ONE: Out of the Comfort Zone

Īt was a bright, sunny Wednesday in downtown West Crawford. The morning sun filtered in through coffee-brown blinds and reflected against the kitchen slab.

On the mahogany wooden surface, there laid several boxes filled with stuff and the rest of the kitchen was covered in black tarps to protect the equipment from dust.

A teenage girl suddenly entered into the room, pulling a large violet suitcase with her. Her long, deep purple braids danced from side to side as she moved rather sluggishly.

By the time she could get the box to stand on it's own, she was already panting wildly and leaning against her knee.

And no?- it wasn't that heavy.

Julian quickly ransacked through the bag until she retrieved a bottle of water which she desperately gulped down. Only then could she breathe.

Her tired eyes lazily scanned the dusty, old kitchen. She slid her hands into the back pocket of her jeans and toured the environ.

She came to stand right in front of the window, peering out of it in wonder. "What a beautiful town," she muttered under her breath and took a passionate deep breath.

"It's only a shame I won't enjoy staying here," she murmured with a look of disgust and dissatisfaction on her face.

"It's good to know that you'll enjoy your stay here," a feminine voice echoed in the room.

Julian turned her head to behold the owner of the voice.

"Yea," she replied. "Where's dad?" She asked her mother who had come in.

"With the rest of the luggage." The woman replied.

"I'll be in my room if you need me," she attempted leaving when her mother caught her by the arm.

"Julie, wait. I know you're still very upset with me but it's all for the best." Her mother sympathised.

Julian sucked on her bottom lip- suppressing the contempt she felt.

"I'm ... fine, mom. Just tell dad to bring me my luggage."

"Honey..."

"Forget it. You knew I didn't want to be here; I told you I didn't want to come here but you brought me here just to keep me away from Jonathan.

I don't understand you anymore. You said you trusted me. If you can't trust me, I can't trust your leadership as my mother.

Parents, do not provoke your children to anger!" She barked and stormed up the stairs.

The woman stood there for a minute, feeling awestruck. Her heart wrenched in a sour pang as her daughter's words reiterated in her mind.

It was only a matter of time until tears began to slide down her cheeks. Her body trembled slightly but before she could break down completely, strong arms caught her petite, slender form from behind.

She spun on the spot. It was him- her husband. The luggage he'd been carrying were on the floor, gathered around his feet so he could hug her.

Rena turned around and embraced her husband passionately.

"Why's she doing this to me?" She asked in a trembling voice as her body shook in his arms.

"She doesn't know what she feels or how to react. She still loves you; she just doesn't know if to trust you. Rena, she's just scared."

She broke down further. "Scared of me?" She asked, staring up at him.

Maxwell heaved a sigh of worry as he stared down at her reddened face.

He leaned into his wife and planted a soft kiss on her lips. "No." He replied and patted her head fondly.

•••

The steam kettle whistled away as the soothing steam rose into the kitchen ambiance.

In a corner of the room, Rena was on all fours scrubbing away.

"Maxwell! ... come get the coffee!" She yelled to her husband who was in the other room, moving furniture and test running electrical appliances.

"This woman, you're closer but you literally had to make me walk all the way to the kitchen," he teased amidst chuckles as he walked into the kitchen, folding up the sleeves of his shirt.

"Just get it already. I can't stand now; I already bent down." She replied and slouched in her squatting position. "I told you how this thing works," she retorted and rubbed her belly with a pout.

"I'm sorry ... your majesty." Maxwell raised his hands in surrender and got down to making the cups of coffee for them both.

"Thank you, my royal subject." She remarked and burst into laughter.

He rolled his eyes with amusement.

Momentarily, their seventeen-year-old walked down the stairs and strode into the kitchen in short, sluggish steps.

"Good morning," she muttered almost inaudibly.

"Good morning, dea-' ... 'how did you?" They coincidentally asked in unison. "You go first," Maxwell whispered to his wife.

She nodded.

"How did you sleep?" Rena asked as her inquisitive eyes scanned the girl.

"I slept well." Julian replied. "And look, I'm very sorry for the way I spoke to you." She apologised.

Rena paused for a bit and glanced at her husband- he gave her a nudge.

"It's fine but never do that again. You need to understand that everything I-"

"We." Maxwell whispered.

"We- everything we do for you ..." Rena paused, wearing a short-lived thoughtful expression. "I'm sorry. I forget what I was going to say," she grew confused and fought back laughter but Julian helped her- the girl burst into genuine laughter.

