I lost count of the amount of times I walked up to grandma's
gate, I couldn't go in, I couldn't ring the bell. I made the trip – from my car
to her gate and back to my car – over and over again that I fear my shoes might
get worn out.
I tried to summon courage, get inside and get it over with.
If she doesn't want to see me, although I'll be heartbroken but I should be
able to get over it – I guess.
But I wasn't able to.
I gave up and was just about to get back into my car before
I heard a voice from the intercom.
"Heaven is that you?" It was grandma. She never liked
that I was named nevaeh. Why call heaven backwards she'd say. So she'd always
called me heaven.
Hearing her voice – contrary to what other may think
made me want to flee. I was about to do just that before I had her voice again.
"Please don't go. I need to see you." Then I broke.
Crying, I rang the doorbell and the gate was open unto me.
I don't know how I managed to get back into my car and
drive into the compound.
She was there – at the front of her house waiting for
me with her hands wide open.
I had barely packed the car before I jumped out of it.
I ran like my life depended on the hug, into her arms and hugged her tightly while
sobbing.
It was a four years late hug.
"I thought you wouldn't want to see me. I thought you hate
me. You said you don't want to see me." I poured it all out.
"Why would you assume such a thing my child. I love you
and always want to see you."
" 'cause it's all my fault. If I hadn't demanded that
they came for my graduation they would still be alive today. And Elise said you
said so too."
"Ohh heaven! Even if you hadn't demanded they would
have gone. They wanted to surprise you even before you told them that. So, it's
not your fault. And this same Elise said you don't want to see me too. She said
you don't want anything to remind you of your past."
"I feel so stupid."
"Me too. Now let's go inside. See how ugly you look
after crying."
"I thought you said I look cute even when I cry"
"I was probably without my glasses then."
"Grandmaaaa"
"You wouldn't like me to lie to you now, would you?"
"You're bringing down my self confidence. I should believe
it when someone calls me ugly then?"
"I didn't say you're ugly. I said you look ugly when
you cry. If you don't want others to know, don't cry before anyone but me."
"I'll try not to"
"Cry baby"
The conver went on and on. I laughed and laughed. Tried
not to talk about sore topics but at the end of the day, we had to talk about
one of the elephants in the room – Elise.
"What do you think her objective is?" my grandma asked.
She didn't need to tell me who she was referring to before I understood.
"I think her objective is quite simple…" I went ahead
to tell her about what I overheard at the hospital.
To say my grandma was angry would be an understatement.
She was livid. She went on and on about who Elise thinks she ia to plot against
me. And how she's going to ensure she doesn't live to tell the tale.
I had to calm her down. I want us to have a valid
reason for making them suffer. I also believe she isn't the mastermind behind
all these. There must me someone behind her. We have to be strategic about it.
"Oh they made you grow up overnight."
If only she knew. Although I'm presently just twenty
years old, the dream made me have more insightful ways to look at things.
My perspective about live has changed and I'm more matured now.
"I've always beeen a big girl."
"Yhh… if you say so."
"Grandmaa!"
"Would you like to bake some cookies with me?"
"Will you tell me your recipe?"
"If you're smart you'll get it."
"I'm ready. I'll make sure I keep my eyes open."
"That's the spirit."
We made the cookies and I didn't end up getting a
thing.
"I think I'm stupid."
"You're not stupid… you're just not as smart." She replied
laughing.
"Ohh… potatoes patatoes"
"Would you like to move in with me? You don't need to reply
immediately_"
I interrupted her before she could even say a word
more.
"I would really love to."
"Is there a but coming?"
"No, no buts. When can I move in." I replied smiling.
"I'll ask someone to move your stuffs over. I believe it's
just the stuffs from your hostel you'd want to move."
"Yes. But not all of the stuffs. I might have to stay
over there when I start my masters degree."
"You plan on doing your masters? That's so good."
"Yhh… I might stop when i become a doctor."
"I prefer professors. It's so cool"
"That's it's cool doesn't mean it'll be easy."
"Yhh… but I'm so proud of you regardless."
"Thanks grandma."
"What do you plan on doing with the companies?"
Oh yes… my parents had two companies, my brother had
just bought one too. How do I go about it all?
"I'll think about it. I believe that I'll figure it out
with your help."
"Yes… I'll always be here to help you. Then add to your
problems by transferring my company over to you."
"But…"
"But what? I'm old and your sister was the one managing
it before. All these is already taking a toll on me." She concluded with a
puppy eyes that she probably thinks makes her look pitiful but is just funny. "Besides
it's not immediately. I'll only hand it over when your done with those ones."
"I don't even know if I'll be able to do it."
"You will. I believe in you."
"Thanks grandma. I love you"
"I know"
"Not even a I love you too?"
"Ohh please."