Staring at Patrick in his office, Adebola was suddenly concerned about the welfare of his wife Debby. Hearing that she was ill had throw him into a complete panic mode. Urging Patrick to move along in a wordless conversation, they walked towards the car, driving home along with his security team.
He missed his Mansion as soon as he sighted the building from afar. It was his home and in recent times, it has come to mean his family home. The building stood tall in his marble tile design from top to bottom signifying a palace fit for a king. Adebola opened his car door with speed before Patrick could open it and walked briskly into the house screaming.
"Fiona!!!!"
"Yes Sir. good afternoon sir" Fiona emerged from the dinning areas with bags carrying lots of cooking items including vegetables which spilled out from the corners. Ignoring her sight, Adebola began his interrogation.
"Where's my wife?
"She went out sir. She is not yet back sir" Fiona replied fidgeting.
"Where did she go to? I mean she is not back from where?" Adebola rambled lacking concentration.
"She went to a memorial service
For a late friend. That was all she told me this early morning before leaving sir." Fiona answered while Adebola nodded his head as a dismissal to which she ran to the dinning table
Adebola took a deep breath knowing that if Debby was still in his house, she was not going anywhere as he had imagined her leaving him. It was the first week of the new month and he peeped at the dining table, realizing he had been gone for more than a week, He wondered who gave Fiona money for grocery shopping.
"Fiona!!!!" He summoned again still standing almost at the same position.
"Yes sir" She answered running to his side again still nervous. Noticing her nervousness, he spoke calmly.
"I left before the end of the month right?"
" Yes sir you did". An appealing aroma hit his nostrils and he wondered what was generating such smell.
"Are you expecting someone, the table seemed full?" He asked suddenly staring at the variety of dishes trailing the dinning table.The house seemed to smell of different foods.
"No sir."
"Where did you get money to cook all this?" He looked at wearily.
"Madam gave me monthly allowance budget as soon as the month ended sir"
"Where did she get the money from to run my house?"
"I don't know sir"
"These are not our regular meals. Who are you making them for?" Adebola asked
"Madam has not been eating well. She has been so sick. The doctor that came, suggested that the cooks make variety of meals, to see which one can appeals to her, in other for her to eat when she returns."
"Which doctor is that?" Adebola asked, worried about a male doctor treating and examining his wife. Such imagination makes him uncomfortable.
"I don't know her sir, but she treats Madam well." Fiona answered, giving him the answer he seeks.
"Oh! It's a female doctor." He spoke in relief.
"Yes sir. She is" Fiona confirmed again.
Walking upstairs, he entered his room to drop his briefcase that he had been holding. He missed this room as he sat on his bed removing his shoe laces. Recollecting his last memory in this room made him smile. He wished he was back to being that happy person with Debby who was a source of joy. He walked back downstairs and noticed it was evening time already.
"Fiona!" He called again but in a softer tone this time.
"Yes sir" Fiona said while coming out of the kitchen as he could hear her issuing decrees to the cooks that he barely interacted with.
"Why was my wife sick?"
"I don't know sir but She said it's malaria and she has been responding to treatments."
"Has she been to the hospital?, Because I don't understand which doctor came to my house for treatment"
"Yes sir, she has been to the hospital. Her parents came to carry her to the hospital last week when she was seriously sick" Fiona admitted looking away knowing he would be very angry. Just as predicted, he was mortified.a
"What? And none of you could call me? it just tell me how disloyal you guys can be. I mean my wife falls sick and none of you could call me or even send me a text message. But her parents came here. They must think I am not good enough for their daughter." Adebola rambled again scratching his head unable to comprehend the fact that Debby preferred that he was uninformed about the things happening in his own house. He returned back upstairs, walking to his room.
Suddenly on hearing sounds of arrival at the main entrance door, he retracted his steps back until the entrance door was pushed open. Shade her friend came in first followed by Debby whom she was holding by the hand and her Parents.
They all wore black attire while Debby and Shade included dark glasses. Shade held Debby as if giving her physical body support.
"Ha my inlaw you are back? Pastor Olatunji asked cheerfully on seeing him descend from the staircase.
"Good evening sir, good evening ma, he greeted his inlaws prostrating hoping this would lighten their displeasure, he assumed.
