Lilies Among Thorns

‘Melody’s Restaurant’ was boldly written on a signboard by the gate. As they walked in, Lily noticed that it was also written on a larger signboard on the building. There were lots of little coloured light bulbs around the sign, which made her believe that the restaurant was also open at night. Her mother took her round the back of the building and into a long corridor. She stopped at a door marked ‘Manager’ and knocked. Without waiting for a reply she opened the door and peeped in.
“Good afternoon. Is she in?” Amanda asked a lady sitting behind a table with a computer.
“Yes. Madam is in. You are?”
Amanda walked in with Lily. “Amanda and Lily. She is expecting us.”
“You’ll have to wait. She’s with someone. Please sit down.”
“Thank you.” They sat on a four-seat sofa behind a large round coffee table with a stack of magazines.
A few minutes later a door opened and a fat lady dressed in purple lace and more gold than Lily had ever seen, emerged with a man. She looked from Amanda to Lily and back to Amanda. And then she beamed and held out her ample arms. Amanda got up and walked into them smiling.
“Amanda, Amanda. How are you? I hope you have not been waiting long.” And then she turned to her secretary, “Why didn’t you let me know my niece was here?” Not waiting for an answer she turned back to Amanda. “It’s been quite a while. I heard about your mother. Accept my sympathy.”
“Thank you,” Amanda said.
Then she looked at Lily. “Is this Lily? What a beautiful girl,” she expressed with obvious wonder. “You look just like your mother. How are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you.” Lily replied and thought the woman’s accent was rather strange.
The man beside Melody coughed and she looked at him as if just realizing he was still standing there.
“Oh Chief. I have completely forgotten about you. Forgive me.” Then she addressed Amanda. “Please excuse me my dear; I’ll only be a few minutes.” She smiled at Lily again with a mild shake of her head before leaving the office with the man.
A little while later, the secretary turned and looked directly at Amanda and shifted in her seat. She looked like she was going to say something but she turned back to her computer and continued punching the keys. After a few seconds she stopped and squirmed in her seat. Again she looked at Amanda and Lily was convinced she would talk this time, but she turned away again and pretended to look busy. Lily felt like giggling. Finally the lady cleared her throat and turned her swivel chair to face Amanda. Well here goes, thought Lily.
“Excuse me,” she said to Amanda. “Please don’t get angry. Madam said a girl would be coming to live with her. Is your daughter…she is your daughter, right?” She continued when Amanda nodded. “Is she the one coming to live with Madam?”
“Yes. I brought Lily to live with Aunt Melody,” Amanda replied with a frown.
Something was troubling the lady and Lily couldn’t imagine what it could be.
“Forgive me. I don’t mean to ‘poke nose’. But don’t you have any other person she can stay with? Please forgive me,” she added quickly. “I know it is none of my business, but a restaurant is no place for an innocent young girl, especially one as beautiful as your daughter.” She looked at Lily from her long plaits down to her small sandaled feet.
“But she wouldn’t be living in the restaurant.” Amanda sounded slightly irritated.
“I know.” The lady looked down. She seemed to know more than she was letting on. “But there is no way she would live with Madam without being at the restaurant. And she is so beautiful.”
Lily wondered why she kept saying that. But she never got the chance to find out, at least not that afternoon, because Melody suddenly bustled in with three other women. Lily’s eyes were still on the secretary who had with incredible speed turned back to her computer.
“Ladies,” Melody said loudly. “I want you to meet my niece, Amanda. She has brought her daughter to live with me here in Lagos.”
Lily thought she saw the women exchange looks but couldn’t be sure. Her mother greeted them. She hoped her mother would talk to the secretary some more and find out what was eating her when Aunty Melody went into her office. But the secretary was called in immediately. Several minutes later Amanda looked at her watch. She still had to return to Benin.
Melody soon came out and Amanda told her she had to leave.
“Don’t worry my dear. Your daughter is in good hands. I would take care of her as if she were my own. You don’t need to be shuttling between Lagos and Benin. Just remember to always give me a call first whenever you want to visit.”
“Thank you,” was all Amanda could say as Melody hugged her again.
“Give my regards to Seyi.”
“I will. Goodbye.” Amanda held Lily’s hand and took her out of the office.
Tears were already building up in Lily’s eyes as her mother held her by the shoulders outside the building, looking like she didn’t want to leave her there after all. Lily wished she would go back into the building and tell Aunt Melody it was all a big mistake, pick up her bags and return with her to Benin. But her mother just hugged her and promised to visit soon.
When would this nightmare end? First her beloved grandmother dies then she is separated from her aunt Agnes who was a major part of her growing up. And now instead of being with her mother she is being left alone in this faraway place.
Her mother stood before her looking so sorrowful. “How long?” Lily heard her ask in a barely audible voice. “How long would I have to…?” Her voice trailed off.
Lily walked back into the office downcast after the taxi her mother took was out of sight. Melody was standing by her secretary’s table, looking through some papers.
“Is your mother gone?” She asked Lily without looking up.
“Yes Aunt Melody,” Lily replied with a small voice.
“Patricia, have these ready for me in ten minutes,” Melody said as she handed the papers to her secretary and walked towards her office. At the door she looked back at Lily. “And you, you call me Madam.”