15. LUKE
Chapter 15
LUKE
The next afternoon, we are driving to my dad’s place. Dele is quiet on the drive while my mind can’t get past how beautiful she looks in the one-shoulder brown dress. It hugs her curves perfectly. We pull into the garage parking and get on the elevator.
“Should I be worried?” she asks.
“No, you’ll be fine. Forget what Osei said and just judge for yourself.”
“Okay.” She exhales. I take her hand, and it warms my heart when she doesn’t resist. I use my key to unlock the door and go in. The nurse gets up right away.
“Hi, Susanna. I’d like you to meet my wife.”
“Hi!” She hugs Dele immediately. “Welcome, dear.” She leans into me. “She’s pretty,” she whispers.
“Thanks.”
“Mr. Blythe, Luke is here,” Susanna calls out.
We follow her, and I can sense Dele relaxing a bit. My dad is in the living room, watching the news, which is all he does these days. He’s in shorts and a T-shirt. He turns my way, his eyes zooming to our locked hands.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Hi.” His voice is low.
“I brought my wife, Ayodele Blythe.” His eyes widen. He looks at Dele closely.
“Hello, my dear. Welcome to the family.” He smiles at her and extends his hand for a handshake. Dele drops my hand and moves closer to shake his. “Sit, dear. I’m happy to meet you,” he says, and she takes the seat closest to him.
“When did you get married, Luke?” His voice is stern. I haven’t moved to take a seat by Dele.
“Yesterday,” I lie. He would be upset if he found out it was two days ago, and my mom found out before him.
“My invitation got lost in the mail, I guess.” He sounds upset.
“No, Daddy. It was just Dele and me. We’ll wait for you and her dad to get better before we have a proper wedding and invite everyone.” He nods. That seems to satisfy him a bit.
“Does your mother know?”
“Yes, we stopped by there earlier,” I lie again.
“At least you keep it consistent,” he says wryly. He’s okay as long as he and Mom find out at the same time.
“Dad, come on.” He waves me away and turns to Dele.
“My dear, what’s your name?” He asks her again, like I didn’t mention it—maybe he just needs to hear it again.
“Ayodele, but everyone calls me Dele,” she says, pronouncing her name clearly.
“Dele,” he says it right the first time, which makes me smile.
“What’s the meaning of your name?”
“Joy comes home.” Dad smiles and takes her hand, placing his other hand on it. She smiles at him, and I watch as my dad warms up to her. She truly has the gift of warmth.
“Yes, I agree. Joy has indeed arrived home. Welcome home, dear,” Dad says happily. We spend the next few hours talking. He asks Dele more questions when he finds out she’s a nurse and working towards her bachelor’s degree.
“I plan to do my master’s right after,” Dele says, surprising me. I didn’t know she planned to go further.
“That’s great. Just make room for my grandbabies,” he says.
“Noted,” Dele answers, smiling at him. I keep a smile plastered on my face, even as the idea slowly soothes me.
We have dinner with Dad and Susanna, who seem chirpy all evening. Dad gets all chatty, telling stories that make Dele laugh. When she leaves to use the bathroom, “I like her, though I’m not happy my only child got married without me,” he says.
“Dad, Dele’s schedule is tight.”
“She goes to school.” He sounds like, ‘How hard can it be to plan a wedding around a school schedule?’
“Dele works full-time at Lakeshore Meds and goes to school full-time. I’m trying to get her to work fewer hours.”
“Hardworking one like your mother, just don’t mess things up.”
“I won’t.”
“Good. Congratulations,” he says after hours, and I know it’s sincere. “Just get to work on making my grandbabies.”
“No pressure, Dad,” I answer. I just need to get past my wife’s locked bedroom door.
Dele returns, and we head out. To my surprise, Dad summons the energy to hug Dele. We say goodnight to Dad and Susanna.