White oak shoe rack covered the wall on her right. It homed shoes of different colours, soles, brands, designs, stilettos, mules, sneakers, wedges, flat sandals, slippers, block heels, and many more she could not say. She took the path in the closet down until she arrived at the bend. The next turn held bags and purses which were also not an exception like the shoes. She looked ahead, a wooden shelve was stuffed with glassware, figurines and Chinas. The glossy floor ended at the sliding door leading to the bathroom. She walked back to the centre of the closet, her cool eyes scanning the room.

The wardrobe opposite the shoe racks contained clothes, clothes she could not count, clothes that were too much for one person to own but her younger sister owned them all. Below the wardrobe were drawers that retained scarves and gele. The centre of the room had an island. The top was glass with a sliding door that displayed accessories many women would wish for, designer wristwatches, charm bracelets, encrusted earrings, a set of jewelleries, and rings made from the most expensive elements used to produce accessories.

Diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires that were encrusts in earrings, wrist watches, bracelets, bangles, and necklaces glistened in the island. The dressing table at the end contained beauty products of different makes. The corner of her lips ticked but she forced back her smile. She knew Lola loved makeup but as she gazed at the beauty products on the dressing table, she realised her sister was obsessed with them. Such closet was not owned only by Lola, her other siblings had the same type of closet overflowing with too many clothes, shoes, bags and accessories including the boys.

"I am sorry" Lola apologised behind her. She swirled around to look at her. Lola had her head bowed down before she voiced how sorry she was. "I know I was rude the other day. I am really sorry" she gazed at Shola with a pout.

Shola treaded to the wardrobe. She had noticed a green dress when she walked by. She pulled out the dress "Sarah, what do you think about this dress?" Shola displayed the dress to the younger one who had her eyes on her phone while a smile formed on her lips.

"It's fine"

"You are not looking Sarah"

"Shola" Toke walked into the closet, a plate of fruit in hand. "Wow, that dress is pretty. Is that what she is putting on?" she asked, mouth full of watermelon.

"I am not dressing to impress anyone. I will put on what I wear on norms. It is just a dinner with strangers. Why is everyone so freaked about it?" Still pissed with what her grandmother had done to her, she voiced out in an annoyed voice. "Sister Shola, I am sorry" Lola held Shola's hand.

Shola slipped her hand from the gentle grasp. "We shall pick this" Shola threw the dress at Sarah who had not seen it coming her way. The dress sprawled over her head.

"Sister Toke" Taiwo and Kehinde rushed into the closet an iPad in hand. "What do you think of this bag?" They squealed shoving the iPad at their elder sister's face.

"Oh" Toke screeched. She dropped the plate of fruit on the island then collected the iPad. "It's pretty" Lola rolled her eyes.

"Toke, you should not keep that plate there. The water from your fruits might drip on the glass. I don't have the will to wipe that glass clean again"

"You speak as if you are the one who is going to wipe it. The maid will do it" She waved an imperturbable hand.

"I know but I still do not like anything messy"

Toke had all her attention on what she stared at. She giggled, swiping her hand through the screen with eyes wide with hilarity at what she saw. Lola's voice had tuned out and all she saw were the beautiful bags she would own.

"Add this to the cart and this and this and this" she kept tapping the screen.

"They are expensive" Kehinde said.

"Do not worry. Nathan would pay for them" she waved a hand.

"How much are what she chose in total?" Shola asked.

"Three thousand and sixty two dollars for now" Kehinde and Taiwo replied in chorus.

"Toke!" Shola called frowning at how much the money was.

"What?"

"I know you are a jobless wife. Your husband has the money but at least be considerate"

"He does not mind" she thrust the iPad into Taiwo's hand and picked up the plate of fruit again. "He had never mind"

"Because he says nothing does not mean he is alright with a wife who lives lavishly and never cares about the amount of whatever item she wants to purchase before swiping her credit card filled with money from his sweat?"

"But that's who I am and I can't help it. He knew who I was before he decided to put a ring in my finger" She raised her hand that had her wedding band.

"Doing the same thing all the time tires people. Your way of spending can make anyone go bankrupt"

"I know but we have never quarrelled over it. His mother is the one who complains" her face twisted into a hostile look at the mention of a woman who wanted to make life hell for her. "You are spoiling her. How can you buy a dress of seventy thousand naira for her? This Brazilian hair is too expensive. Can't you get her a much cheaper one? The perfume is costly. Nathan, you sponsored her trip to Greece? This is too much" she mimicked her mother in law's sonorous voice. "Arggghhh" she growled. "The woman is frustrating!" she balled her fist. "Why does my husband have to be her only son and child? Sometimes, I think I am unlucky. She complains I can't do anything right. I am lazy. I should be the one doing the household chores. What are maids for? I cook. I still do the cooking for my husband. Everytime she visits, we end up fighting"

"Because you are a very saucy woman. You got a sharp tongue"

"It is in the blood. Just because you are the cool one does not mean I am the only one with a sharp tongue" she glanced at Lola then Tenny.

"Don't bring me into that. Sister Shola I am sorry" Lola repeated but she could relate.

Her last visit to Toke's place had told her everything about her sister's relationship with her mother in law. The woman had given them an unexpected visit. Toke had arrived from an outing with hands filled with shopping bags to see her mother in law in the house. She was displeased but she still smiled. She said "mama you know it is a homeless chicken that moves from one place to another. Seeing you here today has consider you as one. Do you have to always be here?"

Those words were harsh but Lola was not surprised at her sister's words. She had said worse. That led to an argument between the woman and her sister. The woman left furiously but before she left, Toke had said mama, do you want to stay for dinner or do you want to leave. It is better to stay at home mama instead of moving from one place to another. You need to rest before you end up six feet below the ground.

"Forgive Lola, Shola. What she did was an act of childishness"

"A sorry was what I expected" Shola mumbled.

"Sorry?" Tenny sneered. "Sister Shola, pride won't allow her say it. We have pride in our family. It something most of us got from our mother except you, Mofe and Kenny"

"I am different" Shola turned to Tenny. "I have seen her weakness and I know her strongest points. Do you know what sorry can do? Aside from that, she was rude and unpleasant"

"I am sorry" Lola repeated.

"She is sorry" everyone said in chorus. "Forgive her" Shola laughed. They know how to soften her.

"Alright" Shola turned to Lola.

"Really?" Lola's lips curled up.

"Give me a hug before I change my mind?" Lola rushed into her sister's opened arms.

He knew he was late for the dinner so he hurried into the house. The maid he met outside had directed him to the backyard. She had said something about taking the hallway on the left where he will see the patio doors that leads to the backyard. He saw a familiar figure walk down from the stairway into that same hallway. He knew that face. He had seen it before and he could still remember it vividly together with the incident that had happened that night he met her. He rushed and caught up with her.

Lola gasped out at the unexpected pull she felt. It had taken every composure she had not to screech then hit the person. Her heart had jumped in her chest when she was turned around. A man grinned at her.

"Orekelewa, we meet again" he said.