Maxwell joined her.

"Why are you laughing? You distracted me!" She yelled, slightly annoyed and amused.

It was only a matter of time before she joined in the laughter.

"My girl, what your mother is trying to say is ..." he walked over to the girl and handed her one of the cups. "You may not entirely understand what we're doing sometimes or why we do it, but we need you to trust and believe in the love we have for you as your parents ... just as we have to trust in God and His love ... even if sometimes, we don't know what on earth he's doing!" He smiled at his family as he spoke.

Julian tipped her head, staring down into her cup of coffee. "I'm very sorry. It's just that I really love Jonathan and he feels exactly the same- we talked about marriage and I know I can build a future with him!

That can't be lust, right?" She stared at her parents with a look of desperation in her eyes.

"Look, honey. It doesn't have to be destructive at first to be wrong." Rena spoke softly, thinking to herself; You're just seventeen for crying out loud! Do you know what I was doing at seventeen?!...'

"Meaning?" Julian peristed.

"Meaning that it takes time to know how right something is," her father began. "And that is why we have to be wise enough to not get so caught up in our feelings that we block out the voice of reasoning."

The teenage girl walked over to the dining table and pulled out a chair which she sat on.

"I don't understand." She said.

"We haven't cleaned that." Rena warned but the girl was way too worried to bother about a dusty bottom at the moment.

"In essence, I am saying that there are ways that seem so right to us that we're too scared to look deeper for the truth and we decide within ourselves to settle for comfort.

Julian, you are in that phase." He concluded.

Julian felt queasy inside. She quickly set down the cup of coffee and dashed out of the kitchen.

She ran outside and sat on the verandah with her smart phone clenched in between her palms- crying.

She brought the phone to her face and dialed a number.

"Hello?" She brought the object to her ear once the person answered.

"Hey," a masculine voice echoed at the other end of the line.

"My love, I miss you." she muttered amidst sniffs and sobs.

"You don't sound good. What's up?" He asked.

"They did it again. I don't think this is right. If it was, it wouldn't feel so difficult and unnatural." She buried her head in her palm as her purple-coloured braids spilled over the side of her face.

"Look at what you're saying. Look Julian the Bible says that troubles may last for a night but joy comes in the morning. You need to endure and believe in our love...

Or don't you love me anymore?"

She went quiet for a moment. Then she heaved a weighted sigh.

"Look, I do but ... I'm suffocating. It's like my parents are devising every means possible to make me feel like this is wrong."

"Then resist them. That's the devil using them to destroy such a beautiful thing we have in God.

Julian I love you ... and you know that. Like I- I haven't even touched you yet. That shows you even more how much of a godly man I am.

I'm every parent's dream son-in-law!" He remarked cockily.

From the living room window, Rena peeped out through peach curtains and eavesdropped.

Her fists clenched fiercely as her blood boiled over with intense annoyance. She scrambled away from the window only to stand face to face with her husband.

"Maxwell," she began with gritted teeth. "If I get my hands on that useless boy deceiving our daughter, I promise I'll break him in-"

"Calm down. Nobody's breaking anybody in half. It's just a phase ... and it will pass- I promise." He spoke with that heart-warming smile.

Rena collapsed into his arms, savouring the warmth of his embrace and mustering peace of mind.

"I believe it," she whispered and breathed deeply.

She wrapped her slender arms round his neck, returning the gesture.

Suddenly Maxwell shrugged her off and burst into mischievous laughter.

"What is wrong with you? Do you find this funny?!" Rena asked; evidently annoyed.

"I'm sorry," he genuinely apologised. "It's just that you were breathing on my chest and it tickled." He laughed further.

In turn, Rena rolled her eyes, feeling irritated. Then, she began to walk away.

"I'm sorry. Come back here." Maxwell acrobatically yet tenderly grabbed his wife by her waist and pulled her towards him.

"I'm sorry." He apologised again but in a soft whisper to her ear.

"Max, don't grab me that hard; I'm having cramps..." she whispered in turn.

He loosened his grip and embraced her, patting the top of her head fondly.

Julian judiciously watched them from the front door, feeling a heavy pang in her chest.

"I want what you both have ... but you don't understand.." she muttered to herself, wearing a sullen look.

•••

"Rena! My love, come to mummy... how have you all been? ... and Where's my medical doctor in the making?!"

"My princess!! ... and Where's my other princess?!"

"Good day, grandad. Good day, grandma."

