Adedayo felt a shift on the bed and an arm clinging tighter to him. A smile appeared on his face while he recollected the day before and the night that followed. She had showed up at his door when he didn’t expect, when he nearly gave up hope of her ever coming back to him. They’d shared a passionate night together. He loved her as best as he could and held her tightly with the intention of never letting her go again.

Joy opened her eyes first and kissed him on the forehead. His smile broadened before fluttering his eyes open. 

He drew her even closer into his arms. “Good morning.”

She giggled. “Good morning.”

They stared into each other’s eyes with so much love. “You’re going to be late for work.”

His eyes lurked from one of hers to the other. “Should I call in sick today?”

She laughed in a way that made him keep smiling. “You don’t need to lie for my sake. I’ll be here when you get back and we can continue from where we left off.”

Though he knew she meant her words, he couldn’t help feeling a wave of fear. It really broke him the last time she was gone even thought he was the one who asked her to go. He feared, this time, something else might try to take her away.

“Nothing is certain. Anything can happen.” Dayo replied and she stared at him in silence. If only he knew how broken she had been without him and had made up her mind never to separate from him ever again. 

Joy lifted her head over his and kissed him softly on the lips. “As long as it’s not the end of the world, I’m never going anywhere away from you. So, go to work.”

They both laughed and she threw her head back on the pillow while Adedayo got down from the bed. He put on his shorts before heading out of the room for the bathroom. Joy gazed at the ceiling and heaved a sigh of relief. A few months ago, she wondered if she would ever get to see him again and now, here she was. 

It only broke her heart that she had to break Kenny’s heart to get to where she is now. Like she’d told him, he was a good man and she believed, someday, he was going to meet the right person for him. Joy was sure her mother would object so she’d packed what little she could and left without telling her, at least for now. She missed Dayo so much that she failed to think straight in those moments.

His place was little but it felt like home with just the two of them like in the past. Joy loved it this way and felt nostalgic as she looked around. 

Adedayo was over the moon after his wife’s arrival. He wasn’t sure if he could call her his wife. He shook his head at the thought. At least, for today, it didn’t matter. 

They shared another kiss by the door before saying their goodbyes and Adedayo walked through the door. He felt on cloud nine. The happiest he has been in a very long time. He was grateful to the universe for giving him this one happiness in his life. He was going to cherish it very much and be eternally grateful. 

Joy spent half of the day cleaning up, going through some things and managed to sleep for some time. The most peaceful sleep she has had in the longest time. She decided to make an early dinner for Dayo knowing it wouldn’t be long before he was back.

There was a knock on the door and she rushed off to it hoping to see Dayo. Instead, she met her mother.

“M-mum?”

“It’s nice to see that you still recognise me as your mother.” She said as she walked past Joy into the apartment. Though still surprised, Joy closed the door.

“Adesuwa why? What is wrong with you? You broke it off with Kenny and came back here without a word to me. What is so special about this place and that young man? I don’t like to sound like this but he has nothing to offer you. This is ridiculous.”

“I’m sorry. I tried. Honestly, I did my best. Still, it’s not the same with Dayo. I don’t care about his status. He took care of me when he thought I had nothing. He’s…” 

A knock came through the door and immediately, she knew who it was. She exchanged one look with her mother before opening the door. Right away, Dayo put his arms around her waist and drew her in for an intense kiss on the lips.

“I missed you very much.” He said with a smile. “I missed you too.” She told him, unable to refrain from smiling. The moment Dayo’s eyes fell on Mrs. Irabor who has now taken her seat on the couch, his smile fell and he was rather embarrassed.

“You didn’t tell me your mum was here.” He told Joy in what seemed like a whisper. She smiled at his words and reaction. Joy shut the door then locked arms with him and together they went forward and had their seat.

For Dayo it felt like forever since they took their seat and Joy’s mother just stared. He wondered about what to say or do that’ll make him fall on her favourable side.

“Adedayo, right?” She asked and Dayo nodded.

“My daughter is determined to be with you but, as a mother… I don’t think you’re right for her.”

“Mum.”

Dayo couldn’t help lowering his eyes unsteadily from her. 

“Don’t get me wrong. I’ll forever be grateful to you for taking care of Adesuwa when she had no one. But, now, it’s different. She has me and her background. She can’t stay here with you.”

“I don’t have any complains. To me, it’s the same from before you found me.” Joy stood up to her mother and wasn’t going to have her mother’s words play Dayo’s mind again.

“Adesuwa, it’s not the same. What kind of mother will I be if I leave you in this situation while I live in such a house alone owning all the money I possessed in the world. Something has to change.”

“Dayo, you don’t need to change anything about you. I fell in love with you just the way you are. I don’t want you to change.”

“What do you need me to do?" Dayo asked Mrs Irabor, ignoring Joy's words. He wasn’t about to give up like the last time. This time he was willing to do what he can to keep Joy with him.

"First, find a better apartment. This space is suffocating."

Adesuwa stood up from her seat and went to her mother. "Mum, I'm fine. I don’t want anything to change. I like this apartment…"

"Second, Adesuwa will go home with me as she's not your wife. You have to come with your people and marry her the right way." 

Though Dayo listened, he couldn’t stop himself from feeling like someone who was gradually drowning. He didn’t have the money to afford a space bigger that this. In regards to the trad wedding, he didn’t know how to tell her he had no one.

"We don't need any unnecessary waste of money. A court wedding is enough." Joy intervened because she didn’t want Dayo to fell pressured.

"Once you do as I said, I'll be happy to let you live with my daughter. "

"Mum!"

Their attention fell on Joy. "Dayo, if you love me, you'll listen to what I say and take my words into consideration."

Dayo does respect his wife but he would love to get Mrs Irabor's blessing and approval. His aim was simply to make her see him in a different light.

"I respect you madam and would've loved to fulfill all your wishes but it's going to take some time. For now, can I just be with your daughter. I love her very much and appreciate her existence in my life."

Joy smiled, glad to hear Dayo stand up for her. 

"Also, I'm not going anywhere. This is my home."

Dayo stared at Joy, he was more than glad to have her by his side. Their separation had made them realise just how much they needed each other and they would be damned if they let anything separate them again.

"Mum," Joy went closer and knelt in front of her mother.

"I understand you care about me and wants to to do the best for me but this is what makes me the happiest, being here with Dayo. I love him and I love you too. I'll always come to visit you. Please, give us your blessings."

Mrs. Irabor looked from her daughter and to Dayo and back to her daughter. She held her face in her hands.

"Adesuwa, you're all I have. Forgive me if I've seemed unbearable. I always have to make sure you have the best."

"I do. He's not perfect but he's the best for me. We'll grow together in every aspect. Please, say you support our union."

Mrs. Irabor was silent, longer than she should have. It created a tension in their midst.

"Fine."

Both Dayo and Joy smiled. Joy hugged her mother right away.

"But you two have to Wed really soon. You can’t keep living together without doing that."

Both nodded and Joy helped her mother stand on her feet. She looked at Dayo for sometime before wearing a simple smile. She initiated a hug and he was glad to accept it.

Both Dayo and Joy smiled at each other in the end after saying goodbye to Mrs. Irabor. Even better than before, Dayo felt lighter. He just had to do a good job at being a husband and maybe someday in the future, a father.

Hey guys, thank you so much for reading this book and I hope you enjoyed the bonus chapters. In the future, please look out for more stories from me. Don't forget to like, share and comment. Xoxo, Mercy.