King

I adjusted on the couch, eyes blurry from the time spent reading and rereading comments on our posts. Junior walked into the living room with a smile. The fool has been smiling since his woman came home. If I had known Faith's presence would make a huge difference, I would have told her about Emma myself but I was glad Junior did it. I looked around for my woman and there she was with Uche and Cynthia.

Whatever Cynthia said made Uti laugh and my lips twitched. Her laughter didn't sound the same like it did in the past but hearing her laugh almost as freely as she used to do before was great. It was big progress.

With the trial coming up once we landed in Calabar, I had expected her to be moody but she had been everything but that. She was in charge of the banners and ads we made.

#justiceforEmma was now a popular slang on Naija Twitter. It was also everywhere on Instagram. We even had a Facebook group dedicated to it. I suspected Uche might have had a hand in that because it showed up after he commented on creating one.

Junior plopped into the space beside me without an invitation. He was with his own laptop. Everyone was in the parlour doing their own thing. Faith was focused on the screen of her phone. I could bet she was either correcting or lecturing someone who was advising against coming online to create awareness. We had received so many of that statement. Some threats too. People were weird like that. Most of them loved their oppressors.

"What's up?" Junior asked.

I looked away from the screen I had not been focusing on. Too many comments on Twitter, Facebook and even Instagram. Too many jobless youths online making our posts about them, arguing over nonsense.

"Nothing much." His gaze trailed to Faith and he smiled. She looked up and waved. My guy turned into a moron, smiling sheepishly. "Will you propose to her?" Junior's head jerked in my direction and my voice lowered. "I will be getting married soon. Tomiwa too. Uche is already married. Umar is Umar and..."

"It's just me," Junior finished on my behalf. I nodded. He got the memo. I wasn't pressuring him but when you find the right one, you wouldn't want to wait so long before getting them off the streets. Junior massaged the lines on his forehead. I tapped on my keyboard and the screen came to life. "Do you think she wants to get married? I don't know if I can handle that."

"It mustn't be now."

Our gazes redirected to the topic of our conversation. Faith. She was looking up at her friend who was done talking to Uche and Cynthia. Uti strolled towards Faith. The two sat cross-legged on the floor, talking and laughing. Esther was indoors. We never let her participate in this. Maybe when she was older and wise enough to understand, we would tell her how we got justice for her baby brother.

Faith's gaze flickered to me. Uti eyed me and turned away. Junior and I shared a glance. They had to be talking about us. They did it again. Stared at us, then laughed. This women. I dumped my laptop and carried Uti on my lap. Her laughter tickled my ears.

"What are you two gossiping about?" I asked.

"We don't gossip," Faith answered.

Faith winked at Junior and he nodded. So much for bro code. I shifted my attention to the minx on my lap. Her stomach wasn't swollen like Cynthia's yet but the doctor said she was fine. She was still allowed on flights but a few more months into her pregnancy, she wouldn't be able to fly again.

Uti toyed with the collar of my shirt. "Baby daddy," she said. I pouted and she placed her lips on mine. Her arms spread over the room and her eyes welled with tears. "Thanks."

"For what?"

From my side eye, I could see Faith and Junior chatting about something intense. They stood up and walked out of the parlour and I wondered if he was going to propose to her now. Uche and Cynthia were also gone, leaving me and Uti here alone.

They had been the biggest influence on this campaign. Umar too. There was only one option for us. And it was winning. We had to win. By the constitution, he was looking at a period of 5 - 20 years in prison. In the best case, he might get life sentence. Our lawyer, provided by my mother was good at his job.

"For helping me," Uti replied. She grasped my jaw and I took her hands in mine. She didn't get the memo yet. "For doing all of these, King."

"Don't thank me, Uti. I'm your husband."

"We're not married yet," she muttered.

Her eyes were smiling. I laced our fingers and the cold metal of her ring tingled my skin. "Soon." Her smile widened and I smiled back. "When do you want to get married?"

"Anytime you want."

"Today?" I teased.

"Right now if you want," she replied without a trace of laughter. I sat upright, nearly pushing her out of my lap. We could do it now but Mother would kill me. Whether or not I wanted a small event, the wedding must be glamorous. Not big but outstanding. Uti touched my jaw. "My baby daddy. The King."

I laughed. I loved it when she cheered me on. Pressing a kiss to her nose, I whispered, "When we get to Calabar then." She played along. Her fingers crept under my shirt and a moan slipped out of my lips. "After Tomiwa's wedding? I don't want anything big." Another nod of approval. Left to Mother, she might want something lavish but I wouldn't allow that. "But what about our honeymoon?"

Uti laughed. "Let's get married first."

"Yeah," I said with a nod. "Yeah."

Palming my face, Uti's thumb stroked my jaw and I flashed her a smile. "Do you miss work?"

A knot sat in my throat. I missed working. I missed going out with a purpose other than getting justice for my boy. Uti poked a side of my cheek to form dimples I never had.

"Yeah. Do you?"

She had not been working. Before we came here, the last time she touched her machine was after finding out she was pregnant. Left to me, I didn't want her working anymore as I could take care of all of us. But I wanted her to resume work because Tomiwa told me earlier this week that it could be a good distraction. A healthy one to transfer her feelings. Good and bad feelings.

Tomiwa wanted Uti to have something else to focus on so if she didn't get justice, she wouldn't be devastated as much. I couldn't picture a scenario where that bastard didn't end up in prison. Uti did not care about his father but she wanted the son locked up if the judges decided death wasn't the best for him. Above all, she wanted us to move on from this horror that befell us. I wanted it too.

