We both sat quietly for about ten minutes, he took my phone from the dashboard and tabbed on it. Two seconds after, I heard a vibration from the pocket of his pants. Valentine placed my phone back on the dashboard and took his out of his pocket and tabbed on it for a bit. ”I have stored your number on my phone and mine is now on your call log, I have to go now”, he paused and checked his wristwatch and added, “I am not morally bankrupt Val, I know you are married and I have no right to ask anything of you but I can’t help it. I felt that you still love me, I felt alive having you in my arms. Didn’t you feel it?”. He took my right hand in his and placed it on his chest, “this heart recognizes only you. Please, let’s not deny ourselves another chance at being alive, feeling passion. I felt you quiver when I kissed, your body recognized mine; you were on fire for me. I came here hoping to see you and tell you about my own side of the story. You left so abruptly and didn’t give me a chance to explain myself. I know this isn’t the right time but I will contact you”. After planting a kiss on my forehead, he opened the car door wider, stepped out and strode away. I picked up my phone from the dashboard and even though everything within me was asking me to delete the number, I just couldn’t make my hands do it. Valentine was right about one thing; my body and emotions go out of control anytime I am around him. It shocked and shamed me that a few kisses from Valentine could bring the woman in me to life; for God’s sake, his kisses made me shiver and tremble. Valerie shared every bit of her past with Alfred and common sense told her that storing Valentine by his name could bring trouble that could be avoided. Alfred doesn’t go through her phone but she couldn’t take that chance. If not for anything but for the singular fact that she didn’t want him hurt; Alfred is too good and doesn’t deserve it. I checked my time; it is five o’clock, how time flies. At home, that night Alfred asked me why I was so deep in thought. I just couldn’t bring myself to tell him that Valentine is in town. I thought to clear the air and telling Valentine what really happened will get him to find peace with all that happened and finally move on. However, right now I feel I am biting more than I chew. As I lay down to sleep that night beside my husband, I said a silent prayer, I prayed Valentine’s return will not upset the peace in my home. That night I had the same nightmare again; this time, I recognized one of the monsters to be Valentine.
At the other end of town, a woman was observing her husband. He was looking very happy; while they were having dinner. He ate heartily, most of the time gazing into thin air with a smile on his lips. He did not only go to bed early but he had a peaceful look on his face. Susanne has been married to Valentine for the past ten years but they had been together for fifteen years. When she met him, he was broken and unhappy; he was always pushing her away and most of the time he was mean. He partied and lived recklessly. The day Valentine told him about his failed relationships with Valerie, was when she had gone to his apartment to check on him and found him unconscious. She rushed him to the hospital and the doctor told her that she had literally saved his life. The drinks and drugs were in excessive amounts in his system. She wondered what could be the problem because it looked as though he had a death wish. Almost every time she spoke to him, she always perceived alcohol on his breath. When she finally came around, she decided she was going to save him. Though she kept telling herself she was doing it for him, deep down Susanne knew she wanted him alive for her. While she watched him, sleep at the hospital that day she kept wondering what had changed him; from the gentle, warm, confident man she adored to an angry drunk with a death wish.
Susanne is what you would call an ambitious woman, strong-willed, domineering but with a heart of gold. She always wanted to be a nurse. As the only daughter and the sixth of ten children; she acted like a mother hen. Susanne always wanted to nurse anyone that was sick even her elder ones. Born of an Irish woman and a Nigerian father from Anambra, Susanne is an epitome of beauty. At 5’10”, Susanne is slim with all the curves at the right places; her hair isn’t black nor brown but what could be described as chocolate, thick, curly and halfway down her back. Susanne had the looks of a model and that made it difficult for her to be taken seriously, she always wore her beautiful hair in a bun to make herself less model-like. But packing her hair off her face only exposed her hazel eyes that were slanted at the corner giving her eye a cat-like look. Susanne had been approached many times by model agencies but all Susanne wanted to do was nurse people. Igwe, Susanne’s father, wanted none of that. His daughter got her ambitious attitude from her father. Igwe always wanted his children on top. When he learned of Susanne’s dream, Igwe was bent on killing it. He made it clear to Susanne that no daughter of his will wipe people’s butt and change diapers for a living, not when she can be something better with her looks and brain. If there was another trait, Susanne shared with her father apart from being ambitious was his strong will. All the heated arguments with her father couldn’t deter her from her career path and Igwe wouldn’t give in either. Extreme situations always call for extreme measures. To drive home her point, Susanne decided to move out. She moved into the condo her maternal grandmother willed to her. Igwe threatened to cut off her allowance but his wife threatened heaven and hell if he did. Igwe had to let Susanne get away with moving out because his wife was the only person he couldn’t mess with. Another reason he decided to end the cold war with Susanne was that Igwe had a soft spot for his daughter.
