AROUND THE HEART IN 80 DAYS

Forty One

The men and husbands were at a far off bench, talking about whatever men spoke of, with canned beers and sodas for those who didn't drink. It was what happened when the wives and girlfriends forced them to come along. The children played on the playset, all watched by Zara's nanny while the women? Well the women did what they knew would be done.

The estate had their own share of a get-together that snowy Saturday. Work and school kicked off on Monday anyway so the estate where they enjoyed playing the Saturday volleyball had their new year feasting and since they partook in the monthly games, it only felt right that they showed up. This time, Lola, Imogen and Zara had dragged their entire family along.

Though the women were in a group, there was a sub group consisting of Lola, Zara, Jacqueline, Martha, Chinonso and Imogen. They each spoke of their latest happenings. Lola's husband, Russell, had recently been injured in a shoot out, hence the limp in his left leg. Zara was once again having issues with her husband's family for her nonchalance in her religious output, which --according to Azeez's mother-- would harm Oma and Safirat. Chinonso couldn't afford to go home during the holidays because the flight fare was crazy expensive. Imogen had argued with Tommy about moving closer to his base so she could be closer to him, which he flat out refused. 
(Jacqueline reminded herself to focus more on Imogen's military husband. She scolded herself for not knowing even the rank Tommy was in, no matter how private her neighbour was about the whole thing. She could only guess how difficult it could be for a wife to wait months for her husband's return with fear of whether he would or would not come home one day.)   

Martha still hadn't spoken of her forthcoming marriage. Jacqueline told her Luis had called on New Year's to say they didn't spend the celebration together and was worried about what was going on in her mind. Martha, of course, said she was getting real wedding jitters.

But with Jacqueline's newest gossip in town, they all seemed to rush through discussing their lives so they could hear about her magical moments with a person who was her enemy barely three months ago. Both Zara and Lola were so proud that they took part in making magic happen. The demand to get a news scoop was like a performer-audience relationship.

"I got him an apron and he got me this scrunchie here."

"Domestic love!" Imogen chimed dreamily.

"Then we did some karaoke. We sang to Alexandra Burke's Hallelujah. Cause at least we both knew that one."

"Uh-huh..." they seemed to coo.

"And his voice was amazing. Mine sucked."

"Uh-huh..."

"Then at night we handmade paper lanterns to float in the air..."

"Uh-huh..."

"His drawing of a maiden on the lantern was cool. Mine sucked."

"Uh-huh..."

"We let them float into the sky, then we laid on faux grass to watch the stars behind the night clouds."

"Uh-huh..."

"Then I had to head home because of the bakery and the yoga house. Without him. But then the next night, I prepared a meal for him and waited for him to come..."

"Uh-huh..."

"...he didn't come home early then I slept off. But! As I slept, I later felt my blanket give way and a weight on the space beside me."

"Uh-huh..."

"I opened my eyes and he was smiling at me. That was one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced."

"UH-HUH..."

"Then we cuddled through the rest of the night."

"Urghhh!" Chinonso held her head and rested her back on the ground from her sitting position. "Love nwantiti, love m o!"