C H A P T E R T W E N T Y - F O U R
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Keith came rushing back into the room after half an hour right after his dad.

"Where is your mother?" he asked.

"In Matilda's room," Keith replied, "she's praying."

Mr Ikande only nodded and checked the time on his watch. He'd left the room forty-five minutes ago along with Keith, while Normani and Joseph stayed in the waiting room with Ayoola. He'd been back for a short ten minutes and the room had been held in an oppressive silence.

The other couple Normani had seen when she'd first arrived had left after they'd received the unfortunate news of their loved one passing on.

Matilda's friend and her parents had been encouraged to go home long before the big drama of the paternity test so it was just them in that waiting room.

"Papa, no matter what happens after today, please, don't abandon Matilda," Keith said worriedly.

Normani though that he was brave for voicing the concerns everyone else had been too afraid to.

"You must think me a man of no honour," Mr Ikande said with narrowed eyes, "what kind of man do you think I am that I would involve Matilda in this mess? I am the only father she has ever known and it will remain that way. Get out of my face if all you want to talk is foolishness."

Keith visibly shrank away from his father and moved a seat away from him. He took out his phone and fiddled with it, a dark look shadowed his features.

He looked burdened and Normani felt for him, she truly did. For a moment, she wanted to pass Ayoola's fatigued body over to Joseph so she could go to the man she still so deeply loved and hold him like she used to.

But she knew better than that.

"Master," Ayoola said. She was laying against Normani's side. Her voice was meek from fear of Mr Ikande because as much as she was curious for answers, she still revered him with a god-like awe. The man terrified her in every sense even though she hadn't had much interaction with him.

Mr Ikande looked at her pitiful form and waited for her to finish her sentence.

"Abeg, will you tell me?"

Mr Ikande nodded and while Normani kept a tight hold over the space under her ribs, Mr Ikande told the story of how he, Angela and Sonia's lives had first interconnected a summer twenty-seven years ago.

According to Mr Ikande, he'd gone to visit an uncle that lived in a village 100KM East of Abuja and it was where Angelina and Sonia lived.

He'd been romantically involved with Angelina and planned to marry her in the following six months, they'd consummated their relationship once. One night he'd had too much to drink and had slept with Sonia, too.

Sonia's family demanded he marry her for taking her innocence and once Angelina had caught word of this, she refused to see him. He and Sonia were married within the next six months and by then, Angelina had moved on to Chiko and was pregnant. The rest was history.

When Mr Ikande asked Ayoola how it had truly come about that she came to work for them because he no longer believed Sonia's version.

Ayoola had told them all that a year after her mother and the man she knew to be her father, Chiko, had passed away in a motor accident, Mrs Ikande had arrived at their homestead to speak to their aunt.

Although Ayoola was too young to remember what those days had been like, she knew things hadn't been completely alright. There were nights she and her aunt could afford only to eat garri and drink the municipal water that only came out of the taps sometimes.

Mrs Ikande and her aunt spent a long time in the sitting room while Ayoola played outside. When they finished talking her aunt called her back inside of the house and told her to pack.

"You are going to a very nice place. They want you to look after the house for them and play with their children. There are two boys and a baby girl. They will send you to a good school and you will have good food, your own bed and clean water."

Ayoola had been as excited by all the prospects as her aunt and she'd packed with great enthusiasm. She was an only child and didn't have anyone to play with.

She couldn't wait to meet her new playmates! She and her aunt shared a single bed in the bedroom and because her aunt was a big woman, it was hard to sleep well on most nights. She wouldn't have to share at all! The glory!

And with school, her aunt hadn't been able to afford the school uniform and she'd missed the first month of classes.

Ayoola would never forget what her first impression of Mrs Ikande was. She'd been dressed in an orange silk iro and the whitest blouse she'd ever seen and leather sandals.

The woman was clean and rich-looking and Ayoola had been filled with awe that she was going to live in a house of such peoples. She'd left her mother's homestead without any qualms.

