Eartha and Eniiyi were still seated on the couch, long after the movie had ended. Eniiyi didn't think this was because the movie was that interesting. Her mommy had gone into one of her trances again. The girl was still trying to get used to it already since all these days.

So, she waited patiently, still snuggled into her and watched the credits roll in on the TV screen.

But as she stared on silently she couldn't help wondering all over when all this would stop. When she'd let them go back to Daddy, instead of sitting here all day and feeling sad.

It was rather unnecessary, if somebody asked the girl.

Thankfully, her mommy came out of her reverie quicker today. She sighed and pat Eniiyi's head.

'Interesting movie, huh?' She stood up from beside her daughter and stretched.

Even though she was smiling, Eniiyi could still see the slight worry lines that were beginning to form in-between her eyebrows and at the corner of her eyes.

She wanted to shout at her for putting herself through all these willingly and for nothing when they could just go back. But she wasn't sure why she'd made them leave Daddy - Daddy wouldn't even tell her why when they talked. But she knew for sure that it had all been her mommy's decision.

So, instead, she shrugged and nodded. 'Yes, ma.'

Eartha glanced out at the wall clock to the side. 'Ugh, it's this late already?'

'Not really, the sun's just come out.' Eniiyi frowned at her. 'Why? Are we going somewhere again today?'

Eartha paused from yawning to properly stare at the girl, like she was noticing her for the first time. 'No, but I'm expecting someone. Adekunbi, you don't like it? You don't like us going out for fun?' She frowned in surprise and went back to reclaim her seat beside her daughter.

'I thought you loved it . . .' she murmured the last part.

'Mommy, did you ever ask me what I wanted? For the past eleven days, did you?' Eniiyi concentrated on frowning at something invisible on the floor, not wanting to look at her mommy's face.

'Well, I just thought . . . but we're all good . . ' Eartha heart skipped a bit when the girl wouldn't reply back. 'What did you want, Adekunbi?'

'I just wanted to go back to my Daddy. To see my Daddy!' Eniiyi now looked up at her mommy, her gaze angry and pained.

Eartha heart plummeted at this. Oh, no. Not again! She couldn't do this! She couldn't keep on doing this!

She looked away from her daughter. Did the girl even know how much she ached for her husband everyday? How she'd wake up at midnight and feel the side of the bed only to come up empty. How he'd call her phone and she would just stare at the it till it's battery almost ran out, using all her willpower to not grab the phone and cry into it? How she had to tamp down the bullstrong urge to just up all this and go back to Osogbo immediately?

But Adekunbi most probably didn't know all that. And she wasn't about to start telling her now. The girl still blamed her for making them leave him and she didn't want her rubbing it in.

She combed a shaky hand through her thick, black mane.

'Um . . . I'll try to do something about that. Um, I could arrange for a stay over during school holidays with him . . . you'll-'

'That's not what I want, Mommy,' Eniiyi said quietly. 'I want us to go back to Daddy and be a normal family like we used to be. Can't you see, none of us is happy this way! You sit down all day and stare into the distance, lost in your thoughts. The bags under Daddy's eyes get puffier everyday!'

'Adekunbi, it's not that easy.'

'Oh, yes, it is, Mommy! We just pack our stuff into the car and go back to Osogbo. Are you worried about him being angry? Well, he's not. He wants us back too, he doesn't look angry.

'Besides, if he's angry, he'll always listen to me! It's that simple!' Eniiyi hit her forehead in annoyance, like she couldn't quite believe the stupidity of adults. 'I don't know why you made us leave in the first place, if you're just going to make yourself more miserable than ever.'

Eartha closed her eyes and let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding. 'Adekunbi, we-'

The doorbell rang.

Eniiyi looked at her mom. 'Who were you expecting?'

Eartha's lips twitched and she blinked furiously, making to stand up from the couch. It was the delivery guy, who had brought her shoppings, but she didn't want her daughter to know that she had ordered liquor with the other shoppings and a large amount at that.

She just couldn't help all the gloom that hung around her since all this days. It was getting so thick nowadays that sometimes she was sure she could wrap her arms around it and it'd suffocate her to death.

