His company was no longer the most important thing to him; maybe it had taken this trial to realize how much she meant to him. He had been a fool, a blind fool and as close-minded as they come. He fingered the white satin and lace. He wouldn‘t sabotage himself again. He picked up his phone and tried once more to call her. When he couldn‘t get her, he finished his packing and got Bonny to take him to the airport to catch his flight.
**********
Gladys called Edward‘s office after speaking with her aunt and learnt from Ogbonna he‘d already left some time ago. She took the keys to her aunt‘s personal car and soon drove out of the compound. It was almost dark, but she was at Edward‘s house in less than the usual fifteen minutes. Her heart pounded as she let herself in with the keys he‘d given her at the beginning of the year.
Who would believe it was less than four months since he proposed? Even the time they spent in New York, Barbados, and London seemed like ages ago. She walked further in to see Edward‘s jacket spread on the chaise in the living room. She immediately blanked the memories that threatened to flood her mind and ran up the short steps to the bedroom. More clothes were scattered on the bed and one of his suitcases was gone.
The sateen and lace wedding gown she‘d bought during their trip was half out of its carrier on the foot of the bed. She rushed into the bathroom and found none of his shaving and bathing gear there. Back in the bedroom, she noticed that the little note she‘d left for him was missing too. She walked over and threw open the walk-in closet. A few of his suits were not on their hangers. She stood there for a few minutes, thoughts blank.
Her phone buzzed. It was a text from Edward. “I tried calling but your phone was engaged. At the airport now and may not be able to speak till I get back. See you then.”
She walked backwards till she hit the bed and then sank down on it. What a relief.