Shortly after that encounter, Henry and I met up. He came to our office one day and I went up to his father’s office to see him. He was of average height, with a slim, compact body and a face that looked so much like his dad. He was dressed in a navy suit, a light blue shirt and tie and he looked really cool.
“He’s really cute,” I remember thinking as his dad introduced us and we shook hands. Since it was our first meeting, I thought things would be a bit awkward between us, but it wasn’t so. After his dad left us alone to as he put it, ‘so you two can get to know each other,’ we sat and chatted for some time. He worked in human resources in a large construction company in town and was also doing a part-time course in Law.
At the end of that first meeting with Henry, I had to reconsider my attitude towards the whole issue. The truth was that I was seriously attracted to him and I could feel a connection to him that I had not felt for any guy for sometime.
It was for that reason that I agreed to a date with him when he asked if he could take me out at the weekend.
“So, how was it? Do you like my son? And are you going to marry him?” Henry’s dad asked me anxiously after he had gone. We had seen him off in his car and I was making my way to my own department.
“I don’t know if I will marry him but I think I like him,” I replied, smiling at him a little.
“I’m glad to hear that. At least that’s one hurdle cleared. The next step is to meet your parents so we can commence with the marriage rites…” he stated.
“Marriage rites, ke?” I said and burst into laughter. “Sir, you are moving a bit too fast for me! I just met your son for the first time today and you are already planning the wedding. We have to get to know each other, see if we are compatible before we can start thinking about such things,” I pointed out.
He sighed then.
“You are right, my dear. You see, in our parents’ days, things were done differently. Parents picked wives for their children- all they did was take the girl of their choice home to the son and he accepted her whether he liked the girl or not. But, you young ones these days, you like to make your own choice…” he said.
“That’s true, sir. This is the 21st century and we like to choose our own partners,” I concurred.
“I hope you choose my boy,” he said, smiling.
I laughed again.
“Well, let’s wait and see!” I said before going to my office.
I went out with Henry that weekend and I really had fun. We seemed to have so much in common and we chatted as if we had known each other for years.
I smiled, remembering what his dad said earlier in the week.
“Can I share in the joke?” Henry asked. He was taking me home at the end of the date.
I turned to him and said:
“It’s your dad o! Do you know he is already making plans for our wedding?”
“Wow! That’s quick-just like daddy. He doesn’t like wasting time once he’s made up his mind about something. So, what did you say to him?” he asked, as he tried to avoid hitting an okada rider with two passengers who was speeding on the highway as if he was being pursued by the devil himself.
“I told him it was too soon. That we barely know each other…” I stated, glancing at him.
He nodded.
“That should make him calm down,” he stated. Then turning to me, he asked:
“But how long do you think we need to get to know each other before we move to the next level?” he queried.
“Hmm…” I stated, pretending to think deeply, then said: “How about 50 years?” I noted in a teasing tone.
“What!” he exclaimed. “ But we’ll be too old by then to be talking about marriage!”
“Well, that’s the idea,” I quipped and laughed.
“You are funny,” he said, laughing as well.
* * *
“Na wa for you o, Abby! We hardly see you these days. Wetin dey happen?” asked my friend Carole. She had come with Tari, my other close friend to visit me one weekend some months later.
“No mind am. It’s that her new catch that’s turning her brain upside down!” stated Tari.
Carole looked at me in surprise.
“Is that so? But you told us that you were not interested when his old man first approached you on his behalf?” she noted.
“Ha! And you believe her? She was lying! She has fallen flat for him o!” Tari said, a smirk on her face.
“Is that so?” Carole repeated, turning to me.
I was busily filing my toenails and I looked up.
“I changed my mind. A girl can change her mind, can’t she?” I asked sarcastically and resumed my toe filing.
I looked up just in time to see both of them exchanging glances, then they burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I queried, frowning.
“What’s changing your mind got to do with this? Just say the truth; that you’ve fallen madly in love with him! And any day you don’t see him, you feel sad…” said Tari.
I shook my head.
“You know something? You girls have a problem- you talk too much and your busy body is something else. If you don’t have anything better to do, than stick your long noses in my business, then you can go and help me wash my dirty clothes in the bathroom..” I stated firmly.
“Deny it all you want, but I know I’m right. Abi, no be so?” Tari said to Carole.
“Na so o!” she replied and they slapped hands and laughed again.
I ignored them and bent down once more to my toe nails..
Much later, when I thought back to what my friends said, I had to agree that they were right. I had fallen for Henry in a big way and within a short time, he had become a very important part of my life. He was on my mind most of the time- even when I was at work, all I could think about was him. It was a strange feeling for me. I had been in relationships before and even been in love a few times but this was different. I didn’t believe in all these fairytale ideas of love at first sight but from the way I felt, it looked as if that was what had happened to me with regards to Henry.
I lay down on the couch and was about to start reading a novel I had borrowed from Carole when my mobile rang. It was Henry.
“So, how’s my baby doing today?” he asked in his deep, baritone voice.
“I’m cool. I’m just missing you, that’s all,” I replied, happy to hear from him. He had travelled out of town the previous week on official business and I missed him terribly.
“I miss you too. So, how have you been keeping yourself busy?” he asked again.
“Nothing much. Just work. And right now, I’m chilling at home because of the public holiday. If you had not abandoned me and travelled, at least we would have gone out,” I stated petulantly.
He laughed.
“You know that’s not true. I will never abandon you. This trip was important,” he stated.
“Yeah, you are right. Just hurry up and come home to me, ok?” I said.
“Alright, baby. Just take care of yourself for me,” he added.
“I’ll do that, honey,” I stated. We chatted for sometime before hanging up.
On his return the following week, I went to spend the weekend with him. He still lived at home with his parents and other siblings in a large house in the city. That evening, I was in his room watching a movie on TV when Henry came in with a tray of drinks.
“What are we celebrating?” I asked, looking up at him curiously.
He opened a soft drink for me and as he raised the glass which had been turned upside down on the tray, I saw a ring sparkling there.
“What’s this?” I asked, reaching for it but he quickly picked it up and going down on one knee stated:
“I know my dad beat me to it but this is something I still want to do,” he said. Then sounding very serious, he asked:
“Abby, darling, will you marry me?”
I felt so touched that all I could do was nod my head and rush into his arms.
He laughed then said:
“I take that as a yes, then,” he noted before slipping the ring on my finger.
That was how Henry and I became formally engaged. But before we could start planning our future together, a letter arrived from a childhood friend of his that was based abroad that put our plans on hold…