42. LUKE
Chapter 42
LUKE
I return four days sooner, hoping to find her at home, but she isn’t here, and it irks me that I practically jumped on the next flight as soon as I could because I’ve missed my wife. Only to be greeted by an empty house. I’d called Dad as soon as I landed, as I always do, telling him I’ll see him later because I wanted to see Dele first, but she’s not here.
We talked a few times, though we didn’t get much in with the time difference and priorities higher than me taking up her time. I called her phone, and it went straight to voicemail. I checked the time and her schedule, and her phone shouldn’t be going to voicemail; it should be on. I tell myself maybe she’s driving in a dead zone. After about fifteen minutes, I call again. It still goes straight to voicemail. I decided to call Bruce. I’d asked him to keep an eye on her for safety reasons, plus it’s my way of making sure she’s not working too many hours.
“Hello.”
“Hey, I’m back. Do you know where Dele is?”
“Hold on a sec.” I hear a click and some sounds.
“I don’t know where she is. We only track her phone and car GPS, but the records show her phone is off, and her car is stationed at the hospital. Hold on.” I mute my phone and let out a frustrated sigh. She certainly knows how to push my buttons.
“Luke, the report shows that a few times last week and this week, her phone is turned off at the same time and on the same days of the week.” Fuck!
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Sorry, man. I have a new guy, and he sent this earlier today.”
“Are you sure? You have no idea where she is or where she goes when her phone is turned off?”
“Pretty certain. I checked again.”
“Okay, thanks.”
I hang up and drop my phone on my desk. I fucking need a drink. I down it quickly. My mind is questioning if she would have an affair. Her words play in my head: I won’t have an affair. That would soil your name. I pick up my phone, and her picture with Osei flashes.
I scroll through the pictures Bruce has been sending me per my request. Most of the time, she’s at school and work. A few times, she’s hanging out with Osei, laughing without caring about who’s watching. Have I had moments of jealousy watching how she leans comfortably into Osei whenever they are out together? It boils my blood whenever I receive the ones with her in Osei’s arms. That isn’t as raging as the fact of the information that Bruce just shared: two to three hours on certain days of the week. They have no idea where she is, and Bruce can’t track her. To my annoyance, it occurs to me that only one person is bold enough to have an affair with my wife. That is Osei Appiah, my fucking brother, and he’s clueless. If he thinks I won’t fiercely fight for her, he’s in for a rude awakening. She’s my wife, and that’s final. I look at another picture of them together. He looks like he’s gazing into her eyes or hanging the fucking moon for her. No way am I going to sit back and let him take her from me. I call Osei; he sends a customized message saying, “Can I call you later?”
I text him:
Me: I’m back. Stop by; I need to speak with you. It’s urgent.
I call Bruce back. I dive right in as soon as he answers.
“Hey, can you tell me what day of the week and what time her phone is usually off?”
I listen as he reads off the days and times. A few coincide with Osei’s off schedule, which only aggravates me more. “Thanks,” I say, hanging up and taking another drink.
I try Dele’s phone again, and again, it goes straight to voicemail.
Osei texts shortly after, letting me know he’ll be here. I tell Paula to direct him to my office once he arrives, and she can leave for the day. I don’t need a witness for when I beat up my brother.
Osei comes in and drops onto the sofa in my office. “Welcome back. Hope your trip made you more millions,” he mocks. He’s clearly not reading the room or the scowl on my face.
“Are you fucking my wife?” I ask him straight, in a steely tone, staring him down as I place a gentle lid on my anger before it explodes and I unleash the bad side of me onto my brother.
“I can’t believe you just asked me that.” He looks at me, shakes his head, sits up straight on the sofa, rubbing his palm on his thigh to keep from clenching. His body shifts to the edge. I know he’s upset by the question, but I don’t care. He should know not to cross the fucking line.
“It’s a fucking yes or no question,” I shout at him, slamming my fist on the table. Again, he’s unmoved, but he turns an angry face to me.
“Like I said, I can’t believe you just asked me that.” His voice deepens. I hear the anger brewing in his tone.
“I taught you that trick of answering a question with a question. You do not want to mess with me.” I slam my fist on the desk. The pound echoes through the room. Our glare at each other is as loud as the pound.
“If you knew your said wife, you wouldn’t be asking me that question,” he retorts. He’s now clenching and unclenching his fist, eyes blazing, nostrils flaring, but he’s no match for me right now.
“Answer the damn question. I’m not in the mood for your nonsense,” I sneer.
“Was there a question? Because last I checked, Dele is your wife on paper only. Why then do you care who she fucks?” he sneers back at me. I rise in anger, and he gets up too. We’re snarling at each other. My desk is between us.
