In Love And War CHAPTER FOUR

'A penny for your thoughts?'. Richard asked Titi who was staring out of the window. 

A week after his parents arrived Nigeria, they were in Richard's car, making a trip to Ondo State to see Titi's mother. Titi had carefully told her mother to keep Sam out of sight, but she was worried that things might not go has planned. She had had to plead endlessly with her mother, telling her she would explain things to her when they arrived before Mrs Olakunle had agreed as she has requested. 

'Nothing, I was only admiring the view', she lied.
'You know you can't lie to me Tee, I know that look on your face when you are worried, so tell me what is bothering you', Richard insisted as he changed gear and focused on the road.
Titi smiled sardonically, wondering how true his certainty was. How could Richard think she couldn't lie to him? As a matter of fact, she had been the biggest liar since the beginning of their relationship, and she was still lying.
'Alright, you got me', she said when she read the insistence in his tone. 'I was just thinking...you know, I don't know what you will feel about my home. I mean...'
  'Is that it again?', Richard cut her off. 'Seriously Tee, you make me feel intimidated with these thoughts of yours. You make it seem like I'm too big for you or something. I'm not the president's son for God's sake, and I'm not a prince either. And even at that, rulers and mornarchs too do fall in love. Please stop disheartening me.', he said, his voice echoing an earnest plea.
'I'm sorry', she muttered. 

Richard inclined his head and kept his gaze on the road. Titi knew he was hurt, and she had better start looking for other excuses henceforth, because it was sure Richard would not buy them anymore; her usual stories were getting old.

They arrived Mrs Olakunle's house at noon. It was a small bungallow surrounded by a fairly large verandah. Titi was first to go in. Richard had stayed back in the car to receive a phone call and Titi seized the opportunity to go in before him and make sure her crooked way had been straightened. 

