Olivia opened her eyes slowly the moment she heard the sizzling sound coming from the kitchen, the aroma of fried plantains slowly wafting in the air. Olivia took a deep breath, she caught the sweet aroma of fish stew too from that very same kitchen. Her favorite. Olivia could suddenly feel her belly rumble. All that hunger she had been bottling up for the past three days were beginning to hit her at once. She took another deep breath, slowly sitting up from her bed. It smelt so familiar like Benita's cooking.

Olivia hurriedly threw her legs down the bed and into her flip flops. She hurried as fast as she could to the door, holding on to her long night dress and then hurrying out of the small room as fast as she could and finding her way to the kitchen.

She could hear soft chuckles coming from the small kitchen right beside the small dining section and it made Olivia reduce her pace for a second, taking little steps, wondering who it was Amy was laughing with. She watched them turn the moment they noticed her presence inside.

"Olivia." Amy hurried to her and then grabbed her arm.

Olivia narrowed her gaze at the elderly woman that stood right in front of the cooker, with Amy beside her.

"Guess who came to pay us a visit today?" Amy led her further into the kitchen just so Olivia could have a better look at the woman standing there in an apron.

"Nanny Benita?"
Olivia had to call her name just as the woman smiled brightly. Olivia walked to her. She stopped when she got so close and then turned her attention to the silver sieve bowl right on the counter so she could see the fried plantain that filled it. God, they looked so good. Olivia swallowed hard and then turned back to Benita, "Nanny, what are you doing here?"

The woman's face brightened the more.

"What do you mean by that? Amy told me you had been sick for a while now and so I came over to make you breakfast. Your favorite." She scanned Olivia's face for a while. "It looks like you're getting better." She turned back to the cooker. "It looks like you and Rafael are really soulmates. Your bodies work together. He's just recovering from his own sickness himself. I don't know why you both won't stay together and sort things out."

Olivia let out a tiny sigh at the sound of his name. She had a lot of questions to ask. Did she say he was sick? How was he? Was he eating properly? Even though she was so far from him, and mad at him, Olivia couldn't help but worry about him. Worry about how he was doing.

"It's been three days Olivia." Amy took slow steps towards her. "It's been three days since you left Rafael's side. If you really miss him that much, it's okay to admit it. You've locked yourself inside your room, you won't even come out to eat since you left him. If you miss him that much, you should go back and be with him. Go back and work things out. No matter what it is."

"Stubbornness would actually lead you both no where." Benita slowly turned to Amy. She slowly reached for her hands. "Olivia, whatever it is happening between you two, it can always be solved."
Olivia exhaled.
"I'm actually upset with you for leaving the house the way you did. I'm upset you didn't even say goodbye."

"Nanny," Olivia looked at the woman, running her soft hands gently. "Nanny, I'm really sorry I left the way I did. I just realized I needed sometime to myself. I realized Rafael and I needed some time apart from each other to figure things out. There's a lot going on. A lot we can't tell you both for your own safety." She took a quick glance at Amy. "But when the time is right, I promise, I'd explain everything but for now, please don't pressure me to go back to that house because I might end up listening to you. "

Benita exhaled and then slowly reached for her face. She placed her hand on it.

"You look so pale." She rubbed Olivia's cheek. "You've lost a lot of weight too. Are you sure you're okay?"

Olivia shook her head. She knew she hated to lie to her nanny.

"But I will be."

Benita let out a soft smile.

"Of course you'd be." She gave Olivia a soft pat on her face and then slowly turned back to the cooker. Olivia took a deep breath right before she heard it. Chuckles from outside. Tiny chuckles. She could recognize one of the voices. It was Grace's.

Olivia's eyes widened quickly at the thought of Grace. How could it have skipped her mind? She found her legs leading her outside the small house as fast as she could, following the sound of laughter that filled the compound. She wasn't alone. Olivia opened the door as fast as she could.

She watched Grace try to ride on a scooter still in her uniform while someone was trying to help her, pushing her gently.

"Grace." Olivia called her name so she'd notice her presence. The laughter ended immediately as the scooter stopped moving. Grace quickly turned to the entrance of the door. The smile on her face grew wider.

