THE BIRTHDAY 2

Michael was instantly worried as he walked with Deji in response to his mother's call. He was even more puzzled as he walked into the living room to meet his mother standing. She was facing the television that was turned off. This felt as though something serious had happened.

He wondered the reason for this unusual summon. This was shortly before he was supposed to dance with his daughter. He was also pre-informed by Deji that he was supposed to give a vote of thanks speech soon. As he moved closer to his mother, Deji followed.

"Please close the door behind you." Mrs Bose said to them as soon as she turned and saw them. Deji quickly ran to lock the entrance door, leaving the three of them alone.

"I'm only going to say this once and I will not repeat myself. I do not want to see that girl called Matilda ever again in this premises. Michael, this may be your house but it accommodates the people I love and hold dear".

Michael looked surprised. "Mummy what happened?, I can see that you are clearly upset about something."

"Yes I am Michael. Your choice of a girlfriend is appalling. She has bad intentions for Jenny who has done absolutely nothing to offend her and I would not let that slide."

"I understand Mummy but you are still not saying what happened? "

"The reason I am not asking the security to throw her out right now is because I do not want to create a scene on my granddaughter's 13th birthday. But please I beg of you, inform her that she is no longer welcomed here"

"Yes ma'am. I will do that" Michael responded while Deji kept nodding his heard.

As she walked towards the exit, she turned to them again and in a more softer tone spoke to them.

"Please also inform Jenny not eat anything at least until after the party"

"Noted ma." Michael replied.

"The truth is, if I want to be rash in my approach, I would've added Nina to the equation but unlike Matilda, she is a very sensible person and I like her"

"Thank you ma" Deji said quickly and watch Mrs Bose leave, closing the door behind her.

"Deji!"

"Yes bro"

"What was all this about? Did Matilda speak rudely to my mum?"

"Which Matilda? Is she mad?"

"Then what was that about?"

"Bro I don't know o. Honestly, I have no idea. Deji said to him as they walked out back into the party. He paused in front of Michael and turned as though he remembers something.

"I have no clue on what might have transpired between Mummy and Matilda. I just know that I left the table because Matilda was flipping out over some very unnecessary issues"

"What sort of unnecessary issues?" Michael asked with a probing gaze.

"It was not anything important. But she was bad-mouthing Jenny and being very disrespectful to you. I scolded her and walked away. That's all. Let's go, it's dance time. Let's go back into the party Bro." Deji said to him because he had suddenly become very quiet.

Michael counted his steps as he walked. He wanted to walk into the tent Matilda sat and order her to leave. That would be so embarrassing. Hence, he held himself back from creating a fracas. Walking slowly helped him calm down. By the time he reached the dance floor it was so crowed.

When a popular Nigerian dance song was played, everyone jumped and cheered.Michael found Jenny who was already dancing with Stephanie and some parents having a good time. Everyone was busy spraying money on them as they danced. Even Deji and Nina danced with them.

Michael had no choice but to join in the fun. Jenny was not such a good dancer and that made him laugh at her.

Finally, he could see something that she was not good at. She danced slowly when he got to her side and it was such a beautiful moment for him. Enjoying the switch in the dance songs, he began remembering his mother's words.

The cryptic words of his mother lingered so much in his heart that he did not realize when he pulled Jenny close to himself in that crowd and he whispered into her ears.

"Have you eaten?"

"No sir. Not yet" she replied.

"Are you hungry? Do you want me to get you something to eat?" she asked.

Michael shook his head, rejecting the offer, he did not seem to mind the piercing gaze of some women around him as he danced with Jenny. It was not their business and they were not the ones in his arms, he told himself.

"Can you promise me that you will not eat anything in this party until after it is over?"

"Is something wrong?" Jenny asked him. He could not tell her as he did not want her to become suspicious of the party she planned.

"Nothing is wrong. It's just that I plan on eating together with you inside the house after this party" He smiled.

