Twenty Three

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            Hannah was late. She hissed as she gathered up her belongings - phone, bag, lunch box - and stopped for a second at the mirror to make sure she was presentable. With a confirmatory nod, she grabbed her keys off the table and rushed out to her car.
It was an important day and so unlike herself, she'd woken up late and was now running behind schedule.
The biggest deal she'd worked on so far in her career had come through and her store had been selected from a carefully curated list of successful local fashion businesses to carry the newest designs from one of the most brilliant designers on the scene at the time. A small party was being held at the store to open the collection to the public and Hannah was supposed to be there early to look over everything one last time before guests began to arrive and she'd managed to mess it up. Thankfully, there was minimal traffic and she relaxed a little as she cruised towards her destination. She sighed and answered her phone without looking when it began to trill, thinking it was one of her employees. It wasn't and she sighed again, heavily this time at the equally tired voice that came through.
"Good morning Hannah. I'm sorry to bother you this early but do you have any news?"
"No Lola, I haven't heard from her. I told you she kicked me out of her flat."
"I'm so sorry she did that to you. This is so unlike her that I don't know what to do." Lola answered sadly.
Hannah pursed her lips as she made the turn into her stores premises and parked.
"Let's just give her some more time to come around okay. I have to go now, I'm running late."
"Thank you Hannah, for everything."
"You're welcome." Hannah said softly as the line clicked off. After that, the day blew by as she flitted between tasks, doing her best to ensure the launch went successfully.
First she went over the decor and menu with her assistant, stopping to adjust and readjust the dessert table needlessly, then went out to make sure security was prepared for the influx of guests expected. She didn't need to bother with all those details as she'd already meticulously I them out earlier but her nerves and excitement wouldn't let her sit still. So after going over all the tiny details and the big ones, she finally sequestered herself in her office where she changed into her outfit - a lovely powder blue suit paired with nude pumps- and did her makeup. She took her time straightening her hair and sweeping it away from her face so it sat in an elegant bun behind her head.
But the time, guests began to arrive, she'd almost worn a path into the carpet in her office and had downed a bottle of coke in an attempt to stay her shivering fingers. Only about two hours after the ceremony started, Hannah was jolted from her social duties by a tap on her shoulder. She turned and beamed a true, lovely smile at the intruder.
"Congratulations my love." The person said.
"Mama!" Hannah laughed as she threw her arms around her mother. "You actually made it on time."
"I tried really hard not to be late because I know how important this is to you." Her mother smiled lovingly at her.
"Where's papa?" Hannah asked, peeping behind her mother.
"He sends his apologies for his absence as he was called away for work this morning."
Hannah pouted and stomped her foot childishly. "He said he'd come!"
"I know but it couldn't be helped. I'm sure he'll make it up to you." Her mother supplied, patting her head gently as she spoke.
Feeling very upset at her father, Hannah leaned into her mother's warmth again which made the woman laugh - a rich, melodious sound.
She smiled to herself as she breathed her mother's heady signature scent and held her tighter, clearly enjoying her presence. Hannah's mother was the most gentle human she knew. Since she was a child, she'd marvelled at her mother's soft, tinkling voice that never rose, no matter what her or her rambunctious older brother did and at her kind spirit, one that had helped her raise her children to be just like her. She'd also always secretly loved that she looked like her mother, with the same milky complexion, shiny curls and almost identical voice, she was practically her mother's twin.
"Anam! Don't you have things to attend to?" Her mother said, gently poking her cheek with a finger. Hannah frowned as she left her mother's embrace but took her hand and led her around the room as she chatted with customers and business partners, introducing her mother at every turn.
After a while of mingling, it was time for Hannah to give her speech and she looked around expectantly one last time, hoping desperately for another face she loved. She didn't find what she was looking for and she sighed as she turned to the makeshift podium.
A gentle applause thrummed through the room as she stepped up with a huge smile. Despite her disappointment at her father's absence, she was so happy that she feared her smile would split her face in two.
"Thank you all so much for being here today." She began, casting a smiling gaze around the room.
"Everyone of you present here today are dear to my heart and have played important roles in my growth as a business woman. From my dearest mother who still thinks of me as her little baby.." Everyone laughed as Hannah paused for effect,
By evening, the store had emptied out and the staff were closing up - earlier than they normally did to give them time to rest after the trying day - leaving Hannah stood by the entrance, rubbing her phone wistfully. The day had been wonderful but Hameed hadn't been in attendance which broke her heart. She'd wanted very much for him to be there to see her biggest win yet but hed unfortunatelyv had important work that could not be put off to attend to. He however promised that he'd drop by as soon as he was done working and Hannah had texted him earlier to check if he was done, a text he hadn't replied.
"Is everything alright love?" She heard her mother ask.
She nodded but sighed wistfully in a clear contradiction as she continued to watch for any sign of her boyfriend.
"Are we waiting for someone?" Her mother asked again leaving her no choice but to answer.
"It's nothing. You can wait in my office."
"Nothing serious!" Her mother huffed. "You're on the verge of tears my dear. Who's this man that has the audacity to stand my daughter up?"
Hannah laughed at that, almost forgetting how upset she was.