The day she met Valentine changed everything. Susanne was coming out of the library, her arms laden with books. When she got to the entrance, her mobile phone started ringing and while she tried balancing all her books in one arm, retrieving her phone from her bag and descending the stairs at the same time. She looked into her bag to retrieve her phone, and the next thing she realized her books were scattered everywhere. If not for the strong arms around her, she would have been on the floor with the books. The tall light-skinned and extremely handsome man that bumped into her a few seconds ago released her and apologized with a smile that flashed his adorable dimples. He crouched and started gathering the books. Susanne recovered from the daze she was in and joined him in packing the books. They got up and as he handed the books to her, he apologized again, “It's okay”, she responded not taking her eyes away from him, “it was my fault, too”.
When Susanne got home that day and relaxed on her luxurious king-sized bed, all she could think about was the guy that bumped into her at the library. She couldn't get his handsome face out of her head. How gentle he was, how he smiled at her, how his hands felt around her when he held her, his scent was something so masculine and sweet. She didn't sleep a wink that night. She kept tossing and turning on the bed. She refused to accept the fact that a man had finally got her attention. The worst part was that he was not even aware. He was not aware of what his beautiful smile and gorgeous dimple had done to her. The following day, she went to the library hoping on seeing him again, but from a day to two, two to three days and it rolled into a month, Susanne still did not see him again.
She did her enquiries and found out his name was Valentine. She was even more pleased to discover his door was adjacent to hers. She was a little disappointed that he didn't recognize her. She almost wouldn't have recognized him herself because he had changed. The charming gentleman was replaced by a very snobbish and quick-tempered fellow. Once she could swear she smelt alcohol on his breath. As a last resort, Susanne decided to go and introduce herself to her prince charming. When Susanne got to the door, she inhaled, exhaled and knocked, even after a few knocks there was still no response. Since the door was open she let herself in. Susanne was taken aback by what she saw.
Susanne shook herself out of her reverie and stood up from the chair she was sitting on and stretched. She gave her sleeping husband a kiss on his cheek, adjusted the duvet to cover him well before joining him. As she slept that night, Susanne's mind was working hard at recollecting when last she saw her husband so happy. There was clearly a spark in his eyes; that night Susanne had a dreamless sleep.
/>
Alfred Richardson Adegbola’s hospital is usually filled with people. On Mondays, it is usually crowded with nurses each doing their business, patients going in and out of consultation rooms. The accident and emergency wing of the hospital is even more crowded than the main building. One thing that made the hospital outstanding was the fact that it is well equipped and its employees are well trained and well paid. Susanne counted herself lucky to have found a job in such a short notice at such a prestigious hospital. She had been in Nigeria for a period of three months and she was already very bored with staying at home and doing nothing. As she stepped out of her white Porsche, she couldn't help but admire the beautiful building. The architect that handled the designing of the hospital did a wonderful job. The hospital was so big she didn’t even know where exactly to go. Where the is hell administrative block, she said out loud. “I can help you get there if you don’t mind”, Susanne turned to the bearer of the voice and she couldn’t help but smile back. That night, as she retired to bed, her thoughts went from how busy and eventful her day was to the incredibly beautiful woman that helped her at the car park; there was something familiar about the woman’s face: that her beautiful smile was vaguely familiar.
