ALL IT TAKES (The premiere episode)

Helen was at the back of her house, in a little garden she had made and was tending her pumpkin seedlings as has become her morning and evening routine. For a retiree like her, hobbies like this is one of what keeps one going. The evening was chill and the neighborhood was rather quiet. Helen thought it could be that most people aren't back from their day's activities yet. They lived in a neighborhood where you mind your business and face your gate. The only sounds you hear from around were the sounds of car horns when they got back from work in the evenings and when they left in the mornings.

Helen heard the door of the refrigerator in the kitchen slammed. Sophie must have woken up she thought.

"Mummy good evening " the voice was not Sophie's but that of her elder daughter Evie.

"Oh... i thought it was your sister" she rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand "you're early today"

Evie stood by the door that led to the backyard where her mum was as she gulped down a glass of water. "yes I got off earlier from work today.. I wanted to beat the traffic jam"

"That was thoughtful. How was the day's work"

"work was fine... It was a stressful week though. I can see your garden looking good just like you are"

"What do you expect when I have all the time for them" she dusts her hand as she walks towards her daughter into the house "the specie I got this time around is an excellent specie"

"I can see" Evie quickly intercepts her mother.. She knew her mother was about to start her garden sermons but she really didn't want that now. "where's Sophie?"

"she should be in her room" she caught a glance of what her daughter was putting into the fridge "sweetheart are those cashews? Is this the season already?"

Evie curved a smile and looked over her shoulder to her mum "mum is this old age setting in? You always knew when the season for each fruit came. 

Helen chuckled "I didn't forget. It only skipped my mind.  I feel as young as ten ago.  The mind is probably more occupied now"

"Of course with your garden" they both laugh. She takes a look through the kitchen "what's up for dinner, mum"

"Your sister said she woud make soup. I think you should wake her up" she picks up her bag and heads for the room. 

"seems you got a better moisturizer for your skin" Helen complimented 

"yes... It looks good right".as she rubbed her face with her palm

"of course"

Helen has always had the habit of closely observing her children partly because she's a mother and moreso a single one for she has single-handedly raised them. No woman would go through single parenting and wouldn't be so attached to her children. She has both protected and provided for them.  Evie and Sophie has been the best thing that has happened to her. 

Sophie was barely four months old when Edwin left her another woman. She had met Edwin in her university days while he was working in a bottling company.  They fell heads over heels in love within two weeks and exactly a month into it, Edwin proposed to her and wanted them to begin their wedding plans. 

Her parents had objected to the marriage at first they said it was too sudden. They advised their daughter to wait a bit more to get to know him but she insisted she had known him enough and besides they were in love.

They got married and it was blissful for three months.  At the third month, it was as though Edwin had taken on the soul of another. He began to drink, stay out late and began to give Helen cold shoulders. Every day,  she would cry her eye out begging him to stop this new attitude but it only got worse and as the day passed, the more strange he became to her. 

It dawned on Helen that her husband would not change and so she made up her mind hmto bear it at least for her little girl and for the one she carried in her which the scan had just told her was a girl too. 

Months later she put to bed and it was as though her husband was coming around? He began spending more time with them at home and Helen prayed to God it was for good.

TO BE CONTINUED 

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