"I'm not sure if she told you but she's been going through a tough time. And we sincerely appreciate you being here."
"I knew she was on meds but I didn't think it was anything this serious. I had my suspicions though." Davon said.
I smiled weakly, a father's biggest plight was seeing his child suffer and not being able to do a thing about it. If baba was here what would he have done or even said?
Growing up with parents like mine hadn't been easy, especially after having a hard day at school and all I come back to is an empty house with loads of chores left for me to be done.
Being an adult wasn't easy but being a child who didn't know what warmth and love felt like wasn't either.
I see his lips move before his words reach my ears, "Is she going to get better? I mean, it wasn't this bad." He said.
"My prayer to God on a daily basis." I said, my voice laced with faith, faith in who my father, God is. He has never failed, he didn't fail when my sister died, he didn't fail when mama almost died, he didn't fail by letting Patty go through this. He never fails his children.
Violet used to tell me at some point that my belief in God was too strong. I would always smile and answer her the same way, "He was all I had." Even when I was surrounded by people I never lost focus.
If only I had been able to pass on that same energy to my children, maybe Patty wouldn't hurt so much and maybe Dayo would've stayed here too.
"I'm going to do everything I can to make sure she makes it." Then quietly he added, "She deserves that much."
I sealed up the foil and bagged it. Violet came out then, dressed in a flower-patterned dress, it had been Dayo's going away gift.
She loved it dearly, at some point, I got scared for her that it would fade and eventually tear but a year later and it was still standing strong, apparently it was properly tailored, definitely not by my Nigerian brothers.
I hand the foil to her and smile admiringly. She had covered up the sleep circles under her eyes perfectly. Well, I don't have any eye makeup. Maybe sunglasses for today.
But who wears sunglasses to a bakery store? Or anywhere that has a roof?
"I'll see you both later." She said, grabbing her keys. She circled back, pecked my cheek, I gently grabbed her arm and spun her around.
Her brown hair was neatly pinned to the side. I stared intently at the woman I fell in love, she hadn't aged a day.
"You're so beautiful." I say gently and watch as she relaxed and smiled.
"Our daughter is strong and she'll be alright." I say and she sighs, her eyes held hope. It always did. Even when he felt all was lost, her eyes gave him reassurance.
He tilted her head and met her lips halfway, he kissed her slowly, like he had kissed her the first time she had gone out with him.
She smiled when she pulled back, "You've always been quite the charmer."
I laughed and watched her as she walked away. My lucky star.