I was tempted to wait till Friday🤭

If you have forgotten what Temmy looks like, Check the media.

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Enjoy.

Two months flew past so fast that it was hard to believe. She packed her stuff into storage and informed her landlord that she'd be away for some months because of work. The man gladly agreed since she recently paid a year's rent. At most, she should be back before it ran out.

The journey to Lagos was a smooth one since the company paid for the flight.

Two weeks after her arrival, she was back to default mode. No longer treated like the long lost daughter.

Freda looked from her mother to her father, She knew the day of reckoning has come and there was no way out of the conversation.

It was obviously planned because Helen came earlier in the morning to pick Oreoluwa. She said they were all going to the park and Oreoluwa needed to get used to his cousins.

With the minor renovations going on in her apartment or rather her father's apartment that she wanted to use for the duration of her stay, she had nowhere else to stay.

"Dad, you are making me feel that I should have rejected the offer to come to Lagos."

"Eh-eh!" Freda's mother clapped her hands together. "What do you even mean?"

"I would have summoned you home eventually," her father replied. "I just wanted to give you time to deal with whatever issues you have."

"What if I am still dealing with the issues?

Don't worry, it seems you people are tired of seeing me, I will follow my sister to her house, at least until I can move into my apartment."

"Freda, as a father brought up in this part of the world, you may be an adult, but you remain my daughter, till I give up the right to be called your father or you disown me."

"Dad! It's not that deep."

"Come off it, it is deeper. You children of these days sef." Her mother cut in. "You never take anything seriously."

"Don't get me wrong," her father continued. "I love you, I love my grandson but I should be able to know his roots. You live in my house and he does too so I should be able to account for both of you."

"Yes now, the mother added. What if something happens or God forbid," she emphasized snapping fingers over her head in an anti-clockwise manner. "Someone sues us."

"Mummy, nobody will sue you for anything," Freda shifted in her chair at the thought of it. Toye is 'connected' but that shouldn't even matter right now.

"Are you sure you know the father?"

"That's an insult dad. I thought you said you were not disappointed in me?"

"It's not an insult and you are not a disappointment to your mother and me, It's just a question that needs to be answered.

Nobody is saying you should bring him for an introduction or anything. Who is he? That is all I want to know." Her father concluded.

Freda sighed deeply and looked at both of them.

"It's as if both of you want to bring back old wounds," Freda sniffed trying to force out tears.

"It won't work with me, young lady. I need a name."

Freda realized that her evasion pranks were no longer working and decided to let up.

"Well, I will tell you on one condition."

"Which is?" Her mother prompted

"You will never call him or talk about him to anybody."

"Where will I even get his phone number?"

"His name is Toye"

"Toye what?" her father asked

"Briggs"

"Ehn! Is he Nigerian?" the mother cut in

"Yes mom," she replied rolling her eyes

"Is he someone we know?"

"I don't think so."

"What does he do, where...?"

"You asked for a name, you have one," Freda cut her mother short.

"At least tell us what happened, Does he know about Oreoluwa?"

"Mom?"

"What do you think?" She asked her husband indirectly for support since he seemed to be firmer in his dealings with their children.

"Answer the question," He responded

"It just didn't work out, and no he doesn't know Oreoluwa exists."

"Why?" Both parents chorused.

"He is getting married. Can I go now?"

She said and left even before she was given permission.

How does she explain to her parents that she did not want another woman to go through the heartache her sister went through while trying to protect her love for a man who was not even worthy of her.

She picked her phone to call Romola, she had a way of making her laugh but Romola does not even understand half of the whole story.

She dialed Temmy's number.

"Missing me right?" Temmy said immediately she picked the call.

"Who is that?" she could hear her husband saying to her.

"I just needed someone to talk to."

"Are you alright?" Temmy could sense the tilt in her friend's voice.

"I don't think I am."

"I am coming over right away, " Temmy said.

"No, I don't want you to come all the way."

"It's no bother, I will be there in less say an hour."

"Babes, ..."

"Just give me a brief of what happened."

"My parents insisted on knowing who Oreoluwa's father is."

"Did you tell them?"

"I had to. They have been on my case for a while now." Freda answered slowly.

"Give me a few minutes," Temmy said from the other end.

Freda lied down on the bed properly waiting intensely for her friend on the other side. She could hear some shuffling before her voice came on again.

"Sorry, I had to excuse myself. I was with Ade mi."

"Oh! Sorry I bothered you."

"Getaway, you can never bother me."

"It's just that I never saw this coming," Freda complained

"That is the way it should be, " Temmy responded. "I'd be worried if they didn't bother you. They love you and want to help you."

"I don't want to bother anybody. I am to blame, and I should suffer the consequences alone."

"Babes let me be sincere with you, you are punishing yourself for an offense you did not commit. Forgive yourself and move on."

"I was so stupid, I shouldn't...."

"You are were not," Temmy interjected, "You know what, I will join you in the next one hour."

"Don't."

"Why?"

"You know what, let's do this tomorrow. Mom's been complaining about not seeing you for a while. Just come around, and we will talk about everything."

"Do you mean that?"

"Yes, I do. Have ever lied to you?"

"In fact, many times," Temmy replied

"Don't kick a dying horse this girl."

"Promise me you'll talk to me tomorrow."

"I promise."

"Take care of yourself and my boy."

"I will love you, babes."

"I love you right back," Temmy replied.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

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