Ashley got home exhausted.
She was exhausted from all the stress and from Dylan behaviour.
"Mum, I'm home." Ashley shouted when she got into the duplex.
"Oh, Ashley, you're back?" Nicole said, coming out from her room. She was wearing a simple gown looking young and beautiful, but she had the aura of an elderly person, seeing her no one would know she's the mother of two grown-up daughters who are age 26 and 24.
"Yeah. We're Taylor and Michelle?" She asked as the house was silent.
"Don't ask unnecessary questions." Nicole said as she brought out a blindfold and said,
"Come here."
"Mum, what's it's for?"
"Nothing. Just come."
"Okay?"
Ashley was what Nicole was planning, but she knew that it was related to the job she had gotten today.
"Follow me and don't peek." Nicloe said with a smile
They walked for sometime, then Nicole stopped
"You can take off your blindfold now." Nicole said, and Ashley took off the blindfold, and in front of her was a beautiful decorated basement.
There were tiny lights formed into wordings that said
"Congratulations, Ashley."
Bubbles were flying everywhere, and there was a huge cake that said
"Congrats, you big head."
Tears welled up in Ashley's eyes, and she chuckled when she saw what was written on the cake, knowing it was Taylor's doing.
Everywhere had a hue of blue, her favourite colour.
It was even better than when she graduated from high school.
Then somebody jumped on her laughing.
"Congrats, Ash." Michelle said, hugging her and putting a key in her hand. It was a car key.
"Yeah, Ash, I'm so happy, so you can pay me back my money." Taylor said from behind.
"Is that why you are happy?" Ashley asked, sniffing.
"Duh. Money is important, ya know. "
Ashley shook her head and gave Taylor her bank card.
"But the cake was enough."
"Naa, you're the youngest; we should pamper you." Michelle said, smiling.
"Yeah, and if you really like the cake, you should thank Mum. The cake was made by mum and the party was her idea." Taylor said with her hands on Ashley shoulder.
"Mum..." Ashley felt like crying. Her own biological parents didn't love her and threw her out of the house, but her foster mother loves her like one of her own.
Ashley hugged Nicole and cried.
"There, there, don't cry.This is a happy occasion."
"Mum... you took me in, cared for me, loved me, and saved my life when my own biological parents threw me out of their lives.
You...I love you, mum, you made me special when I was worthless. I'm a Nigerian, not American or white, but you made me, made me feel at home. I love you, Mom."
Ashley cried as she spoke. She was overwhelmed with emotions. She wasn't wanted by her biological parents, a disgrace, but this woman made her feel like a human being.
"Ash, you're the best thing that has ever happened to me. Those Ejimes aren't worthy of you."
"Yes." Ashley whispered as she tightened her hug on Nicole.