She'd sat perched on the tip of the leather seats of the Range Rover - the biggest car she'd ever driven in because her father had driven a green Citi Golf.

Everyone had listened with bated breaths, waiting for the part where everything got to shit because they could sense it in Ayoola's voice.

"My stay at the Ikande mansion was nothing like I'd imagined it would be. She overworked me. I spent all day mopping and sweeping and dusting. Sometimes she'd make me do it twice, just because she could. She left me alone with Matilda when she went to her late-night meetings and I had to feed and change her and couldn't do my homework. When I got tired she would hit me for being slow. When I cried she'd beat me some more. When I chose my school work in favour of chores I was refused food.

It was a matter of time before I fell behind. I failed the ninth grade and it was decided I would not go back to school by her and Master. And I have been getting up and cleaning that house day in and day out with no other prospects for the past eleven years and now you want to tell me there is a possibility I didn't have to go through that?"

XO

Ayoola and Mr Ikande went into a separate room for the DNA tests and during that time, Mrs Ikande entered the room. Keith was the only one who went to sit by her side. He wrapped an arm around her and held her while she rested her head on his shoulder.

She looked pitiful but Normani and found it difficult to feel sorry for her after she'd learned what she'd put Ayoola through.

Normani didn't give a fuck that these people had so much money, there was no justification for how they'd treated Ayoola. Everyone had played a part in her abuse, even if they hadn't been the ones to raise their hands (or feet) at her.

Normani was angry at Mr Ikande at his complacency and Keith for chalking it down to 'cultural practices' and Joseph for actively choosing to not involve himself. They'd all witnessed the inhumane treatment Ayoola had gotten and yet, not a single one of them had seen it as unlawful.

They only felt bad now because of her possible relation to Mr Ikande. Had it not been for that, it would've all been okay as it had been for most of Ayoola's life.

If this was how all house girls were treated in Nigeria - if this was the life they were expected to endure then she'd rather they never set foot in the rich elite's houses.

Mr Ikande and Ayoola eventually returned and everyone sat in another tense silence for the next few hours. It was late evening when Dr Oledayo finally returned. By then, Normani's entire body was stiff from sitting on those uncomfortable chairs and her shoulder hurt from having Ayoola sleep on it for so long.

"Good evening," he said. The man looked worn since she'd last seen him. He allowed a very brittle smile to show on his face, "as you already know, surgery went well. Miss Ikande has woken up."

"Oh thank God!" Mrs Ikande cried and raised her arms up to the sky. There was a collective sigh of relief in the room.

"When can we see her?" She asked.

"As soon as you like," Dr Oldedayo said, "although, Miss Ikande has expressed her desire to see Miss Hamilton, her donor first and in private."

Normani shook Ayoola until she woke up and as soon as the other girl eased off of her shoulder she stood up and felt her bones protest.

"This way," the doctor said and led her to the elevator.

"I know this procedure shouldn't affect my day to day life but I needed to know if it'll be okay for me to travel?"

"Yes, you should be fine to travel."

"Even if it's a long flight?"

"Do you plan to return to the United States soon?"

"Yes."

"You should be fine."

The elevator came to a stop and Dr Oledayo led her to the third door on the first corridor. Matilda was sitting upright on the bed in nothing but a hospital gown. Her hair was tied and wrapped under a headscarf. She looked so small under those bright white sheets.

"Hey Mani," Matilda said and at the sound of her voice, so innocent in its pleasure at seeing her made her tear up.

"Hey," Normani whispered and wrapped her arms around her.

"Why are you crying?" Matilda asked as Normani moved away and Matilda reached a hand out to wipe her tears.

"I'm just happy to see you're okay."

"That's because of you, you saved my life," Matilda said.

"I did what anyone in my position would. You needed a donor and I was a match."

"But for all purposes, I'm a stranger... you didn't even have to come to the hospital."

