After a deep sigh, Valerie spoke; "Alfred, I'm sorry that I had to lie to you about my friend but she did make me promise that the truth will remain between us. I meant to tell you the whole truth this morning when you asked me but we got interrupted. Please forgive me. I know how much you hate being lied to." Alfred moved from where he sat and moved closer, drawing her into his arms. With her back to him, taking her hand in his, he pulled her closer. "So there is nothing else?" he asked, whispering into her ears. "No", Valerie answered, not trusting the strength of her voice if she said more. "One more thing, have you seen or heard from Valentine recently?" The question made her heart skip. She instantly felt nauseated. "I'm asking you because for some time now you have been acting strange; calling his name in your sleep and on two occasions, you have called his name while we were making love. So I ask, have you been in contact with Valentine?" This was the moment to lay it out bare, to say what she had planned to tell him, this was the moment of truth. She shut her eyes and when she opened her mouth, the sound that came out was "No!"
That was all Alfred Richardson needed and wanted to hear because he turned her around to face him and stared into her eyes before he drew her into his arms. Just before he claimed her lips with his in a soul searching kiss, he whispered a thank you that was barely audible. That night, Alfred loved her with every part of him. First with his hands and lips but later on, he loved her with his soul. Sometime after they lay spent in each other's arms. They both knew their lovemaking that night had elements it had never had before. Valerie gave herself completely, she was unconsciously trying to make up for all the deceit she had brought into their marriage, a lifestyle she never knew she was capable of before. Alfred was trying to hang on to the woman he had fallen in love with and loved unconditionally. That night, in each other's arms, they both searched and found something that hitherto eluded them.
Miles away, Valentine felt a range of emotions; a little relieved to have told her the truth, guilt over what he had done and the position he now placed her, and a little frightened because what he expected her reaction to be was not the reality he was faced with. Her reaction was impassive. Her eyes did not leave his face from the moment the words rolled out of his lips and even when he stopped talking and was expecting a response, an accusation or even an action from her, Susanne's eyes were still fastened on his face and she lay calmly, just the way she did before he started talking. Valentine couldn't sit still on the leather seat that a few minutes ago was very comfortable. "Susanne, say something please," he said, not able to hide the anxiety that was eating at him. Valentine was expecting to be dodging plates, chairs or even books but this quiet and calm Susanne was just incomprehensible.
"So, what do you want me to do?" Susanne asked, startling Valentine. "I, I, I, am so sorry, I didn't intend to hurt you." Valentine stuttered, trying to ease the blow he just dealt her. "Val, get to the point. You and I know that you are not sorry at all for the decisions you took," she said, her voice extremely calm. "Sussy, you must believe me. I never intended to hurt you, but right now, I just can't help myself," Valentine said, raising his voice obviously frustrated with her calm demeanour. "So what is going to happen next?" she asked, her eyes cold and distant. Susanne didn't interrupt him as he spoke and her eyes never left his face as he told her everything.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Everybody was walking in and out of Alfred Richardson's hospital but nobody could feel Valentine's happiness. The air smells better, the tea he drank this morning tasted better but what he didn't notice was that he had a spring to his steps. He couldn't help smiling at people as he found his way to her office. Valentine had scheduled a lot of meetings and appointments to stop himself from coming to her but he couldn't stop himself. The good thing about everything was that Susanne was on night duty so he had no fear of running into her. After her assistant spoke with her over the intercom, she told him that the matron was free to see him. He opened the door and stepped into a big but well-arranged office. They both sat on the sofa. The atmosphere in the office was so tense. Valentine could almost touch it. "Sweetheart we are now free; we can finally start our family together. I told my wife everything and once the paperwork is done, we will be divorced," Valentine announced with all amount of optimism. Seeing that Valerie seemed to be speechless, he continued; “I am so happy Susanne agreed to a divorce. I was afraid she would try to hold me back but surprisingly, she accepted. Sweetheart, we