Page 79 of Cursed Daughters
“No, but—”
“Bring him round for dinner on Sunday,” said her mother. Eniiyi felt as though things were running away from her. She had wanted them to know. She would have told the whole world if she could. But she wasn’t sure if she was entirely ready to bring him into her world. What would he think of the Falodun women?
“Sunday?!”
“Are you worried we will embarrass you?”
“A little bit, Mum, yes.”
Her mother rolled her eyes in response.
“Just bring him. I’ll make fried rice.”
IV
“Are you nervous?” Eniiyi asked Zubby as they walked together hand in hand in Freedom Park. They still had time before the play was due to start, so he offered to buy her shawarma and they sat at a plastic table in front of the kiosk.
“No…Should I be?”
“Just follow the rules and you’ll be fine.”
“Rules?”
“Nod to whatever Grandma West says. She’s got dementia and it’s easier for everyone just to agree with her. And never look her in the eye—she dabbles in the dark arts.”
“Sure,” he said, laughing.
“Okay o. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. As for Grandma East, she will probably flirt with you and then fall asleep halfway through the meal. So you shouldn’t have to worry about her.”
“Am I allowed to flirt back?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Feel free. But know Grandma East takes no prisoners.”
“Ah. Well, I suppose after this, you’ll have to come to meet my parents.”
“There’s no rush.”
“Isn’t there?”
She didn’t know how to respond to that, and he was looking at her so intently.
“And your mum? Anything I should know?”
“Mum is…She can be a tough cookie. But don’t stress it. If you are polite, she won’t have much to say.”
“Right.”
She stuffed the rest of the shawarma into her mouth, and then ruffled in her bag, bringing out a navy-blue box and sliding it over to him.
“What’s this?” Zubby asked.
“A gift.”
“And the occasion?”
“Huh.” She raised her finger to her lips and paused for a beat. “Let’s call it ‘gift Tuesday.’ ”
He smiled and opened the box. She watched as his eyes lit up. He removed his glasses and then slipped on the ones she had bought for him.
