Read The Godmother (Story) Episode 12

Episode 12

He checked to see if Rita’s number he stored was on in the
phone. It was. He called her.
‘Hello, Rita. How’re you?’
‘I’m fine. Who’s on the line, please?’
‘This is the man that took you to his Ogba home some days
ago. I …’

‘I’m sorry, I don’t do that kind of business again,’ she said.
He was surprised. ‘Really? That’s good. But we’ve got to
meet. I want to see you.’
‘I said I don’t do call-girl business again.’
‘I know. I’ve heard you. But I need to see you for something
else. I don’t mind coming to that joint to see you.’
‘I don’t go to the joint again.’
‘Can you please come to my house? Do you still remember
the place? I’ll compensate you for your time.’
She appeared to mull over this. ‘Alright, I’ll come to your
house this evening about four o’clock. But I’ll not be
staying long.’

‘Good. I’ll be expecting you.’
It was few minutes after four o’clock when she knocked on
the door to his apartment.
‘Oh, dear Rita. You’re welcome,’ he gushed.
She was decently dressed today in skirt and blouse. She
even looked prettier.

‘Please, sit down,’ he urged. She sat down calmly.

‘You said you wanted to see me,’ she said.
‘Yes, but what can I offer you, first? What d’you want?’
‘Maybe, we should go straight to the main issue, first. I
don’t really have much time.’
‘Alright.’ He came to sit opposite her and stared into her
eyes. Then, he went on his knees. ‘Rita, will you marry me?’
She opened her mouth. ‘What! What kind of drama is this?’
‘It’s not a drama,’ he replied quickly. ‘I really mean it, Rita. I
want to marry you.’
She shook her head. ‘But you hardly know me. Just one
night – which was a night of mistake, for only God knew
what came over me that
day!’
‘It doesn’t matter. I like you. Not just like, I love you. I’m
serious Rita. Let me prove my love to you.’
‘I don’t understand you. You knew me as a hooker. How
could you claim to be in love with me?’
‘I don’t see you as a hooker, my dear. I see you as a victim
of circumstance. More than that, I see you as worthy of
companionship. Life
companionship.’

‘Please, stand up. You’re embarrassing me.’
‘Does that mean you’ve accepted me?’
‘Not yet, but please stop being on your knees.’
He stood up reluctantly.
‘I’m twenty-one and still an undergraduate,’ she explained.
He smiled. ‘It will not stop your schooling. As a matter of
fact, I will continue to sponsor your education.’
She stopped to stare at him. ‘Wait a minute, are you
serious with all you’ve been saying?’
He smiled. ‘Of course, I’m serious. I’m thirty-five, am I not
old enough to marry?’
‘And you really want to marry me?’
‘Yes, my dear. Nothing will please me more than that.’
She sighed. ‘And it won’t stop my schooling.’
‘No. as I matter of fact, I hereby promise to sponsor the
rest of your education.’
She smiled. ‘Okay.’
She stopped to stare at him. ‘Wait a minute, are you
serious with all you’ve been saying?’
He smiled. ‘Of course, I’m serious. I’m thirty-five, am I not
old enough to marry?’

‘And you really want to marry me?’
‘Yes, my dear. Nothing will please me more than that.’

She sighed. ‘And it won’t stop my schooling.’
‘No. as I matter of fact, I hereby promise to sponsor the
rest of your education.’

She smiled. ‘Okay.’
‘Are you saying yes, you’ll marry me?’
‘Yes, I will.’
‘Oh, my Rita. Come on, stand up and give me a hug.’
She stood up and they hugged. ‘Listen, you’re not going to
regret this. I, Tope Davies, hereby promise you that I will
give you the best spousal
love a man can ever give to a woman.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘I am triple sure, Rita. You’ll see.’
That was how Tope won the heart of Rita.
He got her address and promised to check her at her
brother’s place, latest the following day.
‘I’ll be giving you a call,’ Rita darling,’ he promised.
Before she left, he gave her twenty thousand naira.
‘Use this to buy something for yourself,’ he said. She
hugged him passionately in appreciation.
By the evening of the following day, he went to visit her in
her brother’s house at Ojota. He was well received, as Rita
had told her brother
about him.
She saw him to his car when he wanted to leave. He had
decided to still be using the car for now, just for now.

‘So, you’ll be going to Abuja by Sunday evening,’ she said.

‘Yes. We’ll plan how we’ll be seeing thereafter.’

‘By two weeks’ time, my holiday will be over and I’ll be
going back to Kogi State University, Lokoja.’
‘Good thing, Lokoja is not far from Abuja,’ he said. ‘I’ll be
expecting you in my residence at Ogba on Saturday,’ he
reminded her.
‘Sure, no problem.’
When he left the place, he went home to take many bundles
of the money. He had decided he would buy a car – no, not
for himself but for Iye. Iye deserved even more than this.
He took a commercial bike to a car dealer at Ikeja. After
inspecting arrays of cars, he finally decided to buy a
Lexus jeep for her. The name on the receipts and other
papers bore Iye’s maiden name. He was sure she would like
it.
Before he drove the car out of the place, he called Iye.
‘I’ve got a present for you,’ he said.
She laughed shortly over the line. ‘What could that be?’
‘I’ve got a car for you. A Lexus jeep. Should I drive it
straight to your house or your office? Can you drive?’