........Rise above! That was the in-house mantra. The kids mimicked Amal time and time again, lifting their chubby arms up slowly as they had seen their mother do so many times. Can't finish your homework?...Riiiise above. Angry cos brother grabbed your water colours?.....Riiiiise above. My,my! Oprah would be proud. She loved watching them. Even when they were doing nothing, no sight was more pleasing to her eyes.
As she drew the curtain on him in her heart, she couldn't help but wonder what his thoughts were.
She put on her glasses and began to google beach hotels in Ghana, her mind set on having a swell time with her children.
The holiday did great things for Amal and the kids. They had fun and the nanny was wonderful, keeping the kids occupied so that Amal could wander on the beach and take long walks alone, she even went to a movie that made her cry. For reasons unknown, she felt much less vulnerable by the time they got back.
She drowned herself in work and put so much into it that whispers of a raise were making rounds in the office. About time too! She'd been steadfast and dedicated despite recent personal trauma. She had done well to keep things out of the office and maintained a very friendly but professional relationship with the team. Only Ike, her boss knew about the divorce and even that was because they had come a long way and Amal felt over time Ike-the-spike (as he was known around the office) had earned her trust. Her mind strayed back to the day she broke the news.
It was her first day at work, resuming from her annual leave and Ike had asked for a lift back home. His driver had gone to the mainland to drop off the kids and was running late. Driving and chatting leisurely, she asked if they could stop over at Daisy's to discuss something. Looking back with amusement, she remembered the puzzled look on his face as he agreed. Once inside, she went ahead to order his favourite dessert and a soda and lime for herself. Being an avid sweet-tooth, Ike dug in and asked jokingly, 'what is this Amie, a bribe? What's the catch?' She smiled and told him she had something she wanted to tell him and wanted to do it early before he heard elsewhere. She had his attention now. He remained silent until she had finished and then asked her if there was any way he could be of help. He surprised her by telling her that a mutual friend of theirs had called and told him the day it happened, while she was still on leave. Ike explained that he knew she would tell him at her own time and commeneded the way she had conducted herself during the trying months before the divorce. She knew he meant every word and was glad to have him as a boss and a friend.
Her promotion, when it finally came was celebrated in the office with the customary chinese takeout, loud merriment and silly speeches. Ike's speech brought tears to her eyes and her colleagues made it worse by making jest of her.
Back home, she treated the kids to a movie and pizza at Silverbird and later that night, she spent ages on the phone with her siblings, chatting and reminiscing. She called her mother and asked for her prayers and went to sleep feeling lonely but happy.
