HOOKED 6

Lara was exited to be home again, its been 6 months now since she returned to Nigeria to start her new job at an oil and gas firm in Lagos. Being in the U.K had been a challenging but beautiful experience for her. She had matured in so many ways apart from her age but nothing had affected her view of life more than an experience she had Five years ago. She exhaled at the thought of AB. He was in the past now but she wished she had handled things differently. She never got her self to move on entirely, and she knew it was time to move on. She had dated other men but nothing came of her relationships in the past five years. She shook her head...she didn't want to feel this way. She heard he had gotten married two years after she left, that ship had sailed and she wanted to desperately forget him and the sense of loss she felt when ever she thought of him to disappear. "he is married forget him!" she said to herself.  She picked up her hand bag and car keys and walked out of the room.

Lara had gotten the call from the Executive directors office, she had been summoned for a meeting which took 3 hours of brain storming on strategic steps to make the company more productive. The fruit of the three hour meeting was that Lara would have to go to Abuja for a one week meeting  , next week to meet with various stake holders. she hated such meetings especially because of the irritating old men who always tend to hold on to her hand too long and make flirtatious comments at her. but she hated the younger men who always wanted to try their muscle at intimidation before they discovered that she too could play hard ball.  Lara smiled as she walked out of her office; it was time to go home. Maybe she would  give her self a treat before she went home she thought, after all the evening  was still very young it was just 5pm. A good movie and some shopping would be nice...


Lara walked up to the movie counter and picked her movie and paid. Her movie would not be on until 7pm she had roughly  forty-five minutes before it starts she would use that to shop. Lara walked into the shopping mall all excited and quickly started peering through the shelves. She walked into the food section and peered into the chocolate section. Suddenly she felt wired ...like she was being watched. She stopped and looked around her eye caught some one small looking up at her. Lara straightened and looked down at the the little girl staring up at her she had something in her hand. Lara smiled at her she smiled back and pointed at the top shelf. Lara's gaze followed her hand to the exotic biscuit at the top shelve. "you want?" Lara asked her " yesh a want" she said in a baby voice. wow Lara thought, such confidence and independence from a little girl, she looked round half expecting to see a proud mum or dad or guardian watching from the corner but no one. "where is your Mummy?" she asked the little girl "gone" she replied " Lara's heart flew into panic " so who are you with" she asked as she handed her the biscuit heart pounding what will happen now... the little girl smiled at her again. " I want to yide...I want to yide your cat please" she finished with a big grin and was already climbing the cart "lets go" she said hanging to the side of the cart...since her little legs had failed to carry her in. Lara laughed out loud momentarily forgetting her initial worry about the girl. What's that in your hand Lara asked as picked the little girl from the side of her cart. " ez for my daddy...I take it for him. and this one for us" she finished still eyeing the cart. Lara looked at the cart. "Is your daddy here?" "yesh" she said "okay, lets go find your daddy.
Lara picked the little girl up and placed her in her cart. she pushed the cart in zig zags much to the enjoyment of the little girl laughing with delight.
" Sommy" came the very familiar voice. "AB" it cant be! Lara froze. And there he was standing there in front of her. They stared at each other for an eternity that in reality was only a minute. "Hello AB" "hello Lara" he said "is she? Is she yours?" she asked "yes" he replied " wow...Lara look at you ! it been a long while. How are you ? Since when have you been  in town?" he asked " 6 months ago" she replied feeling really awkward " are you back for good?" he asked "well as far as I know" she replied "so are you married?" oh dear there comes the terrible question she so hates every one asks and she rather not have this conversation especially not with him" no am not...and no am not about to" she said with irritability in her voice. She regretted her tone and so looked away.  "daddy" Sommy called "see" she said in an excited voice holding out the things she had in her hands. Ab looked at her and smiled. " you got it" he said" "yesh...I got it" Sommy replied. " I Yide! Cat!" " yes...you did...did you enjoy the ride?! AB replied. "Yesh" Sommy said. Lara watched the exchange between the two and watched as AB picked the little girl out of her cart she felt pained. She felt an even deeper sense of loss and depression. " hey em...thank you for helping Sommy out "  she heard him say " oh its no problem" she replied. "see you around" she said and turned to flee " err Lara can I have your number or do still use  your old number?" "yes I still use my old one why?" she replied. "well I was wondering if I could call you up some time during the week, maybe we could sit and talk. Its been long you know just to catch up on old times" Lara froze turned to look at him her common sense screamed No! this is a mistake don't allow this but her heart said yes and so did her mouth" okay...bye" she fled without finishing her shopping or stopping to see her movie.

