NB: This is a fictional series. Catch up with the previous part here
The drive home from the hospital was filled with thick silence, as both Kunle and Remi Ajibade sought to individually process the latest twist on this uncertain path they had been thrust onto. They had, with difficulty, swallowed the knowledge that they could be getting an unplanned addition to their family – but upon the discovery that they would be getting not just one, but two additions, the solid ground they appeared to have found disintegrated altogether. This outcome was definitely not something they had been even considered as a wild possibility. But whether or not they had foreseen the outcome, it was not one they could reject.
And so, they had thanked the doctor for all his help, nodded absent-mindedly as he rattled off further instructions and prescriptions, received the small white plastic bag of supplements without a word of protest, and left the hospital building in a daze, a tempest brewing under each’s thin veneer of calm.
The distance from Red Raymond Hospital, Ikeja to their palatial home at the Ogudu neighbourhood had never seemed so short, Remi realised as Kunle drove into their spacious compound. Both of them still in their funk, paid minimal notice to their surroundings. Cheerful Bala, their gateman was politely waved off when he rushed up to welcome them; Respectful Yetunde, their cook and housekeeper’s tempting offer of a steaming bowl of abula, a native Yoruba meal consisting of yam flour meal, and the tripartite dip of bean soup, jute leaf soup, and thick, red, pepper stew along with an assortment of beef pieces, was equally rejected, as both parties had a lot on their mind, of which food was not one of them.
Once within the safe confines of their shared bedroom, the armours worn by the both of them came crashing down. Silence had become a constant companion like never before, since both husband and wife were consumed with their thoughts.
It can’t have been more than thirty minutes later that Kunle spoke up. “Remi, let’s pray.”
“Pray ke? Or you mean let’s talk about what we’re going to do with the news we’ve just gotten?” She asked him, her voice bearing a lilt that unmistakably communicated her incredulity. “Because shebi you know that a ní ọrọ tó pọ láti sọ?”
Silence greeted her one-decibel-higher voice. Ah, did I shout? Remi asked herself, playing back the previous scene. I didn’t mean to shout o. She really didn’t mean to, and she hoped that Kunle wouldn’t read too much meaning into it. Her limbs which had seemed strong and ready to pounce lost their fight almost immediately, forcing her to collapse into the leopard-print armchair by the left side of the bed.
Kunle did not say a word, fixing her with a careful gaze. Clearly, he thought to himself, she was still dealing with an internal struggle. Holy Spirit, help us make sense of these curveballs. “I know you’re confused right now, along with a host of other emotions, and it feels like you’re floating in the midst of everything; so you need to remember your anchor, Remi. That’s why I said let us pray. Isolating God from our emotions will serve nothing but to set us up for even more confusion, pain and uncertainty. We will talk and we will make the important decisions however prayer will point us in the direction. Do you understand me now?”
A resigned sigh puffed past her lips as she rubbed the weary planes of her face. “I’m sorry for raising my voice, it wasn’t intentional. I think the stress just got to me a bit. Forgive me?”
A small but encouraging smile appeared on his face as he nodded. “Of course, don’t worry about it. I understand that you’re stressed and currently grasping at straws to explain how we got to where we are now and that’s okay.” Kunle was quick to reassure her, knowing she would arrive at his original point by herself.
“You’re right Kunle. We do need God’s direction and it was foolish of me to think that prayer is secondary.”
“Well I wouldn’t say foolish... more like silly fits better, don’t you think?” he asked, lights dancing in his eyes. Albeit with a smile of her own, Remi rolled her eyes. “Iwo lo mọ, na you sabi. Oya let’s pray.”
His gentle smile didn’t leave his face as he sank to his knees. Remi remained seated on the armchair, eyes closed in expectation. “God our father, you are good. All that comes out of you is good as well. Ọba ìfẹ, kabiyọ o sí. Ijinlẹ nínú ijinlẹ, you have given and still give us multiple reasons to be thankful so here we are saying thank you, for all you are and for all the benefits that you daily load us with. We’re glad to be doing life with you and we wouldn’t want it any other way-” Kunle paused his words to receive Remi’s response. “Yes, Lord, we thank you.”
“So many times you have shown up for us, and you have a shiny track record to prove that you’re truly invested in our well-being. You’re responsible for all the beauty in our lives so we know that you’ll only keep on beautifying our lives. However God, we see your hand in this new turn of events, and we’d be lying if we said we understood. Am I right Remi?” he asked, squinting at her in a matter of fact manner.