•••

Rita poured out two cups of coffee- one for herself and the other for her daughter.

From where they sat in the kitchen, Rena could hear daddy and Maxwell talking in the family room;

"We're only here for a few days, sir." Maxwell informed.

"Here you are, my dear. I have kilishi. Do you want some?" She offered.

Rena shook her head in the negative, turning down mummy's offer with a forced smile.

"What is it? Is it that bad with her now?"

"It almost seems like it's worst than I thought. Maxwell can hardly handle it anymore.

I don't know what to do. Julian literally wants to marry that boy ... and she's just seventeen!"

As she spoke, she glanced around and spotted her daughter seated at the far end of the family room, idly using her phone.

Rena nervously rubbed her sweaty palms on the marigold chiffon floral skirt she had on and heaved a nervous sigh.

"You know ... she reminds me so much of my old self. I would have been in the right position to set her straight, but you are in the best place to do it- you're her mother.

All you need to do is to eliminate fear. Yes, this is difficult and new, but your daughter needs you." Rita explained.

A moment of silence passed where Rena was plunged into deep thought ... or perhaps, it was her cup of coffee?...

"So ... how do I go about this?" She asked with a stern look in her eyes.

"Simple!- first, you need to have a heart to heart with her, understand things from her own point of view. Though I know she's a tough child." She remarked.

Rena nodded in agreement and sipped her cup of coffee.

"Thank you so much." She muttered and added; "Where's the milk? Please, this thing is too bitter."

"Let me get it. Now do you want some kilishi?"

"Yes, please. And sugar too- this coffee is too strong."

Julian as already established was seated on a sofa at the right end of the living room opposite grandpa and dad, scrolling through her phone.

She put the device down on the stool beside her and glanced around the house.

Her eyes landed on mom and grandma in the kitchen. Then, she remembered- she was hungry.

Julian plucked herself off the couch and walked towards the kitchen where the air reeked of jollof rice, coffee and kilishi!

"Can I have some?" She asked as she strode into the kitchen.

Rita and Rena paused in a uninanimous stare.

"Yea! Sure, why not?" Rena gestured, raising her cup.

"Thank you but I meant kilishi. It smells really good, you know." Julian remarked with a genuine smile.

"I know." Rena replied enthusiastically.

Rita slipped out unnoticed.

"It goes really well with coffee but if you're going to have some, add enough milk and sugar to yours." She instructed.

"Yea, I know!"

"Julian," Rena called. "We need to talk."

The girl paused in motion with dried sticks of kilishi hanging out of her mouth. "Okay, but about what?"

"You! Don't act like you're oblivious." Rena scolded, feeling slightly annoyed.

"I'm sorry. What about it?"

"Julian, I know we're not your parents, but we're still very much responsible for you."

"Go on." The girl took another bite of the snack on her plate.

"Do you think your mother would be happy to find out that you're being deceived by a boy?"

"Deceived?!" Julian retorted in displeasure.

"Okay, I'm sorry. Not deceived, misled!"

"And you don't have to bring my mom into this.

You already told me that I should see you guys as my parents. Now you have to remind me that I was abandoned?!" She retorted, not cautious enough to keep her voice down.

"Julie, you weren't abandoned."

"Don't tell me what to think. I just want to be happy for goodness sake ... and he makes me happy.

Can't you understand?!"

Julian was raising her voice so much that the rukus had stolen the attention of Rita who had just left the kitchen and even her grandpa and dad who sat, talking in the living room.

Rena felt a rush of embarrassment run through her veins.

"What's going on?" Maxwell was the first to ask as he strode into the kitchen. Mr Dawson followed behind him, equally wearing an inquisitive look on his face.

"It's nothing," Rena tried her best to calm the situation.

Julian blew a solid hiss and stormed out of the place.

Maxwell passed Rena a knowing glance and she went after the girl.

The men stood in the awkward silence of the situation until Rita walked in with servings of jollof rice.

"Do you mind helping me set the table? Food is ready!" She exclaimed with a smile, hoping to distract them with the culinary delight.

Rena stood at the entrance of her old bedroom- Julian had ran in there earlier.

A wave of nostalgia washed over her as she mustered a demure smile.

"Ahh this old place," she murmured.

Her eyes scanned the place vigorously. They hadn't changed a thing since she left.

Then she spotted Julian, behind the dusty window curtains.

"Julian, what are you doing there?" She asked softly.

"Go away!" She barked. "You people are so weird. You can't understand me. Just go away. I want to be alone."