"Yes. I miss my machine." Uti made a motion of slicing the air. She sighed but her lips maintained that lazy smile. "I miss cutting. I miss the old times. I miss him." Her cheeks were wet with the tears that showed up. Her random breakdowns used to be scary before but now, I encouraged them. "I miss my baby."

Slipping my hand to the base of her neck, I touched my forehead to hers. "I miss him too and we will get justice for him, I promise."

"You can't make promises like that, King." Uti closed her eyes but I heard her doubts. It was her first time of expressing them. "You have done enough with this already. I love you."

"I love you but we will get justice for him."

Her eyelids fluttered. Her eyes looked clearer and I almost lost myself in them. "Okay."

I sighed in content as her lips brushed mine. I wanted her to kiss me but she slipped from my legs to sit on the couch. "Are you trying for a job?" I shook my head. I wasn't trying for anything except her happiness. "You should, King. If you really miss working."

"Nope." Her brows lifted by an inch or two. I delayed to explain what I meant and her lips turned down in a frown. She was cute even when angry. "I want my own company, Uti."

We didn't discuss it after we left Mother.

"Really?" I nodded. She clapped, then burst out laughing. Smoothing the front of my shirt, she gave me a thumbs up like I already got the company. "What would you like to call it? Have you decided on a name?"

"King's Homes?" It didn't sound so bad in my head and her smile encouraged me to add, "I still want to be in the real estate business. I want to help people find their dream homes."

Uti hummed. Her eyes lit up with pride. This was our first time discussing business, my business. "You will make a good boss. You have to employ Faith too. She's jobless."

There was no malice in her voice, only mischief and I couldn't help wondering if she made a deal with Faith. From what I had gathered about Faith, I knew my company could use someone like her. Someone who was good at convincing others to part with their money.

"What did she study?"

Uti pouted. "She's an accountant."

"I'll think about it."

Uti returned to my lap and wiggled her ass. I loved this woman with my whole life. "Okay, Mister CEO of King's Homes. You have my support."

I liked the sound of that. I really liked it.

* * *

Mother was calling. I shoved the phone into my pocket without answering it. She was worrying too much and it was starting to affect me. Uti walked out of the house and my heart stopped for a moment. She was stunning in her ankara print jumpsuit.

She turned around slowly. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful. Stunning," I answered.

"Really?"

Her nervousness crept into her voice. I pulled her in for a hug because I couldn't handle another second without her touch.

"Really, Uti. You look beautiful." Today was the day. She was nervous because she would be taking front seat beside the lawyer. "You're the most beautiful woman on earth."

"Thank you." Stepping back, she adjusted my tie. I was wearing a suit. I couldn't be caught unfresh on a big day like this. She sucked in a breath and her arms shook as they came around her stomach. I fingered her scalp. "Are you ready? I don't think I'm ready, King."

"I'm not ready too," I confessed. The first drop of rain hit her forehead. We looked up to the skies that was gathering grey clouds. Uti loved the rain. Maybe this was a sign today would be good. "But we go kill am."

As expected, Uti doubled over with laughter. She poked my chest with her finger. "Never you speak pidgin again. It's bad. It's horrible. It's nonsense." I nudged her gently towards my car and opened the passenger door for her. "Worst in pidgin." Slipping into the car, she added, "But I believe you. We go kill am."

My smile was intact as I moved to the other side. I achieved my purpose of making her laugh and it was better than my horrible sounding pidgin. She took my hand once I was seated. We didn't speak. We didn't need words to, our silence spoke more than we could.

"I love you," she said.

It had to be the most beautiful thing I heard today. "I love you, Uti. I'll always be here for you and Esther and our son. Always, always."

She squeezed my hand. "Always, always."

The drive was quiet. Anxiety burrowed into my chest as we approached the court building. Chanting from a few miles got our attention and the tightness in my chest evaporated. I could hear them and as I drove further, I saw them. People holding placards, banners. People singing, "Justice for Emma."

People we didn't know, people who united to fight for our cause.

Uti gasped. I didn't have to look at her to know she was crying. We had our faults as a country but Nigerians always showed up for each other. I found a spot to park inside the building. My phone rang again before we got out. My mother. She was so fucking worried.

"You should pick," Uti said. Her eyes were on the protesters. We didn't organise this but it was more than welcomed. "King. Pick your call."

Right. I retrieved my phone and swiped up.

"King Daniels," Mother scolded. I managed to laugh. Uti spared me a glance and I winked. "I was worried. Why weren't you picking?"

I bopped the steering wheel. "Because you were worried. It was getting to me, Mother."

Silence came from the other end. "Your baby wants to speak with you. She misses home."

It was hard to leave Esther behind but there was no person that would protect her better than her grandparents. I couldn't risk it. Uti couldn't either. She needed to be safe till this was over. I put the phone on speaker mode.

"Is she there with you?"

"No. But I'll get her. Wanted to wish you two luck today." Uti and I looked at each other. She smiled. "Is your wife there?" I replied in the positive and Mother said, "Hi, Uti. Don't be nervous. It will end before you know it." I nodded like she could see me. I hoped that would be the case. "Gabriel knows the judge. We talked to him last night. I don't want to get your hopes high but this will be good."

Anxiety made me and Uti dumb but we uttered unintelligible sounds. This could be good like she said but it could also end up bad. How did she even know the judge for today's case? Mother put the call on hold to get Esther. By the time the call ended, I was feeling better than I did before she called.

I stretched my hand to Uti. "Ready?" 

She placed her hand in mine. "I think so."

Adrenaline pumped through me once we stepped out. Camera flashes went off when people noticed us and the chants only grew louder.

This had to be.

It must be good.