The Blue House S02 E01

“What do you want for dinner?” she asked her children who were sprawled in several positions on the chairs watching TV.
“Mummy let’s eat noodles and chicken!” Posi replied enthusiastically.
“No, we want semo and egusi” Joke countered eyeing Posi down.
“How can we eat noodles for dinner when we had it for lunch?” Ayodele queried Posi. “Mummy we’ll eat semo and egusi” he concluded.
“Okay, Joke tell Peace to boil some water for the semo.” Ronke said wearily, yawning again.
“But I want noodles!” Posi yelled.
Ronke looked at Posi oddly for a few seconds wondering what was wrong with the boy, lately he had become rash and threw tantrums when he didn’t have his way.
“We are eating semo this night Olamiposi and that is final!” she snapped at him, not in the mood to pet him. Peace came into the sitting room and said to her: “I’m boiling the water ma, what soup are we eating it with?”
“Egusi”
“There’s no egusi ma” she replied kneeling.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ronke asked angrily.
“I told you ma, I told you yesterday when you were going out.” Ronke sighed, she had forgotten.
“Do we have ewedu?”
“No ma”
Ronke sighed again and reached for her handbag. “Go and buy some ewedu at the market and come back quickly”
“Yes ma” Peace replied eager to leave the house.
**********
“They sent me another message today.” Helen said handing Obiora her phone. He read the message and sighed, rubbing his eyebrows.
“What are we going to do Obi?” Helen asked worriedly
“Honestly? I don’t know, but I’ll work something out. We’ll be fine I promise”
“If you say so” Helen said doubtfully. “If I don’t pay this money by next week I will be humiliated.”
“I know Helen and we will pay.”
“That’s what you’ve been telling me Obi”
“Please just trust me”
“Okay. I’m going to check on Olayinka.” Helen said and walked out.
**********
Teniola crawled on her father’s chest laughing and babbling. Kunle eyes twinkled as he observed his daughter and her growth. She was cute like her mother and very agile, now she attempted to stand up on his chest but fell awkwardly and they both laughed. This was a new game for her. Banke was getting her things ready for the next day and he watched her move back and forth from her wardrobe to the bed, childbirth had accentuated her curves and she was glowing. He was glad that she had put on a little weight but he dared not tell her because she would immediately embark on a weight loss programme. He smiled at the amusing ways of his wife.
“What’s so funny?” she asked transferring her things from a brown leather handbag to an olive green one.
“You. I haven’t seen that handbag before.” He said frowning.
Banke laughed. “You can’t know everything I own!”
“Why? I’m your husband and the closest person to you, why shouldn’t I know?”
“You’re my husband but we are separate individuals, so there are things about me you can’t know” Banke said with a shrug.
“But we always said we won’t keep anything from each other”
Banke sighed. “Please can we change the subject, it’s been a long day and I don’t want to get into an argument with you”
“But we’re not arguing, we’re just talking” Kunle countered. Banke didn’t respond she merely shook her head. “You still haven’t answered my question about the purse” he said quietly.
“Seriously? Well if you must know it was a gift.” She said sharply
“Really? From who?” Kunle asked patiently.
“You’re killing me Kunle” Banke shook her head trying to control her temper, her hands on her waist. “Yetunde gave it to me” she said finally.
Kunle was going to ask another question but he changed his mind, he already knew Banke was lying to him.
**********
Olayinka sat in bed her face gloomy. She had been home for the past two weeks and she was already getting a taste of what the future held. Effiong hadn’t said anything to her beyond the formalities: “It’s time for your medication”, “I brought your food”, “Yes”, “No”, “Okay”. But she was grateful that he was at least taking care of her even though he hadn’t said a word to her about the miscarriage even though she was sure he knew. The children could feel the tension between them and swiftly took sides with their father. Even before her accident she had never really been there for them so their actions were understandable though painful. They barely checked up on her and when they did, they clung to their father’s legs. She wiped a lone tear from her eye wondering what she could do to make things right. She was making progress everyday with the physiotherapist and she was afraid of what Effiong would do when she regained the use of her legs.
“Yinka” Helen called to her from the door. “Can I come in?”
“Yeah…please do” She said grateful to have some company.
“Are you crying again?” Helen said worriedly. “You can’t keep doing this, you have so much to be grateful for yet you keep crying as if your leg was amputated.”
“Helen you won’t understand” Olayinka said smiling sadly.
“Then make me understand.”
“It’s a long story and you would probably hate me.”
“Try me”
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.” Helen sighed, they had had this conversation before and it was the same result every time. After checking her vital signs and talking some more with her she decided to leave.
“I should go now, it’s late. I just wanted to check up on you before I went to bed.”
“I really appreciate you Helen.” Olayinka said sincerely.
“Well, you’re welcome” Helen said with a smile and left the room.
Effiong was absent-mindedly watching TV when she got to the sitting room. “Hi.”
“Oh hi! Sorry I was lost in thought.”
“It’s okay, I know you must have had a busy day.” She replied then said tentatively. “Her blood pressure is still rising, is there anything you can do to help? I’ve tried talking to her but she won’t tell me what’s bothering her but I assume that she can at least tell you whatever it is. Please help her sort out her feelings before her she has a high blood pressure.”
“Thanks Helen I really appreciate you and I’ll see what I can do to help her.” he replied rising from the sofa to see her off.
“You’re welcome”
“And please give my regards to Obi, tell him I’ll see him soon.”
“Okay, goodnight!”
Effiong closed the door and walked towards their bedroom with a tray in his hands. “Your medication.” he said simply to Olayinka and set the tray on the bedside drawer.
“Thanks Effiong I really appreciate you and…”
“Your mother is coming tomorrow” he replied and walked out.