Serendipity

Chapter 15: Motherly Instinct

"The family is one of nature's masterpieces." -George Santayana

They say time heals al wounds, it doesn't. We heal ourselves, it just takes time - Nuel11 Blood From a teenage heart.

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He drove towards his estate. His Honda accord 2016 was what he considered his baby. He turned right and almost immediately, the estate gate pulled open. He drove in after waving at the security. He drove towards his apartment building and parked outside. He picked his file bag and rushed out of the car, towards the elevator.

In no time, he was in and out of the elevator. He brought out his keys from his pocket and opened his door. The light was off. He always left it on. Stepping back, he had one leg in and one out. As a lawyer he had learnt to be self conscious. Danger could be everywhere and no where. He flicked the light on.

"Congratulations!" The loud mixture of voices filled his ears.

Breaking into a grin, he stepped inside. He was sure it was Mimi who planned this one.

He looked around the room. Mimi stood beside her husband, their broad smiles unwavering and his father;it was his smile that made him really smile. Ikenna moved in quick steps and engulfed Nonso in a tight hug.

"I'm so proud of you, my boy!"

Nonso hugged him closely. Mimi butt in, hugging them both together.

Francis was missing, his lousy comments and his constant hailing was missing. Nonso shrank back in guilt, he hadn't spoken to Francis since sunday;the day he had a fight with Mimi.

"You were so good!" Mimi smirked once they pulled apart. "I kept telling Ugo 'that's my junior brother, I cleaned his ass when he was younger'"

Everyone laughed.

Nonso rolled his eyes. "You are only three years older. That's totally impossible."

Mimi glared at him.

"Congrats bro!" Ugo smiled, patting him on the back. "That was awesome. Weren't you shy of the cameras?"

Nonso scrunched his brows. He didn't even notice it.

"The case is a big one, so you should know it would be on air, the news carried it. It's all over the news," his father's grin never wavered.

"So... You didn't invite Fran?" Nonso spoke out of the blues.

Silence prevailed.

"I did. Just..... I don't know if he'll come," Mimi replied.

"Oh." He was hurt no doubt. What was ever fun without Francis.

The apartment door suddenly burst open, a loud scream followed after that. Nonso grinned knowingly, turning around, Francis stood there, with a bottle of red wine in hand.

He smirked. "If it isn't Nornor!"

The next moment, they were hugging.

"Bro. This is the success story! You are getting there." Francis smiled.

"Fran Fran!" Nonso hailed.

After their laughters died, Francis turned to the entire family. The air tensed.

Nonso was more than certain Mimi would not apologize, he wasn't sure if Francis would either. Francis always made reconciliation efforts but the fight had been deep.

"I'm sorry," Francis broke the silence. He kept his head straight ahead, his eyes on Mimi. "I'm sorry about the awful things I said on sunday. I was just really pissed. I'm sorry also for bringing Selena, dressed that way. It was my fault. She refused to come dressed like that but her house is far and I was sure we wouldn't make it back if we had gone there. And the thing is that I was really looking foward to introducing her to everyone. I'm sorry."