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Taimani and I are better friends now.Two years ago, we ran into each other at Tito’s wedding in Manchester, UK. A pure coincidence. Tito’s groom is a second cousin of Taimani’s husband. The moment I saw her, I ignored her like we didn’t know each other but she came over and the first thing she said was “Mariam, I’m sorry please forgive me” It surprised me.
“Apology accepted” I’d said and walked away but she followed me.
“Please give me a chance to be your friend again” she’d said.
“These days I’m not a good friend to anyone, my priorities are different now,” I replied and continued in the opposite direction of where my children were playing, I didn’t want her to see them. Especially Micah, who’s looking more like a duplicate of his father. I don’t know what Naseer may have said or not said to her, and I don’t want him to find me.
She was relentless, kept apologizing, and tried to explain her behavior in our last year of high school, the second worst year of my life. When I realized, she wasn’t going to stop. I let her talk and said all is forgiving. I hugged her, smiled, and turned to leave. Unexpectedly, I saw Leah coming towards me with the twins. I moved hastily away from her, but the twin’s excitement overtook me, and they shouted “Mommy! Mommy! “She took one look at them and turned to me with acknowledging eyes.
I immediately turn to her, “They are mine and mine alone.” I snared.
“Mariam, I beg you. I won’t tell my brother or anyone in my family please give me this chance to know them and make it up to you.”
“No!” I said, turning towards my children, she raced after us.
“Mariam please, I swear to you. I would keep your secret, please let me get to know them” I remain quiet as each child takes my hand and stares at the woman who looks like she’s about to cry.
“I swear Mariam, no one in my family will know about them. Please” She pleads.
“Fine for now, you can meet them and talk to them, but I won’t tell you where we live until I can trust you and if I sense that I’m being followed. I will disappear.” I sternly state.
“Agreed” she had said. I turned to the twins and introduced them to their Aunty Taimani.
She has stayed true to her words and became my friend again. I told her once why I left her brother and didn’t tell her who it was that made me leave, we didn’t talk about it again. The twins love seeing her and love knowing their father’s sister.
For now, their father is on a mission and will be back someday, hopefully when they are older, I can tell them the truth. Lying to my children wasn’t easy, but it was certainly easier than the truth, I can’t tell.
She had encouraged me to try and date again. I tried once, but it was a disaster. The twins wanted to try soccer and I signed them up. Knox is their coach and that’s how we met. We don’t talk about Naseer. It was one of my conditions if she wanted to be around my children not to talk about Naseer at all.
After two rings she answers my call “To what do I owe this early morning call” Taimani wryly says
“I’m engaged, Knox proposed last night, and I said yes” I express in a calm tone.
“What!!!, I need a FaceTime call” She shouts excitedly just as my Facetime rings.
“Let me see the ring?” she asks. I turn the camera, so she can see the ring.
“It’s beautiful, Congratulations mama bear.” Her new nickname for me.
“Thank you, I get a chance at happiness again.” I grin at her.
“Yes, and you deserve one. What did the lady and gent say”?
“I haven’t told them yet; they were sleeping when I got home last night.”
“Can’t wait to hear about their reaction.” Her eyes danced with excitement. I hope my children are as happy as she is for me.
“Do you think they will not like it” I fright.
“I doubt that I think they like Knox and they will be happy.”
“You know they are my number one priority...”
“Stop worrying they are happy children and will be fine with Knox. They love the guy.”
“Thanks, Taimani, I also...”
“Mom, we can’t reach the cereal” Mira yells interrupting.
