Tales of A Single Mum

Episode Sixteen

...Mr A drove to a member’s only boat club on the island. There I was at the back seat feeling like a fat kid at Christmas. The last time I had been on a private boat was as a ten-year-old with my siblings, my father and his friends. I phoned my mom to explain my delay and she encouraged me to relax and have fun. We got out of the car, my eyes never leaving Dehinde but being careful so he won’t notice. He towered well over my 5 foot 5 frame and had the deepest dimples I had ever seen.

Sally and Mr A walked in front of us on purpose, allowing Dehinde and I to get acquainted.

“So Margaret. Where are you from?” he asked as he reached out a hand to me, I shyly linked hands with his. “I’m from Abia State.” I said smiling at nothing in particular. The sun shining could have made me laugh sheepishly at that point. “You’re an eastern girl. I should have known from the way you look. I suddenly thought about my roots and wondered he had just given me a compliment.

“How about you?” I asked as we stepped on to the deck of one of the most beautiful luxury boats I had ever seen. He helped me up the steps and I put a tick next to “gentlemanly” in the invisible list I had drawn up in my head. “I’m a Lagos boy” he said winking at me and making me blush a bit. We sat down in a cosy room at the bottom of the deck. Mr A called Dehinde to the top deck and Sally and I were left alone for a bit.

“Gosh, Mags you’re almost drooling”’ She said laughing. ‘I mean I knew you would like him but I didn’t know you would like him this much.

“Is it that obvious?” I said laughing back. A waitress appeared from nowhere and Sally ordered some finger food. I could get used to this life, I thought to myself.

“Dear Lord, can you blame me? All year round, I’m surrounded by meat sellers. He looks almost ethereal to me.” We laughed and I got comfortable just as I felt motion. The boat was leaving the dock. Dehinde reappeared and Sally excused herself to meet Mr A at the top of the deck.

He came to sit close to me. I was immediately conscious of how close he was. I breathed in the smell of his perfume. Something ridiculously expensive I was sure.

“Sooo” He started. “Margaret, are you seeing anyone?” Seeing anyone ke? I thought.

“No I’m not “I said looking into his eyes. He stared right back. “hmm Lucky me then” Dehinde said.

‘’ How so?” I asked, acting like I had no idea where he was going?” He laughed. A deep, rich, rumbling, delicious sound that made me think of gushing spring water. Chei na wa!

“Because I’m interested in you.” He said pulling me up from the sofa and directing me to the top of the deck. “Do you know where we are going?”

“I don’t have a clue” I said curiously. We got to the top and I was greeted with the breath taking view of the ocean. Mr A steered the boat expertly with Sally standing by his side wearing an orange life jacket.

“We’re going to my family’s private island.” He said handing me a life jacket and putting one on as well. I whistled inside my head. His family has a private island. Biko no one should wake me up from this dream.

“When do you have to be home?” Dehinde asked me motioning to the waitress who had arrived with our platter of finger food.

. “Oh not anytime soon. She’s with me today.” Sally said replying for me.

“That’s great to know” Said Dehinde looking deeply into my eyes. I smiled and matched his stare.

“You’re in for an amazing time, Miss Margaret from the east” he took my right hand and brushed it to his lips ever so softly. I knew I was in deep deep trouble. If this was a test of my resistance, I had already failed woefully. I was smitten from the moment I set my eyes on Dehinde.

I wanted nothing more than to know him better. I wanted to spend time with him just listening to him laugh heartily. This is usually when warning bells begin to set off in my head. Now they seem to have taken a holiday. This man is too good to be true. If there was any sense left in me I should have discouraged his advances and protected myself from getting badly burned.

“Call me Mags” I heard myself saying as I reached for a spring roll and chewed seductively while staring at him.

Namaste!