I nodded, to show I understood his concerns, but from my face it was clear that I didn’t agree with his points.

  ‘I know it’s not the typical career path, but I’ve been researching. There are so many ways into the hair and beauty industry – I can do a business degree then do an apprenticeship in a salon. I could even do both at the same time. The change of mind form is still open for three days, I can fill it out tonight. Dad, listen, one day I’d like to own a salon so nobody will ever have to feel like their hair is difficult or unmanageable,’ I said.

  Folake chimed in again, her tone gentle but supportive. ‘Deji, if Abi is willing to work hard for it, she can make it happen.’

  Dad looked between us; he was conflicted. He was absolutely torn between his worries for my future and his desires to support my dream.

  ‘I just want what’s best for you,’ he said finally. ‘What you’re saying doesn’t make sense to me … but I also want you to be happy with your own choices.’

  I couldn’t help but smile, relieved that he was open to my idea and for the first time in my life, I was excited and not scared about the journey ahead.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  A New Age

  Folake was going to be moving in sooner than they had planned for. Dad asked me more times than I could count if I was OK with this. Even if I wasn’t, I felt it was a bit silly to make them wait for me to leave for college so they could freely make the changes they needed to make to their living arrangements.

  Folake told the agency she was renting from to put her bungalow back on the rental market. They were only delighted to see all the improvements she had made to the space and they had no doubt someone would snap it up in the coming days. They were so sure of this they put the listing up for twice the price and tagged it as a ‘Luxury bungalow tastefully designed with modern aesthetics’.

  In the meantime, I found myself watching the transformation of our home as her colourful personal belongings started to fill the space.

  Dad had been going back and forth between our house and hers, helping her pack and bring things over. It surprised me how much stuff she owned. How had she ever managed to keep so much in her own small home?

  One afternoon, I listened as Folake excitedly shared her ideas about the baby’s room. I guessed that the only space for that would be the now-empty spare room. She talked about neutral wall paintings, a wooden cot and a play den and Dad listened eagerly.

  That night, after I cleared the dinner table, Folake approached me with a warm smile. ‘Abi, do you want to see something?’ she asked. She’d been trying so hard to slowly bridge the gap.

  I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what she intended to show me, but I nodded out of curiosity.

  Folake retrieved her phone and scrolled through a few pictures before stopping on one. She turned the screen towards me, revealing an image. The delicate features of a tiny human form were visible, I had never seen one before, but I knew this was an ultrasound, this was the baby boy growing in her belly.

  ‘How does that even happen?’ I murmured, more to myself than to anyone in particular.

  Folake chuckled gently. ‘It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?’

  I nodded, a sense of connection forming in that shared moment. ‘Thanks for showing me,’ I replied, and I really did mean it.

  Hearing a dog barking was something I didn’t realise would take time to get used to. Oba seemed to take to the house very quickly. I watched as he explored every nook and cranny, his tail wagging with excitement as he sniffed around. What Oba truly fell in love with though was the outdoor space. Our backyard soon became his personal playground.

  With so much going on around me, I had my own things to focus on. I would only be here for another month before moving to Dublin.

  As the night wore on and darkness settled around me, I couldn’t shake the anticipation building inside me.

  Tomorrow was the first of August – the day I would officially turn eighteen.

  I would be an adult in the eyes of the law and a woman in the eyes of society. All my decisions would be my own and I could take on the world.

  Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling, waiting for the clock to strike midnight. It was as if time itself had slowed down, each passing second stretching out in front of me.

  The air in my room felt charged, as though the universe was lending me a moment of its magic.

  My phone alarm vibrated, forcing the realisation to sink in. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, finding comfort in the quiet of the night.

  ‘Hello, eighteen,’ I whispered to myself. ‘Things are never going to be the same again.’

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Birthday Girl

  I waited outside of Vinny’s for Sinéad. Even though she was late for the special birthday lunch she had promised to take me on, she texted warning me not to come looking for her at the launderette.

