STOLEN PARADISE

CHAPTER FOURTY - TWO

One Friday in late March, Antonio limped towards Funmi's room, to check on her as he had left his parent's home very late after leaving early to see them. Although they were civil towards each other, their reconciliation was nowhere in sight. Funmi was waiting up for him, as per her habit in time past.

Antonio knocked on her door and she told him to come in. She was on her bed, ready to go to sleep.

"How are they?" Funmi asked.

"Fine." He replied.

Antonio walked towards her, sat beside her on the bed and took her right hand in his.

"How is the pain on your back? Are you still hurting really badly?" He asked with sincere concern.

"No, I'm much better. I should be on my feet fully next month. Thank you." She replied without looking at him.

He noticed she still wore her wedding band and silently sighed.

"Have you had supper? Do you need anything?" He asked.

"No."

Antonio leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I love you Funmi. I really do love you." He said softly ad stood up to leave. As he turned his back and walked towards the door, Funmi called his name.

"Antonio, the divorce papers are gathering dusts and termites with you. I think I gave you too much time." She said dryly.

Antonio sighed in disappointment but turned around and replied her gently.

"Give us till the end of April. If you still feel that we are over, you will be free to go."

Funmi folded her arms across her chest and retorted,

"I'm putting up with you in this house for our parents' sake not yours. People like you are numerous in the world."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You know, use, dump and flee!" She said harshly.

Antonio became furious almost immediately and without another thought yelled at her,

"Do you think every man is like your ex-fiancé Funmi?"

Funmi gave him a cold look and yelled back,

"Maybe...with the exception of very few responsible men! Men like Ikechukwu. Now to think of it, I would have been better off with him than a shell of a husband I kept calling "The love of my life." She knew the right buttons to press and she was pressing them hard.

"I heard Sharon is about to leave for London, so I think once you fully recover, you should follow her." She added the salt and pepper with a nasty smile.

Antonio walked towards her and pointed at her,

"What is your problem? Why can't you just let it go?"

"You made a fool out of me Antonio! You had it all planned all along and like a fool, I thought, no. I believed you loved me but all you did was lied and cheated. You know what that makes you? An Imp of wickedness." She wiped the tears that were falling down her face and commanded him,

"Now, please leave my room and shut the door on your way out!"

She slid down the covers and closed her eyes. The message was loud and clear, the conversation was over and she won the round.

Antonio was really hurt by her words, but he calmed down and left.

Funmi cried herself to sleep as the pain she long buried about her failed engagement began to cut her up once again, little by little, with every cut, bleeding her heart dry.

****

Kemi and Mrs. Babalola arrived the next morning. They set the table for breakfast with Antonio, while Funmi slept on. When it was all done, Antonio went up to check on his wife and call her down for breakfast. Well, his soon to be ex-wife.

He knocked thrice but no response came, o he let himself in. Just as he got in, Funmi wheeled herself out of the bathroom. She was fully dressed for the day and was tying her hair with a ribbon.

"I don't remember letting you in Antonio!" She snapped at him.

Antonio ignored her rudeness and announced that breakfast was ready and that his mother and her best friend were waiting for her downstairs.

"You made breakfast? Who asked you to?" He ignored her negative remarks.

"Mum and Kemi are here as I told you, so pull yourself together and come down."

Antonio turned to leave.

"Do we have to put on a show of affection for them?" she asked coyly.

"You are pushing me Funmi and I don't like it."

"Suit yourself Antonio, just come and carry me downstairs. I don't feel like using the crutches today. Please come back too to get the wheelchair."

Antonio lost it right there,

"I am not the same jerk you married Funmi so cut it out!"

Funmi laughed out loud and said, "So you do admit you were a jerk but anyway, you brought this upon yourself. I asked for divorce, you refused. As long as you remain to be my husband, you will play your role." She shook her head and laughed again.

"Please, come and get me down there. I am dying to see Mother dearest." Antonio did not argue, he carried her off from the wheelchair and carefully walked out of the room.

When they got to the foot of the stairs, Funmi said out loud, but in a sweet manner,

"If you drop me, I will kill you."

Antonio smiled to deceive the others and played along. After the necessary greetings, they settled down and ate breakfast.

****

After breakfast, Antonio decided to leave the women to chat while he goes to his Study to do some work. Just when he thought he could leave, his mother stopped him with a question. Whether or not Funmi was still leaving their lives.

"I don't know Mum. Ask her." He replied calmly.

"Funmi," Mrs. Babalola turned to her.

"I'm going ahead with the divorce. I won't change my mind."

"Funmi, stop being so arrogant! I know for a fact that Antonio loves you." Her Mother in law lashed out at her in frustration.

Funmi looked at the older woman in shock but stood her ground,

"Have you not heard that love is never enough to sustain a marriage? I know he loves me but that did not stop him from hurting me over and over again. I loved him and fought for this marriage but it is so clear where he wants to be. Why should I stop him? I will not stay." She replied calmly, shocking herself even more because a volcano was about to erupt from within.

"Why?" Kemi asked.

"Don't you get it Kemi? I don't trust this person. I found out that he did not tell Sharon that we were a real couple. He was playing us both. He cheated on both of us. Ask him if it is all a lie! If I accept him, what is stopping him from doing it again? My heart will not survive another betrayal." BY this time, her anger had surprisingly subsided and self-pity was taking over.

"I don't have the energy for this." Antonio said artlessly.

"Funmi, we mess up time and time again, but God forgives us over and over again. He gives us more chances than we deserve. Why can't you do same and be happy?"

"Your pregnancy is getting to you Mrs. Olanrewaju, please go back home to your loving husband and leave the rest of us married spinsters alone." She said angrily and got up from her seat, forgetting for a second that she was an invalid. Pain travelled from her back to her legs and she fell down and screamed in pain.

"Oh my God!" Mrs. Babalola shouted, got up and ran to her side.

Antonio quickly rushed to the scene,

"My back hurts, it really hurts." Funmi cried in anguish.

Antonio carefully got her on her feet and carried her back slowly to her room, leaving their visitors shocked and even more worried.