CHAPTER EIGHT
Tolani packed her car slowly under one of the beautiful trees in the hospital compound close to the emergency ward. She alighted from her car and Jideofor also came down. Tolani held his hand like a mother holding her son as they walked towards the entrance. He did not like the way she was holding his hand like a child, and he tried to remove his hand, but could not. She was holding it firm, and he just bit his lips in displeasure. He had to cooperate; she was his mom in the circumstance, for the time being. As they got to the entrance, he looked at their reflection on the glass sliding door, admiring how gorgeously dressed she was. He did not notice her from the house. She wore a brilliant yellow blouse and a pair of white jeans, which highlighted her curves. She wore a pair of black hills and had a big black bag to match. Tolani was a pretty woman and her beauty had percolated Jideofor's sensitivity within the short time he had spent in her home. He liked her very much. He even once imagined that if he had not met his wife, that Tolani would be a perfect alternative. She had some similarities with his wife. But Tolani appeared to be braver than his wife. He was lost in his thought of admiring Tolani when the reality from his reflection brought him back. He wore a red and white stripped T-shirt, blue jeans, and a pair of sneakers. He was looking good too, but that was not his concern. They entered and walked straight to the nurse at the reception and asked after Mike. Another nurse was standing not too far from her.
"Good evening," Tolani greeted.
"Good evening madam," the nurse replied.
The nurse raised her head, she was writing before they entered.
"We came to see Mike," Tolani said.
"Please madam, are you related to him? We're under instruction not to allow strangers to go in there for now," the nurse said.
"He is a friend to the family, please how is he doing?" She asked.
Jideofor held himself from talking, he did not want to cause any scene.
"Oh! He's fine, he had a fracture on his left leg, and few injuries here and there. He'll be fine; he is out of danger now, the nurse said, "He just needs to rest." Jideofor was happy, he eyes then rushed around the hall, looking for any familiar face and he suddenly turned back. His eyes caught a girl and her mother coming. He could not get a clear view of their faces, but they were attractive. They were still outside, and he sighted them through the glass sliding door that headed to the entrance. The lady had the walking steps of Jideofor's wife, and her complexion. The little girl was about Jideofor's daughter's age, and he conjectured they were his family, but he could not decide until they entered.
Soon, the door opened, and mother entered. They were Laura and Adel. Laura looked like a queen and Adel looked like a princess. Jideofor was shocked. He quickly turned his head away from them spontaneously like a man that was about to be caught cheating on his wife, and he then tapped Tolani, who was still having chat with the nurse. He signalled her to bend so he could whisper in her ears. Tolani deciphered immediately and quickly inclined her ears towards him.
"That's my wife and my daughter," he said, looking at them with the corner of his eyes.
Tolani traced Jideofor's eyes and saw them. Her eyes met with Laura's and Tolani diverted her eyes to someone else, so that Laura would not notice that she was watching. Tolani was amazed at beautiful family Jideofor had.
"Wow! They are beautiful, so what are we going to do now?" She whispered immediately.
"I should be the one asking. You're the adult here now," Jideofor said.
Laura approached.
"Good evening," Laura greeted Tolani casually, and faced the nurse and greeted her, "Good evening nurse."
She dropped her bag on the slab while speaking with the nurse. Meanwhile Adel had her eyes on Jideofor and locked her eyes on him immediately she saw him. She found him amiable. Jideofor threw his eyes at her, and noticing that she was staring at him, he wondered what was going on in her mind. Children do see and feel things that adults do not. He knew that, and he conjectured that the girl was feeling a connection. He then threw a smile at her and she smiled back. He went close to her and touched her nose. Tolani was amazed as she watched, she had never seen kids connect that way before. Adel's smile became broader.
"Daddy," she said.
Laura was startled. She was still making some enquiries about Mike when she heard it her daughter call 'Daddy!' Tolani was stunned and Jideofor was flabbergasted. He did not expect Adel to recognize him. Laura turned and looked at her daughter and Jideofor. She scanned the hall with her eyes to see if the girl saw someone that looked like her daughter's father. She then pondered whether the girl had seen her father's ghost.
Adel tapped her mother, pointed at 'the boy' and said, "Mom he looks likes daddy."
Jide smirked at hearing that. He was contented that his daughter was sensitive, knowing who he was but he was scared. Laura was confused. She did not see any resemblance between the 'child' and her husband. She was however curios over why 'the boy' beamed at her daughter, which compounded issues. 'The boy's' reaction, at Adel's mother telling Adel that 'the boy' did not look like her father was expected. He accepted it, but Jideofor knew that his daughter was right. He was however amazed at Adel's thought that he looked like her father.
Tolani knew what was going on, and she had to do something to salvage the situation. She did not want the issues to cause a scene.
"No, he looks like me, his mom," Tolani said. She forced a smile to her lips, and then robbed Adel's back. "You are also very beautiful just like your mom." Tolani then reverted to Laura, "Kids can be funny sometimes," she said.
"That is right," Laura replied with half smile.
Just then something unusual happened. Laura felt a connection with Jideofor. She did not understand why it happened, and that raise a debate in her mind. She tried to ignore what her thought was impressing on her, but it continued to come strong on her. Adel was a smart child and was very good at recognizing people, even right from when she was a baby. She hardly made mistake about anyone's identity, even if they were twins, and the thought about that ignited fear.
"The doctor said that nobody should be allowed to see Mike until he wakes up," came the voice of another nurse, bring back the attention of the ladies.
"Oh! Ok, I'll come back tomorrow morning then," Tolani said.
"You also came to see Mike?" Laura asked, quite surprised that she also came to see Mike, with a 'child' that her daughter says resembles her husband.
"Yes," Tolani replied politely, "I heard about the accident. I thank God that he is alive."
"Yes, we thank God," Laura said and observed Tolani again, and it was her first time seeing her. "I also came to see him. I will wait till he wakes up," Laura said.
"Okay," Tolani replied. "I have to run now, I'll come back tomorrow morning to see him." She stretched out her hand for a handshake with Laura and said, "I am Tolani Adebayo."
"I am Laura Uchendu," Laura replied.
They exchanged greetings and parted. Laura noticed how the boy' had his eyes on her all the time that she was talking to Tolani and was upset over the way he gawped at her, thinking that he was too young to gawp at a woman like that. There was something about 'the boy's stares that made Laura uncomfortable, though she did not make it obvious. She noticed that he avoided her eyes contact several times their eyes met.
"Okay, take care of yourself and your princess," Tolani said.
Tolani held 'the boy's hand and turned to leave with him. Jide quickly waved Adel goodbye and peered at Laura. He then made a gesture with his lips which Laura was quite familiar with. It was her husband's way of making her laugh whenever she was angry with him, and that sent chills to her spine, and her jaw went slack.