AB watched her vanish from his sight. His heart was in a tight knot. he could hear Sommy saying something to him but he couldn't make out her words. He had married Somgolie his late wife so he could forget Lara but that didn't work. He loved her but it  could never be compared with what he felt for Lara. Even as he watched her flee from his presence he still felt as though she had something that was rightfully his. He still loved her. He wondered if he still had a  chance with her  after messing up the first time. He wasn't going to take chances this time around. He would ask her to dinner and go straight to the point. The Vaccum created by the death of late wife was beginning to weigh in on him. He needed a help that could love Sommy as much as he did. A woman he loved would be ideal. He was determined to raise his kid himself but it was getting harder as she grew older with so many questions he didn't know how to answer. And Lara was was the only he knew who filled both positions easily. He was  glad at the second chance. He hoped she would have him this time. He could hear Sommy singing and dancing ...crab she ran off again! "Sommy!" "Sommy"...

Lara sighed this week had been tiresome and it was made worse by frantic never ending expectation of Ab's call. She was getting exasperated and restless. She told herself over and over again that she wanted to see him again to clear things nothing more . He was married nothing could ever happen between them, she had to move on now. This was the one zillionth time she had had that argument in her head. She looked at her phone again , sighed and collapsed on the hotel bed. She closed her eyes; tomorrow she would leave for Lagos, at least her business trip had been a success...at that she smiled. She reached for bible and began to read...her phone vibrated and rang, She looked at it AB ...her heart did somersaults she held the phone and whispered a prayer for everything to turn out fine and to sound normal. "Hello" she said in low and calm voice. "hello" came his reply. silence...more silence, Lara held her breath the tension and suspense was killing her! "Err...em" she heard him okay? she thought speak now..." well I thought I should call as agreed" he continued "okay ?" " I was wondering  if it would be possible to see you some time this week end " he finished " okay...when do you have in mind" she asked " Tomorrow" he answered " that won't be possible I not in town now . am actually in Abuja right now. But I will be back by tomorrow" she finished. "okay ...what time would you be back?" " 4pm, why?"
" cos am thinking maybe I can come and pick you up from the airport we could grab a bite and I would drop you off... how does that sound?" he finished. WOW! lara thought...He sounded desperate...and here she was thinking she seemed desperate " Wow what's the rush? that sounds nice but my Cabbie would be coming for me" " oh? have I been replaced so soon? am that easy to be replaced? and here I was thinking I was your cabbie ..." Lara laughed "yeah right!" "But seriously Lara you can call the guy off..." "her...my cabbie is a she..." oh ...wow! you do know how to pick em..." he said Lara laughed again " I guess I could but you have to tell me what the emergency is" "Okay now lets just say its been a long long time...Lara...so long I just need to see you again, need to catch up on five years... I have missed you" "whoa! mister easy now... you are married!" she was getting irritated " was Lara...was married. My wife is gone" "meaning what?" she asked " "my wife...Sommy! Sommy stop that!" she heard him yell...she smiled imaging the two year old causing havoc. " listen lemme pick you up tomorrow okay? please I will answer all your questions" she heard him say , she could also hear the two year old struggling at the background and protesting..."I wee talk! she said... Lara smiled ..."okay...kiss Sommy for me" thank you!" he said ... Lara smiled as she dropped down her phone she was happy about the call although she wondered what he meant by His wife was gone that was the same thing Sommy said the other day. Did she leave him?, are they divorced?...well she would find out tomorrow.

AB Bathed sommy and dressed her up in jeans and t Shirt and sandals. he could hear his sisters voice in his head, complaining Ab! why do you always dress her up like a  boy?  you are turning this girl into a tom boy! he knew she was right but its easier to dress her up like that and more manageable. Hopefully if all went well with Lara he won't have to much longer. They set out...Sommy bounced in front happy to be going out. "who is Aunt Larwa?" she asked again for the one millionth time " that aunty that gave you a ride in  her cart at the store the other day" "okay... we are going to pick her?" "yes" AB said. Sommy smiled  delighted repeating to herself..."we are going to pick Aunt Larwa!"
AB didn't have to wait long before she called to say the had just landed. He grabbed sommy and went in to get her. There she was in black jeans and a lovely lace top that hinted perfectly her feminine curves. He waved and she waved back. Sommy caught the adults smiling and waving at each other and she giggled with delight. "that's her AB said as if to answer her unspoken question" he had to put effort not to call her mummy.  AB saw her come towards them he let a struggling Sommy go and she fled screaming with excitement and delight into Lara's arms. He watched as people passing by smiled at the little girl and the lady...Lara caught Sommy mid air and hugged her tight. She kissed her on the check and Sommy giggled and her hands in her face. Ab  reached the and hugged Lara, he desperately wanted to kiss her but he held back and picked her bag up instead. With his hand on her back he gently ushered her out still carrying an excitedly chatting Sommy.

