Mom knows all

Abby was so lost in her euphoric thoughts, she didn't hear when her mom started knocking on her door. when Julianna saw Abby didn't call for her to enter, she pushed the door open to find her daughter lying on the bed with a dreamy look on her face.

"Abike?..." Julianna called as she came into her daughter's room and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Hey mom," Abby said cheerfully and sat up in bed quarter lotus style.

"Hey, you too. Were you sleeping? I've been knocking for quite some time now."

"You have?" Abby asked with surprise. "No, I wasn't sleeping. I just didn't hear you knock." She replied truthfully. How could she not have heard her mom knocking on her door?

"That's serious then. Hmm....that smile though..." Julianna wondered aloud teasingly and smiled. "What brings about this radiance...is it Mike?"

"What!?... No Wura... C'mon! Where did you get that from? You know Mike and I are just friends."

"Yeah, but there's this glow about you since when you came back from having lunch with him, so I just assumed..."

"Mommy your imagination is running wild. I'm just...happy, nothing to it." Abby replied with a shrug."

"Yeah right!" Julianna said and rolled her eyes upward.

"Common mom! What... I can't be happy for just no reason?" She asked and laughed.

"Young lady, this kind of smile that you have on your face doesn't come from no reason... Just tell me who he is already."

"Mommyyyyy!...." Abby exclaimed and laughed. She was surprised at her mom. 'How could she tell there's a man just by looking at me?' She wondered to herself in surprise.

"Okay, I promise I won't pry too much. Just tell me this, you met a guy, yeah?" Julianna asked hopefully.

"Hmm mm..." Abby answered with a nod of her head.

"Well have you... I mean did you kiss yet?" Julianna asked again without reservation.

'"Mom! You promised not to pry!" Abby exclaimed again, covering her face shyly.

"What!? We talked about it when Mike attempted to... So why can't we talk about this?... Well, I just want to know if there were any before or after effects, that's all" Julianna said innocently.

Of course, she could tell from the happiness her daughter radiates that there were no negative effects and it seems her daughter was already having feelings for this person. She just wanted to hear every detail from her.

"Yes mom, there was no effect but..." She paused and laughed not finishing her statement when she saw how happy Julianna reacted.

Yes... But what? Julianna asked excitedly. Finally, her daughter was free from that particular PTSD symptom that has been a constant headache for the family.

"I've not said anything to you about him because we just met. It's only been two days... I mean we're still getting to know each other... I'll certainly introduce him when I'm certain he's the one."

"Come here..." Julianne said happily and pulled her daughter in for a hug. "I'm so glad it's all over... She said with tears in her eyes. After so many therapy sessions, her daughter was finally free of PTSD. "

"Mom please don't tell dad yet. I'll tell him myself when the time is right, okay?" Abby begged immediately they pulled apart from the hug.

"Don't worry, it's our secret... Did you tell your brother?"

"Yeah he knows"

"Alright then..." Julianna said, happiness radiating all over her, before talking about her purpose for coming to her daughter's room.

"So I just got a call from a client in Abuja who recommended me to the organization she works for. They are organizing a conference for all women in banking and finance and they would be needing our services to provide lunch for the people attending, from Monday till Saturday and then a buffet on Sunday."

"Oh that's great, when is that going to be?"

"In less than three weeks, but I have to first meet up with the organizing committee to discuss the details... You know how it works now."

"Yeah... So anything you want me to do?"

"I just need you to drop me off at the airport tomorrow morning. I'll probably be there for a week because I don't know how many days it would take the committee to decide and approve my proposal..."

"Okay, mom... But what about dad?"

"What about him?"

"Mom I'm not a kid anymore. I've heard you both argue about you traveling a lot. You know he's not happy about it and it's not as if we need the money... I don't understand why you have to travel so much."

"Abby I've settled it with your dad okay..."

"And he was not sad when you told him?"

"Yes, my love. Your father was not sad when I told him. Everything is good okay? Don't worry about us we're good now, alright?"

"Okay then." Abby replied with a smile

"So that's it then..." Julianna said and stood up ready to leave, "...early to bed...early to rise, don't stay up too late alright?"

"Alright mama, I won't..."

"Good night darling." She bent and kissed her daughter on the forehead.

"Good night mom...love you."

"Love you too my darling," Julianna replied and left Abby's room.

Julianna owned her own small catering business, which has a branch each in Lagos and Abuja. She was also a private chef who sometimes traveled with her clients on holidays or whenever her service was needed for a particular period.

Now she has promised Tade she would give up being a private chef and only cater for events. No more traveling with clients for holidays and festive periods. D

***

It was way past midnight before Tunde was able to call Abby back. He couldn't get away from the guys' teasing fast enough. Especially from Lekan who went on and on about Tunde's man card being taken away by Abby and how they all need to help him get it back.

Since he was in a jolly mood anyway, he enjoyed the moment with them. Ibrahim also took advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity to go out of line with him, by agreeing to their jokes and laughing along with them in a carefree manner.

"Hello" Abby who had already fallen asleep answered her call. Her soft and sexy voice warmed his heart.

"Hey, babe... Did I wake you? I'm sorry I wasn't able to call back earlier"

"Hmm, no problem." She slurred, her voice heavy with sleep. "I'm glad you called."

"I'm glad you're glad baby... Wish I was there in the same bed with you, holding you in my arms you know..." He said suggestively.

"Oh yeah?..." she replied and giggled. "Soon enough my love...in few hours time."

"Please say that again... The last part... Please babe."

"Check your WhatsApp, I left a little something for you there..." She chuckled when she heard the pleading note in his voice

"Need to go back to sleep now, I have an early start tomorrow... Sorry I meant in few hours." She corrected herself when she realized it was already past midnight.

"Alright... I hope you wouldn't mind Shegz picking you up in place of me?"

"No, Is there a problem?"

"It's going to be a very busy day for me, certainly won't be finishing early enough to pick you myself."

"Okay no problem"

"I'll text you his number, plus the door passcode. Just call him whenever you are ready, and he's also going to be around so you can ask him if you need anything, alright?"

"Alright baby... Good night"

"Night love."