Serendipity

Chapter 29: Scolding you at your worst.

Love is an open dooooooorr - Elsa. Frozen.

  
           Rita Dominic is Mimi Orji. ☝

                  ___________

Zara sighed dramatically as Derin talked to her about Nonso. They were seated in the backyard of Ikenna Orji's huge mansion in his home town at Agulu, Anambra state. Derin had a keg of palm wine in front of her and Zara, a pack of juice her mother gave her. Zara had been insisted on learning Yoruba. However their discussion had somehow diverted when the child mentioned that the only uncle Nonso's female friend she didn't like was one Dabere who often talked to their Mumimi anyhow but at that time, Mumimi was not yet Mumimi, she was Aunty Mimi.

Derin was interested in knowing what the girl meant. But she thought it wrong to question her like that.

Derin had travelled with Nonso three days before Christmas. They'd arrived at the big mansion and had picked a room, just as the other children had done. Mimi had come only with her two girls and Francis had come with Selena.

"Uncle Nonso knocked my head one Christmas." Zara said.

Derin creased her brows. "Why?"

The little girl shrugged. "I was telling Aunty Dabere some old stories."

Derin spat out the palm wine she had taken in. It sputtered all over the cemented ground. She coughed lightly.

"Sorry Aunty." Zara said a loud, her face laced with concern.

Derin nodded. "Thank you."

"Sorry," Zara muttered.

Derin turned to her as she set the cup down. "What did you mean by be old stories."

Zara shrugged. "I simply told her about another Aunty. Aunty Diana."

Derin nodded in understanding.

His ex girlfriends.

Derin cleared her throat. "So why did he knock you."

Zara pouted. "He said I was nosy and that I often say too much. Like I told Aunty Dabere how Uncle Nonso was running around one morning with Aunty Diana in the compound and that they looked happy. I asked Aunty Dabere if she was happy because she and uncle Nonso never laughed together. She was always boning."

Derin stifled her laughter. Nonso wasn't in a happy relationship at that time. The little girl only observed.

"Ziterem!" A tiny voice called from inside. It obviously belonged to one of the twins.

Derin creased her brows. "Wait, I thought you said you were Zara."

The twin before her nodded, smiling sheepishly. "I am. I think my sister got into trouble."

Derin creased her brows.

"We swap identity. Like if i do something bad and Mumimi finds out and I'm the one there, I'll just say I'm my sister. Saves us most of the time."

Derin chuckled at the little girl's eloquence. "That's...twiny."

Zara laughed. "Daddy and Mumimi never know."

Derin laughed. "How old are you again sef?"

"Seven." The girl smiled.

"You speak well."

"Thank you, Aunty." Zara smiled humbly.

Derin smiled at the little girl. She'd never been good with kids, but she wondered how she'd even managed to kick off a conversation with Zara.