Gini arrived home late in the afternoon. She used the spare key she carried in her purse to open the door and found the house empty. As she dug into her purse to get her phone, the boys came out of nowhere and jumped around her like puppies.

"Gini!" they screamed as they each tried to hug her.

Her sister came out of the room and laughed as she saw the ruckus her presence had caused. Gini herself was grinning as she embraced her kids. Taye was checking her face as the other kids took her handbag.

"You look good, Gini. Can we go with you next time?"

"Sure," she promised.

"Gini, what did you get for us?" Kenny asked.

"Check the side of the bag, I took some chocolate snacks from the store."

"Awesome," he grinned then ran to kiss her.

Gini sat on the couch after Taye was sure she was alright. He sat beside her and put an arm around her. Idowu sat at her feet as he munched on a chocolate bar. "We really missed you," he said with his mouth full.

"I missed you too. I hope you guys didn't trouble your aunt too much?" Gini asked and looked at her sister who was watching her with the kids.

"Kenny did. Gini, he's so stubborn and he doesn't help with anything," Idowu complained.

Gini stared at her second child as he ate his sweets and he laughed. He came and sat on her lap then hugged her to disarm her.

"You're not cute and that's not cute," Gini said nonetheless.

"Gini, I tried but Idowu is always acting like you. And he complains a lot, just ask Taye."

Gini rolled her eyes and her boys laughed. They stayed with her for few minutes before running to their room to play. Gini stood from the couch and went to hug her sister.

"You look really well. I think you should take more breaks," Mama said.

"With you and the kids for sure."

She laughed. "Where are we going?"

"We'll know when the time comes."

Mama looked towards the kids' room to make sure they were occupied then asked, "Tell me about Juwon."

Gini adjusted in her seat. "We kinda got into an argument as I was leaving."

"Why? Don't you like him anymore?"

"I do." Gini sighed. "He wants to know about everything, why I left town and the remainder of the story."

"Tell him. Why are you holding back?"

"Does he really need to know? Can't we just leave the past in the past? Dad is dead so there's no point talking bad about him and saying all he did and didn't do."

"Are you doing this to protect dad? Gini, the man didn't even care about you. Do you think he ever looked for you when you left town?"

"Yea, that was why we moved twice."

Mama shook her head. "If he was looking for you, we would have moved more than twice."

"What are you saying?"

"He didn't look for you. I only moved to make it seem like he did so you could at least feel like he cared."

Gini shook her head this time. "It doesn't really matter anyway, he wouldn't have known where to look."

"You really are going to believe that? Alright then. What happened between you and Juwon before the argument?"

"We saw each other daily while I was in town."

She grinned knowingly. "Are you like back with him now?"

Gini blushed. "Yea."

"And you didn't tell him about his kids?"

"Not yet, but I will."

"There's no rush though since you guys just reconnected after so long."

"Yea." Gini laid down and rested her head on her sister's laps as they chatted. "How did it go with the kids?"

"Those hyperactive kids, whew. I almost lost my voice at some point from shouting all the time. Things got better when they got the laptop."

"I bought it for educational purposes but I'm sure that's the last thing they're using it for."

"You already know it. It's good that they have it since they hardly get gifts."

"That's going to change soon. With the things dad left, we'll be able to leave this apartment for a bigger space."

"That's a good idea."

"You can also stop dancing at the strip club, we'll open a dance studio together. There's this guy I met at Juwon's house who's a gym instructor, he can help with everything."

"That's a lot of hope you're giving me and I don't want to get too excited because life has never been good to us."

Gini held her sister's hand. "It's our time to smile."

"Yes!" she said joyfully. "Where's my own piece of chocolate?"

Gini stood from the couch and got her bag. "Let's hope my little stars haven't eaten every piece."

