Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Early in the morning, Aunty was already in the kitchen complaining about carrots. Michelle stood at a corner, her hands at her back as she stared like a guilty mouse.

"Good morning ma," I greeted.

She turned from the fridge , then reached out to touch my chin. "Lady, how was your night ?" she asked with a smile.

" It was just cold," I replied. Then looked at Michelle who took that time to greet me.

"Auntie good morning," she said. I ruffled her hair then peeped in to see the carrots Auntie was complaining about.

"It's the carrots we bought since. This rabbit here," she said pointing at Michelle. "has suddenly changed from her nature."

I laughed. The accused took some onions and began to wash.

"Mbe," Auntie said with a smile, "If it was when she was an active rabbit, she will finish the carrots before I even have to use them."

I laughed. "Michelle, won't you defend yourself ?"

She smiled shyly. "I still eat carrots. These ones just wanted to spoil."

I followed Auntie as she left the kitchen. She was about climbing the stairs when I told her Ike was sick and had to spend the night.

"Which room? " she asked, hurrying past me.

I led the way as she followed with much urgency till she overtook me.

"He has not had this attack in a while." She said still hurrying ahead of me, her slippers slapping noisily against the tiles which could even wake Ike before we reached.

In her hurry she forgot to knock and turned the door handle. She stood back and knocked when the door had already parted from the frame.

Ike opened the door, wearing just his black trousers -the same way I had left him last night .

"Ike, how are you?"  Auntie asked with a clear note of concern, standing on tiptoe to touch his forehead. Ike bent because even standing on tiptoe, he was still too tall for her.

He took her hands. "Mummy, I'm fine."

His eyes shifted to me and I greeted. He responded with a smile.

"Ikem, take a hot bath and come out. Nene will make you something hot."

Then she pushed my waist for me to shift out of her way leaving Ike shouting,

"Yes sir!" as she left.

I entangled my hands following Ike further into the room. He sat on the bed and patted next to him but I declined, saying that I was fine standing.

"Did I deprive you of a blanket last night ?" he asked, fixing his eyes on me.

"No, it was a hot night, " I said, memories of how I had pulled out my bed sheet so I could shield myself from the cold screamed, calling me a liar.

I watched him tilt his head and narrow his eyes at me. I shifted from foot to foot, looking for how best to excuse myself.

"so umm.. I'll get your clothes. "

He nodded. "The  blanket has a scent. I inhaled it all night."

"I am sorry. "

He snorted. "No, no, we loved it- my nose and I."

I laughed and so did he. He patted the space beside him again. I shook my head.

"I'll get you your clothes now."

"What are you doing today? " he asked .

I shrugged. "Working. "

"What do you mean? Auntie said you came for holiday. Don't tell me you carried your machine to come here."

I laughed. " I did not but a tailor's holiday is also busy."

He stood up then, putting his hands in his pocket. "I need to get home to see my fiancee. "

I nodded. "I'll get you your clothes and get you something to eat before you go."

"You can get me the clothes; you have been wanting to do that all morning but for breakfast, I'll come back later."

"That's alright, " I said, then went out of the room.

After Ike left, I buried myself in my phone and laptop, drawing new designs. The room suddenly got dark. I heard the tapping of the rain against the roof. I closed my window then lay down, pulling my blanket to my neck even though the weather was not all cold. A new unfamiliar scent hit my nostrils reminding me of who had been with it the previous night.

My phone started to ring when I was about drifting off to sleep. I turned my head to the wall, ignoring the call. The caller still continued and on the third ring, I picked the call. It was Tunde.

"Lady," he said.

I yawned and stretched before greeting him.

"How have you been? " he asked.

"I have been alright. What about you? "

"I have been busy. Lots of contracts. I went to your shop, your sales girl told me you travelled."

I wanted to start with, 'Sorry I did not tell you ' then I bit my tongue, realizing I did not owe him that.

"Yes, I did," I replied instead.

There was silence. I imagined him nodding.

"Are you there? " he asked after a long silence .

"Yes kemming, "

He laughed, a low laugh, more like a snort.

"So how is it wherever you are, it rained over there last night? " he asked .

"It's actually raining now."

"Oh, amazing. "

There was silence. I had the sudden urge to drop the phone while the call was still on and pretend it was network.

"I'll umm call you some other time," he said.

I heard the dial tone that ended the call before I could say bye.

I sat up and dragged my knees to my chest, putting my lips to my knees and hugging my legs. Maybe I should have apologized for not telling him I was traveling but he did not deserve to know but it was a lie. He was my neighbor but I did not go about hugging all my neighbors and crying on their chest. I was now biting my knees.

