𝟑𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥

~~ 82. ~~

"I know that I already apologize for it but it was wrong of me to mention your mom in that day's conversation. Your case was different from mine. I acted out of anger." Demilade apologized sincerely.

Lola touched his hand with a smile on her face. "C'mon, that's gone. We've moved past that." He nodded.

"So how is it? How? Why? I don't..." He paused looking at thin air.

Lola sucked in her lips and then answered his question.

"Demmy, your grams was right when she told me that my mom left a void and no matter how much I deny it, I still wanted her. She was correct about it. My mother left when I was eight. At that time in my life, I wanted nothing more than to have my mother in my life. I'm a grown woman and a little will change knowing that I have a woman that I can call mom and that I can tell things that are a bit feminine which I can't tell my dad. She is not married to my dad anymore but he is okay with it. He told me himself that he had moved on from it and he had learned to accept it a long time ago that mom wasn't meant for him. And I believe him. They might have separated in a not-so-good way but they are fine now. Before she ever came to us, she came to see him and try to apologize and smoothen things out with each other. It might look a bit too late because the damage has been done. But at least she did attempt. It might have not changed the past but it will shape something in the future. She is here now and my father whom I love and respect so much is okay with it. And that matters a lot. A whole lot." Lola explained.

"So I wanted to give her the benefit of doubt. We are not perfect. Neither is she." She said. "Everyone deserves a second chance. Some might say that not everyone deserves it. Yeah, they may be right with reasons but I think that we can decide if we want to give a second chance to the people who ask for it. I decided to give her that Demmy. For almost all my life, I have been like a mother to my siblings. I won't deny that I don't want someone to be my own mother just to know how it feels. If she hasn't been a good mother to us even if she was not really a good wife, I wouldn't have given her the chance. But I have memories of her being a good mother to us. She left to find her own life, what she wanted. Although, it was at the expense of our happiness and having a mother. But something cannot be changed. And I have accepted it that way."

"We need to move on. She is not with my dad now. But the man is okay with it. He had accepted it. He welcomes her kids when they come around. And so does her husband welcome us. Some Saturdays my siblings go to visit and spend time with her and her family. I talk with her on the phone most time. It does not change all that has happened in the past or all that we felt. The pain, heartbreak, and emptiness but we've grown past that. Life is not a bed of roses and those are the things that make life life. To others, it's crueler but what is the purpose of life if there isn't some pain in it? We won't value love if there is no heartbreak or pain. So that is why I decided to forgive her and move past what happened in the past."

"I totally get what you said, Lola. To be honest, I am proud of you." He said with a smile. "It shows how strong you are. I'm the luckiest guy to have you." She flushed. "You made your choice and just like your dad once said to me, only Lola knows what's best for Lola." They both chuckled. "He is right. You made your choice and I won't ever say it's wrong because I am one of those choices." Lola laughed softly, rubbing his hand.

"Thanks."

"It's nothing. I'm grateful that you are honest about it. You don't have to be mindful or restricted to talk to me about your mother. She is part of you. To be sincere with you Lola, It may take a little time for me to see her differently from how I pictured her because of what she did to you. But I am sure you will help me see what you see in her that makes you think about her differently. And I ain't against it. So don't hide it from me again, okay?" She nodded.

"I won't." She replied.

"Thanks." He said and he kissed the side of her head, softly.

§§§§§

The car stopped suddenly and Demilade looked up from his IPad just as his driver told him that they'd arrived at their destination.

"Okay." He said. "Help me get those things in the booth."

"Alright, sir." And the driver opened the car door and climbed out of the car while Demilade quickly did a few things on the iPad and he put it in his office bag before taking his phone and wallet and leaving the back seat.

He was surprised that his mother hasn't come out to see him. She was always on high alert whenever he was coming around and the moment his car drove in, she was the first person to come out of the house.

Probably she was sleeping. He thought.

He turned to the driver and asked him to give the things in his hand to his mother's house help that was walking over to their direction from the gate post where she had sat talking with the gate man.

He was about to go to the entrance of the house after giving some instructions to the lady and his driver when he saw someone coming out of the house and following behind was his mother that was smiling from ear to ear.

Wow! He exclaimed inwardly. Who was he? Demilade asked himself inwardly as he stood watching them approach.

Then, it clicked. He knew the man beside her. But how did he know his mother and when? He have a lot of questions running through his mind as he watched his mother come out fully from the house with the man talking with a smile beside her.

Her eyes finally fell on him and surprisingly, her smile didn't falter. Instead, it grew wider. He hasn't seen his mother smile so much in a very long time, especially with a stranger.

She grinned at him and then turned to the man walking beside her. He paused whatever he was saying to listen to her and then he looked up at his mother's gesture.

The man looked at him with his brow furrowed, he was trying to remember who he was and Demilade guessed he had when his face lit up again and a broad smile spread on his face.

He left his position and walked up to them.

"Good afternoon, Mom." He bowed slightly as he greeted his mother before she pulled him for a hug kissing his cheek.

"Good afternoon, dear. How was your day?" She asked with a smile.

"Fine Mom." Then he turned to the man standing beside his mother. He was staring at them with a bit of admiration in his eyes. His mother especially.

"Hi, Demilade Ninalowo. It's good to see you. I have no idea Jola is your mother." The man said.

There are own first name bases. Cool! Demilade thought.

Triple update completed!

Now it looks like Demilade mother has a new man friend that Demilade knows from God-knows-where. He seems surprised to him. What do you think he will feel about it?

We will find out what Mrs. Jolaoluwa's relationship with the new stranger is and what her son thinks about it in the next chapter. So until then, don't forget to vote and tell me what you think.

Have a lovely weekend guys.

Rhoda.