Chapter 36

"Mum, this place hasn't changed much since i left home then , and the chauffeur still has problems speaking English "I say laughing to my mum in the car when the driver came to pick i and my mum from the airport and he was like "madam, all of us don't miss you o , shey you buy something come for us ?" And i couldn't help but burst out in fits of laughter.

I miss Richard a lot and I'm really surprised at why he didn't come to pick me up at Tye airport even though we discussed yesterday and he I already told him of my intending arrival today, Kira wanted to come back today as well but she wasn't all that lucky so she has to come home tomorrow, not to far though.

I heard that Bessie already got back from her service a week ago and Collins as well, i really can't wait to meet them , like I've missed them so much '

I'm starting to get a bit nervous about Richard because even though he didn't come to pick me up, he still didn't call at all. I really hope that our relationship is still secure , in fact even though he hasn't summoned enough courage to propose, I'm more than willing to wait till he gathers enough courage to do that , moreover now that Bessie is around , they can both talk it over and I really do trust Bessie to give him nerves ..So funny

"Rhoda, ki lo n ro lataro? (What have you been thinking about since) she and her language. Even though she isn't Yoruba by tribe, it's easier for me to learn Yoruba language as Igbo language was more complicated and she could speak both languages so it's better for me,(us anyway).

"Nothing o. It's just that this our driver eh, i wonder when he would eventually know how to speak correct English , so i can take him to the united states at least " I say teasing him and diverting the attention from my earlier thoughts.

" Eh, madam , you wan carry me go obodo oyinbo , no worry, I go learn English fast fast , I go sabi am pass you sef whey be oyinbo gan self " he says and I and my mum burst into fits of laughter ....I can't imagine taking this kind of person with me back to the states . O.M. G so much embarrassment in stock for me, i miss my room, i miss the warmth of this country, i really do miss everything, i miss home and lest i forget, i miss my bed ...i can't wait to get back home, it was nothing compared to going back to the united states years ago it was like i was just visiting there, maybe because i left part of me at home.. Part of me? Yeah... Part of me, i really did miss Richard. Bessie is lucky that she went with Collins. I really can't wait to see her as well.

"Welcome sweet heart!!" Everyone including  Bessie , her mum Beatrice , Fred and Collins screams as soon as i get inside the gate , I'm pretty sure that the whole house would have been rearranged or decorated had it been my mum left the keys to the main house for the driver ..i can hide my joy as i run to hug Bessie first with tears streaming down my cheeks , i missed her so much ,after I'm done hugging her , i hug Collins tightly as well . I really missed him; i hug Fred as well even though i don't really miss him as much as i miss my best friends

"Where's the Gucci bag i asked you to get me, don't tell me that you forgot and.. Em.."Bessie bombards me immediately we enter the main house, taping her head trying to remember the other things she asked me to bring

"That's rude Bessie, at least allow her rest a bit, then you can talk about those things later, Okay? " Collins offers

"Hey, don't intrude in our girly talks o ..biko" Bessie says shunning Collins and Fred just smiles at them obviously missing his Kira and i suddenly remember that Richard is not even here

"Where is my Richie, i haven't seen him since i came and he hasn't even called me "

"That one? Yesterday he was with us o, when you called that you were coming back today he said he didn't believe and then he decided to call you and ask himself, when you confirmed it, he started panicking, i even thought that he would have come to pick you up at the airport "Bessie says concluding and it looks like she has reduced a little bit of her tattling.

Maybe he's scared because he wants to propose my sub consciousness whispers to me and i find myself smiling immediately but i quickly start panicking as soon as my sub consciousness says to me again that what if he's dating someone else already and doesn't know how to say it ? , or what if he's already gotten someone else pregnant or wait a moment, why on earth will he be avoiding you if he still loves you? , definitely he has found someone else and i suddenly felt like i was gonna throw up at all those thoughts

"I need to see Richard right now , like i really can't wait " i say to them as i grab my keys and leave the room , now Fred has gone back home leaving only Collins and Bessie with me

"So where are you going to right now?" Bessie asks me obviously concerned at my change in mood

"I can still remember the directions he once gave me, i have a good memory"

"But he has his own apartment now so I'll go with you "she says as she enters the car.

"I'll come and meet you guys there "Collins says and i get in my car and zoom off just a little bit slower than i was the other day when i found Kira and Richie in bed and it suddenly crosses my mind again that he could be in bed with someone else right now and i immediately screeched to a halt in the middle of the road while Bessie almost jumped out of her skin

"I'll drive "she says immediately getting down and coming to the driver's seat

On getting to Richard's house, everywhere is decorated in lemon balloons and flowers and for a second i love it until i realize that it wasn't for me after all, it struck me that i probably wasn't wanted here any longer, he already got someone else, as tears are about to drop from my cheeks, i hurriedly head for the exit , at least if i wanted to cry , i should just do that in my closet

"Rhodie" someone called out and i turned to see that it was Richard , so he has the nerves to call me Rhodie after decorating his house for someone else and as i look at him and i suddenly realize how much i longed to see him again but not now when I'm no longer wanted with him ..Tears roll down my cheeks. Richard goes on his knees " it's alright okay ...I'll forgive you " i say as i make to leave and he pulls me back and with a very surprised look on his face at what i was thinking about already , he pulls out a ring

"Will you marry me Rhodie?" He asks looking at my eyes searchingly" I'm so speechless and this time around, i don't even try to protect the tears from falling from my cheeks "will you like to spend the rest of your life with me Rhodie ?" He asks again and i realize that he's still on his knees

" Yes Richie, I'll marry you" i say suddenly realizing how stupid i was to think that Richard would do such a cruel thing as dating another woman and i immediately pinch myself so as not to later discover that this was a dream .

I pull Richard up from his knees and he whispers in my ear "i love you Rhodie "i look up to his eyes and see nothing else but happiness, of all kisses we had ever shared, tonight's kiss was the best. "I love you too Richie "

"Richard! Rhoda! "Bessie screams from outside stomping angrily inside the house and we immediately disentangle from the embrace

"I've been calling you guys since, my zip caught the door when i was trying to get out, if not for Collins who came to help " she says as Collins enters and i put up my finger for her to see.

"See, I'm engaged "i say almost screaming.

"Wow, he finally summoned enough courage "she said as we hugged each other.

All through the night i couldn't sleep , i just kept on admiring the ring on my finger , I'll never stop loving Richard at least not until i stop breathing ...