"Ouch," Rena muttered under her breath. "I am ... very sorry. You're right that I don't understand but you can make me and maybe, I'll be able to help. I was once like you, you know."

The curtain moved a little and finally, out came the girl.

"You were once like me? You mean they're not your real parents?" She asked.

"Well, not exactly but I know I can relate to most of your worries." Rena walked towards the old dusty bed and sat on it.

"Like what?" Julian asked and sat down beside her.

"For one, like you said ... don't tell anyone but, your grandad isn't my biological dad.

I've never met my real father." Rena tipped her head backward and stared into the distance as though recalling a fond memory.

She continued;

"And ... I used to feel ... misunderstood because I was in a position that no one else would be able to relate to unless they were in my shoes." She explained and finally concluded; "Then again, you seem to feel that I don't understand how you feel about uhm .... Jonathan." Rena gulped as she uttered the name.

"But you know, how did you think I met my husband?"

The girl's eye widened in amusement.

Rena stuck out her tongue and widened her eyes as well. "Well, duh!" She remarked and chuckled lightly. Julian followed.

Rena heaved a sigh.

"Do you want to know about how I met him?" Rena asked with a sparkle in her eyes.

Luckily, Julian shared the same spark and nodded vigorously at her Foster mother's offer.

"Okay, here goes." She heaved a deep sigh. "But, before I begin, I just want you to know that your mother loves you so much."

"You or her?"

"Her. She's just busy creating better opportunities for you than she had and making sure she never makes a grievous mistake with you again." She explained.

"I know that! I said all that because I was angry." Julian exclaimed in amusement. "She already told me that. We talk everyday and ... I lived with her for a few years, remember?- I came to live with you and dad when I was fourteen."

"So you genuinely don't hold anything against Joan?!" Rena remarked in shock and delight.

"Not at all. I've decided to put it behind me. Besides, it was never her fault. I'm just glad she was able to open up to me- not every parent would be bold enough to do that." She said with a charming smile.

Rena nodded, feeling impressed and amused. "That's wonderful!" She exclaimed and asked; "Do you want to hear my story now?"

"Why not? ... you know, I always thought you guys made a good couple and it made me want something perfect like what you had and Jonathan is really giving me that vibe." She explained.

Rena gulped in displeasure on hearing the name.

"That was the reason I loved referring to you as mom and dad; it makes me feel like one of you. This family seems so ... perfect!" She exclaimed. "I just wish to have what you all have. It's like all your souls belong here; in the company of each other. I just feel so out of place sometimes. But forget it ... tell me about the both of you." Her eyes glistened with the last words she spoke.

Rena fidgeted with the hem of her skirt a little before taking a deep breath.

"Well..." she began.

"Well?" Julian urged her, noticing her face redden slightly.

"What happened?" The girl asked. "Am I supposed to be cautious about a PG rating or something?" She teased.

Rena nudged her playfully and laughed heartily.

"It was seven years ago ... I was about... no, I won't tell you my age..."

•••

***Golden rays of light filtered through Rena's window the next morning. She yawned, stirred and stretched on the soft mattress before realising it was dawn already.

The soothing morning breeze blew across her brown skin as she sat up on the bed, reminiscing her ordeal with Nike the previous day.

A smile etched up her lips. Then suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door.

She stood up from her sitting position and went to answer the door- it was mummy.

"Good morning, dear." Mrs Dawson returned her earlier greeting. "Joan will be leaving soon. I'd like us to eat breakfast with her as a family one last time." She informed.

Rena nodded and followed her mother out of the room.

The women strode into the kitchen where a pot of water steamed in the corner and slices of bread tanned in the toaster.

"What are we making?" Rena asked her mother, feeling enthusiastic about breakfast.

"I'm thinking just eggs and vegetables but ... if this should be memorable, I'm going to ask you to put off the toaster." Mrs Dawson explained.

"So what do you have in mind?" Rena asked and poured the kettle of water into a ceramic cup- for herself!

"I'm thinking we should go a bit traditional."

"Then let's do lunch instead." Rena suggested and asked; "Is she in a hurry?"

"Here she comes. You can ask her." Mrs Dawson replied as Joan drowsily walked into the kitchen in her plus-size nightie.

"Good morning mummy, Rena how did you sleep?"

"Wonderfully!" Rena exclaimed, nursing a warm smile. "When are you leaving?"

"Haba! Are you chasing me away?!" Joan remarked.

Rena burst into laughter- so did her mother.

