Amidst Temptations

Episode 21

I had thought with the incidence in the car my tortue was over, it wasn’t. The father was around to welcome his son, he was a very la!d back man and hugged me saying Serena had been telling him about me, I wondered what she told him, I glanced at her in accusation, but she winked at me and followed the maid to the kitchen to make sure everything was set
“Sorry about your loss sir..wish one could change it but God knows best” I said
“She’s been sick for long” he looked away “guess everything happens for a reason”..hand in pocket he waved me to the sitting room, the TV was on but on low volume, he sat and crossed his legs, taking up his phone to make a call, I needed to leave but didn’t want to be rude, besides there was nobody to drop me…Chief Jacob dropped his phonecall, cursed about the Nigerian economy then engaged me in a conversation about the government of the day, then we were talking about his wife…

Sean was busy with his guest, who got me wondering if she did have a house, Serena had told her about the welcome party and she had joyfully accepted to come to the house..now they were in his studio..that was our place..

“When the doctors told her she will have another chemo section, she refused to take it, believing that God would heal her..”
I looked back at Chief Jacobs, trying to focus on the conversation but my eyes kept going to the studio door

“In the end..it was too late for her”he said
“Good you spent the last days together” I found that intriguing, I needed a man to love me like that

“Yeah”
” Food is served sir” The maid whose name i had learnt was Joyce said, he stood up and I followed him remotedly to the dinning room. Tania was all animated as she talked about Sean’s painting like she knew anything about it, well she was an artist too, though she used pencils not paint, I wanted to shut her up when she talked about all the things they had in common and how he just gets her.. hello?..it was day one.. Then she said
“And coincidentally we going back to the UK next month, we could spend the summer together”

“That would be great” Serena said drinking her juice

“Yeah..who knows you could get back with a ring, it’d be the perfect wedding” I said, they all looked at me, even I couldn’t believe that came out, I hadn’t said a word on the table since the meal started, I cleared my throat and took up my juice to drink
“Yeah..we should cheer to that…a wedding would bring back joy to the house, just wish your mother were here” Chief Jacob said, we all got silent on the table as I hated myself for bringing up a sad topic. The Jacobs were not easily saddened, they decided to hit the club, according to Serena that was where the hit was, the ceremony at home had been for their Dad

“You would agree that i have tried Serena, i need to go, I haven’t even changed”
“Well I have clothes you can wear”
“Serena” I couldn’t believe she was trying to take me to a party again, was I that gullible

“please please please” she put her hands together”you’ll spend the night, we could have a girl’s night, tomorrow morning I’ll take you home, what would you be doing otherwise?”she asked like I actually had a boring life

“Preping to meet Martin’s parents” I said with a duh, how could I club all night and meet his parents the next day
“So its settled.. You don’t have anything doing..let’s go get ready, they already there” she walked away..

That’s how I was kidnapped all night by Serena, we got ready me choosing the most conservative green dress and low heels, Sean already went to drop Tania in her house.
There was a feeling of déjà vu when I walked into the club though it was a different one, I sat on a chair and took a passing glass nursing it and hating myself that it was alcohol but I had no choice, Sean arrived and busied with his friends, the party was booming but I took my phone and messaged Martin

“Hey baby..you wana dance?” he sat with me, said his name was Chris, I denied him and three other guys that came, I wanted to leave but I couldn’t. The party had come to full blast two hours later with lots of immortality, my eyes were suddenly drawn to the dance floor as I saw a girl dancing, whining her waist and going down on a guy, I should have looked away if I didn’t see that the couple was Sean and Tania……this was the height, I knew i had told him no severally and it was over a year but he had forgotten me, remembering his last words to me I couldn’t believe he could but he had, it was all Tania now. Wasn’t that what i wanted, him to find a girl that was a perfect match for him?..but why did it hurt so bad, why did it feel like my heart was about to burst in pieces?.. I finished my drink in one gulp….I didn’t belong here and I had to leave, Sean was messing with my head again, I had a boyfriend who I was in love with and I shouldn’t be here anyways…I stood up and walked out of the club.

I finally got to meet the parents after so many obstacles to that effect, I had taken another excuse from Martin who was disappointed but told me he would think of something to tell the parents..I wonder how he was so calm..Sean would have exploded.

I smiled at Martin’s little brother Joshua, bending down to his level
“You so cute..how old are you?”

He showed me his Ten fingers
“Wow you and my lil sister would make a perfect match”, Martin chuckled and took me inside to meet his mother who was happy to meet me

” how did you get such a fine looking girl..Matt”
“Martin mom”
“His father wanted to name him Martin and I Mathew”
I laughed “Both suit him”
“You see..come and help me in the kitchen while we catch up, I’m just making lunch, I hear you are in medicine, brilliant girl, how’s it going?”

She was all chatty and I found myself comfortable around her, Martins sister travelled to Lagos so I couldn’t see her, I felt she reminded me of my Mom because she too was all Christian

“What do your parents do?”
“Well my dad is a lawyer, my mom’s a nurse”I replied
” Wow..that’s amazing”
I met the father when we sat to eat, he was a very huge man with a domineering presence, made me uncomfortable

“When am I meeting your sister?” Josh asked “Is she as pretty as you? ”
“Who’s filling my son’s head?”the Dad finally spoke, I chuckled
” Janet’s my lil sister, she’s about his age, am sure they’ll be good friends”
“My son has his friends”he said, his baritone voice was scary..I paused on my food
The mother cleared her throat, he glanced at her “I hear your father’s a bishop”he said
” no”I glanced at Martin “he’s a preacher, more like an envangelist”
“Good..you seem to come from a good family”

“Yes I love my family”, I didn’t know what was up with the father, it was clear he didn’t like me but what did that matter, Martin planned to make it official after I graduated, then not even my father would object. Glancing at him again, I discovered my sister was wrong about everybody liking me.
” Don’t mind my father, he wants me to marry our pastors daughter Rosa”Martin told me when we sat outside
I breathed out”,I thought it was me”
“No my dear you were perfect”
“Well is she pretty?”
“She’s a harlot”

I was taken aback “Don’t use such words”

“Sorry dear, its just everyone’s expecting me to marry her and its too much stress for me”

“Oh dear..I know how it is” possibly my Dad would sell me to the highest bidder in church after I graduated, I hugged him then “but I loved your mom..your brother too”

“Yeah..knew they’ll love you”
Clearing of throat made us turn around, his father stood there, looking at me
“May I have a word with you?”, I looked at Martin, who glared at his father but I touched his arm that it was fine, he looked wary as he went in..his father stared at me, me him
” I can see your a good girl..well brought up..but I’m not going to mince words when I tell you to leave my son alone..” he walked back in..leaving me in a gawk, did that just happen?

“W..why..?” I managed to ask, but got no reply..Martin came out and took me in his arms

“I’m gonna marry you Emilia, don’t mind what he says”

*”
*So both families, which do you prefer?, Why do you think Martins father told her to stay away.. And if an in-law does not accept you, do you ignore or go ahead?