The following day, Susanne went about her preparations. She had passed the interview and was to resume on Monday. After returning from the bank and doing her weekly grocery shopping, she almost forgot to do her hair. Stopping by the hair salon, she hoped they would be able to attend to her. Sparkles Salon was a good hair salon, well equipped with very efficient staff. The only drawback is that customers have to book appointments first. Fifteen minutes after she had arrived at the salon and spoken with the manager she was attended to. While she was receiving her manicure, the woman sitting beside her caught her attention. From her side view, she looked familiar. Something in her moved Sussane to talk to her, “excuse me, please", she called out to her. The woman turned to face her. “Have I met you before?” she asked. The look on the other woman’s face didn’t show any recognition, “yes, I remember”, Susanne said, “at Alfred Richardson Hospital”.
“Oh yes!” the beautiful woman exclaimed, “You are the lady at the car park that looked lost”.
They both laughed heartily like old friends and that was the start of an uncommon relationship. They chatted like old friends and the hours went by. After a manicure and a facial treatment, the beautiful woman was set to go, “I didn’t get your name”, Susanne said as she got to her feet after settling her bills. “I am Mrs. Richardson but you can call me Val”, she said smiling. “I am Susanne, I hope you don’t mind if I get your number. This is my first time in the country and I would love to have a nice person like you as a friend”, Susanne said. “Welcome to Nigeria and here is my Card”, Val offered, “Call me”.
The smile on Susanne’s face was still there even after she bade her new friend goodbye. She had a strong feeling that she had just met someone important.
While she dressed that Monday morning for work, she felt her body trembling, not out of fear but excitement and joy of having to work again. Her husband was rich enough to cater to every of her need but there was this joy and satisfaction nursing people brought her. That was what her father never understood. His constant harassment made her move out of the house, her mother paid her tuition fees and Susanne had to help out at a hospital close to her apartment to make ends meet. Well, as she looked at herself in the mirror, dressed in a purple trouser suit, she knew her persevering on being a nurse had paid off. She folded her well-tailored nurse uniform into her bag and carried her car keys. As she strode out of her room; she knew she was in for a stressful but fulfilling day.
Alfred was returning from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital when his car broke down, even though he owned his own hospital he was still a consultant for the hospital and he was just returning from a meeting. He was supposed to be welcoming new nurses at his hospital at this moment and his car breaking down was not on his daily planner. Alfred sighed in frustration. He knew nothing about cars. His tank was filled this morning and there was water in his radiator. He took out his phone to call his PA and was still talking on the phone when a middle-aged, light-skinned man that looked strangely familiar walked up to him. He looked wealthy and a bit stylish, so he guessed the man wasn’t an armed robber. “Your car left you stranded by the roadside, I guess”, he said with a smile showing off his dimples.
“Well, yes”, I answered. “I can’t seem to place a finger on what is wrong with the car”, I explained taking off my jacket. “I am Mr Owoh”, he said stretching out his hands. “My car just broke down at the other end of the road. I just got into town a few months ago and I don’t have the contact of any mechanic in town. “Welcome back, it’s Dr Richardson”, he said as they shook hands.
“You are a Chelsea fan?” He asked. Alfred smiled and answered, “Yeah, I love watching soccer with my family”. A man dressed in a navy blue overall walked up to them and introduced himself as innocent sent by Godwin. Alfred turned to Valentine and said, “Godwin is my assistant. The mechanic will fix my car first, then yours”. Twenty minutes later, Alfred’s car was good to go. The two men exchanged cards and promised to meet again.
Some people in the middle class and low class find it hard to see people in the high-class work; they feel as though they are struggling jobs with them. On a few occasions, Susanne had walked in on Comfort telling a fellow cleaner how some nurses drive cars that can feed ten families for a whole year. On one occasion, she overheard Comfort saying, “look at Madam Adegbola for instance, why does she still work here as a normal staff? That her car looks really expensive!” she exclaimed.” You don take time look that woman? I de sure e be 50-carat pure gold she de wear for that her finger”, she whispered.
“How you take know”, her gossip partner, Maureen, mocked.
“Is it because I work here as a cleaner with you? I be big babe o. Apart from her husband owning this hospital, he owns other establishments and I heard he is born into money, as in cool hard money”, Comfort started.
