Samantha’s mother, Felicity, had waited until Samantha was headed to Edem, Nsukka before informing her that she was at Aba to restock for the Christmas season. A valuable information that skipped her mind, knowing that Samantha would be travelling from Enugu to meet her at Nsukka. It wasn't surprising that her mother had done so to hasten her return, and she was glad regardless, because spending one more day around Adam would have driven her insane. Samantha parked her car and glanced at her sons, who were asleep.

'Shawn. Louis. Wake up. We're home.'

Shawn, who was six years old, was the first to wake up. He yawned and stared around, and then he smiled. 'At granny's?'

'Yes,' Samantha replied. She shook Louis’s arm, and soon he stirred awake.

'What, mom?' Louis asked, irritated.

'We're home.'

Louis looked around, frowned, and exited the car. 'This isn't my home,’ he said.

Samantha couldn't bring herself to explain to them what transpired. No caring mother found it easy to break the heart of their child by giving them that kind of news. Her excuse was that they needed time apart. While Shawn didn't care since he barely saw Adam nor did he have any relationship with him, it was difficult on Louis who knew a few father-to-son moments and idolised him. She heaved a breath and pulled their boxes from the boot.

She opened the door, setting their boxes side by side. Struck with a wave of nostalgia, she placed her hands on her hips and glanced around. The sitting room was as impeccable as always. Plush welted cushion, picture frames in every corner, a centre table, a TV, and the scent of a woman's kitchen. She strode into the kitchen, tracing her fingers on the mahogany counter. The plates and utensils were stacked according to sizes. Crowded and orderly, yet a little disorganised. Her mother's sanctuary.

Her parents hadn't been rich, some may consider them below average, but they always had food on the table. Now, her mother had accumulated wealth, yet held on to earlier memories like nothing had changed. Samantha missed the simple love and laughter. How her father would go out to water the garden or delude himself that he could play mechanic as her mother prepared breakfast. Then he would walk back in, wrap his hands on her waist, and kiss her senselessly.

Samantha glanced at their wooden dining table. They always said their prayers and ate together at the table. That was love, the family she desired. But with Adam, things were different. Complicated. Foreign. She'd convinced herself that it was enough. After all, love didn't have to come in the same form.

Unlike her father, Adam disliked dirty work. He was obsessed with cleanliness. Adam didn't wait for breakfast time, so she woke up extra early to prepare his dishes. They barely ate together.
Adam didn't kiss her before leaving for work. He believed it would rumple his ironed clothes. And she was content.

She had to compromise to make her marriage work. She had to give up a lot of things for him. How had she seen that as love and let him make the vital decisions in her life? Was she convinced in being flexible that she lowered her standard to fit his? When did love become repressed feelings and needs, substituted for contentment? When did love become two strangers living together? Like Adam and her.

She took a bottled water out of the refrigerator, sipped it, and played with it for a while. She looked around, and then it dawned on her that her boys hadn't followed her in. Panic surged through her. She set the bottle and rushed to the sitting room.

'Shawn? Louis?' she called, crossing to her car. She rounded the house and stood by the backyard.

  +

'Who are those intruders?' a voice called. 'Arrest them and hand them to the police!'

'We're sorry, sir. We're sorry, sir.' Louis and Shawn giggled, running about the field.

'Not only did you intrude, but you stole my tangerines,’ the voice continued. ‘You are in trouble.’ It was a man’s voice. His name, Xander.

'Sorry, sir.' The boys laughed harder. But Xander caught up to them, wrapped his arms around them, and they fell to the ground.

He smiled, his arms caging them as they struggled to be free. He was used to villagers trooping in and out of his compound, but it was the first time he'd seen the pair. They looked too neat and dressed up, and their accent was like they learnt English as their only language, unlike the villagers who had a thick or faint Igbo accent.

'Big guys, tell me who you are,’ he told them.

'We are—' Shawn began.

'Let us go,' Louis said.

'Say the magic word first,' Xander replied.

'Please, excuse me, sorry, thank you, and pardon me,' Shawn blurted, causing Xander to laugh. 

'Aren't you brilliant?' Xander pulled back and sat on the grass with them.

'My mommy says I'm the most brilliant kid in the whole world wide,' Shawn replied.

'You mean the whole wide world?' Xander asked.

'Worldwide.'

Xander grinned. 'Your mother was right.'

'So, what's your name?'

'Shawn Ofor,' Shawn said, stretching his hand for a handshake. Xander was surprised by his mannerism. He took the boy’s hand.

'Nice meeting you, Shawn.'

Xander turned to the older one, who was reluctant and withdrawn. 'And you are?'

'I'm Louis. Louis Ofor.'

'It's nice meeting you, Louis.'

'Sir, what's your name?' Shawn asked.

Samantha watched her boys sit on the grass with a total stranger. She'd watched them run through the field. It was the most adorable sight. Louis, who hadn't laughed in ages, was giggling with his brother. She would've done anything to have the moment frozen forever. But the man was a stranger and might as well be a kidnapper or murderer. She squared her shoulders, pushed the wicket gate that separated the compounds and called.

'Louis Okechukwu Ofor! Shawn Ifechukwu Ofor! Stand up and get in here!'

The boys hurriedly rose and ran to her. Shawn circled his hands on her legs, in an attempt for her to carry him.

'What do you think you're doing?' she asked, her eyes fell to their hands, and they widened.

'Why do you have tangerines that aren't yours? Drop them this minute and go wash up. Your father won't—' She caught herself before saying their father wouldn't want to see them dirty. They were hers to train the best way she could and not according to Adam's irritation.

'Go inside,’ she told them.

They grumbled, set the tangerines down, and dragged their feet in.