Dark Nights ✔️

Chapter Sixteen

Jeremy took the remaining of the week off work to stay at home and mourn his father death, his own way he called it. I'm pretty sure it involved drinking and laying around.

It was Friday and I had a wedding invitation for Saturday. My cousin was getting married and she invited me. It was to hold at Enugu my hometown and I really didn't want to go but I had to.
I was shivering all over to return back to Enugu. I had not been home in almost five years and my mom usually rebuked me whenever she called that I forgot about them which obviously wasn't true but I didn't want a situation where I would meet my father.

"Thelma! You must be here tonight o. You know you have to help me with the preparation tomorrow." My cousin begged over the phone. She had been on my neck every since she got engaged that I must attend the wedding. I gave her my word and started making preparations to travel. I found a bus that would take me straight to Enugu and so I began packing my little traveling bag I was going to take with me on the journey.

I left lagos at around past 2, I managed to sneak away from work since Jeremy wasn't around and told Tolu to cover for me should Incase any situation arise that I was needed.
I got to Enugu at around 9 in the evening and I was exhausted. I took a taxi to my house which stood proud amongst the other buildings around it. My father was one of the wealthiest men in Enugu and so we usually had guest from all social classes.

"Ewo! My daughter has arrived!" My mother yelled as she ran to hug me. She managed to lift me up with the little strength she had in her as I giggled. The house was full as expected with people talking and other drinking.

"How are you mama?" I asked as I dropped my luggage on the chair. My mother ushered for one of the House helps to take it into my room for me.

"I'm fine o! Ah Thelma. You just abandoned us and left for Lagos like that eh. I miss you o." She said as she quickly offered me a glass of water to drink. I followed her into the kitchen to avoid greeting everyone in the living room.

"I'm sorry Mama. I explained to you na that I didn't want to stay here in Enugu." I said as I took a sip of the water and dropped the glass onto the table.

"Thelma!" Someone yelled from the other direction as I turned to see it was my Cousin Ada.

"Ada!" I yelled as we hugged each other making silly jokes at ourselves. She complimented as usual that my bums had increased and I was probably killing all the young men in Lagos.

"When did you arrive?"
"Just now." I said as we looked at each other for awhile. The room was quiet and I was wondering why until I turned to see my father. He stood there at the entrance with his wrapper around his waist and his stick in his hand. He hadn't changed much only that age was starting to get to him. He also looked skinnier than I remembered him.

"You're home Ehn." He said in his deep masculine voice as I knelt down to greet him. "Good evening Papa." I said as he nodded his head.

"Lemme dish out your food for you. I know you must be hungry after the long journey and it's your favorite, pounded yam." My mom joked as she quickly brought out the plate and began serving. The aroma of her vegetables soup filled the entire kitchen.

My father just stood there staring at me... I couldn't quite tell what was going through his mind but he didn't seem pleased to see me. Maybe he still saw me as a threat as he was the major reason why I left Enugu for Lagos. I did my secondary school in Enugu but went to Unilag for my university and after getting my degree in Accounting, I went to serve at Imo and returned back to Lagos to work.

"Seat down my daughter and eat." My mother said as she dished me her delicious food and I washed my hands in the basin and began eating. My cousin obviously had a lot of gist for me but kept quiet because my father was around. She always told me she never liked him and I always wondered why. My father was a saint to everyone else well besides me that is.

"Ehn eh!" Ada began immediately my father left the kitchen to go attend to his guest. "So tell me, have you found yourself a fine boy in Lagos?"

I laughed at her as I twirled the wrap of pounded yam in my hand with the soup and threw it into my mouth. "I told you that I'm focusing on my work. I don't have time for husband now."

"Tah! Don't say that." My mother rebuked. I guess she wasn't happy with the idea I was disinterested in getting married. "You're almost 26 and you still haven't gotten married. Look at Ada, she's just 24 and is already getting married."

"Mama I already told you that once the right man comes, you'd be the first to know." I reassured her but it did little to change her mood.

I finished eating and made my way to my old room. Nothing changed much only that the paint was already peeling off.

"Good to be home." I said under my breath as I sighed and sat down on the bed. It still fitted me perfectly... well I didn't really grow taller again after I clocked 18.

I slept on time that night and I was glad my father couldn't come to my room again. Besides the fact that I was now a grown woman, he had a lot of guest around and wouldn't want to be exposed for the dog he is.

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