His Suitable Bride ✔

Epilogue

~Three years later~

Lagos, Nigeria

   Omotoni took a deep breath, hoping it would help calm her down, but it didn't. If she was right, it only accelerated her nervousness. The clattering of her heels against the tiles got louder as her newly made nails dug into the palms of her sister and manager who were seated on each side of her. She couldn't exactly figure out why she was so nervous if this particular scene she was going to face was something she has encountered countless times, but it couldn't be helped.

   "You know you don't have to be nervous, Toni," Max said, a hint of a smile embracing his face.

   "Yeah, right," Yeni added, sending a soothing hand along Toni's back. "You're a world famous actress that even has an Emmy and Oscar award, so how hard could premiering a movie in Nigeria be?"

  Right! Toni wanted to scream this out, but she couldn't. It was Nigeria afterall, the one place her whole world shattered, she didn't know if she was ready to face Nigerians yet.

   "You know they are right," her mum added, making her way into the large sitting room. "Everything is going to be fine."

   Toni smiled. "I know, mum. I have you all with me this time around. What more could I ask for than my family's support?"

  Yeni snuggled Toni into her extravagantly elaborate gown, nearly choking Toni in the process. "You rock, girl." Toni pulled out from the hug, coughing lightly. "Speaking of family, where is your husband? Who gave him the right to hoard my pretty little niece away from me."

  Toni chuckled as she glanced at her hand phone, knowing Nasir would be here anytime soon. She felt a sudden shiver of relief spread through her at the thought of seeing her husband and daughter. It's been a whole forty-eight hours since she last saw them. She had arrived in Lagos two days earlier to prepare for the premier of her very first Nigerian movie and couldn't wait to see her husband again. Frankly speaking, she needed that boost of energy that came from being in his presence, no one else could give her that.

   "You guys can head over without me, Nasir will be here to pick me up soon," Toni said, already noting the look of impatience on her sister's face.

   "It's so obvious you can't wait any longer to see your beloved husband." Max chuckled as he stood up, stretching out a hand to my mum who gladly took it.

   Yeni grumbled a little before she stood up. "I thought I'd at least get to see Nazinah before…"

  The sudden sound of little giggles that filled the room cut Yeni off as Toni saw that particular little bundle of joy sprinting across the living room in all of her cuteness and curls, walking closely behind her was none other than her own Nasir who had her heart beating rapidly the moment she laid eyes on him. Who would have thought that he would still make her feel this way after three years?

   "Grandma!" Nazinah yelped as she threw herself into the waiting arms of her grandmother.

   "Nazinah Tiaraoluwa Abubakar." Toni watched her mother call out affectionately as she showered the three years old with thousands of kisses. Yeni soon joined the embrace, creating a catastrophe of giggles and rapid toddler's gossip.

  Toni shook her head as she got up and melted slowly into her husband's embrace. "I missed you." She glanced up into those light brown eyes that had never for once ceased to make her body flutter with awareness.

  Nasir's hand slid across her waist as he pulled her closer to place a chaste kiss on her lips. "Same here, I bet your daughter would argue that she missed you more though."

  Toni chuckled as she glanced towards Nazinah who was now stretching her arms out to her mother. With smiles, she pulled over the blue cladded princess and placed a huge kiss on her forehead. "Did you miss mummy?"

   "Yesss!" Nazinah giggled, her eyes that were way too similar to that of her father, shining brightly before snuggling into Toni's neck.

   Everyone who had been watching the exchange seemed to burst into a loud laughter.

   "We should head out," her mum said. "You both shouldn't take too long though, don't forget you're the woman of the hour, Toni."

   Toni's nervousness started to return slowly as she watched Max, her mum and Yeni leave. She turned to Nasir and knew that he could see every tumultuous emotions waing through her.

  Nasir cupped her face and bent down to kiss her on the forehead. "You know you'll do just great, right."

  "Yes, mummy, you're the best!" Nazinah exclaimed with a big smile on her face.

  "Hearing you both say that, I feel reassured," Toni said, smiling brightly now.

  Nasir reached out his hand and picked up Nazinah from hers, holding her in one hand before holding out his elbow to her. Toni sling her hand along his elbow, finally ready to face the world now, armed with her family's love.

THE END