Present Day
Blood! The weather carried the same warmth as that, fresh from a wound.
The better parts of Lagos had a strange obsession with comfort inside estate gates.
Specifically one of the quiet neighborhoods in Alausa.
Sitting on his bed, Lanre slipped his foot into the safety boot, tugging at it until his toes touched the metal tip. Three stomps after and you'd have properly worn a brick.
"You know where my tab is?"
No answer.
Lanre leaned sideways, searching beneath a pile of folded clothes.
"Hey Charity, did you see my-"
"No?" she replied from somewhere behind him.
"Check... Drawers"
Her heels clicked steadily across the room.
Lanre didn't bother turning around.
Women and beauty rituals. An endless war against time everybody eventually loses anyway. Probably why their faces give up early.
Another drawer pulled open.
Nothing.
Checks the glass tool cabinet beside the wall.
Screws, Bolts, Pliers, Tape measures, Drills, Hammers.
A beautiful collection.
Every man who entered this room paused at that cabinet eventually. Some out of admiration. Some out of envy. Civilization itself was probably built using these very tools.
Still no tablet.
"It's not here."
"Check with Dara," Charity said casually.
Lanre frowned.
"Why not you. You're the wife."
Satisfied with this deeply scientific conclusion, he fell backward onto the bed.
"Give me your phone, I'll call-"
CRASH!
The glass cabinet exploded outward.
Lanre jerked upright.
A plier bounced across the floor.
He looked toward Charity.
Good. She still loved him.
If she didn't, her aim would've improved years ago.
"Pass me the screwdriver," she said calmly.
Like she hadn't just attempted renovation through violence.
Standing on the bed frame in a long flare gown and heels, Charity worked on the light switch above them. Exposed wires hung from the wall while she peeled rubber coating off with her teeth.
Lanre watched her quietly.
It wasn't impressive anymore.
His wife had always been handy.
Too handy.
But doing electrical work without ruining lipstick?
That was witchcraft.
"You go still come down come clean am," he muttered, tossing the screwdriver upward.
She caught it without looking.
"Yes, sir."
Lanre resumed searching.
"I have a meeting by two and-"
An annoying jingle suddenly rang across the room.
Lanre froze.
"My alarm"
The sound was muffled.
Underneath Charity's gown.
He slowly looked upward.
"Charity."
"Hm?"
Flat tone.
"Charity."
He stood now, moving closer.
"Yes?"
Giggles erupted beneath the gown.
Lanre narrowed his eyes.
A faint glow leaked through the fabric.
"I see you."
Instant chaos.
"LANRE! LANRE! LANRE!"
Charity burst into laughter as he lifted her clean off the bed frame.
Underneath the gown, Dara crouched triumphantly with the missing tablet hugged against her chest.
"Dara!"
The little girl dissolved into helpless giggles.
"Put me down!" Charity protested, kicking uselessly in the air.
Lanre ignored her completely.
"The gown should've made carrying her awkward. Somehow it didn't."
Soft.
Slim enough to hold comfortably. Tall enough to feel complete in his arms.
Her hands rested around his neck. Their foreheads touched lightly.
Then she smiled, laughed, tried to speak but but failed cause she was still laughing.
And somehow that simple expression still destroyed him every single time.
For a moment, Lanre forgot everything else.
His daughter laughed. His wife smiled. He had warmth in his arms.
The world finally felt light.
Then the tablet slipped.
Lanre's eyes widened.
Falling tab.
He instinctively trapped it with his boot before it hit the floor, but the sudden shift threw him off balance.
All three of them crashed onto the bed together.
Charity yelped.
Dara squealed louder.
The mattress groaned beneath the pile of limbs and laughter.
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Just breathing. Laughing. Existing.
Small moments like this were dangerous.
They gave people something to lose.
Lanre stepped outside toward his car.
Morning life moved normally through the estate.
Women swept sidewalks. Children chased footballs through narrow streets. Men washed cars like they personally manufactured the vehicles themselves.
Normal.
Proper normal.
Charity stood by the doorway watching him leave.
"Daddy bye-bye!"
Dara suddenly ran past her.
Almost.
Charity caught her immediately with one arm and lifted her against her chest.
"No. Not outside."
Her tone changed slightly.
Lanre noticed.
So did she.
Both of them looked around the estate.
At the exact same moment, every nearby neighbor suddenly looked away.
The silence that followed felt wrong.
Lanre and Charity exchanged a glance.
The old warnings replayed between them without either speaking.
Do not come outside.
Don't stay outside too long.
Don't leave Dara unattended.
As long as I'm alive, we are safe.
Lanre felt the familiar weight settle back onto his shoulders.
The happiness from earlier....
He gave a small nod.
Charity returned it.
Then Lanre entered his car.
And Charity shut the door quickly behind her.