by Kiru Taye
He’d booked them a table for lunch in the private lounge at Reams. It would give her the peace of mind that they couldn’t get too intimate but still provide him the privacy he needed to talk to her without interruptions.
"Everything is set for your date," Tony said when he arrived at the restaurant. The place already teemed with lunchtime patrons.
"Good," he replied as his brother led him up to the private corner. The table had been set for two, covered in a cream brocade tablecloth, bone china plates, and silver cutlery. The glasses were crystal. The drapes had been drawn to provide an intimate setting with tens of candles lit all around the space.
If this wasn’t romantic, he didn’t know what would be.
"I’ve asked the waiter to bring her straight up here the minute she arrives."
"Thank you, Tony."
Mark didn’t sit down. He paced from one end of the lounge to the other. Tony sat astride a chair, his hands leaning against the back, watching him.
He was too worked up, too excited. He would propose to Faith for the second time in less than a week. Granted, the first time hadn’t been thought through properly.
But for the first time his life, he’d actually grown afraid. What if she turned him down again? He didn’t think he could live without her. The past few days had been pure torture.
Lifting his hand, he glanced at his watch. One p.m.
"So, this is the one, huh?"
Mark eyed his brother for a few seconds. "Yes." He’d never been surer of anything before. "She’s the one."
"I hope it works out for you," his kid brother said.
"I hope so, too."
Where was Faith? He restrained from calling her immediately.
Half an hour later with still no Faith, he called her. Something must be wrong. She had never been late for any of their previous appointments; he didn’t think she would start now.
But her phone rang without been picked up and he got really worried.
"I have to go," he said to his brother as he headed out.
"What if she shows up?" Tony asked.
"Tell her to wait for me and call me immediately."
For the drive to Lekki, he took all the shortcuts he knew but still didn’t seem to get there fast enough. The gate man to the mini complex let him in. When he rang her doorbell, he got no reply. When he asked the gateman about her, he said Faith had left that morning and hadn’t returned.
"Faith, where are you?" he muttered under his breath as he headed back to his car.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he dug it out, thinking it was Faith. No luck. Felix.
"If you’re calling to find out what happened at the date, she never showed up," he said when he answered the phone.
"I know," Felix said. "Ebony just told me Faith has gone to Benin."
"What? Why?"
"It’s Faith’s mother. She’s in the hospital."
"Oh, no." His heart raced and he shook his head in denial. "What happened?"
"I don’t know the full details except that she’s very ill."
"Do me a favour. Please ask Ebony to text me Faith’s home address and the name of the hospital her mum’s in."
"Okay. What are you going to do?" his brother asked.
"I’m going to Benin."
He hung up and called his travel agent to sort a flight for him. Then he headed home to get what he needed.
An hour later, he sat on the last flight out to Benin. A chauffeured car hire service picked him up from the airport and drove him straight to the hospital.
People waited at the reception area but he didn’t see Faith.
"I’m looking for Mrs. Brown," he said to the nurse at the desk.
The woman in white uniform inspected him through her black-rimmed spectacles.
"Who are you to be asking?" she asked.
The way she stared at him, he knew she wouldn’t tell him anything if she knew he wasn’t a relative, and no way he would come this far without accomplishing his goal.
"She is my mother-in-law. Faith, her daughter, is my fiancée." Not exactly a lie when it would happen sooner or later.
Someone shuffled down the corridor, the sound of their footsteps slow and tired. Mark looked up and saw Faith. Her shoulders were slumped and her hand rubbed her eyes. As if sensing him, she looked up as he walked over to her.
She appeared shocked and confused at seeing him. Didn’t she know there was nowhere he’d rather be than beside her, especially at a time like this?
He stopped two steps from her.
"How is your mother?" he asked.
She blinked once. Twice. Her jaw clenched as if she fought to stay calm.
"She’s dying, Mark." Her voice came out strangled, her eyes glassy with tears. "My mother is dying.
A tight band of pain squeezed his chest as his heart broke for her and he did the only thing he could. He opened his arms and surprisingly, she stepped into the circle of his embrace.
He held onto her, rubbing her back as she started sobbing, knowing he would do whatever it took to see her laugh again.
***
For the first time since she was a teenager, Faith cried. Really cried. The bawling-like-a-baby-with-a-snotty-nose kind of cry both heart-wrenching to watch yet soul-cleansing.
Considering she hadn’t cried in so long and she’d always been able to keep her emotions in check enough not to break down in public ever, she didn’t know how she ended up sobbing her eyes out in the reception room of a hospital.
But here she stood in Mark’s arms, thoroughly soaking his shirt with tears and snot, the rumbling of his soothing voice and the light strokes of his fingers from her nape down her spine urging her to let go.
Mark.
Perhaps it was seeing him standing there in the middle of the hallway, knowing he’d come here because of her, seeing the concern on his face when she tried to be brave about her mother’s illness. Surely, he knew about the fate of City Investments by now and what she’d done.
Finally, in her brain, it clicked.
She could trust him.
