Summer of love

Ten years ago I was in the room, getting ready for a "by-force" birthday party my husband was throwing me at Lekki Miami Beach. I've heard a lot of amazing things about that place; it's been on my list of places to explore in Lagos not because of it's side attraction but because of the exotic views over there. I just wasn't feeling the party mood right now and I tried to explain to him why I wasn't really up for it. I've been an emotional mess all week and now I'm being forced to my own birthday party.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I don't want to go, its just; how do you expect a heavily pregnant woman who's due to put to birth in the next week to focus on her birthday happening in Lekki Miami Beach? Well, I didn't have much of a choice as I got into my beach evening gown. I felt naked and groaned out loud; why couldn't I wear a regular kaftan?. My groaning got his attention. He quickly rushed to me asking questions which were pretty obvious. I rolled my eyes before him saying " I'm fine, it's just disappointing you making me wear this to the beach. It's below twenty degrees out there!" "Alright, you have a point. I figured you might disagree so, here..." "What's this? " "Happy Birthday honey, now open it. " My husband can be pretty cheesy sometimes; I opened it non the less and found a neatly folded kaftan in it.

I bounced on my feet happy that if at all I was going to be forced to this party, I might as well wear something comfortable. With a beautiful smirk on my perfectly matted lips, in one swift move, I took off my beach wear and dumbed in on my dressing table not minding I had smutted make up all over it. I wore my kaftan and smiled broadly at him, walking back to the mirror I adjusted my make up and hair before slipping into my comfortable Gladiator Once I was satisfied with my look, I winked at him through the mirror on my dressing table before I got up to head out of our bedroom. I noticed I didn't hear his footsteps so, I knew he wasn't following me. I turned around only to find him in the same position he was when we had our little chat and said "What?" "Nothing... I'm just surprised at how you look so hot in a simple kaftan." "Oh, really, why didn't you say so?, We can get down to business if you know what I mean"

I smirked and winked at him and slowly walked towards him. I was making an attempt to seduce him, but it was ridiculous because of my already protruding stomach due to the nine months pregnancy. Quickly, he snapped out it after he realized what I was trying to do and so he responded hastily saying "Not so fast. I know what you are trying to do and I'm not falling for it. C'mon, we are going for your birthday party; it's not every year you turn 27." I reluctantly agreed and we left the house by 2:30pm heading towards the location of the beach. Once we were fast approaching, he told me to put on a blindfold and I obliged just to please him. I saw how much stress the preparation of my birthday has had on him and I didn't want to stress him further.

He was the best and he really deserved a trophy for putting up with me through thick and thin. The thought of my darling husband driving me to my 27th Birthday party put me right to sleep. Two hours later I woke to the blurry vision of a group of people who surrounded me singing a birthday song I was seated in the car. "Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you dear Akintoye!, Happy Birthday to you May the good Lord bless you; May the good Lord bless you; We wish you many happy returns of the day; long life and prosperity. Hip hip hip hurray! Hip hip hip hurray!!!! Happy Birthday Akintoye Adetokunbo!!" Everyone who was around me yelled and I whined from the impact of the loud screams. I smiled at them all as my husband got down from the driver's side so he could help me get down and meet with my well wishers.

Once I had gotten down and well away from the car, my mom came around enveloping me with her motherly hug and I leaned in for it as she prayed for me in our local dialect (Yoruba) Once that was over, she and my aunt Morenikeji helped me balance my steps as they both walked to where the party was happening. I noticed a well cushioned three sitter was already waiting for me and I didn't hesitate to take a sit as my legs were hurting badly. It was then I realized the big deal about this birthday party and why my husband made it on a large scale. It's the 14th of February; Valentine Day. I smiled at the thought of that. I guess he wanted to kill two birds with one stone; my birthday and valentine's day. "Mummy, mummy, mummy happy birthday and baby shower" My two daughters who raced to where I was sitting said and I giggled as I thought "baby shower, really?"

Oh wait, so it's three birds with one stone. My two best friends who were having an alcohol-free drink came to explain how they assisted my husband in pulling this off. Before they got a chance to, they were interrupted by my husband who had already taken the stage Clearing his throat to get my attention, I smiled at him as I raised my perfectly shaped eyebrow at him. He winked at me licking his lips seductively before he started singing along to one of my favourite songs, "Put it all on me"

by Ed Sheeran. I couldn't help the happiness I was feeling as I blushed uncontrollably and it was even more difficult to hide my blush owing to my light skin complexion. Loving the way my husband was treating me, I hugged my two daughters; Eniola Addison Adetokunbo, my seven year old firstborn and Erioluwa Zoey Adetokunbo my four year old second child who were now seated beside me on the three seater couch that was designed specially for me. On each side of the couch were heaps of gifts for both my birthday and the baby shower I was just learning of; thanks to my two adorable daughters. After three hours of wining and dining, it was finally time to cut the cake. That was when everything happened in slow motion. Shots were fired, people were scattered in different directions and the last gunshot was aimed directly at my nine month pregnancy. Before I blacked out, I heard the sweet voice of my husband saying "Stay with me Amante... Stay with me..."