“But l heard she is from a humble background. I wonder where those sorts of men are. Me, I want one o”, Maureen said giggling.
Caroline a light-skinned matron, Susanne noticed always appears busy walked in on the two cleaners and stopped to listen. “I wonder why she never born another child for that man. I hear de get one pikin and dem de hide the pikin like shit”, Maureen said, and they both dissolved into laughter.
“You want make kidnappers carry their only pikin?” Comfort added, they laughed some more. Caroline sensing the nature of the gist interrupted, “Amebo!” she exclaimed, “Why aren’t you both not doing your jobs? Are you paid to talk about people’s private life?” She admonished, “get back to work”. Caroline walked away and as soon as she was out of earshot, Maureen said, “Abeg let’s get back to work before that busy-body matron comes back and cuts off our head. I no be big babe like you. I still need this job”.
Susanne left where she was standing and walked past them and she knew she would be their next topic.
She walked into the emergency room to collect some files and that was when she saw her.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Susanne took a second look to be certain; “she is definitely the one”, Susanne said to herself, “She is the one I met at the salon”. She looks different. Dressed in a matron’s uniform, her hair was pulled back and she was looking a bit stressed. I walked up to her and said, “Hi, we meet again”. She looked up and reading from her facial expression, she was trying to place the face and in a moment her face brightened. She got up and gave me a hug, a gesture that was not expected but it felt good all the same. She offered me a sit in front of her, which was obviously for patients. “Wow!”, she exclaimed after we sat down, “We keep running into each other, so I guess you work here”. “Oh yes”, I affirmed. “That day I met you was my first time here. Today is making one month old here as a worker”.
“Nice to meet you again”, she sa
id. “You’re on duty and I offered you a seat”. They both laughed. “Let me be on my way then“, Susanne said standing, “Please do you know Mrs Adegbola? I’m supposed to collect some folders from her”.
“That would be me”, she said, smiling. As she handed the folders to me, she said, “I do hope you will have a nice time working here”.
“Sure, I will”, I replied.
Months after Valentine and Valerie met and exchanged numbers, none of them had tried to communicate with the other. It was as though they had both forgotten about each other, but that was far from the truth. Time and time again, Valentine had remembered how she had trembled when he held her in his arms. He still remembered the scent he perceived as he was kissing her neck; like none, he has ever perceived before. He could still remember how hot she was when he tasted her flesh. Valentine had tried to call Valerie, just to see her again one more time. Sometimes, when he dials her number, just before it rings, he ends the call. And this behaviour was very obvious to his wife. It has been a month since he has made any sexual advances towards her. He just couldn’t be with her, not when he was dreaming of another. On more than five different occasions, Susanne had used all her womanly skills to get him into bed with her but he refused. With one excuse or another, Susanne who was naturally a very patient person just didn’t complain. But he knew it was hard for her.
Men and football, not only do they enjoy the sport, but they enjoy it more, watching it, not in the comfort of their homes but in public centers, where there is a lot of cheering and screaming. Alfred loves watching football matches in public. Zeal is always his handbag and Valerie would go with them. She always has fun when in the company of her son and husband. As they settled in at Santo’s bar, ready for the match,that was when Valentine was driving in. He was in the company of his friend, Patrick, who told him that was the best spot to watch a match and enjoy it. As they walked into the dim light bar, he knew his friend was right. It looked like a great spot to enjoy a football match; especially when the teams playing are Manchester and Chelsea. The place looked almost full. From where he sat, he recognized his good, Samaritan, Alfred. He excused himself and went to greet him. It was hard for Alfred to recognize him, where he sat was very dark. Valentine had to remind him of how they met. He remembered and got up to shake hands. “Meet my friend, Patrick”. Patrick and Valentine shook hands. “If you were here, a few minutes ago, you would have met, my wife and son”. “Oh, she isn’t a fan?”, I asked. Alfred answered, “she is, but hard to go home. She had a slight headache. She just stepped out a few seconds ago”. After that, Valentine was back in his seat, beside his friend, after asking Alfred to greet his wife and son for him”.
Choices Page 4
