Chapter 12, Episode 5

Last updated on February 25th, 2024 at 09:26 am

Good morning, my love. Hope you slept well and dreamt of me. I am leaving for work now, talk to you later. Be good for me. I love you.

I smiled at my phone as I read Tochi’s message. He had been sugary sweet since we began dating again. I told mummy the whole truth and she seemed disappointed but I couldn’t be sure. She just smiled and patted my shoulder without saying anything. I was resolved to everyone acting up until Tochi was able to convince them. It would be suspicious if they all smiled and accepted that I was back with the person who left when things got difficult.

Tochi has been really committed to making us work, though. He had started sending us a feeding allowance. It was not a lot but it was the intention that mattered. On Valentine’s Day, he sent flowers and gifts to my office. My colleagues now knew that there was a man in my life. It really made me feel good. Just yesterday, he sent food to my office and a love note. I blushed all through at work. My friends at work didn’t know that Eliam was my child. So, they didn’t know Tochi’s backstory.

Tochi had also asked that I give him grace for when he misbehaved, promising me that he was doing his best. His commitment now made me remember how things were before I got pregnant. A part of me wished it never happened because our love would never have paused. But I was glad it happened because it was definitely going to make us stronger. At least Eliam had a shot at a happy family, not one where the father cheated.

***

Zabby and I had started talking again but we both avoided talking about our love life. Even when her boyfriend came around, they would both stay in her room until he was about to leave. I knew that Zabby was really disciplined. It was the reason for her consistency on YouTube, the same reason she stayed without a boyfriend until she finished school. I could only aspire to her level of discipline, but did it extend to love?

I was fed up with her icing me out. I think we only started talking more because of Eliam’s first birthday. His birthday was in a few weeks and because he was the absolute love of every one of us, there had been a lot of fuss about it. The preparation was dramatic and funny. After the back and forth of whether it was necessary, we all agreed to do it anyway. Zabby was in charge of the whole planning and she took it seriously.

***

“Is Eliam’s dad coming?” I had to be sure she was talking to me. We were at home decorating the space for Eliam’s birthday. It was just my mum, Zabby and me. Nobody had asked me about Tochi since they knew we got back together. My dad didn’t know yet and I was grateful. Now that my mum asked, it took me by surprise. I looked at Zabby, who was focused on the piece of ribbon she was holding. I knew she heard.

“No, he is not.”

“Why?” It was a simple question but I knew it held a lot of weight.

“Umm, he is busy. He sent money.” 

“We are not talking about money, Angela.” My mum was struggling to be respectful and I could tell. I felt like a child again. Tochi had apologised for not being able to make it. We had not seen each other since the last time he came and I was really hoping that he would come when Eliam clocked a year. I toyed with the idea of us going to the studio and taking like a family picture. But, he had already told me about how busy he could get. 

He did his art during the weekends and went to work during the weekdays. I was also too busy to go see him. We were waiting for his next leave or my own leave—whichever happened first.

“Mummy, he couldn’t get a leave from work.”

“Okay.” We all got busy for a while before she cleared her throat again. She wasn’t done. “It’s just that for someone that is serious, after what he did, I expect him to have come to see us. Even if he is scared, this is the best time for him to come.”

“Yes… he has been talking about it.” Tochi had actually not mentioned coming to see my parents. Admittedly, I didn’t tell him how much they supported me or how mad they were at him but he knew that Eliam stayed with them and that was the reason I was able to work. I would be scared if it were me too. I guess he was scared.

“But, he is all talk and no actual actions, right?” When I didn’t reply, she continued. “The issue I had with your dad has put me in a tight spot, Angela. I know what I should be saying but I am here blaming myself for not being a role model to you.” She was going to continue when my dad came outside with Eliam in his hand, booming. 

“Who wants chicken?”

“Me!” Zabby screamed, matching his energy. Snitch! Seeing Eliam with my dad, it occurred to me how much they looked alike. People had always said I had a striking resemblance with my dad, but Eliam was on another level.

***

“I think you need to see my parents.” Tochi and I were talking on the phone and I had been waiting for the right time to tell him he had to see my parents. He was quiet for a while, but I knew he was still on the phone.

“Angel, where is this coming from?”

“From nowhere.”

“Really? After saying you miss me, it just occurred to you that I have to see your parents. Come off it.” His casual insensitivity peeked a bit and I was hit with a bad wave of nostalgia.

“I don’t like your tone.” We had concluded that I’d always be upfront with him rather than holding a grudge. He sighed.

“I am sorry, Angel. It’s just that I know you. Something must have happened for you to say it. Is it Elizabeth?”

“What? No.” I was going to say she didn’t even act as if he existed, but I kept quiet. Their hatred was mutual.

“Okay… Umm, Angela, I am not ready to settle down o.” It didn’t even occur to me that this was a concern for him.

“No no. Neither am I.”

“Oh, okay. Well, let’s discuss this when next we are able to see each other. How’s my baby?” “Is that the end of the conversation?”

“Yes, baby. I don’t want us to have a fight.”

“Tochi, we are only discussing.”

“But your voice sounds tense.”

“Really?”

“Yes, baby.”

“Okay, let’s discuss it some other time then.” I wanted to end the call, but it would have indicated that I was truly angry. So we talked for another fifteen minutes.

…

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