*THE CARELESS LOVER part 12
*OUR BROTHER’S KEEPER
Felix got to Mary’s home so very happy. He parked outside and went in to greet Elder Mouton and the wife.
“Thank you sir for the honour,” Felix curtsied. He recounted the many failed attempt of how he had pressed Mary to join him for an outing but to no avail.
Mary was a stubborn girl who wouldn’t change too easily, he thought. He could see love all over her yet he couldn’t tell what was holding her back. Though flashy and outgoing beautiful damsel, she was the old-school kind of girl.
Girls of nowadays would not wait for a man to ask them out. They request it and would be ready to give anything to secure a pot of porridge like Esau. By so doing they lose dignity, pride and the birthrights.
Felix would wonder how a woman would cheaply give out her virginity just for ice cream and plate of rice.
Though Mary seem a little tough for him, he secretly admired her the more. Mary was the kind of woman he had been anticipating for.
He thought, he would never be so close. But as fate would have it he stood before her looking into the dazzling eyes of his angel.
He said to himself: “I’ll give all that I have to secure her – just anything,” his heart pumped up a little faster in excitement.
For the first time they will be going out, all out for fun. As Felix looked forward to this auspicious day, so Mary.
Such love was unequalled. Love that beat in unity, it’s a harmonious love that resonate in two hearts as one.
Felix remembered how in his frustration he carried his phone and made the call to Elder Mouton: “Sir, I love Mary but she’s giving me a hard time.”
“What do you want my son?” Mary’s father asked.
“I want her out with me but she insisted I always come down to your house to see her. Sir, I want her to be with me, I promise to protect her.”
“On your promise,” her dad replied Felix. “I’ll speak with her.” As he dropped the phone he called her to him.
“Mary, Mary,” her dad calls her doubly for emphasis, “Felix would want you to be with him. I have read through that young man. He wouldn’t hurt you my dear.”
“Okay Dad,” she accepted and was back to the living room.
On the other end Felix was amaze that such a family still exist.
He remembered one of his young cousin who against all advice picked all she had and eloped with a man just too cheap and lacking any sensibility. Here is another lady who will not do anything contrary to her father’s direction.
He opened his hands upward in prayer that the Lord would make his way smooth in securing the love of Prayer Mantis. He smiled…
“Yes, Prayer Mantis,” he said aloud, he noted how difficult it had been for others to secure her in marriage. But he was still grateful no one had been able to win her heart.
He smiled as he came close to her. For the first time she opened her arms wide and they hugged each other. There and then her mom came in.
“Mary,” her mom called, “You didn’t tell me you have a husband.”
“I’m sorry ma,” Felix said, he noted that he was just carried away with Mary’s hug he forgot where he was.
“No problem,” she replied as she smiled back with understanding.
That short interface helped Felix to understand another personality of the Moutons. She is the iron lady of the family. Firm but lovely. By all indication, she would not want anyone to mess up with her daughter’s emotion.
On one side is a loving dependent father who’s watchful and on the other side was the mother, the no-nonsense guardian.
They didn’t take long as they stepped out for fun.
“Mary, tell me places you want us to visit. I’m at your service.” he said while getting out of the driveway.
“Hmmm,” she chuckled. “First, I want us to be alone for a long time. Maybe if we are hungry later we can go take our lunch in any nearby restaurant. What do you think?”
“Which environment would offer such serenity you desire?” He asked.
“The city biological garden would do,” she replied. Felix drove off without needing her to show the way. It is a popular side attraction in the city, a creative work of one of the past governor.
Felix thought how good it would be if every leader leave a worthy legacy into the future.
As they drove they got chatting that they became oblivious of the world around them. Only one scene got their attention. And they got stucked helping them out.
They saw a vehicle that got breaked down and every of its passenger but one was frantic getting it up. The reason was obvious, and this got Felix having to park beside them. Other passerby made it mere sights and fun.
They seem to be having a wedding that morning with the inscription: “About to wed” boldly written on the car.
He called one of his office driver to bring one of the unbranded office luxury cars to help convey the people to church seeing the slim possibility of getting the spoilt car started soonest.
The bride was so happy tears trickled down her eyes as she sighed with relief.
“Thank you sir and I’m grateful ma,” the bride said with boundless joy as Felix and Mary zoomed off and not quite long they meandered off the highway and were soon within the space of the biological garden.
