Chapter 7:The First Breakthrough
1379 Words
The air was heavy with tension as Lora walked into Mama Bisi’s room, carrying a tray of food. Mama Bisi had fallen ill a few days earlier, and while Efe and Kunle made their obligatory appearances, it was clear they had little interest in staying to care for her. Andrew had been swamped with work, leaving Lora to take on the responsibility.
As Lora set the tray on the bedside table, Mama Bisi glanced at her with a mix of irritation and reluctance. “You don’t have to do this,” she muttered, her voice hoarse.
“I want to, Ma,” Lora said gently. “You need to eat something to regain your strength.”
Mama Bisi gave a dismissive wave but picked up the spoon anyway. She ate slowly, her eyes darting to Lora every so often as though searching for something.
“Where is Andrew?” she asked after a while.
“At work,” Lora replied, smoothing the edges of the bedsheet. “He wanted to be here, but there was an important meeting he couldn’t miss. He’ll be home soon.”
Mama Bisi nodded faintly, her expression unreadable.
---
As the days passed, Lora continued to care for Mama Bisi, preparing her meals, ensuring she took her medication, and sitting with her when she needed company. At first, Mama Bisi maintained her icy demeanor, but cracks began to show.
One evening, as the sun set and the room filled with a soft orange glow, Mama Bisi spoke up unexpectedly.
“You remind me of someone,” she said, her voice quieter than usual.
Lora, caught off guard, looked up from the book she was reading. “Who, Ma?”
Mama Bisi’s gaze was distant, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “My mother-in-law. She was strong-willed and stubborn, just like you. She had to fight to earn my respect, but in the end, I admired her for it.”
Lora blinked, unsure of how to respond. “I’m not trying to fight you, Ma. I just want us to get along.”
Mama Bisi turned to her, her eyes softening for the first time. “Getting along isn’t always easy, Lora. Especially when you’re dealing with someone like me.”
The admission left Lora speechless, but she felt a glimmer of hope.
---
Meanwhile, the rest of the family began to take notice of Lora’s efforts.
“You’re really going all out for Mama,” Tolu said one evening when they crossed paths in the kitchen. “She might not say it, but I can tell she appreciates it.”
Efe, on the other hand, wasn’t as charitable. “So you’re playing nurse now?” she sneered. “Trying to win her over with pity?”
“I’m just doing what anyone would do for family,” Lora replied, keeping her tone even.
Kunle chuckled from his seat at the dining table. “Good luck with that. Mama’s as tough as they come. She doesn’t bend for anyone.”
“Maybe not,” Lora said firmly. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying.”
---
A week later, Mama Bisi began to recover. She was still weak but able to move around more freely. One morning, as Lora helped her into the living room, Mama Bisi paused.
“You’ve done well, Lora,” she said quietly. “Thank you.”
The words were simple, but they carried a weight that Lora hadn’t expected. She smiled, her chest tightening with a mix of relief and gratitude.
“You’re welcome, Ma,” she replied.
For the first time, it felt like the wall between them wasn’t as impenetrable as it once seemed.
---
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The rain drummed against the windows as Lora entered Mama Bisi’s dimly lit room, a tray of steaming yam porridge balanced carefully in her hands. The storm outside matched her turbulent thoughts, her determination to win over Mama Bisi battling against the exhaustion gnawing at her edges. For the past week, Lora had taken it upon herself to care for the family matriarch after a sudden bout of illness left her bedridden.
Mama Bisi lay propped up by several pillows, her eyes flicking to the tray with barely concealed skepticism. She hadn’t said much since falling ill, but her silence spoke volumes. Lora placed the tray on the bedside table and adjusted the sheets, hoping for a flicker of appreciation.
“I don’t need you fussing over me,” Mama Bisi muttered, her voice raspy but firm.
Lora smiled faintly, ignoring the sting. “You need to eat, Ma. The doctor said you can’t skip meals.”
Mama Bisi said nothing, her eyes drifting toward the rain-soaked window. Lora pulled up a chair beside the bed, watching her mother-in-law with a mixture of apprehension and resolve.
“You remind me of my mother,” Lora ventured after a moment, hoping to spark some connection. “She was strong, too. Always putting her family first.”
Mama Bisi’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Your mother was a good woman, I’m sure,” she said, her tone flat. “But don’t think that means you can compare yourself to her in my eyes.”
The words landed like a blow, but Lora refused to let them break her. She adjusted her scarf and kept her voice steady. “I’m not trying to compare myself, Ma. I just… I want to help.”
Mama Bisi finally turned her gaze to Lora, her eyes narrowing as though searching for a c***k in her armor. “Help?” she repeated. “Or prove something?”
Lora hesitated, the question cutting deeper than she cared to admit. Before she could respond, the sound of raised voices drifted down the hall, pulling both women’s attention.
---
Lora stepped out of the room to find Efe and Kunle standing in the hallway, their voices low but heated.
“You’re giving her too much credit,” Efe said, her arms crossed. “She’s just playing the dutiful daughter-in-law to win points.”
Kunle smirked. “She thinks cooking and running around after Mama will change anything. She doesn’t know how things work in this family.”
Lora’s hands clenched into fists. She took a deep breath, stepping forward. “If you have something to say, you can say it to my face.”
Efe’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “Oh, we didn’t see you there,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“I’m not doing this for points,” Lora said firmly. “I’m doing it because I care about Mama, whether you believe it or not.”
Kunle chuckled. “Good luck with that. Mama doesn’t bend for anyone, least of all an outsider.”
Before Lora could respond, the door to Mama Bisi’s room creaked open. “If you two are here to bicker, leave,” Mama Bisi’s voice called out, sharp and commanding.
Efe and Kunle exchanged glances before retreating down the hall. Lora turned back to the door to see Mama Bisi watching her with an unreadable expression.
---
That evening, as the rain eased into a gentle drizzle, Lora sat beside Mama Bisi, peeling oranges to prepare a light snack. The silence between them was less hostile, though still heavy with unspoken words.
“Why do you bother?” Mama Bisi asked suddenly, breaking the quiet.
Lora paused, glancing up. “What do you mean?”
“All this,” Mama Bisi said, gesturing weakly toward the tray of food, the neatly arranged medicine bottles, the freshly fluffed pillows. “Why go to so much trouble when you know I’ll never see you the way you want me to?”
Lora set the orange down, her heart hammering in her chest. “Because I love Andrew,” she said simply. “And because I want to be part of this family. Even if it takes time, I’m willing to wait for you to see that.”
Mama Bisi’s expression softened, just a fraction. “You’re stubborn,” she said, almost to herself. “That’s one thing we have in common.”
Lora smiled faintly. “Maybe that’s a start.”
For the first time, Mama Bisi didn’t look away
- Writer
