"Come come!" Floria screamed, "how much I have missed you", Lily locked in a tight hug with floria even as Floria was amidst speech.
The hug lasted for a few seconds. As they freed from the bosom of each other, Floria picked up Lily's luggage, casted an observing stare at her sister and then smiled loudly, hot tears dropped off Lily's eyes, she's free at least for some time, no more pretence, no more quagmire!!
It's time to be Lily, that old Lily.
"Oh, Lily, you have to let me on, on the whole happenings of your honeymoon" Floria continued to speak. "How was your trip? Did you consummate your marriage? Will there be little kids in our house now? Did Nicholas take you out to see the sunrise and sunset? How..."
"Floria, let me into the house at least" Lily said as she laughed with attempt to conceal the rising tensions.
She thought there won't be any lies now, but obviously there will be more of it , if Floria gets any detail on how rough the honeymoon was, she will be deeply worried and that might affect her overall well being.
As Lily and Floria stepped into the house, Lily felt a sharp headache, it was as though the deja Vu was back again. How awkward will it be if it happens now, it could confirm Floria's suspicion of her, being pregnant.
Thanks to her stars it was nothing but just a sharp pain, perhaps it was stress.
"Floria how have you been? And how have you been coping with Dad?" Lily asked.
"Maybe you should settle in first, the questions would come later" they both laughed out loud as they made for Lily's room.
"Sandwiches or just toast?" Floria asked as she set in Lily's luggage into the closet, Lily's eyes rolled as a sharp smile ran across her face.
"Floria you haven't changed a bit, where have you seen a junior sister looking after the older sister?"
"I have!" Floria cut in, "Here in the Hansberry family" she jiggled, Lily's smile was too prominent that it eventually grew into laughter.
"Okay, I will make sandwiches" Lily finally answered.
Floria occupied herself in the kitchen, preparing sandwiches while Lily settled into her room, unpacking her things. While she unpacked, memories of the tense moments during her honeymoon flooded back. The arguments, the disappointment, and the loneliness she felt despite being with Nicholas.
After a while, Floria appeared at Lily's doorway with a tray of sandwiches and two glasses of apple juice.
"Here you go, Lily. Lunch is served!" Floria said cheerfully, placing the tray on a small table by the window.
Lily smiled gratefully, taking a deep breath as she appreciated her sister's caring gesture.
"Thanks, Floria. It feels good to be back," she said sincerely.
Floria sat down opposite Lily, her expression turning more serious.
"So, tell me everything. How was it really?"
Lily hesitated, She knew Floria deserved the truth, but she didn't want to worry her sister unnecessarily. "It had its ups and downs," Lily began. "The place was beautiful, but... Nicholas and I, we had some disagreements."
"Disagreements? About what?" Floria asked
Lily sighed, deciding to be honest. "About us, about everything, really."
Floria reached across the table and took Lily's hand gently. "Oh, Lily. I'm sorry it wasn't what you hoped for."
Lily squeezed her sister's hand gratefully, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "It's okay, Floria. I think we'll figure it out. Being here with you helps."
Floria smiled softly. "Of course, Lily. You know I'm always here for you."
They finished their sandwiches in comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts yet glad to be together again. As the afternoon sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the room, Lily felt a sense of peace which she must concede hadn't felt in a long time.
"So?" Floria broke the silence. She wasn't done talking, not yet.
"So what?" Lily asked confused.
"What is your plan this afternoon?"
"Nothing. Just being here...and yes!" Lily screamed suddenly, causing Floria to shudder.
"Hope my movies are still intact?" She asked, perusing Floria's face.
"And if they aren't?" Floria asked, with hands akimbo.
"You sure know what I'll do to you" Lily smeared.
"I laugh in Mr Bones"
"And Mr Bean" they both burst into wild laughter. Lily was and still is, a lover of comedy. Her laughter could be heard throughout the whole compound. Her mother at a point, thought it was addiction and stopped her from watching movies only to watch grow withdrawn and pessimistic. Nothing could separate Lily and movies.
"We're not watching movies Lily"
"Floria.."
"Your movies are intact and dusty cause I never went close to them talk more of caring about them"
"Of course, that's you..."
"A new creamery opened while you were away..."
"You still love ice cream?"
"Like who doesn't?! Oh except a weirdo like you"
"That thing makes me nauseous "
"Then get ready to vomit a whole lot cause we are going there "
"And money?"
"It's all on you Lily, you should know better than asking " Floria mocked, flaunting her last born exuberance.
"And today, i refuse to spend"
"And I'll resolve to stealing them"
"Okay you win. let's go" Lily sighed.
Floria quickly went inside her room to prepare. She wore a jersey top atop blue jeans and a pair of sneakers. Floria on her own was a beauty to behold.
"Okay, I'm all set" she announced.
They went out in one of their parents cars with Floria pointing every direction. Lily gasped at the sight of the place. It was indeed gorgeous. It was named Lacterina Creamery.
"Do you know the meaning of Lacterina?" Floria asked, about to flaunt her brilliance.
"Tell me young scholar" Lily scoffed.
"I think..."
"Think?" Lily mocked.
"Wait Lily!" Floria screamed frustrated. Lily always loved to frustrate her when she's about to brag. But she won't let her anyway.
"Lacterina was derived from the word Lactose"
"Oh, relating to milk"
"Exactly"
"So?"
"That's all and you know, that should tell you how milky their ice cream and milkshakes would be"
"I hope it's as good as you praise it to be" Lily parked the car and they stepped down.
The interiors of the creamery met with floria's expectations, the owner sure out did himself there, just at the entrance stood a wash hand basin and a sanitizer. The must-wash hand policy was implemented just after the pandemic.
Lily and her sister observed the protocols and went in, "oh, Lily am so having the milkshake, Floria blurted out.
Floria had the milkshake and Lily had some coconut flavored ice cream, "can I get some more, at least a take away, please, Floria, no more milkshakes" Lily said authoritatively, and please pack up your things and get ready for hospital.
"The hospital?, yes, Lily answered sharply.
"But you didn't say anything about it earlier," "didn't I?, Lily c'mon, am not prepared for this visitation" said Floria.
"Look, Floria, I'm sorry it's coming now, okay, one more milkshake will do the magic, order one more milkshake, but only if you would come to the hospital with me". Lily said
"Say no more Lily, we could sleep at the hospital if need be" Lily busted out in a wild laughter.
Few hours later, Lily was at the hospital with her sister, they alighted and went into the hospital.
Lily and floria matched with synchrony, as they were about taking the hall way leading to Mr Adonijah's ward, the receptionist screamed out, "Oh my heavens!see, it's Miss Lily!, my bad, Mrs Lily", the excitement couldn't be concealed as the voice of the receptionist was filled with it.
Lily turned, waved at the receptionist with a wild smile, though she was avoiding drawing more attention to herself.
The receptionist waved back with both hands, some other nurses passing by, waved as well, Lily quickly turned and Left.
At the ward, Lily couldn't hold her tears back, the person on that bed wasn't just Mr Adonijah, it was her father.
A man that was replete with energy and life, now lying motionlessly, with a life support facility.
Lily drew nearer , held his hand, he could feel his pulse, weak and unsteady.
Hot tears dropped from Lily's eyes as she caressed her father's body with her eyes, looking for a ray of hope, hoping that at least a finger could move or his eye could twitch just like in the movies, but neither happened.
A surge of emptiness filled Lily's heart once more, Floria stood by the oxygen tank, observing the whole scenes, though she had tears in her eyes, she didn't want to add more to the the misery Lily felt then.
Just as she reached for her handkerchief,
Lily's phone buzzed.