Love In Silhouette

Chapter 16

...love's gentle spring doth always fresh remain, Lust's winter comes ere summer half be done...
(to be continued in next chapter)
-William Shakespeare-

(Venus and Adonis)

They're here! Of course.

Once our eyes met, she smiled slightly. I watched her gaze flicker to where Asher's hand sat on my waist and her lips pursed as the smile on her face widened.
Understanding perfectly what that smile meant, I quickly shrugged off his hand from it's position on my waist. I didn't bother to look at Asher as I took a step farther away from him. By now, he had stopped greeting the guests.

She got her way before. Not now.

I forced a smile to my lips and stretched out my arms to receive both of them in a hug. The cool scent of crisp wood and wild flowers filled my nostrils.
They always smelled like that…wood and wild flowers.

"How are you my dear?" My dad asked.

"I'm fine daddy." I smiled and courtesied marginally as was polite enough.

"That's good." He nodded and truned to Asher. "And how is my son-in-law?" He stretched out this hand and Asher took it in a firm handshake. My mom on the other hand lingered at my side as my Dad conversed with Asher.

She tipped her head up and her waves swayed and bounced. She had on a new hairstyle…body wave. Her usual was always the water curls. She'd get it fixed and also stock up her room with wigs of that same style in order to keep her look consistent. But I had to admit, the body wave made her look prettier not younger though because my mom never looked old. You could go to the mall with her and everyone would call her your sister. If there was one thing my mom was most concerned about, it was her appearance.
You could never catch her looking unkempt or below adequacy. Even at home, you'd think she was practicing to be the next miss world. You can imagine then how she looked anytime she stepped out. If you didn't dress when out with her, you'll have yourself to blame because you might just probably be mistaken as her maid. Nobody wants that, so you have to do the needful.
Even now, she was clad in a thin strapped, v-necked, gold coloured, glittering dinner gown that hugged her body from her torso to her knees then dropping down freely to cover her shoes.

"You look good my dear." She nodded and my eyelids narrowed into slits as I looked at her.

"You changed your hair." I ignored her question and searched her eyes for a reaction. She smiled knowingly instead and sighed.

"Udochi, you can't still be holding that against me. The both of you have obviously begun to get along." I knew she was referring to Asher's hand around my waist earlier.

"Don't be fooled by what you see. You of all people should know there's something called show business." I hissed through my teeth while keeping my face set in a perfect smile so as not to arouse suspicion from anybody who might be watching.

Her smile transformed to a smirk. "Hmm, show business. That didn't look much like show business to me."

"Which means we acted really well if you of all people thought it was real." I spat.

"That's no way to talk to your mother Udochi." Her eyes hardened but her face stayed put without changing.

"You ceased to be my mother when you sold my future out as a business deal." I spat and she looked up, her eyes filled with shock.

"Udochi your father and I did what was best for you." Her eyes flashed with anger.

"What was best for me or you?" I laughed mirthlessly and shook my head. "Look mummy, I don't feel like having this conversation right now, it's emotionally draining. If you'll excuse me I'll like to have a drink." I turned to whisper in Asher's ear and courtesied again to my dad before walking away leaving my mom speechless.

A passing waiter approached balancing a tray of scotch and I skilfully swiped a glass lifting the cup to my lips as the waiter continued on his way.

❇

Asher pulled out the chair for me and I sat down gingerly. Asher's parents had arrived and were now seated togther with us at the table.
Asher's parents sat towards his right while my parents sat towards my left, my mom right beside me.
A waiter came to serve the appetizers and took our orders for the main course afterwards.

"I don't think I've had the opportunity to meet you well my dear. The wedding happened in a rush and afterwards so many other things." Mrs Eze piped from across the table. Totally caught off guard, I looked up at her from where I sat, dumbfounded.

"Um...yes ma, that's true." I plastered a fake smile on my face.

"How was the honeymoon? How did you see Paris? Your parents told me you'd never been there before." She continued and the air suddenly became stuffy as I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
I glanced at Asher and the windbag looked equally uncomfortable for once.

"Yes, it was my first time and it was lovely. Isn't that right Asher?" I turned to look at him and he glared at me.

Oh, so you think I'll endure this investigation alone? We're supposed to be married remember?

"Oh you didn't hear me? I asked if you thought Paris was beautiful." I smiled innocently deliberately repeating my question.

"Yes, it was." He cleared his throat and nodded unable to keep at ignoring me.

"That's great. Did you and Asher take any pictures together?" Mrs Eze prodded further.

"There was no need for pictures, seeing each other everyday was enough. I was even very reluctant to leave her at Paris a month after…but work was piling up here and so I had to go." Asher reeled out and there was silence. My jaw instantly dropped open but I caught myself and quickly shut it back before any suspicions arose.

Even I couldn't lie like that. Okay I could, but not so fast.
This man has added Ph.D. in lying to his long list of random talents.

"That is so wonderful. I see you've been taking good care of each other." Asher's mom continued and smiled at her husband who nodded.

Were they genuinely ignorant or was this a way to rub things in. As I looked at their faces, it seemed the former was it and I think I knew who exactly was responsible.

❇

Author's note

As a result of not posting at all last week, I promised two chapters this week.
For those who follow my announcements, I stated it there. So, long story short, this is our second chapter this week.

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter down below in the comment section.

Remember to vote, and share if you would like others to read too ✨

Goodbye, until next week!

Chinwe_epistle ♥