“Amen!” Everyone chorused, including Nonso who stood by the bedroom door, a wary look in his eyes.
“Are we going to live with you and my mummy?” Nonso sounded like he needed reassurance.
Letting go of his fiancée’s hands, Maxwell went over to the young boy who had doubts written in his eyes. He went down on one knee in front of Nonso.
“Yes. Is that okay?”
Nonso shrugged. “Um-hmm.”
“What are you worried about?” Maxwell stared into his eyes to assure Nonso, he had nothing to hide.
“That my mummy will not love us anymore.”
“That’ll never happen. Your mom will always love you and your sister very much. And I’ll love you two. If you teach me how to play Ludo, soccer and Whot, I’ll teach you to play football, soccer and baseball.”
The little man’s eyes bulged. “You don’t know how to play Ludo still? I told you to learn on YouTube!”
Maxwell shook his head. “I want you to teach me.”
“Okay. I can teach you how to play, but I’ll not show you my tricks because I like to win.”
Nodding, Maxwell replied. “That works for me. I’ll have to get my own tricks because I hate to lose.”
“We’ll see. What’s soccer?”
“That’s what you call football.”
Shaking his head, Nonso laughed. “Why call it soccer when you kick the ball with your feet. Then why did you say you’ll teach me how to play football?”
“Our football, we throw it with our hands.”
“That’s not right.” Nonso laughed at the twist.
“It’s funny, I guess,” Maxwell agreed.
“We can play my football together. Just the two of us and I’ll be happy.”
“Is that all you want?” Maxwell asked with a grin.
“Yes. For now.”
“Okay. That’s a deal. Can we shake hands?”
Nonso nodded. “I’ll show you how we shake hands.”
The little man slapped his palm against Maxwell’s twice, then he asked Maxwell to fist his hand. Nonso then bumped his knuckle against Maxwell’s and opened his palm. Finally, Nonso splayed his fingers and drew back his hand slowly. They repeated this buddy greeting thrice until Maxwell got it right.
Everyone burst out laughing as they clapped.
After that, they all sat down comfortably on the sofa and chair. Lola sat on his left. Amaka sat on his right and both girls leaned against him. Nonso sat with Grandy on the armchair.
Maxwell had never felt at home and included in any family. When he was growing up, it was just him and his mom. They were a family, but not in the real sense of the word.
“When is the wedding?” Grandy asked with a smile.
“I’m going to stand beside my mummy at the altar,” Amaka insisted, peering up at Maxwell. “Can I?”
Not to be caught in the middle, he stared at Lola.
“Yes. You’ll be my chief bridesmaid, my baby girl.”
Amaka cheered. Laughing, she leaned across him to give her mom a hug.
“What about me?” Nonso wanted to know.
“You’ll hold the wedding rings,” Maxwell informed Nonso just as the thought occurred to him.
Nodding, the little man grinned. “Okay.”
“Grandy will walk me down the aisle,” Lola said, staring at her grandaunt, who wiped tears from the corner of her eyes.
“With pleasure,” the older woman said. “When is the wedding and where?”
“In our church, Grandy. Where else?” Lola replied.
“I’m eager to get married,” Maxwell chipped in with a grin.
As long as the wedding happened soon, so he could sleep beside Lola on his bed and have his family settled in his home, he did not care about the details.
“That’s good.” Her grandaunt nodded. “What date?”
Lola stared up at him before speaking. “Within the next three weeks. I want a small wedding, Grandy.”
“Is that what you want as well?” Grandy pointed at Maxwell. “Don’t you want to invite your family and friends from America?”
“I’ve got one of my friends here in Lagos. My mom has passed away. My dad isn’t a part of my life. We can have a wedding reception party in the US at a later date if we want.”
“Are we going to America with you?” Amaka’s eyes shone with hope.
“Yes. We’re going to be a family. I’ll apply for the visas after we get married.”
“And Grandy will come with us,” Nonso said folding his arms around the older woman.
“Grandy, will you like to live in America with us?” He felt the need to respect the older woman’s wish.