can finally be together and have the home we both dreamed of with our son!" Valentine exclaimed, pulling her to himself. This morning, Valerie had planned on arranging a meeting with Valentine so she could sit with him and tell him everything but courage deserted her every time she picked up her phone to call him. Valerie pushed him away. He did not read her body language because he was still excited. "Oh baby, I can't wait to meet with our son. I have held off from contacting him because I knew we would be together. From that day you told me we made a child, I have been so eager to meet him." He would have continued had Valerie not held out her hand, signalling him to stop. "Valentine, you have to listen to what I am about to tell you." Valentine, on sensing the seriousness in her tone, withdrew himself. "Valerie, what is the problem?" he asked shifting and putting some distance between them. "I couldn't do it", she said, looking at him in the face. "What couldn't you do?" he asked, fearing her answer. "I couldn't tell him. Valentine, I couldn't do it. I love that man and I can't hurt him. He is a father to my child." At this point, Valentine fumed. "What do you mean by that? I am the father of your child; that boy came from my loins. So what do you mean by ‘he is the father of my child’?" Valentine asked, glowering at her. "He has been a part of my son's life even before he was born, so he is the only father that the boy knows," Valerie said in a very calm tone. Valentine fired back, his voice calm but not void of the anger that was clearly evident on his face. "You know I would have been there every step of the way if I knew you were pregnant." Valerie, trying to keep things calm started, "I know you would have supported us and taken over your responsibility but fate dealt us a hard blow. Valentine, we have to make decisions, putting other people into consideration. Have you thought about how all this would affect my son?" she asked. It was as though Valentine was going to explode. "If you say 'my son' one more time, I will not be held responsible for my actions," he said between his teeth. "I'm sorry," she said, wiping her face with her palms. "I'm sorry I said that but I cannot walk out on a man that has been everything to me. He accepted a child that was not his and showered unconditional love on the baby even before he was born. I cannot walk out on a man that has done nothing but love me without reservations. How will I face everybody if I walked away into another man's arms? I have thought and pondered on how Zeal will take it because we have never told him the truth about his paternity." The intercom buzzed and Valerie got up to attend to it. "Yes," she answered and paused to listen. "Tell the couple to come back tomorrow by this time and please any other appointment should be rescheduled. "On settling into her seat, she waited for a while for the tension to subside before she added; "I know you want us to be together and I want that too, more than you know. I never knew I still loved you until I saw you again, but we can't have everything we want. We just have to bury the past and live in the present", she said. The room remained quiet for a while, the only sound they heard was that of the clock ticking. "His name is Zeal?" Valentine asked, breaking the silence. "Yes," she answered. "That boy gave me the zeal to go on after my father died. I made the decision to marry my husband because I wanted a father figure for him and the resources to raise him." Looking into his eyes, she added; "I have never had any cause to regret that decision because Alfred has been the most wonderful father any child could ever wish for.
"What about me?" Valentine asked. "What about what I want? That boy is my son," Valentine said, raising his voice. "Please calm down", Valerie admonished. "This is a hospital and we could be overheard. Please lower your voice".
“I will not keep calm, not when you are tr
ying to rob me of my own child," he said between his teeth. "How would you know that I won't be a better father if you don't give me the opportunity to be a father to my son?"
"Valentine please, you have to understand the situation," she pleaded. "You have to put other people's feelings into consideration, your wife, my husband. Please, Valentine, let's bury the past and live in the present”. Valentine sprang up from the cushion; "and what is the present?" he asked. Before she could utter a word, he added "Your being married to a man that you don't truly love, a marriage of convenience or is it that of another man raising my child; my flesh and blood?" he exclaimed. Josephine, Valerie's Personal Assistant busted into the room, seeing that her boss was okay, quickly apologised,” I am so sorry, Ma, for coming in like that, I heard someone scream”. Looking from her boss to the man standing in front of her, she asked, “Are you okay, Ma?”
