THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
EPISODE 36
By the time Pete drove into the compound that evening, Amanda had dozed off in the backseat, while himself and Kathleen were laughing and arguing over something the radio presenter had said.
“Sister Ng!” Isioma who had ran out the moment she heard the gate open, called out happily when she saw Kathleen alighting from the car.
“Isi!” Kathleen said with a wide smile as she embraced her sister. She was older than Isioma by six years, and she always felt like Isioma was her first child, “How are you? You wan kill us? (You want to kill all of us with worry?) How body? (How is your health?)” Kathleen asked as they both moved towards the house while Pete carried a sleeping Amanda from the car.
“I’m okay. Good evening sir!” Isioma quickly greeted Pete who was heading towards the house with Amanda.
“Good evening my dear. You’re welcome.” Pete said with a friendly smile as he continued towards the house.
Isioma held Kathleen’s arm to stop her from going inside, “That one na aunty Ella broda? (Is that aunty Ella’s brother?)” She asked curiously.
“Yes. Why?”
“Hm. Mummy don talk about you tire (Mummy has been talking about you). She say make aunty Ella hook una up (She asked aunty Ella to matchmake you both).” Isioma said with a giggle making Kathleen sigh.
“Na wa for that your mama (Your mother never ceases to amaze me). Thanks for the head up sha. Let’s go inside before she will tell him something I will regret. Because I don’t trust that woman.” Kathleen said as she placed her hands over Isioma’s shoulder and led her inside, while Isioma giggled and complimented her on her lovely outfit and how different she looked.
She hadn’t realized how much she had missed her kid sister until now. And now that Isioma was here, she was very pleased to have her with her. It would be perfect once their mother returns to wherever she came from.
“Good evening ma.” Pete greeted Kathleen’s mom who was seated in the living room watching a movie on Africa magic with Chidi and Ella.
“Is he your brother?” Kathleen’s mom asked Ella who eagerly nodded with an amused smile on her face like she was prepared to watch an interesting show.
“Good evening my dear! How are you? How was work today? Is that your beautiful daughter?” She asked making Pete give Ella a questioning look, but Ella only grinned at him, enjoying the mother in-law vibes she was getting from Kathleen’s mom.
“Yes ma. I’m fine.” He said, and luckily for him, before she could say anything else Kathleen walked in.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
Kathleen gave Pete an apologetic smile before looking at her mother, “Mummy good evening. How was your trip?” She greeted with a straight face, making up her mind to send her mother packing if she so much as caused her any embarassment tonight.
As though her mother had read her mind she smiled at her, “My beautiful daughter is back! Welcome my wonderful daughter! The trip was stressful, but now that I’ve seen you I’m well.” She said with a smile as she stood up to embrace Kathleen, surprising both Ella and Isioma who exchanged a look.
Kathleen pretended not to be surprised by her mother’s ‘friendliness’ as she returned the hug, “Ella thanks so much for helping me bring them home.” Kathleen said to Ella before returning her attention to her mother again, “Sorry we returned late, we were stuck in traffic. Come let’s go to my apartment.” She suggested as Pete signalled for Ella to follow him as he headed for his bedroom.
“I have to finish this movie. Once I’m done we can go.” Her mother said as she returned to her seat, “So what is happening now in the movie?” She asked Chidi whose attention was still glued to the screen.
Chidi turned to give her a recap, before glancing at Kathleen, “Welcome nne. How was work today?”
“It was okay. Hope you had a good day too? Let me go and freshen up, then I’ll come and fix dinner.” Kathleen said as herself and Isioma picked up the traveling bags and sack bag containing foodstuffs beside the chair before heading for the door.
On hearing that she was returning to fix dinner her mother smiled to herself happily as she relaxed her back against the couch. If her daughter was already cooking for Pete, then she was sure it was only a matter of time before she found her way into his heart. The way to a man’s heart was after all through his stomach.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
Just as Pete stepped into his bedroom, Amanda opened her eyes before he could drop her on the bed, “We are home?” She asked sleepily.
“Yes pumpkin.” Pete said as he dropped her on the floor. “You can go change out of your uniform. I’ll fix dinner and prepare you for bed once I’m done discussing with your aunty.” Pete told her as Ella knocked on the door which was slightly open.
“Good evening Aunty Ella.” Amanda greeted when she saw Ella.
“Good evening Mandy. How was school today?” Ella asked, giving the kid a broad smile as she pushed open the door and walked inside the bedroom.
“Fine. I’ll be in my room if you need me.” Amanda told them as she walked away, making Ella giggle.
“She definitely learnt that one from you.” She told Pete before collapsing on his king sized bed.
“What did you tell Kathleen’s mom about me? Why was she so friendly?” Pete asked the moment Amanda shut the door behind her.
“Friendly? What do you mean friendly? She was only being nice to her daughter’s employer. Do you have a problem with that?” Ella asked innocently. There was no need embarassing Kathleen by letting Pete know that her mother was trying to matchmake them.