Despite everything she did to him. He would always be there for her when it mattered. Really mattered. Like here and now.
Another bout of sobbing erupted within her.
What had she done to deserve him, to deserve such loyalty and devotion, especially when she’d pushed him away at every opportunity?
"It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m here for you." His fingers stroked down her back again.
"We’ll do whatever it takes to make her better."
She shut her eyes tightly as her sorrow deepened. She believed him. But perhaps it was already too late to save her mother.
She tried to wipe her cheeks with the sleeves of her blouse but Mark pushed a handkerchief into her hand. Somehow, she didn’t feel any embarrassment as she wiped her face.
"Is it okay if I speak to the doctor who is attending to her?" Mark asked when she clutched the fabric in her hand.
Her body still leaned against him and for the first time ever, she didn’t want to let go of him. "Okay."
Mark seemed to sense her need for closeness because he didn’t let go of her. Instead, he guided them to the reception desk, his hand around her waist.
"I would like to speak to the doctor attending to Mrs. Brown," he said to the receptionist.
"I’ll find out if he’s available," the woman replied.
They stood there while she walked around the desk and disappeared down the corridor.
"What exactly was the diagnosis?" Mark asked.
Faith closed her eyes and swallowed as she fought back another bout of tears.
"Cancer." She had to force the word out of her mouth. "I don’t know what to do."
For the first time in her adult life, she didn’t have a plan of action. Nothing had prepared her for this.
"Oh, sweetheart." Mark hugged her tighter, his chin leaning on her head.
His words conveyed as much pain as she felt. For the first
time in a long time, she was glad she had someone to lean on to and share the load on her shoulders with.
The nurse returned. "The doctor will see you now."
She turned and they followed her with Mark still holding onto her. For the first time, she was seeing the true benefit of their visceral connection. She felt grounded, safe, and secure, as if they could conquer the challenges they faced together.
In the doctor’s office, Mark introduced himself as Faith’s fiancé. Apart from a quick glance at him, she didn’t refute his words. Not important now. They would discuss it later. They sat in separate armchairs though they were still linked as Mark held her hand.
"Mr. Essien," Dr. Adesuwa said. "The prognosis doesn’t look good for Mrs. Brown. Unfortunately, the cancer wasn’t caught early enough. Her immune system is weakened and the cancer cells have spread."
Hearing the words from the doctor made Faith want to yell at the unfairness of it all. Her mother didn’t smoke or drink and she wasn’t particularly obese. So why her?
Mark squeezed her hand, giving her a reassuring glance.
"Is there nothing that can be done? Radiotherapy? Chemotherapy? Anything?" he asked.
"I’ve left a message for one of my colleagues at the LUTH Cancer Centre. I’m waiting to see what he recommends."
Mark nodded, his brow creased as he frowned in thought.
"There’s a new Cancer Clinic in Lagos which we helped to fund. I wonder if it is possible to fly her down to Lagos."
"It is possible. But I won’t recommend it for another forty-eight hours. I want to let her body get used to the drugs and monitor her progress first. Also, I will need to arrange a nurse to travel with her, if you are happy to foot the bill."
"That is not a problem," Mark said. "I will arrange for a private plane or helicopter to transport her so she can be as comfortable as possible. Just let me know when you think it is possible and I will arrange it."
"Good," the doctor said. "It will make things easier if there was space for her to lie down during the transfer."
"Here’s my card." Mark gave him a gold-embossed, black business card. "I would be glad if you can contact me as soon as you know more."
The man took the card and nodded.
After they left the doctor’s office, she let go of Mark’s hand reluctantly.
"Thank you, Mark, but you should go. It’s getting late."
He shook his head, staring at her with those black eyes she could drown in.
"What are you going to do? Where are your dad and brother?" he asked.
"They left already. I was going to spend the night here but Mum told me to go home."
"You should."
"I can’t, Mark. I don’t want to leave her."
"Then I’m staying with you."
He took her hand and led her to the bench in the reception area. He sat down and pulled her beside him. She tilted her head against his chest as he held her body.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, overwhelmed by his tender actions. She found it difficult reconciling the man in the boardroom with the one now holding her. He’d hurt her with his bid to buy City and yet, here he sat, ready to suffer discomfort on her behalf. Was he just trying to appease her?
Several breaths later, Mark’s forefinger knuckle pushed under her chin. She lifted her head to stare into his face.
"Do you really need me to explain?" he asked.
"Yes, Mark. I need to understand this thing between us. If you’re just doing this because you want me to back off from City—"
"Forget City, business. I’m here for you because I love you."
He took a deep breath and looked down at her. His love shone in his eyes.
Mouth flying open, she clutched her chest as her heart thumped so loudly, she swore he could hear its erratic beat. Did she really hear right?
"When it comes to you, I don’t care about the business. You can have City if it makes you happy. But I want you in my life. I want to be part of my child’s life and not just as an occasional parent, either. I will always be there for you. I want to share everything with you, whether they are troubled moments like this or more happier times ahead."
He huffed out a long breath at the end of his speech, lifting the hair that had fallen on her forehead.
