by Myne Whitman
Efe couldn’t answer. Her sobs choked her.
“I’ll be right there, okay? Just hold on for some minutes, I’ll be there before you know it.” Nneka finally dropped the connection.
Efe put the phone down and buried her head in her arms. Her sobs gradually died away. She was confused and exasperated with herself. One minute she didn’t want Kevwe and then the next, she was overcome with the need for him. What was wrong with her? She propped herself against the wall with knees drawn up to the chest. Her hands were tucked up beneath her armpits as tears trickled down her face.
Ten minutes later, Nneka’s car purred to a stop in the driveway. Still seated against the door, Efe listened to light steps running to her front door and guessed Nneka had the baby strapped to her chest. Efe opened the door and stood back for her friend to enter, and sure enough, Anuli was in her favorite position against her mother’s breasts. She locked the door, leaning her head for a brief second on the wood.
Nneka turned to Efe as she released Anuli and placed her on the floor with some toys. She watched with impatience as Efe bent to chuck the little girl on the chin, drawing out her quick bubbly laughter. Nneka drew her up, and they both sat down on the couch, a gasp escaping as Efe raised her tear-ravaged face.
“Oh my God! Look at you. What happened?”
Efe did not know how to start.
“Please talk to me,” Nneka continued, “We’ve never hidden anything from each other. Is it Kevwe’s brother, the doctor? Tell me what happened, please.”
“It wasn’t just his brother I saw yesterday, I saw Kevwe too.”
“What! Are you sure? Did they plan it?” Nneka fired off the questions. “Does he live in Abuja? Why was he there?”
“He’s not based in Abuja.” Efe stroked her throbbing temples. “I never did confirm where...”
“It was mere coincidence then?” Nneka asked.
Efe shook her head. “He came for a confrontation, or maybe it was reconciliation. He felt he got the short end of the stick at our breakup. His parents told him I dumped him.”
“What?” Nneka looked confused. “Abeg, start at the top.”
Efe sighed. “OK, I left you at Wakkis and got to the hospital with minutes to spare for our appointment. When I entered the office, Kevwe was the first person I saw; he was the only one seated at the desk. The recognition was undeniable, but I didn’t think it was possible. I greeted him as Dr. Mukoro, and that was when Ofure his twin answered from the window.”
“Drama…” Nneka said.
“I think I fainted because by the time I came to, the doctor was the only one around. At first, I thought it was a hallucination, but as I asked the doctor some questions, Kevwe himself stepped in. He’d gone to get some snacks and a soft drink. It became clear it was a set-up, one I wasn’t ready for, and I decided to get out of there. But he made a strange comment before I could leave.”
“What did he say?”
Efe sighed, reminded again of everything that had happened and how, like her other friends, Kevwe had turned out similar yet different from the person she’d known and loved in UniBen.
When she finally started speaking, the details of her meeting with Kevwe at the hospital spilled from her in torrents. Nneka interjected with, “What the hell?”, “How could he ask?”, “He had an accident?”, “Did he say that?”, as the story progressed.
“We never heard of any accident in school, or, did you? When did it happen?” Nneka asked, picking up Anuli.
“It must have been around the time we split up,” Efe said, pacing the room. “He has scars to prove it, and he has a slight limp too.”
“My goodness, it must have been serious, but how come no one told you?”
“That’s the million dollar question! His father told him I was informed, but I chose to break up with him.”
“Impossible!” Nneka’s interjection warmed Efe’s heart. “Why did Kevwe accept such a story? He knew you better, I mean; your relationship lasted three years. You guys were engaged.”
“I think his physical condition - the fact he couldn’t get around - may have had something to do with it.” Efe tried to see it from his point of view. “They told him and his brother I said I couldn’t marry someone who could be crippled for life. That I preferred to travel abroad on my lottery visa.”
“Rubbish,” Nneka said. “Did he agree to go with your side of the story to his parents? I’ll vouch for you.”
