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Oh, Danny, I love you so much! It feels so good to be able to say that and not be afraid that I will scare you off,” she laughed. “I’ve waited for you all my life…”

Danny brought her lips to his and sucked them before parting her mouth with his tongue and relishing the kiss. His hands continued the foreplay on her body, preparing her for the time he would take her. Tolu leaned into her husband and groaned hungrily. Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Lord. She chanted.

***

Oyinda got a text from Danny just as he got into his home. It was to invite him and Temi to join him and his wife and Temi’s friends, Lola and Bolu, for a couples retreat organised by Danny’s church. The idea wasn’t pleasing to Oyinda, but he’d responded that he would think about it.

The house was dark when he got in. Temi had stopped waiting up for him months ago. So, he was shocked to enter his room and find her sitting up in bed. It was a bit ominous.

He turned on a couple of the spotlights, which gave the room a dim illumination. “What are you doing sitting up in bed like that?”

“Waiting for you.”

“Oh, really,” he smiled slightly. Was she trying to come on to him?

“Yeah. I brought something I think you should see…” she said, pointing to an envelope on the small dining table in their bedroom.

He strolled over to it and undressed as he went. He picked it up. “What is it?”

She shrugged.

He smiled. Opened it. He pulled out the document, and a couple of things dropped to the ground, making a clink sound on impact. His gaze followed them, and he saw his wife’s wedding band and engagement ring rolling on the ground, one after the other. He turned to her. Were these divorce papers?

She sighed. “I tried, Oyinda. I really did. But I can’t do it anymore. I deserve to be happy. Please just sign them and let’s move on.”

“What?! Where is this coming from?!” he found himself yelling. Was this really happening? She wasn’t even going to try to convince him to change?!

He walked towards her and saw her face, full of tears. This woman was suffering. Had he really pushed her to this…? Or was she really just trying to run away because she was sneaking around too?!

“Who is he?!” he demanded to know.

“What?!” Temi was surprised that he would have an idea. She wondered if she could admit it. But he might just turn around and counter sue. “What are you talking about?!”

“The man you’re sleeping with. The one you are leaving me for!”

Temi laughed. “Really? How sad. Just like you to think that others are doing what you’re doing to them! You think I have been so blind, don’t you? You think you married a moron for a wife, right? Or did you think I was one of those women who would stay? Who would just take your cheating as one of those things that come with marriage?”

“Cheating?! What are you going on about, Temi?”

Temi just looked at him with unbelief. Was he really going to deny it? She swallowed. “Yes, I know you’ve been cheating on me, Oyinda! Don’t try and deny it!”

“I can’t believe this! I work my butt off to provide for you, and this is how you repay me?!”

“Oh, save it! I’m not about the money, and you know it. Oyinda, you promised me more…and that was what I was living for. Well, now I know you’ve got absolutely nothing to offer me but pain. I’ve had enough of it!”

“Temi… I’m sorry…”

“Please, I don’t need that. Just sign and set me free. You don’t want me. And that’s okay. I don’t want you anymore.”

Oyinda watched as Temi lay back in bed and closed her eyes to sleep. Her tears ran and soaked the pillow, but her sobs were silent. “Temi, I’m sorry…”

But she was not listening. She was drifting into sleep, and he watched her breathing change. She was at peace. She was really leaving him without a fight. Oyinda stood up from the bed, tears gathering in his eyes, and wondered if he was ready to put up the fight that was needed to save their marriage.

***

Bolu had also received a text from Danny inviting him to come for the couples retreat, as a way to celebrate his 40th birthday. He thought it was a great idea and said he would check with his wife first and get back to Danny. Lola was excited about the retreat, especially at the fact that Bolu was keen on it too. She prayed that nothing would come up to make him change his mind, as he was prone to do. They really needed to have some alone time, even if it was at an organised couples event.

Bolu and Lola were now in bed together. Lola was reading a romantic book while Bolu lay in bed trying to sleep. He was exhausted after a full day at the office. It was another Saturday that he had worked, but he felt better knowing he would be taking next weekend off to do something with Lola. He sighed.

“Are you okay?” she asked, looking down at him.

“Yes, thanks.” He switched off the lamp by his side of the bed and tried to sleep. Sleep was hard to come by these days.

It had started because he had been afraid of having more dreams of the mystery woman. They had continued for long enough to make him worried. But he hadn’t had any in a while - about a month or so. He prayed that it was finally over. Still, he wondered about the woman. Who was she, and what powers did she have over him? It was one of the reasons he felt the retreat would do him and Lola good. They needed to regain their connection.

***

Lola watched her husband sleeping. He was so close but seemed so far away. Something was the matter with him, but she struggled to place it. He seemed to be battling something, almost seemed like guilt, because he could hardly hold her gaze anymore. Was there someone else?

She’d closed her book about ten minutes ago, lost in thought, because of one of the scenes in her novel. It made her think of her marriage and wonder if they had what it took to survive a similar storm. She loved Bolu very much, and she was sure he loved her too. But her marriage was missing an important ingredient, she thought. She really hoped the retreat would help them discover what it was and go deeper in their marriage.

She closed her eyes and prayed for herself, her husband, her child, her mother-in-law, and her marriage. After her brief prayer time, she switched off her bedside lamp and lay down to sleep.

***

Michael had stayed up, hoping to hear from Temi. She’d said she would tell her husband tonight. She would tell him that she wanted a divorce. But at 11 pm, she still hadn’t called him, and he dared not call her at this time. He assumed that her husband must have returned late or not at all. He didn’t want to think maybe she had changed her mind.

He too had made a decision to request a divorce from Lisa. What they had wasn’t going anywhere. And if Temi was free, he wanted to be free too. And maybe he might want to take a chance on marriage again. He smiled to himself. He wished she would call him.

Just then, his phone rang. He retrieved it from where it lay on his bed. It wasn’t Temi.

“Hey, Lisa… How’s Linda?”

“They said she has cancer!”

“NO!” Michael felt a pain in his heart. She was just a little girl! How could she have cancer?

“Yes… Leukaemia. God, what are we going to do?!”

Michael swallowed. “What treatments are they suggesting?”

“They said she will have chemotherapy and might need a bone marrow transplant if that doesn’t work… She would need a donor. They are starting her on chemo as soon as possible. When are you coming?”

Michael knew when she said it, it wasn’t a question of if but when. He too knew he had to be by his daughter’s side. He might even be able to donate bone marrow to her. “As soon as possible. I’ll set off tomorrow.”

“Okay… Good. Please, don’t delay. I’m so scared…”

“Don’t be, Lisa. She’ll be fine, okay? We’ll pray and do everything we need to do to ensure that she gets better,” he replied. “Can I speak with her?”

“Yeah… She’s here…” Lisa put Linda on the phone.

“Daddy?”

“Hey, baby… How are you?” he croaked. Because he already knew she wasn’t fine.

“I’m in the hospital, what do you think?”

Michael couldn’t help the chuckle. Even with sickness, she still had so much joy and humour. “I’m coming right away, honey. I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay, Daddy. See you soon.”

Michael got off the phone and sobbed. His angel had leukaemia. God, if You are there, please make it go away!!!

To be continued...

Photo credit: www.canva.com

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