"Are you kidding me?"Normani asked with a disbelieved chuckle and wiped at more tears, "I dropped everything I was doing to come and make sure you were okay. You're not just a stranger to me, I care about you so much, don't ever think that."

"I'm sorry," Matilda said.

"Don't be sorry, be happy, because I'm happy."

"Please come sit with me," Matilda said and shuffled her body to the far left side of the bed.

"I don't think I'm allowed to."

"Mani, I almost died, they shouldn't care."

Normani chuckled and walked closer to the bed. She tried to slide into the bed as carefully as she could. Matilda laid her head on her shoulder as soon as she settled down. Normani stroked the top of her head and hugged her close. She smelt of hospital, sleep and innocence.

"I'm so happy I met you this summer Mani, you're a nice person."

"You're the most delightful girl I've ever met, I'm glad I met you too, it's been so delightful helping you with your ballet and hanging out with you at the mall."

"Will you come the next holidays?"

She'd already known that this was the last time she'd ever see Matilda and that thought alone made her morose.

"Actually, I'm going back home soon and Keith and me...we broke up."

"What?" Matilda asked and raised her head, "my brother's not your boyfriend anymore?"

"I'm afraid not, Love."

Matilda's lip wobbled, "why?"

"Sometimes these things just don't work out and... I don't know, Matilda I wish I could tell you but adult things get so complicated, yeah?"

"When...when did this happen?" Matilda asked, trying her best to hold back tears.

"A few days ago."

"You came here and gave me blood and saved after my life even after you stopped being Keith's girlfriend?

"Yeah, I told you, I care a lot about you."

"Oh my gosh!" Matilda cried and wrapped her arms around Normani, buried her head in her shoulder and sobbed.

"I'm so sorry," Normani said and she truly felt as though she'd let Matilda down.

"You're going to be okay," Normani said and rubbed her arm.

"My heart feels broken."

"It won't be this way forever, okay?" Normani said.

A nurse came into the room and her face twisted in distaste at the sight of Normani on the bed.

"Visiting time is going by and the girl's family want to see her, Miss," the nurse said.

"Of course, of course," Normani said. She looked to Matilda who was watching her with glassy eyes.

"I have to go now, your parents want to see you. Smile for them, they're relieved you're okay." Normani got out of the bed in record speed.

"Mani-" Matilda whimpered.

"You have my number and Instagram handle, I'll ask your parents for permission and you can text me whenever you like after this and I promise I will answer, okay?"

Matilda nodded and opened up her arms for Normani and the older girl hugged her one last time.

"Thank you for this summer," Matilda said and Normani could hear she was holding back tears.

"Likewise, take care."

She left the room and found Mr and Mrs Ikande standing near it, waiting for her to leave. She walked past them without so much as a nod of acknowledgement.

Now that she'd seen Matilda, there was nothing tying her to this hospital. She couldn't wait to get the hell out of there and leave this country and these godforsaken people. Her phone rang with an incoming video call from Anika and she rejected it by the second ring. She didn't have the strength to talk to her.

When she passed the waiting room, she found Ayoola, Keith and Josephine. The most latter looked the freshest in the bunch, with her recently ironed clothes and her shiny skin. Normani didn't say a word to them and went for her purse and luggage.

Ayoola got to one of her suitcases first and she got it for her. She followed her out of the waiting room and they stood at the entrance.

She was about to call the cab service when Joseph came back with another round of takeout.

"Are you leaving?"

"Yeah, I'm going to order a cab back to the hotel."

"Shit, you were on your way back to the U.S?"

"Yeah, I missed my flight."

"Sorry," Joseph said, "look, like I promised I'll cover your stay at the hotel, I can even cover your flight?"

"No that's okay, I don't want to inconvenience you any further. My parents will cover my ticket."

"You sure?"

"Yes," Normani replied, although she had yet to have that conversation with them.

"Okay let me at least drive you back to the hotel so you don't have to spend cab money."

