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Eighteen
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Cold Stone Nineteen
JIDEI awoke to the ringing of my cellphone. I jolted awake when I tapped on the answer button and heard Mama's voice. "Nwa m(my child)," she said in Igbo. "Mama, how...why...? You should have waited till I called you. How much do you have to waste on call cards to reach me in the United Kingdom?" I reprimanded her. I heard her sniffle. Had she been crying?"Oh. So you knew all those and you have refused to call me, Jidechukwu," she sniffled again. My heart clenched at the break in her voice. She had been crying. "Mama, I never forgot you. I think about you all the time and pray for you too. You know it is not easy to make money over here," I tried to placate."If making money is going to stop me from hearing your voice, then do not make it. Kwụsị (stop). I miss you dearly, Jidechukwu," she cried. I sat up from my bed, the foam and woods groaning from the impact. "Mama, kwụsị biko(stop please). You are breaking my heart," I pleaded. "When are you coming home? It has been seven
Cold Stone Twenty
Jide had sat me out of today's farm duties and I spent my time painting away. I had painted the best memory I had since I got here- last night. I highlighted the bonfire and the logs around, the people sitted and the dancers whose waist beads danced to the rhythm of the music. And me in the middle of it all, dancing goofily. I smiled at the painting when I had finished and let it dry. I was admiring my work when I heard the door creak open."Stunning," I heard Jide breath out behind me. I blushed and covered my warm cheeks with my cold palms. "Thank you," I choked out. He was standing beside me now and looked down at me smiling. "You know what else could go with our restaurant and make some bucks?"I gave an uncertain smile and shook my head. "Your painting. I am sure people would love to buy it and you could make money from it," he said. "I am a billionaire, Jide. I do not need extra cash." I chuckled heartily and bounced on my feet. "But you have given a wonderful solution. Ev
Cold Stone Twenty One
I swayed my head and shoulders slowly to Smile by Simi playing softly through my ear pods while I worked the paintbrush against the white canvas. I had finished my day's work much more earlier than usual and hurried away into the painting room. My paintbrush splayed across the canvass, my creation taking its form. I had no idea what I was painting, but there was this image that constantly nagged my mind. My apron was a splash of different colours; some had managed to get to my shorts and sneakers. Focusing my attention on the art taking form before me, I let the music sooth my nerves, making everything smooth. I found Simi's voice captivating and refreshing. The music was interrupted by my phone's ringtone and I picked up when I saw Aunt Joan on the caller ID. "Aunt Joan," I called excitedly, dropping my palette with the paintbrush on a high stool.I imagined her surprised face, "Well, someone is glad to hear from me."I giggled, "How have you been?" "I have been alright. I mis
Cold Stone Twenty Two
"I will not see her," I responded stubbornly, after gathering my calm. "But she is not saying anything," Detective Michelle reminded me. "And if she does not say anything, there is no way we can continue with the case. There are hardly any leads and we must take on anyone we get.""I doubt she will be of any help either. Can you ask around the hospital my father was admitted in before he died? They should be of help," I evaded. She was silent a while, "Yes, ma'am. But I would advice you see that woman. She could hold information that will be helpful to the case."My palms formed fists and I growled lowly. "Just do as I say.""Yes ma'am," she hung up.I seethed in anger, puffing out white hot anger in breaths through my mouth. How dare she? What effontery did she have to request to see me? After she had abandoned me for years? I felt my head banging and I needed to go out to inhale some fresh air. I staggered to my vanity, knocking down my personal effects in the process. My visio
Cold Stone Twenty Three
IVORYI backed up away from her. "What...how did you...what are you doing here?" I sputtered, my voice breaking in tirade of emotions. I watched her discard the hat and sunglasses, holding them firmly. "Ivory. It is Aunt Purity," she introduced. Purity not Rebecca, Mother's twin sister. They were so identical that you could confuse one for the other. But what was she doing here? Does Mother not visit here at all? I stood up defiantly, dusting my gown and hands. "What are you doing here?" I asked coldly. "Umm...I will be waiting in the car. Come meet me when you are ready," Jide interjected and excused us. I nodded and gulped, rubbing my sweating palm on my gown. I was very nervous and I did not understand why. I should be furious instead of nervous."I visit Rowland often in the place of Rebecca," she informed me, dropping the bouquet of flowers on the grave stone. It was then I realized the numerous flowers on the grave stone, most were withered but the rest were still fresh
