"Dad? Everything is ready, it's just a small celebration. I don't need people I'm not close to on a day like today. They can come to the wedding but not today."
They had just arrived and the Osunde's were in the middle of..., well, to put it lightly, announcing to the whole world.
The plan was to have a small engagement party so that the families and friends could get to know each other but Mr. and Mrs. Osunde wanted the whole neighborhood there.
Nissy had to stand her ground or else, the party wouldn't have been an intimate event like she had wanted. "They can come to the wedding, today, the venue isn't big enough for all these people you want to come... Anyways," she turned to Ginny, "I can't have my little sister looking like an old woman in my engagement pictures forever. So, my stylist will dress her for today,"her Father's displeased look made her promise, "She will be as decent as a stylish Nun."
Their parents watched them leave without a word. No one could ever win an argument with Nissy, you only win when she lets you or she's driven into a corner. Like when he father had been angry with Ginny's dress the other time, she let him win because her sister was the one who would suffer more.
The party was at one of the local hotels. It was a small gathering just as Nissy wanted. Their aunt even managed to come from Lagos with her family.
Ginny caught her reflection on a glass wall as they entered the hotel and her nervousness increased. She wasn't sure her parents were going to approve of her outfit but Nissy insisted that they would.
"Stop staring at yourself, Ginny. I told you, you look fine. As good as a stylish Nun. Mom and dad will not disapprove. Now if you don't mind, I have a lover to get to," Nissy said as she took her hand and pull her sister into the elevator.
Ginny followed without a word. As much as she wanted to believe her sister's words, she knew there was no way she was going to make it through the whole event without words at least one person.
"I honestly can't leave you in mom and dad's care anymore. They're turning you into a nervous mess. You have lost your confidence over the last six months and it's really not good, Sis. After everything is done, you are coming back with me. If you have to go to school or whatever, you will do it from my place. Those two are too old to raise a teenager, obviously," Nissy complained again for the fourth time since they left their parents' presence earlier that day.
Ginny just sighed, she was tired of the constant worrying and nerves. Being unsure of what she might do that might make her father angry. She was literally walking on eggshells and it was an exhausting thing to do. She wished they would just send her to college but daddy dearest wasn't feeling like sending his last daughter where he won't be able to supervise and scrutinize her behavior.
As they entered the venue the intricate deco welcomed them in. The pink roses, the white tables with black chairs and the gold cutlery. Everything was done with the finest attention to detail. Ginny felt like she had just walked into a fairytale.
Nissy squealed with excitement, "My man has out done himself. This is..."
"Wow," Ginny exhaled beside her sister. She couldn't say anything else. "Wow!"
"Wow is right, Sis. Wow is right," Nissy squealed again as she squeezed her little sister into a side hug. "I better look for my lover and give him a smooch...or two," Nissy smiled mischievously making Ginny blush. Seeing her sister's reaction, Nissy giggled again.
Left all by herself close to the entrance, Ginny looked around for anyone she knew. She spotted a few people but no one she actually felt comfortable approaching. She decided to just get a sit in a corner where her parents might not spot her. That way, they might forget she is also present.
"Ginny?!"
Ginny turned to find her sister, Grace and her husband, Godwin. She smiled brightly as she hugged her sister and gave her brother-in-law a stiff smile and a short hello without letting go of her sister's hands.
Godwin was not satisfied with that so he took her hand from his wife's and squeezed it, "At least give me a handshake, Ginny. It wouldn't kill you and I promise, my hands are clean," he said as she gave her a grin. "You look beautiful, by the way."
"Thank you, brother-in-law," she smiled stiffly at him and looked back at her sister as she pulled her hand away. She felt like ants were crawling all over her hand. "Come sit down. You must be tired."
"I'm alright, just that someone left me for Lagos. Totally forgot about me and her baby. Discarded us. I guess we couldn't compare to the big city, huh?" Grace said with a sulk.
Ginny laughed softly, "Come on, big sis, you know that's not true. You know how crazy I am about you and my baby girl."
"You better not be thinking about leaving us again, or else we won't forgive you," Grace said seriously.
"Come on, Grace, don't be so hard on her. I'm sure she will be staying with us for a very, very long time. Right, Sweetheart?"
Ginny's heart hummered and her smile fell as his words reach her ears. The way Godwin had said 'very, very long time' had chilled her bones. Then he had called her, not his wife, 'sweetheart'. She swallowed as a shiver ran down her spine. She cleared her throat, "Umm, I'm gonna go-go look for...Nissy."
She didn't wait another second as she turned and left as fast as her legs could take her. She couldn't understand why she was panicking. She was probably over reacting for no reason. She went through a random doorway and found herself in a passageway. She slowed down, leaned on the wall and took in deep breaths trying to calm down her fast heart. Telling herself that she was getting worked up for no reason. She couldn't understand what was happening to her either. Obviously, her brother-in-law was no threat to her.
"Sweetheart? Sweet Ginny?"
Ginny shivered as she looked at her brother-in-law who had followed her. She swallowed as she pushed away from the wall.
Godwin couldn't wait any longer, after seeing her tonight, he decided to move things along fast. As fast as tomorrow. He wanted to have her, possess her. She was to be his for life but first, Grace was an obstacle. She had to go.
"Can I help you?" she asked after he didn't speak but just looked at her with an expression she had never seen on him before.
"Ohh! Yes. Here you go. I got you a present," he tried to pass her a little rectangular gift but she moved away from him.
"It's not my birthday."
"Yes, I know but I noticed you don't have a phone and I wanted to get you one. So here," he stretched out his hand for her to take.
Ginny shook her head, "I can't take that but thank you. I don't need a phone," she turned and attempted to leave but he caught her hand.
"Come on, sweetheart. Just..."
"Please let me go, brother-in-law. I need to use the ladies room."
"It comes from my heart. Please accept it, sweetheart."
"If you want to give me that, you have to go through dad or mom. Please let go," she begged. She didn't want anything that would be misinterpreted by her parents and him holding her hand like that could be misinterpreted.
"I don't see-"
"Hey! Are you deaf? She said no," a deep voice that seemed imprinted in Ginny's mind without her knowing said behind Godwin.
She bite the inside of her lower lip as she looked behind Godwin just to make sure it was him. And there he was, standing like an angel of death. Her breath caught as their eyes met.
"Hey, Gin. Looking as seductive as ever, I see."
Didn't she just wish they never meet again just this morning? This is way too soon. It hasn't even been twenty-four hours since she last saw him.