Utianle

A hand snaked around my waist, I slapped it and moved away from it, close to the edge of the bed. I heard King grumble in the semi-darkness, his breathing was closer, he must have shortened the distance between us. I didn't turn to look at him, instead, I pulled the duvet up to my chin. If he was going to keep things away from me, then he should be ready to bear the consequences.

"Uti," he said in a voice that was barely above a whisper, "I will tell you tomorrow."

"Okay." 

"I promise."

King tugged on the duvet but I refused to let go of it. There were two duvets on the bed, he could use the other one, it was free.

"I want to cuddle," he whispered in my ear.

A pleasant chill went down my spine at his proximity but my back remained turned to him. "Go and cuddle with your laptop."

I felt rather than saw him inch away from him and when I twisted my neck to confirm my suspicion, he was at the opposite end of the bed. A disappointed sigh left my lips, I pulled the duvet down to my chest and rolled my eyes. He could have tried harder.

My side dug into the bed as I shifted to have a better view of him. He was facing away from me but the stiffness of his back told me he was still awake. I was partly annoyed that he had gotten Emma to lie to me. There was no use asking Esther, she wouldn't say.

Emma couldn't keep secrets and he had done that today, I even went to their room later and he had maintained his answer. I couldn't say if I was irked at the fact that my baby lied to my face or that he had grown the ability to seal his lips when it came to King, either way, I was annoyed. And there was only one person to blame.

The room was thrown into utter darkness when King turned off the bedside lamp. In a voice that was tinged with hurt, he murmured, "Goodnight."

His tone struck me and my annoyance gave way for guilt. I felt bad, not bad enough to close the distance between us but enough to accept his cuddle invitation if he tried again. He didn't, so I turned to the ceiling.

Minutes after he turned off the light, I continued staring into the darkness. Plenty of thoughts swirled in my mind, most of which were influenced by the events of today. A particular one stood out. The more I tried to bury it, the quicker it rose to the surface, asking me to deal with the issue now or I wouldn't be getting any sleep.

Tossing on the bed, the question swirling in my mind had my fingers digging into the bedsheet. Would I have to start competing for Emma's attention with King? He was smitten by him and a part of me was worried that with time, King's words would hold more power over him than mine.

Maybe my worries were unfounded but they stemmed from a place other than jealousy. It was from a mother who didn't know how to handle her son showering more affection on an adult that wasn't her. Maybe it was just jealousy masked as worry. No, I shook my head. It wasn't, it couldn't be.

I wasn't used to seeing Emma that way with anyone that wasn't me or Esther. Esther. I groaned and switched positions again. This must have been how she felt seeing me with King. I bit my lower lip and sighed.

With Umoh, it didn't seem like much of our dynamics changed. I immediately chided myself for thinking that way. It didn't seem like anything changed because he was not actively involved with me or my babies. But with King. I sighed again. It was a big adjustment for us and maybe I had not fully adapted to life with him like I thought I had.

"Uti."

"I can't sleep," I said before he could ask.

"Me too."

No one spoke again until he asked, "Does this lack of sleep have anything to do with the laptop's password? I already said I wi-"

"No," I cut him off. "Yes." I sighed. "Maybe." King kept mute as if giving me a chance to continue and I did, "I think I'm afraid..."

"Afraid that what? I am not cheating on you if that's what's bothering you, I am not."

His response got a small laugh out of me, I had never once thought of him cheating on me. I just knew he wouldn't, same way I was certain I wouldn't cheat on him.

"I'll never cheat on you."

"I know," I paused, "your refusal to give me your password doesn't bother me as much as Emma's response. Emma doesn't lie."

There was a slight movement on the bed and it wasn't from me. "Maybe he was not lying."

"Maybe he was." When Baba Eddy came, he didn't hesitate to give out my location even when it meant we might get kicked out. But he didn't know that. What if? I took a deep breath and voiced the thought out. "Maybe Emma likes you more than he likes me."

Now the thought was out there, I realised how absurd it sounded. But I wouldn't take it back. Maybe it was more than jealousy, an ache, a want for something that didn't have anything to do with King. A dependency on me as his mother not his elder sister.

"Or maybe I give good bribes. Or maybe he's just being a child," he murmured.

His breath fanned my ear and his fingers began tracing lines on my scalp. I moaned and sighed in contentment, forgetting for a moment what we were talking about.

"Maybe you are overthinking it," he said and his fingers stopped moving. "You are his mother, he will always like you more."

"But he doesn't know that," I said before he could continue, overcome by a deep longing to hear my babies call me mother.

"Yes, and we will have to fix that soon."

"How?" I raised my head slightly from the pillow to catch a glimpse of his face. It was futile, the room was too dark. "That boy can be headstrong, don't let him fool you."