"You know I can't. I'm just curious." She replied.

"Oh well, I'll be leaving by noon. I don't want to miss the bus so I can't go any later." She explained.

"Will there be a bus tomorrow?" Asked Rena.

Joan nodded and took the bread out of the toaster.

"Then go tomorrow!"

"Well ... I don't know, oh..."

"Come on, Joan." Rena urged her.

"Okay. One more day," she agreed.

"Yes!" Mrs Dawson flung her arms in the air in celebratory delight.

"We're having eba this afternoon! Rena we're heading to the local Market right after breakfast." She informed.

"Oh no." Rena objected.

Mrs Dawson turned from what she was doing to face her. "Why no? You'll be home all day; you said it yesterday."

"Mummy, I can't."

"And I ask again- why?"

Rena's face reddened as her lips twisted - a potential smile was coming on. So, she bit her lips. "It's nothing." She muttered.

"What? You're going out with Maxwell again?!" Joan interjected. Rena's heart sank as she shot her a short-lived glare.

"Rena, you're going out with the doctor!" Mrs Dawson exclaimed with something beyond surprise in her eyes.

"Mummy ... let's not make this about me. This is about Joan." And with that statement, she slipped out of the kitchen.

Lucky enough, she didn't have a date with the young doctor that night. She had turned down her mother's earlier suggestion because Rena naturally detested crowded areas.

So, she remained home and helped around while Joan volunteered to go with her.

"Mummy thought it would be a good time to bond with her so ... Good for me!"

"Good for us. Kitchen duty make sense die!"

"Or stealing steamed meat make sense die... foodie! Glutton!"

"Now you've started oh. I'll not take that insult ohh- and even worse, on an empty stomach. Abeg, una get bread for this house?

There's this mad sandwich I'll make now. Where are the vegetables?"

Rena rolled her eyes and pointed to the fridge at a corner of the kitchen.

"Spread nko?"

"Nike, the fridge is right there. Open it and look inside."

"I just hope you guys don't have that smelly igbo spice that looks like shit." Nike rummaged through the fridge as she asked.

Rena heaved a sigh of frustration, carrying on with washing the leaves. "It's called ogiri."

"That one concern you. Just show me where the toaster is."

Rena pointed to the drawer right above the kitchen slab.

Nike found it but not after knocking down a few cans and causing a rukus.

"Nikeee..." Rena scolded.

"Calm down na. It's not my fault. Why did you guys cover everywhere with leaves ... crayfish and dried fish. See how this place is smelling like that gateman in our school." Nike remarked.

"Oh God! Nike please make your sandwich and leave if you don't want to help me. I did not beg you."

"Actually, you did. You were like; 'Nike please come and help me before I'll pass out in this kitchen." She imitated her mockingly.

"Then you're not even helping." Rena emptied a bowl of fresh peppers into a blender and pulsed it.

"I need energy. Let me make my sandwich first. Did you use all the fresh pepper?"

"Nike inside sandwich again?"

"Yes na. You want it to taste like baby food?! ... abeg shift!" She shoved her aside and picked a ball of pepper for her sandwich.

"I'm using some meat oh!" She announced.

Suddenly, the house phone rang. Rena strode over to the corner of the kitchen where it was kept and answered the phone.

"Hello?" She placed the receiver to her ear.

As Nike fried her meat and vegetables in shallow oil, she noticed her friend's express light up with shock and then dampen.

"What happened?" She asked as Rena put down the phone.

"They're on their way. They're coming Nike and we've not even cut these leaves.

The meat itself is still strong- you did not allow it to cook, we've not grinded the melon talk more of making the soup!" She panicked.

Nike's face sunk into a frown.

"I thought your mother was going to be the one to cook it. I thought she went to the market with Joan." Her brows furrowed in disarray.

"They went to buy the garri!" Rena flung her arms on her head in defeat. "Her instructions were; 'Rena cook the soup. When I return with the garri, we'll bake and serve it!"

Nike pressed her lips together in guilt.

"Calm down first. I'll fix it." She assured and turned off the fire to the stir-fry she was making.

"How?!" Rena asked in bewilderment.

"Look, foodies know how to handle food under pressure." She assured and got down to work. "Just do me a favour; take my phone and follow the recipe for that sandwich.

You'll feed me while I'm cooking- I still need energy." She instructed.

"What?!" Rena exclaimed.

"Trust me," Nike spoke sternly as she grinded the melon.***

Rena's mind danced back to the present as a nostalgic smile played on her lips.

