By Design (BWWM) [Complete]

Chapter 9: Home Again

"Sorry for waking you up so early in the morning dad."

"It's alright." he yawned.

"Tai and I are heading out. I stopped by to drop off the key."

"You could have stuck it in the mailbox."

"I could have."

"But you chose to wake me up."

Connor chuckled. "I did."

"What's wrong, son?"

"Nothing. I'll be back soon, I promise."

"By the way, your sisters and brothers aren't at all happy you didn't stop by to see them."

"They didn't come here or the cottage. I'll hash it out with them soon enough."

"They're also desperate to meet the woman who sent Stacey into a tizzy."

"Tai has that affect on people. Listen, the meters running. I'll call when I get back to the States."

"Okay, give Taiwo my regards."

"Will do."

Skipping down the stairs, he stalked his way back to the taxi, climbed in and settled next to his lovely headache.

"What did your father say?"

"He said hello."

"I see. So, are you happy to be heading back home?"

"We only spent two weeks together. I'm sure we need another two, don't you agree?"

"I suppose we're going to have to plan accordingly."

"The plans have already been made."

"What do you mean?"

"We're going to Benin."

'What? Now?"

"Mmm hmm."

"You're joking."

"Not at all. You've spoken about missing Nigeria and I thought now would be a good time to take advantage."

"Thank you so much."

"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you-if you let me."

"I have to find a way to pay you back."

"Like I said before, I only spend money on what's worth spending it on. You're worth it and you're not indebted to me."

Thankfully it was too dark for him to watch her trailing tears creep down her face. She would have been embarrassed allowing him to see her cry. But her heart felt as if it going to burst with joy. Taiwo was dying to see her family after such a long time. She wondered if Benin would look the same, if her neighbor's still lived in the village, what her siblings accomplished in her absence.

It had been an exhausting eight-hour flight but when they landed in Benin Airport, Taiwo felt thankful to be back on solid ground. She could never get used to being a foreigner in the air. After claiming their baggage, Taiwo hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address to their destination. Chugging along, she gazed intently out of the window drinking in the familiarity of the buildings in the distance. Some were new and other looked updated, yet kept its distant personality. Soon the taxi turned onto a red dirt road. The closer they were to their destination; kids appeared on the side of the road from the fields. Most were young boys in ripped jeans, shorts hacked at the knees, and tattered stained white t-shirts.

Looking up at the magenta sky reminded her of the time when she ran off to the local library looking for a little solitude away from her siblings. They hadn't granted her that, they followed her around town like the spies they were. Since she was adamant on learning all she could, they figured they'd miss out, they later confided in her. There had had never been a time when she'd acquired knowledge that she wouldn't pass it on to them. Her dream for her siblings was to make it out of poverty, to be self-sufficient, body and spirit. She hadn't wanted them to be at the mercy of anyone, especially people who promised to love and cherish them only to break their hearts.