'Welcome mommy!', Sam came running to embrace her.
Titi was annoyed and fear immediately overwhelmed her.
'What are you doing in the house? Didn't Grandma tell you to stay in Mummy Seyi's house?', she reprimanded the boy, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
'I came to take my aeroplane', Sam answered innocently, showing her the toy plane in his hands.
'Good, now get out. Go and play!'
'Did you bring anything...'
'I said go and play!', she yelled at him and he hurried fearfully out of the house. Sam had never seen such a desperate look on his mother's face before, and it was obvious she was not happy to see him.
Titi on her part regretted being cruel to her son, but she hadn't expected to meet him in the house, despite the fact that her mother had promised to keep him away prior to their arrival. Thank God Richard had not come in immediately with her, she would have swooned! 
She was about to go in search of her mother whom she guessed must be somewhere in the house, and challenge her for breaching their agreement, but she was taken aback when she heard Richard speaking with someone outside. She shut her eyes and prayed silently; it must not be what she was thinking! Perhaps he was still on phone. She looked out through the window and beheld Richard chatting with Sam.
Bombshell!
She was in trouble! Her heart threatened to tear out its way through her chest as it began pounding hard against her ribcage. How was she going to get herself out of this mess? She fretted.
When she saw Richard coming towards the house, she hurriedly moved away from the window and adjusted herself. She was prepared for the worst. If he was going to accuse her for being a liar, say bad words to her and end their relationship, she deserved it.
Richard found his way into the living room and met Titi standing, sweating profusely as if she had seen a ghost.
'Are you alright?', he asked, staring quizzically at her.
Titi nodded and gave an insincere smile. 'Yes, I'm fine'.
'I don't think so', Richard insisted. 'The weather is cool, yet you are sweating'.
'Oh', Titi said, fanning herself with her hands. She hadn't even realised she was perspiring. 'Please feel at home. Let me go and get mum, I guess she is at the backyard', she added quickly as she made to leave.
'Wait', Richard stopped her as he took his seat. Who is that little boy?'
'Little boy? Which boy?', Titi asked, her lips trembling.
'I mean the boy I met outside just now, he emerged from the house. He said his name is Engineer Samuel and I was really impressed by his smartness.'
'Oh, Sam', Titi smiled and summoned courage to sound as bold as possible. 'He is our neighbour's son', she lied.
'Really?', Richard asked, surprised.
At this point, Titi was beginning to fear that he had already found out the truth from the boy. If that was the case, then she is finished! With the way Richard probed her, perhaps he just wanted to hear the truth from her, perharps he already knew...
'He looks so much like you, I initially thought he is your brother or...'
'People say so', Titi put in quickly. 'But most times, they say he looks more like dad. And then he is so fond of my mum'.
'Really?'
Titi nodded. 'He spends most of his time here', she lied again.
'Wow! That's terrific. No wonder you love kids. I bet it runs in the family then'. Richard commended.
'Well, if you say so', she said, forcing a smile. So, what did you guys discuss?', Titi asked nervously.
'Nothing much, he only told me his name, age and class. I had wanted to chat with him a little more but he didn't wait. I guess he was in a hurry to go to play with his friends'. Richard told her.
Titi sighed. Thank God she had not been caught, at least, not yet. She couldn't just imagine what would have happened.
'He is a very bright and jovial boy, coupled with the fact that he looks so much like my sweetheart', Richard smiled. 'I think I'm loving him already'.
'That is Sam for you. He is, you know, very easy to love', Titi smiled sheepishly. 'Let me get mum, I'll be right back', she changed the subject. With that, she whirled off into one of the rooms.
She soon emerged with her mother who welcomed and received Richard warmly. The trio wined and dined together. They discussed the usual things, after which Mrs Olakunle blessed them and prayed on and on. 
Before they took their leave in the evening, Mrs Olakunle summoned her daughter into the kitchen for a private discussion.
'Does he know about your son?', she asked Titi as soon as she shut the door behind them.
'I haven't told him yet', Titi answered, staring at the bare floor.
'Titilayo!', her mother exlaimed. 'Why are you keeping the truth from him? I suspected that when you asked me to keep Sam away. Do you know the implication of what you are doing?'.
'Mum, I asked you to keep him away, but you didn't', Titi accused her mother. 'Sam came running to me as soon as I came into the house, thank God Richard did not follow suit'.
'No, don't thank God, Titilayo. God is no partaker of evil and I wont have a hand in it either! In fact Richard should have seen the boy, and then your secret should have been blown open'.
'Mum! How can you say that?', Titi said in a croaky voice. 'Do you think it has been easy for me too?'
Her mother noticed the pain in her voice and said to her calmly, 'I'm sorry for speaking to you like that, and I know it is not easy, but at least it will be better he knows sooner than later'.
'He already met Sam', Titi told her.
'He did? And what did he say?'
'He asked about the resemblance'
'And what did you tell him?', her mother asked anxiously.
'I told him he is our neighbour's son'.
'Ah!', her mother gasped. Titilayomi! Do you think you can fool him forever? For how long are you going to keep it going like this? You will have to keep telling him lies, and bigger lies to cover up the latter, till he finds out the truth'.
'I don't want to lose him', Titi cried.
'See', her mother advised, 'This man truly loves you, I have noticed that. And that is a good advantage for you, because knowing might make no difference to him. Please tell him soon enough. The only way you are going to lose him is if he finds out later'.
'But I'm scared...'
'Titilayo, face your fears and tell him before it is too late, you still have the time now. Wallowing in fear and self-pity wont help you out', her mother said firmly and rose from the kitchen stool she was sitting on. 'And I wont tell hom on your behalf either. I have done the best for you as a mother, the rest is left to you. You should also bear it in mind that Samuel won't live with me for ever'. With this, she left Titi in the kitchen to come to terms with herself.
Titi rested her back on the solidness of the door as tears flowed freely down her cheeks. She knew her mother had said the truth, but she wished it was that easy.
'God, please help me', she mumbled silently. It is true that God is no partaker of evil, but at least if she was going to be truthful, she needed courage from Him to face her fears.
'Titilayo!', she heard her mother call from the living room. 'You are keeping Richard waiting, you both should be on your way back to Abeokuta by now. It is getting late'.
Titi quickly wiped her face and adjusted herself. She tried to wear a placid expression as she walked into the living room to join her mother and fiance.
                   *****************************************************

