“I’ve never seen no girl act like you before. What is your boo giving you for you to spending on him like that?” Mpundu asked Iyanu as she joined them by their table.
Iyanu smiled slyly as she thought. Her teeth perfectly white, dimples forming over the tips of her smile and big eyes that always stared in wonder and amazement.
“I love him, plus I know Kobe is his favourite player. Why are you weird?” Iyanu said eyeing her gift with a knowing smile.
The girls laughed as Takuzwa joined them at the table. The waiter arrived with the girls drinks and a menu for Iyanu to order from.
***
Iyanu jumped into her pajero, driving off to meet Michael for her second lunch with the gift snuggled safel into a seatbelt. Iyanu couldn’t stop beaming with delight her entire ride till she parked in opposite the dome of the radisson blu hotel.
She sat herself down in the restaurant stirring proudly at the creation Tom had dreamt to life. By the time her third cocktail arrived Iyanu was livid. Michael’s phone had been off, and the cycle had to end. By the end of her first pomegranate margarita, she was conviced Michael was simply running late. By the half way point of her second, Iyanu twirled with the questioned Mpundu has asked her at the restaurant.
As she struggled with her thoughts, a big hand tussled her hair, pivoting her into the real world where she found her father stirring at her.
“Sunshine! What are you doing here alone?” John Sakulula asked, his eyes wondering round the room searching for signs of her friends.
Iyanu stirred at her bigger than life father filling the room before her. In all her life, changing winds and unknown tides he stayed constant and always present for her.
“It’s true what they say,” Iyanu replied
“What’s that dear?” John Sakulula asked
“Daughters really end up marrying guys just like their fathers, Michael left me hanging. Men are trash!” Iyanu seethed at her father
“No relationship is perfect, but you know I’ve never liked that chap. The worst of the bunch, nonsense” John said taking his daughters hand in his.
“Was that for him?” John nodded towards the bottle sized sculpture.
“Yes, I found this guy connected through one of my friends. It took him a week and it cost me some money” Iyanu lifted the statue staring at it in all its mid flight beauty, before passing it to her father.
“Now that you’re done grieving, maybe we can discuss business, I’ll even buy this from you” John said eyeing the statue in his hands very intently.
“I remember when that was you” John sighed passing the statue to Mavuto, his right hand woman.
***
“Hi Tom, I really love the work you did on my dad’s gift. Can we meet up sometime and talk more business?” Iyanu reread the message three times before she hit send, with her fathers words ringing loudly in her mind.