"Okay I promise. I won't eat anything "

"Alright but if you want to, just drink a sealed bottle of water or juice if you feel hungry" he suggested.

"I'm not really hungry for food sir. I have had quite a fill during the preparation. I'll do as you have said. I want to eat together with you too" She smiled.

No one could hear what their discussion was about. They looked like true lovers whispering into the ears of one another as their daughter jumped around, dancing with her friends.

Michael had gotten to understand that he enjoys the peace of being in Jenny's company. He liked talking to her because she made the conversations simple and easy. On top of it all, beyond her top notch communication skills is her beauty. He could stare at her all day and he would not be tired.

When he was called to give the vote of thanks, he felt overwhelmed even though he was not the celebrant. He appreciated his family, his uncles, his extended relatives for showing up. Stephanie screamed at the background "my school too" which made the audience laugh. He further thanked the school administrator, staffs, students and parents as well as his daughters friends and their parents. Finally he expressed his gratitude to the planner and best person they could ever have "Jenny". Everyone clapped but a few ladies noted how romantic he was towards thanking Jenny. With the vote of thanks, the party came to an official closing.

When everyone began to disperse, Damilola walked up to him regarding him with rude looks.

"You must really like that Jenny of yours. Look at the way she is gorgeously dressed for a nanny!!! And the way you are tender towards her is something else. Touching her every second. The rubbish line that your daughter is attached to her is pure nonsense lie!!! You are the one attached to her. I will not be surprised if you were the one who told your daughter to call her mummy!" She spat out rolling her eyes.

"Damilola I am not on earth to please you. I don't have to define my relationship with Jenny to anyone else. Secondly, my attachment to her is none of your fucking business. So you can get moving with your crazy line of thinking".

"Michael you're still as ruthless as ever. I wonder what the lady sees in you that she offers you her pussy. I believe when she gets to know how heartless you are then.."

"The Jenny i know, is not a free distributor of the golden treasure in between her thighs. It is very golden, Honourable" Michael didn't even think before defending Jenny. It came out naturally.

"So mine that you enjoyed and used recklessly is not golden?" Damilola asked.

"Yuck! I can't even remember the irritating feeling anymore." He sounded nauseated.

"You are a bastard!" She grunted.

"Did you come all the way to my daughters party to insult me? Because the last time i checked, i have not seen your bleached face in over five years or so. And yes, Jenny sees what you idiot did not see even when we were together "

"Ha! Michael, don't go there, don't dare to trivialize what we had together. For heaven's sake,I loved you and your daughter"

"Don't you dare put my daughter's name in any statement you make because you are not worthy. My child barely ate because of you and you treated her like trash. I was a grieving dad, blinded to the harsh reality of your ill treatment towards a child who just lost her mother. You dealt with my child so bad.... That, Infact, I don't really want to talk about it, thanks for coming and get out"

"Whatever" Damilola said and began walking to the main gate.

"I thought i was the only one he treated badly" Matilda whispered to Damilola as she emerged from a flower bed where she hid herself to hear their entire conversations. She walked closer to her, stretching her arm for a handshake.

"My name is Matilda"

"I'm honourable Damilola Adeyemi and I don't talk to your kind"

"Excuse me, what is my kind? Do you know who i am? Do you think am a pauper? My father is a federal minister for your information"

"Well! Good for you. I am the special adviser to the president on communications matter. I don't go about seeking audience because of daddy's money that i can spend."

"Ha! I see the reason he dumped your sorry old ass, honourable!"

"I am guessing you couldn't last too and I am wondering where he saw your lusty kind."

"Really? honourable, you that is not lusty, how is that working out for you? I am a recent flavour. You are so out of his league now. No wonder you are so bitter"

"I am not bitter, You ashewo, parading yourself around billionaires when you have absolutely nothing to offer him"

"Honourable with things to offer, why did you not last with him? He saw you last five years ago? Ma'am, he has been with me for two years now and until recently. I mean as recent as days, we are still fucking steady, so don't fool yourself."

