Dedicated to comfywrites❤❤

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. --
1 Corinthians 10:13 (MSG)

"Mum, I will be home for the ceremony. I already told you."

"Now, why would I do that?"

"Okay. Love you. Bye, mum. My love to dad."

Tayo hung up his cell phone laughing. His parents were definitely up to something and he had an idea what it was. However, he decided to play along and see what their plans were. He loved his parents so much and despite all he had been through and even done, they were still there for him.

Oba Aderopo Asiwaju Sijuade and Olori Aderonke Yetunde Sijuade were important to him. Asides from them being his parents, they were also the one constant in his life, at least when it came to the humans in his life. They were so supportive of him and his dreams while at the same time, they voiced their thoughts whenever they had to advise him. It was heartwarming how they brought up himself and his siblings. It was like they were parents and even their best friends at the same time.

Tayo could remember the numerous times his younger sisters had pleaded with his parents to narrate the story of how his father had come to be the King. He smiled again. Oh how he had longed for a love like theirs. A love that withstood every trial. He had had it and then…

No, not now.

He stood from his seat, for the last time that day as he made preparations to go home.

As he stepped out of his office, he met Kazeem sitting in the waiting area just outside his office, trying his hardest not to doze off.

"Kazeem," he called, which made Kazeem jolt into an upright position. "I know I have told you countless times to not wait for me to close up before you leave. You can always leave at the general closing time."

Kazeem, still a tad disoriented, shrugged and responded, "I don't mind waiting, sir. Besides,  there's no one I'm rushing to meet at home. I am as single as a singlet, sir."

Laughing, Tayo shook his head. "Okay o, Mr Singlet. But you don't have to wait for me. You just let me know when you are leaving for the day and you can head home. You hear me?"

"Yes, sir," came the reply.

*******

As Tayo drove home, his thoughts returned to the interview he had had days earlier. He sighed as he remembered how he had reacted and poured out his frustrations on the journalist. It definitely wasn't a proud moment for him, but he had been fixated on just one thing: getting that journalist to stop her questioning. He hadn't even been able to go to his house since that day and had been sleeping in his makeshift bedroom in his office.

He sighed again and made a mental note to send an apology note through Kazeem to her.

On approaching the estate where his house was situated, his palms became sweaty and his throat parched. Unwelcome tears began to gather in his eyes.

I thought I was over this.

The mention of his wife had definitely unravelled the emotions he had worked hard to keep wrapped and locked up.

Still, he pushed through and honked at the gate into his duplex. Isaiah, his gateman and security guard, opened the gate and ushered him in with a smile.

"Oga, welcome. How was your day, sir?" Isaiah greeted, as he came out of his car.

"It was good. Thank you, Isaiah. Any messages for me today?"

"None, sir," he responded, as he helped to take his leather bag into the house.

The duplex was a 3-bedroom self-owned building in the prime area of Lekki. It had a garage which could hold 2 cars at once and a generator house just beside the building with a small living quarters, popularly known as Boy's Quarters, behind the main building. Isaiah lived there during the weekdays, but it was often empty during the weekends and when Isaiah went on holidays.

The main building was painted in cream on the outside. Tayo walked in through the main door through a smaller room, much like a lounge.  The lounge contained a three-sitter sofa and a stool, and opened into the main sitting room painted in cool hues of blue and white. The main sitting room was separated from the lounge by a see-through glass sliding door, that was tapered off by large and thick matching curtains. It was minimalist and homey. Black-coloured leather chairs, with three stools plus a centre coffee table decorated the room, along with colourful throw pillows.

Tayo placed his work bag on the loveseat facing a Samsung brand 52" television with its home theatre that decorated the wall and walked into the large kitchen passing through the dining area that had a 6-man dining set. They had planned to have a large family but...

The large kitchen held every kitchen appliance available and invented by man. It had always been her favourite place. Sighing again, Tayo made his way to the fridge to pick the leftover pizza he had had the other night.

And she would have hit me upside the head and told me to leave her kitchen while she prepared 'correct' food.

He paused again, resting both hands on the formica surface where the microwave was whirring. It was almost like the whirring noise provoked the rise of his emotions because the next thing he felt on his hand was a splatter of his tears.

He hated that all he could do was just cry anytime she came to mind. They weren't meant to end that way. She was such a joyful person and that joy was contagious.

It was like his mind was bent on reminding him what, or rather who, he had lost. There was a particularly beautiful memory he had of her that he was so fond of. They had just gotten married, like 3 months into their short marriage when...

****
"Tee, come on. See, I'm not playing with you again o," Doubra shrieked as Tayo tickled her.

Smirking, he continued and even braved her kicking legs. For someone so light, she sure packed a lot of kick in her legs.

"You will do mischievous things and now be threatening me with refusal to play with me when you get caught. See ehn, today is not your day. Go and tell your herbalist that the enchantment is not working today," he told her.

"Oya, please now. I'm sorry. I won't do it again," she pleaded flashing him with her classic puppy dog eyes and pout. He knew that she knew he couldn't resist those lovely dark chocolate eyes of hers, so he relented.

Rather than thank him, she said," It was because you were acting all boring and grumpy like an old man. That's why I had to pull out my tricks."

"And by tricks you mean rubbing each piece of my chocolate chip cookies and Pringles in hot Cameroonian pepper?" he asked, aghast. He was so sure his eyes had gotten round due to her mischief. He didn't even want to remember how the cookies had tasted after her "tricks".

"Tee baby. I thought it would be fun. And it was fun!" Doubra asserted with eyes glinting with more mischief.

"I don't even know if I will be able to eat chocolate cookies anymore or even Pringles. I have been scarred. Scarred by you, Dee."

"You don't have to pout. It was just your wife having a little fun with you. And you know what? You're in for more. We have a lot of years to go but I feel like exhausting the "tricks" I have today."

"Are you sure you won't be bored? When you have nothing to trick me with?" He asked with his brows raised.

She just shrugged and her right eye began to twitch.

"Oh my! What are you planning again?" Tayo said.

"Nothing!"

"That reply came too fast. And if you think I believe you, then think again."

And on and on, they had continued till they went to bed all shrieks and laughter.

*****

The ding of the microwave brought him out of his thoughts, and slowly he opened the microwave and just stared at the steaming hot slices of pizza. His appetite was gone. And he wasn't sure he would get any sleep either.

Like a lifeless being, he walked out of the kitchen and went into his room. He had had to convert one of the two other rooms into his because he couldn't sleep in their room anymore, the memories had become too overwhelming for him.

Laying down, he muttered,"God help me. This pain is too much. You said you won't give us more than we can bear. I'm not sure what Your scale or unit of measurement is, but this is definitely more than I can bear, Abba. I can't go on this way. Please, can you help me?"

I am here, son. My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Just lean on Me.

Curling into a fetal position, Tayo wept, wept like he had not before. Could he even find the strength to lean on Him now? Was he not too far gone?

(The day she slept)

Doubra could sense it the moment the atmosphere in the theatre changed. The doctor and nurses had begun to mumble and "consult". She was loosing too much blood and her baby wasn't even crying. He, yes it was a he, ought to be crying. But he wasn't.

She couldn't find the strength to scream or even speak. This wasn't the plan. It obviously wasn't. Who ever planned to die like this?

And then, her thoughts turned to Tayo. The guy hadn't been able to stay in the delivery room when she was wheeled. He mentioned something about feeling dizzy or was it his eyes that were itching him?

Smiling, she knew her husband wouldn't be able to handle this. She was the strong one and he always leaned on her faith.

She prayed one last prayer with the final breathe in her.

"Father, give him peace. Give him rest. Help him to lean on you."