“Okay. You’re a visitor. Come inside.”
“Grandy, I’m on duty.” Panic flared in Lola’s mind. She wasn’t sure the parlour was tidy enough to receive any guest.
“Please let him come inside, Mummy,” Amaka begged, pouting her lips. “I want to hear more of what he has to say.”
Lola shook her head. “About what? No.”
“We don’t have to rush anywhere,” Maxwell said, throwing her excuse about working into the bin. “Your kids challenge me. I like that.”
Oh no! Sucking in a deep breath, Lola skewed her head and stared at the man who always countered whatever she said. He always got his way.
Maxwell shrugged and narrowed his eyes like he had a right to invade her home at any time without her permission.
“Grandy invited me inside. I can’t turn down an old lady.”
“Maxwell has a big mouth,” Grandy hissed, looking over one shoulder before she headed inside. “If I were still a school teacher, I would’ve caned your white behind. Do I look old to you, ehn?”
Lola and Maxwell burst out laughing while her kids sniggered, making funny faces.
It was the first time Lola had seen his square face break into a full-blown laughter.
Warm scented liquid squirted inside her belly as she watched his vacant eyes light up.
Chapter 5 – Three Would Do
Maxwell
“Everyone has a strong opinion in this family. I belong here,” Maxwell coughed out once they filed inside Lola’s flat.
Making the swift decision to follow Lola and her inquisitive kids’ home was out of character for him. But now he had joined in, he felt alive. He felt at home with total strangers who lived halfway around the world from him.
“Sit anywhere,” Grandy said, pointing at the brown three-cushion sofa and two single arm chairs.
Worn at the corners, the upholstery had seen better days. Instead of a battered sofa however, he saw a welcoming seat. He dropped into one of the single sofas and crossed his leg over one knee.
Memories of lounging across the three-cushion sofa as he had waited for Lola to get home the previous Saturday night filled his head. She did not get home till two in the morning. They got into a heated argument the second she showed up in her living room. That was the instant he knew Lola had his insides twisted.
“How long are you in Nigeria?” Grandy asked, moving toward the kitchen.
“About five months.” Of course, the old lady already knew the answer to the question, but they carried on the pretence regardless.
“I’ll come back soon, Maxwell. I want to change out of my uniform.” Amaka waved in his direction as both kids dumped their backpacks on the dining table and dashed through the door to the right he knew led to their mom’s bedroom.
Lola opened her kids’ bags in turn, dipped her hand inside, rummaged through and zipped it up again.
“Why are you doing this?” Lola whispered from the dining area with her gaze zoomed in on him.
He stared back while he patted his knee with his fingers. In his head, he whipped up a few reasons, but he discarded each one because they might make him sound weak.
“Food is ready,” Grandy announced from the kitchen. “You’re having lunch with us,” she said to Maxwell, approaching with a cooking pot in both hands.
That saved him from giving an answer to his driver.
Lola immediately scooped the backpacks from the table, shoved them on the floor covered with flowered linoleum carpet. “Grandy, I’ll carry the pot for you.”
The last several days, he had eaten alone at the hotel. He was bored of his own drab company. Even though his driver did not want him here, he had no intention of bowing to her demand. Grandaunt Aduni was welcoming and loving, always happy to see him. Not many people in his life felt that way about him. Right now, he would accept the warmth the old lady offered even if it put Lola’s nose out of joint.
“Stop worrying, Lola. Go and get the pot of stew.”
“How can I help?” he offered, getting on his feet.
Before Grandy could reply, the twins raced inside the living room.
“Slow down, Nonso! No rough play inside,” Lola chastised. “Grandy’s carrying a steaming pot.”
“Amaka said I’ve got a big head,” Nonso grumbled.
Amaka giggled. “Nonso said I have big lips.”
“Enough!” their mom warned. “Get your plates and cups and some drinking water.”
