MORE THAN A CARVING CHAPTER 26

MORE THAN A CARVING
CHAPTER 26
Ireoluwa was still at home, enjoying her holiday, she did some chores when her husband left for work that morning despite the fact that he told her he’ll come fix them when he returned from work. When she was through, she took her bath and then settled down for breakfast and then relaxed afterwards. Her husband called later to check on her and she said she was fine, he also promised to cook her something special in the evening. They were on phone for like ten minutes before he ended the call. She picked the book she was reading before and continued from where she stopped, she ensured that she finished reading the book that very day. She later went to the sitting room to watch TV and later slept off. Around 5:00pm when she was already expecting her husband, she got call from him. Fullhouse informed him that he just got a call from Lagos office; he had to wait to receive some clients by 7:00pm that very day. “Okay, I hope the meeting won’t take long o because I’m already missing you.” “The meeting will take up to two hours; you know how our business is nau. You know we have to bargain and bargain before we reach an agreement.” He explained. “Okay, take your time.” “What about dinner and I promised to cook you something special tonight o, in fact, the ingredients are here, and I already bought them.” He informed. “Eyah…. don’t worry about me hubby, I will fix something for the both of us, then you can cook me the special delicacy tomorrow.” “Alright darling, take care. Bye…..” He said, she replied and the line went off. At 7:00pm, she went into the kitchen to fix dinner, then she started feeling pain in her abdomen, she was wincing in pain, she managed till the food was done and then left the kitchen. As she stepped out of the kitchen, into the sitting room, then, her water broke. “Ah!” She widened her eyes in surprise. She checked the wall clock the time and it was some minutes to 8:00pm. “Fullhouse will still be in the meeting.” She said to herself. The deal Fullhouse is about to close means a lot to the company so she couldn’t afford to distract him at work so she gathered all the strength in her and walked down to the bedroom, she carried her delivery bag and went back to the sitting room. She put the bag on the floor and rested for some seconds. She breathed in and out, stood up and picked her car keys on the dining and then left the house. They live alone in their compound, so there was no neighbor to call. She left in her car and went to the hospital, she thought she wouldn’t make it to the hospital but she made it. She parked her car and alighted but she couldn’t move further, the pain was now too much for her. She couldn’t even bring her delivery bag out of the car, even her car key was still in the car. She looked around and there was no one in the compound, she rested on the car for a bit and then walked into the hospital building. Immediately she stepped into the reception, the nurses quickly rushed to her and move her into one of the hospital room. “Where is Fullhouse?” The nurses questioned. Fullhouse was quite popular in the hospital, in the course of following his wife to antenatal clinics; he had known virtually all the nurses because of his jovial attitude. They like him so much and of course he always tips them, so they use to pay extra attention on his wife just because of Fullhouse’s kind gestures. The nurses kept on asking her about her husband but she wasn’t in the mood to answer their question. The doctor was quickly summoned and he came in to check her, there are two other nurses in the room with them. “Where on earth is Fullhouse?” Doctor Austin who came to attend to her asked. This time, she had no choice than to reply. “He is not around…..” “Have you called him, he told me he wants to be around during the delivery. You know he made me promise to allow him see the whole process.” “Can we still wait for him?” Ireoluwa asked the doctor. “That depends, I’ll check you to know if you still have time or not.” “He’ll be available by nine, I’ll call him then.” “Okay.” The doctor said and wore gloves on his hands; he then checked her private area to know how far she is dilated. “I doubt if he won’t miss it.” “Doctor please, I want him here with me.” “It’s not my fault, if the baby is ready to come, there’s nothing we can do about it, so be strong.” “Doctor….” “You can do it, you are a strong woman. You drove here all by yourself.” He encouraged her. “The nurses will be here with you, I’ll come back to check on you again, once you are fully dilated, we’ll move you straight to the labour room.” He said and she nodded. Doctor Austin was on his way out and then asked the nurses. “Hope her delivery things are ready?” He said and left. “Did you come with your delivery bag?” Nurse Seye asked Ireoluwa. “The bag is in the car……” She said in pain. The other nurse, Nurse Helen was already setting up an IV line on her. “Your car key?” She asked. “I don’t think the car is locked.” “Okay, let me go and get the bag.” The nurse said and left. She returned with the delivery bag and the car key. The Doctor also returned few minutes later, he picked two hand gloves and wore them. He checked her cervix again.thought you would be fully dilated by now, I guess the baby is waiting for Daddy.” The doctor said jokingly. “By the way, have you called him?” “No, where’s my phone…..” She looked around but Nurse Seye told her she didn’t come in with anything.” “Check inside the car.” Nurse Helen said to Nurse Seye. “I didn’t see any phone, it’s just the bag that was in the car, let me go check again.” “Wait, let me think. I think I left it at home.” She cried out in pain. “Let me go bring the hospital phone.” Nurse Helen said and went to get the phone. By the time the nurse returned, Ireoluwa couldn’t make the phone call again, the pain has really hit her. The Nurse had to make the call. “Hello, this is Nurse Helen from Way Hospital.” “Nurse Helen, don’t tell me my wife is in the hospital, I just got home now and she is not here.” “She’s here; she is in labour right now.” “Jesus! Please, how did she get to the hospital because her car is not in the compound?” “I think she drove herself.” “She did what!” “She’s fine, don’t worry.” “Okay, I’ll be in the hospital right away.” He thanked the nurse and the line went off. He left in his car hurriedly and in no time he got to the hospital, by the time he got there Ireoluwa was already in the labour ward, the nurses led him to the place and he joined them. She was already pushing. “Fullhouse…..” She cried and he hurried