"Okay," Normani said.

She was secretly relieved that she didn't have to spend another cent for the time being.

When she got back to the U.S she'd have to find a way to make up for the money she'd used for her first ticket and the price of the second one that her parents were going to get for her.

"I'll just go start the car and bring it to the entrance," Joseph said and Normani nodded.

"Ayoola, would you like to come with us?" she asked.

The older girl nodded without hesitation and she took one of Normani's suitcases for her while Joseph took the other. They left her standing there with her purse and her portion of take out.

The door opened and Keith materialised.

"Mani, may I speak with you?"

Normani sighed.

"Make it quick, I have to leave soon."

"Can we go somewhere?"

"No."

Keith nodded, "I guess I deserve that. And I deserve everything that has come my way today, I know that, but Mani, please come back home, I need you."

Normani's eyes flickered up to his. They were so dark with fatigue and desperation.

"What about what I need?"

"We can work through this together. I know this trip caused so many problems between us but if you're willing to come back with me we can work through this and we'll be stronger than ever."

"I don't want to do that," Normani replied and crossed her arms over her chest, "I don't want to go anywhere near you or stay in this country for any second longer than necessary."

"Okay, you can go home earlier but I'll come find you as soon as I get back and we'll fix this mess. Please let me make up for this... please."

He reached out to touch her arm and she caved at the contact. She would miss him so much.

"I won't wait for you in New York and I don't want you to find me. I want you to leave me alone."

"We've been together for nineteen months, please, don't throw that all away. I know we can get through this."

"You still don't get it, do you?"

"What?"

"Suppose I'm dumb enough to let you back in after this and we work through the damage you've inflicted upon this relationship by neglecting me and letting these people get between us and I forgive you, you think it will end there? What happens when we come back another summer? Or you decide you want to marry me? This will never be over. If I stay here with you, I will only be subjecting myself to more of this abuse and I refuse, Keith, I refuse," Normani said.

A tear had already made its way down her face and she wiped it away before Keith could.

"I won't let them."

Normani scoffed, "stop fucking lying."

"For you, Mani, I'd defy my parents because you are the love of my life, the only person I want. You're the only person who's had my support this whole time, the only one I showed my heart to, the only one, please."

"You're too late. You should've done this the fucking moment they sacrificed me at their dinner table with the Ladipos. Go back to your Josephine."

Her phone vibrated with an incoming call and she knew without looking that it was Joseph.

"Normani, I didn't do anything with her."

"Tell me," Normani said, almost choking on the tears that clogged her throat, "when you came home that day and you fucked me like I was some cheap whore, were you thinking of her?"

Keith hesitated and in that she had her answer.

"Goodbye Keith."

She found the strength to turn around and walk to the entrance where Joseph was parked.

She was quiet on the ride to the hotel and thankfully, no one spoke to her. Her phone vibrated with a text and she looked down at it.

Nika💛🦋: Why'd you ignore my FaceTime?

Maaani💓👸🏾: It wasn't a good time.

Nika💛🦋: Are you gonna tell me what the fuck is happening now? Why'd you miss this flight? What's going on?

Maaani💓👸🏾: An emergency came up with Matilda, I couldn't leave without seeing that she was okay... Look I promise I will explain this as soon as I'm home, it's too much for the phone.

Nika💛🦋: You're not coming back home with Keith, are you?

Maaani💓👸🏾: No.

Nika💛🦋: .....

Nika💛🦋: Okay, Imma get off your back about all of this, as soon as you get back you and me will have a day at our sub shop and we'll talk it all out 🥪💖

Maaani💓👸🏾: You have no fucking idea how much I've missed that, fuck.

Nika💛🦋: Come home soon baby girl, you've been gone too long.

A large teardrop splashed on her phone and Normani wiped it on her jeans. She sniffed. God, she needed to get the hell out of this place.

