CHAPTER EIGHT: MY LOVING LOVER 💖✨

The Haunting Past

Uncle Sola entered the unit where his brother was being taken care of . He went to the nursing station to ask a few questions. He met a nurse with a curly wig neatly packed behind her scalp, strands of the curls framing her beautiful face. She was smartly dressed in her navy blue scrubs. She looked about  twenty six years of age. And she looked vaguely familiar. 

'Good morning nurse' he said. His years of living in the US already had effect on his accent.  The pretty nurse looked up from the system from which she had been imputing some data. Her beautiful eyes looked thoughtful as she was engrossed in the activity she was involved  in on the system, and no doubt has been distracted. Nonetheless, she gave a professional smile as she returned the greeting.

"Good morning sir. How may I help you?" She said

"I'm here to see a patient. His name is Chief Begunro"

"Oh, what's your relationship with him?" 

"I'm his younger brother"

"I'm sorry you can't see him now. According to the hospital policy, visitation hour is five to six pm. So, I'd advice you come around at that time."

"Of course. I understand policy and all that. But I really want to see him and know his state of health." 

"I'm sorry. Information like that is confidential, and I can't divulge them to you. But I'd suggest you ask his wife and she would tell you the things she knows. Better still, you can come around and see his doctor along with the family so you can have access to those information." Nurse Steve explained.

"That's not a problem. I would do just that. Thanks for the explanation." He was impressed she was being professional and yet wasn't rude. And he does have a liking to this young lady. There was something strangely familiar about her but he couldn't place his hands on it. He gave a nod as he left the nursing station.

He pulled out his phone to put a call through to his brother's son, Bayo. He had tried his number since he arrived at the airport, but the network was bad, and the number didn't go through. He had tried his brother's wife number too, but that too is going through. He had wanted to inform them he was already at the hospital. He had earlier declined Bayo coming to pick him up at the airport. The family had enough on their hands already.

"Hello Bayo. I'm already around" 

"Thank God. Where are you sir?"

"In front of the unit. You called it Male Medical Unit, right?" 

"Exactly sir. I took my mum home so we could have change of some clothes and get more provisions and toiletries." 

"Alright, I'll wait for you at the parking lot for visitors. I rented a red Toyota Camry car. You would see it there."

"Ok" Bayo replied, and the conversation ended.

He had known his uncle to be a man of few words, in contrast to his dad. But he couldn't understand the love between these two. He returned to his task of bringing some clothes from his father's wardrobe. His mum was in the kitchen, making some food.

Sharon checked her phone. Her mother was calling her. She is fond of calling her to check up on her. That woman is loving, and the love between her husband and her mother was like mother to son. She always bless God for this blessing. 

"Ekaaro maami"

"Oko mi, Asake. How are you today, and how's my son, your husband?"

"Alaafia lawa maami." She used her head and shoulder to hold the phone, an act she was fond of doing anytime her hands were engaged.

"I came to Lagos for the wedding ceremony of Arike's daughter, she's getting her married this weekend and she had called me to help her with some preparations. I had been doing that, but she wants me to be there physically for the help. And I'll be staying with her for a week.  And it's been a while I've seen you and my son's face, so I want to inform you that I'd like to spend a week with you after the wedding ceremony if you're okay with that."

"Maami...you and parties. Ok, I'll discuss that with my husband when I get home." She said smiling.

"Ok dear. How's work?" 

"Work is going fine maami. I just would appreciate if you don't call me during work hours. That way, we'll have enough time to gist." 

"No problem. I'll call you later tonight then. Enjoy yourself oko mi." 

"And you too maami." She said and ended the call. It will soon be time for the afternoon medications. She scrolled down the names to confirm the medications again.

Her phone rang. 

"But I already told maami not to call when I'm....." She was cut short as she saw an official number of the hospital.

"Hello, am I speaking to Nurse Steve Sharon?" 

"Yes, please."

"The acting CMD would like to have a conversation with you when you are done with your shift today."

"Ok." She thought in her mind 'why would the acting CMD want to see her?' 

"Have a nice day." The line went dead and she returned her attention to the screen of the computer. 

Sharon was done with her shift by 2pm and headed for the CMD's office. She told the receptionist and was led to the waiting room. Few moments after, she was called in. She met a smartly dressed middle aged woman behind the desk with the label 'Secretary to CMD'  who directed her to the office and she informed the acting CMD of her arrival after confirming the appointment . She made her way to the office. The office is comfortably big and executive. There was a sofa and some sitting cushion chairs, a small table in the middle of the room, a big executive table behind the sofa and an executive chair. Though executive, the room breathed affluence. Her attention shifted from the room to the person who summoned her. She got the shock of her life when she saw Charles on the executive chair in the office. He was right there on the chair, looking her over like someone who had breakfast brought to him in bed. 

'What is he doing here and how on earth did he get here?' she had thought in her mind.

 She was later going to realize that this was the acting CMD. This was a nightmare she had desperately wished she woke up from.They had dated back in school, and that time, she had not known Christ, and was just like one of the many girls on campus. She had caught his attention when she was in her second year in the university, then, he was at his fifth year, being a medical student, having two more years of the duration of his course of study.

"Hi baby. It's been a loooong time." Charles said, his face a handsome mischief.....