to her side to hold her. “I’m here my baby, be strong, hun!” He said and she nodded. “Push again.” The doctor said and she obeyed, she screamed. “We are almost there. I need you to push again.” The doctor said and she cried. “I’m tired, let me rest. I want to rest.” She said, she was sweating profusely and her husband was cleaning her face with a towel. “You are doing well my love, you can do it.” “Okay…..okay.” She nodded weakly and then pushed and finally, the baby came out. It was a bouncing baby boy. The joy of the couple knew no bound as they behold their first baby. The placenta was delivered and the new mum was cleaned up and they also attended to the baby.She was later moved back to the hospital room where she was before, the place has been cleaned up, and a new sheet has been laid on the bed. Fullhouse sat with his wife, looking at her face. “Thank you for making me a father, my love.” “Thank you for making me a mother as well.” She said softly, she was tired and feeling sleepy. “Let me allow you rest.” Fullhouse said and stepped out of the room; he brought out his phone and calls their family members. They were so happy, his mum and mother in law promised to be in Ife the next day. The next morning, the nurses brought in the baby after cleaning and dressing the baby up, Ireoluwa bossom fed the baby boy. When she was through, she gave the baby to her husband to carry. The nurse came back later and took the baby back to the nursery. “Fullhouse, you didn’t bring my phone.” “Who will remember phone, even you that owns the phone, did you remember to come with it.” He replied her. “You are right; last night wasn’t funny at all.” “Ireoluwa, why didn’t you call me, I am alive and well and in town and you still drove yourself to the hospital.” “You needed to close a deal.” She pointed out. “So, who is more important?” “I’m sorry……” “But sincerely, that was a bold step, you really amazed me and I am proud of the woman you are.” “Aww….my head is swelling.” She said smiling. “By the way, how was it, I mean the deal?” “Trust me now.” He said proudly. “Wow…..congratulations.” She said. “Thank you. Well sincerely, I return all glory to God, those clients are something else but God took control.” “Thanks be to God who perfected everything.” “And guess what, the deal was so timing.” Fullhouse said. “How?” She asked curiously. “My boss, Chief Egbayelo, was so happy about the deal I closed that he decided to foot the hospital bill, sponsor the naming ceremony and he also gave the baby money as well; he called it baby upkeep or something.”“Really!” “He has already forwarded a sum of four hundred thousand naira in my account this morning.” “Wow…….that is good news. God bless him and bless the company.” She prayed and he said “Amen.” That morning the news of their baby’s arrival has already spread to friends and families and calls started trooping in for the couple. Luckily for Ireoluwa her phone is at home, so Fullhouse received most of the calls. Fullhouse’s sister, Oreoluwa called from UK, Iwalade, Gbotemi and his wife, colleagues from Lagos office, Ife office also called and others. Later that afternoon, Fullhouse and Ireoluwa’s mum arrived, they left Lagos together. The two grandmas were so happy when they held the baby, which was their first grandchild. They were with the couple till evening time and Fullhouse later drove them to the house, so they could eat and freshen up. Ireoluwa was discharged the next day and joined the two grandmas in the house. The child christening day came and it was lit, the expenses were already covered by Fullhouse’s boss so he didn’t spend a dime from his pocket. The child was named ‘Oluwasayomipe’ meaning God perfected my joy; they call him Sayo for short. The couple’s family members came from far and near to celebrate with them. Some returned that day while some slept over. The next day, Fullhouse’s mum, Mrs Adeyinka, was in the nursery with Ireoluwa and her mum, the new mum was bosom feeding the baby. She told Ireoluwa and her mum that she will be leaving that very day, mother and daughter were surprised. “You stay ma, I am leaving this week.” Mrs. Atanda, Ireoluwa’s mum said. “No, I want you to stay here with her; she will be more comfortable with you than any other person.” “I’m comfortable with you ma, you can stay.” Ireoluwa said to her mother inlaw. “I know but you will enjoy your mum better.” She replied. “This is your first grandchild ma.” Ireoluwa’s Mummy pointed out. “I know and he is your first grandchild too. Anyway, I’ll come check on them from time to time.” She replied her. “But you are the mother of the husband, you should be the one to stay ma.” Ireoluwa’s mum said. “That is culture but the truth is that a child will always prefer her mother. The bond can never be the same.” “Hmm….you are right ma.” “A child can do whatever she likes with her mother, you can freely send her on an errand, you can even order her around but you won’t do that with a mother in-law.”“I agree with you, I wish mother inlaws can think like this.” Mrs. Atanda said. “So please take care of her and the baby ma.” She said with a smile. “I will ma.” Ireoluwa’s mum said and thanked her. Ireoluwa thanked her too as she left the nursery to prepare her things. “This mother inlaw of yours is one of a kind o, despite the fact that this is her first grandchild.” Mrs. Atanda said to her daughter, she was still surprised. “In fact, I’m favoured to have her, she is so simple. She only came here twice since we got married and it was even when I was pregnant. And she won’t spend more than two days despite the distance. And whenever she is around, she will do all the house chores, even Fullhouse doesn’t do anything once his mum is around not to talk of me.” Ireoluwa stated. “She is so wonderful, if all mother inlaws are like this, the world will be a better place.” Mrs. Atanda said. Ireoluwa was through feeding the baby; she gently placed him inside the baby’s cot. She then went to their own bedroom to meet her husband. “Hey pretty.” Fullhouse said and she gave him a smile. She sat beside him. “Grandma said she is leaving today?” “You mean my mum?” He asked and she nodded. “Yes, she told me. She wants your mum to stay instead and she gave her reasons and I kind of agree with her.” “She is so understanding, believe me, I love her more.” Ireoluwa said. “Lucky you, I pray my younger sister finds a great mother in-law as well.” “Amen. That reminds me; she called earlier while I was in the nursery.” “Oh, that’s cool. Let’s go attend to our guests, everyone is leaving today.” He said and the two left the bedroom.