Lamide ended her tale with a bite of the cold liver, a sip of juice and a puff of air, like one who had got something off her chest. Why was that? Had she been spinning me a story, I wondered. It wasn’t everyday I heard someone with whom I was newly acquainted recount her unhappy family chronicle. Those I knew let a couple of months go by before they got up-close and personal with their past. The time lapse, understandably, was to allow for trust to build so they didn’t end up spilling their guts to someone who’d twist their words for their amusement. Even with all the time I’d known Cheta, her folks didn’t feature in our regular conversation, though that could be because I was so tight-lipped about mine. The question then was what was Lamide aiming to achieve by telling me so much so soon? I didn’t want to be edged into a friendship, like with Cheta back in Uni. There was all the likelihood that exactly would be happening all over again, if Lamide was going to be so open. Aargh!

           “What time are you expecting your husband?” Lamide asked, seemingly unaware of my deliberate lack of comment at the crowning of her very engaging history.

           “Any minute from now. It was him who sent the text message I got while we were in the kitchen. He said he’s just left the office. The traffic should be light by now.”

           “Yes, it should. I’d better leave you to get his dinner ready then.” She started to rise up.

           I stood up too, but to clear the side-stool. “I won’t need to. He eats out days that he works this late.” The second I said that I remembered Cheta’s caustic reaction the day she became privy to this information. “I know how it sounds, but Ejike’s not that way at all.”

           Lamide frowned. “I’m not sure I understand what you just said.”

           “Oh. Sorry. I was talking to myself. Never mind.” I left her and went to the kitchen. When I returned, however, she had once more seated. Perched on the sofa, more like.

           “Forgive me for asking, but are you having troubles with your husband?” Lamide asked, blunt, straight to the point. Guess with her there was no mincing of words. No minding of your business.

           “Not at all. I only recalled what a friend said when I mentioned to her that Ejike eats out when he works late. She said I was making it convenient for him to cheat.”

           “And is that her area of expertise?” asked Lamide, matter-of-factly.

I don’t know why i found the question funny, but I very much did. The thought of Cheta’s reaction if I told her what Lamide said was hilarious. She would hit the roof, for sure. There and then, I decided I was going to like this new friend I was unwilling to have. Until Ejike turned the door knob.