“Hmm?” He turned away from his perusal of Ikorodu Road and faced her.
“Are you okay?” she asked, also turning away from the windshield to look at him. Her hair; her natural hair stirred softly in the car air-conditioning; she must have applied a fresh coat of lipstick because they looked shiny. Her brown eyes were tinged with concern; as was her voice.
“I’m fine. I’m just thinking how good it was sitting with mama and talking about old times. You know, she knew us during the best years.”
“Yes,” Igo agreed. “I could see she wanted to ask us what the next thing is – but she also didn’t want to make things awkward, you know?”
“I’ve been thinking that myself,” he said as he reclined his seat. And then, he laid back in it and just looked at her.
“Well,” looking away hastily when she turned to find his eyes on her. “I’m happy – more than I have been in years. It’s like I’m getting to know you all over again, and the sex? Oh. My. God.” She pinked around her cheeks and neck.
Frank laughed quietly.
“What I’m saying is; I like where we are now, and I will follow you wherever you lead. You’re happy too, Frank. Your cheeks are filling out again.”
He smacked her thigh lightly. “You would know, won’t you?”
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“Zip me?”
His hands trembled as he placed them on her waist. The ankara gown she had on was of a blue, black and gold pattern; it shimmered as she shivered. She smelled of tangerines; soft and tangy at once and he buried his nose in her neck, covering it with soft bites that made her jump, zipper a soft whisper of sound as he pulled it up.
“You better stop that or we’ll never leave,” she sighed as she turned and put her arms around him. “See what you do to me,” she said.
Frank held her gently, shaking his head in wonder at the soft tremors that shook her. “You this woman, you love me.”
She nodded slowly, keeping her eyes on his. “I do, Frank. I don’t think there was a time I stopped.”
He cocked his head, his face an expression of wonder. “You love me,” he said again, this time surprise giving his voice a high note.
She pushed at his chest. “Like you don’t know. Go jo,” she said, pushing him again, playfully. “We do need to go, baby. You look amazing by the way.”
He turned this way and that, showing the grey buba and sokoto off to her. She didn’t speak again, but the look in her eyes told him everything he needed to know.
And then some.
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Fola looked a lot better than the last time they saw him. His skin was almost back to normal; the dead look that hung around it was finally dissipating. His face was normal again, the only discord note was the left socket where an eye used to be. Now, a glass replica sat in place; but it reflected light in an unnatural way Frank found disconcerting.
Whenever he was around people, Fola wore shades but that night being what it was…
“Hey man,” he hugged Frank. “The graft is taking; quite nicely too,” he said, waving his arm in his friend’s face.
“The kids are holidaying with their grandparents so we have the house to ourselves,” Stella added as she hugged Igo. She; on the other hand was quiet, demure even. She held her end of the conversation; making jokes and laughing when necessary, but there was something different about her, something calmer.
Frank mentioned it to Fola when they were done eating and stepped out onto the balcony.
“Yeah, she’s a lot different. I guess she didn’t think I would take her back; you know, after…” he waved a hand over his face. “But I thought about it; thought about the kids and so on. Besides, her mother sat her down and talked a lot of stuff into her head. Things are a lot better now, especially since I behave myself too.”
“I’m happy for you, man. I like what I’m seeing, and I hope it continues to be just like this.”
Fola nodded. “Thanks – and you know, I could say the same thing to you. I saw how madam just held onto your hand and kept feeding you stuff. You guys back together?”
“You know, I think I should go see her. There’s something I would like to ask. Thanks,
Folly!” he yelled over his shoulder as he darted into the house, leaving his friend wondering what suddenly happened.
Frank followed the sounds of the women’s voices; they were in the kitchen. Stella was washing the dishes while Igo stood against the cooker, arms folded over her chest.
Stella was talking. “…and have you told him?”
“Told me what?” Frank asked, startling both women. Igo recovered first, shrugging indifferently. “What makes you think you’re the ‘he’ she’s talking about?” she asked him, smiling.
“Well…” he let his voice trail off as he realized Fola was standing behind him. “Er…”
“Are you okay? What is it?” Igo went from asking him to asking Fola. “What did you do to him?”
Frank grabbed her shoulders roughly – and then released them. “I’m sorry,” he said, watching Igo wince and rub her shoulders. “I’m really sorry.”
Suddenly he knelt down. “This is really not how I wanted to do this, but I cannot wait anymore. He looked up, at Igo’s shocked expression, complete with streaming eyes. “Frank?” she said, “You’re scaring me.”
“I don’t mean to, look – “ he scratched his head. “Look, you’ve just been so wonderful to me, you know? I really wasn’t the best husband, and even after we went our separate ways I still went and did – “
“Frank – “ she started but he cut her off.
“No wait. Let me finish. You have been my friend, my partner, my guy – and I mean that in the most sincere way. I think about the things I forgot, I think about the things I took for granted. How some guy hasn’t seen you out there and took you away, all this time will forever baffle me.
“But I’m grateful and I’m not waiting anymore. Igo, will you please marry me?”
“Again?” Igo breathed softly.
“Again,” Frank agreed.
By now Igo’s tears were a torrent that ran into her mouth and off her chin; but, oddly did nothing to dim the brightness of her smile. She nodded dumbly, putting her arms around Frank as he stood up and then they hugged each like old friends being grateful for one another again.
Frank, liking how he could feel her heart beating against his chest heard Fola comment somewhere in the background; “This is the best yet.”
Suddenly, Stella spoke up. “This might be a good time to tell him, ‘go girl.”
Frank pushed away from Igo and looked down at her. “Tell me – tell me what?”
He could see some fear hovering around the smile she gave him, and before he could query the reason for it she said, “I’m pregnant.”
He was quite sure someone set off fireworks somewhere behind him; for the next few moments all he heard were loud popping sounds. And then, other sounds began to filter into his hearing; Fola screaming excitedly, Stella laughing – but he couldn’t see past Igo and the bright light that seemed to be coming from her mouth.
“You’re pregnant?” he repeated slowly. She nodded, clasping her hands nervously. He shouted and carried her off the ground and against his chest. And then, in the midst of her excitedly laughter, he kissed her.
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Later, when they were all sharing a bottle of Picpoul de Pinet, Frank gently rubbed the stomach of the woman sitting across his lap. “So you’re pregnant,” he said playfully.
“Yes indeed,” Igo answered, not missing the light mischief put in his eyes.
“Well,” he began, “Are you sure it’s mine?”
Amidst frenetic laughter from the Akanjis, Igo eyed her man. “No o, it definitely isn’t yours. It’s the landlord’s.”
Frank shrugged. “Forget liquid content only. If the bottle is mine, definitely I own the content!”
And tickled her until she agreed.
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PART ONE
That’s All Folks!
SEUN ODUKOYA
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