"The food is wonderful mom." Isabella commented. She dig a spoon full of the food in mouth.
"Yeah mom. You should always do the cooking. I love the Nigeria dishes better." Damilare said.
"Your mom is a great cook." Japheth said smiling at his wife.
" Thanks. I'm glad you like the food." Toun said sincerely. She smile proudly at her children as they savour the food then she look at Japheth. She smile curtly at him. He was beaming.
"When do you say Hope is returning from practice?" Japheth asked not asking anyone in particular.
"Eight." Isabella replied absent-minded.
Toun and Japheth turn to look at the wall clock. It was almost eight. Japheth saw the worries in her eyes.
"He will be back." He assured her. She said nothing but smile nodding. "He won't want to miss his mom meal."
The door bell rings.
"That should be your brother." Toun said to the kids.
"You should go Isabel." Damilare said to his sister.
"No, you should go." She said back to him.
"Dammy go open the door." Japheth order his son.
He roll his eyes and he hit his sister on her arm playfully. She pull her tongue out at him.
He scoff and went to the door. He returned with his elder brother Hope.
"Good evening." He greeted.
"Evening." Japheth replied. "How was practice?"
"Fine dad. Hi mom." He went to her seat. He peck her on the cheek. "I'm so hungry."
"I know you are." She smile. "Welcome."
"Thanks." He appreciated without looking at her. He put down his guitar and he sat beside Isabella, his sister.
"Hi brother. How is Mr hot?" She asked.
"He's my friend isabel and he is older than you." Hope said as he watch his mother put his food into his plate.
"Here, eat up." Toun said to him.
He took the plate gratefully and began to eat.
After she gave birth to the child she was carrying. Her child with Nathaniel which turn out to be a boy. She named him Hope - because she hope he could remind her of the love of her life. She hope to see her family again.
Her father was never happy with the child and he barely look at him. Her mother moved over it and she accept the boy as her grandchild.
She visited from time to time to see her grandchild.
Eunice grew jealous that their mother attention was now on her child but she never said it to her face to face.
A year later, she was introduced to Japheth by her father. He was the first to visit her except from phoebe and her family.
He was her father best friend and business partner son. He was born and raise in the country. Her father love him like a son and he help her father to manage his company in the country.
He was the first person to visit her. She was glad to see a different face the day he visited.
Her father had refused to let her have her freedom. Every thing she needed was provided by him and they were maids to do the different house chores and to help take care of her son.
She was given the freedom to move in every part of the house and the compound. But she never step outside the family estate. Every thing she do was monitored. She was an hostage in her father house. He never trust her promise despite she kept her promise. She never mentioned about going back or Nathaniel and her daughter with him.
Japheth had become attracted to her at first sight. And he began to visit later frequently. He brought flowers and other gift. He was the nicest person to her after Phoebe.
Six month later, he propose his love and he ask her to marry him. She turn him down because she doesn't need a relationship but a friend.
He was hurt but he never said it. He remain a good friend and a role model to her little son.
Her father brought up the idea of her getting married to Japheth six month later
She refused and then he threatened to hurt her son. He told her he had given her enough space and it was time she move on and have a reasonable life.
She did not have another option than to marry Japheth that had been a good friend to her in the past few months she knew him.
He took her out of the house the day after her wedding and the day after. It was something she could never forget and she owe him for it. He didn't take her out after then when her father scold him for it. He warned him that he might lose her if he gave her her freedom.
He knew from the start, she was never his. He knew she love someone (some of it he knew from the story her sister told him -since they were close friends). And because he was afraid and he didn't want to disappoint her father, he did as he was told.
Two years after their wedding, she had her first children with Japheth. A set of twins, a boy and a girl Isabella and David but he was called Damilare by the family. Her parent in law were the one who gave him the name. They name him after Japheth elder brother - Damilare that died when he was seven.
She couldn't practice law anymore which she couldn't forgive her father for. But she discover her skill of writing. She began by writing children short stories and then to some law books and novels.
Japheth was a good husband and he gave her all the support he needs. He help with the publishing and every other things needed for her writing. And she love him for it.
"I need to go to bed. I have been writing all day and then cooking." Toun said to her family.
"Okay mom." The kids replied.
"I will join you later. Good night." Japheth said and he kiss her on the head. She smile and nodded. She leave for the bedroom.
******
"Hey you two should keep it low. You are disturbing." Hope said to his siblings who were arguing for the T. V channel to watch.
"This is better." Damilare said to his sister.
"No, the movie is scary. I don't want to watch it." Isabella disagree.
"Sorry but i have the remote with me." Damilare said laughing. Isabella frown and she tried to take the remote from him but he dodge. They began to ran around the living room.
"What's your problem? You are disturbing me." Hope said loudly exasperated.
He was trying to write a song. But his siblings were not making him concentrate.
"Are you deaf?" He yelled.
They stopped and looked at him angrily.
"Go to your room." Damilare said.
"Yeah, the door to your room is open." Isabella said and she turn back and try to take the remote from her twin. But he dodge it and laughed.
"Isabel Dammy." Their mother called with a firm voice.
They stopped and they had a guilty face like they were caught stealing. She look at them.
"Don't you know you are disturbing the peace of the house?" She asked them. "And you two should learn to obey your brother."
"We are sorry." They apologize.
"Give me the remote. You should go to your room and do something better." She said.
Damilare reluctantly gave her the remote and slowly they move pass her to their room.
"What are you doing in the living room? You should do that in your room." She said to Hope and she took a seat opposite him.
"I know." He said.
She nodded. "So go and do that in your room. Your dad will be back soon."
He nodded and he pick his notepad and pen with his guitar.
She watch as he walk out of the living room. He is so grown up and he look so much like his father.
She close her eyes at the thought. She don't want to hurt Japheth but she can't deny the fact she was hurting herself. She had try hard to conceal her emotions but inside she was broken.
******
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