Shoot Your Shot, Ladies! - Part 4

Please like, comment and share... Part 5 coming on Thursday, June 11

KOREDE

I called in sick at work today because today marks a year since Nosa and Osaze passed on. I decided it was best to stay home, watch my wedding videos with Mummy D, remember the good times and also finally take off my wedding ring, in that order. It was a painful moment for me to take the ring off; yet, it felt like a burden was lifted off me. I actually felt free for the first time since he died. Mummy D cried the entire time. She kept saying ‘now is the time to dance’ referencing the Ecclesiastes 3:4 verse. I hear the doorbell and know it’s probably Adesua. She messaged me earlier on today that she was coming to see me after work, so I hurriedly open the door. “Hey babes. Are you better now?” Adesua hugs me so tight I think I might suffocate and then I look up and there he is. Mr C. How is he here? Am I dreaming? “Hi, Korede.” He says and my brain reinforces that he is actually here.

“Good evening, Mr C. It’s a surprise to see you here. Please come in” I say and move away from the door to invite them in. I see bags of KFC and know I’m in for a good time.

“Is Mummy D around?” I hear Adesua ask as she lands on the couch and see Mr C mouth to her who is mummy D? I quickly reply looking at Mr C, “She is my mum.” and then I look at Adesua with a stern face and say, “Yes, she is. I’ll let her know you are around.” I hope she reads that to mean, don’t say anything. He doesn’t have to know she’s my mother-in-law. Mummy D comes into the living room in her regular Boubou and flat slippers. Before she even sits down, I see Mr C prostrating to greet her, in typical Yoruba man style. Now that is a sight to see. He looks so corporate at work with boss vibes that I would never have imagined he would prostrate to greet her. “Ah ah ah, please stand up oh my dear. Good evening” she says to him and looks slightly embarrassed but I know deep down she’s happy people still have those cultural values. Adesua hugs her instead and hands her some KFC chicken. We all settle at the dining table to eat the food they brought. I sit opposite Mr C and Adesua sits opposite Mummy D, but Adesua and I both sit on the same side of the table, and Mummy D and Mr C sit on the other side. “Korede, I hope you’re feeling better now. Adesua said you weren’t feeling well today, so I thought it best to stop by.”, Mr C says looking straight into my eyes. His eye contact is always intense like he is staring into my soul. I look down at my finger, where my ring used to be and reply, “Yes, I’m feeling much better.” And then I look up and notice his facial expression has changed like he notices something different. “So, is anyone going to introduce this young man to me?” Mummy D says and I’m totally embarrassed that I hadn’t even thought of it. Adesua fake coughs beside me. “Sorry mummy, this is Mr Ayoola Craig. He’s the owner of Craig & co. He is also Adesua’s boss. Mr C, this is my mum.” I say and look at her with the face of ‘that’s the story I’m going with’. “It is a pleasure to meet you ma. Korede is an exceptional employee at Craig & co, so I definitely had to come through to see her when I was told she missed work today.” He says casually like it’s no big deal to visit his employees. “Ah, God bless you, my son. Thank you for the food as well. I’m going to retire to bed now. Have a good evening.” She says and goes to her room. If it’s the Mummy D I have come to know after that conversation we had a few weeks back, I know she’s still going to ask me many questions about Mr C. “Your mum is very beautiful, Korede. I see where you get your beauty from.” He says, looking straight at me again, with a smile on his lips this time around. Adesua coughs again as if to remind us she is still sitting there. “Thank you, Mr C., Thank you so much for coming as well.” I say and look at Adesua “Thanks for always been there baby girl.”

Mr C decides to head off first. He said he has to be at a family dinner so I escort him to his car and go back in to gist with Adesua. As we are catching up on office gist, she says something that amuses me “You know he likes you, right?” “Me? Mr C? Why would you even think that?” I reply in disbelief. “Because I’ve been working with him for 4 years, so I know him well. The real question is, do you like him?”, she says and gives me the side-eye. “You know what I like? The fact that I took off my wedding ring today and feel so free. I truly did not know I was carrying so much weight on my shoulders till that ring came off.” I say, deflecting and changing the conversation. “You know I actually noticed but told myself maybe you don’t wear the ring at home. Woww. I’m so proud of you. Way to go, girl. Good vibes are coming your way babe. I can feel it.” She hugs me and I can tell she has already forgotten all about the previous conversation. Now that is how you deflect. ***********************************************************************************************

AYOOLA

Now heading to my parent’s house and I cannot help but reflect on my time at Korede’s house. One thing definitely stood out for sure, she was not wearing her wedding ring. I’m not sure if to take that as she has stopped wearing it or she doesn’t wear it at home. I reach my parent’s house in Ikoyi at quarter past 8, just in time for dinner. Well, 15 minutes late for dinner. But traffic-wise, today has surprisingly been a good day, because a typical day, I would probably be getting here at 10 pm. My mum opens the door and hugs me like today would be her last. I prostrate to greet her and do the same when my Dad arrives at the dining table some minutes after. I had dinner at Korede’s, so I’m quite satisfied but I cannot say no to my mum’s cooking when I promised I was coming for dinner, so round 2 here we go. “Ayo, how’s the business going?” my dad asks. There are 3 things my dad talks about. Work/Money, Politics and Religion. He is not a sports guy or small-talk guy, give it to him straight and hot. “It is going really well. More than 85% in profit this quarter. This week I was in Abuja to commence the building project in Maitama. I was also in P/H for an Entrepreneurs Unite conference. Just trying to get ahead in the game…” I say but my mum cuts me off “Enough work talk, please. How’s Adesua doing? AY, you know that girl is beautiful and hardworking. What are you waiting for? You’re not getting any younger, you know.” she queries. Ladies and gentleman, this is the very reason I don’t enjoy coming home. “Eniola, fi omo yi si le. Let him be. What’s the big deal?” My dad counters her.

“Tunde, your only child is 35 and he is not married and you say I should leave him alone. Don’t you want grandkids?” she looks at my dad with her eyebrows raised and it is more of a rhetorical question because my dad doesn’t reply.

“Mum, Dad, in God’s time. That said, I do have my eyes on a certain person and it’s not Adesua.” I reply and hope that can calm the tension in the room.

“Ope o. Jesu seun. Is it the girl you went to see tonight?” she says while dishing more efo- riro into my dad’s plate. Is this the maternal instinct or what? How is she spot-on?

“Yes” I say and smile.

“Tell me more. You cannot just say yes like that”, my mum continues. She likes gist. She wants to know everything and I mean everything.

“Her name is Korede. She works as a realtor for my firm. We are still getting to know each other but first of all… she’s ummm…. a widow.” I deliberately add the last part to get their reaction about this. I know I’m interested in Korede but I want to be sure this is not going to be a problem for my parents down the line.

“How old is she?” that’s the first question my dad asks before my mum even says anything.

“I think she’s 25,” I reply.

“As long as you’re sure she’s the one.” He says and looks at my mum, waiting for her response.

“Korede Craig. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it Tunde?” my mum says and with that I know she’s on board. I love this woman.

Please like, comment and share... Part 5 coming on Thursday, June 11