The fill-in wife - Episode 4

 

Mary Stephen, this episode is for you.

Derrick:

"Boss it's already past 9pm." I feel a gentle hand tap my shoulder and I blink tired eyes open. I feel disoriented for a few seconds in the dark night until my eyes adjust to the darkness and I see several grave stones. I must have fallen asleep at mom's grave . I pull myself off the grass and dust the dirt on my jean.
"Thanks for waking me up man." The taxi man nods and I turn back to mom's grave.
"Don't worry about me mom. I'll be just fine. Just rest in peace. I love you so much." I say solemnly before finally walking out of the cemetery with the taxi man just beside me.
  My stomach grumbles as soon as we get to the car and the taxi driver chuckles beside me.
"You have been in there since mid morning. I can help you find something to eat if you want." He offers and I go to shake my head when my stomach grumbles out loud again. I remember snacking on a chocolate cookie last night on the flight. That explains my hunger.
"I'll really appreciate if you do that." I tell him then press the remaining one thousand naira note on me into his palm. He nods then leave me to get the food

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-fill-in-wife

. I sit my ass down on the car's hood while I wait and study the night's scenery. It's damn dark out here but the stars are beautiful. I am busy admiring the stars when the sound of bushes rustling reaches my ears and my ears perk up. I slowly turn to see nothing but pitch darkness.
"Is anyone out there?!" I call out, a little bit spooked considering I am just outside a cemetery. Where the hell is the taxi driver? The sound suddenly stops only to be followed by hooting of various owls. Memories of mother telling me stories of dead bodies using owls to communicate to the living comes to my mind and I shoot off the car's hood and fly into the car completely spooked by now. I shut the door behind me and take calming breaths. This is so ridiculous! I find myself chuckling at my fear in the backseat of a cab.
"Spirits don't turn into owls Derrick. Spirits don't even exist. If they do, they'll probably follow you into the car and eat your brains o__arrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh?!!!!"
The taxi's door flies open suddenly and something really heavy drops on my lap. I don't know when I scream my lungs out and fly out the other door and out of the car.
I don't even wait to see whatever spirit is after me, I flee into the dark night, running like I have never ran in my life.
"Wait! Wait! We need help!" I hear the form chasing after me yell. It's a woman's voice. Once this registers in my scared brain, I stop running and force myself to look behind me. The illumination from the moon casts a yellowish light on a willowy woman with hair which look unkempt but so long like it has never been cut. I squint my eyes and notice her clothes are a little too short for her. Her chest rise and fall with the exertion from the f*cking cross-country race we just did.
"What the hell are you?" I finally ask and she scratch her tangled hair before frowning like she's offended. I realize I just said what instead of who so I back track.
"You totally scared me there. Where did you come from? I mean it's a goddamned cemetery and it's so late. And then you started chasing me." I ramble off
"I wasn't chasing you! You just started running like a scared kid so I__"
"Wait what?" I interrupt her, completely offended. I close the little distance between us and stare down at her. I see her visibly gasp when I am in her breathing space and I smirk smugly.
"What did you say I am?" I ask slowly while looking deeply into her eyes. She gulps down saliva but still doesn't speak. She can't even look away from my eyes.
"Hey!" I snap my fingers in her face and she startles.
"You are so dashing." She trails off like she's in some kind of trance and I grin crookedly. She's just so cute like in a baby kind of way. She's with a complete stranger in such a dark place and she's saying I am dashing? She still doesn't break eye contact and I start to find myself getting lost in her innocent gaze.
"Hey! What are you doing here?! There's an unconscious old woman in the back of my car!" I hear the familiar voice of the taxi driver yell from behind me. The strange girl's eyes go wide in an instance.
"Oh my God! Grandmother!" She yells before she flies past me towards the car.

******
Maya:

"Maya, Maya,Maya! You called him dashing! And your grandma was unconscious and in need of help! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" I knock my head lightly several times as I study myself in the mirror inside the hospital's ladies room. I look flush and bright cheeked. My eyes are totally shiny. I throw more water on my face to calm my flaming cheeks but I still feel hot all over.
"He was so hot!!!" I squeal loudly and the lady rubbing on some make up, I think pancake or whatever beside me eyes me like I am crazy then leave.
"Whatever." I say once she's out the door. I was so shocked when he walked so close to me. Sweet Jesus! Nothing could have prepared me for the impact of his look! Gorgeous! Pulchritudinous!
Dashing! I thought I was staring at a Greek God. His fair skin was spotless. Just like Prince charming. I totally developed the case of butterflies in my tummy.
"Hey the doctor said you can see your grandma now! Are you alive in there?" I hear him yell from outside the door and I remember why I am here. Grandma. She gave me quite a scare but thankfully, we got here just in time.
"I'll be out in a minute!" I yell as I take in a steadying breath before shutting the tap and walking out of the door. He's standing with his back against the wall beside the door and I take advantage of his closed eyes to study him again. His brows are furrowed in deep thought and he looks so vulnerable this way. Something tells me this isn't a look he wants anyone to see. My hands itch to trace his furrowed brows and smoothen them.
"You are going to bore a hole in my face if you stare so hard Maya." He says silently and I blush beet red. How does he know my name?
He pushes off the wall and stand few metres away from me. His eyes study me deeply and I don't shy away. I like the way his gaze washes over me.
"Do you do that often?" He asks suddenly and I shrug, completely ignorant of what he's talking about.
"I mean do you always wear your feelings on your sleeves?" He asks and I avert my gaze. I am being too damn obvious.
"Ummm I'm sorry.

Read " Beautiful Mask " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I should go see my grandma." I say and hurriedly brush pass him. His hand grabs a hold of my right hand before I can walk pass him completely. My eyes fly to the spot where our hands are connected and then to his eyes. Electricity shoot straight from his warm hand to somewhere in my heart and I feel like exploding with the intensity of the feelings I'm getting.
"Be careful who you show your feelings to, sweet Maya. There are users everywhere." He says. I don't fully comprehend what he's saying but I nod anyways.
"Good. I guess I have to go now." He says then release my hand.
I don't want you to leave. I want to tell him this but I nod instead. He studies me then shrug out of his jacket.
"It's cold in here." He says as he wraps the jacket around my shoulders.
"Thank you. For everything." I whisper.
"Goodbye Maya." He says and peck my cheek before leaving me clutching his jacket and scared I'll never see him again.

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did!

Well classes were hectic today. I better go eat and rest.

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See you next episode!