ENIOLA: Beauty For Ashes

Chapter Twelve

Bukola hissed for the millionth time, seriously considering closing the boutique early and going home. The news of Kunle's death had gone round and everyone wanted to comfort her and ask questions about her daughter.

"Kpele ohh. We heard what happened"
"God knows best my dear"
"How is our daughter?"
"Let her come home and be with family"
"I hope she was at least pregnant for him oh?"

Kunle's death pained her. Oh it pained her to the core!
He was a stable young man, so generous to her and her husband. He was the reason why she was able to get a spot in a business plaza and open a boutique, the reason why Akin's company didn't go under.

"How can Eniola disgrace us like this? How do I answer all these questions people are asking me? She doesn't even pick my calls; I don't know where she is, if she's alive" She swung an arm over her head and snapped her fingers, forbidding any thought that suggested her daughter was dead.

"BUKY!"

She looked at the monitor on her table and frowned. It was Mama Tobe, the plaza gossip. She was known for going from store to store, looking for and giving gist.
She was tolerated by the plaza association because of her husband's huge contributions to their events.

She could hear her question one of sales girls aggressively.

"Is your madam around? She has not been picking my calls"
The sales girl tried to lie and failed. Bukola dragged herself out of her office into the display room.

"Mama Tobe, good afternoon"
"Ah, Iya Eniola, your girl was saying you're not around" said Mama Tobe as she made herself comfortable on one of the chairs.
"Don't mind her. How are you?" Bukola asked, pulling out a stool.
"I'm supposed to be asking you my dear sister. Mummy Twins told me what happened to your son-in-law. Kunle ba?"

"Mm"

"Eiyahhhh. This life ehn! Such a promising young man with a bright future! Chineke! See ehn, tell our daughter to take it easy. I can't imagine what I would do if my husband died oh. God forbid abeg"

"Mm God forbid oh"

"You know, I was discussing with Mummy Twins that day about Eniola. This one that we did not get chance to do omugwo, I pray he has no relations that are waiting to come and waylay our daughter oh! I wonder why she didn't drop even one child. Poor girl"

Bukola listened to her go on and on about how shameful it might be for people to know that Eniola had no children yet, how they needed to work together to watch her because young widows with too much money could become wayward and how she had some banker friends that could help set up accounts so that Eniola could send some money for them to help her save and manage.

As she listened, it dawned on her that this woman didn't come to sympathize or check on her. She came to fish, to poke, to look for gossip. Her tone was so condescending filled with mockery.
Eniola may have disappointed her by not giving her a grandchild but one thing she would never condone was someone else openly mocking her daughter.

"Mama Tobe"
"Eh my sister"
"Do you think I'm stupid?"
Mama Tobe froze, taken aback by the hostility in her tone.
"I don't understand. How?"
"You don't understand? You brought yourself here to come and mock me and you're saying you don't understand?"

"Ah ah! What kind of talk is this nauu? Did I do wrong to sympathize with you and your daughter?"

"Sympathize with yourself! So what if my daughter had no child for her late husband? SO WHAT?! Imagine the nonsense you're telling me. My daughter should give you her money?"

"Em Iya Eniola don't insult me oh! Don't insult me! Is it because I came here to try and be a friend that you think you can talk to me anyhow? What do I want to do with your daughter's money? Ehn?"

"Abeg get out of here! Carry your nonsense and get out! Rubbish. Don't ever come into my boutique again!"
Mama Tobe stomped out with Bukola on her heels, hurling insults at each other and attracting attention.
"Useless woman!"
"You are very stupid!"
"Onye nzuzu!"
"Oloshi!"
When Mama Tobe hurried into her shop and locked the door, Bukola turned to Mummy Twins who was watching the whole thing from her shop with a smirk on her face.

"Eh hen! You there!"

She realized Bukola was addressing her and tried to look busy.
"Don't worry, I have seen you. Let me warn you now so that everybody will hear. If I EVER hear you talk about my daughter again, I will deal with you. Do you hear me?! When it concerns my daughter, shut up! Nonsense!"

She went back into the boutique, gave orders to the girls to lock up and went home. She had enough of people for the day.
Akin's car in the garage when she got home. What was he doing back home so early?

"Akin!"

The house seemed quiet, too quiet. She paused in the living room to observe. Used plates were on the dining table, which meant there was a guest.
The anger she felt towards Mama Tobe dissolved into disappointment as she put two and two together.

"You didn't see hotel to take your prostitute to. You decided to soil our home. Stupid man" she muttered.

The day she found out that her husband had a mistress, she wasn't surprised. Their marriage was one of convenience, he paid the bills and she performed wifely duties. They spent so many years pretending to be in love that they'd gotten used to the charade...for the sake of the children and public appearances.
She never bothered to find out who it was or confront him about it. She was rather thankful that another woman was dealing with his foolishness and granting her some peace.
She opened the bedroom door, walked over to the wardrobe to pick out house clothes, carried her towel and walked out, unbothered by the terror on their faces and ignoring them completely.
As expected, Akin rushed out after her, trying to explain himself.

"Don't disturb me please. When you finish, change the sheets before you give me whatever infection she has been giving you"

And she shut the bathroom door, leaving him standing naked and speechless.