Bola Maxwell awoke to the jarring sound of her ringing cell
phone. The clock on her nightstand said that the time was just 6:05am. When she
looked at her phone, she recognized Ade’s number. She reluctantly accepted the
call. It had been a while, since their last conversation. Ade’s mum had made it
clear that she did not approve of their relationship. She did not approve of
Bola.
//
So, Bola had made up her mind to
move on with her life. That meant limiting contact with Ade.
move on with her life. That meant limiting contact with Ade.
“Hello,” she greeted. Despite the fact that Bola forced a smile and
he could not see her face, Ade could hear the hurt in her voice.
he could not see her face, Ade could hear the hurt in her voice.
“Good
morning, sweetheart,” Ade replied.
morning, sweetheart,” Ade replied.
“I am so sorry to have woken you up this early. We are getting ready to
go to the Parliament Building … but Bola, please, pray for me.”
go to the Parliament Building … but Bola, please, pray for me.”
A part of her wanted to refuse.
Why should this, be her concern? She wasn’t good enough for Ade’s mum; why
should she be good enough to pray with him about something so important?
should she be good enough to pray with him about something so important?
Yet, she didn’t. She couldn’t. She
just couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
just couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
Bola sat up in bed and said a few
words of prayer for Ade. Then, she wished him well, with tears streaming down
her face. On the other side of the line, Ade felt conflicted. He struggled with
his emotions. He also tried to keep his grip on the phone, from slipping.
words of prayer for Ade. Then, she wished him well, with tears streaming down
her face. On the other side of the line, Ade felt conflicted. He struggled with
his emotions. He also tried to keep his grip on the phone, from slipping.
He was still as in love with Bola,
as she was with him. He knew this, yet …
as she was with him. He knew this, yet …
Then, Bola told him she had to go.
//
She wished him well again and promised that she would watch the entire
swearing-in ceremony. She would be at work, but there was a television set in
her office cafeteria. All her work colleagues would be watching, too.
//
She wished him well again and promised that she would watch the entire
swearing-in ceremony. She would be at work, but there was a television set in
her office cafeteria. All her work colleagues would be watching, too.
Two hours later, Ade was ushered
into a waiting limousine, followed by his parents – the enigmatic Prof and Prof
(Mrs.) Tejuoso. Together, they drove to the Parliament Building for the
swearing-in ceremony. They were so proud of Ade, their first-born son. A
respected lawyer, he had also recently been appointed to the position of
Special Adviser to the newly-elected governor of the state. Ade would be sworn
in along with the rest of the governor’s cabinet.
into a waiting limousine, followed by his parents – the enigmatic Prof and Prof
(Mrs.) Tejuoso. Together, they drove to the Parliament Building for the
swearing-in ceremony. They were so proud of Ade, their first-born son. A
respected lawyer, he had also recently been appointed to the position of
Special Adviser to the newly-elected governor of the state. Ade would be sworn
in along with the rest of the governor’s cabinet.
The program began right on schedule
and the swearing-in ceremony went on without a hitch. Afterwards, the invited
guests were directed to the reception hall for a stately luncheon.
and the swearing-in ceremony went on without a hitch. Afterwards, the invited
guests were directed to the reception hall for a stately luncheon.
Then, the new committee was expected
to engage in a Q&A session with the members of the press who were present.
to engage in a Q&A session with the members of the press who were present.
The first question was asked by a
man in a blue suit, whose identity pass said he represented CNN. His question
was directed at the new governor. “Your Excellency,” he began, “Congratulations
on your new position.” Without a beat, he continued, “Sir, would you kindly
confirm if it is indeed true, that you have a love-child you are secretly
sponsoring and that her name is Bola Maxwell? When do you plan to acknowledge
her before the whole world and tell us why you have decided to keep her a
secret? What are your intentions towards her? Is the young lady aware that you,
the newly sworn-in governor, are her father?”
man in a blue suit, whose identity pass said he represented CNN. His question
was directed at the new governor. “Your Excellency,” he began, “Congratulations
on your new position.” Without a beat, he continued, “Sir, would you kindly
confirm if it is indeed true, that you have a love-child you are secretly
sponsoring and that her name is Bola Maxwell? When do you plan to acknowledge
her before the whole world and tell us why you have decided to keep her a
secret? What are your intentions towards her? Is the young lady aware that you,
the newly sworn-in governor, are her father?”
//
It was a surprise that Mr. CNN had
got so far with his questions. The security men hadn’t reacted with their usual
speed. Perhaps, they were as stunned as everyone else. But they regained their
composure and made to throw him out of the room.