Joseph pulled up at the hotel and she sighed in relief. She couldn't wait to hop inside of the shower and wash away the smell of antiseptic, crushed little girl dreams and her exhaustion.

She already knew she'd probably cry herself to sleep afterwards and she welcomed the idea. She needed to let everything out or else she'd explode under the weight of it.

While Joseph went through the process of booking a room for her again, she and Ayoola sat in the lobby area.

"Miss," Ayoola said, "are you going soon?"

"Yes, I am."

"I just wanted to thank you for being so kind to me during your stay, for everything." Ayoola looked as though she was overwhelmed with everything and couldn't find the right words to express herself.

Normani's heart hurt for Ayoola. For a moment she wanted to hug her close but she was certain she'd burst into tears if she did. She'd seen Ayoola endure too much abuse even in her short five weeks and the thought that her small efforts had been the greatest show of kindness the girl had ever seen in that house made her sad.

"No, I want to thank you," Normani said, "you have taught me so much this summer and I will keep you in my heart and in my prayers for a long time to come."

Ayoola wrapped her arms around Normani, "God bless you e dupe . You remind me so much of my mother, she was an angel, just like you."

That alone made Normani want to sit in a corner and sob until she had no water in her body. Instead, she kissed Ayoola's temple tenderly and stood up before she could start crying. She made her way to Joseph just as he'd finished the booking and she came to face him.

"Love Lies is going to do exceptionally well, I can feel it."

"You're only saying that because you got to sing a few lines," Joseph replied and Normani smiled through her brokenness.

She wrapped her arms around him, "thank you."

"Nah, thank you, for everything. You were the first person besides myself to believe in me."

They pulled away, "you know what, my life will never be the same after meeting you."

"Likewise. You, Ayoola and Matilda have changed my life, I will never forget you."

The tears were coming and she couldn't stop them. Joseph passed her her key card and whispered a final 'take care' before leaving with Ayoola.

Normani didn't even wait to see them leave as she took to the lifts and hoped that no one was within them. She, unfortunately, found the bellhop with her luggage.

The best she could do to keep the sobs at bay was to sniff and breathe heavily but even then, tears continued to blur her vision. The bellhop followed after her and left her bags inside of the living room and left without another word.

As soon as she was alone, she laid down on her bed and cried like she'd never done before.

×

Normani's parents were able to get her a flight for the next day, provided she head straight to Houston when she touched down. She'd called her mother and without explicitly having to tell her, the older woman had known that something was wrong.

"Baby, I want you to come on home. We'll cover both flights and don't you worry about paying us back, I just want to make sure my baby is alright because I know you're not right now."

Normani was grateful for her mother but she dreaded the twenty-one hours she'd spend flying. She was grateful everything would be all behind her soon. Perhaps it was her broken heart that had exhausted her body to the point of restlessness but she'd slept for sixteen of the eighteen hours.

She felt relief when the plane touched down and home hugged her in all of its familiarity. She'd have to wait an hour for her connecting flight and she busied herself by reading her own copy of Purple Hibiscus that she'd bought at the airport bookshop until it was time for her second flight.

She was awake for this one and soon, the plane was touching down in Houston and she would see her mother soon. Her mother's car had broken down and her father was using his so they'd paid for an Uber to bring her home.

Then finally she was on the driveway of her childhood home and it was late evening and her mother was waiting for her with a smile and open arms.

Normani had thought that she'd cried herself out these past few days but she found herself shedding warm and bitter tears as soon as her mother held her close and she felt like a little girl again.

That night, her mother slept with her in her room. She knew she'd have to tell them the full story soon but she was grateful that she had a chance to gather herself and recover from the jetlag and the shock of the heartbreak before telling them.

how are we all feeling? tbh her goodbyes with ayoola, matilda and joseph have me way more fucked up than her shit with keith. someone tell me y'all bawled for ayoola when she was telling her story as well?

as always, leave me all of your thoughts in the comments and vote for this chapter if you liked it

thanks for the support

-dzangie.❤️