THE TATTOO

CHAPTER EIGHT

REUNION 

Uju took a taxi to her parents’ house after she landed in Enugu. She needed to drop some of her things there before going to the hospital. The state hadn’t really changed much since she left. She met the gateman when she arrived; her mum had told him she was coming. Uju hadn’t met him before, the former gateman she knew had died years ago. The door to the house was locked, so she checked the flower pot in front of the house and found the key. She smiled. Her mother still kept the key there after all these years. She unlocked the door and hesitated for some minutes before stepping into the house and immediately regretted coming straight to the house as old memories flooded her mind. She dropped her bags in the sitting room and briskly walked out. Outside, she sat on a plastic chair in the compound to catch her breath when she remembered her mother had a flower garden she tended to and loved when Uju was younger. Brides- to-be from their church would come over to their house those days to ask for some flowers for their weddings which Ijeego  plucked gladly and gave them. Uju went behind the house to sniff the flowers like she did those years but was surprised to meet an empty space. Quite shocking because she knew how much her mother adored the garden then. Her phone rang and it was Ijeego, she answered the call. “Mummy, sorry I haven’t called yet, I landed safe… I went straight to the house to drop my things” she said in one breath.

“Nno Nnem. Are you coming to the hospital now? We are in the family hospital” She sounded tired

“Yes ma, I’ll be there soon. Kedu ka Daddy mere?”

“You will see for yourself when you come” her mother said. “You can come with my car; the key is on the shelf in the parlour. Drive safe Nne.” She hung up before Uju could tell her she’d rather use a taxi. She frowned at the thought of entering the house, again. She got in reluctantly, collected the car key and ran out.

Ijeego was seated in front of the private ward when Uju arrived. She stood up for a hug when she sighted her. “Nnem, ibiago? Nno.” 

“Mummy” Uju said as she hugged her. Her mother looked smaller, thinner. She was never on the big side but she looked like she was the sick one. She was cautious not to hug her tightly for fear of snuffing the life out of her. “Kedu? You look…tired.” Uju said while looking her over.

Ijeego let out a weak laugh. “When your husband is hospitalized and in a critical condition would you rather be cheerful, nwam?” 

 Uju was engulfed with sudden sadness, “Mummy you look like you are battling a terminal illness. You have emaciated so much and the way you look does not look like it happened overnight. What happened to you Mummy, kedu ihe mere gi? You look much older, you are all bones Nne.” She said as she fought back tears.

“Obianuju,” Ijeego said, “did you come here for your father or to bombard me with questions on the way I look?” She said laughing; a forced laughter.

Uju heaved, “Where is Daddy?” She said as she broke off from the hug but still held her mother’s hand. 

“He is still in the ICU; the Doctor will soon come for evening rounds. I came to the ward to freshen up. We would go to see your father after the rounds, inugo?”

“Have you had something to eat?” Uju asked

“Yes, the cook brought lunch earlier, I am sure he will be making dinner now. Did you meet him at home?”

“The cook? No I didn’t. The house was locked when I came.”

“Oho! He probably went to the market. Odimma. Kedu maka Kasie?” Ijeego asked as she made to lean on the wall.

“Kasie is fine. She sends her regards. Mummy let us sit down and catch up, it’s been long and I need to know why you look this way, Nnem.  Kedu ife na-emezi?” They both sat down on the bench while she still held her hand. Uju heard her phone ring, it was Nnanna. She excused herself and stepped out to answer the call.

“Hello, CEO” she said smiling for the first time since she laid eyes on her mother.

“I was worried when you weren’t taking my calls, Uju. Hope you arrived safe” he said with a note of concern in his voice. Uju looked at her call log and realized he had called thrice earlier.

“Oh, I am sorry. I didn’t even realize you called. Yes, I am fine and with my mum now.” She replied when she placed the phone back to her ear.

“That’s alright. How is she doing and have you seen your father?” he asked

“My mother does not look like she is holding up well.” She said with sadness in her tone. “I am yet to see my dad, I will after the doctor sees him. What about you, how are you?”

“Well, I am fine now that I know you are. You’ve spoken with Kasie yet?”

“No but I sent her a text after we landed.” She said as she leaned on the wall to rest her back.

“Okay. Ehm..." 

"What?"

He cleared his throat, "well, I know this is not the right time for this but I miss you Uju, I just cannot stop thinking about you. I don’t mind getting on the next flight to…”

“Ujunwa, the doctor is here” she heard her mother say behind her.  

“Ehm…Nnanna, I have got to go now. The Doctor is around. Good night” and she hung up. She was not happy the call was cut short. She loved what he was saying to her; she wanted to hear it but at the same time, didn’t want him to know how she felt about him. She followed her mother closely as they strolled to the ICU.

“Mummy, what happened to your garden? I was surprised when I couldn’t find it. You really loved your flowers.” She said, breaking the silence.

“My love for flowers died when you left home”

                                                                                                                                    CHAPTER NINE