The ‘Will’ of Baba (2)

A week turned into a month, and the initial flurry of sorting through Baba’s affairs settled into a quiet rhythm. Tunde, ever the pragmatist, took the lead in managing the family business, consulting Yinka on creative decisions where her artistic flair proved invaluable. The twins, though still full of youthful energy, became more mindful of their mother’s presence, often offering her help with household chores.

Mama Ademola watched them, a cautious optimism blooming in her heart. Tunde diligently set aside a portion of the business profits for her upkeep, ensuring she had more than enough for her needs. Yinka, with her keen eye for detail, helped Mama redecorate a corner of the house, turning it into a bright and cheerful space filled with plants, her favorite.

However, the seeds of Mama Ademola’s earlier anxieties hadn’t completely withered. One afternoon, a distant relative, Aunty Dupe, known for her sharp tongue and even sharper opinions, paid a visit. After exchanging pleasantries, she steered the conversation towards Baba’s will.

“So, Mama Ademola,” Aunty Dupe began, her eyes glinting with curiosity, “your children are sharing everything equally, are they? That’s… unusual.” Mama Ademola felt a familiar knot of unease tighten in her stomach. “That was Baba’s wish,” she replied evenly.

Aunty Dupe talked softly. “And you’re comfortable with that? Relying solely on your children? What if they marry and their wives…” she trailed off, her implication hanging heavy in the air.

Despite mama’s children’s consistent care and affection, Aunty Dupe’s words planted a tiny seed of doubt. Later that week, Mama Ademola noticed Tunde having hushed conversations on his phone, often stepping outside to take the calls. Her imagination, fueled by Aunty Dupe’s insinuations, began to conjure scenarios of Tunde prioritizing a potential wife over his responsibilities to her.

Similarly, Yinka had been spending more time away from home, attending art workshops and meeting with fellow creatives. Mama Ademola, though proud of her daughter’s passion, couldn’t shake the thought that Yinka’s burgeoning career might take her far away, leaving her mother alone.

One evening, Mama Ademola sat on the porch, watching the fireflies dance in the twilight. Tunde joined her, settling into the chair beside her. “Mama, you seem a little quiet lately. Is everything alright?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Mama Ademola hesitated, then decided to voice her lingering fears. “Tunde,” she began slowly, “I know you and your siblings are good children. But… life has a way of changing things. What if… what if your priorities shift?”

Tunde took her hand, his gaze earnest. “Mama, nothing will ever change our priority to you. Baba entrusted us with your care, and it’s a responsibility we all take incredibly seriously. Those phone calls? They were about expanding the business, securing a more stable future for all of us, including you.”

Just then, Yinka and the twins joined them on the porch. Yinka, sensing the seriousness of the conversation, sat on the armrest beside her mother. “Mama,” she said gently, “my art is important to me, but you and Tunde and the boys are my family. My success means nothing if I can’t share it with you.”

Looking at her children, their faces open and sincere in the fading light, Mama Ademola felt the last vestiges of her fear dissipate. Their actions had consistently spoken louder than any words, and their reassurances now echoed with a genuine commitment she could no longer doubt.

Baba’s will had not only distributed his possessions but had also inadvertently fostered a deeper bond among his children, a shared purpose in caring for their mother. The true inheritance was not the property or the business, but the unwavering love and responsibility that bound the Ademola family together.

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