“Wherever my family goes, I’ll go,” Grandy sang. “I’m part of the package. I told you from the start.”
Everyone laughed as the older woman spoke in a sing-song voice.
“We would love to have you with us, Grandy,” he assured her grandaunt.
“But before all that, we’re going to move in with Maxwell here in Lagos,” Lola clarified.
“After the wedding,” Grandy insisted.
“Of course,” Maxwell agreed.
“Where’s your house?” Amaka wanted to know.
“On Banana Island,” he responded.
Amaka and Nonso’s jaws dropped. They exchanged quick glances before Amaka shrieked.
“You’re rich!”
“Only rich people live on Banana Island!” Nonso said in awe, facing Grandy.
“We’re going to be rich and famous!” Amaka cried, sliding her arms around Maxwell’s neck.
Chuckling, he nodded, very happy to see the joy and awe on their faces. He never thought a day would come when his hard work would bring happiness to the people he loved. Living alone for so long, he had taken his bank account for granted. Now, he felt lucky to have the opportunity to share it with the people who mattered in his life.
“You’ll take me to see the big house before the wedding,” Grandy ordered, excitement trailing her voice. “I want to see if what my babies said is true.”
“It’s beautiful!” Lola added with a sweet smile.
Maxwell kissed his fiancée’s lips.
It was a tiny kiss, yet her kids mumbled. “Eww.”
They all laughed.
Lola groaned. “We’ve got the wedding dresses, suits, rings, venue, cake and so on to decide, all within two, or three weeks. That’s going to be stressful!”
“Then we can get a wedding planner who’ll get it all set up and you can relax,” Maxwell suggested.
“Because of the short notice, that’s going to be too expensive, don’t you think?” Worry lines popped up on Grandy’s forehead.
“It’s not a problem, Grandy. Let me do this for Lola. I’ll give her the universe if I could. You know that.”
Smiling up at him, Lola nodded. “Alright. I’ll find the wedding planner and we’ll go from there. Grandy and the kids will go wedding dress shopping with me.”
“Yes!” her family roared, sharing high-fives.
“I’ll go with Uncle Maxwell to get his own suit,” Nonso voiced out.
Relieved to finally get the little man’s full support, Maxwell agreed. “Yeah! We need to seal it with our grand hand gesture.”
With his face bright as an illuminated Christmas tree, Nonso jumped off the chair, came to his side and they exchanged their manly ritual handshake.
“I’ve got a suggestion,” Maxwell said to his new family. “I want you all to move into the house on Banana Island and I’ll stay elsewhere until the wedding. I need you to be comfortable.”
“And where will you stay?” Lola queried while her kids started dancing around the room celebrating the good news. “We’ve got to think about their school.”
“I’ve got an apartment I want to rent out on Banana Island. So, I’ll stay there for now. I’ll be close by. It’s just till the wedding is over.”
“Okay.” Lola squeezed his arm. “Thank you.”
“Are th
ere no schools near the house over there?” Grandy asked.
“There are, Grandy. There’s a primary school on the island called Banana Island School,” he said to the older woman. “We can visit the school this week.”
“You’ve got a good heart, my son. God bless you. I know you’ll take care of Lola and my babies. The time I’ve spent on my knees praying to God has not been in vain. Make him a very happy man, Lola.”
“By God’s grace, I will, Grandy.”
“We’re happy!” Nonso announced from behind the sofa. “We’ll make you very happy too,” he whispered in Maxwell’s ears moments later.
For some weird reason, tears filled Maxwell’s eyes. He was happier than he could ever have imagined possible. Feeling overwhelmed by emotion, he hugged his fiancée and Amaka close and dropped kisses on their heads. Nonso touched his hand to Maxwell’s neck. Across the gap, his eyes met Grandy’s who also fought back tears.
“I love you so much, Maxwell Gael Legend,” Lola mouthed, pressing her lips to his arm.
In his heart nothing else mattered except to make his fiancée and his new family happier than they could ever have dreamed.
“Are you taking my mummy on honeymoon after the wedding?” Amaka’s eyes burrowed into Maxwell’s.
