Chapter 20 Abeni Mensah
Eboni Keep in Nzuri Hall
Pressure and Pluto had just arrived with my beautiful grandchildren, and the sound of little feet and laughter filled the entrance of my home in a way that softened something inside me the moment I saw them step through those doors.
The house never felt empty, not with staff moving quietly through the halls and fresh flowers being placed in every room.
Still, there was a difference when my family was here.
My son walked in, carrying his presence with him, and my grandchildren followed behind him, bringing a kind of life money could never create.
I stepped forward before they could come to me. My arms opened naturally, first for the children, and little hands reached for me without hesitation as if they already knew this space belonged to them.
“My babies,” I said softly as I gathered them close. I pressed my lips to their cheeks one after the other, taking in their warmth and the softness of their skin, holding onto it a little longer than usual.
Prestyn wrapped his arms around my neck while Kaylon leaned into my side, and Zurie stood close enough to be included. Her smile grew when I reached for her as well, pulling her in with the same love because she was my granddaughter.
“Hey, Omá,” she said, holding me tightly.
“Zurie, every time I see you, you’re even more beautiful,” I told her, brushing her hair back gently.
She smiled up at me with that quiet pride children carried when they were seen.
Pluto stepped forward next, and I turned to her, embracing her fully, holding her just a moment longer than what might have been expected.”
“It’s good to see you,” I told her, my voice soft but sincere.
“You too, Omá,” she replied, and I could feel the warmth in her response.
Then my eyes found my son.
Pressure stood there, watching me with that same look he had carried since he was a boy, even though he had grown into a man who commanded rooms and moved through the world with a presence that could not be ignored. When he stepped toward me, I did not hesitate, and neither did he.
I reached for him and pulled him into me, my arms wrapping around him as I pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“My son,” I murmured, and for a moment I allowed myself to feel that connection without interruption.
“Wussup, Ma,” he said, his voice low, and even with the way he spoke, there was a softness there that only came out when he was with me.
Kojo stepped in beside me, greeting them all with the same calm strength he always carried, his presence filling the space without effort. He embraced Pressure, then Pluto, and bent slightly to acknowledge the children, his large hands gentle when they rested on their shoulders.
“Come,” I said after a moment, guiding them further into the home. “Everything has been prepared.”
The chef had been instructed early that morning, and the house had been filled with the aroma of food long before they arrived. As we moved through the living areas, the children spread out, drawn to the openness of the space, their laughter echoing against marble floors and high ceilings.
Zurie walked beside me as I led them through, her hand slipping into mine, and I held it gently as we passed arrangements of fresh white roses and soft candlelight that lined the tables.
“Can we go outside for a little while, Omá?” she asked.
“You may,” I told her, nodding toward the terrace. “But not too far.”
The doors were opened for them, and soon they were outside, their voices carrying through the garden while Kojo and Pressure followed, keeping watch without making it obvious.
Inside, Pluto joined me in the sitting area, settling across from me while the sound of the children drifted in faintly from the terrace.
Once tea was served to us, I took a sip, and asked Pluto about the children’s activities.
“They’ve been busy,” she said, smiling to herself as she glanced toward the doors. “Zurie just started playing volleyball this year, and she’s been in dance too. Cheer tryouts coming up next season, and she swear she ready for it.”
I let out a smile and took another sip from my cup. “She carries herself like she is.”
“She do,” Pluto agreed softly. “But Pressure be acting a mess at them games.”
I lifted a brow slightly, and couldn’t help but laugh because something like that only made sense to my son. “Oh God. In what way?”
Pluto laughed under her breath, already shaking her head. “In every way. He loud, he standing up the whole time, yelling at refs like he’s coaching the team. If she don’t win something, he be ready to fight and argue like it’s the end of the world.”
I exhaled lightly, the amusement settling in. “That sounds like him.”
“He be talking about ‘nah, run that back, y’all cheated,’ and Zurie just be standing there embarrassed,” she added, smiling wider now. “But she love it, though. She act like she don’t, but she do.”
I nodded, already able to picture it. “He has always been competitive.”
“That’s an understatement,” Pluto said, laughing again. “Even at home, if she’s practicing, he right there. If she tired, he tellin’ her to keep going. If she mess up, he’s making her do it again.”
“And how does she respond to that?” I asked.
“She push through it,” Pluto said, her tone softening. “She’s always wanting to make him proud.”
That settled with me for a moment.
“And the boys?” I asked, shifting slightly.
Pluto smiled again, this time warmer. “Prestyn is into everything. He running all over the place, climbing on stuff he got no business climbing on and asking questions all day.“
I could not help but smile at that.
“And Kaylon?” I asked.
“That one…” she paused, laughing. “You know he’s quieter, but he watch everything.“
“That is a dangerous combination,” I said.
I allowed myself to relax into the conversation, listening as she spoke, watching the way her face softened when she talked about them.
Lunch was announced shortly after, and we gathered in the dining room where the table had been set.
The chef had prepared a spread that reflected both comfort and elegance.
There was herb roasted lamb with a rich glaze, grilled salmon laid over a bed of seasoned greens, creamy garlic mashed potatoes, buttered asparagus, and warm rolls placed neatly in baskets.
A lighter dish of lemon chicken sat alongside a fresh salad with crisp vegetables, and for the children there were smaller plates prepared with care.
Wine had been poured, though I barely touched mine.
We took our seats, and the room filled with conversation and laughter that moved easily between us. Pressure spoke about things happening outside of the home, his tone relaxed but confident, while Pluto added to the conversation with ease.
The children spoke over one another at times, excited, sharing small details that meant everything to them. I listened, smiling and responding when needed, but also allowing myself to simply observe.
I looked around the table, at my husband seated beside me, at my son across from me, at the woman he had chosen, and the children they were raising, and something settled heavy in my spirit.
I kept my composure, lifting my glass once, letting the rim touch my lips without truly drinking, and set it back down as if nothing had shifted inside me.
Kojo’s eyes found me more than once.
He did not speak on it, but I knew him well enough to understand that he saw what I was trying to hide. His gaze lingered just long enough to ask questions he had not yet voiced, and I gave him nothing in return except the same calm expression I had perfected over time.
After dinner, we moved back into the living area, the children settling near us, leaning into my lap and climbing onto Kojo without hesitation. I held them close, kissing their faces, smoothing their hair and memorizing the way they felt against me.
“You’re not leaving just yet,” I told them softly.
“We’ll be back,” Pressure said, watching me.
“I expect you to be,” I replied, meeting his eyes.
When it was time for them to go, I walked them to the entrance, holding each of them again, pressing kisses to their cheeks, my hands lingering just a moment longer each time.
I embraced Pluto once more, then my son, and for a moment, I held onto him without speaking.
“I love you, son,” I told him as I fought my own tears.
“I love you too, Ma,” he replied.
Kojo stood beside me as we watched them leave, his hand resting lightly at my back as the doors closed behind them and the house returned to its quiet state.
We made our way upstairs without speaking.
In our bedroom, I removed my jewelry first, placing each piece where it belonged before slipping out of my dress. I did not rush, but I did not linger either, and when I turned toward the bathroom, I could feel Kojo watching me.
By the time I stepped inside, the shower had already been turned on.
Soft light filled the space, candles placed where I preferred them, and one of my gowns had been laid out with care. Kojo stood there, his presence calm, and his hand extended toward me without a word.
I placed my hand in his. He lifted it, pressing a kiss to the back of it, and something in that simple act made my throat tighten more than anything that had been said throughout the day.
He guided me forward, and I stepped into the shower, letting the water fall over me as I closed my eyes.
For a few moments, I stood there and let the warm water move over my body, trying to quiet my thoughts and hold on to the calm I had carried in front of everyone all day.
It slipped from me anyway, because my mind returned to those offices I had been sitting in over the past couple of weeks, hearing the same answer from different doctors who all spoke with the same level of certainty.