“Are you sure?” Pete asked suspiciously.
“You can go and ask her yourself. Abeg tell me what you wanted to talk about. You know I don’t like driving at night and it’s getting late already.” Ella said impatiently as she propped herself up on the bed with her elbow and looked at him curiously. She really wanted to know what Ken had said to her brother. It obviously wasn’t about their fling since Pete didn’t seem angry with her. That meant it had to be something else.
“It’s about Ken.” Pete started as he sat on the bed to take off his shoes.
“What about him? He wants to become a pastor?” Ella guessed, making Pete raise a brow.
“He doesn’t want to get married.” Pete announced. And waited to get a reaction from Ella but she only looked at him like she was still waiting for the real gist.
“You’re not surprised?”
“Wait! Were you actually expecting me to be surprised that your best friend who is a known Yoruba de.mon doesn’t want to get married?” Ella asked with a disbelieving scoff.
“Even Yoruba de.mons do get married don’t they? At least there is always that possibility somewhere in their mind that someday they would settle down and marry someone or even have kids. But Ken doesn’t seem to want any of that.” Pete said, making Ella sit up.
“What do you mean he doesn’t want any of that? Not even a baby mama?” She asked curiously. It wasn’t every day you heard a full-blooded African man, especially a Nigerian man saying he doesn’t want kids.
“He doesn’t. You get my point now?” Pete asked with a concerned frown. Seeing the look on her brother’s face she could tell he was very worried about Ken, and Pete wasn’t the sort to worry when there was nothing to worry about
“What exactly did he say?” Ella asked in concern. She couldn’t help being curious and even a bit concerned about him despite the fact that she was still very upset with him.
“He seems to be of the opinion that marriage and fatherhood isn’t for everyone. He even thinks he might become an abusive husband or father. Can you believe that?” Pete asked in disbelief.
“Why would he think that? Femi isn’t the type to be violent.” Ella said, beginning to feel worried now, “Do you think it’s his job? Maybe seeing too many abusive homes has affected him. Maybe he should go for therapy.” Ella suggested.
“I’m not sure he thinks he has a problem. And when I saw him today, although he was trying to act like his usual self, but he could tell he wasn’t okay. I’m not even sure he is sleeping well. That’s why I called you.” Pete said making Ella look at him in surprise.
“I don’t get. Why me? Am I a therapist?”
“You know you have a gift of making people confide in you. Beside, Ken has always liked you. Remember how he used to keep to himself a lot when we were young? But then he became more open when he started talking to you. Could you find time to speak with him? You don’t have to tell him about this conversation, just find out exactly what is wrong with him. Please.” Pete pleaded.
It was obvious he didn’t know what he was asking her to do. She was supposed to be staying away from him not looking for him. This was going to be very difficult. But she knew this must mean a lot to Pete, and she remembered that even though he had looked handsome as usual, he had also looked a bit haggard that morning.
“Please. I’ll owe you one if you do this for me.” Pete pleaded again when he saw the way she was contemplating his request.
“I’ll see what I can do.” Ella said as she stood up from the bed, “If that’s all I have to hurry before it gets darker than this. Goodnight.” Ella said before heading for the door.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
**********
“Kim?” Eric called softly as he tapped Kimberly who was still fast asleep, “Kim!” he called again. It was past 7 PM already, and he knew she would have to go home.
“Hm?” She asked as she opened her eyes sleepily. She sprang up when she saw Eric looking down at her, causing their heads to collide, “Ouch!” She cried, raising her hand to her forehead.
“You’ve been sleeping for the past three hours. Unless you want to pass the night, I think you should leave now. It’s getting really late.” Eric said with a wince as he rubbed his own head.
“What? Three hours? Why didn’t you wake me up?” She asked in alarm.
“Because it’s obvious your body needed the rest. I’m only waking you up cause I know you might want to go home.” Eric said as he stood up, and offered her a hand to get up.
“So what were you doing while I was asleep?” Kimberly asked as she picked her clothes from the hanger and headed for the bathroom to change.
“I was watching you drool. You make quite a picture when you sleep.” Eric called with a chuckle making her snort.
“I don’t drool.” Kimberly hissed at him.
“Why don’t you check your face on the mirror before saying that?” Eric asked making Kimberly return to the room to pick up her phone.
“How did that get there?” She asked in horror when she saw drool stains beside her mouth.
Eric chuckled as he watched her cover her mouth in embarassment, “I told you, but you didn’t believe me. And I also observed you sleep with your eyes partially open. That was so scary.” Eric said making Kimberly want to die of embarassment. How could she have slept off so carelessly on his bed knowing all her bad sleeping habits?
“I.. I’m… I should leave.” She stuttered without meeting his gaze, making Eric chuckle some more as he took her hands and dragged her closer to himself.
“These human parts of you are what I like about you.” Eric said as he hugged her. He sighed when he noticed how stiffly she was standing in his arms, “Relax. It’s just a hug. I’m not going to fk you.” Eric said making Kimberly gasp an move away from his arm.
