BIBI - CHAPTER 3

 

“Doesn't something smell good around here?" Bade said to Bibi holding her around the waist while they walked into his parents’ home after Church service on Sunday.

"Something does smell good, and I'm famished," Bibi replied.

"Look who just arrived!" Ireti Fernandez rose to hug her son and his wife. At 62 years, people said she was good looking and had refused to age. God had been good to her and her family. She could not deny that fact.

"Uncle, good evening sir," Bade bowed to greet his father’s friend, Uncle Bode. In Nigeria, every man who was older than you was an ‘Uncle’.  Uncle Bode had been his father's friend for as long as he could remember. "Oyebade Fernandez, the son of the Lion himself. How are we?"

Bibi chuckled where she stood watching the exchange between them. She curtsied to greet Uncle Bode when he met her gaze.

"We are very well.”  Bade answer­ed.

"Pele, Omo daada!  Oyebade, where did you find an angel like this? So beautiful. Please let me apologize formally. I was unable to make it to your wedding." Uncle Bode removed an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Bibi. "My daughter, this is a little token. Happy Married Life to you both." 

“Thanks so much, Sir.” Bibi curtsied in true Yoruba fashion.

He then proceeded to give the couple a thirty-minute lecture on marriage and how to make it work. Bibi's stomach growled. While she found Uncle Bode to be a funny person, he was rather on the talkative side.

"Mum, what smells good?" Bade asked, pulling Bibi up when Uncle Bode finally took his gaze off them. Bibi held her laughter. Her husband had caught the cue where her stomach was concerned.

Female laughter suddenly filtered into the room. Bibi turned to look in the direction of laughter and noticed two ladies walking in.

"My goodness, Bade!” One of the ladies flew into his arms. It's been so long. How are you? This is my sister, Desire. Do you remember her?”

“Of course, I do.” Bade tittered.

“Oh, how I’ve missed you.” Diwura drew him closer and embraced him again.

“Diwura, meet my wife, Bibi.” Bade said.

She thought she saw daggers in Diwura's eyes, or had she imagined it? Interesting, she thought.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot you just got married," Diwura said dryly. “Hello, Bibi.” She waved.

“Hi….” Bibi waved as well.

Segun Fernández rose from where he was seated. He was ready for lunch since his wife had told them all, that food was ready, and the table had been set.

“Good lawd mum! So much food.” Bade exclaimed.

"Eesh…" Bade's mother said to him in typical Nigerian mum fashion. "My dear, you better eat.”

Everyone on the table burst into laughter. They said grace and began eating.

"Wine nko?" Uncle Bode asked.

"Trust me now,” Segun said to his friend. “Oaked Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling…. Make Your selection.”

“Dad, no Irish cream?” Bade asked, raising his brows.

“Son, you know where to get it,” Segun answered.

Ireti smiled. Her husband had a good taste for wine.

Later in the day, Bibi and Ireti sat watching a Yoruba movie on Africa Magic while the men talked. Bibi watched her husband where he stood chatting with Diwura and Desire. Diwura was all over him, flirting terribly. She was not one of those insecure women. She trusted Bade and he trusted her too. Taking her gaze off him, she averted it to the TV listening to her mother-in-law who had just begun to analyze the movie.

Bibi smiled. She felt blessed to have married into such a good family. She had heard stories about people who prayed that their mother-in-law would have died by the time they got married. Bade’s mother, however, was a pure delight. She could not have asked for a better mother-in-law who would love her like her own.

Bibi remembered the day she had met Bade at the Westin in Las Vegas at their high school reunion. Their meeting in the elevator had been awkward, to say the least. He had given her an odd look that left her feeling like she was so unattractive.

Bibi shook her head and smiled as she remembered that day.  Over time, they had gotten to know and appreciate each other. Her opinion of him as an arrogant person soon faded.  

 

****

At 5:00 am, Bibi dragged herself slowly from the bed. She felt groggy like she had not slept a wink. Good Lord! She thought. Sometimes, she just wanted to head back to the U.S. She moved to Nigeria a few years ago so she could be with Bade. It was exciting initially but now; the regular Lagos traffic just made her weary.

“Good morning babe.” Bade rolled over on the bed.

“Hi.” She replied. “Good morning.”

“Slept well?” Bade asked when he realized that she was holding her head in her hand.

“Nope. I feel terrible.”

“Sorry. Maybe you’ll feel better after taking a shower?”

Bibi shrugged and walked into the bathroom.

An hour later, they were on their way to Marina where they both worked. It made sense to carpool daily since their offices were not far from each other.

Bibi squinted from all the loud noise from the various cars which were honking. One thing that Lagos drivers were not known for was patience.

Bade rolled up the car windows and turned on the air conditioner in the car. “Still having a headache? I hope my turning on the air conditioner won’t make it worse.”

“I’ll be fine,” Bibi responded, turning to the window to stare outside. Soon, hawkers and beggars crowded around the car. One of them, a teenage boy began to clean the car’s windshield.

Bade let out an exasperated sigh. “Why do these guys keep doing this?”

Bibi giggled. “You already know.”

Bade tapped the steering wheel waiting for the boy to finish cleaning so he could move the car. The traffic was easing up bit by bit. He pulled out a 500 Naira note from his wallet and handed it to him.

“Thank you, Sir.” The boy bowed again and again.

“Uncle buy gala… buy Orbit,” The hawkers chorused trying to push their wares through the window he had just opened.

He shook his head and rolled up the window quickly. “I wish all these young uns didn’t have to do this to survive you know.”

“Sad,” Bibi muttered thoughtfully. “We need an active Social Services department in this Country that’ll work to help get these children off the streets.”

“Yeah….” Bade responded. The situation with the hawkers and street kids was getting worse day by day.

Forty-five minutes later, they arrived at The Croft’s Agency where Bibi worked.

Bade planted a kiss on her face as she prepared to get out of the car. The smell of his amber, wood, tonka bean, and spice cologne filled her with desire. She turned her face and deepened the kiss.

Bade moaned. “Babe, I’m going to be late.” His voice sounded husky in his ears. While his brain said one thing, his body said another.

Bibi did the honors, moving away from him, winking. Bade returned her wink and watched her back while she walked away. He groaned. Bibi had lit a fire in him.

He moved the car when she disappeared into the building. Minutes after walking into her office space, Bibi suddenly felt faint. She sat for a few minutes while turning on her computer. She was on her way to get her morning fix which was a cup of hot chocolate when the ground suddenly felt like it was spinning, and blackness covered her like a blanket.