MY HUSBAND AND I(PART8)

Lara folded her arms round her chest as she
watched her mother in-law pack some fruits into
a basket.
“You’re going out” she said rather than asked.
“Yes, but I’ll be back soon.” Amara replied
covering the basket with a table cloth.
“I’m coming with you…” Lara began to say.
“No…”
“I’m coming with you!” she said firmly.
“Lara, you can’t come with me, okay?” Amara
tried to soothe her.
“Is there anything wrong? You’ve been going out
now for the past one week, and…and… Or is there
anything you’re hiding from me?” Lara said with a
frown.
“Now, Lara relax your nerves, okay. Stay back, I’l
buy you something when I’m coming back.”
Amara patted her.
“Okay then…I’l be going back to my place.” Lara
pouted.
“Lara! You can’t…”
“I can’t stay here all alone!” Lara began to cry.
Amara sighed, she knew her game is up. She
needed to tell Lara the truth. But how would she
start? Tony would be discharged that night.
“Errm..Lara, Tony had an accident, he’ll be
discharged today.” she said slowly.
“Accident? Tony?” Lara held her chest firmly.
“Yes, he'll be discharged today.” Amara sighed
again.
“I’m coming with you to see him!” Lara said
huskily.
“No…I’l drop you at your place instead, you'll see
him later in the day, when he’s been discharged.”
Amara told her.
Lara felt her knee go weak, she prayed the
accident isn’t that bad.
...
Lara toyed with her cornrows out of boredom. Her
mother-in-law had called to tell her they were on
their way.
She tried to imagine what Tony would look like,
maybe he would wear a scowl, or perhaps bark at
her.
She heard the front door open, she stood up
sharply, expectantly.
“Welco…” what she saw made her tongue stick
to the roof of her mouth…
Tony sat in a wheel chair, he looked so pale.
Chief Ifiora pushed the wheel chair into the room.
Lara looked on, she tried to speak, but couldn’t.
Tony looked up at her, he held her gaze, his eyes
full of regrets, sorrow and pains.
Lara looked away, tears stung her eyelids, was it
real? She asked herself.
“Don’t cry.” Amara hugged her.
Lara wept on her shoulder, she watched her
father-in-law push Tony in his wheel chair
towards his room.
Tears blurred her vision. Was this the same Tony
she saw few days ago? Now he is in a wheel-
chair?
She hugged her mother-in-law and they both wept
holding each other tightly.
...
“Breakfast is ready…” Lara cooed as she helped
Tony sit-up on his bed.
He was watching her closely. She’s been
supportive ever since he came back from the
hospital.
He had always imagined her paying him back his
evils now that he is defenceless, but she proved
his imaginations wrong.
He wondered if she had forgiven him, cos he hasn't even asked for
her forgiveness yet.
“Hope you don’t mind me putting too much milk
in your tea…the doctor said you should drink a lot of milk o.” Lara
smiled as she offered him a cup
of tea in a saucer.
“Thank you.” he said almost in a whisper.
“Your toast is here, your boiled eggs, your potato
chips, your fried plantains, your ….” Lara listed as
she pushed a tray full of food towards him.
“Are these for only me?” Tony’s eyes widened.
“Yes o! The doctor said you need a balanced
diet!” Lara said
Tony laughed, he never knew she had a sense of
humour.
“Eat up, while I get your bath water ready…” she
quipped.
“Errrm..Lara?” he searched her eyes.
“yes?” she turned to look at him.
“I…errm…I…just…wanted to say I’m
sorry..for..for..all I did to you…I’m…” he
stammered.
“Oh please, don’t start! Stop those I’m sorry
stuff!” Lara frowned.
“I don’t..know….Its..just that…just that…I feel I’m
not worth your kindness….” he continued.
“Now, don’t talk like that, I hold no grudges
against you..okay? Now eat up and take your
bathe, you know your father would be here soon…
remember you’re seeing the doctor today…huh?”
she said sweetly.
Tony held her gaze for a while before she looked
away.
...to be continued...