THE HEIR'S REVENGE

chapter 65

She pointed at me with her fork. “You are not acting like my brother right now.”

“What do you mean? I'm acting like a big brother right now.” I said. “I know you are going to get a stomachache from this.”

She narrowed her eyes, then she glanced at Yemi like she needed some help convincing me.

“Aunt Yemi.” I never thought Lily was this soft. “Tell him.”

“I don't want to be involved in this pancake fight.” Yemi held up both hands.

"You are supposed to be on my side," Lily said.

"I am on the side of no stomachaches," Yemi said, looking away, probably afraid that Lily's charm would work on her if she didn't.

Then when Lily saw that she wasn't winning, she looked at Henry.

"Do not look at me," Henry said without looking up from his cup. It was cold but it made me smile. I glanced back at Lily to see what next she would do.

She sat back in her chair with the expression of someone who is heartbroken, someone who just found out that she had no friends.

“Fine," she finally agreed. "But I want extra syrup for lunch."

"It is nine in the morning," I said.

"I am planning ahead," she said.

I looked at her.

She looked at me, then I decided to hand her pancakes back to her.

She didn't hesitate like I thought she would since I figured she might be upset. She took it immediately before I changed my mind. She ate the pancakes and soon finished it.

Everyone on the table laughed.

It was so much fun that we didn't know when the time clicked ten o'clock in the morning. Soon, we all got tired even though Lily was urging her to sit down for a little while.

Of course, we couldn't. Everyone had work to do so we all had to respect that. When we got up, I realized to myself that the plates were long empty and the orange juice was ready.

I watched as Lily spoke to Temi like she was her mother. She told Yemu accurately about her school project.

“I'll help you.” Yemi had responded swiftly.Then the conversation lead to Mrs. Park taking it out on Henry. As I watched them laugh, I wondered seriously how they had gotten this close to each other.

I looked around my grandfather's table and I felt satisfied. I had woken up with the feeling that I was alone and that there was no one who cared about me but looking around, right now, I knew I was wrong.

Someone truly cared about me.

I had a family who loved me.

Henry. Mrs Park. Lily. Yemi.

These people. They meant a lot to me.

And then this house that had once seemed too big and cold even for someone like me. Now, it felt like my own now, like I had this place.

It all started with an unknown number. I thought about that particular park bench where I had sat.

I must have been thinking too much because I caught Yemi looking at me. "You are doing the thinking face," she said quietly.

At first, I was taken aback, Lily was the only one I knew who used that expression effortlessly.

"Lily taught you that?" I said, with a smile.

"Lily teaches me everything, everyday." she said.

From the other end of the table Lily looked up. She must have heard her name being mentioned.

"I know," I said. “She doesn't ever stop talking.” I added.

I looked at her. She was smiling at me with her notebook opened in front of her and her rabbit sitting on her lap.

Soon, everyone had all gone back to their work place. Mrs. Park was probably busy doing some house chores. Yemi was outside looking at the garden maybe, she loved that and Henry was probably at one meeting which he'd brief me when he got back.

These were my people, the ones I could trust with myself and with Lily too.

I looked at Lily again the way I knew my mum had looked at me when I was six years old.

She was just six years old and she was the best thing in my life.

"Go wash your face," I said. "You have syrup on your chin."

She touched her chin and then gave me that face. She didn't want to wash her face but that didn't matter. There were rules she had to follow, no matter what.

She looked at her finger, then at my face.

"It is fine," she said, smiling.

"Lily."

"It is a very small amount," she said. “You wouldn't even notice if you don't look well enough.”

"Lily."

She sighed the enormous sigh of someone carrying a very unfair burden and went to wash her face.

I heard her footsteps going down the corridor.

Then I heard her come back.

She appeared at the kitchen door with her face clean and her rabbit under her arm.

"Better?" she said.

"Better," I said.

She came back to the table and sat down and opened her notebook again like nothing had happened.

The morning sun was coming through the kitchen window now falling across the table in a wide warm band. I guess I wasn't going to be doing anything this morning. It's been a while since I decided that I was just going to rest and reset my mind.

Infact, I have been making plans but I guess this was the time I was finally going to take some actions. This was that morning.

Outside the butterfly garlands moved in the beautiful garden. The view I had now even as I was in my house was one that I had only dreamt of when I was small and inconsistent.

The city was doing its ordinary Wednesday things beyond the walls. The people were just minding their business and every other thing that gave them money.

And inside this kitchen this morning everything was exactly as it should be.

I was sure of that.

Completely and finally sure.