Efe shrugged. “It became confused at that point. He doesn’t want to believe his mother could have lied to me and to him too. I found it strange he doesn’t want to ask her.”
“But do you think maybe his father conscripted his mother against her will?”
“That’s possible; he was a pompous manipulator. But she should have told Kevwe when he got better, don’t you think?”
Nneka agreed. “So what will you do now? Wait o, I assume you both do want to patch up things?” Nneka asked. “I know about your feelings, but does Kevwe still care for you? Is he single?” Her eyes opened wider with each question.
“I don’t know what to think.” Efe recalled the scene in this same flat yesterday when Kevwe first arrived. He’d been vulnerable and open with his feelings. But then there was his harsh response to her insecurity this morning, and then finding he knew about Stanley.
“What’s the problem?” Nneka asked. “Did you tell him you never got over him?”
Efe shook her head. “How could I, when he wants us to sweep everything under the carpet. I want him but after all I went through, I can’t.”
“I don’t blame you,” Nneka said, as she sat down beside Efe and started to bounce Anuli on one knee. “But it doesn’t solve anything. You’ll still have to meet his mother, or is that not in the plans he has for the future?”
Efe shrugged. She didn’t know Kevwe’s plans. “I got tired of our back and forth, and asked him to leave,” she told Nneka.
“And then you spent the rest of the night crying. Did it help? You could’ve tried to reach a compromise.”
“What compromise? By then, we’d hit a brick wall. I don’t even know why we did that to ourselves. It’s been over seven years! Come on!” Efe threw out her hands in frustration as she got to her feet and moved away.
Nneka was adamant. “But the problem is you haven’t moved on, Efe. You haven’t! Or maybe you think it’s not so bad if he feels the same way too.”
“He said that at first…” Efe’s recollection of last night trailed off into silence as Anuli started crying. The baby had been nuzzling her mother and making hungry noises for a while.
“You know what? Nneka asked in a strong voice. She’d placed Anuli to her breast and made sure she was comfortable. When she looked up again, she was gentler. “I’ll come over to your office tomorrow, and we’ll go and see him.”
Efe knew it was time to give Nneka the full details. She took a deep breath. “Nneka, you may as well hear this now. I didn’t send Kevwe home last night.”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
“He spent the night here. We slept together.”
Nneka opened and shut her mouth like a fish out of water.
“You did what?!” She must’ve decided to leave it open.
“We had sex last night. I wanted it, and it was beautiful. Everything I had dreamed it would be…” Efe whispered, and wiped the dripping tears away roughly. She wilted into the armchair and supported her head on its arm. “I still don’t know why I did it; maybe it was the tension.” Efe shook her head. “I wished this day would come, but somehow I never thought it would. Kewve, still single, still in love with me… But I blame myself now. I think I believed in a chimera. Before he left, Kevwe told me he’d met Stanley…”
“He knows your Stanley?”
“Yeah, and so now I think yesterday was all a colossal mistake.”
Nneka looked on but didn’t say anything.
“Kevwe somehow - don’t ask me how - found out about Stanley and I,
and Stanley’s visit to Abuja this weekend.”
“That’s true,” Nneka said. “Will you still meet him tomorrow?” Nneka re-arranged her blouse and shifted into a more comfortable position for Anuli, who had fallen asleep.
“I’ll go. I already agreed,” Efe moaned. “My life is just so complicated right now.” Efe rubbed a hand over her features. These tears would be the last she shed. She was glad it was finished. One reason she’d made love with Kevwe was to get closure. She took a deep breath and exhaled.
“I’m glad it’s all over now.”
“Are you sure?” Nneka asked in a dubious tone. “From where I sit, I don’t see it as you do. I think you made a mistake sleeping with Kevwe. I think it has only muddled things. Think about it.” Nneka stood up and went to put Anuli in her carrier. She strapped her in and then took the seat into the bedroom.