  I found it puzzling that she specifically instructed me to wait outside of Vinny’s instead of joining the growing crowd inside. I decided not to press her for answers. I was super-excited to see Sinéad and was even more thrilled for the special birthday treatment.

  The day had started off on a sweet note. Folake and Dad delivered a delicious breakfast tray to me in bed. On it was a stack of fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit and creamy yoghurt.

  A ‘Happy Eighteenth Birthday’ card was propped up on the tray too. In it was a handwritten note full of warm wishes from both of them. The stand-out gift was of course from Dad – a stunning gold necklace with a heart-shaped pendant that sparkled with each movement. He even helped me clasp it around my neck.

  Embracing my happy mood, I decided to get dressed up for the day. I put on a full face of makeup and slipped into a summery yellow dress, completing the look with the dangly earrings I’d bought from ‘Thrills and Frills’. I also wore one of the chunky bracelets I had kept from Mom’s belongings.

  Sinéad appeared down the street, practically skipping in my direction, her tote bag bouncing across her body.

  ‘Happy birthday, babe!’ she shouted, pulling me into a warm hug and planting a kiss on my cheek.

  I took in Sinéad’s dramatic new look – her hair was now a deep cherry red, styled in layers that framed her face.

  ‘You look stunning!’ I exclaimed, admiring the unexpected transformation.

  She playfully twirled around, highlighting her new hair. ‘I feel it too!’ she laughed. ‘Things have been looking up at the shop, so there’s some extra cash to play around with,’ she said proudly. ‘Ready for your special birthday lunch?’ she asked, linking her arm with mine.

  ‘Absolutely, let’s head in,’ I replied, expecting us to enter Vinny’s for our meal.

  Sinéad burst into laughter. ‘Abidemi Benson, did you really think I’d drag you in here for some greasy chips on your eighteenth birthday?’

  ‘Oh,’ was all I could muster.

  ‘We’re going for a little picnic by the waterfall,’ Sinéad announced, gesturing toward her bag. ‘And we’re going to have the longest catch-up ever. I’ve missed you so much.’

  The stream of water pouring down into the river and the birds delicately singing in the air provided the perfect backdrop for our conversation.

  Sinéad spread out a small blanket and on it she arranged a spread of homemade ham sandwiches, juicy grapes, cheese squares, chocolate bars, Fanta cans and a bag of sweet and salty popcorn.

  ‘A feast for queens,’ she said, admiring her selection and as we ate, we took in the enchanting scene around us.

  A few minutes later, Sinéad opened up the conversation about the more dramatic aspects of my life. ‘So, spill it, Abi. How’s life with your dad’s lover under the same roof?’

  I knew she would bring it up, especially because I had only given her brief summaries when she’d called to ask how I was doing. I didn’t want to say too much on the phone in case there were lingering ears outside my door in what was now a full house.

  ‘It’s weirdly been OK. Strangely, Folake has managed to fit right in and she’s very calming to have around,’ I said, deep in thought about the last few days.

  Sinéad leaned in, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. ‘But do you think you’ll end up being close with her?’

  ‘Maybe with time. Right now, I’m just relieved that things aren’t awkward,’ I admitted. ‘She said it’s going to be a boy, you know …’ I knew that would get Sinéad even more interested.

  ‘A boy, huh?’ Sinéad’s eyes widened with intrigue. ‘Who knows, maybe having a little brother will be fun. You can teach him the ropes and annoy him like only an older sister can. Margaret and Deirdre sure seem to love doing that to me.’

  I chuckled, considering the thought.

  ‘Props to you for handling it maturely though,’ Sinéad said, a glint of mischief in her eyes. ‘If it were me, I’d probably still be angry as hell.’

  I laughed at this. ‘That’s a lie, Sinéad, you’re the most understanding person I know.’

