Chapter Thirty-one

I made sandwiches and tea for breakfast.

“Breakfast is ready, come down and eat,” I called Lawson who is still upstairs getting ready for the office.

“I will join you soon,” he replied. He was downstairs as promised and we ate breakfast together.

“ Thanks for breakfast. Would you like it if I drop you off at your studio today? And properly introduce myself to your staff?” He asked me.

“Of course, I would love it so much,” I replied with a smile. This is a new beginning.

We finished eating and went straight to my studio.

The receptionist greeted us and I instructed her to call everyone.

“ Good morning everyone, I would like to officially introduce my husband to you, in the presence of Lawson Webmar, the owner and founder of Lawson groups.”

“ I am Lawson Webmar as introduced, I am sorry this is coming late, and I also apologise for any inconvenience I may have caused you guys. I know your perspective towards me might be somewhat, but I promise that wasn't me. The real me is who you are seeing now, keep doing your best for the growth of this establishment. Thank you”. He spoke with courage.

The staff also introduced themselves one after the other. When it came to Beatrice to do the same, she was somehow scared to look at Lawson.

“ Beatrice, it's fine. I owe you nothing. Continue working and supporting my wife.”

They all cheered him up and he went to his office.

Mom's birthday party is approaching, so I need to plan for the party.

“Mom, do you have any plans for the birthday party?” I need to know before I proceed with any arrangement.

“Yes, we made some arrangements, your sister Grace booked an event planner already, she will be here next weekend for a meeting.” She informed me.

“ Okay, let me know how it goes when she comes, but don't forget we will be handling your hair, makeup, and nails.”

I continued my daily activities for that week, Mom didn't call to tell me what she concluded with the event planner, and the birthday party is in a week. What is happening? I need to call and ask her again.

“ Mom, you promised to tell me what you concluded with the event planner, but I didn't hear anything from you.” 

“ I am so sorry, Grace spoke with the event planner herself, she didn't come for a meeting with me. But you can send some money to assist, that's all” she said nonchalantly.

“What if I didn't call to ask Mom? Anyways it's fine, I will send what I have to you to support the party”. I dropped the call and sent her some money.

A couple came to my studio on this particular day. The lady wanted a full body massage while the guy wanted to have a haircut.

“ This isn't the hairstyle I wanted, you spoiled my hair and you must fix it.” I was inside my office when I heard someone complaining, he wasn't talking slowly at all. I had to intervene before it got out of hand.

“Good afternoon sir, what is the problem?” I gently asked the customer. I recognised him the moment he turned to face me, he was the man I slapped at the club the other day.

“ Good afternoon, your worker here didn't get the style I wanted and spoiled my hair. I tried to complain to him, yet he wasn't sober and started talking anyhow to me”. 

“ We are very sorry for the inconvenience, we take the blame, kindly explain how you want your hair done”. He explained what he wanted. I called another stylist for him and he got exactly what he wanted while I supervised him.

“ You are good at what you do, keep it up. I think I know you somewhere, your face looks familiar”. He tried to remember where he knew me from but couldn't.

The lady was through with her massage and was waiting for him to finish his hair.

“ This is my cousin Mirabel, can I have your card if you don't mind?” He introduced the lady to me and I gave him my complimentary card.

I pray he doesn't ever remember where he knows me from.

“ Thanks so much for your patronage.” They left happily

It's some days to Mom's birthday party, I took my girls to the house to give her a body massage, Grace was home.

“ Long time, how are you? And how is work?” I asked her nicely.

She ignored me and kept mute.

“ Don't you hear your sister? She is just looking after you.” Mom interferes.

“ She shouldn't look after me, why ain't she suddenly caring about me, she should let me be”. She hissed and went out.

When is this dispute going to end, and by the way I didn't offend her, she did and yet making it so hard to reconcile with me.

On the day of the party, my make-up artist was with Mom as early as 8 am.

I arrived some minutes after the event started. The hall was well decorated with balloons, and Mom's pictures in the hall. The cake was placed in one corner of the hall.

Guests started arriving, and I came in with Lawson well-dressed.

I met Dad who was attending to some colleagues at the office.

Dad came to greet Lawson immediately he saw us coming in.

" Thanks for coming, I am delighted you made it" he said

The programme started in full, the hall is almost full with the people we invited, and I haven't seen Grace. Where could she be? I kept asking myself.

“ Beatrice, do you guys see Grace when you arrive at my parents' house?” I asked my manager.

“ Yes she was there, she requested we make her up as her make-up artist wasn't around and wanted to give us a try” she explained 

“ She was happy about her make-up and gave us some money, that was the last time we saw her” she added.

It's time for Mom to cut her birthday cake, yet Grace was nowhere to be found.

“ Mom, Grace is not here, is there any reason for that”. I needed to ask.

“ She was here earlier but hasn't been moving ever since we got here.”

Grace was not in all the family pictures that were taken at the party.

Mom gave her speech, then I noticed Lawson was also not around.

“Hello, where are you, you should be here”. I asked

“ I am outside with a friend.” He replied and w

When I turned back to the entrance, I saw him coming in.

The party was over and we drove back home.