Eniiyi had a suspicious look in her eyes.
Whatever was going on?

'I'll go and get the door.' She stood up from the chair and disappeared from the living room before her mommy could call her back.

Eartha clenched and unclenched her fist. There was no calling the girl back now.

Eniiyi still had that frown on her face as she walked down the waiting room towards the front door. Why did Mommy have that panicked look on her face when she asked about who she was expecting? Hadn't she mentioned earlier that she ordered for some things and would be expecting them later?

Or, Eniiyi's eyebrows went up, was she expecting somebody else, too?

Well, I'm about to find out.

She pulled open the door suddenly, as though expecting to come face to face with someone she didn't like and would like to give them a kick to the shins.

But she sighed and rolled her eyes at the sight before her. It was just the delivery man. Although why he had just one delivery, and a strange one at that, was lost to her.

She shouted back into the house, her eyes still on the sight in front of her. 'Mommy, did you order for-'

The bouquet of flowers moved out of the person's front, presenting her the full view of his face.

Eniiyi's words died in her throat and she gaped like a fish out of water.

The man smiled, and then her brain reconnected with her tongue.

'Daddy!'

She let go of the door and sprang into his arms with enough energy to knock a giant to the ground.

Her daddy almost didn't catch her.

'Daddy, you've come for us!'

Eartha was still running her hand nervously through her hair, expecting a certain small girl to come charging back into the house, demanding to know why she had liquor in her delivery.

But instead she'd heard a scream. One that made her blood run cold.

'The fuck! How . . .?'

She covered the distance between the living room and the waiting room in quick strides.

It couldn't possibly be . . . she hadn't told him where she was at. She hadn't expected him to come looking for her. It must have been Adekunbi!

She realized her heart was beating faster in her chest. It had been almost two weeks now since she last laid her eyes on him and she didn't know why she felt like a school girl going to meet her crush.

Her body tingled all over in anticipation of seeing him and she felt rather stupid. She tried to remember if she'd had a bath today, but then the loose pajama bottoms and tank top reminded her otherwise.

Gosh, it was afternoon now and she hadn't even had her bath!

She ran a hand through her tousled hair and began to pack it up in a bun but later gave up. It was no use.

She tried to convince herself that she was just self conscious because she didn't want him to think she was being a bad influence on her daughter and not because she cared how he saw her.

She arrived at the waiting room to see Adekunbi in his arms. He was holding her very tight with his eyes shut and his nose buried in her hair. A bouquet of flowers rested on the doorstep beside his feet.

She stopped in her tracks and stared at the two of them. They looked so beautiful, like that was how they belonged - father and daughter.

A pang of guilt hit her, knowing she had caused their separation. She tamped it down and swallowed.

Should she go forward and break their reconciliation, or wait till they were done, postponing the inevitable?

To answer her question, Mide snapped opened his eyes and his gaze immediately landed on her.

Eartha wished she could shrink into the ground at the stare.

He continued to stare at her, still holding Adekunbi to himself and Eartha looked at anywhere but his face. She didn't want to see the pain and hurt and grief.

After what seemed like a while, he pulled Adekunbi away from him and set her down on her feet. Then his eyes travelled back to her face.

He sighed when she wouldn't utter a word. 'Dearest Eartha.'

Eartha's breath caught in her throat and her heart warmed at this. He rarely called her that. She blinked back tears and slowly raised her gaze to him, her heart now banging away in her chest.

'Mide,' she said in reply, resisting the urge to break down and run into his arms, crying her apologies.

She cleared her throat and made a serious face. 'What do you want here?'

Mide smiled sadly and held her gaze again. 'Can I come in first?'

'Yes, Daddy!' Eniiyi picked up the bouquet and then took her father's hand and dragged him over the threshold.

Eartha almost panicked. Why had Adekunbi done that? Now she'd have to fight the strong will to walk into his arms!

She blinked again and firmed her lips. 'Mide, I told you -'

Before she could finish speaking Mide deftly covered the space in between them.

She sucked in a breath and tried to step back but then he touched her arm and she froze to the spot.