“How can you be so raw?”
“How is fk a raw word when it’s one of the most used and practiced word in our generation? If I had said I’m not going to make love to you, would that have been more acceptable? You humans can be so hypocritical at times.” Eric said with a sigh.
Kimberly almost laughed at the irony of the situation, when she remembered her conversation with Pete the last time at the mall. He had said she was weird for wanting to talk about sx, and now she was accusing Eric of being indecent because he used the word ‘fk’. Humans truly could be hypocrites when it suited them after all, “Well spoken like a god.” Kimberly said dryly before pointing to her wig which he had hung by the window.
“Shorty.” Eric said with a teasing smile as he helped her reach for it, “I’ll drop you off… but you’ll have to fuel the car.” Eric told Kimberly who rolled her eyes as she put on her wig, and took out her wig brush from her handbag to brush it.
“What about your friend who owns the cab? Isn’t he taking his cab from you?” Kimberly asked when she was done and they were ready to leave.
“He got a job this morning, so I’m going to be with it for the time being.” Eric explained as he shut the door behind him and took her hand in his own possessively. He intended to make it clear to Ali and the other guys that Kimberly was HIS. At least for the time being. And as such none of them was permitted to set their eyes on her be it for good or evil.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
___________
Pete was surprised to see Amanda sitting with Kathleen’s mom when he came out from his bedroom after he freshened up. He had thought Kathleen’s mom would have gone to Kathleen’s apartment by the time he came out, but she was busy weaving Amanda’s hair.
“Daddy, did you know aunty Kat’s mummy can make hair?” Amanda asked with a wide smile when her father walked in.
“I can see that.” Pete said as he looked around for Kathleen and her sister, “Where is Kathleen?”
“She is in the kitchen preparing dinner.” Kathleen’s mother told him with a smile which made him quite uncomfortable. The scene before him looked too homely. It was like his mother in-law was making his daughter’s hair while his wife fixed dinner, and he wasn’t liking the feel. She had said she was going to make sure the whole place wasn’t crowded, but the reverse was the case.
He headed for the kitchen, and stopped by the door when he heard her laughing at something her sister said, “She should just do and leave before she will embarrass me here. You know how she can be, especially when she starts those unnecessary storytelling about when we were younger.” Kathleen said making her sister giggle.
“Especially those ones about how you used to bedwet until you were fourteen. I remember how you used to put me on top of your pee to make it seem like I was the one that did it.” Isioma added with a ‘ewwww’ expression making Kathleen glare at her, while Pete almost chuckled at the thought. He didn’t know whether to make his presence known or to keep standing there and eavesdropping on their conversation. Maybe having them around wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he paused again when he heard her sister’s next question, “So how is your boyfriend?”
“Which boyfriend? The one you dashed me abi?” Kathleen asked as she poured oil into the pot of yam porridge she was making.
“I thought as much! Even mummy did not believe it when sister Ella said you told her you have a boyfriend.” Isioma said with a giggle.
“Ella told mummy I have a boyfriend?” Kathleen asked, turning around to look into her sister’s face. Was that possibly why their mother had been nice to her a moment ago?
“Yes na. When mummy was asking her to hook you up with her brother, she now said you already have a boyfriend.” Isioma explained making Pete’s eyes go wide. Oh! So he had been right in feeling there was more to the woman’s niceness! Ella had known yet she had pretended not to know what was going on, that witch! Pete thought as he leaned closer into the kitchen so he could hear more.
“You don’t really have a boyfriend, shey?” Isioma asked again.
“I don’t. But don’t tell mummy sha. Let her just believe I have a boyfriend until she goes back. I don’t want her plenty preaching or anything.” Kathleen said with a sigh.
“Didn’t you hear me? She doesn’t even believe you have a boyfriend. She said as long as she has not heard of him nor seen him, that you’re single.” Isioma said with a mischievous smile.
“Why are you smiling like that?” Kathleen asked suspiciously.
“Since you’re really single, it won’t be a bad idea for her to matchmake you and aunty Ella’s brother. He is fine, and he has this fine American accent.” Isioma added making Kathleen shake her head.
“Bush girl. All of you should focus that energy on your body. Let’s go to the parlor and wait small for it to be ready before heat will kill us. I just pray mummy isn’t saying anything embarassing sha.” Kathleen added as she wiped her hand on a napkin.
Pete thought about running away, but he knew he wouldn’t be quick enough to he walked into the kitchen instead and headed for the refrigerator without saying a word to both sisters who were startled to see him. He wanted it to look like he just came in and hadn’t heard a word.
“What are you preparing?” He asked Kathleen who was heading for the door.
“Yam porridge. My mom brought some yam so I decided to make yam porridge.” She explained, wondering and hoping that he didn’t hear anything herself and her sister had said.
“Okay.” Pete said as he took a sip from the bottle of water he had taken from the refrigerator and watched as both sisters hurried out of the kitchen. So she didn’t have a boyfriend? She had been lying to him and to Ella? Why?
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
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