“Amaka?” Lola cried. “Don’t you have any filter?”
Laughing, he stared at the young girl. “Should I?”
Amaka nodded. “In the movies, the groom always takes the bride on honeymoon.”
“What would you say if I took your mom to Paris for our honeymoon?”
His beautiful fiancée gasped. And a collective hush followed from the rest of the family.
“That would be awesome!” the twins chorused.
“Paris? The City of Love!” Grandy cheered.
Maxwell turned his head to Lola. “Is that a yes, from you?”
“That’s my dream.” She tightened her fingers around his arms. “Are you kidding me? I won’t sleep. I’ll just stare at the city lights every night.”
He laughed. Nothing prepared him for the elation on Lola’s face. “With any luck, you’ll love me more than the city.”
“Nothing can ever come between our love, not even Paris. I promise,” she whispered in his ear.
Tremors coursed through his neck. “My beautiful cupcake. We’re going to Paris for our honeymoon,” he crooned in her ear.
Tears slipped into Lola’s eyes and she did her best to hide the waterworks from her kids.
“Mummy, don’t cry,” Amaka consoled. “You’re going to be happy in Paris.”
“Take lots of pictures,” Nonso said, hopping around the living room.”
“We will,” he assured her kids while his girlfriend struggled to pull herself together.
“I want to talk to your mom outside for a few minutes,” he told her family.
Amaka nodded and eased down from the sofa.
Maxwell stood and helped, Lola up. They stepped through the living area to the private balcony.
Straight-on, Lola rushed into his arms and coiled her hands around his neck. While he lifted her up and gripped her butt tight, she linked her legs around his waist. He wrapped his mouth around hers and stroked her tongue with his own for minutes.
“I’m in love with you, my irresistible driver. And I’m ready to spend the rest of my life making you the happiest woman alive.”
Giggling, she nuzzled his neck with her lips. “I’m ready to spend the rest of my life loving you, my cranky, intensely sexy client.”
For several minutes, they laughed hard.
“I can’t believe I actually dismissed your looks at the start, cupcake because I thought you were bossy and not-so-beautiful!”
“Ha! Ha! Ha! Confession time! What were you thinking, ehn? I’m a beautiful black woman nah. Don’t worry, all your many sins are forgiven by me.”
“I agree. You’re my beautiful black queen.”
“And you’re my everything, Maxwell Gael Legend. I love you. I’m crazily in love with you. And I’m going make you the happiest man alive.”
“I know in my heart you will, my cupcake. My neighbours and friends, Donna and Jake were right.”
“Right about what?” She arched her neck.
“They asked me not to meet a girl in Nigeria, fall in love and get married.”
“A little late for that, abi?”
“Very late. My heart is no longer mine. It’s now linked with yours for a lifetime.”
She sucked his bottom lip. “If only your friends, Donna and Jake could be at our wedding.”
“They will be because I told them in advance.”
Lola’s eyes bulged and he caught her parted lips between his teeth and caressed the tender goodness with his tongue.
Minutes later, he brushed his long nose against her broad one as they laughed at Jake and Donna’s innocuous prediction that had become their reality.
Chapter 14 – Awesomely Handsome
Maxwell
After a thirteen-week whirlwind romance that ended in a well-attended engagement ceremony–according to the Yoruba tradition and custom–forty-eight hours earlier, Maxwell Gael Legend tied the knot with the love of his life, Lola Stephanie Lawson.
Their intimate wedding took place at 11.a.m. on Saturday, December 28th in Ajara Baptist Church along Iluda Road in Lagos, Nigeria.
Prior to the wedding day, just as Maxwell had promised, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour and got baptized in the same church where he was now getting married.
With their arms linked, Grandy Aduni walked with Lola along the red-carpet aisle while Amaka, the beaming eight-year-old handled Lola’s two-tier, floral, lace cathedral veil from behind.
Lola looked freaking amazing in her beaded, luxury wedding ball gown. Despite being a mum of twins, his bride did not deny herself her ultimate dream of walking down the aisle in a white princess-style wedding ball gown. She was his princess, his queen and his everything.