I got up and dragged myself to the kitchen. Auntie was there with Michelle, all busy. She looked at me when I entered.

"Lady," she said, "This one told me you were sleeping."

"I was just resting but what is going on ?" I asked, pointing to the vegetables and meat they were cutting.

"Ike called me to say he could not make it back for breakfast as he planned with you  but he will come around in the evening with his fiancee," she explained.

"Oh I see. That's good, " then I started looking for what to eat from the cupboard .

"He does not have your number? " Auntie asked as I had just found a victim- Quaker oats . I turned to her and shook my head.

"Oya, I want to make assorted for them. Ike loves Goat meat pepper soup so you will make that. "

I did not reply to her. I just put water in a pot to boil my oats. I should have remained in the room.

"I'm making vegetable sauce so we can use the carrots," She said. On a second thought she said, "No, it's better you do it, inugo? Make the sauce and pepper soup. I'll cook white rice."

Michelle was looking at me with the back of her hand covering her mouth. Was she covering laughter?

I ignored both of them and started stirring my oats.

Ike's fiancee? It was hard to imagine him being engaged but is there a certain way a person is supposed to look after being engaged ? I felt something. Ada will say it's jealousy but it couldn't be. I was no jealous woman or was I jealous that I had once been engaged and lost it? It had to be curiosity to meet his fiancee. It had to be.

It just had to be. Because I didn't even know this Ike.

We were busy in the kitchen till evening when I heard Ike's car pull in. I was making the vegetable sauce then. Auntie went out to welcome them. Michelle began to set big Aluminum plates for me to dish the food then she set smaller plates in another tray.

When I was done dishing out the food, I went in to shower then I changed into a fitted ankara gown that was sleeveless and with a front zip that ran up from my knee to the neck of the dress.

A knock on the door followed Michelle's head peeping in just as I was arranging my hair.

"Can I come in? " she asked.

"Oh you are in already," I replied.

"I don't like eating in front of people, " she said, throwing herself on the bed, "I like my room and kitchen."

I turned. "You are telling me because... "

"I want you to tell Mummy to permit me."

I hissed, waving her off. "Go and eat wherever you want, if you like the toilet also or under the staircase,  please go."

She laughed. "Chai, Auntie you are mean a little."

I also laughed. She followed me to the kitchen. We carried out the trays of food and empty plates then set drinks in front of each seat. Ike and his fiancee were already seated in the parlor. I went down to greet them.

He stood up as I approached. I did not know if he wanted to shake my hands or hug me but I just stood at the center of the parlor and said,

"You are welcome. "

The fair woman beside him smiled, a smile that did not reach her eyes.

"Nene," Ike said, "This is my lady, Amanda Emmanuel," and then he faced her, "This is everyone's Lady, Nene Akomas."

I smiled at him then the woman beside him. I turned to look at Auntie who was staring like she was bored or obviously displeased. I wondered if I was not receptive enough towards our guests.

"Please, let's eat," I said.

" Yes please," Auntie said, getting up and walking to the dining. Ike held his fiancee's hand. I waited for them to pass then I stepped in behind them.

We began with opening the plates, the clanking of steel against Aluminum was so loud, then steel against ceramic.

"I don't eat goat meat," Amanda said.

Still bent into my plate, I raised my eyes to look at her. Auntie did not so much as look up, she was more interested in her food. Ike quietly passed her the bowl with the sauce.

There was a moment of silence then she said, "The sauce has no water."

Ike placed a hand on hers on the table then brought it down below. It was going to be an interesting dinner, I thought already amused.

"Ngwa, Nene go and steam the stew in the fridge." Auntie said, not looking up.

"Yes ma," then I looked at Amanda, "you will just have to wait a little." or for long, baby.

Michelle was sitting in the kitchen.  "What is happening, why are you people not laughing, Is the food peppery? " she asked.

I laughed, yes it is. The shrew was that pepper. "Why are you here? " I asked instead of replying to her question.

By then I was dishing out a little stew to be microwaved.

"I'm waiting for you people to finish so I can wash the plates."

"Have you eaten? " I asked. She shook her head.

"Nne, you better go and eat and go to bed. You will do the dishes in the morning."

" Okay ma. Thank you. "

I went back to the dining room with the stew after taking my sweet time.

"So Amanda, where are you from? " Auntie started with her questions and answer section.

"Anambra state," she replied .

"Your name sounds more like eh _ Not Igbo."

She did not reply or smile. Auntie was not giving up.

" What do you do for a living? " she asked in Igbo.

"She does not understand, Igbo well, " Ike offered.

I was busy with my food like I was not on the table.

Auntie asked her question again, this time in English.

"Since I returned from Lagos, I have not got a job," she replied.