My phone rings; it’s my dad. Now isn’t a good time. My brother and I maintain a stare down. My phone stops ringing.
“Fucking answer me!” I shout. He scoffs at me with a side-eye just as my phone starts ringing again.
I answer my dad’s call. I know he won’t stop calling.
“Yes, Dad?”
“Come and get Dele,” he yells back at me. What did he just say?
“What are you talking about, Dad?” I ask, perplexed.
“Your wife, Dele, has fallen asleep at the foot of my bed. I can’t move her. Come and get her, so she can rest properly and not fall. Susanna isn’t here to help if she falls.”
“I’m on my way,” I say, hanging up. Without a word to my brother, I raced out.
He doesn’t say anything or try to stop me. As soon as I get to my car, I drive fast to my dad’s place. Luckily, traffic is light, and I get there in record time. I go straight to his bedroom and find her right where Dad said she was—asleep at the foot of his bed. He motions “shh” to me the moment I brisk in.
“She must be tired today; could barely stay awake. That’s why I called you.”
“What do you mean by today?”
“She has been coming to visit me since you traveled,” he snaps, like I’m asking stupid questions.
“What?! You have a nurse, Dad. She doesn’t need to work here.” His words sound senile to me, but Dad is coherent.
“She visits, not works, and her visit is appreciated. I enjoy her company.” The reformed asshole is back again.
“Fine, I’m taking her home. You and I will discuss this later.”
I lean close and gently tap her, whispering, “Ayo mi.” She slowly opens her eyes and looks around like she’s unaware of her surroundings. “You fell asleep. Dad was worried,” I say in a low tone. I know she clams at the sound of noise when she wakes.
“I’m sorry, Baba,” she says to Dad.
“It’s okay, dear. I was worried you would fall and hit your head hard and I can’t help you.” She smiles at him and rises to her feet, saying “Thank you,” but her sudden rise causes her to lose her balance, and I quickly grab her to prevent a fall.
“Whoa, thanks for catching me,” she slurs.
“Come on, let’s get you home.”
“My car is at work,” she mumbles. “I walked here,” she says. “It’s sunny out today.”
“Go home and rest, Dele. Luke will take care of your car.” She nods and lets me guide her out. I grab her backpack, which feels like a mountain is sitting in it. I bid my dad goodnight and inform his housekeeper that we are leaving.
I guide Dele to the car. She doesn’t argue with me, which tells me she’s burnt out. I know she’s off work tomorrow. I’m staying home with her. As soon as we get into our unit, she takes off her clothing, like it’s stinging her, as she staggers to her bedroom. I pick up the clothes as she tosses them on the floor. A good thing Osei didn’t go with me to my dad’s. She goes to bed, tucks herself in. I kiss her forehead and turn the light out.
I call Bruce to loop him in.
“Hey, please tell me you didn’t beat up your brother.” I exhale.
“Can’t say I wasn’t close, but I didn’t. Dele is home now.”
“Where was she?”
“Turns out she’s been visiting my dad since I traveled and didn’t want anyone to know. She fell asleep there today, and he called me to come and get her home.”
“Only an angel can see good in a man like your dad. She’s a keeper.”
“She certainly is a keeper. Just wanted to update you. Talk later, bro.”
“Sure,” I hang up with Bruce. I suck it up and call Osei, before I talk myself out of what I must do. Just this once, I appreciate our code. Your brother calls, you answer.
“Is she okay?” Of course, that’s the first thing he asks.
“She’s fine, tired, and now in bed.”
“Good, and since you asked: no, I’m not fucking my bestie.” Guess he can’t bring himself to call her my wife; he’s poking me, but I know better.
“I know, and I’m sorry,” I state genuinely to him.
“Good, because it’s going to cost you an expensive dinner tomorrow.” And Osei is back.
“Fine, you just have to make me pay for your dinner.”
“Yes, and I’m bringing a friend.”
“No, not allowed.”
“Okay then, I’ll tell Mom you punched me.” I let out a frustrated sigh.
“Fucking bring two friends,” I say, defeated, as I hear him laugh.
“Good night.” I hang up on him. If he tells Mom I punched him, I will be getting a call three times a day. And our monthly dinner will become a weekly family dinner. I barely live through every other day calls from Mom. No, thanks. I’ll pay for dinner with all his friends to avoid my mom’s hovering calls trying to make peace between Osei and I.
I go back in to check on Dele. She looks tired. Looking at her, I’m glad I came home sooner. I kiss her forehead, she stirs, and I leave to find something to eat in our home. I should work. Instead, I watch TV. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact Dele was visiting my dad when I traveled. Neither Dele nor Dad mentioned it. I talked to him from the airport till I got home. He didn’t say she was there.
What the fuck is going on?