Before the ladies could begin to exchange blows, the security came to pull them apart and Jenny stood there with tears in her eyes wondering what she heard about Michael recent sexcapades.

"Please ma both of you are holding up the foot traffic" The security said as both of them rolled eyes at one another and left.

After the close of the party, Stephanie was so exhausted. She had a total of 183 physical presents from the party that were taken upstairs. Her room was already filled with some of the big boxes that the rest were taken to Jenny's room as well.

Jenny and the staffs took down the various food and play tents, while the cleaning crew she hired, did the rest job and she served them food afterwards.

Jenny told Stephanie they would make a broadcast message of appreciation to everyone who showed up for the birthday party via WhatsApp and that sounded alright to the family but they were so exhausted, that she postponed it to the next day.

When she got inside, she told Michael she would have pepper soup and plantains for dinner. He agreed to have that as well. So, she stepped into the kitchen to microwave it. Michael had noticed that the connection he thought they had all day was no more there as she regarded him again as a boss. He could almost say she was angry as she arranged the food on the dining table alone.

When Stephanie came downstairs after taking her bath, she refused to have the dinner Jenny had prepared. She took just two slices of watermelon for dinner. Mrs Bose told Jenny that she saw Stephanie stuffing herself with so many cakes and candies. The teenager laughed and defended herself by saying they were too sweet to ignore. She went upstairs immediately to sleep and Mrs Bose retired for the night too with almost similar excuse.

Deji had gone out with Nina soon after the party ended, so Michael and Jenny was left alone in the dining room.

"You look so tired. I hope you are not staying up late to prepare dinner for Deji? He has already eaten" Michael protested.

"No i am not. He told me he will be out late with Nina."

"Okay that's fine"

Michael saw her focused on the meal but she ate slowly, cranking her neck from side to side.

"Should I massage your neck? You seem so tired and you know Its expected to be. You have worked so hard for days. I am good at massages, you know"

She smiled briefly.

"You don't really have to.I am fine"

"But i want to. I want you to be relaxed" he insisted.

"I am fine sir. I am very fine but thanks for the offer"

"Jenny, did I offend you after the vote of thanks? Because we danced so well"

Jenny stared at him and she could see that he was looking so sad.

Stretching her hand across the table, she touched his.

"The vote of thanks was beautiful. I blushed and smiled shamelessly."

"Then what is it?"

Jenny took a glass of water as she had finished eating. She got up to take her plates to the kitchen.

"You can carry mine. I am not hungry"

Michael offered as he did not even eat his food properly. Jenny had no choice but to sit down.

"Please eat." She said as she pushed his food towards him, walked around the table, and sat beside him.

"I heard the honorable and miss Matilda fight over you verbally after the party" she said painfully.

"What? Those bitches are shameless" he exclaimed.

"But they love you" she cried out.

"They do not! They only love this!" He waved into the air.

"They want my money and everything I can afford but not me. They don't love my child or even care about her. Damilola was fond of hitting and maltreating Stephanie. She would refuse to give her food and wanted me to send her to live with Laura's parents in Lagos."

Jenny remembered the maltreatment Stephanie spoke about. The woman behaved as though she was not cruel to a child.

"I am sorry about that. If they are so bad, why are you still having sex with them?"

"Who said that? That is a bloody lie?"

"Can you say you have not had sex with Matilda in days?"

Michael wondered where she got such horrendous information. He looked at her wondering if telling her the truth is a good idea.

"Do you want to know about my sex life?"

"I didn't say that. Just a few days ago, you said you wanted something with me and in those days, you were still sleeping with her" Jenny said while looking at the floor.

Michael stood up from his seat. He moved closer to her, raising her head. Her makeup was still on. She looked tired but still so beautiful. She opened her eyes and gazed at him. That was all his undoing. He couldn't stop himself. The pull, the electricity that flowed in between them in recent time was charged up as their lips collided.

