Chapter Twelve Emelia was still trying to put together surprise decorations for her best friend Lola when Chris called. [Phone ringing][Chris] please tell me you've had some rest. She smiled and left for the balcony, leaving the balloons, lights and flowers on the floor and some floating around the Halls. If there's two people she would rather talk to, it would be Chris and Lola but she was disconnected, because service on the villa was out, to make anyone that visited to be in the moment. So when she heard from Chris it made her worries for Lola fizzle away for a while. He had a long call with Emelia that made her unaware of the little mouth-watering dish she hoped to make in the kitchen and the mess she had made of the kitchen trying to Make something from the fridge that was barely empty. She explained to Chris of Lola's condition and he sympathized with her, telling her she could stay as long as she wished to with Lola. They both talk about Chris's father, of his insistence

Chapter fourteenWhen Lola called Emelia she had already dozed off in sleep from waiting on the couch. But she got up as soon as she heard her phone ring, explaining how insanely worried she has been giving that her phone hasn't been Connecting since she left the hospital, trying one of her friendly jokes she asked Emelia if she was truly worried, How did she still manag to sleep peacefully or better still called the police. Emelia haven't just woken up Asked that she be home as soon as possible so she could go meet up with Chris, something she thought would make her run home like her life depended on it. She got up from the couch noticing how dark it has been, and how the food she ordered might have gone cold, she went straight to the dining table, dropped her phone as she carried the food to microwave in the kitchen, as if she knew Lola would come back late and ordered for a nice meal that tastes even better when leftover. She got out of the kitchen and reached for the remote at the

Chapter sixteenIt was a perfect day for walking. The paths were a rustling carpet of golden leaves, and air hung heavy with the smell of dry brush and bonfires. Lola and Tayo were walking in the direction of the Meadows and talking. They spoke at length about culture, she being eager to hear of how the West African society had been instrumental in their business development, and he wanting to know what most English people (not just the moguls) thought about cultural imperialism. She found his question challenging and felt torn between reality and her own idealism. "You know, America is less racist than England, which inspires hope" "That's encouraging, really" Jason acknowledged but things are not that bad in England, especially this young generation, and I have hope in British" Lola raised her eyebrows, wondering if he was being polite, but he seemed not to have noticed her skepticism, he had gone to talk about some of the encouraging interactions he had experienced with th

Chapter eighteenA male servant welcomed Jason and ushered him into a brightly-lit room abuzz with the animated chatter of people drinking as they mingled. Jason looked for Lola but couldn't see her. Everyone was dressed in fine clothes and seemed completely at ease in the grandiose setting; enormous chandeliers hung from the ceilings and festive swathes of Holly and ivy decorated the large bay windows, waitresses in frilly white caps and starched aprons wove through the room, balancing silver trays on their fingertips. One stopped to offer Jason a Canapé, which he accepted with a glass of wine and made as if to mingle, peering at flower arrangements or gazing at painting until, to his relief, Lola appeared. She was wearing a midnight red sequined dress that clung to her body all the way down to her ankles, where the material spread out in a circle hiding her shoes. She hugged him in greeting, which surprised him. "Come and meet my grandparents," she said. First, She introduced h

Chapter twenty"Will you show me a photograph of your mother" "Of course."He stood up and took an envelope from his drawer and then, choosing one of the photographs taken on the day his father had one of his business milestone."And your father?" Jason passed her another picture. Jason didn't resemble his father at all, only the eyes with the thick eyebrows."Any more?" She asked."That's it.""Oh come on!" She tugged at the envelope.It's only a picture of his younger self and one of Jimmy's mother. "Is that Jimmy's mother" she said. Having seen Jimmy with the striking resemblance, he explained, letting her look for herself without making it sad. "I didn't know that" Lola felt relived, staring at Pamela's large brown eyes and perfectly arching eyebrows. Her skin was smooth and her hair swept up high in a Sophie Loren style. She could easily have been a model. "I can't imagine how much you miss her.""We're getting by, me and Jimmy," Jason replied, standing up to change the rec