They found a little artificial hut shaded by a large bough of tree trunk. They made their way through. For the next few hours that would be their home.
“Mary,” Felix called, “why would you choose here instead of the big public event centers in town.”
“For one reason: to know you,” she replied, “mom told me: when two people know each other they remain friends for a long time.”
“Mommy’s daughter.”
“Thank you,” she said smiling.
“How true is that statement,” he thought over it. “Marriages and relationships would be saved in many quarters if those involved know one another very well.”
“Thumbs up for mom,” she raised her two thumbs up.
“Since you want to know me I’ll do that… Remember we cannot exhaust that discussion today. One thing I’ll promise you is: Ask anything I’ll tell you plainly. I love you.”
“Okay, a promise made,” she smiled. “First question, why would Felix of Experon come for me with all the millions of girl out there?”
“This is one of the hardest questions of my life. One thing is the inexplicable attraction within my heart. I had this bizarre thought that you would be my wife from the first day I met you, though I couldn’t initiate the move. I love everything about you.
” Maybe the same reason informed why I love your name… The Praying Mantis. I want a woman who’s different and had an independent mind.”
“Heee,” she exclaimed, “you too Felix, calling me PM.”
He laughed hysterically: “I love everything about you so it’s easy to love my PM.
” Also, when I came closer I realized there were areas I need to stand in for you.”
“Like which area?” She asked.
“You’re never too sure of what you want. This happens to be covered up by air of spirituality. Don’t quote me wrong, you’re the most spiritual firebrand sister in the whole wide world.
” So I made up my mind to stand by you until all doubts are gone and your fears turn to confidence. I believe I’m the man created to understand the superwoman called Mary.”
“Feeeew,” she whispered loud, “I love your art. You’re a super salesman. Seem you want to sell love to me just the same way you sold Experon to our waking nation.”
“Mary,” he stood facing her, “I promised to say nothing but the truth. I’ll stand by you my lady.”
There faces locked together and for the next ten seconds they were transfixed like statues yet their minds race with intensity communicating yet without words. Felix stepped gently forward and held her close to himself and Mary lifted her chin upward reaching out for her first kiss. Felix gently turned her head and lay it gently on his chest.
“I promised your dad I’ll take good care of you.” He spoke gently to her as he stroked her hair gently.
“Thank you big brother, I’ll tell dad you’re a jolly good fellow.”
“Thank you.”
“The second question: How many ladies have been in your life. Who are they and the circumstances around them now?”
“Hard question again.”
“Mom said: Deal with the hardest issues before marriage so that you may deal with easier issues later on.”
“My fear is, digging the past may not be profitable except we do it with wisdom.” Felix looked downward.
“Then it mean one thing to me, Mary; that you don’t love me.”
“I love you, that’s why I wouldn’t hide anything from you.
” I have never had a girlfriend with whom I had any love association with since childhood. I’m just too committed to my own kind of life which I believe wasn’t very balance; so to say.
“Inexperience or what? A lady called Helen came into my life. I left her a week to me making a proposal to her. That was the week I picked up boldness to come to you.”
“What happened?” She was concerned.
“She lured me into sex and that was the day we saw last. I felt I needed a wife for something more than sex.”
They were both quiet for a while. Then Mary reached out her hands to him: “That’s in the past – we move on.”
“Thank you” Felix gladly accepted her handshakes. Then tears trickled down his face: “If only I had been bold enough to confront you I wouldn’t have been with Helen. I thought you’ll treat me like you did to others.”
Mary took her handkerchief and wiped the tears on his face then she made for his lips again.
“I want you to kiss me please,” she said with quivering voice, “please the first kiss.”
“I promised your dad,” he said, “Also, I don’t want you to make the same mistake I made, don’t be hasty to give out your cherished possession. Love have to be tested.
” Until you’re sure you’re ready for me. I’m not in a haste. Love is patient.” He said.
They spent more times discussing other issues… Then it was getting late.
Felix phone rang and an unknown number got through to him, then he handed it over to Mary too. The newly wedded couple were on the other side thanking both for saving their day.
Mary stepped forward, knelt down and thank Felix for being a brother’s keeper to the helpless new wedded couple.
“Then we will make a gift to them in our name,” Felix smiled.
“Which name?” Mary asked.
“Lover in the wood.” Felix said laughing as he pulled her up and they began to the car.
Author: WALE ADEWUMI