Maxwell watched the scene as if it were some high-end comedy show. He chuckled inside wondering what it felt like to listen to the kids play and argue all day. Their constant bickering reminded him of his relationship with Lola.
“If you want, you can get plates from the kitchen,” Grandy said to Maxwell. Pointing to the young girl, she ordered. “Chiamaka, show our guest where to find the plates.”
“Yes, Grandy. Mr. Maxwell please follow me.”
Amaka covered the short distance to the kitchen by hopping on one leg, but she glanced over her shoulder to make sure he was following behind.
For the first time in a long while he felt needed. Pulling down his t-shirt, he exhaled.
“I’m following you, Amaka.”
Inside the compact galley kitchen, there was not enough room for two people to walk past, so he waited at the door until the twins were done.
“Look in there!” Amaka gestured to the wall units. “The plates for adults are inside.”
“Thank you,” he told the young girl.
Amaka and Nonso raced back to the living room.
Maxwell inched inside the kitchen. He opened the storage unit and the wooden handle shook loose. Tightening the shaky handle was the first thing on his mind. So, he turned it right and continued screwing using both hands.
“Ah! Don’t bother about the cupboards. Many of the handles are already shaky.” Lola spoke from the door.
“Do you have a screw driver?”
“Yes. Don’t bother. I’ll get a carpenter to fix it.”
“Show me where you keep the screw driver.”
“Grandy doesn’t like waiting to eat,” Lola reminded him with both hands on her hips accentuated in her formfitting mini black dress.
In that moment he skimmed her curves, from her full hips, past her slender waist and rounded belly up to her voluptuous boobs. An electric charge bolted from his chest to his groin. It was quick. Hot. There was no warning.
Shaking his head, he puffed air from his lips.
“Then I’ll do it after the meal.”
“Why? Trying to compensate for your bad manners last weekend, ehn?”
“What if I am? Is it a bad thing?”
“Depends on your real motives. Switching from bad to nice guy doesn’t fool me.”
“Where are the plates?” Grandy barked. “Are you buying new ones?”
Grinning, he whispered. “Is that how she screams?”
“Oh yes. Don’t keep her waiting. Get the plates.”
“How many?”
“Three would do.”
Nodding, he reached for the round ceramic plates and made his way out of the kitchen. Lola backed away from the door. He carried the plates to the dining area and set them on the centre of the table.
Grandy frowned. “You’re chatting while the rice and stew cool down. The food will not eat itself.”
“I was chatting with Lola,” Maxwell explained.
“Not my business. Sit where you want.” Being treated like part of the family gave him good vibes.
He hung back until the kids sat side by side opposite where he stood. Then Lola joined and sat on the wooden chair next to him. Grandaunt Aduni sat at the end of the table to his left. There were six chairs in all. But one was broken and was resting against the corner wall. That left one empty seat beside Lola. He sat and waited.
“Prayer time,” Grandy announced in a serious tone. “Hold hands.”
He stretched his hands in both directions. On one side, Grandy clutched his hand whi
le Lola’s fingers hardly touched his own from the other end as if she did not want to make contact.
“Pray for us, Nonso,” Grandy instructed. “Close your eyes everyone.”
Following the matriarch’s orders, Maxwell shut his eyes.
“Thank you, Lord for our food. Thank you, Lord for my family. Thank you, Lord for my mummy’s friend who came to visit us today. Please bless our food and give to our friends who are hungry in Jesus name.” The young boy prayed with his eyes tightly shut.
Maxwell felt a pinch in his heart at the kid’s prayer.
“Amen,” everyone responded.
Lola withdrew her hand quickly. Maxwell gave her a side glance, but she averted her gaze, staring at her daughter instead. Grandy, served rice on her plate first. Then the older woman pushed the pot his way. “Serve yourself, Maxwell, then move it to Lola.”
“Thank you, Grandy.” He was simply relieved to be included in the food ritual. The meals he shared with them last weekend still lingered on his taste buds. He craved some more of the home cooked food.
