Her heartbeats were in near overdrive, and Chieze could barely hold still by the time the plane touched down. It was a good thing they didn’t have to wait in line to disembark or collect their checked luggage. A good thing Tristan took over both bags while she all but raced for the Arrival Hall.
If there was a teeming crowd in that hall, she’d have still spotted her sister as quickly as she did. Kosi might be all of five-three and petite, but she knew how to stand out.
With skin like smooth, dark espresso, and her love for bright colours, and that roaring energy bursting from her, no one could ever miss her.
How could anyone’s gaze not latch on her when, on an early evening in mid December, she was a bright bold beauty in yellow poplin dress and white sneakers on her feet?
A sparkling contrast to Chieze’s choice of dark orange flared trousers and navy blue cropped top. At ease with that distinction that spoke of their unapologetic individual tastes, a smile broke out around her mouth and Chieze’s heart warmed, just simply warmed. Right there was the only sister she had in the world.
Kosi Chiemeke. They shared the same mother, but had different fathers. The difference in paternity had never touched their love, their friendship, their sisterhood, or their bond.
“Chi.” Like a bullet, Kosi cut across the room in quick strides and caught her in an embrace, gripping hard. “You’re here at last.”
Indeed, it was at last. The airline had rescheduled their flight, twice. But that was not it. It had been too many months since they saw each other in the flesh. Ten long months since Kosi visited Lagos and they spent a wonderful week together.
Video calls went a long way, but it wasn’t the same as face to face and right in the flesh.
In that affectionate manner that was their thing, Chieze pressed a kiss on Kosi’s cheek. “I missed you an awful lot.”
“As I did you. You don’t know how excited I am you’ll be at the party tomorrow. I was a little scared you couldn’t make it. Thirty, can you believe it?” Kosi squealed, and got a few glances thrown at them.
Giddy as well, Chieze grinned. “Where else would I be when my baby sister’s hitting the big three-oh?”
“Nowhere, but here.” Kosi breathed a sigh of satisfaction. “I’m looking forward to the next two weeks. I can’t remember the last time we spent more than a few days together.”
“Before you opened Red Rose, so that’s more than three years. Too long. It is why…” Chieze stepped to the side. “I brought Tristan with me to make the celebrations more fun.”
She’d introduced them a long, long time ago. And over the years, they formed a friendship that no longer needed her as the glue that held them together. If Tristan’s heart wasn’t locked away, Chieze might have wished him for her sister.
“Your coming means the world to me, Tris. I like having my unofficial big brother present,” Kosi said, and went ahead to hug Tristan.
Although given the size of the man and her sister’s tiny frame, it would be more appropriate to say Tristan enfolded Kosi in his massive arms.
“There has to be some way we’ll change that unofficial to official. Some papers on adoption we can sign?” Tristan winked. Then he treated Kosi to a lavish once-over. “You sparkle like a gold coin. I love how you make yellow glow like sunlight.”
“I do, don’t I?” Kosi’s eyes sparkled and danced. “How was your flight?”
“I would be saying restful if your pain in the ass sister allowed me the quiet time to have my nap.”
“Please,” Chieze scoffed at his complaint, and latched onto the handle of her luggage. “I was more of a soothing balm on your grumpy ass. And no one naps on a one-hour flight.”
“No one would if they sat beside you,” Tristan tossed back.
“Are you two at it already?” Kosi queried with a laugh, wresting the luggage out of her hand. “Come on, let’s get you home. There, you can take all the hours of napping you want, Tris.”
“Darling Kos, there’s no doubt you’re my favourite host.” Tristan switched positions, which put Kosi in the middle as they headed out of the hall.
“Being a good host, I’ve made all kinds of fun plans for us. I have work too, but that’s not allowed to stand in the way.”
Kosi was an interior designer who’d started out with a degree in Fine and Applied Arts. While her skill at watercolour painting was above average, she’d had more interest in interior design after school, and had her training in the field from specialised schools in Lagos.
She currently owned her interior design company called Red Rose Decor. So, her sister was a CEO, a managing director, a real boss lady.
Proud of her with every fibre of her being, Chieze said, “You have projects to see to, and don’t have to worry about entertaining us. Tris will find his own way, just point him to the ladies and he’s all set. As for me, I want to eat my favourite foods, see my favourite sister when I can, and be with my favourite grandma.”
“Why does it sound like all of that translate to she wants to laze around and be pampered?” Tristan asked as he loaded their luggage into Kosi’s Kia Soul Base.
“Because it means precisely that,” Chieze stated with a cheeky grin, and climbed into the passenger seat.
She watched as her sister manoeuvred the hatchback out of the airport’s huge parking space. Kosi was their mother come back to life, with the slash of high cheekbones, the vivacious, expressive eyes and the striking, bold beauty.
As she herself took after her father, Chieze had a different colouring, a softer, and maybe more refined kind of beauty. Their personalities were different, too. Mum used to say that Kosi was a fireball, liable to erupt at the strike of a matchstick. Chieze, on the other hand, was a slow-burning flame, pretty with its blue flame and non threatening. Yet, it still was fire.
