Gemini

Chapter 10

Fadila's mother had tried to get her daughter to at least talk to her husband.
It wasn't easy to look over what had happened but mama tried reasoning with Fadila.
Zaid didn't exactly know what Zaida said, Fadila never told him.

"Go home, if not for you, for the boys and that poor baby that's up in that house with just the maid" mama started again after they had lunch.

She wanted to tell her kids everything but not under the circumstances they were home.

"You are that baby's mother now, don't abandon her" she concluded and got up from the dining table and went upstairs to her room.
Mama had decided to go back to Nigeria.
She found out Zaid and Fadila had planned Ramadan in Nigeria and she got Abubakar to come after his wife gave birth and Halima was already back in Nigeria with her family.
Fatima also lived in Nigeria and would be going back a few days after mama.

After much deliberation Fadila decided she would go home. For the sake of her children, especially Layla. She promised to be a mother to her and mothers do not abandon their children.

"I'll go" she simply said as she stood by her mother's door.

"I'm proud of you" mama smiled.
She was happy to see that she raised her daughter to make the tough, but right, decision when she needed to.

Zaid didn't insult her.
Well, not in the way Zaida bluntly did.

Fadila helped her mother pack her things and promised she would see her off to the airport.

"It's the right thing to do, Fadila. You can't solve your problems if you're not talking to each other" Fadila looked at the car keys in her hands.

"I know mama, thank you" she moved and hugged her mother as tears escaped her eyes.

"None of that. Ba za ki je kina kuka ba" she whipped her tears. "The twins can never know anything was ever wrong" Fadila nodded.

It's only been three days and Fadila sent the boys with Abubakar the next day so they could see their father and she was picking them up from school on her way home on the third day.
It hasn't been long enough for them to wonder too much even though she knows they've asked their father about her just as they've asked her about him.

She got in her car and drove to the school.
She walked in to get them and they ran to her and hugged her their big hair moving with just as much excitement as they had.

"Hello mummy's lovelies" she knelt to their level and hugged them.

"Come along" she held their hands and led them to the car.

"Are we going to daddy?" Ahmad's curiosity got the better of him.

"Yes" Fadila simply replied.
She missed Layla too much to stay on her 'strike'

They arrived at the house, the boys went running to their father but Fadila didn't go in his direction.
She went straight to Layla's room where she knew she'd find her.
As soon as the little girl saw Fadila she began to jump up and down in Susan's arms trying to get to her.

"Hello my baby" Fadila took Layla with the biggest smile on her face.

"Welcome back" Susan silently said and Fadila nodded in her direction.
Susan left and Fadila sat with Layla in her room and played with her until Zaid walked in.

"Hello" he said standing by the door, Fadila didn't acknowledge him.

"Can we please talk? You've been gone for three days and I have been worried sick about you"

"Have you now?" Fadila commented still not looking away from a busy Layla as she handed Fadila a doll to cradle as she did the same with another.

"Don't be like this" he moved the rocking chair he was sat in closer to Fadila and Layla.

"Like what?" She answered tonelessly.

"I want you to please tell me what happened that day with Zaida" this got her to glance at him.

"I thought you'd already made up your mind about what had happened. Your sister was right and me, the mother of your children, the person who will always be on your side  no matter what, is wrong" she only glanced at him, she didn't give him another look.

"Fadila please, what do you want me to think? I walk in and you just slapped her" Fadila hugged and rolled her eyes.

"See, Zaid, when you tell the story differently I'll know you're ready to hear what I have to say. Right now 'and you just slapped her' sounds like you don't need my side of it" she got up and took Layla and her doll in her arms.

Looking at him she said "I'm back here for the children. If and And when you decide to stop being a prick and listen to me, I'll be here with my children" she walked out and didn't look back at him.

She was back in the house like her mother insisted, but it felt far from home to her.

Zaid was at a loss for words.
He didn't understand what mood she was in.
He didn't know if she hurt, angry or both.

He put his head in his palms and shook it side to side.

How do I get out of this? He thought to himself as he lifted his head and rocked back and forth.

He was also in a predicament.

He had his wife, the mother of his children and his life partner, telling one story and his sister, a person he shared the womb with, someone he grew up with, telling a completely different story.

It wasn't easy for him too.

Because this chapter is relatively short there will be a new chapter tomorrow.

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Fatimah Shema