Edna smiled as she ended the call with her
son. He was on his way he’d said although
he would be a bit late, he had to drop off
his girlfriend first before coming to pick
her at her shop. She couldn’t complain, she
would just wait for him a while. What
could she do? She couldn’t compete with
his girlfriend and it wasn’t like he was her
driver. He was doing her a favour since
her driver was on sick leave.
She was a very proud mother. The boy had
grown up to be everything any woman
wanted in a son, a good heart, put others
before himself and really hardworking. He
had been a blessing since the first moment
she’d held him in her arms. He’d been a
good child and now he was a good,
promising young man. He had the heart of
his mother and would make a great
husband to a lucky girl, she was very sure
of it.
She couldn’t take all the glory for bringing
him up in the right way. She’d done her
best as a mother but she knew it was by
God's intervention she’d been able to steer
them away from a life of poverty and into
immense wealth and promise.
She remembered the late Chief, her only
husband.
He was another one of those
special kind of men who were put on earth
to fulfil a mission before being called
home. He’d been a very loving, patient,
kind and selfless man. Very wealthy but
the money had meant nothing to him.
Family had always come first for him.
He’d come into her life at a time when
things had only just begun to turn around
for her. She’d just started her small
women apparel business when she’d met
him. It had been at her first little shop in
Garki .
He’d been confused, looking for a perfect
gift for his then twelve year old daughter's
birthday. He’d come into her shop
thinking he’d find a frock or something for
her but she had only lace materials for
women and some jewelry.
She’d advised him to get her a necklace
instead, a timeless piece that would help
her remember him at all times. Tonye had
been the same age at the time and she
knew what her daughter craved. He’d
liked her idea and instantly bought one
with a heart shaped locket that allowed for
a tiny picture inside. She’d doubled the
price for it but he hadn’t blinked for a
second, he’d had really bad bargaining
skills. He’d not needed it anyway as he
could easily afford it afterall.
The next week he had been back and she’d
thought he’d come to get something else to
spoil his daughter with but had been
shocked when he’d shyly asked her out.
She’d immediately agreed because he had
been a great catch. A handsome, wealthy
widower like that didn’t come by her way
everyday. It had gone uphill from there.
They’d dated for two years and even
though his daughter hadn’t taken to her
and her kids he’d asked her to marry him
believing over time she would warm up to
them. Unfortunately she never had and
Edna had stopped trying long ago. The girl
was just a spoilt brat who wanted her
father all to herself.
She had lost him in a car crash accident in
which she’d narrowly escaped with her
own life and still had nightmares about it.
It was why till date she refused to drive,
she’d been driving at the time and talking
with her late husband who had been in the
passenger seat. It had been quite late and
they were returning from a friends party,
she’d taken her eyes off the road for a
second and when she’d looked back it had
been too late. An out of control trailer had
swerved from the other side of the road
into theirs and cleared them off.
She’d had no chance of dodging it,
everyone had said but she knew within
herself that if she’d not taken her eyes off
the road, she might have done something
about it. She missed Tombra so much, He’d
been one in a million.
She knew because
she'd had the share of failed relationships.
“Madam.” Susan, one of the sales clerks cut
into her reverie.
“You have a guest.”
She frowned, she wasn’t expecting anyone
“Show her in.”
“It’s a man, ma.”
Even more strange “Okay, show him in.”
The girl left and moments later Edna was
greeted by the sign......
To be continued. ..