When Stars Align

Back home.

The plane touched down at Muritala Muhammed airport and they disembarked. They didn’t have to go through the hassle of baggage claim, they had brought no luggage with them and had flown Luca’s private jet. Amanda stepped out of the cool atmosphere of the airport into the sweltering heat of Nigeria. Italy was mildly warm compared to this, this was scorching. It was a good thing she had wisely dressed in a chiffon dress.

Black and yellow taxis lined the entrance to the airport, the driver’s beckoning on them to board their cabs. Luca pulled down his shades and pointed to a white Camry parked a bit further from where they stood. He placed his hand on the small of her waist and led her to the car. A man in his early thirties came out of the car and introduced himself as Segun, their driver. He was dark skinned, bald headed with a bit of a pudgy stomach and an accent common with Oyo people.

They got in the car and their journey began. Amanda stared out the window at the bustling streets of Lagos as they drove past. She’d missed her country all these weeks and was glad she was back on familiar grounds even if it was for a while. Paris and Florence had lots of wonderful sites and exquisite cuisine and her country lacked the finesse of the Parisians, the old world charm of the Italians but there was no place like home.

She stared at the street hawkers as they hawked their wares in the hot sun and the danfo buses with their conductors hanging off the side of the bus, yelling out the bus’s destinations. She stared at the monument representing the Lagosians from all walks of life in the middle of the Maryland junction before they took the turning towards Idi-iroko. Dusk was coming in and they still had quite a journey ahead of them.

They were headed towards her apartment complex in Ikoyi, Lagos roads were mercurial, they could head into Anthony and get stuck in traffic for hours. The flight had been cathartic, a lot of feelings were expunged and she felt drained emotionally. She closed her eyes and let sleep take her into its bosom.

A gentle tap on her shoulder jolted Amanda out of her slumber. She squinted her eyes at the figure bent over her and Lucas’s face came into focus.

“Hey, wake up we’ve arrived.” He spoke in a quiet voice.

She got up and rubbed her aching neck, she’d slept at an awkward angle now her back and neck ached. Luca got out of the car and held the door open for her, she came out and cracked her neck from side to side to release the tension.

The sun had set, it was nearing dinnertime. By now Efosua, her househelp and nanny would be preparing dinner in the kitchen. She had phoned earlier about their impending arrival and was sure her son would be waiting eagerly for her. Now that she was home, she was filled with the sudden ache to hold him, to feel his warm breath on her neck as she hugged him and his heart beating steadily under her finger tips as she put him to sleep.

The car peeled out of the driveway and Luca handed her her walking stick. They made their way into the lobby and the concierge greeted her with a tip of his hat. She waved back at him in Rey and smiled. He was an old man who should’ve retired but he was agile and the situation of the country would not allow it. He would surely ask her what she got him from her travel later.

They entered the elevator and she punched in her apartment number, a tune from an advertisement came on as the car took them to the top of the building where she stayed. The building was a thirty storey complex and her apartment was on the twenty-sixth floor. She heard the nervous breathing coming from her left and she grabbed Luca’s right hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“Don’t worry, everything would be fine.”

“What if he doesn’t like me ? I mean he must’ve wondered where his father was all these years. What if he resents my absence.” He asked worriedly and she frowned.

Now that he said it, she realised her son had never asked her about his father. He must’ve felt his absence, the kids at school must’ve teased him about it. She didn’t know what to say to him. She felt at a loss for words. How was she going to introduce Luca to her son.

She stared at the elevator door worriedly. Now they both had something to be nervous about, no one knew how to allay the fears of the other. The doors slid open with a ding and they stepped out, she walked down and pressed the doorbell.