Mrs. Okpabi could not believe her eyes. Her heart ached not just from disappointment in her son but in pity for this poor girl.
"I knew he was going to visit his wrath on you," she murmured as though speaking to herself. She sounded as though Kenny's actions were her fault. "When he didn't stand up to his dad as usual, I knew it. But, I did not expect violence in any form. This is not my son at all, yet, he did this." The older lady sniffled. "Oh, and it's my fault! I should never have asked Nenka –"
"No Ma, it's not your fault. We just had a little quarrel, it was nothing," Kate blurted, unable to hold the words that had been aching in her throat to speak for the past minutes.
"It was nothing?!" Mrs. Okpabi cried askance. "I can see his finger prints on your face!" she postulated indignantly.
Kate touched the heavy side of her face, self consciously hiding from her mother in-law's intent gaze.