'So, bride-to-be', Nike teased her friend when they met about a month later. 'Have you and your groom finally picked your wedding date?'
'Well, we are are considering the 30th of September', Titi smiled as she sat beside Nike at the hospital reception. 
Nike had come to register for ante-natal care in the hospital where Titi worked, as she had just discovered she was pregnant.
'Wow! So soon?', Nike marveled. That is in three months time'.
Titi nodded in affirmation. 'Well, Richard said he is more than ready to tie the knots, and I don't think there is anything to wait for on  my part either.'
'Oh dear, I'm so happy for you. God has really favoured you'.
'Thank you', Titi smiled.
  'And...', Nike whispered. 'Have you told him about Sam?'
Titi knew her friend would asked this question. Why was everyone expecting it to be that easy? And if she had told him, did they think Richard would still have gone ahead to tie the knots with her?  She was tired of being pestered everytime. Perhaps she should tell her what she wanted to hear.
'Yes I have told him', She lied.
'Really? What did he say?'
'He said he is fine with it, and it doesn't bother him, just as you have said'.
'You see, I told you he wouldn't mind.'
'Yes you were right, he doesn't mind at all', Titi smiled.'
Titi regretted having lied to her friend, but she couldn't bear Nike badgering her with the subject everytime they discussed. Her mother too would also keep bugging her about it whenever she called. They made her seem like the guiltiest person in the universe. It was not like Sam was a threat to her relationship with Richard anyway, so what was the fuss for?
'I'm so glad for you Titi', Nike told her. 'I could never have wished for you a better man, Richard is just so perfect for you.'
'Thank you Denike, I could never have wished for a better friend too. Thanks for your encouragement and support'.
'You are welcome', Nike smiled. 'Oh my God!', she exclaimed as she looked up at the wall clock. 'I'm late, my husband is going to kill me!'
'I doubt that, Titi told her, rising to her feet. 'Dapo adores you.'
'Nike smiled happily as she stood up too. 'The feeling is mutual, and of course, I was just kidding. I have to go anyway, there is somewhere we have to be together in an hour's time.'
'A date?'
'Well, you guessed right', Nike grinned.
'Hmm, married people wey no dey shame.' teased Titi.
'Oh come off it', Nike said, 'It's not like you lovey-doveys plan to stop going out together when you get married either.'
'We wouldn't dare!', Titi laughed. 'And lest I forget, we are travelling out of the country to shop for things for the wedding next week. Dubai precisely.'
'Are you serious?!', Nike screamed.
'Hush! We are in an hospital for God's sake Nike'. Titi reminded her as she took her friend by the arm and led her outside.
'I'm so sorry, I couldn't help it. I mean, you are going for shopping in Dubai for real?'
'Un-uhn', Titi inclined her head.
'Oh I'm so happy for you!', Nike cried as she threw her a warm embrace. 'But what about your job?'
'I'm resigning before I leave. Richard's parents want me to continue my education as soon as possible.', Titi told her.
'Oh my!', Nike grinned happily. 'This is amazing, and a whole lot of good fortune. I'm very happy for you sweetie.'
'Thank you', Titi said and hugged her back.
'Make sure you get me something nice from Dubai, or else I'll sue you', Nike warned playfully.
'Of course I will', Titi smiled. 'You should get going, your husband will be waiting', she reminded her.
Nike inclined her head and got into her car. 'Call me', she gestured as she started the ignition and drove off'.
Titi waved at her friend. Her bethrotal ring shone in the under the reflection of the sun as she waved, reminding her of Richard. She smiled as she headed back to the hospital. Of course, she had found a good fortune indeed, one which she wasn't ready to let go for anything. 

-Temi