Efe considered Nneka’s words. The first time they broke up, she’d regretted not going the whole way with Kevwe, believing he’d left her for another girl who would. So no, she wouldn’t regret having sex with Kevwe. She’d learned it was better taking action even if it turned out to be a mistake, than to regret inaction later.
**
12
Abuja, November 29, 2009
Efe stood in the lobby bar of the Sheraton waiting for Stanley who’d arrived in Abuja in the morning, asking for them to meet by three. It was a quarter past the hour, and the lobby was crowded. It wasn’t like him to be late. The first time they had met, four years ago, he’d arrived early for a business lunch with her boss and had to wait in her office at the Hilton in Palm Beach.
She’d only just joined the hotel then as an intern in the accounts division. Stanley was good-looking, and dressed in a suit that showed off his tall frame. There were a lot of African-Americans in West Palm Beach, but it wasn’t everyday one met a fellow Nigerian.
That day, she and Stanley passed the time chatting about life in the United States, and being a Nigerian immigrant in the country. His witty style had made her laugh, and she found the conversation enjoyable. Before her boss arrived, he’d told her about a summer event, and convinced her not to miss it. At the venue of the party which she’d dragged Temi to, she’d met Stanley again.
He was with his girlfriend, whom he couldn’t keep his hands off, and his whole body language spoke volumes about how close they were. Efe felt a tug in her heart because she’d liked him the first time they met, and also, they reminded her of herself and Kevwe when they had been together.
It had been over three years then, but still, she hadn’t forgotten her first love. There was always the niggling hope that somehow she and Kevwe would find each other again and resolve their break-up. Tucking the painful memories aside, along with envy and jealousy, she went over to introduce herself.
They all got on well enough, yet when Temi was called away by her family, she was relieved to go. The old memories had left her with a nagging sense of loss and anger, and she just wanted to go home and sleep off those feelings. After that day, they moved in similar circles, and she got to know Stanley more. A year later, he was in her office again.
“Hey, Efe,” he greeted.
She looked up from her computer. “Stanley, it’s been a while.”
“Yeah, you moved up and started keeping to yourself.”
Just that month, her recent graduation had come with a promotion and change to a new office.
“No need to answer,” Stanley continued with a flirtatious grin. “I’m just sorry I won’t be seeing you when I’m over here for meetings and stuff.” He stretched out a hand. “Congratulations.”
Efe shook his hand. “Thank you.”
“We should go out and drink to your promotion, what do you think? Just the two of us,” he tacked on at the end as she was about to accept.
Efe looked up at him in confusion. “What about Kate?”
“What about her?” he smirked.
Efe just raised her brows.
“Oh yes, we are not together anymore. But it’s all good,” Stanley said, “It means I can take you out now. What do you say?” The look in his eyes was full of mischief.
She smiled at him. “OK, sounds great.”
“Yes!” Stanley punched the air. “I’ll call the Blue Martini for reservations.”
And so their relationship started. She thought he was a player who she could use to forget her pain for a while. She guessed he was still in love with his girlfriend, and she would be the rebound girl. It had worked out for both of them at first, but then things had become complicated. Now here she was, about to break up with him again. Efe flicked her hair behind her ear and squinted when a tall figure came into view on her left. It was Stanley. She rubbed her palms over her cropped jeans and tugged her yellow blouse.
“Hi, babe,” he drawled. He’d called her ‘babe’ since the first time they dated.
“Hello Stanley…” She stretched out a hand for a shake but he pulled her into a close hug. “Welcome to Abuja,” she finished.
Efe bore his hug for a minute and then wriggled free. She always knew she was not in love with Stanley while they dated, and wondered how she’d ever thought they could have a more serious relationship, or of getting back with him. After being with Kevwe again this weekend, and thinking about their past more than she had in the past few years, some things were now so clear.
She took a deep breath and gestured for them to enter the Papillon restaurant, away from the prying eyes of the lobby crowd. Luckily, there was no event, so the music was muted and slow. She needed privacy and quiet for her speech to Stanley.
“You look good, Efe.”