"So what were you doing in Lagos? " Auntie kept pushing.

"I owned an eatery."

I was even surprised, she was still answering. She did not seem like someone who would want to be queried.

"You left someone to take care of it?" Auntie continued unrelentingly. I was even beginning to feel it was an interrogation.

"No umm _ It folded."

"That's bad. So sorry to hear that " I said and Auntie said so too.

"It's nothing," she said, waving her hand dismissively, "I'll get back up."

Energy. I loved that but then she began dishing the 'thick' vegetable sauce into her food. I did not know why I found it funny and I was trying so hard not to laugh but I could not hold it in.

I hurried into the kitchen knowing if I stayed there longer, I could start laughing like a mad woman. I came back from the kitchen in time to hear her say,

"I have messed up my food."

My sauce was suddenly a mess?

Something I took my time to make?

"Amanda," Ike hushed, obvious annoyance in his tone and eyes.

She returned his glare with one to match his then Ike looked up at me then Auntie with a smile trying his best not to look embarrassed. I chewed on my meat like I suddenly realized how delicious it was.

I later got up  and poured fruit juice into each cup in an attempt to save the day.

"I'm on low sugar, " Amanda said.

I tilted my head to a side, looking at her for a moment. "You almost have a problem with every food and drink."

She surprised me. She laughed. "Not really. I just have some women's issues and anything wrong I eat could mess with it."

I nodded. She sighed loudly and thanked all at the table before walking back to the sitting room.

Only Auntie responded with, "You are welcome. "

She sipped her juice then said, "I'm going to bed." I nodded, then watched her go to tell Amanda good night. Ike also said goodnight to her before she left.

Ike and I finished up at the same time or we stayed longer at the table than everyone else.

"Thank you," he said, "I have not had this sort of meal in a long time."

"SSH.. Keep your voice low," I said, pointing to the shrew.

"Let me help you clear up," He said, obviously not amused.

"Thank you. I'll get the trays."

I came back with the trays. He packed all the cups and some plates in his tray. I packed what was left. He dropped his tray in the kitchen then found a towel and left to clean the dining. I began washing the plates.

When he returned, he hung the rag and stood directly behind me.

"Lady, I'm sorry for some of the things that happened tonight," he said.

"It's okay. She might want to be going home."

I was not angry with her attitude anymore if I ever was. I could not be after she explained what she explained even though it might not be true. IF it was true, I knew time of the month had the power to alter moods and even food preferences.

"I'm sorry, " he said, using my shoulders to turn me to face him.

"Don't let your woman hear you."

"I could not make it back in the morning. "

"Ike, it's fine really. She must be waiting for you, " then I turned back to the dishes.

"Is the phone on the dining table yours? "

I nodded in reply.

"I'll save my number there. I will be coming back."

"I'll be sleeping, " I said, putting on a little smile.

"I'll call you," he said, before leaving the kitchen.

That moment, I could answer clearly why Ike visited the house more often than his home after Amanda came. It was clear they had some issues not just woman issues but couple issues.

When I was done with the dishes, I ran to the guest room facing the garage. I stood at the window. I could see Ike raise his hands in frustration while talking or it seemed like yelling. The sound of the generator blocked out their voices.

He opened the car and motioned for Amanda to get in but she began to shout then started walking away. Ike dragged her arm and she turned, her palm landed on Ike's cheek in one swift motion. I felt the sting of the slap but Ike did not seem to. He still stood, unfazed and motioned for her to get into the car. She brushed past him and entered the car. Ike stood for a while after closing the car door then he went round and got in.

Tunde called later that night while I was still lying down in my gown.

"How are you? " I asked, playing with the zip of my gown.

"I'm ugly," he replied, "I just woke up and realized I did not say goodnight  so I had to call."

"I'm glad you called, " I told him

"So how was your day? " he asked

I kept my ear on the phone on the bed then my hands around myself.

"We had dinner with a family friend and his fiancee tonight."

"It must have been a fulfilling day then. "

Only if he had been there, he would have had another definition of 'fulfilled ' . I told him all about the dinner and he was so silent that I almost thought the call had ended until he hummed.

"She could be anti social," He said.

"I'm not familiar with that."

"The thing is, people react differently around strangers depending on mood. There are some people who just don't know how to act."

"That could be the case."

He hummed and we both fell silent.

"I miss you, " he said after a while .

I smiled like he could see me then wrapped my arms tighter around myself. I loved the sound of it.

"Don't say anything. Be good ok? Goodnight, " he said and I heard the clicking of the phone which meant the end of the call. I sighed. It was becoming a habit- ending the call before I could say, goodbye. I was grateful for this one though because I did not know what to say.