She found some cookies remaining and dug around for more goodies. She tossed the few sweets left and her sister caught them mid air. Gini got her phone and called Juwon to let him know she was home, she smiled as he apologized for what ensued in the morning. She got off the phone with him and took her luggage to the room she shared with her sister.

Gini was arranging her portion of the wardrobe when she got a text from Juwon asking for her house address. She sent it to him after she made sure he wasn't planning a visit. She stayed in bed afterwards and slept on her side as she relaxed. Mama came in moments later and sat beside her. Gini who had been bothered by everything that happened on the bus ride decided to tell her sister about it.

"Do you know something happened on my way here?" she started.

"What?"

"I met an old school mate today. We were partners during science class and she looks so much better and fulfilled. She's a doctor now and when she asked me what I did, I lied."

Mama nodded for her to keep going.

"I told her I teach because I just felt so unfulfilled sitting next to her. She went to the university, got herself a degree and is doing so much better. Times like this make me feel like I failed at life."

"Geez, Gini. I don't like when you talk like this." Mama drew closer to her and laid a hand on her.

"Don't you think about it also?" She bit on her nails as she asked.

"I do but I don't let it get to me and there's hope now. Dad left a lot and that'd make a difference, you can go to the university if you want."

"I don't want to go to the university."

"What would make you feel fulfilled then?"

"I have new priorities now but sometimes I think about what could have been if any of this never happened. I could be a famous dancer with several achievements under my belt. I really had it in me, I did."

"Hug?"

Gini sat and hugged her sister. "Thanks for helping with the boys."

"It was no problem. Gini, we'll be fine," she reassured as she squeezed her.

"I was happy when I got up this morning..." Gini mused.

"You're not pregnant, right? You used protection, hmm?"

Gini smiled and fell back in bed. "Definitely not pregnant."

"That smile says you had sex a lot."

Gini tried to stop smiling but started laughing. "Kinda."

"That guy gives you triplets, don't let him impregnate you again. I can't deal with anymore kids."

Gini kicked her sister playfully as they both laughed. "You know that could be from my side of the family."

"Dad never mentioned having any twins nor triplets in the family. Ask your boyfriend, I'm sure it's from his side."

"What if I get pregnant next with sextuplet?"

"Just kill me," Mama said and fell on the bed.

Gini laughed at her sister's reaction. "I've missed you."

"I missed you too but not as much as the boys. I thought they were going to fall sick at some point."

Gini smiled. "I'm back now and you can go back to work."

"I need to get my hair done first," Mama said and ran her fingers through her relaxed hair.

"You look pretty this way."

Mama had her hair in a ponytail and looked a shade lighter from staying indoor for almost a week. Gini noticed that she looked healthier also, there were no bags under her eyes and they shone brighter than usual. She looked her age with her face bare and free of the layers of makeup she wore every night she went to work.

"This won't work for the club."

Gini couldn't wait for her dad's properties to be sold so her sister could stop working at the strip club. She wanted a better life for them and they were really close to having it. She herself still had to resume work at the grocery store. The little money she made from her dad's store would be spent on upkeep for the week.

Gini remembered the shoes Juwon had gifted her, she got them from her luggage and showed Mama who was now sitting with her legs tucked under her. "You can wear these tonight. J got them."

"These don't look cheap," Mama said as she inspected them.

"They aren't. You can have them."

"No, they're for you."

"We share everything, sis and we can share these also."

"You're the best."

Gini smiled as her sister kept inspecting the shoes. She left the room to the front door when she heard the bell. She found a delivery man waiting and he gave her a wrapped package as she greeted him. Gini took it then signed for the delivery. She closed the door then checked on the boys before walking back to the bedroom. She tore the wrapper as she entered the room and saw a blue velvety box with bracelet and a neck chain.

"From J," she told Mama.

"He's so cute and those pieces are really beautiful."

"Thanks."

Gini smiled as she put on the neck chain. She touched the pendents delicately as she looked in the mirror. Gini left the chain on and kept the bracelet back in the box.