Chapter 8

Xavier picked up his phone to call Desewa the

moment he rolled out of bed, she picked on the third

ring, good morning sunshine, how was your night? he

said, it was fine but short, did I wake you? no I woke

up an hour ago, how was your night? sweet just kept

on dreaming about you, really, she said blushing, yes

babe, what time are you going to the shop? I should

be there by 8, why so early? I have a lot to do today,

alright, do you mind if I bring you breakfast, cause I'm

very sure you won't eat, actually I don't mind, get me

something light, I don't want to feel lazy and tired,

don't worry babe, he said, what time are you going to

work? I own my business, I can walk in anytime I

want but after having breakfast with you, alright let

me get ready, she said giggling, see you soon, he said

and hung up.

Good morning, Blessing said welcoming her boss,

good morning Blessing, are you the only one around,

no, Tola and Tinu are cleaning the shop, which Tola?

same Tola, I thought i said I don't want to see in my

shop, Blessing are you alright? I didn't know you

were serious about it, cause we play too much now I

can't give you instruction and you'll follow it, its not

like that ma, she said she was going to explain and

apologise to you that's why I told her to stay, thank

your stars I'm in a good mood today, call me Tola, I'm

sorry ma, it won't happen again, just call me Tola,

alright ma.

Good morning ma, Tola said as she walked into her

boss office, long time no see, how have you been? I'm

okay ma, why haven't you been coming to work? I've

been sick just got better yesterday, why am I just

hearing this? I told Blessing to tell you, can you hear

yourself you couldn't call or send a message Tolani?

it skipped my mind ma, okay no problem get out of

my shop, I'm sorry ma, I said get out, its not about

apologizing and I'm not mad at you I just hate it when

I smell incompetency, how can you say it skipped your

mind that's very silly for you to say, just get out of my

studio, I can't work with people like you, I'll send you

your salary tomorrow please don't beg if you beg me I

won't send your complete salary, call me Blessing you

can go, thank you ma she said stepping out of her

office.

Blessing this should be the last time I'll give you an

instruction and you won't follow, I'm sorry ma it will

never happen again ma, it better not, I was going to

forgive her at first but she doesn't sound remorseful at

all and I can't take such frivolities in my shop, call

the bride she needs to try the dress, book an

appointment with her if shes not available today, ask

her when she's going to be available, and we need to

start the wedding dress, put together all the fabrics we

need, after I have breakfast we'll start, but before then

please finish Mrs Hassan's dress she might come for it

today, okay ma, you can go.

Good morning baby, Xavier said hugging her, sorry I

can't wait to have breakfast with you I have an

appointment by 11 I have to rush, no problem thanks

for the food, she pecked him on the cheek, your

boyfriend is a good cook, he giggled, you made the

breakfast? I did I made it all by myself, wow that's

nice I can't wait to dig in, bye baby, he said, have

a nice day, she said and closed the door to her office.

Breakfast was toast bread and omelette with spiced

hot dog , I can't believe he cooked this it's soo nice, she

said to herself.

Her phone started ringing, she checked to see the

caller it was her best friend Kemi, Kemi what's up,

De...sewa, she said with a shaken voice, what's wrong?

are you crying? babe where are you? I'm still in your

house, so what happened, you know what I'm on my

way, she dropped her phone in her handbag and

grabbed her car key, Blessing handle things around

here I'll be back in a jiffy, alright ma.

She drove back to her apartment, opened the door

with her key, she saw her sitting on the floor crying,

Kemi what happened, she said rushing to her,

mom just called me Dad had an accident and he's

dead, what! How come? he was on his way back to

Lagos from Ibadan both he and is driver died

instantly, babe I'm soo sorry, I didn't get to tell him I

love him, you know we've not been on good terms

lately we fight every time we see, now I can't even see

him again, this is not your fault and stop crying, it

can't bring him back, just be strong for mommy, I

know how it feels I've been there before, I just want

you to calm down and stop crying get up now, take

your bath and go and see your mom, I'm very sure she

really needs you, thanks babe you can go back to

work, not until I see you drive out of this compound.

She went back to her studio after seeing her friend off,

ma'am is everything okay? Blessing asked, the way

you rushed out was alarming, everything is fine.

I'm done with Mrs Hassan's dress, okay that's good,

have you called the bride, yes she said she'll be here

by 4pm, okay take my bag to the office, she said to

Tinu, let's start the wedding dress.