Efe took the seat he held out for her. Stanley had his faults, but he was a decent guy. She wished she could untangle her heart from Kevwe and give Stanley a chance.
She smiled at him. “You do too, thanks. So how was your flight?”
“It was shorter than I thought, and I’m overjoyed to be here with you.” He said, with his flirtatious side on full power.
Efe diverted the subject. “Tell me what you think of my city.”
“Honestly?” Stanley laughed. “Someone I know called it a ghost town. She says few people live here.”
Efe smiled, “You don’t want it overpopulated, do you?”
“That’s true… hmmm…but I think I prefer Lagos.”
Efe shrugged. “My parents are there, but I don’t think I can live in Lagos. Maybe I just haven’t ever stayed there long enough. Don’t get me wrong, Abuja is not all about good things.” Efe sat forward on her seat. “There’s lack of dependable electricity and water.”
Efe laughed again as she remembered a conversation with Nneka the other day. “It drives my friends crazy, but thanks to the great place I have, courtesy of Hilton, that’s not a huge problem for me. The outskirts are a different story altogether.” Efe was proud of how quickly she’d acclimatized. A lot of her returnee friends still complained, and some had been living here for years.
Stanley took her hands on the table. “I almsot forgot how beautiful and smart you are.” He smiled into her eyes, “Did I tell you I came back to marry you?”
Efe looked at him in horror. She had expected him to ask to revive their relationship, but not to pop the ‘m’ question. Had he too somehow found out about Kevwe?
“You can’t be serious, Stanley!”
“I am. This year apart showed me I missed having you. I need someone like you in my life.”
Efe opened her mouth, but he continued, gripping her hands tight.
“Please don’t say you don’t love me. I believe love will grow.”
“Stanley, please stop…”
“Hello Ms Sagay.”
Her heart stopped at the voice, but when Efe looked up, it was Ofure. “Hi Doctor, how are you?” she asked, taking a deep breath when she saw Kevwe standing to the side.
“Good, thanks. I hope you’re feeling much better yourself since the last time?”
“Yes I am, and thanks for your concer
n.” It wasn’t concern she saw in his eyes, and she hoped he and his twin got her sarcasm too. Kevwe stalked off to an empty table and only then did she extricate her hands from Stanley’s.
Let him stew, she thought. “Why are you at the Sheraton?” she asked Ofure. “I hope you’re not shifting your business from us?”
“Not yet.” His smile was thin. “I came with Kevwe who has business with the hotel.”
“Hello, have we met?” Stanley asked Ofure.
Efe had almost forgotten he was there until he spoke, and her hand flapped between the two men as she spoke. “Oh sorry, please forgive me. Stanley, this is Dr. Mukoro, a client of mine. Doctor, this is Stanley. He’s a friend of mine.”
They exchanged a firm handshake.
“Engineer Mukoro visited Sheraton Lagos on Friday. Is he your brother?”
“You work with the Sheraton in Lagos?” Ofure raised his brows, his similarity to Kevwe even more striking. He glanced at Efe and then returned his stare to Stanley’s nod. “It must be my brother you saw then.”
“You sure do look alike,” Stanley said.
“Yes we do, and I have to join him now. See you.” He glared at her as he moved away.
Efe bent her suddenly hot forehead and shut her eyes tight. Why had she agreed to meet Stanley here? After Kevwe told her he met Stanley, she should have guessed he would come. And he had, business with Sheraton be damned. There was no way to continue the breakup with Stanley, with Kevwe just across the room.
“So where were we?” Stanley asked, bending close.
Efe was remembering another proposal many years ago, one that had to be sorted out first. “Stanley, I can’t marry you.”
**
Abuja, November 29, 2009. 6.30pm.
Waiting in the car for Efe outside her apartment, Kevwe watched her headlights wash over his rearview mirror as her car turned into the complex. He rarely drove when he visited Ofure, but had asked his brother for the car once they left the Sheraton earlier. The sight of Efe with Stanley had cut him deep and also made him think about yesterday.