Page 26

“On second thought, I’ll pass. Unless you choose to bring it for the entire office. See you later, Mariam.”

“Bye,” I say through a soft laugh because I know Naseer will not deliver it.

I set an alarm so I can leave at four for the market. I have my meal planned. I would need time to prep all I have in mind. I admit, I’m a little flustered. I hope I don’t create something he can’t eat or won’t want to admit it’s a disaster.

I return to work, but I can barely focus on work. As soon as the alarm goes off. I pack up and tell Lucy I’m leaving. I told the driver to take me to the special market to get everything I needed. His questionable look shows surprise that I want to cook. Guess, I projected an image of not being able to cook and only knowing about programming.

Once I arrive home with all the ingredients, I quickly change into comfortable clothes before getting down to the business of making Jollof rice, Fried plantain, and chicken stew. I thought about beef, but it will take longer and time I don’t have. I get right down to the cooking business. Set a clock to remind me when to go and shower and change to clean clothes.

I’d just finished applying light makeup when my doorbell rang. I opened the door to Naseer casually dressed in cargo pants and a three-quarter sleeve shirt. I noticed the bracelet; I gave him in Lagos but hid my surprise that he still had it. Glad he didn’t get all dressed up. I’m casual too, guess subconsciously we both wanted an easy evening.

“Thanks for coming,” I say opening the door wider for him to come in the corner of my eye behind him I see Rilwan, by the black sedan with regular plates, not the vanity plate Naseer rides in.

I close the door quickly. I don’t want anyone to see him.

He strolls in, I already set the table for us. “I brought wine,” he says to me.

“Good, why don’t you open it while I get the glasses? I have water on the table.”

“Whoa, you made all this today?” He looks astonished.

“Yes, it’s not a lot just looks like it is, please sit.”

Once seated. “I made Nigerian dishes, this is jollof rice. I didn’t make it spicy with fried plantain and chicken stew.”

“Okay,” he says dishing his food. I watch his expression as he takes the first spoonful, I know it tastes good, but I still need his validation.

“This is good, how come I didn’t know you cook?”

“I was still an apprentice when we first met then we spent the most time at the hotel and you had a housekeeper who cooked at your place so no room for me to cook.” I glaze over other things we spent our time doing. He gives me a surreptitious look. He keeps eating which tells me he likes it. He goes for more.

Then out of the blue, he says, “Where did you go after you left me that note?” Though he says it casually, I could sense the hurt in the undertone.

“Canada with my aunt and uncle.” He nods.

“Why?” I know underneath that why is more than one why. I also know the only thing to do now is cook up the smoothest believable lie.

“I needed time away, to be just me without any string, bias, or me questioning my every action,” I say but I know he’s not convinced. “I’d only really dated you, Bosun was a dalliance. I didn’t have any other experiences in relationships. I needed a breather from us.” I notice his eyes darken; I must make him believe me it’s crucial.

“When did you meet the twin’s father?” he asks changing the topic.

“A couple of months after living in Canada, we worked at the same office. Now I know why they say office romance is a bad idea. It was good at first until he thought I would be open to a threesome.” I watch his furrow brown and exasperated sigh, I continue “I broke things off with him once he even broached the talk of a threesome. Of course, I found out I was pregnant after we broke up and he gave me money to get an abortion. I threw the money back at him and walked away without looking back. He was the easy part. Carrying the twins was the difficult part.” I take a sip of wine. Why did I start going down this part, now I’m emotional because he wasn’t there, but how could he be there? Telling him I had sex with another man is hurting both of us. I need to follow the script. To the letter.

“Why was it difficult?” he asks tersely. His dark dilated eyes are piercing my soul. I must continue the lies and make them convincing.

“It was a true case of Murphy’s law everything that could go wrong. I was at risk of dying or losing both or losing one, not sure how I could have survived if l lost either of them but I’m thankful we all survived though it was a narrow escape, I’ll take it.” I chuckled while raising my glass.

“I’m glad all three of you made it,” he says but his voice is flat and unconvincing.

“Yeah, me too,” I say, rising from my seat to clear the dishes. He gets up with me. I want to tell him not to help but I stay quiet. We load the dishwasher with the dirty dishes. It feels weird doing dishes with Naseer. He’s drying his hand at the sink with his back to me.

“I was advised not to have any more children so I’m lucky I got two on my first try,” I say to his back and watch as his back stiffens. We are circling emotional pain.

“Good,” he says not turning to look at me.

“Naseer, I know you want children. It will be best if you divorce me so you can marry someone who can give you children of your own.” He throws the towel into the sink, his hand grips the sink tight, and I see his knuckles turn white. He doesn’t turn back.

“I’m not divorcing you Jade because you can no longer give birth to a child. I’ll pay for a surrogate but no divorce between us,” he says tersely. One wrong turn and I have everlasting love. Without thinking I wrap my arms around him and bury my head in on his back. I feel for the scars on his back through the shirt. He turns and lifts my face with his index finger to look at him. “I’ll adopt your children but no divorce, Jade” he states in finality. I want to scream. “They are yours.” Instead, I pull away from him before he kisses me, and I tell him the truth.