“Bẹẹni Bàbá, Kunle is very right,” she replied without missing a beat. Praying with her husband was always interesting, to say the least. The closest thing she could liken it to was a three-way phone call.
“So give us clarity God. Help us to tap into the strength that You have already given us. Help us to discern better on what to do and what not to do. Guide us in every decision Lord, we really need you. We can’t do this without you, neither do we wish to know what it’s like to try to. You’re the God that saw us through our three baby girls, see us through this new journey in Jesus name.”
“Amen!” Remi replied, the tone of her voice forceful, as though the vehemence in her time was all the encouragement needed to make God reply quickly. Not that He needed her prompting to fulfil His word, she thought to herself. After all, He said it Himself in the book of Isaiah that at the right moment, He would do what He has promised.
“And God, please prepare the hearts of our daughters to receive this news gracefully. Thank you Lord because we understand that as we have prayed, You have heard us and You will give us favourable answers. For we have prayed in Jesus name,” he rounded off the prayers, choosing to wait upon Remi’s “Amen” before cracking his eyes open.
She took his hands and squeezed them lightly, her lips turning up into a ghost of a smile. He squeezed back and she took it as her cue to ask the question that had been marinating on her lips since they got the news. “Now how are we going to tell the girls?”
* * *
The trio of Oluwafunmibi, Oluwabukunmi and EniObanke perched themselves in a cluster on the right side of the sitting room with their parents sitting alone on the opposite three-seater sofa. They had all received a brief, tersely worded message from their father that had had them dropping everything they were doing to rush to their parent’s home the following day.
The message hadn’t said so much about what the situation was so each one of them were on guard, anxiety brimming just beneath the surface. Right before they arrived at the house, they had prayed together about whatever it was and had encouraged each other to have faith. God had given them peace about the whole situation so it couldn’t be that bad of a thing.
It was as though they were on opposing sides and the connotation was not lost on Remi as she swallowed painfully in trepidation. These are my girls nau. I raised them, not the other way around so why am I so nervous? She asked herself and the answer jumped at her almost immediately. Because they’ve grown into sensible adults that whether you admit it or not, hold a high degree of respect for.
Hmm. That was actually a spot-on assessment.
The sound of Kunle’s clearing throat regained her attention. “So children, your mother and I have some news for you. It will affect our family dynamics substantially so we thought that telling you in person would be better for us all.”
“Yes Daddy you mentioned that it in your message,” Funmibi said in her signature gentle tone that could pacify the hardest of hearts, silently willing her father to get on with his announcement.
Bukunmi however was not as demure as her older sister. Blunt as always, she went straight to vocalising the question present on the minds of the three sisters. “Just tell us Daddy, anxiety wants to finish us here. Is it you? Is it mummy? Are either of you sick and you’re scared to tell us? I thought Mummy had already gotten better?”
An uncharacteristic laugh bubbled out of Remi’s mouth despite her emotions. Kunle shook his head, smiling to himself. Trust Bukunmi to be unable to resist showing her impatient streak.
“Well guys, I don’t think they’re sick o cause if they were, they probably wouldn’t be laughing. It’s not that bad, so let’s chill out,” she chipped in, shrugging as her sisters fixed her with a blank look.
“Buksy ọmọ mi fúnra ẹ, our family comedian.” He hailed her, grateful for the brief intermission she presented. “She’s actually right, girls. Neither I nor your mother are sick. But we went to the hospital two days ago because your mother was still showing symptoms and we needed to be sure of what it is. It was quite unexpected news as the doctor confirmed that your mother is pregnant.” He paused, waiting for the initial flood of reactions.
I know, I know, another cliffhanger. But we're getting closer to the end. This part has been long overdue so I'm excited that it's out and over to you all. One of the reasons it took so long was that I thought I could wrap things up with this part but Kunle and Remi said no o😂 So we carry on.
As I'm sure you can all agree with, I dey writeeeee. Yes, or yes? 😌
I'm back to school already so yup there's that. Keep me in your prayers and of course, you'd also be in mine🤗
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Thank you for reading.
All my Love,
Mofeoluwa 💚
Han Han, you dey write! 🙌 Because what are all these details?
Thank you so much for this piece Mofe. Their family is such a beautiful one and I'm so glad that their girls also know God for themselves. It's such a beautiful thing and I'm sure that with God’s help, I would also build a family that has God as her anchor.
Now, I'm earnestly waiting for the girls reactions 😂
I'm anticipating ooo ♥️♥️
This is a wonderful piece of work,more grease to your elbow ♥️