They got to the fast food place but Sommy would rather stay with Lara than play with other kids she had alot to say and show Lara. AB wished he had left her with a baby sitter. Lara didn't seem to mind at all she laughed and played along with Sommy like they were a mother and daughter team. His heart ached for Lara to love him half the way he loved her and needed her. He watched them play."hey! how about we go to the beach" she suggested in an excited voice. "Lara you just returned from a bussiness trip...you must be tired...we haven't even talked" "don't  worry we would talk ...i promise" she said in an excited pleading tone "pleeeease" Sommy joined in " okay...but only for an hour it's not far from where we live" " oh really where do you live?" "Victorian Island" "oh I stay at Ikeja" "okay good...Well lets go!" they got up and Sommy and Lara bounced out forgetting him. Those two bonded so fast...he thought at least he doesn't have to bother about getting them to bond.

Lara was having so much time she didn't have time to stop and think. she knew she had to still talk things over with AB. But that can't be done with Sommy prancing all around ...oh this little one was so adorable. Lara smiled as she opened the door and Sommy jumped down. they both ran out towards the beach....

"HEY" AB yelled after them. but they we gone far ahead yelling, laughing and screaming with excitment. wait! he said. They forgot him again! he thought was he going to spend the rest of his life chasing after those two? really now he should have left that little rasscal with a Nanny! AB caught himself . was he jealous?...of a little girl? his little girl. He burst out laughing at the absurdity of it all. He locked the car and ran after the girls.  By the time he caught up with them they were already running on the shore and playing with water Lara had rolled her jeans up and Sommys too. They decided to build a Sand castle, Sommy insisted there be three doors one for her daddy, her's in the middle and the third for Lara she finished with a smile. they all set to work. AB couldn't take this any more may be he should just forget about having a relationship with her and ask her to marry now right here. but he was afraid that wouldn't work.
Lara mind worked as her hand did. She wished she had a family of her own. maybe if she had dropped her pride she might have been the proud mum of Sommy. She had to end this she couldn't be a second wife to AB. She had noticed the way he looked at her longingly and had used sommy to avoid going through with talking to him about them. even though she was enjoying her self she still longed for more. she longed for AB.  AB gave his phone to a lady next to him and she took a picture of three of them building sand castles after which the took selfies and fell into the castle in the process crushing it. it was 7pm by the time they left and Sommy was tired and slept of in the car.

"So here we are Ab said as he Stopped in front of  Lara's house" "You want to come in?" she asked maybe we could talk for a bit before you go" she added. AB looked at his back seat where Sommy has slept of" okay only for a few minutes have to go tuck that one in" Lara Picked Sommy Up from the back seat and shut the door. They went in .

Lara poured a AB a glass of cold juice and took a glass for herself. they sat in her kitchen to talk." what have you been up to Ab Asked ?""I now work for a multinational oil firm...you? " wow...well I still do my own thing in my old business...still a cabbie only up graded. I now run my company which is a car hire company "nice... so...What was so urgent that you needed to say?" Lara asked " that I missed you" AB replied with a smile" you are married AB it's not funny" she said " haven't you been listening Lara?" AB queried " I said my wife is gone.." he finished with a serious look " what do you mean...?" "She passed on" he cut in " she passed on giving birth to Sommy. " Oh my God AB...Am so sorry about that" " its fine...it happened two years ago... but that's not the point ...the point is that I miss you Lara. I know I failed us the first time. I couldn't deal with your leaving and i over reacted, my ego didn't help matters either. I also felt you did it to spite me so I messed up...and I regret that" he paused to take her hand but Lara pulled her hand away. "We both messed up AB...I should have handled things better" " yes so how about we make it right? we have a second chance Lara. I never forgot you Lara... I tried to but could not. Because of you I got into the open university. Am about finishing...Lara...what do I say..." "AB...It's sudden...can I at least think about it?" " No Lara I don't want you to think about it. I just want you to say yes...we both know we want each other ...why do we have to do this again" "yes to what...do what?" she asked " yes to me...there is no need to fight our feelings...okay Marry me?" he Said in a desperate voice " you are Mad...she said...your joking right?" "No am not...I just want you so bad am loosing my mind" now Lara didn't know if she should leap for joy or be freaked out."well..." "well...say yes" AB said he was at her side in a stride. she froze she couldn't think he was too close for regular breathing patterns to be sustained. He turned her seat to face him ...his face inches away from his he drew his face closer to hers...he really was close...too close too think but who cares about thinking at this point...she knew what she wanted, what she had wanted for years and it was an inch away from her face...she smiled moving her face an inch forward her eyes was half shut and her lips patted. AB caught his breath their lips touching slightly and..."daddy?"... Sommy called standing in the door way. AB dropped his hand on Lara's lap laughing and shaking his head Lara laughed too...

Lara looked back at the mess of entangled beings on the sitting room floor. AB had fallen sleep with their son lying on him and Sommy on the other side legs Akinbo on her father. she smiled...AB is Dad and an even better husband. She whispered a prayer of thanksgiving for having made the best choice she could ever have; Marrying AB three months after his proposal. Who would have thought that an up town girl like Lara could become hooked to a down town guy like AB.

***********************************THE END***********************************