Song of the chapter: Rockabye by Clean Bandit, Sean Paul and Anne Marie.

...

"Why do I have to be blindfolded?" Tobi asked as Abena led him towards the stairs, a bandana was tied around his eyes.

"So that when we reach the nursery, the full effect of my awesome decorating skills would hit you with full force." She explained, holding his hand as they slowly walked up the stairs.

"Yes, but when we reach the nursery, the door would be closed and when we open it and enter, I would still see the full effect of your apparent awesome decorating skills." He argued, as he let her lead him through the corridor.

"Yeah but if you enter the room blindfolded, by the time you open your eyes, it would hit you like a ton of bricks."

"One, I really hope the ton of bricks thing is being used metaphorically. And two, it's the same thing with what I said about not using the-"

"Tobi Ademi, one more word and I would slap you ehn." She warned, now dragging him. They stood in front of the room.

"Nawa! Such a violent pregnant woman." He whined and she laughed, rolling her eyes.

She fished out the key from her pocket, and unlocked the door. Opening it, she pushed him inside.

"Very violent." He muttered.

"Okay, and open!"

He removed the bandana and looked around the baby room. The walls were painted in yellow and white stripes, and the baby cots were at a side, beside each other, with a yellow bedsheet and a white pillow. There was a frame of letters arranged on the wall, and a cabinet at another side. The couches were white with yellow spots, and the centre rug was yellow. On the couches and around the room, different stuffed animals were arranged everywhere.

"Wow. It's really good." Tobi complimented. "Uju did a really good job oh."

She glared at him and hit the back of his head. He pouted and rubbed the place she hit, before going to seat down on the couch.

"Be careful, don't wrinkle anything." Abena warned but he just rolled his eyes and patted the space beside him, gesturing for her to seat down. She sat down beside him.

"It's really good Abena. The kids would love it." He said.

"Good. Because I put my heart and soul into this." She smiled.

"Abena-"

"Who is going to take care of the children?" She suddenly asked, afraid of what he was going to say.

"I would start interviewing Nannies when you're in your eighth month." He replied and she nodded.

"Make sure she's pretty." Abena started, looking at nothing in particular. "She has to be pretty, and friendly, and funny and random. But also strict when it's necessary. She must be fun to be with. Speak good English. Like music and dancing. She has to know how to sing, so she can sing them to sleep. She has to be an excellent cook. She has to be patient and calm. She has to read them books and let them watch all the cartoons so that their childhood would be complete. She must care about them, not because she's being paid to, but because she's passionate about kids. She must pick them up from school on time. And when their sick, she must take very good care of them."

"Abena."

"Promise me you'll have time for them Tobi. You won't bury yourself in your work, but you'll create a lot of bonding time to spend with them."

"I promise Abena. Nothing would happen to them." He pulled her towards him, and stroked her hair. She hung unto him, resting her head on his legs, and blinking away the tears that threatened to fall.

"Thank you."

...

"Why can't you just be with her?"

"Because we signed a contract Joseph. She's here to give birth and leave. No strings attached. You can't just forget the point of all this." Tobi replied.

They were at a restaurant, waiting for a very late client, and Joseph just had to bring up Abena as a topic.

"Why? You like her. This is the first time you've liked someone." Joseph argued.

"I never said I like her Joseph. Stop jumping into conclusions." Tobi groaned, rubbing his temple.

"But you care about her. And don't tell me it's because she's carrying your baby." Joseph pointed out.

"Fine. I care about her. But that's what it would be. Nothing else."

"Why don't you want a family?"

"Well, because families break." Tobi snapped. "And if mine breaks, it would be my fault. So it's better to prevent it, than to get hurt after." Tobi said, avoiding his gaze.

"You're not him. You're not a cheat like your father Tobi."

"Well he didn't know he was a cheat until he became a cheat." Tobi shrugged, hoping that the client would arrive soon.

Joseph was about to say something, when Tobi pointed at a lanky man walking into the restaurant.

"Mr. Dotun is here, get the documents ready."

Joseph rolled his eyes, and said. "You should know one thing. When life breaks your family and takes a member away, God rebuilds it, and gives you someone else."

...

"Tobi!"

"Yeah?" Tobi replied, moving the phone away from his ear because Abena was shouting.

"Are you still at the office?" She asked, and he smiled at the sound of her soft voice.

"I'm leaving now. Why?"

"I need bread." She simply said.

"There's bread at home." He replied, amused.

"I don't want that one. I want agege bread." She explained and he rolled his eyes even if she couldn't see him.

"Bread is bread Abena. Stop disturbing me."

"No it's not. I want agege bread. No wait, let me rephrase that, the twins want agege bread." She pointed out.

"Stop using my children to get things from me." He groaned, starting his car.

"Technically, your children are in me, so I'm the only one that can speak for them. Unless you want to carry them yourself."

"Thats impossible." He said.

"Exactly. So I'm the one who understands what the children want, and they want agege bread."

