“Thank God you’re here! I can’t stop her from crying!” Banke said ushering her mother into the house where she found Teni sucking on her thumb and crying.
“Have you checked her diapers?”
“I’ve done everything! I even sang her favourite song from when she was a baby, she kept quiet for a while and then started crying again.”
Banke’s mother sat and carried Teniola. “Hello darling, why are you crying? Are you hungry?” The little girl continued to cry as much as both women tried to pacify her. “Have you asked Joy what they do to comfort her?”
Banke huffed. “How can I ask Joy? She’s the maid, how would that make me look?”
“Then I think we better call her father.”
“God forbid it, I’m not calling Kunle and giving him a chance to gloat.”
“Banke this pride of yours will put you in trouble if you don’t get it under control. How long will you watch her cry?”
Banke pondered her mother’s suggestion for a few minutes then grabbed her phone. “What do I tell him?”
“You tell him his daughter is crying and she won’t stop and that he should please tell you what you can do.”
“He should please tell me?”
“You took her away from him and then you’re calling to say she’s crying. Does it sound right for you to be rude about it?”
“The court gave me custody.”
“Unfortunately.”
Banke stared at her mother, shocked to discover that she had no sympathy for her in the situation. “You think she was better off with Kunle.”
“Honestly, yes. See how well she looks, you can’t deny that she was happy with him or that he has been doing a good job.”
“He’s her father, it’s expected of him.”
Her mother shook her head. “Just make the call.”
Banke jabbed at her phone as she dialed Kunle’s umber. He didn’t pick up on the first call. She tried again, this time he did.
“What do you want?”
“Hello Kunle… she’s crying…”
“I can hear that… what happened?”
“She’s been crying this way since yesterday.”
“Where’s Joy?”
“She’s somewhere in the house.”
“Let me talk to her.”
“I’m her mother….”
“You’re the last person I want to talk to… let me talk to Joy.”
“Hold on…” Banke called for Joy and handed the phone to her. As soon as Joy started talking she could hear the relief in her voice, Kunle was giving her some instructions and she was nodding her head in agreement. Teniola had stopped crying and waddled over to where Joy was. After a few minutes, she handed the phone back to Banke who snatched it from her.
“Hello” she said roughly.
“I’ve told Joy what she needs to do, I don’t know why you didn’t listen to her in the first place.”
“She told you that?”
“No, I could tell.”
“Or maybe there’s something you’re not telling me about your relationship with the maid.” Banke blurted out.
Kunle laughed dryly. “I’m not even going to respond to that. You’ve taken away my only joy, the least you can do is take care of her or give her to those who can.”
He hung up before she could reply and she hissed. The man had the nerve to make her feel inferior to the maid!
“What did he say?”
“He gloated just as I said he would.” She replied her mother coldly, then faced Joy with all the hatred she could muster. “What did he say?”
“He said I should make her food and show her her favourite cartoons.”
“Haven’t I been giving her food?”
“Cereals don’t satisfy her anymore so we give her rice and some other foods.”
Banke stood stunned. “So we should give her some rice to eat?”
“Yes ma, she likes jollof rice”
Banke’s mother clapped her hands in amazement. “Do you have jollof rice?”
“I’ll make it now… so she doesn’t like this cartoon anymore?” she pointed at the TV.
“No ma, she prefers Barney”
“Okay…”
“You make the rice, I’ll go and get the Barney videos.” Banke’s mother said reaching for her handbag.
“Okay.” Banke said and dashed to the kitchen but not quickly enough for her mother not to see her eyes fill with tears.
**********
Ada slowly packed her clothes from the line, thinking about Teni. Would she never see her again, she wondered? She stood still remembering her favourite moments of their time together trying to remember the point where she started to love her like a daughter.
“Hey!” Kunle called from her right side. She jumped up startled. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No it’s okay, I was thinking about…” She took in her breath, afraid of what the mention of Teni’s name night do to him.
“Yeah, I’m guilty of that too. I was wondering if you were okay. You just stood still.”
“I really miss her… really, really…” Her voice choked with tears. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be doing this. I’m probably making you feel worse.”
“It’s okay, you were like a mother to her.”
“Have you heard from her, do you have any idea how she’s doing?” she asked wiping her face. It was red and smooth and Kunle had the sudden urge to touch it. He quickly looked away and laughed awkwardly.
“Yeah, I actually have. You won’t believe it. Her mother called me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“She called to ask for my help. Teniola was crying and she didn’t know what else to do.”
“I thought Joy was with her?”
“Yeah she is but she didn’t listen to her. She doesn’t listen to anyone but herself.”
As tempted as Ada was to keep the conversation going about the weaknesses of Teni’s mum she felt uncomfortable about it. “So what did you do?”
“I spoke instead to Joy and told her what to do.”
“You didn’t tell her? Don’t you think she might take that out on Joy?”
“I don’t care.”
“Your daughter is with her and whatever happens to Joy will affect Teni.”
Kunle stared at her seeing the wisdom in her advice and warming up to her even more. She was so beautiful with her pink lips. Ada looked away, uncomfortable with Kunle’s gaze. “You’re right, I should think about that but it’s hard not to make that woman suffer as much as she’s made me suffer.”
“Making her suffer only puts your daughter in jeopardy and turns you into a bitter old man.”
“A bitter old man?” Kunle laughed.
“That was meant to make you laugh and I’m glad it did.”
“Yeah, me too.” Kunle stared at her mesmerized.
“I should go, see you around.”
“Yeah…bye” Kunle said reluctantly.
**********
Olayinka observed the exchange below.
“Hmmn… I think there’s a romance budding in the compound!” she said excitedly turning to face Effiong. “It’s giving me an idea for the theme of that party I told you about.”
“You women and romance! What’s going on?” He looked up from his iPad.
“I think Kunle and Ada are getting together.” She replied with a twinkle in her eye.
“Really?” he laughed. “Obi is not going to like it.”
Why? It’s not like she’s under-aged.”
“A separated young man with a custody battle over his daughter is not exactly the ideal guy for one’s sister.”
“But they’re old enough to sort out their issues.”
“So why didn’t he sort it out with Banke?”
“It takes two to make a marriage work.”
“You have a point there but I doubt that Obi would like it.”
“You can get him to see the potential of this relationship.”
“Olayinka? “The potential of this relationship”?” He shook this head. “Oh dear!”
“It’s a great idea.”
“Okay. Let’s change the topic.”
“Why? Okay let’s change the topic. What if we have another set of twins?”
“Let’s go back to the other topic!”
**********
Obiora closed the curtain. “Helen I don’t like what’s going on between Ada and Kunle and I want you to discourage her from thinking seriously about this guy.”
“Why?"
“I don’t want my sister to be his rebound relationship.”
“I doubt that Kunle is thinking of her in that light.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“Yours! Look, why don’t you relax? The guy hasn’t said anything to her.”
“Maybe, but he’s already giving her the look.”
“What look?” Helen asked confused.
“The look!”
“Obi, I cannot possibly read your mind. You have to tell me what look you’re talking about.”
Obi moved close to her and gazed intently at her. “This look.” He said breathing softly.
“Oh!” Helen said blushing. “You haven’t looked at me like that in a while.”
Obiora wanted to say so many things but he didn’t want to start a fight with Helen, until she joined him in Port Harcourt things would not be the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment