Into the Starry Night

Thirty-One - Part Two

In the approximately three minutes that it took for Lillian to show me to the right side of the house one thing was very clear about her: she was a chatterbox.

She moved deftly from one topic to another not letting a single minute go unfilled with words.

I would've found it annoying if I wasn't slightly intrigued by how she managed it.

"You know, Jere-my fiancé-was just saying how the guest list kept growing and growing but you know what? Daniel never mentioned bringing a plus one. I didn't even know he was seeing someone. He's been so tight-lipped about his love life that not even Ma Ireti, with all her charm and persistence, could ever get a word out of him. And she's practically a professional at digging up secrets. I've seen it with my two eyes."

We turned a corner, and the air almost instantly filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and something deliciously buttery. The dining area was just ahead, the wide archway framing a beautifully laid table with sunlight pouring in from the large windows. Voices were coming from within, loud and speaking over one another. I recognized Daniel's voice in the din.

"He has this obsession with being mysterious. It can be tiring and annoying sometimes."

Lillian laughed, juggling the box of placemats in her arms. "I hear you. Come on, I need to drop these before my arms give out."

She stepped into the dining room, and I followed behind.

"Look who I found wandering around!" Lillian announced before entering what looked like the pantry at the back. Just like that, all eyes turned toward me.

Despite the level of noise I had heard, there were only six people in this dining room that looked like it could easily host a grand banquet.

Before I could react, Cherish, the little girl from last night, sprang from her chair and raced toward me, wrapping herself around my bare legs. "Amarachi, you're still here! Can I touch your hair now?"

"There you are!" Daniel called out as he spotted me. "You sure took your sweet time. I was starting to think I'd have to send a search party."

I glared at him as I patted Cherish's head gently. "Maybe later, sweetie. Now, if you'll excuse me for just one second, I need to punch Uncle Daniel in his stupid, audacious face."

Two of the three men in the room burst into laughter as a crease appeared between Daniel's eyebrows at my threat. He raised his hands in surrender. "Ok, calm down, Bruce Lee. No need for that kind of violence this early in the day."

"I like her, she's got spunk," the man leaning by the sink commented over the pink mug he was holding. His long hair had been tamed into neat cornrows and he was sporting an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt that showed off his chest.

I would've replied, but Cherish's hold on my legs tightened, and the pressure on my knees increased.

As if sensing my discomfort, the only other woman in the room came to my aid.

"Cherish, please. I did not raise you to behave like this with visitors," she managed to pull the child off me and offered an apologetic smile. She was very pretty, with warm chocolate skin and tightly curly hair cropped close to her scalp.

Ireti entered at that moment, radiating youthful energy in her tie-dyed dress and matching turban. She stopped and surveyed the room through her thin matronly glasses.

"Good morning oh, my children. This one that you people are all gathered here this early, are we safe?"

A chorus of grumbles and greetings sounded out but Ireti didn't mind any of them. She made a beeline for me, and after a brief side hug, she scrutinized my face.