Finding Grace - Part 6

Later that same day…

London, England

Azuka smiled at the cashier at the O2 shop as he picked up his new iPhone. Good thing my phone was still under warranty. He had spent what felt like hours searching for his phone at the airport in Manchester, all to no avail. Retracing his steps, he had gone back up the escalator and towards the baggage claim area with his eyes fixed firmly on the floor. He bumped into a few people as he gingerly made his way through the throng of people heading towards the exit. Still, no luck. Finally, realizing that the phone was well and truly missing – probably stolen – and that he would be late for his meeting, he made a report of his missing phone to the Customer Service office and found a pay phone to call Perkins. Thank God for notepads, he thought as he flipped his little notebook closed. He had all his contacts on his phone, but he still liked to write important numbers down.

“Thank you for shopping with us Sir”, the cashier smiled at him a little too brightly. “Be sure to give us a call if you have any problems setting up your new phone.”

Azuka nodded and left the store. That girl had a gleam in her eye when she looked at him…just like the way his neighbor Tamara looked at him – like a tasty morsel she couldn’t wait to sample. No, thanks. I’m already spoken for, he smiled to himself. Well, kinda.  His smile dimmed at the thought of Grace. He hadn’t spoken to her in close to a week and he missed his conversations with her. Even though they had been a little distant with each other recently, he still loved hearing the sound of her voice and her laughter thrilled him to his very soul. How is it possible to care so much about someone and not have her feel the same way about me? When his father had fallen ill, he had decided to settle down because he knew it would make his father happy. He had allowed his friend Ben to set him up on several dates, just so he could find someone he could take home to his parents as his wife-to-be. But all that had changed the night he saw Grace. He wanted her….needed her in his life because he knew she would make him happy. I hope she feels the same way, he prayed silently.

He headed out into the busy street and went to find his car. It was a warm summer day and the streets were filled with people in shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops. London weather was so miserable – even in summer- that any glimmer of sun was immediately welcomed with flimsy summer clothing and lots of picnics.

Azuka found his car, and drove home in silence. He usually listened to his P-Square CD, but he didn’t feel like doing that today. Hearing their soulful voices singing about ‘the girl I wan marry’ would be a little too much for him. He synced his iPhone with his iTunes and looked in the fridge for something to eat. He tried to cook every now and then, but his efforts usually yielded barely-edible food. He wasn’t in the mood for takeout…he wished Grace was still in London at her sister’s. I could do with some of that yummy fried rice. He was lonely and hungry and some good food would go great with good company. Maybe I can go over and hang out with Sonia for a while. It would be like being close to Grace. Hmm, that idea has merit. Certainly better than rattling around here all by myself. Mind made up, he changed into a pair of calf-length cargo shorts and a light grey t-shirt and scrolled his phone for Sonia’s number as he headed towards the door. He had spoken to Grace on her sister’s phone a couple of times before she got her own phone. I’ll call her on my way there.

***

Sonia hurriedly put finishing touches to the meal she had been making.  She wasn’t really into cooking – not like Grace – but she could certainly fry yam and plantain. I bet that would sound great to a hungry bachelor. She was just heating up some leftover egg and corned beef sauce she had found in the freezer when the doorbell rang. She hurriedly dished it into a small ceramic bowl. I hope it’s hot enough.

She quickly checked her hair in the bathroom and straightened her clothes before going to the door. She half-wondered why she was making such an effort. He’s Grace’s almost boyfriend…not mine.

“Hi, Azuka!” she said breezily. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

Azuka smiled. Sonia and Grace really looked alike. It was easy to miss the resemblance because Sonia was so light skinned and Grace was a few shades darker, but they had the same tall, slender build and pretty features. The only difference was that Grace’s beauty was more understated, almost as if she made an effort to downplay her looks, while Sonia’s look was bolder, edgier. Today she was dressed in a pair of short shorts and bright orange tank top.

“Hi Sonia. Thanks for having me at such short notice.”

“Oh, no problem. It’ll be nice to have some company. It gets really lonely out here. That’s one thing I miss about home – not having family around…not being able to drop in and visit someone without calling first to make sure they’re home.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.”

They chatted as they walked the short distance from the door to Sonia’s small living-dining area. She had already set the table and Azuka’s stomach growled at the sight of the food.

“Wow!” Sonia exclaimed. “Someone is hungry!! Abeg, come and eat before you die on me. Grace will kill me for not feeding you” she teased.

Would she? Azuka wondered. He wondered how much Grace really cared about him. He itched to find out, but thought it was bad form to ask her sister. Maybe, if she volunteers any information. Still, what if she didn’t? He knew Grace and her sister were very close, and the thought of pumping Sonia for information was really tempting. He decided that he would wait and see how the evening progressed.

Azuka quickly cleared his plate and Sonia filled it with some more yam and plantain. He ate the second plate slowly, savoring every bite. Finally sated, he thanked Sonia for the meal and took a sip of his raspberry juice.

“No problem. Glad you enjoyed it.”

Azuka tried to take his plate to the sink, but she stopped him. “Hey, you’re my guest. Just sit and chill. I’ll take care of it.”

Azuka watched her as she cleaned up. her movements and mannerisms reminded him so much of Grace the last time he had seen her.

“You’re so much like your sister”, he blurted out.

A look of irritation flashed across Sonia’s face quickly, and then it was gone. She smiled slightly. “You mean she’s so much like me. I’m older, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. Sorry about that. I don’t have any siblings so I don’t know for sure, but it’s probably irritating when someone compares you to your younger sibling.”

“Yeah, it can be. But, Grace and I are close, so it doesn’t really bother me.”

“Oh, okay. Cool. Like I was saying, you guys really look alike. Just that, you’re like vanilla and she’s caramel.”

At Sonia’s puzzled look, Azuka explained “You know…you’re so light and she’s darker, but you pretty much have the same face.”

Vanilla? He called her vanilla? Vanilla was bland and boring. Certainly nothing like her. “There’s nothing vanilla about me”, she said lightly before changing the subject. She knew he would talk about Grace all night if she let him and she didn’t plan to. She was hanging out with a nice, attractive guy and she wanted to enjoy it.

A couple of hours later, Azuka reluctantly dragged himself up. He had really enjoyed Sonia’s company. Being around her had made him feel connected to Grace. Besides, Sonia was good company and he’d had fun. He hated to leave, but he had to go to work the next day. Like him, Sonia didn’t want the night to end. Azuka was a really nice guy…Cece is so lucky. She would call her sister and tell her what a great catch Azuka was. They don’t make them like him anymore, she thought ruefully. Maybe if he’d seen me first…

Sonia quickly brushed the thought from her mind and got up to walk Azuka to the door. She bumped her foot into the table and stumbled backwards, right into Azuka’s arms. He caught her with a chuckle “You Osoka sisters have a way of falling into my arms.”

Sonia couldn’t help it…she laughed and he laughed with her. The look on his face, his smile, his nearness…the combination was heady and too much for her to bear….she hardly knew what she was doing as she pulled his head down and pressed her lips to his. Shocked, he pulled away from her.

“Sonia!” He was ready to berate her when he saw the look on her face. She could barely look at him. She was embarrassed and ashamed. His face softened…she was Grace’s sister after all. He didn’t want to make her feel worse, but he needed her to understand.

“Sonia”, he said again. Softly this time. “I really like you, but…”

“Yeah, I know. You love my sister. It was stupid. I wasn’t thinking….won’t happen again.”

Azuka nodded, bid her goodnight and left.

Sonia shut the door behind him and slid to the ground with her back to the door. My goodness, what did I just do?

Onyih Odunze

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