"Grace," he said, with a smile he thought was charming. She did not return it. "What do you want?"
"Can we talk?"
"We are talking."
He glanced around. A Neighbor was pretending to wash clothes nearby. "Not here. Please."
She led him behind the compound to a corner where the wall hid them from the street. She did not offer him a seat. She did not offer him water.
"I came to see my girls," Daniel said.
"After five months?"
"I have been busy."
"With your wedding?"
His smile died. "So you know."
"Everybody knows, Daniel. The only person who did not tell me was you."
He rubbed his neck, a gesture she had once found endearing. "Look. I didn't plan it this way. Patricia and I… It just happened. And now there's a baby coming. I'm trying to make a life."
"You had a life. You had two daughters who adored you."
"I'm not saying I won't help," he said quickly. "I will help when I can. Business is slow right now."
Grace looked at his shoes. They were new. Not expensive, but new.
"Is that why you are here?" she asked. "To tell me business is slow?"
"I came to see the girls."
"Then see them."
She called them out. Evelyn, who remembered his piggyback rides, ran forward with a cry of
"Daddy!" and was swept into a hug. Daniel lifted her, laughing, and Grace's chest hurt.
Ella stayed by the door. She did not move.
"Ella," Daniel said. "Come, my big girl."
"Hello," said Ella.
"Is that all? No hug for your father?"
Ella looked at him. Ten years old, and the look she gave him was older than her age. "You did not come for my school fees," she said calmly. "They called my name in class."
Daniel's face flickered. "I… didn't know."
"You didn't ask."
Nobody spoke. Even Evelyn went still in his arms.
Grace cleared her throat. "Ella. That is enough."
But she was looking at her daughter with a strange mix of pride and fear.
Daniel put Evelyn down. He reached into his pocket and took out some notes. It was not much. It was less than the girls' bus fare for a month.
"For the children," he said. "I'll bring more."
"You'll bring more," Grace repeated, and took the money, because pride did not buy rice.
When he left, Evelyn cried, and Ella didn't. That night, after Evelyn slept, Grace found Ella sitting alone outside in the dark.
"Mama," Ella said. "Why did you take his money?"
"Because it belongs to you," Grace said. "Not to him. It's yours, and I will use it for you."
"I don't want anything from him."
"I know, my love. One day you won't have to."
Neither of them knew that Daniel would not come again for almost forever.