Pulling into the gate, I saw that the lady wasn’t up at the balcony anymore. She was standing at the terrace, leaning on the rails, intently squinting at the car we drove in with. She must have seen us, and then raced downstairs without my notice. The woman looked nearly six foot tall and more. Her long legs probably took the steps three at a time, and racing through the sitting room in four strides. She came towards us, the minute Oguguo killed the car’s engine, in what appeared to me as a split of a second. However, her walk was as fast as it was wavering – she was so wafer-thin that the wind was threatening to carry her away. The loose halter and culottes she wore flapped angrily about her, revealing skinny limbs. The ecstatic face that grinned, at me as her hands flung open the car door, wasn’t exactly familiar. But the voice definitely was. It was an older, deeper version of one I heard as a child.

“There you are! Oh my gosh, for a moment there I thought you guys wouldn’t get here!” She was still a looker, but not of the princess kind. Not with those nose-tongue-eyebrow piercings and bold tattoos at her nape, shoulder and wrist.

“Phina?” I had to be certain. Some things were too good to be true.

“Sure thing! I look different, I know. But so do you! You are dark! Or darker! I dunno, and who cares. I’m so happy to see you.” She embraced me, tight. Her arms may be bony, but they were strong. As with the rest of her, apparently, the way she steadied me when I was crashing into her.

“Wow.” I heaved a deep breath, from collecting my nerves and recovering from the rib-crushing hug. “This is really happening?”

“Yeah, it is. But, why are we standing outside wondering about it when we can be cosy inside. Com’on. I think the rains are coming, and if last night was any indication, it’d be heavy.”

She grabbed my suitcase from Oguguo, and literarily dragged me into the house. Daddy had put her up in my bedroom, since all the other rooms had gone to Nkolika’s children. The guest room downstairs was empty, but I guess daddy wanted her to feel like family. It didn’t look like the purpose was achieved, with all her things still tucked away in her luggage, as though she was ready to skip at the drop of a hat.

“Dad’s wife has been hospitable to you?” I wanted to know, because Nkolika can be funny at times. More so, if she’d be hosting dad’s child from a previous marriage.

“Oh, she’s ok. Not the warmest individual on planet earth, I’d give that to her. But she doesn’t bother me, and I don’t bother her. I’m here for a short period, anyways, and in no mood to make enemies. Her kids are enthralled by me, though. They stare at me every chance they get. I think it’s my accessories.” She laughed, free-spirited, stroking her nose bling.

“Yes, that. Why?” It was like talking to a stranger. You want to be careful not to offend the person, yet you are lost at what things are appropriate to say.

“Dunno.” She shrugged. “Woke up one morning and felt like being a punk, I guess. At least, I’m not a Goth. Can’t begin to tell you how relieved mom is about that.”

I smiled thinly as my heart-beat accelerated to a crazy pace in the anticipation of the question I’d longed to ask since confirming Phina’s identity. “And how is she? Mom, I mean?”

“Cool. Got her divorce finalised two months ago, though they’d been separated like forever. I think she’s dating around now, or considering it. I tease her that third time’s a chance, but she ain’t buying it. Grandma died last year, you know. Guess you don’t, my bad. Anyways, grandma died last year. Cancer or the sort. Gave mom a major dose of guilty conscience about everything. But, that’s a tale for later. And boy, do I have a lot to tell. So anyways, I see you changed your name, Shelby. Every single document I found in here says “Trinity”! I’m most shocked. You thought that up?”