"Maka called me when we were at church, " Genevieve said, then she turned from the mirror to see if her husband was paying attention. He was looking at her, waiting for her to continue.
"She asked if Kamsi was here."
Venerable Nwachukwu laughed. "How can she be here? "
Genevieve was not amused. She carefully removed the pins that were used to hold her head gear in place.
"She actually said Kamsi has not been picking her calls. I also tried calling her but her number is not going through, " she said.
The venerable stood up, took the packet of face wipes on the cupboard and began to clean off the foundation on his wife's face. This made her mouth which was formerly pushed out in a frown to retreat and broaden into a smile.
"There's no need for panic. She's alright. Did you call Mark? " he asked.
"That one is not helping matters. He said, she went to work and has not returned yet. I called around seven this evening."
He dropped the wipes back on the cupboard and rubbed a hand on her Ghana braids .
"Don't think too hard . I'm sure she's alright. " he said soothingly.
He returned to the leather sofa where he sat in his wife's room. He dialed Kamsi's number and waited for it to connect. It did connect but she did not pick up. He knew his wife would be mad worried and he could not say anything to ease her mind. He watched her unpack some books from her handbag.
"Will you eat before or after shower? " he asked.
"After, though I don't feel so hungry."
"I'll be waiting for you. "
He stood up and left the room to bump into Onyedikachi who was singing as he passed the room.
"All my boys are ballers... "
"Your songs never have meaning, this boy" Venerable Nwachukwu scolded.
"Daddy, they do," Onyedikachi said, laughing. " You just don't know the meaning."
"That's what you think until I surprise you one day."
The piercing alarm which was an indication of light from the power distribution company was heard and Onyedikachi hurried to the change over switch before running outside to put off the generator. The silence in the neighborhood was restored.
Venerable Nwachukwu sat on a cushion in the parlor beside Chisomaga who was watching a football match between two clubs.
"Go and put your mother's food, " he told him.
The young boy got up immediately while he took the remote and changed the channel to CNN. He stared at the television for a while and within minutes, he was snoring. It was an expected situation. Onyedikachi, who had been sitting on a dining seat, walked up and took the remote. He changed the channel to ROK, a domain for Ghanaian movies.
"Who removed what I was watching? " Venerable asked, suddenly waking up and almost immediately, he went back to sleep.
Still pressing her phone, Genevieve entered into the parlour now all refreshed, wearing one of the ministry women polo and a wrapper secured firmly on her waist.
"She's still not picking up, " She said before she realized her husband was sleeping.
"Who's not picking up? " asked Onyedikachi who loved to hear everything.
When she did not reply. He even followed her into the kitchen but couldn't ask anymore because Chisom had burnt the soup as usual.
"What were you doing? " Genevieve asked, frowning into the pot of soup.
"I was here then I went to ease myself and came back. "
The soup was not entirely lost just that the taste must have changed. She scooped little from the upper part of the pot, having in mind to throw away the soup the next day.
"Mummy, I'm sorry, " Chisomaga said.
" Odimma. We'll cook another soup tomorrow and you will make sure you finish this one. "
Chisom hid his smile like he already knew that such threats from her were just empty.
"So mummy, who's not picking up? " Onyedikachi asked, following her out of the kitchen with a bowl of water for washing her hands.
"Biko hapum,"
She lowered her tray of food on the dining table then picked up her phone.
"Three missed calls, " she said out aloud. "When did this phone ring? "
A loud banging could be heard from the gate. Her phone started to ring again, showing Kamsi's name.
She answered the call immediately. " Mummy, please send someone to come to the gate."
"Oya, Onyi go and open the gate," she ordered even before she ended the call, even before she looked at the clock which read, 10:30 . By that time of the night , she knew Idem, the gateman who normally slept even in the day time would be fast asleep.
"Who's at the gate? " Chisomaga asked.
"Your sister."
Genevieve abandoned the food she had brought out to eat and walked to where her husband was still snoring.
"Nkem, wake up, " She said, tapping his shoulder. "Kamsi is here."
" Kamsi kwa?" he asked, sitting up . He looked around the room then asked, "Where's she? "
"Onyi went to bring her in."
It was Onyi that was the first to come in, carrying a medium sized, black leather box. Genevieve's eyes ignored his struggle. Her eyes were fixed longingly at the door waiting for Kamsi. She walked to the door just the same time Kamsi was about to step in after arranging her hair.
Without a word, the two women enveloped themselves in a hug and at that moment, Kamsi could not stop the tears that streamed down her face, she could not stop her being that shook against her step mother.
"It's okay. It's okay, " the older woman kept saying, rubbing a hand down her back. "it's okay. "
"Mummy, please release her so she can eat. It must have been a long journey, " Venerable Nwachukwu said.
It was then the two women tore apart, Genevieve's eyes were still on her as she tried to wipe off the tears from her face.
"Kamsi welcome, " Venerable said, still standing where he was.
Kamsi nodded, forcing a smile.
"I'm sorry to come in unannounced. I would have called but I just powered my phone, " she explained.
"We've been worried especially when you weren't picking up, " he replied.
" It must have been call divert. My phone has been down. "
Venerable nodded then went outside.
There was silence. Kamsi sat on the arm of a sofa. Chisomaga chose that moment to get his own embrace.
"Sister, welcome. "
"You people should go and arrange the guest room, " Venerable said to the two boys coming back inside.
"Nwanyi afo ukwu," he said to her, attempting a joke.
Kamsi laughed and Genevieve also did from the kitchen where she had retreated.
"Mummy, what are you doing? I'm hungry o," Kamsi said, walking into the kitchen.
"I know. I want to boil yam."
"Whose food is on the dining table? "
"Mine."
"It's that one I want, " Kamsi said, going to the dining area.
"It's just that Chisom burnt the soup. "
"I like it that way. "
Genevieve left the yam she had been cutting and sat with her at the dining table. She watched her eat, obviously starved.
"You took the bus? " She asked.
"Yes," Kamsi replied without looking up.
There was silence again and the older woman was okay with it. She was satisfied with just watching her eat.