Travesty (5)

Elizabeth smiled at her daughter and squeezed her hand back as the pastor ended his prayer. 

"Amen!" They all chorused. 

 She was immediately torn away from Lara by all the people that wanted to 'greet' her and Femi, the same people that 'greeted' them every Sunday. Lara watched her parents smile and laugh with their friends and wondered if they ever got tired of playing the almighty king and queen.

 

"Let's get out of here before those lost causes swamp us with their vile invitations."

 

Lara spun round to face her best friend and couldn't help herself but laugh. "Don't be so mean Funks" She said. "The least we can do is collect the invitations."

 

Funke dragged her arm and led her towards the door, "Well, not today. We have things to discuss."

 

Lara looked back at Timothy talking to some of his friends, "Funks what about your husband? Are you just going to leave him?

 

"What about him? Is he a baby? We came in different cars and I told him I was leaving with you."

 

Lara shook her head when they reached the door, "Don't you want to at least say goodbye?" She knew the moment Funks left her, all the people she didn't want to talk to, would pounce on her and start silly conversations but she didn't feel it was alright for her to just leave her husband.

 

"That's your problem," Funke said as she stopped and looked at her, "You are a hopeless romantic. The children are not back till tomorrow evening so we don't have to eat together tonight." She grabbed her arm again, "Come on, let's go."

 

"To where? You just keep saying let's go. Where are we going?"

 

"To your flat of course. We have things to discuss."

 

Richard rushed to them as they descended the church stairs amid the 'paparazzi' frenzy. Lara leaned in closer to Funke and whispered, "Like what?" while maintaining her smile.

 

"Shhh. Not here," Funke replied. "God forbid somebody hears what I'm about to tell you."

 

They both slid into the back seat of Lara's car and once they were out of the church compound, she turned to her friend but Funke pointed at Richard and Samuel in front and shook her head. "Not here either. Wait till we are in your room. I promise you, it'll be worth it." Lara thought hard about what Funke could have to say but came up clueless.

 

"My God, I love Lagos," Funke said suddenly. "The energy, lies and scandals in this city are unmatched."

 

"Don't taunt me." Lara replied dryly. "We are nearly at my flat."

 

Funke smiled playfully and put her hand over Lara's hand. "Alright, I'll tell you now," She glanced at the driver and body guard and moved closer to her friend. "You know Desmond Dorset?"

 

Lara nodded. "Yes, Susan married him yesterday. I was there without you remember?" She said and smiled.

 

"Now is not a time to be sarcastic, Lara. This is very very serious" Funke scolded.

 

Lara sat up in her chair and tried to feign seriousness. "You are really full of it, Funks. Just spit it out already."

 

"Okay, well, the wedding you attended yesterday is already on the rocks." Funke said smugly and blew her manicured nails.

 

Lara furrowed her eyebrows, "What do you mean? They seemed happy and in love."

 

"And if there's anything you know better than anyone in this city, isn't it that looks are very deceiving?"

 

Lara nodded and swallowed, "What happened or what is happening?"

 

"Well, it turned out Mr Dorset, isn't as single as he claimed."

 

Lara put her hand over her mouth. "No way. Please don't tell me he has a wife and three point five children in London"

 

"At this point, that might even be better." Funke said and smirked. "On the bright side, at least now we know why Tolu Abebe is in Lagos."

 

Lara froze. "Oh my gosh! Is he married to Tolu?"

 

"No honey!" She exclaimed and then whispered, "Tolu has a six year old boy for Desmond."

 

Lara's jaw dropped and she stared at her best friend. "That is impossible."

 

"Close your mouth honey, that is so un lady like. And this is Lagos remember? Nothing is impossible."

 

Lara shook her head vigourously. "Oh Lord, please tell me this isn't true,"

 

"It is darling. And the worst part? Desmond never told Susan so when that little bitch Tolu sent the undeniably cute baby's pictures to their hotel room last night along with the DNA results, in typical Susan manner, she exploded and told her mother to annul the wedding. So that has either already happened or is probably happening right now,"

 

"oh no. This is terrible."

 

"I know. I don't like that Susan girl but my heart goes out to her, nobody should have to go through this. God help that useless Tolu I ever lay my eyes on her, I will kill her. Lara, ha! The heart of man is desperately wicked oh. Apparently, she is very loose, you should hear what the boys are saying about her, all of them had met her somewhere in the world. I guess it's only us girls that wondered where she was all these years."

 

The car pulled into Lara's garage and she felt like throwing up. She stepped out of her car and her legs felt like jelly, the most hated girl in Lagos was probably in her flat right now.

 

"Are you okay?" Funke asked. "I know you like that Susan girl and that was why I wanted to wait till we were in your room, so you could cry for her freely,"

 

"I am fine." Lara replied. "And I am sure there are two sides to the story."

 

With all my love,

Dara Rhodes