  She grinned back at me with a twinkle in her eye. ‘Well, speaking of drama, secrets and scandal. I’ve got news too …’ she said, leaning in as if she was preparing for a big reveal.

  ‘I had a talk with Mom about art college,’ Sinéad began, excitement bubbling in her voice. ‘And get this – she was shocked that I have any artistic talent! Can you believe that woman? After all the posters I’ve made for the shop over the years.’

  I laughed along with her, encouraging her to continue.

  ‘Anyway, I showed her my art portfolio and confessed that I missed out on this year’s scholarship round, but that I could try again next year …’ Sinéad paused, waiting for the silence to create some dramatic effect, ‘and guess what? Mom was totally supportive! Well, she actually called me an idiot for not coming to her sooner … same thing though.’

  ‘That’s fantastic!’ I exclaimed, genuinely happy for her. If Sinéad did go to college next year, that would make her the first person in her family to pursue higher education.

  Sinéad beamed, her excitement contagious. ‘I know, right? I was so nervous, thinking she’d pull out the “you need a real job” lecture. But no, she was surprisingly cool about it. It’s like I don’t even know her anymore.’

  It struck me that this was a milestone, a step towards a future her family might not have envisioned. I couldn’t shake the contrast between Sinéad’s school experience and mine. In my home, the expectation to go to college had always been a given. Dad encouraged my educational pursuits without a second thought.

  I found myself contemplating the privileges I had taken for granted. The stability, the support, and the assumption that opportunities for education were readily available – all of these had been constants. Sinéad, on the other hand, was breaking new ground with financial uncertainties ahead of her.

  I felt a twinge of guilt for the ways I subtly made Sinéad feel bad for not being as invested in school as I was. If the roles were reversed, I probably would have treated school in the exact same nonchalant way she had.

  ‘I can’t believe I thought you were simply avoiding me after the disco – you’ve had so much to work through. I’m sorry if I haven’t been understanding …’ I admitted to Sinéad. I wanted to make amends and let her know I cared about our friendship, a lot.

  ‘Trust me, I loved being in that big old house while your dad was away and it hurt me not to talk to you for what was it, like, three whole days,’ Sinéad said, ‘but after the disco, something just switched in me. I just needed to be alone and clear my head properly. So, you’re not wrong, I was kind of being weird for a bit there.’

  I was about to lean in to hug her, but just then, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Dad which simply read, ‘Be home by four, please.’

  No pleasantries or anything.

  Was there an emergency? Did something happen?

  What could be so serious, I thought to myself while trying not to panic.

  I showed the message to Sinéad, who immediately began packing up the leftovers of our picnic.

  ‘Looks like we’ve got to go,’ she said, a hint of concern in her tone. ‘We should hurry.’

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Pure Joy

  As we pushed open the front door, the house was unusually silent.

  Dad’s message had seemed urgent, but there was no sign of him or Folake even though both their cars were still parked out front. I checked the kitchen and the garden; Oba wasn’t there either.

  Could they have gone for a walk? If so, why would they ask me to come back here?

  Sinéad shot me a questioning look, her eyebrows raised in curiosity. ‘Where is everyone?’ she whispered.

  ‘I have no idea,’ I replied, just as baffled.

  We exchanged puzzled looks and then walked down the hallway toward the living room. The door was closed. Strange!

  My heart started racing as I reached for the doorknob. I turned it slowly, pushing the door open inch by inch. The curtains were drawn, and the room was dark.

  ‘SURPRISE!’

  The greeting was so loud it nearly knocked me off my feet.

  Someone drew the curtains open; the living room was absolutely covered with balloons and over the fireplace was a sparkling banner held up with curly ribbons. My eyes darted around, taking it all in. In the corner was a table with a large blue birthday cake, cupcakes, sausage rolls, crisps, and an array of sweet treats.

  Dad stood there, a huge grin on his face. Folake, too, her eyes beaming with joy. Then I saw him – Jack, wearing a casual smile that told me he was clearly in on this too.

