Beyond Me

Prologue

Present day

She was lying down on the three sitter couch she made specially for herself. She loves laying on it anytime she wants to relax her mind and body. The softness of the couch relaxes her body like a therapy.
She felt a sudden peace within her soul, like a chilled water on a thirsty dry throat. She knew the feeling and she welcomed it. She could feel her inside warming up to it, her whole body system moving up, with goose pimples getting to rise on her skin. She was fully aware of .....
Forgetting everything else, she allowed her heart to warm up with the song she was singing within, her spirit the Holy Spirit.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord,
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord,
Worthy, Worthy-
She heard a knock, it sounded faint, she was not sure if it came from within or....
The knocking was louder now. She lazily opened her eyes and frown. She was back to reality. The feeling disappeared, her frown deepened. She wasn't expecting a visitor. They were not expecting any visitors.
She rose sluggishly and walk towards the door.
For not to be notified by the gate man, it means a close relation.
As she opened the door, it was her mother-in-law that faced her. Olori as she is often called was the Queen of Igbaja land in Ogun State, Nigeria. With a population of over 500,000 people. She was dressed in her local attire of Iro and Buba made from a Swiss voil lace that has a mixture of brown and peach color, her royal beads dangling on her neck. Her dark hair was weaved all back. Her face shone in the afternoon sun, given her complexion to be steel bronze. Her skin had the youthful beauty which her husband inherited from her. She opened the door wider for her to come in.
'good afternoon ma'
'good afternoon dear. How are you? ' she replied with a smile as she stepped into their big sitting room. Followed behind was her sister in law, Adeola. She might have carried herself other than the thirty seven years of age. She certainly didn't look like it. She was the picture of fitness. She was both the angel and devil of the family. She, angelic in her features with a rare beauty that will keep you still gaping even after she was long gone and yet very cunning in her ways, and always wanting to lord over everyone.
They rarely get along and in her own way, avoids her.
'Good afternoon Sis Adeola' she greeted her sister in law, but was not surprised when she didn't get a response.
Grace shut the door after them and followed them in.
Her sitting room was divided into two full sitting areas, using a daybed as a room divider. In one area, sofas floated in the middle of the room and a console table was placed behind it. Their marriage pictures hung loose on one part of the wall with some abstract pictures. The other part of the sitting room was more formal. Her floor was covered with oak like parquet wood flooring. She preferred it. She did not like the cold feeling the marble floor gives to her feet. She had spent a fortune changing the look of her floor and afterwards fell in love with the outcome.
She knew why they had come. They had been on the issue for almost a year.
'Sister Adeola, I didnt get a response ' she faced her sister in law with a smile.
' I didnt come here for greeting so please hold it' she sneered, brushed past her to sit on the same couch she vacated earlier.
'Don't mind her please Grace. You know how she is sometimes ' Olori interjected. Excusing her daughter's rude behavior.
' Is my son in?' she asked, not sitting
'Yes ma' Grace answered. 'I will call him for you' she was about leaving when she turned back towards them.
'Please what can I offer you in the meantime'?
'Nothing' her sister inlaw answered sharply. She noticed her mother gave her a stern look.
She looked back at her. 'Sorry dear. Let me see Ade first' Olori said apologetically.
Grace left to call her husband. She climbed their five bedroom duplex stairs in twos, feeling terrible and hurt and trying hard to control the tears that had already filled her eyes from falling as she walked towards her husband's study.
As she entered, he was sitted on an executive chair, his face fully concentrating on what he was working on. Beside him was another computer table with a flat screen monitor on it, on the desk was a lamp and some books. Opposite where he sat stood a bookshelf of four steps full of books, and file cabinets. A spare bed was at the centre of the room. Sometimes, she wonders why he has a bed in his study.
She hugged him tight from the back and he turned her towards him standing up, he took her hands in his large ones.
Looking up at him, he looked taller than his 6ft height.
'You looked tensed. Now tell your love what the problem his' he teased.
Instead of answering, she hugged him tight. She always find comfort in his hugs. She was swallowed by his large frame as he hugged her back.
'Your mum and sister are around' she answered in an audible voice. Not looking up or loosening her hold on him.
'Oh' he answered nonchalantly
'Let it go sweetheart. You don't need this now. We have talked about it. And concluded it. My answer is still my answer. OK?' He said, releasing her. He turned back to his laptop, shut it down and turned back to face her. He looked deep into her eyes, not afraid of what she will see because he had nothing to hide. She could feel it penetrating deep into her soul. That moment, she was grateful she had him by her side.
'I love you and don't ever doubt that' he said, his palm on her cheek. She felt the peace she felt earlier and felt safe.
'And I love you Ademi'. She responde d smiling.
'Let's go' he led her down stairs to meet with his mother.
She remembered how it all started...