"Whatever. Fine. I'll get you your stupid bread." He replied childishly but she just chuckled.

"Good. And buy chocolate and snacks on your way. I've finished the ones at home. And bananas too."

"Abena! I bought five of the large toblerones, seven maltesers and ten boxes of Maryland cookies. Just yesterday!" He said surprised.

"Oops?"

...

"What do you want to eat?"

"Rice." Tobi replied without looking away from his laptop.

"Thats what we ate yesterday. I'm making sweet potatoes."

"Then why did you ask me?" He asked exasperated.

"So that you can think you have a say in what I cook." She shrugged and left, going to the kitchen. He dropped his laptop on the centre table and followed her.

"We're going out tomorrow. Have you thought of where you want to go?"

"Can we go to the beach? Please?" She smiled broadly at him and he chuckled.

"Do you have a beach wear?"

"No. We didn't buy that day." She frowned.

"Okay. We can go. We'll stop by the mall on the way to get you a bikini." He was the one smiling broadly this time.

"Should I be worried?" She lifted an eyebrow.

"If you want to go to the beach, I get to pick your bikini." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Tobi! You're so... ugh!" She complained although she was laughing and he joined in.

"I promise you, it'll be sexy." He shrugged and she laughed.

"Shut up you!"

...

"Wake up. We have somewhere to be." Abena said, shaking Tobi who was still asleep.

"Go away. It's too early." He mumbled.

"Stand up jare! We have a beach that's calling my name."

"Beaches don't talk. Now go away. It's 5:30 in the morning. We're not leaving till like ten." He grumbled.

"Yes but we have to get ready. And pack all our stuff, and eat breakfast, and you still have that stupid morning run, and we also have to stop by the mall first." Abena whined.

"Shut up. Your voice is disturbing my sleep."

She stood upright and placed her hands on her waist. She looked towards the bathroom and was about to go there.

"If you pour water on me ehn, you won't even see sand." He threatened.

She stomped her foot on the floor like a child and folded her arms against her chest.

Then, lightbulb.

"Tobi. If you stand up right now, you'll pick my bikini when we get to the mall."

He stood up immediately.

...

"I'm so excited. Aren't you excited?" Abena asked.

"Yes I am. And very sleep deprived too." He grumbled while opening the store room to bring out umbrellas and other things they would need at the beach.

"You're such a grouch." She laughed.

"How can you be so happy when you woke up that early?"

She shrugged and then her phone rang. She looked at the unknown number before answering the call.

"Hello?" Tobi had entered the store room.

"Yes. Abena? This is Francis."

"Oh. Hello. Is there a problem?"

"No. No problem. Is Tobi there?"

"Yes. He's with me." She replied, confused.

"Oh good. I just cracked your case." She heard him say in a very excited tone.

"Oh!"

"Yes. Your mother was poisoned when she had dinner at her best friends house. She was poisoned by your step mother."

Abena's hand suddenly felt sweaty and the phone dropped, breaking into pieces on the floor. Tobi ran out of the room worriedly. But he was too late.

She fainted, and fell down the stairs.

Tobi ran after her, down the stairs, and crouched beside her, checking her for any wounds while he called the doctor.

"Yes? This is Mr. Ademi. Send an ambulance to my house right now!"

He held her to him, shaking in tears, then something caught his eye.

Blood trickled out from between her legs.

...

Abena forced her eyes open, then suddenly wished she didn't. She could hear Tobi shouting at someone, and she just wanted to open her eyes again.

"I didn't ask you to tell her anything you idiot! I told you to report to me directly!"

"Well if I wasn't picking my calls, why didn't you just wait till I called you back?!"

"Well now she's in the hospital because of your stupid mistake!"

"I don't care if she told you she was with me! You were to report to me dammit!"

She heard something fall and clatter on the floor, presumably his phone.

"You need to calm down." She heard another voice. Joseph?

"She's not waking up man. The doctor said she'll wake soon."

"Shut up Tobi. You're making noise." She muttered. She forced her eyes open and saw him in front of her, looking at her with worry in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" He asked softly.

"I feel weak." She replied and then the events that happened came rushing into her mind.

They were going to the beach, Bridget killed her mom, she fell down the stairs.

She fell down the stairs.

She turned to Tobi frantically and asked, already dreading the answer.

"My babies. Tobi, how are my babies?"

...

I really don't know what to sayyyyyyyy.

Let's have a short prayer for Abena's twins.

So... what do you think about Tobi's fear to have a family?

And do you think Abena would be okay?

How is this chapter? Good? Bad? Just okay?

Agege bread is bread that hasn't been sliced.

I asked you guys last week about what Omo Naija means.

The person that got it is.............

So yes. If you haven't checked out the Nigerian Watty Awards, please do so. For info, check the part called The Nigerian Warty Awards (Please Read Again).

Thanks so much for the comments and votes.

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Keep on being amazing, my lovely bananas;

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- Timi