When Maxwell was done, he shifted the pot sideways to Lola. She served herself and her kids in turn.
“Have you eaten stew before?” Amaka asked Maxwell with a small smile.
“I’m not sure. After the meal, I’ll let you know.”
Satisfied with his answer, the young girl nodded.
After Grandy passed over the pot of stew, he scooped one spoon of the red sauce on top of his rice and served himself one fish slice. He noted the reality that harmony and happiness flowed in Lola’s home.
Once everyone was served, they ate and drank water from sachets after puncturing a hole at one corner with their teeth.
“The sachet is called pure water,” Nonso informed him when he stared at the bags on the table.
“Is this like bottled water then?” Maxwell directed his gaze to Grandy. Last weekend, he had bought multipack bottled water from the mall when he shopped with Lola. He had not seen sachet water before today.
“Yes,” the older woman replied. “But sachet water is a lot cheaper than bottled water.”
After the meal, Amaka came to stand by Maxwell’s side. She angled her neck, so she stared up at him.
“Have you tasted stew before?”
“That’s a no.” He turned to their grandaunt. Thank you for allowing me share in your family’s meal. Thank you for the food. It was delicious.”
“Was it spicy?” Lola asked without a smile.
“I like spicy food, so it was great.” He had answered the same question previously, so he wondered why she asked again.
Grandy nodded. “You’re welcome, Maxwell. OK. Clear up everyone.”
Working together, they all cleared the table while Grandy fanned herself with a plastic hand fan.
“I’ll wash the dishes and we can be on our way,” Lola told him, hurrying forward to wash up.
“Take your time,” he told her, leaning against the kitchen door. “I still need to fix the storage unit handles.”
“Don’t you have anywhere else to be?” Lola quipped quietly. “My boss told me to drive you wherever you want to go. I assumed you had a long list of places.”
“Nothing that can’t wait. Where’s the screw driver?”
“In the cupboard by the window.”
“I’ll get it once you’re done with the dishes.”
“Wait in the parlour.”
He crossed his leg at the ankle. “Here’s fine.”
Lola sighed, rolled her eyes and then donned an apron. She got out a large plastic bowl, filled it with water from a plastic jerrican and added some washing up liquid. He watched her scrape off the food remnants from the plates into a plastic bag and washed up rapidly. Then she rinsed it all in clean water. Afterward, she wiped her hands on a red dish cloth hung to dry on the safety metal barriers that framed the window.
“Do I make you nervous, Lola?”
Her head jerked his way and her slanted eyes thinned further. She opened her mouth to say something, decided against it and turned her head away.
“Lola, you make me feel like crap, do you know that?”
The truth was, he deserved whatever bad vibes she shoved at him. He had been ruthless to her at the start. For a split second, he wondered what it would take to get her to let go of her anger.
Ignoring him totally, she opened the cupboard near the window, got out the screw driver and dropped it on the kitchen counter. Then she wiped the counter top and strode to the door.
To avoid her rage, he stepped away from the doorway. When she moved past, he entered the kitchen and within a few minutes, he tightened the loose handles on all the units. He returned the screw driver and turned to his reluctant host.
“Thank you for that,” she said staring at his lips.
“You’ve got a great family.”
He was not sure Lola found him attractive. But heat burned down his gut from her brief gaze at his lips.
A slow nod was her response. So, he followed behind and they joined the others in the parlour.
“I’ve got to pack a small bag for tonight,” Lola mentioned, leaving his side.
“Don’t forget to lose your apron.” He chuckled as he sat on the single arm chair opposite the three-cushion sofa where Grandy and the twins played a card game.
“Do you know how to play Whot card?” Amaka asked, lifting her cute plaited head to peek at him while showing him the cards in her hand.
“No.” He sat forward to watch the trio.
“You can learn how to play on YouTube,” Nonso informed him in a serious tone. “It’s easy.”
Amaka took a card from the pile set aside, then she made a funny face.
“Grandy, play now,” Nonso urged, grinning.
