23 Magic trick of falling in love

Amaka glanced at the wall clock in her kitchen and bit her lip; they were late but she did not want to rush Chibuzo as he tied his shoelaces for the first time on his own. Her parents would just have to stew and hold their insults for a bit longer. She had not seen or heard from them since Christmas and had been dreading this Easter lunch since the New Year. Chibuzo triumphantly pulled his bow and she applauded and smothered him in kisses eventually dragging Chiamaka in as well. Quickly she bundled them into the car and drove off towards her parent's hotel. Their insistence on seeing the grandkids was calendar perfect. They only ever visited during the holidays and each time they performed the magic trick of falling in love with twins over again while simultaneously disregarding the mother, their daughter. Amaka honestly only went through this for the children, if anything ever happened to her they were entrusted to her new family of Nabila and Jamal Mujahid. She was estranged from her siblings and did not care to be around them anyway. Amaka took a deep breath as they walked up the stairs to her parent's hotel suite.

She knocked; her mother opened and in one swift motion pushed Amaka aside bending to swoop up Chiamaka into her arms. She cooed to her in Igbo and beckoned for her husband who had been reading the paper on the balcony. Chibuzo ran to his grandfather and was patted on the back while being told what a man he was becoming. Amaka sat down resting her feet and began the torturous countdown till she could leave. Presents were heaped on the twins before her parents strolled to her.

"Nonye is pregnant"

"Oh" Amaka didn't care, someone was always pregnant.

"It is a boy by the grace of God"

"Amen"

"Ifeanyi has returned from America they say he is not feeling fine"

"It is well"

Chukwuma is about to open his own hospital"

"We thank God"

"That boy is just blessed" her parents agreed in unison

Amaka said nothing. The conversation was on thin ice

"If you had married him now..." There it was. It had only taken thirty seconds for her mother to find a nerve and jump on it.

"I mean I don't understand eh. The man was ready to accept you. After everything" Ulonna Nwafor clicked her tongue.

Amaka remained quiet, she could do this. Survive this afternoon and your duty is done till Christmas.

"God continues to bless you. Yet you throw it away and laugh in His face"

"I hear the Governor's daughter follows him around like a lost goat" her father added

"So many women want to marry him now. Rich doctor like that." Her mother ran her eyes over Amaka's face. Disappointment deepening frown lines.

"How many women with children have the chance to marry? Eh how many?" Ulonna questioned her voice rising

"I don't know what we ever did to you" she eyed Amaka like nothing would give her greater pleasure than to punish her as she used to.

"It is not your fault. It is the devil. He must be cast out" her father mumbled

"Chukwuma called my children born sinners and told me I must answer for mine on the Final Day" Amaka cut in

"So?!" Ulonna eyed her. "That is why you chose to jeopardise your children's future. They could have a father by now"

"Not one who loves them"

"You are waiting for that fraudster to come back? That useless Yoruba boy to return from America" Ulonna dusted her palms together and folded them under her breasts.

Amaka quickly glanced at the twins in the other room. Chiamaka's curious eyes were on her mother and with a huge smile Amaka rose to them. They did not need to hear this. She pulled out a Shark Tale DVD from her bag and sat her children in front of the 35inch flat screen. When she returned her mother was shaking her foot so fast it seemed to have a life of its' own.

"We are praying for you" her father resumed

"I don't even know why we are still discussing Chukwuma. That was 4 years ago"

"We know how long it has been". Ulonna hissed