A MOM IN SIX MONTHS [ONGOING]

2◇SETTLING IN

Ogun state, Abeokuta.
Sunday, 11:06am.

I wake up feeling refreshed and fulfilled, as though some sort of burden has been taken off my chest. Sure feels good to be back home. With great difficulty, I drag myself out of bed. Abeke had put up everything she felt would make me comfortable in here, though she went a bit overboard with it, I love it. I get myself to the bathroom, brush my teeth and take a quick shower, then I change into something comfortable for the day, a simple top and joggers. I can already hear plates being set on the dinning table downstairs, and I make my way to it.

'°Ekaro ma' [good morning ma].I kneel down at Abeke's feet, and she places her hand on top of my head, greeting me with words of praise.
'Did you sleep well?' She asks as I get back to my feet. 'Yes...' I walk to the kitchen, where it's an array of activities, I'd only seen Wunmi yesternight, but the large kitchen is bustling with four or five maids. They all stop what they're doing and greet me when I walk in.
'Oh, please. You don't have to be so formal... You look like you're my age too, so let's just cut the formalities..' I say with a smile. 'Well then.. I'm Bolanle.' One of them says. Unlike me, Bolanle is tall and skinny, a small part of her face covered in pimples, the smile on her face is broad and genuine, reaching her eyes. She looks like the type that made friends easily. I'm getting to know them all when Abeke walks in to check what they're cooking. This morning, we'll be having pap and °akara[bean cakes], it has always been like that with Abeke, every Sunday, pap and akara. Like some sort of tradition.

'Mide, I told you to reduce the size of the akara, didn't I?' Abeke questioned. She moved on to taste the pap and seemed satisfied with it. She checked everything else and told the maids and I that she'd be in her room. She was  about to step out of the kitchen when she turned back, as though she remembered something.

'Arike, while you were asleep yesterday, your friend... Was it Tinuade? She called. You left your laptop on and I saw the video call come in. You should call her and tell her you're back. Very nice girl, that Tinu.'

Tinu and I had went to the same elementary school, and since then, we've been close friends. I hurried upstairs to check, and true to Abeke's word, I saw two missed calls from her. I dialled her number and waited...

'Funmi! What's up, how are you?' Her face comes up on the computer. Tinu is light skinned, tall and beautiful. Her hair is piled on top of her head in a neat bun, and she looks like she just came out of the shower.
'Hey, Tinu. I'm very well o, just settling in to the change of environment.' I answer her with a smile.
'True sef, when were you going to tell me you already got back to Nigeria? I called your line yesterday, and Audrey was the one who picked up to tell me that you're in Abeokuta. Nawa for you.' She said with mock anger. 'I just got back yesterday, didn't she tell you? I was soo tired and i just ate and went o bed. I'm sorry, okay?' We talked about a lot of things for the next couple of minutes, only pausing when Mide came to serve my food.

'I'm getting married, Funmi.' She suddenly blurts out. I take some time to process this, because I totally was not expecting it. Tinu had told me she had someone she was seeing, but I sure as he'll wasn't expecting this. But I'm happy for her... Tinu deserves all the happiness she can get.
'I'm soo happy for you.' She beams at me, and even through the screen, I can see the genuineness of the smile. 'And just so you know, you're going to be my best lady. So you better find time to come see me so we'll plan everything together.' She says firmly. I agree to meet her tomorrow, by noon, and I hang up so I can eat my now cold pap and akara. When I'm done, I pack it all downstairs, where Abeke is watching a TV series. I sit beside her and place my head on her shoulder.

'Oko mi. Have you called your friend?' She asks, running her fingers through my hair. The peachy scent of her local black soap surrounds me, and I take a deep breath in. 'Yes, I'm going to see her tomorrow.. She's getting married and I'm going to be her best lady.'
'Oh, that's good news! I'm so happy for the child. Remind me to send her something when you're going to see her tomorrow. She's my daughter as well.' Abeke says with a smile.
'So how's your business going, all is well, I hope?' She asks, her eyes glued to the screen. 'Yes, it's going on very well, we moved to a new office just before my vacation; and it's really nice, plus, I employed a new set of workers because we were beginning to have so much to do.'