“Your visiting queen in fact,” Mae said, and Numen laughed shaking her long tresses.
“I have missed home.”
“We know, but you were supposed to be on a mission.”
“Yes I know.”
“I have heard good reports from Adura about you and we are happy that you are doing well. This assignment is easy, yes?”
Numen shook her head and rolled her eyes expressively causing Mae to send peals of laughter down the mountain.
“I guess I would not be missing home so much if it was that easy; it has been a long time I lived as human and I almost forgot the heaviness again.”
“Yes, the cloak is rather heavy because of the many layers.”
“And we are only next door, as it were.” Numen sighed.
"Be thankful that you can experience both planes—some never do and never wake up properly,” Mae said. She looked round the room and gave her young charge a grin. “I see you have been given the red touches of love and courage. Wear them well, Numen.”
“I have every intention to earn them,” Numen replied with a solemn tone.
“I understand you have issues with the species of womanhood you are coming across.”
“I think it is more the confusion and the densities that I am finding distressful.”
“You are to learn the twists and turns that humans have taken to resolve their own blindness that I might call self-imposed.”
“Yes, I am learning that our greatest problem is the sense of self-importance and ego.”
“Good girl,” Mae approved.
“Really.” Numen laughed.
"The human earth is still the best school to learn and help you grow, Numen. As you pay attention and learn, you will have less need to be here but occupy a bigger room by the side of the Blue Mountain. I hear they are decorating your room as you have specified.”
Numen bowed in gratitude, too full of awe to say anything much.
“You took your time, didn’t you.” A voice brought her back to earth and she looked up with a smile to Tinu.
“You know I will give you a prize the day you actually do something I am not expecting. How long have you been waiting?”
“Forever, I came round as soon as I learnt you were in town.”
“Yes, and you came with your bad temper in tow as well,” Ife replied.
That stopped Tinu and she looked away. “I have been under pressure,” she muttered.
“I know, Lucas needs your understanding. He was drugged after he had been beaten up. He is not consciously responsible for what happened later, and you can rest easy, because the girl is not pregnant.”
Tinu had tears in her eyes. “I was going to leave him, you know.”
Ife was shocked. “Like right now, Tinu?”
“Like two weeks ago. Then I had a dream and went to Yeye and she explained to me what the dream meant, but I needed to hear this too.”
“Lord of Lights above, you do have your loyalty misplaced,” Ife retorted. Tinu’s face fell and Ife shook her head with impatience. “Your man almost got sacrificed, and you had time to be jealous of a co-victim?”
Tinu grew angry. “I didn’t know then, besides he has been acting strange since then, spending most nights in the farm these days.”
“Who was stopping you to spend the nights in the farm with him? You might have been given the chance to know him and maybe truly fall in love with him for once not just find him comfortable and the father to your children.”
They fell silent. Ife swallowed, wondering how she could have said that—the wounded look in Tinu’s eyes, before they filled with tears, was eloquent.
Tinu swallowed, gave a low curtsy and walked out. Ife collapsed in the chair.
~~~
Two weeks later Ife was immersed in clinic rounds and did not notice someone tugging at her coat. She turned around into the beaming eyes of Kunle. Ife screamed her pleasure and then quickly controlled herself. Kunle was looking really handsome and dapper.
He smiles down at her and Ife noticed he had gained some height and even though he looked boyish, he obviously was doing well.
“Where did you spring from? Ife asked, smiling in pleasure.
Kunle smiled back and nodded in the direction of the hospital car park.
Ife laughed. “You are your father’s son after all. Have you finished school now?”
“Yes Ma’am, exams are over now and I hope to be in college next summer. Pops says if I am clever he just might let me go to his old school. Not exactly crazy about being a lawyer though.”
Ife was enchanted by his comportment and she led him to her consulting room where she sat him down and asked after his welfare, school, his guardians at school, and how he was coping in a strange country. Kunle answered all her questions cheerfully. There was none of the harassed frightened boy of a few years back and he looked very healthy.
In the small silence that came after the quick banter, Kunle changed his tone and quietly asked if his services were still in abeyance. Ife took a moment before she remembered that Kunle was actually Ndana. She asked him if he still remembered himself as Ndana and Kunle gave a stiff bow but his eyes glinted.
That was comforting to Ife.
“I know about the indigo saga, Your Highness, and I can help investigate it. You once saved me from being sacrificed and they will try again, your highness, and they might try to pick me.
“I have not the slightest intention of putting you in harm’s way.”
Kunle wanted to say something and Ife saw that he thought better of it. Just then there was a brief knock and Yomi stood by the door with a broad happy grin on his face.
Ife smiled and told him that Kunle was better looking than him.
They chatted lightly until there was another soft knock on the door and it slowly opened—Josephine put her head through the door. Ife in quiet voice invited her in. Kunle looked at his father and asked him if that was the wife he was expecting. Josephine was puzzled, looking from son to the father. Yomi walked up to her and embraced her and smiled at Kunle.
“Son, if this lady will have me, I would be honored to call her my wife and your friend, hopefully.”