Cold Stone Twenty Four
Jide carefully put me down after he noticed my shocked expression. I blinked severally to try to clear the confusion I felt. How was she a HIV patient and I had no idea about it? What other secrets are there that I did not know about? A splitting headache was forming and I cradled my head in my palms to balance my heavy head. I felt Jide's strong arms circle around my shoulder and lead me into the entrance to the reception. "Good afternoon. How may we be of help to you?" A pretty petite red hair nurse asked, flashing us her white pearls. "We would like to see Mrs...?" Jide zoned out, looking at me to provide the rest of the information. I gulped and wheezed out, "Rebecca. Rebecca Stone."The girl's dark eyes filled in recognition and she gasped in astonishment. "You looked too familiar. I knew you had to be the famous Ivory Stone. It is so nice to meet you personally. Can I get your autograph? Can I get a selfie?"I was gobsmacked. "How did you end up in a hospital? You are not
Cold Stone Twenty Five
I bobbed my head rhythmically to Simi's Shake Your Body. I had come to love Simi's songs and had most of them on my phone. I spooned the contents of akume, pâtes and djenkoume into my waiting mouth. The dish was as superb as the other dishes I had tasted here. I felt someone tap my shoulders and I turned to find Kofi already sitting on my side of the table. I unplugged my ear pod from my ears and beamed at him. "Good morning, Kofi." I greeted him. "Good morning, Ivory," Kofi replied after a while. "You seem happy."I corked a brow and smiled, before returning to my dish. "I am."His forehead raised questioning. "For someone whose great family's reputation is about to be dragged to the mud."I laughed, "It is not being dragged to the mud. Justice is being served."He gave me a stunned look but recovered quickly, "I was worried about you. With all that happened yesterday, I thought it will have a huge effect on you."I gave him an assuring smile and placed my white palm on top his d
Cold Stone Twenty Six
"The doctor concurred that Mrs. Stone paid them heavily to cover up the autopsy carried out on Mr. Stone. She asked them to record it as a heart attack. But there is an original record," Detective Michelle revealed to me. It was late in the afternoon and I was in the painting room. I admired my almost finished work as my mind rummaged on the information I got. "Where is it?" I asked her. "Locked away in the hospital's archive," she informed me. "Hope you got a record?" I inquired. "Yes, I did and I have sent it to the police. They are working on it as we speak," she informed me.I nodded, "Good. Let us talk when something new comes up, okay?"When she replied in the affirmative, I hung up and returned to my painting. "She looks just like you," I jerked at Jide's sudden voice behind me. I calmed when his huge palms rested on my shoulders. "You gave me a jump," I squeaked, my throat suddenly going dry. "Sorry," he whispered and jerked his head to the painting. "I am sure she wa
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Cold Stone Fifty Six
JIDESeeing blood drip from her injured wrist brought back painful memories. Memories I had managed to tuck into the furthest part of my brain. I watched the blood trickle down and grimaced when she winced. "Jide," Ivory breathed out in a whisper. That drew me out of my frozen state and I hurriedly guided her to a low stool. I got a bowl of water and dipped her hand into it, the water immediately turned red. The cut was not deep but it drew a great amount of blood. I quickly dashed into Mama's room to search for a first aid kit. I checked her medicine compartment in her dresser and found the contents of a first aid kit laying around. I assembled a pair of scissors, a bottle of methylated spirit and a wrap of cotton wool and dashed back to the kitchen. I felt pained to see her fighting back her tears. I removed her hand from the water and let it drip dry before using cotton wool to dry it. She winced when the cotton wool dipped in methylated spirit came in contact with her skin. I
Cold Stone Fifty Five
55JIDE I had woken up by 5:10am to find Ivory searching for something frantically in the sitting room. "Where the fuck did they keep it?" She muttered to herself. "What are you doing?" I asked and she whipped her head to the sound of my voice. She smacked her head childishly and I wanted to laugh at how cute she looked. "You were not supposed to find me here if I had found that key by now," she said frustrated. I was worried. "Why are you searching for the key?""I wanted to see the sun rise from here. I have never witnessed it. And I wanted to begin sweeping the front yard before Mama wakes," she confessed. I smiled. I walked up to the television stand and put my hand behind it. "It has been there. How did I miss that spot?" She screeched lowly. I chuckled at her bulging eyes. I unlocked the door and we strode out. It was dead silent and the morning wind teased our skins. She inhaled deeply and smiled. Watching her was enthralling. "It smells like wet sand," she commented.
