Second chances

Chapter three:Big night

I was seated on a couch in Mr Ajayi's office. His office smelled like vanilla which I found amusing. There was a shelf at the left flank of the office that had so many books in it. Which did not interest me, it's too much reading that makes some people weird and Mr Ajayi was not an exception. But then again it was too much reading that made me come to him to pay him, just to talk to him.

The was a large painting hung very close to his chair, it was a painting of waterfalls in a mountain.
The other painting was of a naked woman who breathed fire, I found it quite disturbing because her eyes were somehow in my direction. Mr Ajayi must have gotten some of his interior decor from his wife, because it appeared very much feminine.

I had been sitting in his office patiently waiting for the session to start but he didn't speak to me.
Distracting myself whilst waiting for the man to talk was a waste of time.
He had his glasses on his nose, his grey hair were more visible than the last time I had seen him but he looked quite handsome with them. Well handsome for his age.
For thirty minutes it was eye gazing, he'd look intensely at me, scribble something in his note and continue staring.

"Mr Ajayi I don't understand how this works and I know therapists are usually weird, but this has gone beyond the normal level of weirdness "
He didn't respond he just continued to write. Exasperated, I started tapping on the couch .
After 20 more minutes of scribbling he finally spoke.

"Mrs chinedu or shall I call you Victoria, it is nice of you to check up on me, the last time we had a session you promised you would. "

"it's good that you think that way, because I also had that at the back of mind, but that's not why I am here. Didn't your secretary tell you? I booked an appointment "

"Mrs chinedu I'm glad you've decided to resume therapy, but I must advice you the on and off habit might not get us anywhere "

I remembered few important things about my past. Apparently the accident was a suicide attempt "

I watched him scribble something on his note and I wished that I could get a hold of his book and read the things he wrote down.

"What exactly did you remember? "

I saw myself put a bullet in my head, standing across three women. I could see their faces clearly but I promise you it's not a dream, it's real"

"How real were these? did you ask your husband? "

" That's why I am here, I don't think I can trust my husband anymore. I mean I have feelings for him, he has been nothing but sweet to me. But I think there's something he's not telling me"

"Would you say this distrust is as a result of these memories or the fact that your predicament breeds some sort of insecurity Victoria? "

"He lied about my accident, things are not looking good for him "I answered

"What if your husband was protecting you from the trauma, would you have preferred he told that you shot yourself "

"I need the truth nothing more "

"Mrs chinedu, let us not be too quick with these judgements. Shouldn't you be more worried about why you almost killed yourself"

"That's why I am here, I feel there's a connection between the two and maybe you can help me remember "

"I think you should stick to the original plan,doing old things they can cause a spike in your brain that would help you remember "

"I want to be a good wife and a mother, how can I do that? Never mind "

"Mrs Patricia, how would one discover the layers of an onion if we don't attempt peeling it? "

"So you want me to peel my husband?, maybe that could work maybe I can be that wife he wants while I shed the secrets out of him.
"

I stood up , thanked him grabbed my purse and left. Peeling my husband would also require being a dutiful wife. i was going to be dutiful in bed tonight.

By the time I got him it was already evening, Christy had gone for a sleepover at her friend's. I had a feeling that her father had a hand in that .

Charles came in much later bearing gifts and kisses. I could tell he was excited, maybe he could sense that I had something to offer .

We went to Danny's restaurant by exactly 9pm. I was dressed in the yellow gown and Charles opted for a shirt and trousers.
The looks from men in the restaurant made me somewhat uncomfortable but Charles was only amused by it.
"Relax hun, I'm here with you, they can stare but you are mine"

The food arrived and we ate, it was a soup prepared with shrimps and lots of crabs. I had trouble eating the crabs but the shrimps tasted nice.
Charles began to tell me stories about our past and how I'd always force him to pick his socks and ties. He was disoriented and I was some sort of perfectionist who made provision for everything in the house including pins.

I laughed at some silly jokes he made and when it was time to go, I had mixed feelings about staying alone with my husband. A part of me was expectant, while the other was reluctant. Christy had always been around with us, so it was easy to draw strength and courage from her.
Mr Ajayi's words rung in my eyes one more time and I decided I was ready to go home with him.

When we got home, Charles went to fix christy's light bulb, it needed changing and she had texted while we were still at the restaurant. I decided to have a bath while he did he job.

On stepping out of the bathroom Charles was already back and I could feel the heat on my body as he looked so intently at me, moving from head to toe then upwards.
The towel I had around on my body could have been burned under his gaze, I became so nervous and scared at the same time.

"I can remember what you told me on our first night "he began
You had this same look you have now, scared, unsure yet expectant "He stood up and started walking towards me

But here's the answer to clear your doubts"he reached out his hand drew me close to his chest and made me listen to his heartbeat.

"I cannot hurt you when you have my heart in your hands"
I raised my head slowly to meet his gaze

"You were my first, weren't you? "
He nodded and smiled

"I do plan to be your last"

I hesitated for a while but as the words kept resounding in my ears and the look Charles was giving me, made me want to take that leap.

Peel the onions"I murmured

What? "

No, nothing "I gently pulled my towel letting it fall slowly off my body, then drew his face closer and let his lips claim mine.