“How romantic.” Ife laughed as Josephine buried her head in Yomi’s shoulder. “Come on, Josephine, you know you want to say ‘yes’ again this time. The last time you were frightened and ran off, but you are not going to say anything but a proper ‘yes’ this time, right?”
Josephine nodded some more into Yomi’s shoulder and brought out a letter from her bag, which she handed over to Yomi. He read it. “Well thank you for insisting on a written release from the fellow. I have every intention of making sure you are my wife. I said I would look after you,” and took his ring from his pocket which he placed on Josephine’s finger.
Ife felt she was intruding on a private moment and signaling to Kunle—they tiptoed through the back entrance leaving Yomi and Josephine alone.
Chapter Ten
The grove was silent and a soft breeze moved mildly through the trees, gently swaying the branches. Ife, dressed in white, was inspecting some flowers as Yeye stood to one side carrying a bowl of water. A young girl was standing silently by the side of Yeye. Ife walked up to them holding a flowering plant and put it in the hair of Iwapele, the young girl.
Ife had brought her to her town after she was discharged from the hospital. Matron said they could not keep her in the hospital forever. Iwapele still was unable to talk but she was healthier and smiled more. Ife had decided to allow her to come to her town while she worked out what to do. She had told the police that she would take responsibility until her mother could be found. They had made a small advert in the newspaper stating that Iwapele was the victim of an accident, asking anyone who knew where her parents were to contact a given number. It was strange that not even a student had come forward to identify her.
Iwapele had felt right at home with Yeye. They seemed to have known each other for ages. Yeye did not have a problem co
mmunicating with her and Ife marveled at the exchange of love between the two. It gave her a sense of peace.
Iwapele gave her a happy smile as she accepted the flower and as Ife touched her hair, both of them were stunned when Iwapele said, “Thanks,” softly.
They all stared at her and the most surprised person was Iwapele who touched her lips in wonderment. Ife had tears in her eyes as she held Iwapele close.
“You spoke just now.”
“Yes,” was the next soft response, as Iwapele looked around as if seeing her surroundings afresh.
Ife’s heart was beating very fast but she strove for a calm voice and tried to keep her voice normal. “You still remember everything?”
“Yes.”
“Oh Lord of heaven we give thanks,” Yeye said, and bowed on her knees kissing the ground.
“We give thanks indeed,” Ife agreed, her excitement growing.
Tears rolled from Iwapele’s eyes. Ife understood and simply hugged her.
“Take your time and don’t worry. We will soon get more information now that you can speak. We put out an advert asking anyone who knew you to come forward, I assumed that if you saw someone you knew you would speak.”
“Nobody really knows me as Iwapele. My mother said if ever I found myself in a strange place and feel uncomfortable, I should use my middle name. It was meant as protection against ritualists. So I gave them that name when they kept pestering me.”
Ife stared in surprise. “Holy Lights! You fooled everyone and got help from the Misties. Praise indeed.”
“What do you mean, Ma?”
“We put out an advert looking for anyone who knew Iwapele and no one came. There will be no need now. We will head back for the palace now and you can call your mother if you still can remember her number.”
“She must be worried out of her mind by now,” Iwapele said sadly, now really getting alarmed.
Ife saw panic about to set in and quickly tried to calm her, saying it was just a matter of minutes and she would be able to talk to her mother. Ife took her back to the palace and in ten minutes a very emotional reunion took place over the phone. Ife learned also that Iwapele was known as Cynthia Omolayo. No wonder nobody recognized the name Iwapele. Ife assured Mrs. Omolayo that her daughter was now safe and asked her to meet them at the hospital the next day.
Iwapele, or rather Cynthia, could hardly contain herself as she now explained her university name and her department. Ife was on the phone all night as she put a call to Yomi and the Matron giving them the details.
When Kabiyesi walked in from a meeting Ife told him what had happened. He was pleased and gave the girl a kind smile. He offered her the hospitality of the town and asked her to consider herself an adopted child. He renamed her Omowale Omolayo.
~~~
The next morning when Ife arrived at the hospital, she was surprised to find an elegant educated woman waiting anxiously. Iwapele, on seeing her mother, rushed into her arms and collapsed into a storm of tears. Ife understood. She was close to tears herself.
It took quite a few minutes to go through the formalities of properly handing over the young lady, and Mrs. Omolayo did not seem able to thank Ife and the hospital crew enough. She explained that she would help her daughter by taking her to trauma specialists and would keep in close touch with Ife and the hospital. Ife watched mother and daughter leave for home late afternoon as she received a request from the CMD to see him in the office.
She found her director reading a letter with a frown on his face. He brightened as she came in and indicated a seat for her. They had become friends of a sort. Ife still felt he had a personal pain he kept submerged from her. She also didn’t want to be too familiar so she would not send the wrong signal. It was best to remain professional friends. He regarded her now for a few seconds then he smiled and pushed the letter across to her.
Ife was puzzled. “Am I being posted out of here?”
Ife was surprised that her joke was not really a joke as he reacted with shock. “You know already?”
