Now, Evans bent his head over, not sure of how he felt. Was Beck's death really painful to him, or was he worried because it all took place in his house? Could he have avoided it by acting that faithful day and send him away.
Sending him away would have given him a bad reputation because he hurt his father-in-law, but it would have saved the situation? It would have saved him a lot of trouble, too. Besides, what would he gain if he had a good reputation before him?
After a while, Sarah walked back to the sitting room and sat beside her husband, who was lost in thought.
“Your food is ready. Have your meal first, we will worry about the dead later.”
She hinted and interrupted his thoughts. Nobody seemed to be mourning except him or rather regretting.
Now, Mama had been calm since the doctor pronounced her erstwhile husband dead. She wished it did not happen through her, as the incident had reminded her of how her life had been a life of hardship.
However, Evans was still sitting there when Mama called his attention again.
“Your food will get cold, my in-law. Eat so you will not break down. It is our cross, allow us to carry it.”
Evans, who could not respond, only looked up and focused at her, and she continued.
“I will return to the village tomorrow to inform Mr. Emma Aaron of his death. I am certain that he will know what to do.”
Then, Sarah added.
“You are right, mama. As you can see, God is our witness. Even a blind man could see that we have tried our best to save his life by planning to send him abroad for treatment. What will be must be.”
“That will be alright, mama. I think he is in the right position to organize a befitting burial for his brother”
Said Evans who was already walking to the dining table.
“What do you mean by a befitting burial? You will tell us his befitting achievements on this earth that will earn him a befitting burial.”
“Mhhhh.”
Evans, who was taken aback by his wife's utterance, muttered. Then, she carried on with her jesting.
“Show us his property in Abuja, Lagos, or Port Harcourt or even in the village that we would sell to give him a befitting burial. Don't allow my siblings to hear that from you.”
Sarah blurted out, angrily.
Evans and Mama smiled, despite their sad state of minds.
“Do you know whether he has a property in Victoria Garden City, Lagos?” Evans teased
“Yes! Even in Maitama,"Mama added.
They let out a cold smile. Now, the atmosphere in the house was moody. Mr. Beck's death had thrown them into confusion.
Meanwhile, when they calmed down, Sarah pointed out.
“I do not think he is more than that bag he came with. I'm certain that everything he had ever owned in his life was in that bag”
Then, mama suddenly remembered.
“Oh! That reminds me. Sarah.”
“Yes, mama.”
“Kindly get that bag, lets' see what could be inside.”
Mama instructed, but Sarah refuted.
“Not now, mama, please. Let my husband have his meal. What else will be inside if not rags?”
Mama smiled in acceptance and she continued.
“The type he wore when he came. I will do that later, please.”
Sarah concluded. Then, Mama pouted and said.
“It is all right.”
Meanwhile, her husband had his meal and subsequently, they retired to their various rooms to take their rest that afternoon and forgot the issue of Mr. Beck's bag.
Now, mama remained in the children’s room even though the guest room was already cleaned. However, after the news of Beck’s death, her daughters' husbands called to assure her that they were solidly behind her. Whether Beck's family members wish to make trouble, they were capable of handling them.
“Mother in-law, don't be too hard on yourself. If he was meant to live, he would have held on until the surgeons arrive.”
“Thank you, my son. I hope Ada arrived safely?”
“You are welcome, mama. Yes, she arrived safely. If I may ask, when are you traveling to the village?”
“I planned traveling tomorrow.”
“It is all right. But who are you traveling with? Don't tell me you planned to face them alone.”
“Mhhhh.”
She heaved a heavy sigh because she had not given it a thought. She thought it was as easy as falling off a log. Then, Ada's husband continued.
“It's when a mad man dies that he will have relations. Don't worry. We will meet at the Enugu airport tomorrow, so we can travel to the village afterwards. I will give Evans a call now and instruct him on what to do.”
“It is all right, my son. Thank you.”
Ada's husband, Mr. Callum Everett, was the Head of Mr. Beck Aaron's in-laws. He would be responsible for the burial by organizing all the in-laws. Instructing Evans on what to do concerning mama's trip was part of his duty.
Then, at 4 pm, their rest was interrupted by George's knock on the door.
According to Mr. Emma Aaron's assertion, an elder does not sit at home and watch a goat deliver in its tether. As an elder who would not sit back and watch things go wrong, he set out for the city after he gathered that Ugo was at Sarah's house.
“Who is at the door?”
Evans, who was disturbed by the knock, asked
“It's me, dad.”
“Oh! George. Are you back?”
“Yes, dad.”
“I hope there is no problem?”
“No, dad. But Uncle Emma is at the door.”
George, who was familiar with his granduncle than his grandfather, informed.
“At the door? Why didn't you let him in?”
Asked the father from the bedroom, who was already dressing up to meet him.
'These adults have their ways of confusing the young ones. When I let grandfather in, they blamed me. Now, I tried to be cautious, they blamed me again. Mttccchhew.'.