She called her mom when she was about leaving the

studio, good evening mom, Adesewa how are you? I'm

okay mommy, how are you? I'm good too, mom I've

sent the money, really I'll check thank you so much

my dear, didn't you get the alert? for a while I've not

been receiving alert, I don't know what happened, go

to the bank and complain, I'll do that before the end of

this week, how's work? It's fine, Kemi's dad is dead,

are you joking? Mom I'm not joking her mom called to

tell her, what happened? He had an accident on his

way back to Lagos, oh God! Ehhh let me call her

mother, are you still at the shop? Desewa asked, just

about to leave, alright but don't stay out late, alright

dear let me call her, she said and hunged up.

I feel like taking a break from this environment, she

said to Blessing, you need to at least for a month, after

we're done with this wedding dress I'm travelling, it's

needed, close the shop, I'm leaving, good night ma.

I should call Kemi, she whispered to herself as she lay

on the bed.

Hey babe, this is Desewa, of course I know, she said

smiling, how's mom? I don't know, she has been

crying since I got here, I'm sorry I couldn't go

with you, I really wanted to but I have to attend to a

client, I understand, I'll come as soon as I roll out of

bed tomorrow, thanks babe, anytime, you should get

some sleep, Sewa said, I'm in bed already I'll sleep

anytime from now, alright good night babe, sweet

dreams.

Her phone started ringing, hello, she said in a sleepy

voice, are you sleeping? Xavier asked, no just

lying down, I'm just leaving work do you mind if i

bring dinner or have you had dinner, you won't

believe I haven't eaten anything after the breakfast

you brought for me, are you serious? I'm bringing

don't worry, but it's getting late already, send me your

address, alright.

Oh God this guy is awesome, he knows the perfect

time to call, she said to herself, she changed her cloth

to something more comfortable, went to the living

room and waited for him to call.

Hey babe, she said opening the door, he pecked her on

the lips, what's wrong? you don't look happy, I'm not

happy, I got some really bad news today, she said

sitting next to him on the sofa, Kemi's father died in

an accident, I'm so sorry, how's she? I don't know we

sorry not quite long she sounded okay but her mom

isn't, she'll be fine, Xavier said, I'll see her tomorrow

before going to the studio, let's eat, he said, what do

we have here? she said taking the pack of food from

him, let me dish it.

How come you got my place so easily, one of my

friend stays around here, few blocks from here, really,

yes and I want you or meet my friends, we can all

dinner together on saturday, okay that's fine,thanks

for the food anyway, I would've gone to bed on an

empty stomach, anytime dear, he said smiling.

You stay alone? he asked, yes for now, I stay alone too,

my mom wants to get me a maid and a chef, you do

everything alone? she asked, not exactly I employ

someone to clean the house every weekend and I don't

need a cook I can cook, I make very nice meals I can

take care of myself, I see, she said giggling, I really

enjoyed the breakfast you made for me thank you, I'm

glad you liked it, he said.

They talked for hours, sharing childhood experiences

and learning more about each other, oh it's almost 1

in midnight, Desewa exclaimed, I better start going,

you can stay over and leave very early tomorrow,

what do you think? That'll be nice, he said grabbing

her waist and gently kissed her on the lips.

Wake up sleepyhead, he said as he pecked her lips, she

smiled and opened her eyes, what time is it? she

asked, past 8, I need to see Kemi before going to the

shop I promised her I'll come this morning, she said

grumbling, stand up and get ready, I better start going,

alright babe, let me see off, you don't have to, see you

later.

She had a quick warm bath, got dressed and headed

out.

How are you doing? She said hugging her best friend,

I really don't know, how's mom? She's still sleeping,

she's okay I guess, what about your brothers? they're

both flying in today, I'm so sorry, Desewa said, it's

alright, I'll be fine, a tear rolled down from her eyes,

Desewa hugged and patted her back, thanks for

coming, anything for you, have you had breakfast?

Desewa asked, not yet, I haven't too let's make

breakfast before mom wakes up, Desewa said pulling

her up.

She picked her phone to call one of her apprentice,

hello Blessing, good morning ma, good morning, I'm

not coming to the shop today something came up, is

everything okay? She asked, yes, I put you in charge,

make sure everyone cooperates, are you done fixing

the veil for the wedding dress? Not yet ma, I'll make

sure I finish it today, alright, if anyone comes looking

for me, just take their measurement and fabric, make

sure they pick style and if they want me to pick for

them message me on whatsapp or call me, do you

understand? yes ma'am, Blessing make sure you fix

that veil today, I'll sew the dress tomorrow, alright ma,

alright take care and make sure you call me if you

don't know what to do, bye, alright ma.