The Forgiving Lover – 3

Sitting in his father’s office was Jerry Adeniyi. He was thinking deeply about Toyin. He missed her very much.

Chief Kayode Adeniyi looked at his son and frowned. “You’ve got to stop thinking about that girl.” He reprimanded. “If she is no longer interested in you, then you should forget her.”

Jerry raised his head to look at his father. “Forget Toyin, father? That is not possible. You know how much I love her.”

“Yes I do. But obviously she does not love you if she can so easily break up with you.”

Jerry frowned at what his father said. Toyin hadn’t really broken up with him. No, she had just refused to speak with him again.

“She’s only angry with me, father.” He said. “I think I might have offended her the last time we met. I was in a bad mood and took out my anger on her.”

Chief Adeniyi shrugged. He was a man who had no much patience for silly love matters. He always thanked God that Jerry’s mother was such a sensible woman, which was why she was his remaining wife.

“Young man, the ball is in your court. If you want to keep begging one woman when there are many more fish in the sea, suit yourself. But as my first son, I expect you to begin thinking of marriage and children soon.”

“Father, I cannot just marry any woman. I want to marry a woman I love and respect.” Jerry told him. “And Toyin is the woman I love.”

Chief Adeniyi laughed. “Love, love, love… Jeremy, why do you persist in talking like a woman, eh? Love is something women dream and sing about. We men, we focus on business, money and children to succeed us.”

Jerry breathed out. That was his father’s way of thinking, that love didn’t matter. That it was a foolish thing only women thought about. But he knew he loved Toyin and he wanted to marry her.

“I have to go, father.” He said, getting up. “I will call Kunle to make sure the goods are cleared from the port tomorrow.”

His father nodded his head. “Okay, see you tomorrow. And remember you will be travelling with Cosmos to Kano this weekend.”

“Yes, I remember. Goodnight, father.”

Jerry left his father’s office and walked out of the office building to his car and drove home. He lived alone in his own three-bedroom flat. As he entered his sitting room, he decided to call Toyin and apologise about his bad behaviour.

The phone was picked by Mr Adeyemi. “Hello.” He said.

“Hello, is this the residence of Mr Adeyemi?” Jerry asked.

“Yes, it is.” Mr Adeyemi answered. “How can I help you?”

“Good evening sir, please I would like to speak to Toyin.” Jerry replied. “My name is Jerry Adeniyi.”

“Okay, just hold on then.” Mr Adeyemi said, dropping the receiver on the table.

He went outside to the veranda to call Toyin. “There is someone on the phone for you, Toyin, he says his name is Jerry.”

Toyin looked surprised and asked. “Jerry?”

“Yes.” Her father answered.

“I don’t think I want to speak with him.” Toyin said quickly.

“But why?” Mr Adeyemi asked. “Is he the Jerry your mum told me about?”

“Yes, dad.” Toyin answered.

“Then you must speak to him.” Mr Adeyemi told her. “Maybe he called to settle matters between you two.”

Toyin looked at her father, then got up and went inside. She didn’t want to talk to Jerry but she couldn’t disobey her father either.

“Hello.” She said hesitantly as soon as she picked the phone.

“Oh Toyin, how are you?” Jerry said happy to hear her voice.

Toyin did not answer. She felt the question was a stupid one, how did he think she was?

“I have missed you, Toyin.” Jerry continued. “Have you missed me too, my darling?”

Again she did not answer. She didn’t know whether to believe that Jerry had missed her or not. And she wasn’t going to confess she was missing him. No way.

“Toyin, I know you are angry with me but I want to…”

“Look Jerry, I’m very busy.” Toyin interrupted him. “And I want to go and finish what I was doing. So goodbye.”

Before he could protest, she hung up. Jerry was shocked by her behaviour. Was his father right? Was Toyin no longer interested in him? Did she not love him anymore?

He was confused.