"Mum!" She yelled getting down quickly from her scooter and running as fast as she could to Olivia. Olivia's smile widened as she bent over quickly, squatting so Grace could run into her embrace. Grace hugged her tight.

"Mummy," Grace slowly let her go, looking into her eyes. "Mummy how are you feeling now? Aunty Amy said you were sick. Are you still sick?"

Olivia shook her head, reaching for her daughter's tiny hands.

"Not anymore. Mummy is fine now." She squeezed her hand. "It looks like you're having a lot of fun already."

Grace's smile grew wider.

"Mummy I made a new friend today. His name is uncle Felix. He's teaching me how to ride a scooter."

Olivia rose her gaze slowly to the light skinned man in a plain white tee that stuck to his build, who was already walking towards them. He had a bright smile on his face, one of the most sincere smiles she had ever seen. His really brown eyes were bright and grew even brighter as he smiled. Olivia found herself frowning a little as she stared at the stranger in front of her.

"Hi," he stretched his hand for a shake. "I'm guessing you're Grace's mother which makes you Amy's cousin and my new neighbor. I'm Felix. I live at the house right beside yours." The smile on his face grew wider.

Olivia stretched out her hand to shake him slowly.

"Yes I am." She managed to smile. "Olivia. It's nice to meet you." She told him. "Thank you for keeping her occupied."

"It's nothing." He said. "I enjoy your daughter's company myself. She's a very fun kid."

Olivia gently pulled her hands away from his, the shake was taking too long and becoming really uncomfortable. She chuckled nervously, tucking her hair behind her ears.

"Yes, she is."

"Mummy, " they both turned their gaze to Grace's direction. "Now you're okay, can we go back to see Godfather now?" Olivia exhaled. "I miss him already and I'd love to know how he's doing."

"Don't worry Grace," she turned fully to Grace. "We'd talk better about your Godfather when we get inside." She placed a hand on Grace's shoulder. "I'm sorry I slept for so long and couldn't take you to school today. Can you forgive me?"

Grace pouted.

"That's okay. Uncle Felix drove me to school today."

Olivia narrowed her brows as she slowly turned to the man again.

"You did?"

"He also picked me up."

"It was nothing. I was going in that direction anyway."

"Oh my," Olivia tucked her hair behind her ear again. It was what the cool wind was making her do. "Thank you so much."

"Olivia?"
They both turned to the door as Amy got out of it slowly, with a slice of plantain in her hand. She paused when she saw Felix standing right in front of the house.

"Felix." Amy smiled widely. "How far?" She threw the slice of plantain into her mouth.

"Ogbanje." He grunted at Amy just as Olivia watched the comportment between the both of them. They looked really familiar with each other. "How can you be eating all that food alone? That's why you're getting fatter everyday."

Amy scoffed.
"Is it your fat?" She rolled her eyes playfully and then turned to Olivia who just stood there, watching them.

"I see you two have already met." She told Olivia. "This is Felix, my next door neighbor, my very good friend too."

Olivia was about to say something when-

"Yeah, we already did that." He cut in, his eyes focused on Amy. "You're a bit late with that one."

"Oh really?"

Felix took a deep breath and then exhaled.

"Anyway, I've got to head back to the office. I still have a lot of work to do." He bent over and gave Grace's cheek a tiny squeeze.

"Olivia," He rose his head to Olivia.

"Thank you so much again for helping Grace. " Olivia could not emphasize on her gratitude enough. "It means a lot to me."

"Anytime." He smiled and then turned to Amy.

"Aunty."

"Felix, ehen buy me ice cream when you're coming back-"

"No."

"Ahn ahn. Are we fighting?"
He sneered and then turned to leave.

"Felix na, please!" She yelled after him as he waved at her, hurrying to the front gate. "Buy it o! Thank you! Love you!"

Olivia found herself smiling sheepishly as the man ran out of the gate without even bothering to look back. Amy rolled her eyes and then sighed. She turned back to Amy and Grace.

"You both must be hungry." She told them. "Come on, let's get in. Food is ready."