"He hasn't stood me up. He'll come." She said, stressing the second statement as if to make herself believe it.
"Well, you should sit. You've been on your feet all day."
"Mama!" Hannah whined. "if I sit, how will I see him coming!"
"He'll come in here anyway won't he?" Her mother answered, perplexed.
Just as Hannah moved to sit, a black car drove into the premises and the door opened to reveal a disheveled Hameed. Hannah let out a small squeal and leapt back up, rushing outside to meet him.
"Hey! You seem pleased." He laughed as she squeezed him into a tight hug.
"I thought you wouldn't come!" She cried looking up at him.
"I promised, didn't I?" He answered, smoothing her hair over tenderly.
"Look at you! You've been working too hard." Hannah complained as they headed for the store, fingers intertwined.
"On the contrary." Hameed laughed. "I haven't been working very hard since you. You've made me so relaxed." He confessed.
"You deserve the break." She told him as he pushed the door open for them.
"It looks great in here." He said as he looked around at the decor.
"You should have seen it with all the people in here." Hannah answered proudly.
"Im sorry I couldn't make it in time, my love. Forgive me?"
"You're here now. All is forgiven."
They were both surprised by the sound of a throat clearing beside them.
"Oh! How silly of me." Hannah laughed as she turned to her mother who was standing to the side, wearing an amused look.
"Mama, this is Hameed Yahaya my friend. Hameed, my mother."
She introduced.
Hannah's mother was pleasantly surprised as Hameed bowed respectfully to her before saying, "it's wonderful to meet you ma. Hannah says such great things about you."
Neema lifted amused eyes to her daughter as she returned the greeting with a smile.
"Good evening Hameed. I'm pleased to meet you as well, although my Anam has made you a well kept secret from me."
Hannah flushed at the words and unconsciously hid behind Hameed which made her mother smile.
"It didn't come up!" She protested. "Let's sit first."
After they were seated and situated with glasses of juice and cookies for refreshment, neema turned to the two young people and with a set expression asked, "how long has this been going on for?"
Hannah had the nerve to act shocked and let out a little gasp while Hameed coughed into his glass.
"Mama! You can't just say things like that. Besides, we're just friends."
Neema looked between the two of them, seated on the same couch with their hands intertwined midway and raised a brow. Each hand withdrew to individual laps.
"Fine!" Hannah groaned. "A while but can we discuss this later?"
Her mother ignored her and turned to Hameed whose neck had begun to turn red at her scrutiny. She leaned forward, placing her elbow on her knee which was crossed over the other, the luscious fabric of her dress falling neatly over her body so she looked like she was draped in it and asked, "are you planning to marry my daughter?"
"Mama!" Hannah choked on her drink.
"Well?" Neema urged. Hameed had truly become red at that point and he cleared his throat awkwardly before answering, "inshallah I am."
"Good." Neema said rising to her feet, "because she also wants to marry you." Then she fetched her bag and breezed out of the room leaving two very embarrassed people and an awkward atmosphere.
"Hannah." Hameed called tenderly after a minute.
"Please leave me to die of embarrassment." She answered tucking her face into her elbow which made the man next to her laugh. He reached out and took her hand before pulling her face out if it's hiding place. He laughed again when she'd come to face him.
"Your mum's a load isn't she?"
"She's never gone off like that before! Why now?" Hannah lamented.
"I'm not mad, if that's what you're worried about." He assured with a kind smile.
"You have every right to be. Look how she put you on the spot."
"I truly didn't mind. I mean it was a bit awkward but nothing I can't live with."
Hannah let out a resigned sigh.
"You know there's no going back right? She's probably already called her lace plug in Switzerland. If I didn't know better, I'd swear she's Yoruba."
Hameed laughed again and stood, drawing her up as he did, "we better pick a date then."
Hannah said goodbye to her staff, grabbed her bag and followed Hameed out the door. The store would be okay without her and she couldn't possibly stay any longer as the decorations needed to be taken down and she had more interesting prospects. Perks of being the boss.
"Second Friday in June or nothing." She said to Hameed as he slid into the passengers seat. He laughed and pressed two fingers to his temple, "are you sure you don't want me to drive?" He asked.
Hannah scoffed and snapped her belt in place, "are you joking! Take that tie off and relax."
Hameed looked down at the offending tie which was half looped around his neck and yanked it off, waving it in front of her before dropping it on the dashboard.
"What are we doing now?" He asked.
"I'm taking you to dinner then home so you can sleep off that wicked headache."
"What headache." He chuckled.
Hannah shook her head at his mischievous ways and started to drive.
"Did I tell you about the place with the amazing mocktails?" She asked.
"The one where you pretended to be drunk after brunch?" Hameed supplied. "How can I forget."
Hannah threw him a dirty look and huffed, "It was mimosa Wednesday!"
"Poor you. What do you do on Wednesdays now?"
Hannah reached over the console and whacked his stomach with her wallet.
"Behave!" She warned. "Anyway, they're doing foreign food tonight. Have you ever had Arab food?"
"Does hummus count?" He asked.
"No Hameed. Hummus does not count." She answered emphatically.
"Then no, I haven't."
"Oh you're going to love it I promise!"

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