Cold Stone Fifty Four
54IVORYMama called me into her room later that night after we had had dinner. Jide had switched off the generator and it was dark. He had gone off to sleep then. "Ivory, my dear," she called me after she had been silent for over thirty minutes. The crickets chirped into the night while the owls hooted to the rhythm that was made. It was very hot but my shawl was over my shoulders. "Yes, ma'am," I replied uncertainly, wondering what this summon was about. "I know you will understand me. Even if Jide does not, you should because you are a woman like me," she said calmly. I nodded. "I have talked to Jide a lot of times on how he treats you. He is a good man, I know, but he still needs some touches here and there. I am trying my best, ma'am."She looked at me, then looked away, sighed heavily before shaking her head and making a tut sound with her throat. "You are a good person, Ivory. Very nice. Your mother must have brought you up well," she commended. I smiled. "My mother was
Cold Stone Fifty Three
53IVORYThe market was rowdy and muddy. Mama led me through the tight spaces in between people and flying sputum. We got to an one storey building containing stalls. Mama walked to one on the ground floor and extracted some keys from her bag to unlock the huge padlocks. After opening the doors, we brought some wares in cartons and shelves out in front of the doors with a little passageway the customers could enter the shop from. Customers filed in and Mama attended to them while I watched closely, intent on learning quickly. If Mama thought Adanna was good, I needed to show her I was better. "Do you have Magi?" A woman asked me later that afternoon, after Mama had left to get something nearby. "Magi? The men who came to see baby Jesus?" I asked, bemused. The woman looked at me like I was psycho. "Wetin this one de talk now? Who leave oyibo inside shop?" The woman mumbled and turned to leave. Mama was coming in at that moment. Mama conversed with her in Igbo before giving me sco
Cold Stone Fifty Two
52IVORYAfter washing my face that morning, I put on a pair of flip flops I had brought along with me and found my way to the front yard where Mama was sweeping. I watched her move the dried palm branch and was totally intrigued. "Let me help you, Mama," I offered, walking up to her. She smiled and nodded, letting me take the fronds. With one swift sweep, I scattered the dirt she had gathered. She burst out in laughter. She was like Jide, finding my ignorance quite amusing. "Come on, Mama. You should know this is my first time," I cajoled her. She smiled sweetly. "Let me show you."She retrieved the broom from me and showed me where to place my hands and how to apply pressure to gather the dirt. She returned the broom to my waiting fingers and I continued from where she stopped. There was progress but it was little. Mama watched me as I took baby steps sweeping the front yard. People who passed by shouted greetings to her in their language; some conversed with her longer. "You c
Cold Stone Fifty One
51JIDEI watched, just like everyone, as Ivory was led to the back row of the church hall."Attention, people of God. Do not let the devil distract you," the priest said in Igbo, returning the attention of the members back to him. Mama gave me a scowl before bowing her head in shame. I could imagine the storm she will brew once we got home. Some older members gave us disgusted glances while some hissed and gruntled. The younger members had excitement dancing in their eyes; they chattered happily and I could tell they admired Ivory's bravado. Ivory quietly followed the ushers who led her to the back. She looked exhausted and like she wanted to elope from here. The priest concluded the sermon and prayed to conclude the service. After the service, the congregation avoided me and Mama since Ivory approached us. "Mrs. Nwosu, I would like to see you, your son and your daughter in-law in my office," the priest said to us. We followed him into his office and sat down. The priest rested h
Cold Stone Fifty
50IVORYThe number of kicks I received last night from Adanna's horrible sleeping positions were uncountable. When I finally got a peaceful sleep was in the early hours of the morning when I thought Adanna had awoken and left the bed for me. I slept until the sheets were pulled from underneath me and I landed on the floor. Why was this familiar? Oh. This was exactly what Makena did to me on my first day in the farm. I opened my eyes and rubbed my forehead. Adanna was standing above me with her feet wide apart. I looked at the time and it was 5:30am. "Is this how you use to sreeping in your fada house in ala oyibo?" I thought she asked me. "Can you just go away? The fuck." I swore and stood, rubbing my throbbing side. She exclaimed something in Igbo before referring to me. "I cannot goes away. You is a bad visitors. You is here sreeping while Mama Jide dey do the work. After you go come chop. There are a no food for a lazy mans."I can't possibly deal with this my whole stay her
Cold Stone Forty Nine
49IVORYAfter Jide's mother showed me where to get water to bath and how to go about it in funny gimmicks, I had my bath. Even though it was much of a struggle, it was successful in the end. I wondered why they had taps that were dysfunctional when they could call a plumber to just fix it.I changed into the pyjama I had brought along with me to the bathroom. I was drying my hair with my towel when the lights went off. I hung my towel around my neck, blindly found the door and exited"Jide," I called, feeling around for anything that would give me a clue of where I was or where I was headed to. "Jide," I called again. I bumped into a slender form and landed on my butt. Squinting my eyes at the sudden flash of torchlight on my face. "Who be this one?" I heard a hoarse female voice ask. "Ivory," another flashlight from a distance called. The flashlight sprinted to me and I felt Jide's arms lift me up."Are you hurt?" He asked worried. "I am fine. What happened? The power suddenly
Cold Stone Forty Eight
48IVORYWhen we got into the house, Jide's mother sat me on a sofa and said something to Jide in Igbo before disappearing into an adjoining door. Jide sat beside me with a heavy sigh and a warm smile. "What did she say?" I asked him. "She is preparing a meal for us," he said. "What did you tell her about me? She was excited to see me," I asked. "Told her you were a friend. People here really like whites. That is why you garner a lot of stares," he explained and I blushed. "I would really love to have a bath right now. I am all sweaty and sticky. God. How could they pack us all like sardines into that tiny space without enough ventilation or even an AC?" I complained. Jide laughed out loud and muttered something in his language. "Are you mocking me?" I asked him. He smiled and took me into his arms. "Of course not." He kissed my hair. "It was just an 'I told you so' statement."I leaned into his hold. "I have to say you were right on this one. Damn. What is with the roads? It
