Uti

Abuja was too quiet. I missed the noise and bustle of Calabar. The wrinkled faces, tired eyes and thick air of roadside food. I hid my face in the pillow and his touch came after. I could recognise it anywhere as King's. His hand snuck into my shirt and his fingers danced on my skin. I moaned into the pillow, extra conscious of the other people we had in the house with us.

His lips met the back of my neck and tingles exploded on the spot. I turned around without prompting and claimed his lips. King smirked through the kiss and lifted me into his lap. My hands sliced through the air before settling around his neck.

"Sleep well?" he asked, lips pecking my jaw.

"Yeah. Where's Esther?"

"With her uncles."

Uncles. Butterflies scattered in my belly. I fingered his beards and his lips spread in a grin. Light streamed in through the window behind us, exposing the greenery outside.

The place was beautiful but quiet. I touched my forehead to his and his eyes dimmed. My excitement dwindled as our next location fleeted through my mind. It was important to King to see her but I didn't want to tag along.

"Are you ready?" he asked. I shook my head. He pouted and I traced the curve of his lips that turned up in a frown. "We talked about this. We can't come here without seeing her."

He couldn't but I could. She was his mother, not mine. With that her nasty attitude, I couldn't feel bad for wanting to stay away from her. I could still remember his mother's frown. Her plain disgust when she spied my hands laced with King's. I didn't want another episode of her. King stroked my face with his knuckles and my resolved shattered.

"Fine. Okay. Alright. Yes. If you say so."

He was smiling by the time I finished talking. I got off his lap and changed into something she would approve. A gown designed by me. King was already dressed in grey chinos complimented by a white shirt. He offered me his elbow and I slipped a hand through it.

We stepped into the parlour and stopped. Everyone of King's friends was present. We came together but it had been so long since they all sat in a circle like this, discussing in hushed tones. I knew they were discussing me—or us because they stopped and shifted the moment we walked in.

An unfamiliar emotion dug its claws into my chest when I spotted Samia curled by her father's side. It was Samia's birthday party we were attending. My baby died for a party. I shifted my gaze to the floor before the hate took over me and it became obvious that I partly blamed her for it. It was not her fault.

King steered us the other way to meet his friends. Esther was seated between Junior and Faith with her earpiece plugged in and a tab on her lap. She looked up when I walked further inside and waved at me. I waved back.

"You look pretty, mummy."

Because the earpiece was still plugged in, her voice came off louder than she intended for it to. I smiled. "You look pretty too, Esther."

Everyone's heads turned to me and a chorus of compliments ripped through the air. I returned it with a smile, going to sit on the largest couch. King joined me. I tried to catch his eyes but he was staring hard at Junior and Faith. Faith unplugged Esther's earpiece and whispered something into her ear. Esther froze for a minute, then stood up. She pulled Samia and they scuffled out of sight.

My heart picked up speed. They were up to something I wasn't sure I would like. King took my hand without meeting my gaze. I would not like this but for his sake, I hoped I was wrong. What I wanted from him right now was his support, his presence and his love.

"Uti," King whispered. His hand holding mine shook and my heart trembled. I would not like this. Junior scratched his head. Faith offered me a contrite smile. I paid attention to the television playing on mute. King tapped me and I sent him a glare that should have frozen him to the bones. "We want to talk about... about everything that has happened."

"We think you shouldn't sweep it under the carpet like this," Faith finished for him. Junior inched closer and retrieved his phone. A picture showed up. A picture of Emma. My breath caught. Oh, my God. I shoved my fist into my mouth to keep the screams inside. My boy. "We want to get justice for him."

I was shaking. My body shivered. Memories of me and Emma flooded me. I could hear his laughter, feel his soft breath against my cheek. They took my boy from me. He took my son. I would never see my son again. A pair of strong arms wrapped around me. My baby daddy. King. Junior dropped the phone. Tomiwa and his wife stared at me with pity.

I hated it.

I hated it here. King finally managed to get me to look at him. He counted his breath and I followed him, breathing along with him till I calmed down. The tears still trickled out of my eyes  Someone, maybe Uche, offered a handkerchief I used to dab my tears. King helped me to my feet and hugged me tight.

