“I have learnt to let that go but it still rankles sometimes…”
“You could contact them again to resolve the issue.”
“I used to imagine meeting them again but not for a peaceful resolution. As I matured, it was one of the things I put behind me.”
“Have I told you about my mother and aunt?” He nodded and she went on to update him on the recent explanations from her aunt.
“Your mother is an exemplary woman.” Edward shook his head. “Some people would never have forgiven your aunt.”
“I‘ve learnt a lot from my mother; you can too, if you want.”
He smiled. “I want anything you want Gladys.” He pulled her up so their bodies meshed and ran his palms down her sides. He‘d finally committed to waiting and knew he‘d have to stop soon.
*********
Gladys turned over groggily on the bed as the door to her room opened. She looked up and broke into a weak smile when she recognized Jennifer and Ayo.
“And we thought you were invincible!” Jennifer exclaimed as she quickly took the only armchair in the spacious room.
Ayo came closer and perched on the bed. “I hope you‘re not infectious? I can stand if that‘s the case.”
Gladys laughed. Just last Sunday at their outing after the church service, she‘d bragged of never being sick after a year in Lagos. Alas she spoke too soon! Around lunch time at work on Tuesday, she‘d started to feel ill, and it got worse to the point that she was miserable by afternoon. She had chills all over her body, a terrible headache, and felt faint. Ola took her home ahead of the usual time and waited until Aunt Isioma came back. The fever receded but in the evening; she had barely started a phone call with Edward before her stomach turned to liquid.
When she spent most of the night in the toilet, her aunt had brought her to Reddington Hospital for a checkup. She had ended up being admitted for observation because based on the blood tests; she had a very high white blood cell count. That was yesterday.
“Sorry we couldn‘t come to see you earlier. We decided to come together after work.”
“No problem at all, thanks for coming.” Gladys had called them both this morning. She‘d been too weak yesterday to think of even raising a finger.