“Know what?”
“You just said it, your services are required elsewhere.”
“What?”
“Actually it is more like a promotion; you are now the personal physician of Her Excellency the First Lady of the state.”
Ife tried hard not to show the extent of her anger. “There is nothing wrong with her, I am not losing the opportunity to learn more here to hold the hand of some person who doesn’t need my services.”
CMD gave her a considering look for a while then coldly informed her that she did not have a choice for as long as she was an employee of the state government, she would go to wherever she was assigned. He informed her that she was expected to report to the personal physician of the Governor so she could be assigned her quarters and special responsibilities. She was to report to the First Lady first thing in the morning tomorrow.
Ife trembled in fury. Suddenly she heard the waterfalls from home and she grew quickly still. Ife swallowed and shook her head and a tear dropped.
There was silence. Ife took deep breaths and knew she was going to have to resign. She did not know how she was going to do that but she knew she would have to resign.
“With all due respect, Director, I will be unable to resume at the State House tomorrow as I have certain responsibilities I will have to discharge before leaving here—”
The outer door opened abruptly and both Ife and CMD were stunned to find Her Excellency framed in the doorway.
“Am I interrupting a meeting?” the First Lady asked.
Both scrambled to curtsy and bow and Ife was still holding the letter. The First Lady held her hand, and gave the CMD a bleak look. “I hope Femi was not trying to force you into doing something you don’t want to do, my young friend.”
Ife was at a loss. She looked at the CMD who had a poker face but was smiling politely at the First Lady.
“I just gave her the letter and, well, she will need to do some type of handing over before she can properly resume at the state clinic,” the CMD defended her.
Ife swallowed and was mollified by the comments but she was put in a situation when the First Lady looked from one to the other and sat down. Ife wondered why they had not heard a siren nor warning that she was within the hospital premises, then she remembered that it was part of the style of the lady to arrive at venues without fuss.
The First Lady turned to Ife, smiled. “You may not understand me much but I know you will not want to leave this busy hospital with so many varied opportunities to ply your trade to the humdrum of State House activities. However you will find opportunities there too, my Olori. I am not making the request lightly, or for selfish reasons. I am fairly healthy I think, but I know you will not be bored.”
Ife was in some confusion and desperately sought for inner guidance. She did not want to be seen as rude and churlish but her heart sank as she saw herself accepting the role, so she quickly asked for time to hand over her cases to another doctor and the First Lady nodded agreement then she smiled again at Ife and stretched out her hand.
“It is good to have an instinct you know, I suddenly knew that I needed to be here personally or I would lose my doctor.”
Ife nodded. I am being rail-roaded into something. Please Lights of heaven, guide me, she offered a desperate prayer.
The CMD guided the First lady to her entourage outside while Ife walked to her room. She looked at everything as if seeing them for the first time. She felt pain and residual anger still lingering.
Her phone rang—it was Matron requesting her presence. She went there and burst into tears as soon as she saw the Matron. The motherly woman knew what was wrong and comforted her. She told Ife that she should see it as progress. The Matron advised her that she was not going to be in that hospital forever. She counseled that with the state of things in the country, she was receiving a push up in her professional career and she ought to be grateful for the opportunities being given.
If
e objected to the move as progress. She pointed out that, she was going to practically vegetate and have little to do with the practice of medicine. “These politicians are notoriously healthy and prefer to treat even a simple headache abroad, Matron.”
"Yes I know, my dear, but it gives you time to have your own practice when it is time to move on.”
“Hmmm…but I am going to feel silly taking all that money doing nothing.”
“Nobody feels silly spending money, you know, just place your sights and focus on the essential things. Maybe you have been given the opportunity to have some money to treat people who may be really ill and can’t afford to pay for medical services.”
The thought of that assuaged Ife and a semblance of peace came into her being. She went into the inner room and bathed her face, dabbed it dry, and a more composed Ife left the Matron’s quarters.
When she gave the details of the day to Babatunde in the palace that evening he comforted her and held her close to him for a long time trying to lend her his strength. They had very little need for words as they were gifted with the ability to converse through their thoughts. So this evening was like a conversation between enchanted ones.
Ife appreciated the comfort and was more controlled when she returned to the capital city the next day. They had agreed that it was now more important for her to dedicate her attention full time to the medical needs of their town.
~~~
Her first day at the state clinic was quite ordinary. She reported to the personal physician of the Governor and surprisingly learnt that staff of the State House also came to the clinic. It was not as busy as the state specialist hospital where she previously worked, but there was enough traffic to keep her busy. This eased the discomfort of Ife who had worried that she was going to be idle.
She did not get to see the First Lady until more than a week later. The First lady requested to see her one morning and she went over wondering what the relationship was going to be like now that she was almost a direct employee and not just a member of her pet project. She need not have worried as the woman was very gracious and chatted nicely asking her if she had settled in nicely. Her Excellency noted that there was a vehicle available for her to use and explained that she was entitled to some allowances as she could be required to travel at a moment’s notice with her.
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