Chapter Twenty-nine

Adira isn't accustomed to shopping. Most of the time, she has her new maid, Mrs. Edna, shop for her daughter Sharon.

The 10-year-old girl she carried for nine months now feels like a stranger to her in terms of shopping.

Since they were separated five years ago, Adira has lost touch with Sharon's preferences.

Sharon has also changed. She no longer enjoys toys as much and now prefers junk food and drinks like Lucy juice over stuffed animals like teddy bears or unicorns.

Although her room at her father's house is still filled with old toys from past birthdays, changes are needed as she approaches adolescence.

The mall is crowded today, as if a sale just started.

People are bustling in and out with fully loaded carts.

Soft music plays in the background to keep the atmosphere lively.

Even those who arrived before Adira have long since finished their shopping and left, while she still has an empty cart, like a bricklayer waiting for cement to be poured into his wheelbarrow.

She could have managed better if Sharon had shopped with her or if—

No. She doesn't want to go there.

Though she was going to say it would have been better if Sharon's father had come with her, that thought is too painful to revisit. 

Because he knew both new things that would lighten Sharon's mood.

Sharon isn't the type of kid you can surprise with a "Guess what"; she's always different. 

You need to be very understanding to know her needs.

Adira moved her cart slowly, using her eyes and brain to find the right item that might meet her daughter's tastes. 

For a while now, she had been staring at a product, a dairy milk.

She checked the expiry date, best before date, and the NAFDAC registration number.

Then, her eyes shifted to the upper row where the condensed milk and skimmed milk were located and–

Damn, she was so confused.

How would she know the best one to pick? 

Or should she just pick all three kinds?

It's confusing because, first of all, she isn't the one cooking or dressing Sharon since they moved into the mansion. 

She has a new nanny. 

And second, she's been away from her for a very long time and isn't familiar with the changes in her life.

She wished she hadn't let her mother take Sharon along to see her grandfather. 

A frustrated sigh escaped her mouth, audible enough for her to hear. 

She decided to stop contemplating and put the item back where it belonged. 

Just as she quietly placed it back, another hand picked up the evaporated milk and condensed milk and put them into her cart.

Adira was puzzled until she looked up to see it was only her daughter's father. 

"Da–"

He cut her off, "Evaporated milk is crucial for Sharon's bones according to her doctor. 'Health and brain development.' And condensed milk too, especially for her fruit salad. You know she loves it." He explained without looking at her as he selected more items.

Adira stood there silently, watching him shop. Was he really helping her or just shopping for himself?

When he placed five jumbo packs of each product in the cart, she finally spoke. "Um, Dayo, these are too much for Sharon. Don't you think they are–"

"Too few, you mean," he interrupted, adding four packs of Tetley tea to the cart. "Pay attention to what I'm picking. Sharon would be really upset if you got cocoa bars or cocoa beverage powder instead of tea bags."

Isn't she too young for these, especially the tea?

Her system can't handle this.

"How do you know I'm shopping for Sharon?" She followed him with the cart.

"Your twin sister told me when I went to your place and couldn't find you," he replied.

Adira thought for a moment, then asked, "So, you actually came over to see me?" She hoped, but wondered why Dayo had the look of 'Why does she seem so excited about this?'

She maintained her composure, fixing her hair. "Sorry, I was going to say Sharon." No, she's lying. She's happy inwardly.

But he kept quiet, not wanting to acknowledge the question.

Instead, he asked her, "How is the bakery going?"

Knowing he had once married a famous pastry chef and built an extravagant bakery for her as a surprise birthday present, this question caught her off guard. That was years ago when Sharon was two.

Adira was surprised to hear him ask. For five years, he never showed any concern for her. But something inside her made her blush, glad that he cared today.

They moved to the drinks section where he selected different fruit juices, freshly crushed into jars.

Adira was amazed. She kept blushing, smiling from the inside out as she watched him shop. The cart was filling up quickly.

It looked like they would need another cart.

"Work is good, glad we are progressing. How is yours?" she asked.

He squatted to pick a product from the bottom shelf, not getting up immediately as he checked the nutritional value. "Doing exceedingly great."

'Great' is an understatement for someone who owns the world's best five-star hotels—four five-star hotels in different parts of the world, two international airlines, and three intercontinental restaurants in Germany.

The correct word should be 'massively great,' right?

"Actually," he got up and dropped two big jars of white Australian oatmeal into the already loaded cart. "I'll be opening my second sugar refinery in Berlin next month."

Adira nodded, trying to control her emotions. "Yeah, I'm happy for you." 

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"No, don't worry, I'll handle the bills," she insisted when they reached the cashier's desk.

He pretended not to hear and slid his credit card across the counter. "I'm doing this for our daughter."

She simply stared at him, at a loss for words. 

************************** 

"Did you bring your car?" he asked as they stepped outside, each holding big white plastic bags.

"My car broke down on the way here, so I left it at the mechanic's and took an Uber," she explained.

He nodded silently and headed towards his car.

Adira followed him.

After placing the bags in the back seat, he said, "Get in."

Get in?

Did he just invite her to ride with him?

First, they had a conversation back there, and now what? A ride home?

This is getting interesting, and she wondered what had gotten into him.

Or did he hit his head somewhere before coming here?

She started imagining things.

The ride was very quiet until they reached her place.

In fact, she was the one sneaking glances at him throughout the ride.

Although he noticed, he didn't speak.

He had talked enough with her for today, and that was enough for now.

************************

"Thank you," she broke the silence as the car stopped by her place.

She noticed her mom's car in the driveway, meaning Sharon was home.

"If not for you, I'd still be waiting for an Uber," she exhaled. "And you know how hard it is to get one in Lagos. Not when my Bolt app is–"

"Okay, cut the crap. I did it for Sharon," he interrupted, not looking at her but staring into space as he relaxed against the headrest. "She would be so pissed to hear I left her mom under the hot sun."

He sat upright, tilting his head toward her and meeting her gaze. "I don't like this co-parenting. It's hurting our child."

"I made the mistake of not telling you about my family," she said, becoming emotional. "If you had known I had a twin, you would have believed me when I said it wasn't me you saw cheating on you."

Dayo tried to look away; he hated seeing her cry because it made him emotional too, but he couldn't help it.

"I swear on my life, Dayo. Everything you saw on the CCTV was a setup to frame me and kick me out of our marriage." She sniffed, leaning closer to him. She fearfully reached for his face, stopping her tears. "Long-distance parenting is my fault. I kept my identity hidden from you. I swear, I never cheated on you and I never will."

She wanted to kiss him but felt she was crossing a line, so she pulled back. She had expected him to respond passionately, but he didn't even flinch. It was like he had lost all interest in her.

"Go home. You must be very tired," he said.

But...

She had expected more than that... something like a...

Goodbye kiss.