Bands of the Unpaid Dowry

Chapter 28

Millicent's brows were scrunched up and the lines on her face which made their presence known whenever she was angry had appeared. She stomped down the stairs from the master bedroom in her work outfit, a suit dress, and the slippers she wore furiously slapped the stairs with her gait.

When she reached the lower level, she found Max eating the food their mother had prepared earlier, also arriving earlier from work and lounging on the couch.

"Maxwell." He turned to face her with an expressionless scowl coupled with an expectant look, holding his bowl of food in place.

"Max." Millicent corrected and could only shake her head when he grinned and tipped his head up.

"What's up Mimi?"

"Where's ma?" He stretched out his hand and extended his index finger toward the back door. Millicent, not wasting another minute, trailed to the backyard.

When she stepped out, she found her mother grooming whatever plants they had in the back and taking a breath in she spoke, "Ma, why did Uncle Terry ask for a television, he even specified the dimension, an air-conditioner, and a car? Isn't that exploitation and why does he need all that?" In her exasperation, she shot one leg forward and cocked her head to the side.

"Aba, hmm, that father of yours is so different from your actual father. He thinks he is smart. I just invited them out of courtesy to honor your father and he wants to swindle through your marriage list to furnish that house of his that he never completed." Her mother's eyes blazed indignantly which surprised her because the woman had remained silent when all the unreasonable demands of her uncle were being made. She had even seen Josephine's countenance change which greatly mortified her.

"Josh and I felt so demeaned." Millicent's hand shot up to her chest when her brother showed out of nowhere. She turned back to see her mother sitting on one of the seats under the tree with a thoughtful look and she moved to sit next to her. The house was quiet meaning, Ewurama and Juanita, their cousins, who stayed with their mother were out on errands.

"But why didn't you say anything, mama?" Max pulled another chair as they huddled around their mother.

"There are some things that you need wisdom in dealing with. I didn't want our family to be unnecessarily blamed for disrespect, so I already communicated with ma Josephine in the room." She turned to Max whose head had just turned to her. The women spoke nothing about the issue with the lingering presence of their uncle, so both siblings were mystified. There was a look in their mother's eyes when they looked back at her which made them confirm that the women probably spoke with their eyes.

"I spoke to her yesterday. Your uncle will be in for a surprise if he thinks he's going to get all that."

"But mama, did you see that her fiancé did not even care. If it was up to him maybe, he'll give Uncle Terry an entire mansion that has been furnished just to marry Aba." Their teasing laughs made a smiling Millicent coy.

"You're enjoying her love. You, Kobina, when are you getting married?" Millicent snickered watching her brother be a sputtering mess.

"Ma, do you want any kind of woman? Patience. Like I say, I'm a ghost." With that he bid hastened goodbyes and escaped to his home. Millicent shook her head with a chuckle. Her brother was undoubtedly the clown of good humor among them, a trait which he had gotten from their father even though Josh was most like him.

Millicent dove past her friend's house, and Manuela offered to go home with her to chat and watch a movie together.

"It makes sense that my crazy cousin might even agree to buy a house for your uncle." Manuela giggled in answer to the information her friend had passed onto her concerning her traditional marriage list. "And you know I'd be more than happy to be your maid-of-honor. See, I could tell from long ago that we were destined sisters." This made Millicent smile ruefully as she made the turn to her street.