Julian gaped at her expectantly but got disappointed in return.

"Is that it?" She asked with furrowed brows to reflect the displeasure she felt.

"Hmm?" Rena stared at her in confusion, obviously previously distracted by her own thoughts.

"I already know how to make egusi soup, mom. Where's the good part?" She asked.

"Ah, but that's a good part. I and Nike were very close friends and that last minute stunt Nike pulled symbolised the faith we have in each other as good friends." She explained. "But often times, faith is hard because you have to be displaced to put it into practice because trust is hard without evidence

This is why it is important for people in relationships to keep proving to each other that they can be a shoulder to lean-"

"I don't really feel like hearing about this stuff. I thought you're telling me about you and dad."

"Yea, I am but I'm using my friendship with Nike to highlight the theme for this chapter; Out of the Comfort zone," Rena explained.

"What are you talking about?" Julian asked, feeling further displeased and confused.

"Never mind." Rena nursed a blank expression. "I'll carry on.."

***Nike put off the faded, blue apron she had on and took the hot boiling pot of the fire. It's incense enveloped the entire kitchen.

"Done!" She exclaimed and spun on her heels wearing a delightful smile as she chowed down the last piece of the stir-fry sandwich Rena had made earlier.

"So fast?! Oh, I love this girl!" Rena exclaimed and rushed to embrace Nike.

Momentarily, the door bell rang.

"They're back!" Both girls turned to themselves and exclaimed alarmingly.

"Set the table! Set the table! Nike, set the table."

"Do you want me to break the plate?" She asked in a panicky tone.

Rena quickly flung open the bottom cupboard and retrieved a stack of fine, white China and dashed out of the kitchen and into the dining room.

Nike leaned across the cooker and took a longing glance at the pot.

"It will not kill any body. Besides, how will they know?" She muttered in guilt filled whispers and began serving a heaping helping of the thick, steaming soup into her plate.

"Did they count the meat?- I don't think so." She assured herself while scooping the sixth piece into her bowl. "Chef's benefit." She remarked.

Rena dashed into the dining room, wearing a calculative look on her face.

She set down the first dish, the second dish, the third...

She adjusted the table cloth, glanced at Maxwell standing at the entrance, made for the door to get the spoons...

Turned back slowly to be sure she just saw who she saw... Rena gulped, frozen in motion.

Beads of sweat from the heat of the kitchen trickled down her face. She stood there, wide-eyed.

Then she glanced down at the badly stained apron she wore- there were splashes of yellow palm oil, vegetables from Nike's stir-fry ... and a thick dark greenish substance which she hoped wasn't ogiri.

"Hi, Rena." He greeted as his soothing, sonorous voice echoed in the dining room.

He was also wearing the familiar warm smile.

"Maxwell." She called alarmingly, not in the usual soft voice. "What are you doing here?- at my house! ... when nobody is sick!" She asked and waved her hand in melodramatic gestures.

"I ... actually, your-"

"I invited him over, Rena. He's family too, you know." Mrs Dawson spoke and Joan followed behind her, pulling the bag of garri they'd gotten at the local market.

Rena's heart and voice sank into her stomach.

"Let me help you with that." Maxwell offered and relieved Joan of the load. He lifted it to his strong shoulders and walked into the kitchen, leaving Rena a charming wink as he exited.

"I hope you used enough meat in the soup." Mrs Dawson inquired, wearing a calm smile and a look of satisfaction. "Well did you?" She asked once more.

"M-mummy why would you ... why did you tell him to come over? It's a family thing."

"But he's family too. Or ... isn't he your boyfriend anymore?" Mrs Dawson asked in a whisper.

"Oh my God!" Rena exclaimed and concealed her face with her hands in embarrassment.

"Mummy that's not ... what are you talking about? Who says I'm dating him?"

"Joan told me everything."

"Joan!"

"I'm sorry. Let's not make this about me. This is about soup and garri." She remarked and slipped out of the dining room.

Soon, mummy served lunch and they all sat at dining to eat- even daddy who had started making time for the family lately.

Perhaps, Joan's anticipated departure reminded the man of the fact that his own daughter like her, would one day get up and leave.

Rena anticipated that day; she would pack her parents house in a suitcase and leave with it ... but then they would be homeless.

But then, it didn't matter- she loved the house! She often times imagined herself visiting with kids on weekends or holidays.

A smile crawled up her lips. It was already late when Rena realised she had been sheepishly smiling to herself- And everyone saw!

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