'What do you want?' she croaked out. It took her all not to fall into his arms now. She could feel the heat radiating off him in waves, it wrapped around her being and seeped through her pores into her soul.

'Dandelion Fluff, I'd really like to proffer my sincerest apologies for any pain I've caused you or our daughter. The two of you mean the whole world to me and I'd never willingly put you in harm's way.

'Yes, I admit most of what happened was my fault, as a result of my nonchalance, but, Babes, I've realized the errors of my way.'

'But - but . . .' Eartha stuttered, shocked almost speechless and filled with grief and love for him.

'I already went back to the village the very next day after you . . . left me.' There was an almost unnoticeable break in his voice at this. 'It wasn't easy, the issue dragged on for the whole week.

'It turned out the native doctor had only had her tortured and banished because he couldn't find the cause of her condition and didn't want the village people to think that he was fake, so he told all those lies.'

Eartha gasped and he smiled at her and then turned to pull Adekunbi closer.

'Now, they'd like to apologize personally to our daughter for their evil ways. Mama, especially. She's been crying ever since she realized that she'd been wrong.

'No way!' she cried. 'No way is Adekunbi going back there!'

'Yes! I mean, no, I'm not!' Eniiyi put in, scowling. 'Daddy, I'm not going back there, ever!'

'I know how you feel towards them, I feel the same way too. I don't want her to go, too. Maybe sometime later on, Mama can come apologize?'

Eartha suddenly remembered that she had separated from him and wanted a divorce. She stepped away from him, frowning.

'Mide, what makes you think there's a later on for us? I'm getting a divorce, remember?'

'But you've not. Because you still love me, I can see it.'

Eartha hated that he was right. She turned away from him slightly and crossed her arms over her chest.

'Mommy? Mommy now!' Eniiyi whined, going hug her.

Eartha pushed her away. 'You're poking me with those flowers.'

Eniiyi grinned and extended the flowers to her mommy. 'But they are for you.'

Eartha hated the girl's contagious smile and tamped down hers. Why was the little devil so intent on breaking down her resolve?

She shut her eyes and took a deep breath before turning back to him. 'Thanks for that, but you can't stay. I already got the divorce papers . . . we can't . . .you . . ' She was breaking down now.

She swallowed and looked away from him, hating that her eyes had become wet against her will. 'Mide, I'm not ready to forgive you yet.'

He gently tucked strands of her hair behind her ear and lifted her chin to look up at him.

She trembled at the touch and shrugged her chin out of his hand. She didn't even know when he had moved closer to her.

'So tell me that while looking at me, Tangerine Tea. Tell me you don't love me anymore.'

Eartha looked down to see Adekunbi beside them, her eyes were wide like saucers and she was sniffling. Eartha knew her face would have been soaked if she could cry.

'I . . . I never stopped loving you!' she cried, the tears now renewed and flowing faster. 'And I'm sorry being inconsiderate and leaving you! It was very stupid of me.'

Mide sighed in relief and let her fall into his arms. He himself had slight moisture gathering in his eyes. 'I never stopped loving you for a second, Rainbow Drip. When you left you took a piece of me with you. I was heartbroken and mad, I couldn't feel myself for misery.'

'I'm sorry,' Eartha mumbled into his shoulder. 'I'm really sorry, Heart.'

'I'm sorry, too, Lollipop. I'm sorry for everything. It'd never repeat itself again, I promise you.' He held her tightly and combed his fingers through her hair.

Eniiyi was extremely happy that her parents were back together, but she wasn't keen on watching their display of affection. So, she left them for the living room with the flowers.

'I'm really sorry. I haven't gotten the papers yet. I haven't even called the lawyer.'

Mide sighed in relief. 'Oh, that's good,' he said. 'But I don't know how the company got wind of what happened, or maybe they just assumed when you asked for a transfer to the Lagos branch without me.'

'Oh no!'

Mide chuckled and wiped her tears away. 'I'm only saying, Raspberry Ripple, I don't know for sure. Anyways, because of that they added four months to our vacation, which is all good for me.'

Eartha frowned. 'How come I didn't hear that?'