Giddy, tears clogged her eyes but she beamed a smile at him as a glimmer of hope shone into her life. A tear rolled down her face. The pad of his thumb felt soft and warm as it brushed the moisture away.
"Am I really that terrible? Is there no place in your heart for me?"
"Oh, Mark." She choked as she half-laughed, half-cried and buried her face in his chest again. "You’re already occupying the entire space."
"What did you say?"
He tilted her head up again.
This time, she smiled up at him. "You launched an aggressive takeover on my heart from the night you kissed me in that bar in Jo’burg. I love you, Mark."
"You do?"
She nodded. "I do."
"So why did you reject me when I asked you to marry me?"
"Well, first of all, you didn’t ask me, as I recall. You demanded I marry you."
He had the good nature to grimace.
"And moreover, at the time, I thought your business was more important to you than me."
"Okay, you have me there. But for the record, you did insist on keeping business matters separate, and I had planned on doing the proposal thing again properly."
"Really? When?"
"At our lunch date. You were going to get the full works. Candlelight, flowers, champagne, engagement ring, you name it."
"Engagement ring? You bought me an engagement ring?"
"Yes, of course."
"I want to see it."
"Now?" He looked around the reception area. A man dozed in a chair and a nurse sat at the nurses’ station.
"Yes, now. Or have you changed your mind?"
"Of course not." He reached for his blazer he’d left over the back of the seat and took out a small box from the pocket.
Faith’s head pounded. He’d really bought an engagement ring. She held her breath as he opened it. The most beautiful solitaire diamond sat on a platinum ring.
"Gosh, it’s beautiful."
He went down on one knee and took her left hand.
"Faith, you are strong, capable, brilliant, independent, and beautiful. From the first day I saw you sitting in the seminar at that conference in South Africa, I’ve known that you would be someone special to me. I have achieved things that other men envy me for, but I know without a doubt that my life with be dull and nothing without you. I know you’re very capable and you’re not a damsel in distress, but if you let me, I’d love to be your knight. To be the one you lean on, the one who worships you, the one who protects you. Let me be that man. Marry me, Faith."
"My knight." She nodded and beamed him a huge smile. "I love the sound of you rescuing me once in a while. Yes, I will marry you."
She extended her fingers and he slipped the ring onto the third one. And then he kissed her like he’d just taken ownership of her and she let him. This time, she was happy to belong and be possessed.
The sound of clapping broke them apart.
"Congratulations to both of you," the nurse said.
"Thank you," they replied in unison.
She lifted her hand, staring at the ring in awe. When did he have time to buy such a beautiful item in the past week?
"When did you buy the ring?" she asked staring up at him.
He had a grin on his face.
"I bought it in New York after I realised I was in love with you."
"Oh my gosh. You mean you had this ring on you that day in the limousine?"
"Yes." His smile resembled pure sin. "I was hoping to take you out to dinner that evening and ask you properly."
"Oh, no." She gasped in embarrassment. "And I told you we were over." Then she remembered. "And I slapped you, on top of all that. And you still want to marry me."
<
br /> "Yes." He gave a bark of laughter. "But I’m hoping for less grievous bodily harm."
She bit her lip. "I’m sorry about that. Did it hurt?"
She lifted her hand and caressed his cheek.
"Not if you promise to make it up to me sometime." His eyes sparkled with mischief.
"What will I have to do?" she asked tentatively.
"You let me chain you to my kitchen sink."
"Hell, no."
He laughed.
"Oh, well. A guy’s got to try."
He leaned down and kissed her again.
Chapter Seventeen
Faith clutched her hands on the lap. They trembled. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so nervous.
"Mark, I’m not sure I’m ready for this. I don’t do family very well," she said through a dry throat.
Strong fingers stroked her thigh. "Stop worrying. You’ll be fine. It’s just my family and you’ve met them before."
"Yes, the last time I met them, I was just Ebony’s friend and Alex’s godmother. They are not going to feel the same way when you introduce me as your fiancée."
"Well, Ebony and Felix will be there supporting us. Kola and Tony are easygoing, and my parents are pretty cool."
"But your mum wants you to get married to Wumi. I don’t have Wumi’s breeding and status."
Mark snorted. "I won’t have you referring to yourself as if you were a mare or cow. You are the woman I love. Beautiful, intelligent, and you actually make your own money. You don’t need status. You are the next MD of City Investments. That should be good enough for anybody, including my mother."
Faith was stunned by the vehemence of his speech. But she loved that he was passionate about her. She smiled.
"Thank you. That makes me feel much better."
"Good. I am looking forward to finally showing you off to me family. It is well overdue."
The black and gold gilded gate of the Essien mansion opened up and Mark drove his sleek sports car down the drive and parked in an empty car port spot. The carport looked like a showroom for expensive automobiles. She recognised the Porsche Cayenne that belonged to Felix and Ebony, a Range Rover Sport, and a Bentley Cashmere. Mark’s Aston Martin DB9 certainly looked like it belonged there.