Must Read: Three Women (short story) - Season 1 - Episode 21

Episode 6 years ago

Must Read: Three Women (short story) - Season 1 - Episode 21

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After Dapo told Lola about the death of Mr Cole, he saw genuine tears roll down her eyes.

He wasn’t sure if it was 100% because the man was dead, or how the man’s death would affect things with him and Mrs. Cole.

He had waited till the next day after she got back from her holidays, so he wouldn’t spoil her mood. Now, she just wondered around the house; going from one room to the other with no real aim.

Kike had called Dapo to keep him updated on things; the body would be flown in from the states in a couple of days. She also told him that his assistance would be appreciated in the planning of the funeral.

Mr. Cole didn’t have any other family members, except from his wife and her kid. His siblingS had died in a car crash along with his parents when he was a little boy, and he had grown up staying with his father’s younger sister, who was also dead now. So, right now, all the responsibility rested upon Mrs. Cole, and Dapo.

“So what happens now?” Lola asked.
She came over and sat on the edge of the seat Dapo was on.

“Nothing; we just help out with a couple of arrangements. And after the funeral, Kike would travel back to the states.”

“Kike?”

“Sorry, that is Mrs. Cole’s first name.”

“So what happens to Anu?”

“She would be at their house; Kike’s sister would be there with her. It had already been planned that way before Mr. Cole died.”

“Okay.”

“And we are free to see her anytime we want.” Dapo concluded and watched the reaction of his wife. He never thought they would get to this point, where he would feel like he had done something to change everything they had planned and believed in. The fact remains that you can’t change the past. It was just so unfortunate that his past had to come back and haunt him. “So when do you resume work?”

“Next week; the holidays were extended for most schools because of the Muslim festivities.”

“Okay.”

“You know, I still find it hard to believe that Mr. Cole is actually dead.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

“He had so much energy.”

“S--t happens; he was fighting death all along. I don’t know, I guess something just made him give up.” Lola got up from her squatting position and started pacing the length of the room.

“I remember what my mom always said; no matter how much material things you had on earth, when you die, you can’t take any of it with you.” Lola said.

“True.”

“I hope all he worked hard to build, doesn’t crumble after this.”

“He was a smart man, he would definitely have made some plans for that; he knew he was dying.”

They spent the rest of the day cleaning up the house and Dapo went out briefly to get things from the store. He still felt a little tension around the house, and as much as he would like to deny it, Lola was not the same again.

The Cole’s arrived exactly one week from the death day of Mr. Cole. The funeral was planned in top speed and before long; the body was properly put to rest.

A couple of weeks after the funeral, Dapo got a call from Mrs. Cole, asking him to come over for official reasons concerning her husband. He went over and was surprised when he found out that the man’s lawyer was there and it was about his will.

Mr. Cole had instructed his lawyer to have Dapo present at the reading of his will. Dapo was more shocked when he found out that the man had willed all his businesses to him; his greatest fear had come to life. If he took the offer; then, one way or the other, he would have to take up the family too. It was like the dead man was playing a game of chess with him in his grave.

When he told Lola about it, she was dumbfounded; and there was silence for a couple of minutes, then she asked. “Are you going to take it?”

“I don’t know, I should…or what do you think?” She went silent again. He knew it was really tough for her to handle; it seemed more and more like the Cole’s were going to take her husband away. He looked at her, the baby bump was very evident now, but she still walked around the house swiftly like it was no load.

“I was just thinking, you know…like I shouldn’t turn it down. I would let the man down if I did so.”

“Just do what you feel is best.” Lola finally said, and it was like she threw a blank check his way. He didn’t say anything more on the matter. He knew he needed time to weigh his options and he thought he would sleep on it, and make his decision in the morning.