The Many Goodbyes

"But we agreed today was our day, babe. We were to spend time together at home" Adenike grumbled. She was standing at the door of their bedroom watching her husband struggle with his tie.

"I know babe but it's an emergency and I really need to go" Kayode replied, he was almost fighting with his tie.

Adenike watched her husband. She tried so hard to stifle the laughter brewing up in her "Here let me help you." She finally offered to help.

"One of the reasons I need you in my life" Kayode smiled, letting go of the tie for his wife to handle.

"Wow, so you married me because of my tie skills not because you love me" Adenike faked a frown while focused and looping the tie.

Kayode raised a hand in denial "No,no, that's not what I mean. I married you because I love you" he explained.

"Calm down, I was only teasing you" she finished and took a step back. "There you go baby boy" she teased again, leaving her husband to grin so hard.

Kayode walked over to the table to pick up his bag, his hand gently brushed over his wife's hands. He noticed her eyes scanning his body, sending signals that ignited a fire within him, she bit on her lips seductively.

Kayode tried to avoid her gaze, he knew what staring back at her would do to his body. He quickly kissed his wife goodbye

"I'll be back as soon as possible" he promised, picking up his bag.

"You had better be" Adenike returned the kiss.

But instead of moving back into the room she took his bag from him and followed her husband down the stairs rolling out instructions.

"Oh and if at all you get back home and I've rushed out for the groceries, your lunch will be in the fridge"

"Yes ma'am" Kayode replied, getting to the front door and turning around to face her wife. "Love you" he said, grabbing his bag from his wife and walking to his car.

"Bye" Adenike waved and continued following her husband down to his car.

Kayode looked over his shoulder to see his wife following him which was weird. That wasn't her usual manner of goodbyes in the morning so he asked "Any other thing babe?"

"Yes, don't forget to call me at lunch," she said, making baby faces.

"But I'll be back for lunch here with you," Kayode said, pulling the door of his car open.

"Just call me," Adenike shouted.

"Okay, okay I will" Kayode smiled and leaned forward to give her another kiss. Then he got into his car while Adenike stood there watching him. "Oh, I think I left my keys inside," he added, searching his pockets.

Adenike smiled mischievously "You mean these?" She said, bringing out the keys from her pants pocket and dangling it in the air.

Kayode chuckled and asked "What are you up to this morning?" He gave a short laugh reaching to take the keys from his wife.

"I don't know but I'm done now. Bye babe" she said, turning back to walk into the house.

Kayode sat there in his car watching his wife go with a happy smile on his face. He was a lucky man, lucky to have a fun and beautiful soul as his wife and he couldn't explain how much he loved his wife.

He bent over to put the key in the ignition when he heard his wife call out to him and walked back to the car

"Babe please. I just remembered. Can you pick up milk from the store on your way home." She asked, with so much seriousness but a silly countenance.

"I thought you were going grocery shopping later" Kayode rolled his eyes.

"Yes but I'd like you to get that from the other store, not our regular" she stuck her tongue out. "I prefer that one"

“But…”

“Kayode” Adenike made faces like a baby that had just been denied chocolate, making sure to stress the name.

Kayode heaved a sigh. That was one trick he couldn't say no to
"Alright, can I go to work now, Mrs Kayode?"

"Sure you can," Adenike replied, standing there staring at her husband.

But instead of turning on the ignition, Kayode got down from the car and walked over to his wife. He held her close and kissed her forehead, looking her in the eye he asked

"I know you don't want me to leave, and I hate to leave after all the plans we made for today but I have to go. It's very important that I'm there" he explained.

"I know and that's why it's just so hard to say goodbye today" she replied with a baby voice and her hands wrapped around her husband.

Kayode looked at his watch "Give me three hours tops. I'll be home alright" he promised.

"Alright"

He kissed her "I'll see you in three hours. I promise" then he turned and got into his car. He turned on the ignition as he was about to change the gear, Adenike tapped on the window asking him to roll down.

He rolled down the window "What are you doing this time babe" almost frustrated, but he tried so hard not to show it. His wife can be a baby sometimes and that's what made her unique.

"Just making sure you're not forgetting anything. One last check I promise" she said, leaning into the window.

"Maybe I need to take notes, don't you think?" He playfully added, pretending to be holding a pen and paper. Perfectly going with the flow.

"I think that would be better. So have you got your bag?" Adenike asked with all seriousness.

"Check" Kayode replied, ticking the air.

"Keys?"

"Check"

"Remember not to flirt with the ladies at work today" she raised her brows and stared into her husband's soul.

"Check" Kayode tried not to laugh at that one.

“Remember how much I love you?”

“Check”

"And be back on time, sir"

"Check" Kayode concluded

There was silence. They just stared at each other. Kayode was getting late but he tried so hard not to show it. He knew he was the one that broke the agreement of staying back and spending time together and he felt bad for it.

"You know this might be the longest goodbye's in the history of goodbye" he broke the silence, giving a soft smile.

"I know it's just that I..." she paused. "I better let you go" she pulled back and blew him a kiss. "Love you babe"

Kayode playfully caught the air-kiss, "Love you too" he replied.

"Go before I decide to follow you to the office" she said in a sad low tone.

And finally, Kayode turned the ignition and drove off the driveway into the streets. He could see his wife watching him drive off from his rearview mirror. She stood there like a dog sad to see its master go as he drove off the driveway into the streets.

She watched until she couldn't see his car again. Then she turned and walked back into the house.

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