My statement caused him to laugh and the corners of my lips pulled into a small smile. His breath tickled my ear. "Maybe, he is. But not as stubborn as his mother and sister."

I giggled, we were not stubborn, we were strong women. Yes, strong females.

King's hand slipped around my waist and I placed mine over his. "You are his mother, no one can come in between that, not even me." He placed a kiss behind my ear. "He loves you, they both adore you. I don't even stand a chance," he finished off in a whiny voice and I could picture his lips in a pout.

My smile grew in size. He was right, they both adored me. I chuckled, I was jealous over nothing or maybe I needed someone to reassure me. After all, I was the one who got most of his warm hugs, plentiful kisses, pencil drawings, notes and I love you.

A yawn slipped from me, my eyelids grew heavier, I asked, "Why couldn't you sleep?"

King's chest pressed against my back and his hand found their way under the mounds on my chest. We were sharing one pillow and I was surrounded by his warmth.

"Because you were not happy with me."

"Oh."

"Yeah, I sleep better with you in my arms."

My heart did a backflip at his words, I brought his hand to my lips, scattering kisses all over his knuckles. It wasn't just the sincerity in his words that got me, it was the way it slipped out without hesitation.

"Me too. I like it when we cuddle," I said.

King mumbled something under his breath about confused women, I giggled. If I hadn't refused to cuddle, we wouldn't have had this conversation, he should be thankful for this confused woman in his bed.

My eyes shut as lethargy took over me and when they fluttered open, everywhere was bright. King was nowhere to be found but his side of the bed was warm. I pushed myself into a sitting position and stretched languidly, a bit reluctant to leave the bed.

The door burst open and the object of our late-night conversation raced into the room and into my arms. He was all smiles as his tiny arms wound around my neck before placing a sloppy kiss on my cheeks.

"Good morning mummy."

"What?" My brows furrowed and I pulled Emma back to stare at him. My ears were playing tricks on me. "What did you say?"

Emma frowned, the smooth skin of his forehead marred by lines that showed he was thinking hard. "Good morning?"

"Yes," I nodded, "after that?"

His lips set into a straight line, he shrugged and sat on my lap. "I dunno," he said with a pout, tugged on my lip. "What did I say?"

"Nothing," I mumbled, carrying him in my arms as I rose from the bed. I was hearing things; my ears were messing with me.

Setting him on his feet, I fluffed the pillows and smoothed the wrinkles on the bedsheet while Emma stood opposite me, tucking the ends into the bed stand. I smiled at the dedication with which he did his task, the smile slowly leaving my lips when my eyes landed on his shirt. I'd never seen it before.

"Emma." I was still bent over the bed but my fingers were frozen on the mattress when I asked, "Who dressed you up?"

He beamed as he came to stand beside me and his voice lowered to a whisper, "Uncle Kiki. He say we should not disturb you."

A smile found its way to my lips, this was the Emma I knew, the one who couldn't keep a secret for long. I was tempted to ask him about last night again but I didn't. If King said he would tell me today, then I would have to wait for him to do that.

With a single nod, I hoisted him on my hip as my eyes briefly scanned his shirt. There was no point telling King not to buy things for me and the kids. Anything I had once said as regards that matter went in through his left ear and came out of the right. I scoffed and shook my head, to think he called me the stubborner one among us.

The door burst open for the second time this morning and in walked Esther. Her smile was the biggest, brightest I had seen in a long while and I found myself smiling along as she ushered us back to the bed even when I made it clear I was going out.

My smile gave way for a frown and I did my best not to upset Esther by disobeying her polite orders as my butt sank into the bed. I wanted to see Uncle Kiki, I wanted to see King. They had all seen him, except me.

"Good morning," Esther greeted as she sat and I replied with all smiles. Whatever it was that made my baby smile this way, I hoped it became a constant in our lives.

Esther's black shirt was also new. I pursed my lips, wondering if I should be bothered about the fact that I was the only one who didn't get a new shirt. King would have to explain himself on this one too.

"Where are you going?" Esther asked when I stood up, her tone made me chuckle.

"To find uncle Kiki, have you eaten?"

The mention of his name got her up from the bed faster than a command from me would have. "Yes, we have eaten."

They were dressed, fed and I was waking up now. I bit the insides of my cheeks and nodded, King should not have let me sleep in. He babied me too much for my good.

Esther came to stand in my path, blocking my way out. "Don't go, wait for him here."

Folding my arms across my chest, I stared at her and smiled. I hoped she realised I was her mother and I was the one to give the orders around here, not her.

"I don't want to wait for him here," I said.

"Pleeeeeease," she added.

My shoulders sagged at her cute expression, I nodded. King was hiding something and they were all in on it. I didn't like that and last night already showed that this secret was worth more than their loyalty to me.

Esther followed closely behind me when I sidestepped her. "Where are you going?"

