The cry of a new born baby filled the Briggs home.
Nonso and Dozie were very excited about the birth of their little sister.
Lianate and Ike were beyond happy. As the date of the naming ceremony drew near, Voke and Ike’s mum, Nkiru, moved in. Hoping to stay for a while and help the new mother.
Amina busied herself with house chores and making sure the twin boys stayed out of the adult’s way. Sometimes, she lured them into the kitchen and taught them how to make pancakes. Most times, the kitchen ended up looking like a war zone. Flour, sugar, vegetable oil and a host of other ingredients could be seen pasted on the walls, by the sink and dancing on the tiled floor.
Even though she had to clean the wreckage multiple times, she didn’t mind. Immediately after the naming ceremony, Lianate and her husband began to prepare for the twins’ fifth birthday party. They wanted a big party, mainly because they had been celebrating the boys’ birthdays on a low key in the past.
They sent out invitations to their family and friends and the twins made sure they also invited every single child in their class.
Amina barely slept a wink for days. She had so many errands to run, but she didn’t mind. She loved the twins and was ready to make their birthday bash worthwhile.
On D-day, so many people filled the Briggs’ home. There were several children running around, while the adults ate and drank. Nonso and Dozie were ecstatic! It was their birthday party and Amina made them the biggest pyramid of cupcakes they had ever seen in their young lives. Their parents also got them some delicious cakes, but Amina’s cake was the best of them all.
The party ended well, and when the last guest left, Amina took a stroll while the hired hands cleaned up the house and tried to get everything back to the way it was.
It was a breezy evening and she often enjoyed talking walks around the estate.
“Hello…”
She heard a voice behind her. When she turned around, she saw a very tall dark young man standing a few feet away. He looked familiar, but she couldn’t recollect where she had seen him.
“Hi…” she responded, wondering if she should keep walking.
“My name is Deji, I stay with Mr. Kola Williams.”
That name sounded familiar. Mr. Kola lived in the estate and she had seen him once or twice talking with Ike.
“He is actually my older brother…” Deji continued, he looked rather anxious.
Amina nodded. “I know Mr. Kola.”
“Okay, good. What’s the name?” he sounded relieved.
She raised an eyebrow, contemplating whether to walk away or respond.
“I am a Youth Corper serving here in Abuja. And instead of renting an apartment, I decided to stay with my brother. It’s better, you know… the cost of things and all that.”
The girl blinked several times. Why was he giving her information about himself?
“I have seen you around, a few times…”
She stared at him, long and hard. She noticed how his thick dark eyebrows made him look more handsome. She wasn’t sure she had seen him before.
“You often take walks around the estate. I do it too. It helps me to unwind,” his lips spread in a smile.
“Oh…” maybe that was why he looked a tiny little bit familiar.
“I told myself, the next time I see you, I will introduce myself.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
He looked away. “I wanted to get to know you… maybe, we can take walks together sometimes.”
She shrugged and looked towards the house. The twins must have slept by now. Lianate and Ike might still be hanging around, probably gossiping with Voke and Nkiru. She wondered if the baby was still awake. The girl was beautiful.
“So, what’s the name?”
She glanced back at him. He seemed harmless, and very friendly too. And if she was being truthful to herself, she wouldn’t mind getting to know him too. “Amina, my name is Amina Haruna.”
“Pleased to meet you, Amina.”
Their gazes locked and held.
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