Chapter 30: Chapter 30

"Home sweet home", Fola inhaled the air as the plastic rim of her wheelchair moved swiftly past the door post.

She was happy to be home after 5 weeks of her stay in the hospital.

Her father drove them home in Femi's car and he dropped Mrs. Balogun and her son at their home in Malali before going over to theirs.

Fola dozed all the way home and there was complete silence as Mrs. Obed glared at her husband when he wanted to start a conversation with her.

Immediately they got home, Mrs. Obed went into Fola's room and brought out her mattress to lay it in the sitting room.

She laid it down beside the television and helped Fola up from the wheelchair to the bed.

"I know you are exhausted and sleepy but you need to eat something first and take your drugs before you sleep. It's noon already and you only took tea as breakfast", she told her daughter.

"Alright mum. Be fast about it", she said with a tone of authority.

"Yes ma", her mother replied chuckling as she ignored her husband and went into the kitchen to prepare something for her daughter.

Fola was laying down with her back to the floor while her father was sitted silently on the couch beside her.

"Fola don't sleep o", he told her, smiling.

Fola opened her eyes and answered, "You want to support your wife abi? Alright I won't."

"Fola, I'm sorry for all I did to you. I feel I am responsible for all that happened and your mother feels the same", her father apologised, changing the topic.

"Come on dad, I believe it is God's doing. It's okay."

"I'm truly sorry. I was blinded by the desire to see you succeed. I wanted to give you the best. I never knew my friend was a sheep in human clothing."

"I was told he was responsible for the kidnap."

"Yes", he responded.

"It's okay dad. Despite all that happened, I still love and respect you. I understand that you did all of that for me."

"Am I forgiven?", he asked again with doubt.

"Of course", Fola answered with a sheepish smile.

"What about your mother? Will you help me talk to her? She doesn't believe that I love her", he stated.

"Do you?", Fola inquired with a sly smile.

"Of course I do love her. She is the queen of my heart", he answered unconsciously.

Fola shrieked in laughter at his statement.

"Fola why are you laughing?", he asked, feeling embarrassed.

She kept a straight face and stared at him. "Me? I did not laugh o."

"You were laughing Fola, don't deny it."

At that, Fola couldn't hold it in any longer and she bursted into another round of laughter. Her father laughed too.

"Dad", she called when she laughed to her fill.

"Mum loves you......"

"I love her too", he interrupted with a frown on his face.

"....And she knows you love her too", Fola smirked.

"No she doesn't."

"She does. There was a day I told her you don't love her and she took your side. She said you do but you just don't know how to express it."

"Really? She really said that?", Fola nodded.

"Unbelievable. I want you to help me beg her to forgive me. She is requesting for a divorce. I never knew my actions were hurting the people I love the most. I thought I was doing the right thing."

"Dad, your wife is a rare gem. She understands you and even your silence. She's just mad at you, that's why she is acting that way. Just give her time, she will come around."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I am or perhaps you should do something to win her back."

"Something like........."

"Fola, food is ready", Mrs. Obed interrupted, coming into the sitting room with a plate of indomie and a cup of tea.

"I had to prepare indomie and egg because I was scared you will fall asleep if I take too much time in the kitchen. Oya omo mi, dide nile ko jeun(my daughter sit upright and eat)", she said helping her daughter up.

"Should I feed you?", her father asked as Mrs. Obed dropped the plate of indomie and egg in front of her daughter.

"Really dad? My hands are working perfectly well."

"You are rude just like your mother", he stated with humour.

Fola chuckled.

"What is that supposed to mean?", Mrs. Obed questioned, feigning annoyance.

"Nothing dear wife", Mr. Obed said with a grin.

"Yeye man", she cursed and sat near her daughter.

"Daddy, how about the money you collected from your friend", Fola asked with mouthful.

"It's still in my account. I didn't touch it. He stopped sending it even before you were done with your second year. I guess he figured you were not taking the money from me even though he never asked me."

"How much is it?", she mumbled

"#850,000."

"Wao, that's a lot. You should use it to start up a business", she told her father and continued eating.

"No", Mr. Obed and his wife chorused in disagreement.

They stared at each other and Mrs. Obed quickly looked away.

"Surprised, Fola asked: "Why?"

"Let's give it out to charity", her mother said.

"Do we even have enough to give to charity? Just use the money dad. He gave it to us, it's not as if we forced it out of him", Fola insisted.

"I insist we give it out to charity", Mrs. Obed uttered in a loud voice.

"What do you say dad?", Fola ignored her mother.

"I don't think your idea is a good one", her father remarked.

"So you want to support your wife abi? It's okay", Fola said as she finished off her food.

She sipped the tea and used it to take her drugs. Then she gulped down the remaining content and belched.

She laid back down on the bed and closed her eyes with one of her hands placed at the back of her head.

Her parents were silently watching her as she fell into a deep and peaceful slumber almost immediately.

********************

A WEEK LATER

"Rachel took us to the old man's house but we were unable to get a hold of him", the policeman reported to Femi.

