ALWAYS AND FOREVER

Chapter 2

Fenna

It's Friday already.

Vadim has driven me to the airport.

Finally, he made it home before I travelled.

He has been gloomy all through the driven to the international airport.

I know the reason why.
If he thinks his silence will intimidate me, then he's in for a rude shock.
I'm travelling, come rain, come shine.

“Cheer up big bro....”

I say for the sake of starting a conversation.

He doesn't bulge. Instead, he drives on, his eyes glued to the road ahead.
He's such a hard nut to crack.

“I'll miss you bro dearest...”

Silence.

“You know I wouldn't have left if I had a job.”

Silence.

I know I'm fighting a losing battle therefore I just shut up and continue scrolling through my tablet.

  “Here we are...parrot!”

Oh! So he can talk huh?

I push my door open and step outside as he dies the same.

“You know what sis, you're so stubborn! You no longer listen to your big bro..”

“Not on this one dear...not on this one.”
I answer as I help him bring down my luggage from the boot.

“You know I'll miss you right?”
He says as he helps me pull the heavy bags towards the waiting bay.

“I'm sorry bro. But you'll be visiting once in a while. Don't worry, I'll hook you up with a girl from there so that you may have a reason to be visiting oftenly...”

“Don't go there Fenna! You know as much as I do that I fancy white ladies!”
He says, feigning hurt.

“I'm sorry bro...but as for me, I must marry from my country. Black is gold...”

“Tell that to the birds...parrot!”

Vadim likes referring to me as a parrot he claims that I talk a lot.

Well, that's my nature.

******
I've been alert through out the flight. I just love nature and I've been admiring the natural vegetation as we fly over seas, plateaus, plantations, farms, oceans, beaches, forests, bushes, desert and many more.

I called Tess before the plane took off and it's a matter of hours before we arrive at my most coveted country.

We've just landed and as I check out, I spot Tess at a distance. I wave at her and she comes immediately, followed behind by a young man.

Tess and I hug as the young man drags two of my bags with him towards the taxi bay.

“You've grown so big and beautiful!”

I tease Tess as we walk hand in hand towards the cab.

“You too...you're looking edible...I love your cologne too..mmmmh.”

“Stop it Tess, I'm straight! And even if I wasn't, you wouldn't have crushed on your cousin...it's a taboo...”

We laugh heartily as we stop in front of a cab. The driver has already put the bags in the boot and he's opening the back door for us.

What a respectful young man!
I observe silently.

“Pretty Cousin...meet Nolan, my most trusted cab driver. I'm sure you'll need his services as you tour the city for I don't be available always.”

Tess says as we drive towards the mansion.

“Thankyou Tess.... Nolan, I'm Fenna, Tess's cousin..”
I introduce myself politely.

“Nice meeting you ma'am!”
He replies in the calmest manner possible.

“Ahw! That feels old! Call me Fenna.... I'm okay with that!”

“Okay Fenna..”

Tess is an air hostess. She had to take a day off only to wait for me at the airport. She's such a darling cousin.

“Here we are ladies.”

Nolan brings us back to our senses. Tess and I have been conversing through out the drive after giving him the address to my house.

There's no watchman in the big house therefore I hand him the gate keys to unlock it and drive in.

Ours is a big house. A mansion to be precise. I wonder why my parents built it up if they have no plans of relocating to the country.

I hand Tess another bunch of keys to open the mansion door. Nolan is busy removing my bags from the trunk of the car, dragging them towards the door.

I've seen how awed he was after seeing my house.

There's nothing much to do inside except arranging my clothes in the wardrobe. Therefore I just pay Nolan and we exchange contacts just in case I need someone to show me around.

“Honey, why can't you move in with me?”

I ask Tess later that evening as we take coffee.

“That's impossible darling. I have an apartment which our company pays for. I can't move in with you...besides, you need privacy!”

“Oh girl. I'll die with fright in this huge house. But it's okay. I'll employ a gateman to be taking care of the house...”

“See who's freaking out! I've never known Fenna to be a coward!”

“Don't even go there cousin. You know as much as I do that I'm a strong woman. I'll conquer....”

We

Tess decides to spend the nights in my house because she has the whole of that weekend off. At least I'll have company for sometime.

“Tell me girl, how did you meet him?”

“Who? There's no man in my life. I don't do the dating stuff. I only hook up and dump!”

“Who has asked you all that Tess? Anyway, thanks for telling me what I know already. I'm asking about Nolan...”

I say as I bite my lower lip thoughtfully.

Since I lay my eyes on Nolan earlier today, his calm, humble and handsome face...voice hasn't been able to get off my mind! I mean, the way he carried himself doesn't fit him at all.

If you ask me, I'd say he's not supposed to be a taxi drive..how now? He's too sophisticated for that!

“He's just a taxi driver honey! I met him one day in the airport and since then, he has been driving me around...let's forget him for now!”

She dismisses me just like that!

In my mind, I still feel there's something odd about him which I'm yet to lay a finger on.

I won't keep on asking Tess about him. I'll just keep quiet and do my investigations on my own. Tess might mess up things for me.

She might blow everything out of proportion.

So help me God!