At the altar, Maxwell was flanked by Nonso. The grinning eight-year-old boy was fitted in a black tuxedo and an orange silk pocket square while the groom wore a tailored, body-clasping white tuxedo with black trimmings. An orange boutonnière on his lapel and a pair of gleaming black shoes completed his wedding outfit.
When the bride and groom faced each other to exchange their vows, Maxwell finally cracked.
Tears flowed along his cheeks unchecked. His face reddened as he stared at the woman who had changed him within such a short time. His lips wobbled as he recited his handwritten vows. Every word he uttered made his heart thud with love and joy.
“I, Maxwell Gael Legend take you, Lola Stephanie Lawson to be my wedded wife. I promise to be your faithful husband. I promise to love you when the sun shines and when the rain falls, in sickness, and in health, when we are poor and when we are rich. When you look at this ring, think of me and remember that I will always love you because in your eyes I have found my home.”
Although his bride’s eyes bathed with tears of her own, she did not break. It was enough for him she had tears in her eyes. He loved the fact he had become a sensitive, vulnerable version of himself.
Across the small gap, Lola squeezed his fingers.
He squeezed hers in return when what he really wanted to do was to kiss her lips and drink her tears.
The officiating minister urged. “Lola, pledge your vows to Maxwell.”
His heart almost jumped through his chest with excitement.
His splendid bride licked her lips before speaking.
“I, Lola Stephanie Lawson, take you, Maxwell Gael Legend to be my wedded husband. I promise to be your ever supportive, faithful, honest, and loving wife. I promise to hold your hand in mine through our lives journey, to hold your head on my cleavage, and to hold your heart in mine. I will love you always because in your heart I have found my love.”
The vows she voiced made his heart constrict with pure happiness and unquenchable love.
Just as the last words of
the unique words she handcrafted for him rolled off her tongue, her tears thickened and gushed out of her gorgeous eyes.
When the officiating minister asked him to kiss his bride, he cuddled Lola’s face and kissed her with the passion and strength of the love overflowing inside him. He drank her tears as she giggled.
“You’re overwhelmingly beautiful, my wife and my cupcake,” Maxwell praised as he teased her lips with his fingers.
“Thank you. What can I say to my awesomely handsome husband and sausage roll, ehn?”
At the end of the hour-long ceremony, the couple pressed their foreheads together, crying and laughing at the same time.
The twins tugged at the couple’s hands, whispering, “Use the tissues to wipe your eyes, crying babies.”
Chuckling, Maxwell squatted and hugged his stepchildren in turn.
“Congratulations!” The twins chorused.
“I love you, Uncle Maxwell,” Amaka confessed.
Maxwell pecked Amaka’s cheeks and forehead.
“I love you too, my princess.”
“Uncle Maxwell, I think I love you too,” Nonso admitted, grinning.
They all laughed.
“Nonso, I’m convinced I love you,” Maxwell twisted his lips. “Can you handle that?”
“Um-hmm,” the young man murmured, nodding.
Maxwell engaged Nonso in their macho handshake to celebrate their newly-confessed love.
Bending low, Lola also took turns to hug her kids. She accepted the tissue from Amaka and dabbed at her tears. Her daughter guided her hand, so that she did not smudge her make up.
“Mummy, you’re the most beautiful bride in the whole world. I love you.”
“Aww. Thank you, Amaka, my sunflower. You’re the loveliest chief bridesmaid I’ve ever seen.”
After folding her daughter–who looked adorable in a white ball gown and a mini-tiara on her head–in her arms for a few moments, Lola turned to her son.
“My beautiful Mummy, I’m very proud of you,” Nonso chuckled and threw his arms around his mom.
“I feel so blessed, my poppy. Thank you.” Lola kissed her son’s forehead.
Grandy joined the small circle. Her wrinkled lips stretched wide as she smiled. “You two are destined for great things,” she told the newly-wedded couple.
Irresistible Driver ~ A BWWM Sexy Romance Page 15