It was a surprise that Mr. CNN had
got so far with his questions. The security men hadn’t reacted with their usual
speed. Perhaps, they were as stunned as everyone else. But they regained their
composure and made to throw him out of the room.
But the governor disapproved. He
signaled to them to leave the journalist alone.
signaled to them to leave the journalist alone.
He had decided to answer the
questions.
questions.
“Yes, it is true. I do have a daughter named Bola Maxwell. I put her in an
orphanage shortly after her mother’s death. I had to, because I couldn’t cope.
Her mother died immediately after giving birth to her and I have been looking
out for her, although she is not aware.”
orphanage shortly after her mother’s death. I had to, because I couldn’t cope.
Her mother died immediately after giving birth to her and I have been looking
out for her, although she is not aware.”
There was a pause before he
continued, “She has been well taken care of; I have seen to that. And it seems
the time is now right for her to be told that she has a father in the
governor’s house.”
continued, “She has been well taken care of; I have seen to that. And it seems
the time is now right for her to be told that she has a father in the
governor’s house.”
Everyone was quiet, including Mr.
CNN. He hadn’t really expected the governor to answer this really personal
question. He was not surprised at the startled looks on the faces of many
people in the room.
CNN. He hadn’t really expected the governor to answer this really personal
question. He was not surprised at the startled looks on the faces of many
people in the room.
But he felt sorry for the governor’s
wife, who looked like she was about to burst into tears. Maybe, she was just
finding out about this. Or she may have had fore-knowledge, but never expected
her husband to admit to it in such a public manner.
wife, who looked like she was about to burst into tears. Maybe, she was just
finding out about this. Or she may have had fore-knowledge, but never expected
her husband to admit to it in such a public manner.
As for Ade, he was in a state of
confusion. His mind was racing.
confusion. His mind was racing.
Were they talking about the same Bola Maxwell?
His own Bola – a governor’s daughter?
Was it possible? How could it be?
Bola had told him that she did not
know her parents, as she was raised in an orphanage. It was not a secret that
this was the reason his mother was vehemently opposed to his relationship with
Bola. His mother said that she could not allow her first son to marry a girl
whose background could not be verified. For goodness’ sake, the girl could be
the child of anyone – including armed robbers, occultists, mentally challenged
people or other unsavory or irresponsible characters. Why would any
responsible, sane person leave their child in an orphanage? It was unfortunate
for the girl, but she couldn’t risk her grandchildren having … any unsavory
blood in their genes.
know her parents, as she was raised in an orphanage. It was not a secret that
this was the reason his mother was vehemently opposed to his relationship with
Bola. His mother said that she could not allow her first son to marry a girl
whose background could not be verified. For goodness’ sake, the girl could be
the child of anyone – including armed robbers, occultists, mentally challenged
people or other unsavory or irresponsible characters. Why would any
responsible, sane person leave their child in an orphanage? It was unfortunate
for the girl, but she couldn’t risk her grandchildren having … any unsavory
blood in their genes.
Ade also knew that Bola had been
informed by the orphanage authorities, that someone had taken financial
responsibility for her education. She had tried to reach the person, out of
curiosity and gratitude. But they wouldn’t provide her with any more
information. So, she had left the matter of the person’s identity, alone. She
preferred to believe that the person was an angel from God.
informed by the orphanage authorities, that someone had taken financial
responsibility for her education. She had tried to reach the person, out of
curiosity and gratitude. But they wouldn’t provide her with any more
information. So, she had left the matter of the person’s identity, alone. She
preferred to believe that the person was an angel from God.
It was because of this angel’s
generosity that she had attended the best schools that money could buy, all her
life. In fact, it was at one of these schools that she met Ade.
generosity that she had attended the best schools that money could buy, all her
life. In fact, it was at one of these schools that she met Ade.
//
Now, Ade looked at his mother. She
looked like she was still in shock. He would wait till her shock faded.
looked like she was still in shock. He would wait till her shock faded.
What would she say, then?
Would she give her blessing to their relationship?
Would she even accelerate marriage plans, knowing that Bola was the governor’s
daughter? After all, the governor had claimed Bola, publicly.
daughter? After all, the governor had claimed Bola, publicly.
But there were also other questions
on Ade’s mind.
on Ade’s mind.
How was Bola feeling, right now?
What would she say?
Would she still be interested in him?
Ade believed strongly that God would
work things out in his favor.
work things out in his favor.
He was sure of one thing – he loved
Bola, with or without this bit of good news.
Bola, with or without this bit of good news.
Credit; scoop.ng / joyfulmarriage.org