As soon as Raina entered the house she closed the door and hit her forehead with the palm of her hand. Darl? Where on earth had that come from. He seemed not to have noticed so that was good.
‘Raina, why are you standing behind the door. Come and sit down and tell me how your day went.’
‘Mum! I have missed you.’ She rushed to embrace her mother tightly. ‘The day was great. I met Darryl. He even gave us a lift home.’
‘Darryl? You should have invited him in for supper. Your dad called. Says they will be catching a flight back to Ghana tomorrow morning. So where is Darryl now?’ Her mother had gotten up now and was looking out the windows to see if she could see Darryl’s car.
‘Erm..he has gone home. I forgot to invite him in. Sorry. Guess what though? He has invited me to the Ghana Movie Awards.’
‘Is that so? I thought he will be taking one of his model girlfriends along this year. I hear he has been nominated for quite a number of awards. I find it surprising that he asked you of all people to go along with him. I hardly see you two talk to each other. Are you close with him as well?’
Theresa was aware of the close relationship between Leroy and Darryl. She was also aware of the fact that Darryl had Raina hardly ever spoke directly to each other. They only ever spoke if there was a third person around. She was unable to pinpoint exactly when this had started but it was something she had noticed over the past 2 years.
Raina blushed and ducked her head. She wished she had not told her mother anything in the first place. But she knew she will need help in getting a great dress especially with the limited amount of time she had. It was only 4 days away from tomorrow.
‘Well. He didn’t say I will be his date. I just said I wanted to go. He said he wasn’t going with anyone this year so I could come along with Leroy.’
‘So is Leroy your date then?’
‘Mum! Of course not.’
‘Take it easy young girl. Leroy has been your date on several occasions. It looks like you are rejecting him today,’ her mother teased playfully.
‘We need to get you the perfect gown. Something the media won’t forget. You need to make a good impression. I know a few designers who can put something together with the limited time we have. Do you plan on designing it yourself or you want one of their original designs?’
‘I have actually not thought about designing anything. Let’s sleep on it. Tomorrow morning I will be sure to get fresh ideas.’ She hoped to be a fashion designer in the future. Her mother’s words had planted an idea in her head though. What better way to get exposure than for her to wear something she herself will create.
‘Alright, dear. Let’s eat supper. Or you are filled up with all the junk you ate outside.’
‘Nope, I saved some space for your delicious meals.’
‘Smart girl.’
The two sat down to eat after which they cleared the dishes. Raina promptly went up to her bed. She needed to sleep and get enough rest. She briefly looked at a few sketches of her designs hoping one of them will catch her fancy but none did. She showered and went to bed. She couldn’t wait for the coming weekend.
She hoped to look stunningly beautiful next to Darryl. Hopefully she could knock him dead. No! Not dead. Just knock him down into love. She signed dreamily. Mrs. Raina Lartey. No name had ever sounded nicer. She giggled and went to bed with a smile on her face.
It felt like as soon as Raina lay her head down to sleep, her mother, Theresa, was waking her up from bed. They had to go to the airport and pick up the other half of the family plus they had to make a stop at the designer’s. Raina had decided to let someone sew the dress but she had drawn the design herself. Inspiration had struck while she was in the bathroom. So right after that, she had quickly put the sketch down. She had gotten Darryl's number from her mother and gotten the colour of what he will be wearing that night. It's not like they were a couple but she didn't want her colours to clash with his. Her mother had his number and even she didn't. Amazing, huh!.
They will be picking up her brother and father at 9am. The plan was to stop at the seamstress then head to the airport from there. She couldn't wait to see her dad and Leroy. She had missed them both.
They ended up getting to the airport at 9.30am because they had had to iron some fine details with the designer. She was a good one. Raina had even asked her if it will be possible for her to be her understudy. She had even added some details Raina will never have thought of. All the added details were sure to make for a very interesting and daring dress. She couldn't help but feel excited. She wanted to look special that day.
It turned out that they were not so late after all as it took another 30 minutes before Leroy and her dad stepped out. Leroy already looked their dad but to see them walking together, it was uncanny. The same head shape, same way their brows furrowed when concentrating. The only difference now was that their dad was getting older and had grey hair. This was a bit shocking for Raina. She must be truly older now. Her dad who had always looked so strong, now, he just looked…old. She felt weird about it and almost didn't notice that the two were almost beside them. Her mother rushed to meet them halfway and hugged her two boys tightly.
'Raina, you are all grown up now. I guess I have to get ready to start fending off the big bad boys who will be coming your way,' Leroy said as he turned to hug her. He lifted her off her feet and Raina squealed. Trust Leroy to do something surprising and totally unnecessary.
'Put me down!’
Her father coughed discreetly. He was still standing by her mother.
'Won't my favourite daughter give me a hug? Or I am not a 'big bad boy' so I don't get hugs?’
Raina rushed into her father's arms while everyone around laughed.
'Told you son, I still got it.'
'Hey, you two, don't be naughty. Let's hurry up and go home. Raina has got a big programme this weekend. She needs all the time to get ready.' Her mother then proceeded to shoo them all in the car. Leroy took over the driving while their parents settled in the back seat.
'So, I hear you have been invited to the Awards night. You must be one happy girl. Why did he even invite you? For one, I think you are too young.'
Raina sighed. Here she was all excited and Leroy was just about to dash all her hopes for attending the show. He could have waited and talked to her in private. Not in the presence of her father. Raina crossed her fingers and prayed her dad will not be against her attendance to the programme.
'Leroy let her be. Even I am not complaining, so why should you? She needs to attend. I am rather disappointed you were not the one behind the invitation. You spend too much time taking other people's daughters to events. I think it is time you got serious.'
Raina smiled and stuck out her tongue at Leroy. It was immature, yes, but he deserved it. He needed a wife.
'Yes Dad.' Leroy promptly said and turned up the radio. His dad had not stopped saying this over and over again. That had been a low point for him. All the talk about marriage. He was tired. He didn't want to get married soon. He had time. The standards too were high. How was he to find a woman half as amazing as his mother?
Leroy shook his head slightly. Maybe he just wasn't looking well. He was happy for Raina though. She needed to get out and have more fun. So that, she could meet some decent guys. She needed to enjoy life while she could.
In about 30 minutes time, they arrived at the house. Raina and Leroy helped to take the suitcases to the house while their parents entered the house. It was almost noon. Raina was already feeling sleepy. She let out a big yawn. The past few days had been exciting but exhausting.
Raina decided to go back to her room and get some sleep right after lunch. She needed a good sleep. Right after lunch, she excused herself and went to take a nap. She would have liked to have a little chat with Leroy but he had looked even more tired than she.
Usually they talked about their business trip but this time around, neither said a word during lunch. She attributed it to the stress of the journey and hence did not probe further. She hoped everything was alright though. She said a prayer for her family and drifted off to sleep.
Francis looked at his wife and sighed wearily. They were both upstairs in their room now.'It did not go as I had planned. It appears there is no other way to solve this issue. I don't want to push this on her. You know that's not the way I wanted to solve this but it appears that may be our only option.'
Theresa looked at her husband and felt his anguish in her heart. She knew that if he said he had tried his best, then he had tried to move mountains. He was not one to give up so easily. Who would have thought that a decision they had taken so many years ago would affect them this way? She reached out for his hand and held on to his.
'We will find a way. Besides I am sure everything will work out. We might not even have to do a thing.'
'I do hope you are right. I just feel like I have failed her in some way. I always wanted her to choose her own path.' He sighed again.
'Don't worry dear. Everything will work out just as it should at the right time. Let's get some rest.'