MISSING PIECE (26)

JAYCEE’S PLACE

Few Weeks Later………

Jacinta looked up from the kitchen and swa her husband entering the canteen. She motioned him to come over. “Hey, look who’s here. Missing me already?”, she asked smiling.

“You know I always do”, he replied, kissing her cheeks. “Wow! This place looks bigger and well-equipped than I last saw it.”

“Thanks to God. What are you doing here? The doctor said you should rest.”

“Cut me some slack, babe. I’ve been resting for weeks now. How’s work going?”, he said, changing the topic.

“Very well. There’s so much demands here and there and I’m kinda short-staffed. I need more hands”, she explained.

Armstrong picked one of the aprons on the table and wore it.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like to you? You needed more hands and you just got one. So, ma’am, who do I serve?” She laughed.

“Since you mentioned, no problem. How much will I pay you?”, she teased.

“Ma’am, I believe you already know ‘where’ and ‘how’ to pay me.” He winked and left to attend to customers.
She smiled. Okay Lord, he has his shortcomings. But this man is the best!


After seeing to it that customers had been attended to, he sat in a corner to rest.

“My love, you really tried”, she complimented.

“Anything for you”, he said, smiling faintly.

 She took a seat beside him.”How about the man Sunday introduced you to?”

“Went to see him. But I could tell that he was a bit hesitant to give me the job. He said he would see what he would do next month. I don’t mean to be sarcastic or anything, but I know that I’m getting nothing from there”, he replied. He sighed.

“Don’t worry. God will teach us what next to do. Don’t think about it okay?”

He nodded. Lord, you saw my weakness and gave me this woman. What would I have done without her?


As they kept discussing, a man approached them. He was a foreigner, an American probably. “Good afternoon”, he greeted.

“Good afternoon”, they chorused.

“I’m sorry for interrupting, but your face looks very familiar and I’ve been trying to place it”, he said to Armstrong. “Sorry for asking, did you attend Gregory College, New York?”

Armstrong looked at his wife, then at the stranger. “Yes, I did.”

“What set, please?”

“1999 set”, Armstrong replied.

I thought as much. By the way, my name is Delvan Carson”, the stranger introduced.

Armstrong stood up. “You mean, Delvan? As in ‘His Highness’?”

“Yeah! You got that right”, Delvan replied.

“I can’t believe this” They shouted and hugged each other. Everyone in the canteen was looking at them.

“Ermmm….guys, could you keep it low a little?”, Jacinta said. The foreigner was a frequent customer of hers. Who would have thought he knew her husband?

“I’m so sorry. This is my wife, Jacinta”, Armstrong introduced.

“Nice meeting you…..again”, Delvan said, shaking her hand.

“The pleasure’s mine”, she said, smiling. They sat next to each other.

“Big Boss always said he was going to marry a beautiful woman. And here you are, beauty and brains combined. And your food is very sweet”, Delvan complimented.

“Thank you. And I must say, you really like our Nigerian food.”

“Why won’t he? His mother is a Nigerian”, Armstrong commented.

“I see. So, why do you call him ‘Big Boss’?”, she asked.

Delvan sat up. “He didn’t tell you? That was his nickname in school. He was a ladies man.”

“Thank you. She knows the rest”, Armstrong said, causing them to laugh. “I see you’re married”, pointing to Delvan’s wedding ring.

“Yes. A Nigerian.”

“Really? I need to see the woman that got you hooked.”

“You’ll see her. We’ll come to your house, so I’ll be expecting lots of food”, he said facing Jacinta, who nodded. He turned to his friend, “I’ve been in and out for the past six months. I’m so glad to finally see you. We have so much to catch up on. I’ll have to steal your husband for a while.”

“No problem. He’s all yours. I still have a lot to do here”, Jacinta replied.

They stood up. “I’ll see you at home, love”, Armstrong kissed her on the cheek and both friends left, arms on each other’s shoulders.

(To Be Continued)
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