A woman's dilemma - Episode 12

 

Francesca:

 I park in front of the rundown chemist and wait. I can see through the glass windows and count about three customers inside. I relax into my car's plush seat. It'll most likely take a while. Seven minutes and the last woman who looks a little too pale in her bright purple gown. It's not a good colour on her if you ask me . Okay, don't start zoning out with fashion tips. The task at hand has me panicking enough to have me chewing my nails. It's a crime against my nature but fuck this. If this ends up in the way I'm praying it doesn't? I'm screwed. Big time. The lady in the bright purple gown finally gets out of eyesight. I pull my curly wig on and my huge sunglasses.
 I study my features in the mirror to make sure I don't look like my usual self. 
 I stop my stupid stalling and alight the car and make my way into the chemist.
"Pregnancy test kit please. I'll take three." I say once I get to the small counter. Thankfully, the young woman hand me my purchase without saying a word except to tell me what my bill is.
"Umm I'm sorry but can I use your bathroom?" I ask after hanging her the money for my purchase. She grabs a bunch of keys and throw it on the counter.
"It's just by the side of the building

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. Try not to overuse the toilet paper please." She says with a bored tone. I thank her and grab the keys from the counter. True to her words, I find the toilet pretty easily. I take a deep breath and push the keys into the huge padluck and metal door open. I just about gag at the putrid smell that hit my nose. It bites the inside of my eyes and I feel about ready to burst into tears. I pull my shades up to the top of my wig. Look what I've been reduced to.
 I'm tempted to bolt out of this disgusting place but the thought of Francis finding out about this before I'm ready to tell him, push me forward. I decide to take the last stall. The insides of this stall looks decent to be honest. There's even a toilet paper holder on the wall and the toilet looks squeaky clean. I thank my stars for my luck and pull the door shut behind me then click the lock on the door shut.
"Okay here goes." I pull the pregnancy test kits from the small polythene bag and follow the instructions on the pack. My heartbeat is the only sound in the enclosed space as I wait the few minutes for the stripes on the test to show the results.
"Oh no!" I sob when two lines show on all three of the damn kits.
"Hello?! Is someone in there?" There's soft knocking against the door of the stall. I bite back my sobs to keep shut.
"Hello? Are you okay in there? I heard crying. Do I need to break the door? Say something if you're not hurt please." I start to shake my head at the door and I realize I have to say something if I don't want the man at the door to break it down.
"I'm fine!" I yell out in an unsteady voice and hope he buys my lie and leave me the heck alone to cry.
"Oh thank goodness. I do think I'm going to die out here if you don't come out soon though. I need to relieve my bladder." I can hear the humor in his voice but take him seriously anyways. I grab the three test kits and consider flushing them down the toilet. I don't want the man on the other side of the door to find them. He could be a creep. I grab them and curse myself for wearing a dress without pockets. On second thought, I wrap the kits in tissue paper and hold them in my hand. I flush the toilet for the sake of it and after pulling my glasses back on, unlock the door. I bow my head as I walk out and try to avoid eye contact.
"Thank goodness you're--" with my head down and the man's hurry, I slam my head into his chest. I gasp in horror when his hand grab my shoulder to steady me while the keys and kits fall out of my hands.
"Let go!" I try to grab the kits but end up hitting head with the man who tries to bend as well.
"What's your problem!" I snap and finally raise my eyes to his face. He goes to say something but then I see the recognition in his eyes.
"Francesca?!" He gasp and I duck my head.
"I don't know who that is." I mumble as I grab my stuff off the disgusting floor and bolt.
"Frances! Wait!" He's following me! I panic and slam the toilet's door close. I push the padluck into the metal door.
"Hey! Open this! Frances!" Banging comes from the other side. I bite down on my lips to stop my hackles from rising. He's going to hurt me.
"Poohbear, come on." I frown at the unusual pet name which sounds vaguely familiar.
"You still there? Frances?" His voice is soft now but I can't be fooled. My husband is a politician for Christ's sake. He might be an assassin or a creep who hates politicians.
"Bye!" I yell to him before I continue the rest of the way back to the chemist.
"I thought you got lost or something." The young woman says when she sees me. I drop the keys down on the counter with a thousand naira note.
"Thanks for the help." I start to leave when she speaks again.
 "Did you see Gid-- I mean my boss. He is supposed to get the keys from you." She asks me and I pause. So he isn't a creep but a chemist owner.
"I think you should get the keys to him. I might or might not have locked him inside the toilet." I mumble to the woman who gape at me.
"You locked him in there?!" She grabs the keys and walk around the counter to me. Is she going to strangle me? I'm going to die in an unknown chemist? What will Francis think about that. I take two steps back.
"I think I should leave. Tell him I'm sorry as well. Okay, bye." I turn on my heels and fly out the store for my car. I don't think she's after me but I get into my car and lock it before I take in calming breaths. I look down at the soggy toilet paper in my hand and the reason I'm here comes back to me. A sob leaves me before I can stop it. I push my face into my hands and cry my eyes off. My body shakes with my continuous sobbing.
 There's a knock on the car's window and my head snaps to the side. I see the angry doctor gesturing for me to pull the window down. I shake my head at him and turn the car's ignition on instead.
"Don't." I see him mouth to me. His hand goes up and even though I'm safe inside my car, I flinch.

Read " Intoxicated Romance " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. His eyes pin me to my seat and then it hits me. I know this face! Gideon! The tutor I paid to write my chemistry exam years ago when I was in the University.
"Oh my God."
"Roll down the window, Frances." I watch him scratch the back of his ear and the gesture just brings back memories. He always does that when he's frustrated. That's all he ever did when he tried teaching me organic chemistry back then. I look past him to the chemist and read the crooked sign. Gideon drugstore.
 I look back at him. He's watching me now with an amused look on his face. He knows I remember him. And he's laughing at me. Does he think I'm too fat as well?
 I let a smile of my own curl my lips up then stick my tongue at him like the child he always thought I was. I step on the accelerator without breaking eye contact till he's out of sight.