Heaving a sigh, I murmured, "To brush my teeth." Whatever was going on in her head, I didn't care to figure it out right now neither did I wait to hear her reply. I could not have been this stubborn at her age.

The oval mirror in the bathroom showed a dark-skinned, bald female. Her eyes were happy and her smile was real. I splashed water on my face before going on to retract the paste and toothbrush from the small cup by the sink. Truly, peace of mind and happiness were the best skincare routine.

My hand was on the doorknob but I didn't twist it open, the hushed voices coming from inside the room made me want to stay here longer to figure out what they were mumbling. Their voices were small; I could tell they were talking but that was just it.

I pushed the door open and my fingers went to cover my ears at the chorus of surprise that greeted me. Surprise? Today wasn't my birthday, I wasn't a big fan of birthdays but I would never forget mine or my babies.

My hands lowered to my side in slow motion and my feet propelled me to their front. King was holding a small cake, all three of them were standing on one line but according to their height. Then I saw it.

The similarities in their attires, the letters written in bold fonts at the centre of their shirts. With their standing arrangement, the things I missed earlier came to light and I was able to piece the word on each of their shirts to form a single heartfelt statement.

Happy Mother's Day!

My body suddenly became too heavy for my jelly-like legs and my knees almost gave in. Thankfully, the headboard was close to support my weight so I leaned on it. I found myself seated on the edge of the bed with my face in my hands, no memory of how I got there. My mind was blank.

"Mummy," someone called out and I almost didn't raise my head for fear I was hearing things again. My heart could not handle a repeat of that. "Mummy! Mummy!"

That was all it took for me to lift my head.

"You are crying." It was Emma's voice. I blinked, my fingers moved to my cheeks, they were wet with my tears. Tears of joy.

One look at the cake that had been placed on the stool in front of me, the caption on the cake that was done with blue icing set the tears to work and they trickled down my cheeks uninhibited. I wasn't seeing or hearing things. This was real. The people crouched at my feet staring at me like I mattered the most were real. This was real.

"Uncle Kiki, I don't think mummy likes our surprise."

I couldn't tell who said it but the mention of the word, mummy, got my mouth moving, "I love it." My hands rubbed furiously against my laps, I wanted to hear it again, I wanted to hear it said to me. I looked between Esther and Emma then said, "Say it again."

"Mummy?" Emma asked and I nodded.

"Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy." Soon enough, Esther joined in and they chanted the word like our deacon would when he raised the chalice to the roof during communion service. Their combined sound was beautiful, like a taste of heaven.

A wave of emotions crashed over me, I felt everything at once from the melody their cherubic voices created. My heart thrashed in my chest like a pregnant woman in labour, threatening to burst with the joy that consumed me and my chin hurt from maintaining my face splitting grin.

"Mummy is crying," Emma stated as their chanting slowly died out. I shook my head in protest, I didn't want them to stop, I wanted to continue hearing it forever.

I was in love with the sound, the way Emma pronounced it as mur-me, unlike Esther who pronounced it correctly. I loved both.

"Don't cry, mummy," Emma murmured as his small fingers slid down my cheeks to wipe any trace of tears. "Don't cry, mummy, we love you, mummy. Esther, say it too."

"Yes," Esther supported and came to sit by my right. "We love you, mummy."

A sound between a choke and a laugh escaped my lips. When God blessed me with fruits of the womb, he didn't say anything about them being little angels in disguise.

I shook my head and murmured, "Mummy loves you too. Mummy is happy, too happy."

"Me too I'm happy," Emma seconded and bounced on his feet. "Should I cry too?"

A small laugh slipped past me, I shook my head and hoisted him on my laps. Emma was too cute. "No. No crying." I sniffed and swiped at my cheeks. "No crying for me," I bopped his nose, "no crying for you too."

"And me three."

"And me four," King's deep morning voice added. I whipped my head in his direction so fast, I had to blink multiple times to clear my vision. My heart skipped and I smiled.

King stood a few feet from us and I did my best to transfer all the emotions, all the love I felt in my heart to the gaze I bestowed upon him. This wouldn't have been possible without him; it might have happened but it wouldn't have happened this soon.

As he sauntered to come sit beside me and complete our small family, I felt this sudden calm, a warmth that spread throughout my chest. An instant realisation hit me, a fact I had ignored for too long and my smile grew.

I loved him. I loved King Daniels.

*****

BOTC: Mr Sensual, Miss Sassy by Fourdoorgallardo. It's one of the first Nigerian romance stories I read here. 

You can't tell me you don't love the beautiful cover in the media by Iyanuoluwa-Temi. Thank you for it.

*Grins like Emma* The part where they called her mummy, it was so smooth and easy to write. I was so happy to come and edit this chapter until I heard about Chadwick's death, I am still in shock.

Q: Who else is glad to hear them call her mummy? I know I am.