Not Safe To Be Loved - Episode 3

Later that evening, Harriet alone to her thoughts sat on the bed in her room. She had a king-size bed with two regular pillows and a five-foot-long body pillow that she could wrap herself in when she slept. She had on an extra-large Jockey T-shirt and boxer shorts. She was not one of those women who slept nude. With the shirt loose around her shoulders and her legs wrapped around the pillow, she lay in bed that evening and ruminated over something Mike had said earlier that day over lunch. She could picture Mike as he fed her a spoon of ice cream. And she remembered the smile that had greeted his face when he’d said, "I’ve a great surprise for you tomorrow, doll." Doll was his pet name for her.

All her efforts to make him give her a hint had come to nought. Mike had insisted she should wait till the next day. And she had tried all she could to figure out what the ‘great surprise’ would be. Only one thing kept coming to her mind. Would Mike be proposing to her? Even Ngozi had suggested the same thing when she had sought her opinion. What surprise could be greater?

She reached for Mike’s photograph on her bedside table. “Mike I would marry you, if that’s what you want. I love you.” She said as she raised the photograph to her lips for a passionate kiss. She could not resist the urge to hear Mike’s voice at that point. She picked up her cell phone and dialed his number…

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Mike returned to the house after seeing off Tunde, his bosom friend, who had come around for a game of FIFA 2013. He had lost the evening’s game. Tunde had won by five to two.

He was clearing the glasses and the bottle of the Ciroc off the table when his phone rang.

"Hey doll," Mike said into the phone, "I’m not doing too good."

"Anything?" Harriet queried.

"Nah. It’s nothing serious," Mike said smiling, "Tunde just beat me black and blue." 

"Oh that. Get over it, dear. There’ll be another day." 

"Alright. I’ll comfort myself with those words."

"Maybe I should help beg him on your behalf to take it easy with you next time. You want me to do that?" Harriet said amidst a wry laugh.

"That won’t be this evening. He’s dragged his big head off my apartment."

"Poor you." 

"Hmm… How was your day by the way?"

"With you playing a role in it, it was a great day. Thanks for the lunch, dear."

"You’re welcome, doll."

"And your day at the hospital." 

"Good"

"Can you guess what I have in my hand right now?"

"Let me see… My picture?"

"Oh, you’re right again! …And you still don’t want to tell me what the surprise you have for me tomorrow is all about? At least give me a hint.”

"No. If I let it out now, then it’ll no longer be a surprise tomorrow. It’s got to wait. But I promise you, it’s something you’re least prepared for." 

"I’ll be prepared," Harriet said 

Harriet said good night and hung up afterwards. Mike could not help a laugh as he cleared the table. "Let’s see how prepared you’d be." He thought as he headed for the kitchen. "If only you knew…"

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N.B: I’m sorry this week’s episode came later than you wanted it. My Internet Service Provider shared in the blame. Thank goodness it was a date after all.  

Let’s keep up next week yet again…  Catch y’all!