Bands of the Unpaid Dowry

Chapter 26

The blaring of horns could be heard from the main road beyond the street of the Arthurs where Millicent was walking. She greeted the older woman who sold porridge in front of her home three houses away from the home of her infancy. The man whose candy shop was previously a stationary shop when she was in middle school greeted her warmly. The morning of Saturday was especially exciting for school children who had just a few chores to complete before they could call it their rest day.

When she reached her family's home, she could hear the bustling inside. She herself was excited at what she was to discover after her mother had called her. She wanted to see the woman who had managed to capture her eldest brother's heart.

"Mama!" She screamed as soon as she entered. However, the response she got was a familiar little girl's body crashing into hers with joyous giggles. She had no doubt her aunt had also come in to hear and see the promising rumor concerning her nephew.

"Bridget!" She lifted the little child, who seemed to have accumulated a good amount of weight over the past months, in her arms. Her slender arms circled her cousin's neck, sniggering.

"Aba, you came!" Millicent looked amused when her chocolate eyes similar to her skin's tone searched around them and seeing no one she beckoned Millicent's ears and asked, "Did you bring toffee?"

She tenderly rubbed her index knuckle on Bridget's button nose. "I didn't." The little girl's face deflated even after being admonished by her mother to stay away from candies. "But I brought you something better." Her eyes widened in expectation and Millicent marveled at how easily children could be pleased.

Picking through her bag, she found the pack of grapes she purchased before coming. She handed it to her cousin and asked to be directed to both their mothers and she was not surprised to know that the two women were in the backyard, probably eating their breakfast. Their backyard was paved and there were wooden chairs assembled under a mango tree.

"Ah, where is the man of the moment?" She questioned as soon as her presence was made known to the women who sat next to the wall.

"Ei Aba you're here." No, I'm not. Yet, she held her tongue in fear of disrespecting her aunt and smiled warmly to keep the sassiness away.

"Bridget Efua Wilberforce! What are you eating? Didn't I say no more toffee because your tooth is loose?" Millicent looked down at her little cousin who spotted a small frown that pushed her dark, bushy brows together.

"It's just grapes, auntie."

"Ah okay." She chuckled when she again looked down and saw her cousin's tongue poke out at her mother.

"I say, Aba, your brother will be coming later in the morning. I went to give him food and saw a woman there. She even offered me water. Now who does that unless they are usually in the house?" Regina was pleased when her daughter's eyes widened just as her sister who sat by her was surprised to hear the news. It was thought that Josh would always be focused on his path as a lawyer that he was blind to women.

Millicent shuffled closer to squat before her mother and aunt to indulge in the confabulation. "Really?" Her bright eyes demanded. "Did she know that you were his mother?" Her eyes darted to her aunt who responded to the question.

"She didn't."

"Wow."

As they continued to speak with Millicent drawing a chair closer to the older women to hear the new developments in her brother's life, she heard the undeniable mirthful interaction between Bridget and none other than Max.

"I always knew Max would be crowned the king of tattling." Millicent mumbled and stood up from her seat. They had long finished breakfast and were awaiting the arrival of the man of interest.