CHAPTER 24

SUSAN

Susan listened to Henry receive and make calls all through their ride home, it got irritating at some point that she wished she had given him the work excuse when he called her this morning to request that she picked him up at the Airport. She whined down the window to allow fresh air in while she used the time to appreciate her environment as she watches the tall buildings on the street of Lagos. Henry hangs up and apologizes again like he wouldn't take another call if his phone rings "I'm sorry babe" Susan ignores his apology "where should the driver take us to? Anywhere in mind?" Henry smiled "Home! Let's go meet my mom first then we can talk" Susan changes the address on the app so the driver can change his route. She opens her inbox to read Bode's reply which really cracked her up, she laughs deeply while Henry watched and wonders what could make her genuinely happy as this, she hasn't laughed like this since he arrived, he holds her hand and looks at her jealously "Hey! Who is he?" Susan is confused by the question he just asked "who is who?" Henry shakes his head in anger "don't act dumb!" Susan is taken aback, did he just call her dumb? Henry continued "you were busy laughing at whatever he said to you and you are asking me who is who? Just let me know if there is someone in your life because l don't want to waste my time. I am not a fool you know, you have been forcing laughter with me no matter what I said but just a text message from him, you are laughing like a child who just got gifted candy". Susan knew at that point that she was in deep shit, she got a jealous man, she can't believe he got angry over her reaction to a text message when he has been on the phone all through, laughing and chattering like he had no company to talk to while she was there sitting beside him in the car "Are you kidding me? you have been on the phone for over thirty minutes, laughing and gisting all along but I never complained nor called you dumb, just one message I read and replied, you are insulting me? Really?" Henry became so sober as Susan replies him, he knew he went too far but why should she be laughing over a man's joke right beside him, or is she not ready to start something serious with him? Well, it's the first day of their meeting he shouldn't ruin it with his jealousy, he admits to himself "I am sorry, I just got jealous because you were so happy when you read the message on your phone meanwhile you haven't even laughed at my jokes since we got into transit. You have been moody" he confesses bitterly. After hearing the remorse in his voice, Susan had to admit "it's just a friend from work, I told him to cover for me because I won't be showing up at the office since I am right here with you" Henry holds up her hand and kisses it "I believe you".

*****

Henrietta, Henry's mom, who is plump, short, and

with chocolate skin is standing outside with her

close friend, Caroline, Susan's mom awaiting Henry who is on his way home from the Airport. The house help joins them outside, they jumped for joy as a car drives in. The driver parked as he arrived at their destination, Henry and Susan alighted from the car and carried the traveling bags from the boot while the house help rushes to collect the bags from them. Henry's mom rushes to wrap her son in a hug, dancing and jumping happily, Caroline as well walks up to her daughter asking how she is and what happened with the distress call. Susan whose close friend is her mom, always tells her everything going on in her life, but last night since she left home to meet Tade, they haven't spoken though she missed a lot of her calls, she knows she is already worried sick. Susan whispers to her "Everything is fine mom, Chichi is fine" Caroline nods and envelopes Henry in a hug as he walks up to her to greet her, he kissed her on her

both cheeks. Susan goes to the car to pay the

driver while the rest of the family walked into the

five-bedroom duplex chattering and laughing.