The conversation that barely started had ended. We walked out of the house without looking back. When we were by the car, he kissed me again and I kissed him back so I could forget. I wanted to be in the moment with him. To forget everything I left behind.

King's phone pinged and he let out a faux laugh. "My mum. She's waiting for us."

"Let's go." He opened the door for me and I slipped inside, tucking my seatbelt into place. My heart raced. I took deep calming breaths. King was there, rubbing soothing circles on the inside of my wrists. I gave him a small smile. "I'm fine now. Let's be going."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

I wound down the window and a cool breeze rushed in. My eyes closed as the breeze caressed my scalp. King hummed to a song and I hummed along, making up the lyrics as we went.

"They're right," I said with my eyes closed. "I shouldn't just let him go free. I don't care about his father but I care about the son. I want justice for my baby. He didn't deserve it."

"He didn't."

My eyes opened. "Will you help me?"

"All you have to do is ask. I want to help. We want to help." I rested my head against the window as he rambled on. "Junior wanted to make a flier for us to use. We know what we are up against. I just want you to be sure you can handle it." He turned the steering and we slowed at the traffic. "Cynthia will use her influence. She will post on Instagram. Umar will do the same. We will get him, Uti. We won't rest till he's back in prison. I want him–"

"King."

"–him locked up like the criminal he is. He should never see the light of day again. He is a fucking animal." King punched the steering once, then twice and the honk went off. I had never seen him this upset before but I knew he was releasing pent up anger so I let him be. The yellow light turned green. He caught a hold of himself and yelled into his hands. His eyes were set on the road when he said, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Uti. Maybe if I hadn't invited him to the party Maybe if I told you about him earlier, we wouldn't have fou–"

I cut him off with my finger pressed to his lips. King faced me and the raw emotions in his eyes tore at my heart. I gritted my teeth and counted till five. We would be fine. Soon.

Cars honked behind us when the light turned green. The impatient drivers zoomed past us, some of them cursing us as they went.

"Baby daddy, I love you," I told him. Taking his hand, I placed it on my chest. We were in the middle of the road. The road safety officers could apprehend us anytime but I couldn't say I cared. "It's not your fault."

"It's not your fault either," he added.

"It feels like it sometimes." His eyes told me what his lips didn't and I let out a dry laugh. "I will try. It's not my fault. It's not your fault."

"It's not our fault."

Holding hands, we continued our journey to his parents house. My nerves crept back on me when he pointed in the direction of the house. We drove into a quiet estate. I could feel my heart beating in my throat. I didn't expect his mother to be nice but if his father wasn't also nice, then it would be a big issue.

We slowed in front of a huge white house with black gates. The gateman walked out and King honked. The gate opened and he drove in. We didn't get out immediately. King grabbed my hands and placed a kiss on my ring, then the heel of my palm and wrist.

"Relax, Uti," he told me. "She doesn't bite."

"But she attacks."

I laughed. King laughed. We both got out of the car and he rushed to my side to hold me. The gateman greeted more than once. King rolled his eyes but slipped him a few naira notes. He was the real package. Handsome. Soft. Sweet. Loving. Kind. And an upcoming cook.

"Why are you smiling?" King asked.

I didn't realise I was till he mentioned it. "I'm smiling because I love you and you're my baby daddy."

"Husband. I'll be your husband soon."

"Okay." We crossed the distance to the door and he knocked. Before the door opened, I said, "I wonder what she will ask me today."

A dark look flashed across King's face when he remembered. He frowned. "Stop it, Uti." I shrugged. The last time, she asked why he was holding hands with the maid. She might have gotten more creative. King knocked again. "She's just being a mother."

"I'm a mother and I'm not like that."

A pause. Another longer pause. We sighed.

"I'm sorry," I told him. This time, I was the one that knocked and the door flung open to reveal his mother in all her arrogant glory. I looked to King for help and her gaze lowered to our hands joined together. A smile fell to her lips. I spoke first. "Good evening, ma."

She hugged King. "Son, you're late."

"Traffic," he said. Shifting behind me, his hands rested on my shoulders. "Mother, you have met Uti."

"Unfortunately."

Against my better judgement, I started laughing. She had not changed one bit. King mumbled an apology and we walked up the rest of the stairs. This would be a long visit.

* * * * *

Who missed King's mother? I know I did.