Since Tristan was a first class entertainer and didn’t waste any time weaving out stories for a thrilled Kosi, Chieze settled back to enjoy the ride home.
The airport was well outside the city, so it was another thirty minutes before Kosi escaped the traffic along Nnebisi Road and turned into the street directly before the popular Konwea Plaza.
Right there, in one of the busy parts of the city, was where her sister and grandma had their home. It was Chieze’s second childhood home, as her father’s home where she grew up would always be her first childhood home.
Kosi pumped the horn in front of the wrought iron entryway. A minute later or less, the guard had the gates open. Home, Chieze thought as the car sped up the interlocked driveway. Second or first, it didn’t matter right then.
The house stood centreplace in the large compound, with white dove walls blended with ivory bricks and looking majestic. An equally majestic palm plant stood in front of it, surrounded by other plants, and a floor of dusty pea gravel.
On the right side was a trimmed lawn, a trio of cycads, and beside them, a canopy gazebo with a peeling wood bench she’d sat on too many times to count. The left side had Moringa trees and not much else.
She wasn’t here as often as she used to be as a child, but it would never cease to feel familiar, to feel welcoming, and to enwrap her in a cocoon of warmth. And joy, Chieze added, clasping the door handle, eager to push it open. In a matter of seconds, it would not be the house alone she’d see. She would see Grandma.
Rather than the garage, Kosi parked the car at the end of the drive, and shut off the engine.
“Lady and gentleman, welcome home,” she announced, her smile a mile wide.
“We’re home,” Chieze said, grinned, and flung open the car door to leap out.
She knew she wouldn’t make it to the front door before Grandma would emerge through it.
And it happened as she predicted.
All but trembling with love, Chieze pressed herself into the woman who was the mother of her mother. The woman who had to be a mother to her and her sister when their mother passed away.
What was she now, seventy-four? A retired midwife, who owned a maternity clinic and still ran it. Doris Chiemeke still had energy to spare and Chieze was endlessly awed by her indefatigable strength.
“We talk plenty times a week and see each other on video calls, yet I missed you so much, Grandma.” Her eyes misted as Chieze burrowed into the warm, full body.
Her heart was as warm and full of love. The loving, warm heart had made up for her strict hand when they were children, as Grandma knew when and how to indulge and pamper them. It was that indulgent part of her they experienced more after they grew up. The part of her Chieze missed every so often while in Lagos.
“Those things are meant to fill the gap when we’re away from each other. They don’t give us the chance to touch, to feel what comes from the touch, and to be together,” Grandma said wisely, and held her away to survey her. “You inherited your dear father’s best features and showcase them beautifully.”
“For which I’m grateful, as I don’t imagine I have it in me to be an ugly duckling,” Chieze said with a laugh.
“With how much you peeked into the mirror as a child, you don’t. Now let me look at the big guy pulling the bags over. He, too, gets finer every time I see him.” Grandma’s lined and beautiful face bloomed with a smile. “Tristan, it’s wonderful to have you with us this season.”
“My thanks to you for the invitation, ma’am, and I must confess this entirely feels like I travelled home.”
“That’s because this house is your home, the same as it’s Chieze’s.” They held each other in a warm embrace for a couple of seconds, then Grandma stepped back to usher them inside. “Kosi will see you to your rooms. You’ll shower to wash off the stress of the flight, and then we’ll sit for an early dinner. To celebrate your arrival, we have a small feast planned.”
“A feast? Well, let’s go,” Chieze urged, leading the way. “With the way I’m hungry, I can devour whatever is on the menu alone.”
“She would too, if we give her half a chance,” Tristan teased.
***
Dinner was a fanfare and the feast Grandma promised. Afterwards, they hung out on the porch with drinks and quiet conversations. Then they all turned in for an early night at nine on the dot.
The house had four bedrooms. It used to be one for each of them, but after her mother’s passing, they converted her room into a guestroom. That guestroom was Tristan’s for the holiday.
Finished with her before-bed skin care routine, Chieze remained on the padded stool at the dresser and looked around her room.
It still was curtains made from light cotton fabric over the sliding windows, and the double bed, and the shaggy foot mat on the right side of it.
The side she slept on.
Memories hung on the wall in the form of pictures and the paintings Kodi gifted her. They kept it clean and tidy whether she was there or not.
It made it so easy to keep coming back, knowing her place in this second home would always be there.
“Turn out the light and come to bed,” Kosi said, a hint of sleep in her voice.
She was sleeping in Chieze’s that night. It was the rule every first night they spent together. Or how else would they tell each other stories that apparently couldn’t wait another day?
Chieze liked to believe all close siblings had the same tradition. Or a similar one to it. Anticipating, she sprang up to flick off the light switch and skipped to the bed, where she turned off the night lamp.
Exhaling, she waited for the dim stream of light filtering through the slightly drawn curtains to settle the room in a semi-dark state. Chieze slept better with a hint of light, not stark darkness.
“I’m dating someone.”
“You’re dating?” Caught between surprise and delight, Chieze rolled over to hear the story. “Since when? I’m guessing recently.”
