Love Finds A Way To The Heart - Episode 4

 

Femi parked the estate car beside the Volkswagen Beetle. He alighted and went to lock the gate. He joined Ada just when she was getting down from the car, clutching her purse. Ada felt butterflies flutter inside her when she heard the entrance door opening.

    ‘That must be Gbemisola,’ she said.

    ‘Mm-hmm.’

    ‘Sure she’s going to like me?’

    ‘Femi slipped an arm across her shoulder. Don’t fret . Once she sees you have a good head on your shoulders, it’s no big deal.’

    ‘Okay.’

    At this point in time, Gbemisola stepped out onto the porch, a big smile on her face. She greeted her father, but focused her attention on Ada. Making a mental note, Gbemisola put the woman’s height at six foot nothing.

    ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ said Ada with a smile. Her teeth gleamed white against the ebony skin of her face. She extended her hand to Gbemisola. But Gbemisola tut-tutted. Instead of shaking hands with Ada, Gbemisola spread her arms wide open and gathered Ada to her, much to the woman’s surprise. As Ada hugged Gbemisola back, her gaze met Femi’s and he winked at her.

    ‘Well, I’m fine’, said Gbemisola after she’d freed Ada from the bear hug

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/love-finds-a-way-to-the-heart-1

. ‘And you?’

    ‘I feel great.’

    ‘Good to hear. And nice to meet you.’

    ‘Same here.’

    ‘Um… let’s go in,’ said Gbemisola, holding Ada by the hand. ‘How does fish, crisp fried, served on spiced couscous with tomato sauce sound?’

    ‘Mmm. Sounds... gourmet!’

    ‘And you could wash it down with exotic fresh wine. By the way, I didn’t leave out dessert.’ After a moment’s pause, Gbemisola said, ‘Expect ice-cream with a hot fudge sauce.’

    Ada grinned. ‘Sounds like you and your father have connived to spoil me today.’

    Gbemisola gave a laugh, leading the way across the tastefully furnished sitting room unto the dining room. At the dining table she pulled out a chair for Ada and sat her down. Femi sat beside Ada while Gbemisola dished out both their food in their respective plates.

    ‘Enjoy yourselves. If you need anything, I’m just a room away…’

    ‘Aren’t you eating with us?’ said Ada.

    ‘Nah. I’ll eat mine later.’

    ‘Tut-tut. I insist. It’s not as if the food is not enough to go round,’ Ada said.

    ‘Ok, you win. Let me get a plate. I’ll be back in a jiffy.’

    ‘Thanks.’ said Ada smilingly.

    Gbemisola nodded, smiled, and left for the kitchen.

    ‘I must say, Femi, your daughter is likeable.

    ‘She finds you likeable too, I believe.’

    ‘Mm’

    Ada nodded her head in satisfaction as the first morsel of the meal introduced itself to her taste buds. Then Gbemisola rejoined them at the table, served herself, and sat down to eat.

    ‘Oh, Gbemi! This meal is fantastic.’

    Gbemisola cast a welcoming smile in Ada’s direction. ‘Thank you,’ she said. By the way, what line of work are you into?’

    ‘Oh. I’m into... this, that and the other.’

    ‘I thought you’d be specific.’

    ‘Honey, she’s just being modest about what she does,’ Femi said. Turning towards Ada, he said, ‘Why not tell her what you actually do. It wouldn’t sound vain to really tell her, you know.’

    ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound evasive. Well, I’m a hotelier and a restaurateur. Besides, I’m into multilevel marketing.’

    ‘Not bad,’ said Gbemisola.

    ‘Your father once told me music is your first love, and you have a thing about instruments.’

    ‘Gbemisola didn’t reply but simply smiled. They all ate silently for some time before Ada broke the silence.

    ‘Forgive my asking, Gbemisola, but what’s with this British accent of yours?

    ‘It just happened I guess,’ Gbemisola replied, giving a silent shrug.

    ‘Gbemi lived in London for some time,’ Femi chipped in. ‘She actually had her tertiary education over there.’

