Free Always Yours (Lagos Romance Series) by Somi Ekhasomhi Page A

him watching me as I switched off the lights in the kitchen and the living room. When I was done I walked to him and took the remote from his hands and switched off the TV.
    “Are you just going to sit there admiring me?” I asked mischievously. “Or are we going to go to your parent’s party?”
    I didn’t wait to see the expression on his face. I savoured my victory as I walked out of the flat, pausing at the door to wait for him so I could lock the flat. Two can play that game Mr Ade-Cole, I thought smugly as we walked down the stairs.
    Michael’s parents’ house was in one of those quiet streets nestled deep within Ikoyi . It was an old house, early 1980’s I think, built in that boxy style of those days. It was beautiful though, especially at that time of the day when it was brightened by the garden lights as well as the lights blazing from all the windows.
    As we drove into the compound, I noticed that there were many cars parked in front of the house at the end of the short driveway.
    “I thought you said it was a small soiree” I whispered as I got out of the car.
    He shrugged. “It is a small soiree.” He said. “There is no live band, no high table, no emcee, it’s just a couple of friends of my parents"
    “So what’s the celebration?” I asked. Realizing I didn’t even know why there was a party in the first place. What if it was someone’s birthday, I hadn’t even thought of bringing a gift.
    “It’s not a party” Michael stressed the words. “Per se. My mum’s best friend moved back to Nigeria after almost thirty years in the states. It’s just a small, informal dinner to welcome her”
    “ Okayyyy ” I said, slightly relieved. Funny enough I was nervous, I was as nervous as someone going to meet her boyfriend’s parents for the first time. I couldn’t help it, even though I wasn’t his girlfriend and had actually met his mother before. As we walked towards the front door, he caught hold of my hand and held unto it. For a moment I allowed myself to think how like a couple we must look, going into his parent’s house together, holding hands. But I shrugged it out of my mind, no use thinking such thoughts.
    We climbed up two steps to the front porch, which was covered in deep terracotta tiles and edged with pretty flowering shrubs, the front door was closed, but not locked and opened into a spacious reception room, elegantly furnished and well lit, from which a pair of double doors opened into a parlour. There was no one in the reception but through the doors which were slightly ajar, I could hear the chink of glasses and the hum of conversation.
    “Michael!” It was Cecilia, his sister. Still as heavily pregnant as the last time I’d seen her. She walked into the reception with smart easy steps to hug her brother. “And Sophie!” she grinned as she noticed me, and gave her brother a teasing smile. “Sweetie, how are you?”
    “I’m fine” I replied, Returning her warm smile. I looked up towards the doors at the sound of another voice.
    “Michael, I thought you said you were coming right back?” It was Mrs Gladys Ade-Cole, their mother, admonishing Michael before turning to me with a welcoming smile. She was a tall, slim woman. I knew she was about sixty but she looked about forty or less. She was well kept and elegant, with a natural grace she had passed on to her children.
    ‘Sophie!” She moved towards me and enveloped me in arms that were slim, yet as motherly as anyone could hope for. “It has been a long time” she continued. She released me and looked at me. “Too long, and you look more beautiful than I remember”
    “Thank you ma” I said shyly.
    “Nothing to thank me for.” She smiled warmly. I couldn’t help thinking of the good witch in the Wizard of Oz, that was how cool and kindly she was, and lovely. “You’re the one who’s beautiful” she continued with a shrug and a small laugh at her own joke. She turned to her son. “Michael, what do you