”I am okay. Please, I don’t want to see anyone during the course of this meeting”. Valentine settled back into his seat and replaced the scowl he had on his face minutes ago with an expressionless one.
She drove into the school compound at exactly 4 O’clock pm and drove straight to the car park. Valerie had called the driver earlier and told him she would be picking up her son herself. Valerie had experienced horrible workdays but today topped the list. Valentine’s visit to her office this morning left her feeling emotionally and physically drained. The only person she felt like seeing was Zeal.
Valentine drove into Transcorp Hotel; the hotel was more beautiful than he remembered, formerly known as Metropolitan Hotel. It was an impressive building and their service was impeccable. He could not go home because he could not just face his wife. He was not disappointed with their service because he was attended to in record time by an ever-smiling receptionist. Valentine collapsed into the lovely well-made bed and exhaled. He closed his eyes and used his index finger to massage his temple. He felt a bit relieved after kneading his temple for a few minutes. Valentine knew he could not knead away the tension and ache in his chest; it was more emotional than physical. He sat on the bed and kicked off his shoes, shoving his phone, tablet and car key further into the bed. Propping the pillow to support his head better, he lay down and shut his eyes. His mind took him to the scene he didn’t want replaying in his head, at least not yet.
“Valentine, please keep calm”, she pleaded; after the young girl that barged in left. “If you keep raising your voice then you will have to leave. This is a hospital so unnecessary attention is not needed”, she admonished. “Do not tell me what to do or how to talk”, he fired back.
“There is no point in dragging this issue. I can’t leave my husband for you, and not after everything he has done for me. In a way, I love him very much; it may not be as passionate as I love you but I care about him a lot and I can’t hurt him”. Before Valentine could utter a word, Valerie raised her hand cutting him short “And I will not take my son away from Alfred. He is the only father he knows. Alfred will be devastated because he loves that boy as his own. I can’t hurt him like that, I just can’t”, she said.
Valentine sat up, removed his jacket and kept it properly on the bed to avoid wrinkle. The next thing he said to Valerie that morning in her office was a scene he didn’t want replaying in his head. She probably didn’t deserve it and it was uncalled for but he got carried away by anger and frustration. He twitched his neck and it became clear to him what he had to do. He picked up his apple phone and after a few taps, he dialled a number.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
As Valerie remembered everything that transpired in the office, she couldn’t hold back the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She sobbed even more uncontrollably when she remembered the look in Valentine’s eyes and the words he said to her. It hurts to know she is the one responsible for transforming such a wonderful man into an angry and desperate man. The Valentine she remembered could never hurt anyone, not even with his words. The words he said to her just brought fresh tears to her eyes.
“You keep going on and on about how you don’t want to hurt your husband, but you have, haven’t you?”, he asked. “Do you remember how you called out my name in ecstasy. I’m sure you remember riding me,”
“Please, Valentine, I don’t want to be reminded of what happened”, Valerie pleaded, covering her face with her palms.
They both sat in silence for a few minutes before Valentine broke the silence, “I can’t make you come with me, even though I can swear that I love you much more than that Alfred of yours could ever love you but there is one thing that I can do and It is my right”, he got up from the cushion and straightened his clothes.
“My intention is not to hurt you but I can’t help it if I do in the process”.
He turned around and headed for the door but Valerie’s words stopped him before he touched the doorknob, “You are being vague. What do you want to do Valentine?”, she asked getting on her feet.
“Valentine, this situation is a very difficult one, I owe Alfred a lot and I love my life with him. Please don’t do anything that will wreck our lives”, she pleaded. Valentine walked out leaving her feeling defeated.