Mide grinned playfully. 'I asked for that information to be withheld from being sent to you till I've come to tell you myself.'

'So you only came here to tell me about that?' Eartha said, feigning anger.

'No o!' Mide quickly said. 'I came because I couldn't bear to be separate from you for a second again.'

Eartha had the grace to look away and flush. Mide grinned more at this, Eartha hardly flushed.

He looked around at his surroundings. 'I see you like it here . . . I could also ask for a transfer here if you don't wanna go back to Osun State.'

'No, no.' Eartha closed her eyes and smiled. 'I'd love to go back home.'

Her heart warmed at saying the last word. It tasted nice on her tongue and she knew immediately that all she wanted was to go back there.

'Don't you think we should go inside?'

'No,' Eartha protested and buried her head in his chest again. 'Let's stay here a little bit longer.' She didn't want to let go of him yet.

Then she remembered some things.

'I have my terms and conditions, though,' she said.

Mide wrapped his hands tighter about her waist and breathed in her hair. 'Okay. Whatever you wish, Dandelion Fluff.'

Eartha hit at his chest. 'Mide, I'm serious jor.'

Mide still wouldn't let go of her but he looked a bit more serious now. 'I know. I'd love to hear them, Raspberry Ripple.'

'We'd have more time for our daughter. When we resume office work, we'd cut our working time to normal working time, meaning; we'd finish at work at to four and be at home at weekends.'

'I totally agree to that,' Mide said into her hair. 'And we'd settle down and expand the family like we should have eight years ago.'

Eartha sighed into him. 'About that, the family is about to expand; we're having a new addition to the family.' She pulled back and removed his hand from her waist to place it over her exposed tummy.

Although it was still flat, but it was like she could feel the tiny life growing inside her already.

The day after the pregnancy test she'd gone to see the hospital and what she already knew.

Her husband's eyes went wide as he understood her gesture.

'Oh my God, we're having a baby!' He knelt down and kissed her tummy.

Just as Eniiyi walked back into the waiting room. 'We're having a baby?'she repeated, not sure she had heard right.

'Yes, Pea Blossom. We're having a baby.'

Eniiyi squealed in delight and went to touch her mommy's stomach too. 'We're having a baby! I'm having a sibling!'

Eartha laughed happily. 'Yes, Adekunbi.'

Mide stood back up and pulled Eartha into a kiss. She wanted to pull back and protest that their child was just front of them but he wouldn't let her pull away.

So she just gave up and sighed into the kiss, feeling new emotions stir up from her core and spread all over her. It was like their first kiss; long and thirsty and making her yearn for more.

She was rather disappointed, but grateful when he finally, broke the kiss, even though he'd done so reluctantly.

'You have no idea how long I've been wanting to do that,' he murmured into her ear when she wouldn't stop glaring at him.

Her eyes softened at this and she touched her lips.

Mide smiled and made to pull her in for another kiss but Eniiyi started to tug at his hand.

When he looked down at her, the girl gave him her very best scowl. So he picked her up and hugged her to himself and Eartha.

'Put me down! Put me down!' she squealed, annoyed.

Mide laughed and obeyed. 'I've forgotten that you're heavier now.'

'I'm not. I'm nine, not twenty nine!'

Eartha chuckled at the two of them and shook her head.

Eniiyi then remembered to be angry at her mommy. 'Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant before, Mommy?'

Eartha looked away, sheepishly. 'I'm sorry. I hadn't mustered enough courage to tell you yet.'

But Eniiyi wasn't really angry. She smiled and hugged her Mommy and Daddy. She was just glad that they were back together and that things were going to be back to normal again. She just knew that her parents were going to be there for her all the time now.

She kinda owed it to that wicked village. It was a miracle she hadn't died, but still, if things hadn't happened that way, her parents wouldn't have realized what they were doing wrong. They'd have come to pick her from the village and then go back to their workaholic life and she'd be left feeling lonely again.

So, she was grateful to the village for that.

And the grand icing on the cake; her wish to have siblings was about to come true.

She smiled again and touched her mommy's belly. She could just feel it was going to be a girl already.

Things couldn't get any better.

And that's a wrap!