“My baby come. There is good news” Mrs. Paul shouted in excitement as she was approaching Uloma.

“Mummy, you looked so happy. What is going on?” Uloma asked.

“My husband’s son; Obinna is coming back from America,” she informed Uloma.

Uloma’s countenance suddenly changed.

“That means I have to start looking for where to live.”

“What did you just say? Now listen to me, you are my daughter. My husband has also accepted you as his daughter too. Whatever right that Ngozi and Obinna have in this house is what you have too. By the time we are writing our will, your name will be there. As a matter of fact, everything that belongs to me in this house, is your own,” she assured Uloma.

“Mummy are you serious?”

“Why not? You are the only child I have since Ngozi abandoned me. Though, Obinna is a good boy. He fears God. For that, I have a strong believe that they will not corrupt his mind.”

“What is his age?”

“He is 32 years old.”

“Ah! He is my age mate.”

“Not really. He is one month older than you.”

“Mummy…… How can you say that he is older than me? ” Uloma protested mildly.

“Ofcourse he is older than you. He is your elder brother. So you will have to call him bros,” Mrs Paul joked.

“Mummy please can I see his picture?”

“Why not?” Mrs Paul scrolled through her phone and showed Uloma the picture.

“Wow! Such a handsome guy. He is more good looking than Ngozi.”

“He looks like his father. They said that Ngozi took after her mother in appearance. Please we have to start preparation for his coming. He would be here, any moment from now.”

“It’s so sudden. He didn’t inform you on time?” Uloma asked.

“He wanted to surprise me. We have been telling him to visit us. It was his friend that told me that he is coming. Even now, Obinna didn’t know that I’m aware of his coming. Please, you have to quickly go to the market and get the ingredients for oha soup. He will surely demand for it when he comes back. I will like you to cook it buy yourself. I always enjoy your oha soup.”

“But mummy, is it not better you cook it by yourself. He might not like the one I will cook.”

“My dear, when it comes to cooking oha soup, you are an expert. I will like you to cook it.”

Uloma and her mum were still in the kitchen when they noticed that a car drove into the compound.

“It might be Obinna. Maybe an airport taxi brought him back,”Mrs. Paul told Uloma.

Then they heard his voice,” Mum are you home? Your son is back…”

Mrs. Paul shouted in excitement and ran out to meet Obinna.

“Mum!” Obinna shouted and ran to hug her.

“Obinna my son. Is this you?” Mrs Paul said as she held Obinna tightly.
It was a great moment of joy for both mother and son.

“Obinna, why did you not tell me that you are coming back?”

“I wanted to surprise you. Don’t you like surprises?”

“I don’t like this type of surprise. Don’t ry it next time. ” Mrs. Paul protested mildly.

Mrs Paul looked round and discovered that Uloma did not come out,”Where is Uloma?”

“Who is Uloma” Obinna asked.

“She is my daughter. I think she is inside. Let’s go in.”

When they went in, Uloma was still in the kitchen. Mrs Paul had to call for her.

Uloma came out and greeted Obinna.

“Hello” Obinna greeted too. Afterwards , he turned to Mrs. Paul.

“Mummy is she the Uloma you were talking about?”

“Yes! She is my daughter. ”

“Uloma, it’s nice meeting you. My name is Obinna.”

“It’s nice meeting you too” Uloma responded.

“Mum I’m famished. I need to eat food now. You know my favourite. Eba and oha soup.”

“Did you tell me that you were coming back? Don’t disturb me.”

“Mummy please, I and Uloma can quickly go to the market to get the ingredients.”

“Which Uloma are you talking about? Do you know her before now?” Mrs. Paul queried Obinna.

“Mummy, you said that she is your daughter. Which means that she is my sister. You have already given me enough information to work with,” Obinna told him.

“No problem, go and have your bathe so that you can eat food.”

“Wow! Thats my mum,” Obinna said joyfully.

When they went back to the kitchen, Uloma started discussing with her mother about Obinna.

“Mummy, I really like Obinna. Do you know that I was afraid to come out initially, I never wanted to be embarrassed.”

