Another Love Story

Twenty two

Trish and I were cleaning the apartment when my phone rang. The music system went quiet as it had been playing music off my phone. I dried my hands and went into the living room. It was my mother calling.

"Hey mama," I greeted in a sing song voice.

"My baby, how are you?" she greeted.

"I'm alright mummy," I replied.

"Is that why you've been ignoring your mother?" she asked.

"Mummy-" I began but she cut me off.

"I need to see you, Michelle. When is the earliest that you can come home?" she asked.

"Saturday afternoon," I responded.

"Alright. I'm going to the farm now. I'll see you then," she said.

"Mama, is there anything you need that I should bring for you?" I asked before she could hang up on me.

"Just your beautiful smile," she said.

"Mama," I said in a warning voice.

"I'm serious, Michelle. Your father and I are fine. We don't need anything. Just come over," she said.

"Alright. Bye mummy."

"Goodbye my baby."

I hung up just as Trish came into the living room. "Who was it?" she asked.

"Mum."

"Oh! I wish I had gotten a chance to say hello to her," Trish said.

"She called for one purpose only: to summon me home," I said as I put the music back on.

"Is everything alright?" Trish asked.

"I hope so. She gave me no hints on the phone," I replied.

"Alright."

Trish and I got back to our cleaning.

*

Friday night, Trish and I treated ourselves to dinner at The Hickory. We went out for drinks afterwards and got home at 2am. I slept in on Saturday morning. At 10am, I got up and began to prepare to go home and see my parents. I was the only child of a politician and a businesswoman. My father was a Resident District Commissioner and farmer. My mother owned a hardware store and a supermarket in Bulenga; where our family home and farm were.

I had scarcely been home since Sam's humiliating betrayal and I felt guilty about turning up empty handed. Food and gifts for my parents weren't going to stop questions about Sam. I steeled my spine as I drove into the compound at home.

My nephews and nieces came to greet me when I got out of the car. My parents had raised many of my cousins as well as other needy children. Their children often came to spend the holidays with their grandparents.

I made my way into the house and froze as I entered the living room. My mother sat with Aunt Suzan, my father's sister. They were drinking juice and chatting lightly. The television was on at a low volume. If I hadn't seen my mother in a long time, then I hadn't seen my Ssenga [paternal aunt] in a very long time.

I tucked my sunglasses into the front of my shirt as I knelt to greet them. As soon as I rose up, my mother wrapped me in a warm hug.

"My baby, the bank manager," she said as she gave me a squeeze. I tightened my arms around her and sighed. After a few moments, we drew apart and I hugged my aunt as well.

I poured a glass of juice as instructed by my mother and sat down in the sofa beside her.

"How are you Michelle?" mum asked.