“A month. So, you can say it’s recent.”
“A month is not recent. It’s thirty days and over seven hundred hours. Kos, we talked most of those hours and you didn’t tell me. Is he ugly?”
“Ugly?” Kosi gurgled. “The opposite. He’s ravishing. I didn’t mention it because… Well, he’s in Lagos and I’m here, so it’s kind of long distance. His name is Asher Macaulay.”
“Sounds familiar.” Her brows furrowed. “Do I know him?”
“He’s the CEO of Care Plus.”
“The drugstore?”
“When you put it like that you make it sound like a corner store on the street. It’s a wholesale and retail brand with stores in more than one city in the country.”
“Hey, easy on the scolding. I was only identifying, not belittling. I’m aware Care Plus has stores on the Lagos island and mainland. Also in Abuja, and yes, here in Asaba. The man’s a successful businessman, obviously. Why are you not any more excited?”
“You can tell, huh?”
“I can all the more with that serious lack of interest in your voice. Plus, you held back from telling me.”
“I’m interested. Or I think I should be.” In a restless move, and not minding the cold air, Kosi came out from under the blanket and curled her feet underneath her. “It makes sense that I should be interested in him, right?”
“Are you throwing the question at me?” Amused, Chieze sat up and braced her back on the padded headboard. “How did you meet, anyway?”
“I was walking into the Care Plus store at the shopping plaza and he walking out of it.”
“You bumped into each other. How so cliché.” Chieze found it also romantic.
Which apparently Kosi did too, for she said, “Cliché, yes. But kind of romantic. The man has good looks to spare. Like he’s drop-dead and tantalising.”
“How delicious.” Chieze pointed a finger. “Hesitant or not, tell me you’ve had a taste of him.”
“We’ve kissed.”
“And?”
“Nothing. We kissed a few times, that’s it.”
“It can’t be that’s it. Did you like his kisses? Or I wonder if I should ask at all.” Chieze reached on the nightstand to turn the lamp back on. “This is too serious a matter to talk about in the dark. So, he’s gorgeous and successful, but you’re not interested, though you think you should be. What’s the problem? Is he boring? Does he have bad breath, body odour?”
She winced at the horror of the last two. “He can’t own a store that distributes beauty and lifestyle ranges and have body odour and bad breath. No, that’s just wrong.”
“Stop. Just stop.” Kosi closed a hand over her mouth to muffle her laughter.
“Hey, I have to ask,” Chieze said, grinning.
“Those questions are mad.” Kosi got herself under control enough to say. “He doesn’t smell, in any way. On the contrary, you would melt at the scent on him. The man’s spectacular–good looks, likeable humour, and sexy masculine scent.”
“All right. What’s your problem?”
“That’s what I don’t know. No real motivation?” A frown tainted Kosi’s smile. “As spectacular as he is, I’m not that into him. That’s the truth.”
“You’re not that into him?” She wasn’t shallow or anything, but Chieze couldn’t help her stupefied stare. “How much are you into him?”
Kosi shrugged. “Barely.”
Chieze gasped. “Are you serious?”
“Are you into every good-looking man you meet?”
“No. But I’m sure that if I met a ravishing man that’s pretty much a millionaire and smelled sexily masculine, it would be hard to resist him.”
“It is hard to resist him. That’s why I’m hanging on, hoping for something to click. But there’s no click. No spark. I like him and I’ve gone on fun dates with him, but… That’s just it, the but.”
“No spark. I guess you guys are not meant to be.” At the heart of it, it wasn’t about looks and wealth, although she couldn’t deny those things added some significance. “Is he into you?”
“I don’t get the feeling I rock his world, but he seems interested. And I have to admit, having a man like him interested in me makes it harder to walk away.”
“His interest makes you want to be interested.”
“Something like that. What if it’s one of those cases where there’s no instant attraction, but you can still connect at some level with that person? Not every romance is about two people who clicked right off the bat.”
“I guess not.” Yet, Chieze craved the instant attraction, the instant heat, and even the instant love. “That means you’re giving it time to see what happens.”
“I’m torn in two. You know how I can’t stand people who lead others on, or pull them along on a string. Asher, being the smart man he is, is bound to figure it out sooner or later.”
“He would for sure.”
“Ah, life,” Kosi sighed. “I have in my hand this gorgeous man I can’t fire up my blood for, and might have to let go. What is wrong me?”
“That’s the question I’ve asked myself the most of late. I’ve been there too many times, romance with no real spark. It’s like eating bland soup.”
“Like eating bland anything,” Kosi said. “You know, I wish you’ll find that real spark. I know how much you want love and all the trimmings that come with it.”
“I want it so much. You do, too. And someday we’ll find it.” Chieze smiled and switched off the lamp. “Time to sleep. Tomorrow’s a big day.”
“The biggest day,” Kosi murmured as she stretched out and pulled the blanket over her. “I’m so happy you’ll be there with me, Chi.”
“I’m happiest.” Someday, they would be happy in love.
It will be so, Chieze whispered in her heart, closing her eyes. She had that faith.
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