"Good evening my son welcome back. Your wife told us you took some time off social interaction for strategic thinking. A self recuperating retreat as she called it. Pastor Olatunji said
"Yes sir" Adebola admitted again feeling like the world's greatest sinner. He waited for the scolding but was shocked at what came next.
"I like that so much. I admire that.You see I wish other people can do that. Even some of our pastor's would refuse to go on our compulsory retreat that we spend money organizing each year". Pastor Olatunji complimented him
"Please sir, let's go and sit down. Fiona please bring refreshments, my inlaws are here" Adebola yelled
"Yes sir. I am on my way" she replied back.
"It's okay son. There's no need. We just came back from the memorial service and We have Monday counseling session in church so we should be on our way there. We just came to drop her home, knowing her condition. Please ensure this mourning disappears again finally son, please. Pastor Olatunji begged him.
"I support o. I know it will always hurt but she must truly move on like I thought she had. Debby's mother said pitifully.
Shade's arms were wrapped around her shoulders as Debby was mute just sitting at the couch refusing to greet him or say a word.
"How are your parents? I hear they have returned to London. Please extend our greetings to them". The Pastor said as soon as Fiona brought the drinks, standing up wit his wife to go.
"I will do that sir. Thank you so much sir for bringing her home." He appreciated his inlaws.
"It's nothing son." The Pastor replied.
"Please Debby take care of yourself o". Mrs Olatunji told her daughter who just responded with a nod.
"Shade Thank you so much for always being by her side. God will bless you my dear" She added walking with her husband out of their house.
Adebola wanted to be alone with her. He didn't even want Shade around but it would seem rude to drive her away.
He walked the Olatunji's out to the car park.
" When I visited the last time or even called before your trip, she was always so happy. Now look at her, throwing herself on the floor with Marcus's mother, saying that she wanted to die"
"Huh" Adebola replied suddenly emulating Debby's response when she had nothing to say.
"Please don't give up on her, be by her side, encourage her and above all else be patient with her my son."
Appreciating the pastor for every advice he had given him, they both shook hands and he felt more guilty as they drove off.
He had not been taking care of their daughter as expected. He had pushed her away when all she wanted to do was help him right here in this car park. He said some horrible things to her that he could never take back. His mother once told him that words are like eggs once you say them, you can unsay them
Walking briskly back into the house. He didn't see any of them in the living room. The drinks were just on a tray in the living room table. A new center piece, he was sure, Debby also bought but who gave her the money, he couldn't fathom. He walked upstairs to her room, turning it open, he saw it was empty. No trace of her or her belongings.
"Fiona!!!" He called.
"Fiona." He screamed.
"Yes sir"
"Where is my wife? I can't find Shade and my wife.They are not in her room".
Adebola stated explaining as though something extraordinary had happened.
"She moved downstairs because the doctor said she didn't need stress of climbing the stairs."
"Oh! That serious huh?" He said
Nodding his head in acceptance to what Fiona said, he suddenly realized that he would miss the function of the interconnecting door. He would now, always ponder on what is being said behind closed doors. He would find a way to convince her back upstairs, he knew she didn't want to be near him or be in that room that allows him hear the gossip. If only she knew that, he thought as he walked to the pointed room where his wife occupied.
Upon knocking the door, Shade immediately opened the door.
"Good evening sir" she greeted him respectfully.
"Good evening Shade how are you?"
"I am very fine sir" she answered smiling. "Please do come in" She requested politely and he almost chuckled at her courtesy in his own house.
He entered to see Debby wrapped up in a duvet with the air conditioning unit turned off.
"Debby how are you?" He asked calmly.She looked at him, closing her eyes instead of replying. After some seconds, he felt embarrassed and Shade knew it making the situation awkward.
"Please don't be upset with her. She had been crying ever since you traveled, coupled with the event of today.I think she is highly depressed."Shade defended her as a good friend would.
"It's okay. Thank you for looking after her, I really appreciate."
"It's nothing sir. The doctor just insisted that she gets adequate rest." Shade added.
He looked at the sleeping angel once more before leaving the room. Climbing upstairs, his phone blipped again. Realizing he had unread messages in his inbox, he opened the one from his mother first and his entire world took a spin.