DIARY OF A SINGLE LADY PART 7

 It seems to me the world would collapse when I meet them. The prestigious Archujes would be expecting a Tracy. I knew levels have changed but I wasn’t sure I wanted this level. I became a little more prayerful and called my mum more often. She started giving me some feminine skills of dealing with mother in law and how to behave, remember the daughter of whom you are was always the concluding line like our name was on Google. My pastor in Benin prayed for me through the phone and told me all will be well. All those encouragements and counseling was about to be met with the best or worst mother in law to be in the world I told myself.

Days became faster and nights quickly faded. It seems the end was coming but I knew if I could jump this hurdle, life can never frown at me again. It was Thursday, a day to go and I started feeling I shouldn’t go see them anyways. Lawrence is practically scared of his mother. All the stories I’ve heard about her, makes her another Margaret Thatcher. Here I am, a lady that usually loves to play away in freedom, about to be tied down in matrimony of wealth and honour, thus I’ll be enslaved for life. With all these pains and thoughts roaming my mind I was supposed to be scared but I didn’t care. I was ready for the unexpected.  Worst of all, she’ll mess the whole meeting up and I’ll move on with life. I packed our things in the same box but when he came back from work he told me we have to use two boxes. I asked why that? And he said we can’t pack our clothes together except we are married. I acted as if I wasn’t surprised. I  made two boxes available.

I couldn’t sleep all through the night. I created memories of Mrs. Archuje in my mind. I totally forgot there was a father in the house. Subconsciously I was working out a rehearsal on how my behaviour would be when I meet her. All my expectations of this woman were cut short at our first meeting.

The mansion had a long lawn of pure green grass set before it. The cars were scattered and I didn’t want to stare too well for me not to be noticed. Many workers were roaming around in their uniforms till we got the entrance. We were greeted by two butlers and one mentioned my name. Is that a good sign? A bad sign? The front door was opened as we walked into the house. We met the dad with two faces i usually see on TV. It was later I knew it was Seun Otedola and Mustapha magairi. I knelt on two knees to show respect as the man told pulled me up.  My daughter welcome home he said. How was the journey? It was good daddy, still trying to pull myself together. The gesture of welcome made me know I was here to settle. But I messed up, I would have dressed better.

This is my son’s fiancée and we are expecting a grandchild soon. With the introduction I knew the family had accepted me before I even came. All they needed was a meeting. The man in sparkling white native attire (otedola) asked for my name and I told him Tracy, he went further by asking for my surname….. Just to check the background. I was not bothered as he ended up not knowing it. I walked from the lobby intro a stadium size sitting room, with five settees in different corners. The TVs were like projectors, with a chandelier denoting wealth.  Daddy’s big picture was hung on the right side and beside his picture I saw the image of the woman I’ve been scared of meeting. The whole consent of fear was now gone, with the acceptance accosted me. We walked through the sitting, opening a door to another passage and saw mummy coming down the stairs.  Immediately my sight caught up with her, I got on my knees once more to greet her and she pulled me up, with a smile saying my daughter, I’m so happy to meet you. With a soft voice, she said welcome and I suddenly felt like crying.

I have just deprived myself all the sleep in the world for a woman this loving. She gave her son a pat on the back and escorted me into the glorious dining room. All food was set like I was hungry and she held my hand as we sat next to each other. Lawrence’s mother had a regal air about her. She looks solid and dependable. She controls everything in that big mansion and it’s obvious she extends to the business. She’ll be a good mother in law I guessed. She asks Lawrence to excuse us and he willingly left the room with a wink as if it was well. She turned to me and the other door opened. 

The father stepped in and sat close to us and I knew I was about to go through an inquisition. So you and Lawrence are planning to get married right? I was disturbed by this statement. Were they expecting a no? Yes I said. You and Lawrence haven’t known yourselves that much, have you? Long enough, for us to know we love ourselves. Love, she asked with a bewitched smile as she adjusted her seat. Tracy, to be sincere to you, Lawrence’s news came to us as a surprise. And of course, he would have told you of Amina?  She continued explaining the wealth in the other family also and salted the injury she was creating in my mind. It lasted a while, till she said if Lawrence ends up with a stand it’s you he wants, there is nothing we can do about it. I said a loud thank you and breathed a sigh of relief.

The moment ended with the entrance of Lawrence and the family doctor. 

He was introduced to me and I was like what are these people doing. I just had a trip to your house and you want to do a check up the first day? The doctor called me for counseling after dinner and gave me rules of carrying a baby in Archuje’s family. From now on, no more strenuous work, he’ll come up with a diet plan and I’ll have to change my wardrobe to free the baby in the tummy. I started feeling like Princess Diana. He laid me on a bed and checked the vitals. He ended by asking for my genotype and I told him “AS”. He looked at me in surprise and shook his head in disappointment, and then I knew there was likely a problem…….