    ‘That explains it then,’ said Ada. She finished the last morsel of food and the glass of wine, which she’d hitherto been taking in sips. Gbemisola and her father also finished their meal. Ada enjoyed a generous helping of dessert, of which Gbemisola and her father had their share as well. Gbemisola cleared the table while Femi led Ada to the couch where they sat. ‘I’ll be leaving soon.’

    ‘But I thought you would stay the night?’

    ‘No. It’s not within the bounds of propriety for me to sleep over this very first time. Perhaps some other time…’

    ‘Come on, Ada. Why don’t you stay?’ said Femi.

    ‘I’d love to, but I can’t.’ Ada patted his hand. ‘Aw, don’t let Gbemi come and find this sour look on your face. You can’t have your orange and suck it too.’ Hours before, when they’d been in the backroom of Ada’s office, they’d made passionate love - and Femi had got two encores. Ada’s voice now dropped to a whisper as she continued: ‘Besides it’s not good to be a sexaholic, eh?’ Ada leaned her forehead against Femi’s. They were about kissing. But upon hearing Gbemisola’s footfall as she approached, they pulled their faces away from each other like two sheepish teenage lovers.    

    ‘Hope I’m not interrupting anything.’ Gbemisola went and picked up the remote, then turned on the TV to the movie channel.

    ‘Not at all,’ said Ada, standing up. ‘Actually I was about to leave.’

    ‘Oh, I – I thought you were spending the night –‘

    ‘Nope’. ‘I hadn’t really planned on doing so.’

    ‘Lest I forget,’ said Ada to Gbemisola, there’s this event happening tomorrow night at a cabaret downtown.’ She took a folded piece of paper and gave it to Ada, who unfolded it. ‘That’s the flyer for the programme. A launch party for Yesterday was a Fairytale, a book of short stories I put together to raise money for an NGO of which I’m a patron and that comprises mostly women who have been victims of abusive relationship.’

    ‘Oh.’

    ‘It’s going to be a mix of readings, live music and stuff.’

    ‘Sounds promising.’

    ‘Mmm.’

    ‘Just so you know, honey,’ said Femi, addressing Gbemisola, ‘My beloved Ada skipped one part earlier while she was telling you things she does.’

    Gbemisola looked askance at Ada ‘What is he talking about? What part?’

    ‘That… I’m also a talent scout.’

    ‘Oh. What else is it you are that you are holding back?’ 

    To Gbemisola’s amusement Ada said, ‘Well, I’m your father’s wife-to-be. He did pop the question on one knee this morning, but without a ring.’ Gbemisola laughed and saw her father smile. ‘Although,’ continued Ada, ‘he promised he would put the ring on my finger the day after tomorrow; that is, when the order arrives.’

    ‘You have your own brand of humour,’ Gbemisola said.. 

    ‘Thanks,’ said Ada ‘So would you be coming for the event?’

    ‘Oh, yes’

    ‘Good. See you then. If you like, you could play an acoustic set.’

    Gbemisola nodded smilingly.

    ‘I’ll drive you home’

    ‘No, Femi, let me drive myself.’

    ‘Let him drive you. Your place isn’t far, is it?’

    ‘Along Akowonjo.’

    ‘Not far then.’

    ‘Mm’

    Ada came closer to Gbemisola and embraced her warmly.

    ‘I enjoyed your company,’ said Ada after breaking the embrace.

    ‘The feeling is mutual,’ Gbemisola smiled.

    ‘I’ll be back before dark,’ said Femi, pecking Gbemisola on the cheek as he led Ada out.

    ‘I’ll go and open the gate,’ said Gbemisola.

    ‘I’d appreciate that.’

    With Femi behind the wheel, Ada sat beside him as he aroused the engine. Ada waved at Gbemisola, who waved back as the estate car disappeared. As Gbemisola went back inside after locking the gate, she perused the flyer in her left hand and threw a high-five in the air - to the accompaniment of an excited jump.

    ‘Way to go!’