“Hold on,” Grandy laughed.
“Stop wasting time, Grandy. Play the shape, or the number. You know you always lose,” Nonso jeered.
Smiling, Grandy played the cross shape.
“Why did you waste time when you had it?” Amaka scolded, clearly disappointed.
“I make the fun last longer for you two,” the older woman laughed looking from one twin to the other.
“Um-hmm,” Amaka mocked. “You don’t know how to play Whot card like me and Nonso.”
Maxwell laughed inside. It was great to see the kids tease the older woman.
“Do you have children?” Grandy asked with her eyes fixed on her cards.
“No,” he answered. “I’d not given it a thought.”
Nonso played a triangle with the same number as the cross. Amaka responded with a circle with the same number.
“Are you married?” Grandy carried on, her gaze direct now.
“No,” he replied, watching their hand motion.
“Do you like Lola?” came her next question.
The kids swung their heads his way. It seemed the game of cards had suddenly lost its magic.
“Lola’s a lovely woman. But to be honest, I’m not looking for a relationship at the moment.”
“Didn’t you hear my question?” Grandy insisted. “Do you like, Lola? Yes or no?”
He leaned back in his seat and licked his lips. Having three pairs of keen eyes watch and listen to the thoughts he had not put together, or figured out made him tense.
“It’s complicated,” he retorted clasping his hands.
“What’s complicated?” Grandy pushed. “It’s a yes, or no answer. Very simple.”
“I like her as a person.”
“Simple,” Grandy said with a firm nod. “It’s complicated in your head.”
“I thought you meant if I liked her as more than a friend.”
“No. But do you?”
“Do I what?” he threw back at the older woman.
Amaka giggled. “Answer Grandy’s question.”
“Do you like Lola as more than a friend?” Grandy repeated slowly as if he had hearing difficulties.
“No.” He embraced the one-word answer.
“OK. Bec
ause Amaka, Nonso and myself are ready to make your life a living nightmare if the thought ever crossed your mind. Remember that.”
Laughter welled up in Maxwell’s stomach and erupted through his entire body. He vibrated against the sofa almost toppling out of the seat.
The twins laughed, kicking their legs against the sofa while Grandy pursed her lips, her eyes frankly regarding him.
“I’m ready. What’s funny?” Lola frowned, clutching a large dark-brown bag in one hand.
“Grandy said we would make his life a nightmare if he said he liked you,” Nonso informed his mom.
Lola’s jaw dropped. “Honestly, Grandy, you go too far sometimes. I’m not looking for a man, or a relationship. You know that.”
“Why do adults tell lies?” Amaka whispered to her brother.
“Only some adults lie,” Grandy answered, grinning.
“We’re off! Amaka and Nonso take care of Grandy.”
“Yes, Mummy,” the two kids roared, jumping off the sofa to embrace their mom.
“Grandy, don’t overdo anything,” Lola stated in a concerned tone.
“Go to work,” her grandaunt said, waving aside Lola’s concern.
“It was a real pleasure to meet everyone,” Maxwell grinned as he launched to his feet.
“Are we going to see you again?” Amaka wanted to know, her smile open and warm.
“Can’t be–” Maxwell started to say.
But Lola cut in. “No. Say your goodbyes now.”
“Are you sure about that?” he whispered to his driver in a low murmur.
“Yes,” the stubborn woman maintained.
“We enjoyed having you with us, young man,” Grandy said with a wide grin. “You’re confused about many things, but you’ll work it out.”
He nodded. What could he say? The older woman was right. His chaotic thoughts led him here.
Now strapped in the G-wagon front seat a little while later, he faced his driver. “That’s the best time I’ve had in a long time. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Wait! So, you know the phrase, thank you?”
Chuckling, he bowed. “I refrain from over-using it.”
She shut her eyes for a moment, exhaled and ignited the engine. “Maybe you need to over-use it.”
Irresistible Driver ~ A BWWM Sexy Romance Page 6