Michael held her face so tenderly as his lips touched her cold lips, probably cold from the water she had recently drank. He used his tongue to slowly pry open her mouth and he plundered. The more he kissed her the more tension he ignited within himself. It was an experience he had never had. Jenny held unto his arms, even while seated. She felt she could fall. The pleasure made her inner thighs wet and she felt like she had urinated. Michael applied more pressure to his mouth as he savored the pleasure it gave him.

He only pulled away when he heard the sound of Deji's car horn blaring.

They were breathless, staring at each other. Jenny was shy and her legs were pressed together. He wanted to continue but that would mean, his cousin could find them. Damn Deji!

"Thank you for today. The party was beautiful" Michael said as he returned to his seat filling partially sated. He wanted a hand job but Betty was far from his option. Jenny being available would not even know what to do. From the short encounter they just had, he was sure he was her first.

"Well I have a balance of the cheque you gave me. I have to return it back to you. We spent 4.5 million for everything"

"Jenny how did you get a D.j, Mc, life band, caterers, tents, party packs, lots of cakes and castles for that amount?"

"Well I planned. I joined in building and asked for the subsidized version of everything. Besides, I didn't let them know it was for a big man's kid. I wanted this day to be special for Stephanie and it was not about how expensive the budget was. Secondly, you did not let me pay for the food and drinks"

"Jenny keep the money"

"Ha! That's too much. I cannot. I would leave it in Stephanie's s account. " she objected.

"How did we go from kissing to talking about business and money?"

Michael asked and he saw the blush on her face. It turned right into a chuckle. The chemistry was back and if not for that useless cousin of his, he might have gone further with Jenny tonight.

"Are you still going home on Tuesday?"

"Yes I am"

"I thought you would change your mind"

"Why would I do that"

"Because it is going to be so hard for me. I would miss you all the time"

"I'm glad you will. I miss you a lot." She whispered. Rubbing their hands together, Michael raised her from her seat.

"I'm exhausted" She admitted.

"I know, you should sleep. I wouldn't bother you for anything" he said.

She laughed at the mention of "anything"

When they got to her room door, Jenny insisted on checking on Stephanie first before going to her own room.

Knocking on Stephanie's room door, they heard no response. When she opened the door, she discovered Stephanie had slept off. Jenny walked in and covered the child properly. She also regulated the air conditioning and dimmed the lights. Michael smiled at the way, it all comes naturally out of her. The little girl looked so exhausted as Jenny kissed her on her forehead.

"We have a Thanksgiving tomorrow. Please be up and ready before eight in the morning." Jenny said as she walked to her door.

"Yes ma. Good night mom" Michael replied.

"Am sorry for using a commanding voice.Good night Michael" she said

The sweetest sound he has heard was his name in her mouth and so he blew her a kiss and she chuckled entering her room.

In the morning, Michael prepared himself early and came downstairs to discover the entire family was already set by 7:35am.

"So you all planned to wear a white coloured native but nobody told me. if I did not tell my myself that I want to wear this white today, you guys would've made me look like the black sheep of the family" Michael said as soon as he saw them in the living room.

Everyone laughed hard especially Stephanie who was drinking a cup of tea.

"Well I wanted you to wear the white native without telling you. So I

put it out in front of your wardrobe. I am sure your instinct will choose it naturally" Jenny said.

"And if my instinct did not" He objected.

"I would have returned you upstairs to change " Mrs. Bose declared.

Everyone laughed again as he said they were all ganging up against him.

When they arrived in church, Mrs. Bose and Stephanie moved forward as they have always sat together during the monthly Thanksgiving service.

Deji, Michael and Jenny sat together. Nina walked in to sit beside Deji and Michael chuckled. A lot of people walked to greet him before the service started and it dawned on him that he used to be the president of their men's fellowship, years ago.

As the service began, he buried himself in deep thoughts.