He had been appointed the Assistant Commissioner of Police.

"Why were you unable to get him?", he asked looking up at the officer.

"The first day we went there, he disappeared and we looked all around for him but we couldn't find him. Two days after, we went back to his house fully prepared to gun him down. When we got there, we were informed of his death by his neighbours."

"He is dead?", Femi inquired with a furrowed brow.

"Yes sir. He is", the officer replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes sir, we saw his corpse. He died in the early hours of that morning."

"Alright, when are they to appear in court?"

"Next week", he answered.

"Have you released his son?"

"No, we haven't."

"I instructed you to release him", Femi was upset.

"Sorry sir. The D.P.O asked us not to because he has been behaving strangely for a few days now and we are scared of taking him to the hospital because it might be a ploy to escape or rescue his father."

"He has nothing to do with his father's crime. That's why I asked you to release him. Take him to the hospital and make sure his father doesn't see the light of the day till the day he is to appear in court. Also, take good care of Rachel. You know she is pregnant and she is our only witness."

"Yes sir", he saluted.

"What about Jaguar and Freeman?", Femi asked.

"They are in a different cell."

"Good. That will be all for now. You can go."

The policeman saluted him and walked away.

Femi sighed in exhaustion. Ever since his appointment, he hasn't had enough time for his fiance and he was really missing her.

He was even absent for her mother's funeral. An idea popped into his head and he smiled as he picked up his car keys and headed out.

*********

TWO WEEKS LATER

"Fola, how is your health now?", Mr. Badmus, Bolu's father asked.

I am very much better sir. I'm sorry for the loss sir and I am also sorry for not coming for the funeral", she told him with a sad smile.

It was a Friday and she came to visit her friend. She was happy she could now go out without the help of her mother.

Even though her mother insisted on coming with her but Fola refused to allow her. She was able to convince her mother that she would be fine since Bolu's house wasn't far away from theirs.

"It's alright my dear. So how is your boyfriend or is it fiance?" Mr. Badmus asked, winking at her.

Bolu and Fola laughed.

"Actually dad, we are not yet in a relationship."

"Why? What are you waiting for?"

"We haven't talked about that yet. I think he is shy to bring it up again or probably he wants me to get well first before bringing it up."

"Then do the talking."

"Dad, I still feel scared of the whole thing. I feel I am still not ready for a relationship."

"Fola, Fola, don't be like that. Have you prayed over it?"

"I'm also scared to do that and he is going for his service next month."

"Don't deprive yourself the joy of being in love. True love exists if that is what you are scared of. Imagine what you went through just to save him from the hands of the kidnappers. You are still in this wheelchair because of him. That is what true love is all about, sacrifices. When he is done with his service and he is ready to start working, do let me know. How old are you if I may ask?"

"I will be 26 next month", she responded with a smile.

"You are a grown up already. Bolu will be 27 by December and I have told her times without numbers to tell Femi that I don't want to see her in my house by that time."

"Haa daddy, are you sending me away?", Bolu pouted pretending to be hearing that for the first time.

"That's the truth. You are a woman. I'm serious when I say I want you to get married this year."

"He hasn't proposed yet", Bolu flushed.

"Is that what you are waiting for?"

"Dad, don't you want her to finish her HND first?", Fola asked him.

"Finish school kor finish school ni. Now that she is doing her IT is the right time. She should go and do her HND in her husband's house. I am tired of seeing her big face morning, afternoon and night", he said, pulling his tongue out to mock Bolu who was frowning.

Fola laughed and answered: "But dad, this is the time you need her the most. You will be bored at home now that mum is gone."

He smiled and said to the girls: "I don't want to be selfish, Bolu has her own life to live."

A tear dropped from Bolu's eyes. It turned to a whimper which erupted into a loud cry of pain and grief.

A strong woman she is, Fola thought. Even when her mother wasn't there to cater for her, she was still strong. Now that her mother is gone forever, she is broken but still looks strong.

Fol stared at Bolu as her father moved closer to her to console her.

Fola never knew Bolu was also imperfect. She viewed her friend as a perfect being who had all she wanted except for her mother's attention. She knew that was the only thing her friend lacked.

She used to envy her friend for the kind of family she had. They were kind and rich. Her father doted on her and her only sibling. The love between her mother and her father was obvious and evident. They do not hide it. They do not hesitate to showcase their love whether in public or even in the presence of their children.

Fola envied the attention, the love and the care. She now realised that her friend was also human and she was imperfect just like her.

Fola never knew that her friend also envy her for her intelligence and the motherly love she had.

Bolu embraced her father and they both cried out their heart at their loss.

The only one woman that mattered the most to them. The woman who loved them despite the lack of attention. The selfless woman who was loyal to a fault.

Fola couldn't take it anymore as she watched the crying father and daughter.

She couldn't help but become conscious of her own pain. Her circumstance. Her current disability which she hasn't really given much thought since she regained consciousness.

And she cried too.