“I knew. But I told you that Obinna is a nice person . He is very humble. You will surely enjoy his stay here.”

“Ofcourse, I will. I was surprised when he suggested that we should go to the market and buy ingredients for the soup.”

“He is very serious about it. He cooks very well too. That’s the way I trained him.”

“Wow! That’s good to hear,” Uloma noted.

“Mum, I need my food!” Obinna shouted from the dining table.

Mrs. Paul and Uloma busted out in laughter. After they have served the food, his mum asked him.

“Son have you forgotten that you just came from America? You should behave like an Americana”

“Mum I have heard. But then, this soup is so delicious. I’m really enjoying it .”

“Thats the way Uloma cooks. Her foods are always delicious.”

“You mean she cooked it ?” Obinna asked.

“Yes!”

“Thats nice!” Obinna noted.

After eating, Obinna went to meet her mum in the room.

“Mum thanks again for the delicious meal. I have missed eating your meal.”

“Thanks son. I have missed cooking for you too,” Mrs. Paul responded.

“Mum, who is that lady?”

“Which lady are you talking about” Mrs. Paul asked. She pretended that she didn’t know that he was talking about Uloma.

“Mum!……. How many ladies did I meet when I came?”

“Oh! Is it Uloma? What else do you want to know about her. I have already told you her name.”

“Mummy Ah! I need to know if you have married her for me. Remember you said that If I delay in coming, you will marry a wife and keep for me.”

“Yes, she is the person I married for you,” Mrs. Paul said while laughing.

“That’s nice. Go and bring her and do a formal introduction. You can say: Uloma, meet your handsome husband, Dr. Obinna Paul.”

“Wow! I almost forgot that I am now the mother of a doctor,” Mrs. Paul said in excitement. Obinna started laughing.

“But seriously mum, I want to know who she is?”

“Uloma is my church member . I really loved her because she is well behaved and fears God. I have always wanted to draw her close to me but I didn’t take it seriously because I had my own daughter. But at the time that Ngozi abandoned me and reminded me that I am a barren woman…” She started crying.

“Mum stop this. You know that I don’t like it. Did I abandon you. I’m I not your child?”

“You are a man . The way I will have freedom in my daughter’s house is not the same in my son’s house.”

“Mummy listen, I have been praying seriously concerning my marriage. By the grace of God, I will marry right. God will not allow me to marry a wife that will give you headache, “Obinna assured her.

“But Ngozi did not allow me to go for omugwo in her house,” Mrs Paul continued lamenting.

“Don’t worry, You will do omugwo for my wife.”

“I believe you, thank you son,” Mrs Paul responded while drying her tears.

“So, please tell me about Uloma,” Obinna pressed on.

“One day, some members of the church brought her here. She was attacked by robbers. I saw it as an answer to my prayers. I didn’t allow her to go back to her house. I told her that I want her to become my adopted daughter. Fortunately, she agreed. Since then, we have been living together. You daddy also accepted her.”

“Mum, I have a question? Why did you hide her from me? All the while we have been talking, you never mention her to me.”

” It’s a coincidence. I wasn’t trying to hide her.”

“Is she in a relationship?”

“Obinna, you are asking many questions. I have told you what you need to know. You can get further information from her.”

“Any way, daddy have been telling me about Uloma. ”

“Really? What did he tell you about her?”Mrs Paul asked.

“Mum, don’t ask me. I’m going to my room. The brown coloured box belongs to her. Help me and deliver it to her. The black one is for you?”

“Obinna come back here. What exactly is going on? Why did you buy things for Uloma? Secondly, how did you know her size?”

“Your husband gave me her body and shoe size. Go and ask him what is going on?”

“But when you came back here, you pretended that you have not heard anything about her. Anyway, I’m watching you. Just be careful around my daughter?”

“Mum! Come off it. Are you sure you will not be happy to have me as your son inlaw? You better start praying about it,” Obinna joked and left Mrs. Paul’s room.

Mrs.Paul smiled to herself,” Uloma weds Obinna. Why have I not thought of this? God please make it a reality,” she prayed silently.