  Wait! It seemed everyone was here.

  Vinny from the chipper. All the Quinns: Sinéad’s sisters and even her mam. Everyone was watching me come to the realisation that this was a surprise party. For me!

  Anne, who looked the most dressed up I’d ever seen her, seemed delighted with herself. She and Ms Kelly wore paper party hats, the kind you see at children’s parties.

  Then a pair of eyes met mine and I froze. Clara and her mom were also here, standing by the window. Clara’s mom looked slightly confused about what was going on and Clara just looked happy to be here.

  Then there were even more faces that I was surprised to see: the Callaghan brothers, Niamh, Shauna, Marie-Clare as well as some other friends from St Enda’s.

  Dad was the first to reach out to me, pulling me into a tight hug.

  ‘Happy eighteenth birthday, my daughter,’ he whispered, his voice full of affection.

  Tears stung my eyes, threatening to spill out.

  Don’t ruin your makeup, Abi, I thought to myself, thankful that I had dressed up for the day.

  Sinéad was now giggling beside me and clapping her hands.

  I turned to her. ‘You knew about this?’ I asked.

  Sinéad’s grin widened. ‘Of course, Abi! It was my idea, after all. Did you really think I’d let your eighteenth birthday pass by without a proper celebration?’

  ‘You basically invited half of our year,’ I said.

  ‘I even made up with the three – sorry, I’m trying to be a better person. I texted Clara, Niamh and Shauna about this party, which as you can imagine wasn’t easy for me,’ Sinéad said mischievously.

  I was completely overwhelmed by the love and effort that had gone into this surprise. As the group started singing ‘Happy Birthday’, my dad moved toward the cake. He lit the sparklers and candles, and the chorus of voices pulled me into their centre.

  It was time for me to make a wish.

  I closed my eyes, the happy faces of those I loved flashing before me. The world seemed to blur as I considered what to wish for. The truth was my mind drew a blank. There was so much pure joy and pure love already surrounding me. All I wanted was for this feeling to last forever.

  With my heart full, I exhaled softly, blowing out the burning candles. The room erupted in cheers and applause and this time it was Ms Kelly who reached out to hug me, followed by Clara.

  ‘You look stunning, babe. Happy birthday,’ Clara whispered into my ear.

  As the celebration continued and my classmates started to show off their dance moves in the centre of the room, I found myself drawn to the window. I stared up to the heavens where the sun was now starting to set.

  I closed my eyes and hoped that my mom, wherever she was, could see just how far I had come, how much I had grown, and how much I was loved. I turned back to the room, with a heart full of gratitude, and there stood Jack, holding a card in his hand.

  The card was unmistakably Sinéad’s work – a playful portrayal of a girl with braids, surrounded not by a halo of confetti, which was my first thought, but by golden chips raining down upon her. I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the creative humour.

  The card’s message read: Vinny and I didn’t know what to bring, so we’re offering something we know you’ll accept – a lifetime of free chips. Consider this card your infinite token.’

  It was a hilarious and incredibly thoughtful gift that perfectly captured my teenage days.

  ‘I love it so much, thank you,’ I said, wrapping my arms around Jack who looked pleased with himself.

  ‘I’m glad you like it! We brainstormed for a while to come up with something fun,’ Jack said.

  After some more laughter and chatter, Jack leaned in and lowered his voice. ‘By the way, Abi, Vinny was talking to your dad, and I hear that you’re considering the business school in Dublin?’

  I blinked in surprise. ‘Yeah, I’m hoping to get in,’ I replied, wondering why this topic was coming up now.

  With a playful grin, Jack continued, ‘Well, that’s very interesting because I’m hoping to do the same.’

  My heart skipped a beat as his words sank in. Did that mean – Jack and I were both looking at going to the same business school? It made sense that that was what he was interested in after all the years spent behind the till at Vinny’s. A warm feeling of excitement bubbled within me, and a smile spread across my face.

 

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