“No Madam, it can’t be patched.” The mechanic said. “You can’t take it home today.”
Tosin frowned. “What? How do you expect me to get home?”
The man smiled. “Madam, it’s not my fault. It’s because of the work I have to do on it.”
Joe who had been listening to their conversation turned to the mechanic. “What exactly is the problem with the car?”
Baba l’egba cleared his throat before answering. “The fuel pump is not supplying fuel, that’s one. I’ll have to service the carburator and -”
Tosin looked at Joe for help. “Look Joe, what’s important to me is to be able to take the car home today.”
Joe smiled and said gently, “Tosin, the car has to be fixed, there’s nothing you can do about it.” Joe said gently.
“So, are you bringing it tomorrow then?” Tosin asked the mechanic.
“I’ll try my best to bring it but if I don’t, you will get it on Wednesday unfailingly.”
“Oh my God!” Tosin looked at Joe again for his opinion.
Joe shrugged. “You don’t have much of a choice.” Then he faced the mechanic. “Does she have to give you money now to hasten the work?”
“No, Madam is not a stranger to me. She can pay me later for whatever I buy.”
Tosin looked at the man resignedly. “I will really appreciate it if it can be ready tomorrow.”
“Madam, put your mind at Wednesday, I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.”
“Okay.”
The man left.
Tosin sighed. “How do I get home?”
“The same way you got home on Saturday.” Joe said.
She immediately shook her head with a hand up. “No no, don’t worry. I can get one of my friends to give me a ride.”
“I don’t mind. I can drop you off at your house.”
“You gave me a ride on Saturday.”
“And so what?”
“It’s just that I don’t want to -”
“Bother you.” He finished for her with a smile. “I know you don’t want to bother me, I volunteered.”
She smiled back. “In that case, thanks for coming to my rescue, again.”
“My pleasure, and I’ll come to your rescue again if I have to.” He said then added, “Just call my name and I’ll be there.”
They laughed.
He got up. “I ought to be going now. Thanks for the coffee. Can I check you again?”
“Anytime.” Tosin assured him.
After he left, Tosin wondered about his visit. Why had he come? And there was a way he looked at her, with frank appreciation. She shrugged. There couldn’t be anything to it anyway. He knew she was married and he couldn’t be in want of ladies, many would consider him a good catch.
But why did he ask if he could be checking her up for a chat? He probably was just being friendly, and what she needed right now was a friend, she concluded. But why did that strange feeling come upon her earlier on? This could be satanic!
Wait a minute, her mind seemed to scream. This was about friendship not an affair. And she was a human being, a woman for that matter. She needed a friend to discuss with, someone to make her forget the problems in her marriage, someone who would understand her, even if Ladi didn’t. Joe seemed a nice man from the little time they had spent together, and the friendship would be platonic, wouldn’t it? Nevertheless, she prayed that God would help her to do His will.
At the close of work, Tosin left with Joe in his car. They chatted non-stop until she got to her house.
“Thanks. See you tomorrow.” She told him.
“Goodnight.”
**********
When Tosin came out of the bathroom the following morning, Ladi asked her, “Has your car been repaired?”
“No.” She answered curtly.
After about two minutes silence, Ladi spoke again. “I will drop you at your office.”
She didn’t reply.
Some twenty minutes later, Tosin fully dressed, took her handbag.
“I’m coming. I told you I’ll drop you.” Ladi said, getting up from the breakfast table.
“I’ll find my way, after all, I did yesterday.” She said and bent down to kiss Tireni, who was sitting on the sofa in her school uniform, waiting for her food.
Ladi’s mouth turned at the sides in amusement. “You are a woman.”
“So you’ve just realised that? That explains a lot.”
“I’ve always known that.”
“That’s such a relief then.” She rolled her eyes comically.
Ladi laughed. “You’re fully a woman.”
Tosin snorted.
Sade came in with Tireni’s breakfast.
“I’m off.” Tosin told her. And to her daughter, she said, “Tireni bye.”
“Mummy, bye-bye.”
Ladi picked his jacket and followed Tosin out, after hugging and saying ‘God bless you’ to Tireni.
Tosin entered his car looking unhappy but in her heart, she felt grateful for the ride. Ladi tried to make conversation, but when she answered in monosyllables, he stopped trying and drove on in silence. Tosin faced her side of the car and looked out, until Ladi pulled the car to a stop in front of Solid bank.
“Thank you.” She said as she got down.
“I won’t be able to come for you in the evening. I’m having a meeting with four of our partners from overseas at five.”
“Okay.” You never have the time for me.
He hesitated before asking, “Will you sort yourself out somehow?”
“Definitely.” She answered with a grimace.
“Have a nice day.” He said.
“You do the same.”
Joe came in the evening and volunteered to give her a ride home again which Tosin accepted gratefully.
The following morning, she was taken to her office by Ladi.
At half past ten, Baba l’egba came into her office, looking worried.
“Baba l’egba, what about my car? Is it ready?”
“Madam, I don’t know how it happened but I can’t find the key of the car. I’ve -”
Her face changed as she cut the man off. “You can’t find what?”
To be continued.
For this novel and other books by the same author,
Contact: 08023000773, 08058040949
