Her Baby’s Secret

Arike’s POV

I tried to move away. “I should get going..” but he stopped me.

“You just asked me to confess to the woman I love.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Okay.. so you want to practice on me?”

“Can you love me, Arike?” He asked with a serious.

It took seconds for me to realize that I was the black woman. My eyes widened in shock and surprise as realization hit me straight in the face. This must be a joke!

“Wha… wh.. at.. are.. you.. saying Daniel?” I tried to laugh it off as I stuttered.

“I want to make a love confession like you adviced.” He shrugged with a serious face. Then I knew he meant it and wasn’t joking.

I avoided making an eye contact with him. “You are the black woman I love.” He added.

I moved away from him. “You can’t be serious, Daniel.” I tried to hit his upper arm playfully but I stopped myself. I shouldn’t be joking in times like this one. Daniel was indeed serious.

Then I began to think about everything he has done for me and Iteoluwa. To be honest, Daniel always act like he was Iteoluwa’s father. I remember when she was so little, he always help in changing her diaper whenever he was less busy and he also helped in putting her to bed. He has never done that with the other babies. I didn’t see it as anything aside the fact that he was trying to help or that he felt pity for us knowing a bit of my story that I couldn’t be with the father of my child for some reasons unknown to everyone except my parents. I never thought that he had feelings for me though Busayomi always make sure to remind me that she could tell he likes me but I always shut her up or wave it off as one of her usual matchmaking jokes.

“So.. all the gifts.. and care.. it was because of what you.. feel for me.” I stuttered slowly.

“I don’t really.. know. Bright is a good kid and I just love her.” He answered.

I swallowed hard. “Your mom..”

“I told her about you.” He nodded.

“Oh! So she thinks you don’t want to marry Lucy because of the blackwoman – me.” I said to clear up the misunderstanding in my head.

“That what she thinks. I don’t want to marry Lucy because I don’t love her.”

“And because you love me too.” I added.

“She’s just Lucy, my friend. And I am not going back home until she accepts that I don’t want to get married to Lucy.”

“Daniel?”

“Arike, I know you don’t have any feelings for me. Yes.. you see me as just a worker in your father’s house. And I understand that you are not ready for commitment.”

I nodded in agreement. “My daughter means the world to me.”

“I know and I love Bright too.”

I like Daniel, but not the way he loves me.

“You’re a nice man, Daniel but I don’t -”

“It’s alright, just forget about what I said. I am also not ready to be with any woman.” He faked a smile.

“Okay.” I nodded.

“So if you will excuse me, I need to clean out the trash in the next bus.”

“I will go inside.” I turned to walk away. I made my way back to the house still thinking about my discussion with Daniel. I felt bad for him. I am sorry, Daniel.

I saw Aunty Sade dragging two heavy boxes to the living room so I went to help her.

“We already picked out the important decorations for the house and Christmas tree.”

“Okay but do you still need more items because I would be going to the mall in the evening.”

“I don’t think -” she paused to look at Miranda who just dropped some bags.

“Please get me scissors.”

“Okay ma.” She went away.

“Oh! Light! we need to buy more Christmas light!”

“Anything else?” I asked as I added Christmas light to the list I made on my phone.

She sat down on the couch. “Since today is the last day of school, some workers are leaving this week. So I will need you to write the names of those that will be around for Christmas party. I need to get gifts and then prepare for the party.”

“Okay ma.”

“You can ask Alexa to help you.” She added

Alexa was in charge of the foaster records, more or else like a secretary.

“Busayomi is still not coming around this year!” Aunty Sade asked as she tapped on her phone.

“She’s not coming.”

“Iteoluwa would be really disappointed. She didn’t stop talking about Busayomi yesterday.”

Iteoluwa always looked forward to seeing Busayomi every December.

“Busayomi is getting married.” I said.

Aunty Sade adjusted her glasses as she looked up at me. “This is great news! I am so happy for her.”

Miranda brought the scissors. “Please tell Alexa to come around whenever she’s less busy.”

“Okay ma’am.” Miranda left.

“Have they fixed the wedding date?”

“Not so fast.” I laughed.

“She shouldn’t delay o.”

“She’s meeting his family this christmas.”

“Ehn let’s say early next year.” She said

“Hmmmmm… I am so happy for her.” She sighed. “Wo wa joko si egbe mi.”

Come sit beside me. She tapped on the space next to her on the couch. I am sure she knows what it means for Busayomi to be getting married.