Make It Rain

THIRTEEN

It was a very tough time for everyone. Jimmy's death may have lasted only a month, but did it really take a month for a mother to forget her dead child?
Samuel was still in a coma, spending every next day lying in the same bed, being bathed and cleaned all the time.

"When Samuel?!" Mrs. Akande weeped as she rubbed a warm damp towel on his arm.

Having to bath her son again as an adult was the hardest thing she had ever done in her life. Memories of when she bathed him as a child flashed in her mind constantly, making her weep even more. Samuel was no longer a child, but he still needed to be bathed by her everyday. It was all so sad for her.

Shola who had submitted a resignation letter at their office had the letter returned to her, offering her a larger pay than before.
Like Shola ever needed their money.

The only reason why Shola enjoyed working there was because it kept her busy and she had Mrs. Akande to jest with and have fun while working. But things were different with them now, Mrs. Akande didn't want to have anything to do with Shola anymore. She had even started addressing her as Mrs. Joel.
Mrs. Joel?

She only answered Shola if the topic was relating to business. Anything other than that, Mrs. Akande turned a deaf ear.
With things going the way they were, Shola decided to quit the job.

"Shola, losing someone like you is going to be a huge blow that will be hard to repair" The managing director said.
"Is there any reason why you are leaving that relates to us?"

"Its nothing related to the company sir. It is... Personal sir" She replied, handing him her letter.

"We are all going to miss you, especially Mrs. Akande" If only he knew.

"I will take my leave now sir"

Shola walked out of his office and went to gather her stuff from her desk. Looking beside her, she noticed Mrs. Akande as she tried to keep her tears in. Shola leaving was as hard for Mrs. Akande as it was for Shola. Without taking a second look, Shola carried her box and started making her way out with tears rolling down her eyes.

"Shola" Mrs. Akande called from behind

In response, Shola turned around "Mommy". She wasn't her mother though.

Even though Mrs. Akande tried to act tough for so long, having to watch Shola leave wasn't her happiest moment. She wasn't angry at Shola neither did she hate her, she was only worried about the well being of her family.

"Come here" She walked to Shola and held her hands. Her hands were soft and clammy.
"I am sorry"

"It is okay ma" Shola hugged her tight. The warm embrace she had been seeking all along from someone.
Seeing the pain in Mrs. Akande's eyes was more than enough for Shola to understand.

"Goodbye ma" She walked away with her box.

Even though Shola was very skilled, brilliant and dedicated. It wasn't really easy to find a job in the city of Lagos, not even for her. She struggled to get a job anywhere else, until finally she got a call from Seun's enterprise.
Shocker? Not quite.

They offered her a managerial position which she refused and chose to be a regular staff, with hopes that she would maybe find someone friendly just like Mrs. Akande was to her.

Everyone was going through a very tough period, everyone but Seun. Seun was having the time of his life. Even though things had not gone perfectly as planned, he was more than certain that God was in support of his cause. It all always turned out well for him, and now his new plan was shaping out well too. Shola was working at his office.