Listening to Vivaldi always produced a calming feeling. Today, it just gave him a headache. He stopped the music player. He was off duty and had the whole day to himself. Having spent the night at the hotel, he had thought deeply and made plans. His hiatus from the house was calculated. Susanne had requested she use the boy’s quarters for a while. He had offered to move out instead until their assets are evaluated during the divorce proceedings, but she had made it clear she didn’t want his property. Susanne had said she had been gifted with a priceless gift and she was ok with that. He didn’t know what she meant and he didn’t have the mind to ask. He spent the day at the hospital so that she would have enough time to park her things without him getting in her way. He now knew with certainty what his next course of action will be. He took out his phone and dialled the number. When the line connected, he placed the phone on his left ear. When Valentine dropped the phone, he felt much better. He looked around trying to calculate how to manoeuvre himself out of Transcorp Hotel’s crowded parking lot.
Four hours later, Valentine was seated in Channel View’s Restaurant enjoying a glass of wine. At five o’clock, Valentine was joined by Patrick. “Guy, how you dey?”, Patrick asked and Valentine got up and shook hands with his friend.
“Guy, things de rough o”, Valentine answered. Patrick could see how rough it was on his best friend’s face. After they had ordered some drinks, they had both taken off their jackets and were more relaxed. Patrick is about 6’5 but he lacks the athletic build Valentine has. Patrick has the look of a man that enjoys his beer and good food. Noticing how flat his friend’s stomach, Patrick commented, “Bros, you dey gym well well o”. Valentine smiled and waved the topic away, “my guy na just three times a week I de do am o, nothing serious o”.
“You call three times just. I no fit remember when last I de do that kind thing. Na once in a while I de do press up”, they both laughed heartily. After the laughter subsided, Patrick looked at his friend and said solemnly, “I’m sorry, you and Valerie had to end up like this. Everything was my fault, I wish I was around to collect and give her the things you sent. Guy, I am so sorry. When I saw her that day, heavily pregnant I didn’t know the pregnancy was yours. I just jumped to conclusions”. Valentine cut in, “its okay; sometimes I think fate was against us”.
“But you know, I understand where you both are coming from”, he said setting his beer down. “You loved her very much and want her back but it’s not that simple, she is legally married to someone else and has been for years now. You can’t expect her to get up and follow you. She has built a life with another man”. Valentine settled back in his seat, “So what happens to me”, he asked, his voice barely audible. “You said on the phone you wanted to be a part of your son’s life. Let me ask you, are you doing this with the hope that Valerie will come back to you?”
When Valentin
e didn’t answer, he continued,” Valentine, is that why you want to take the boy away from her and her husband?”
They sat in silence drinking for about five minutes before Valentine finally spoke, “I don’t know Man”, he said, clearly in frustration. “I love Valerie and I want her back but if I can’t have her then I can at least have a relationship with my son. I never gave up that right”. Patrick stared into his glass for a few minutes before he turned his attention to his friend, “I am married with children and I will not be a party to you breaking up another man’s home but that boy is your flesh and blood and you deserve to be his father. I could never stand another man raising my child, so I will help you get your child but as for Valerie, count me out. I will make some calls and set everything up”.
“Thanks, Bro. Let me know when everything is set up”. Patrick took out an envelope from his suit pocket, “This is all I could get before coming. Hold onto this for now while we continue”. Patrick couldn’t read any expression from his friend’s face so he continued, “It’s not much but it should reassure you that they know what they are doing”. After his friend left, Valentine opened the envelope and took out a photograph, It is more than enough for now, Valentine said out loud as he stared at the photograph.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Zeal walked out of the University of Calabar Library at exactly five-thirty, thirty minutes before the official time. He just didn’t like the rushing that happens when everyone wants to leave at the same time. All the efforts put in by his father to get him to school in London were unsuccessful; he loved his country and just wanted to stay home. However, he had compromised and agreed to further his studies in London after his first degree in Medicine and Surgery. He was brought up virtually in the hospital. He loved helping people and he was fascinated by the human body especially the brain. He had nursed the dream of being a renowned neurosurgeon but he just had to get a degree in medicine and surgery. Apart from medicine, there was something else that fascinated him and that is architecture; he purchased his first architectural textbook when he was thirteen, four years later, he now designs houses and buildings as a hobby.
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