Once mama sighted the Ferrari that booed into our compound, she sprang out and stood at the door, arming herself with her dark, flaming eyes that warned us not to come close.
My gaze was still on her even as the driver rushed out to open the door for me. I wondered what could be the reason for the looks on her face. She was all frown and crimson. The patches of red on her cheeks were evidence of reserved anger she had for me.
I walked with unsteadiness, expecting her to open a wide embrace as usual, but I was disappointed. Instead she crossed her legs on the door as though to stop me from entering our house. Her jaw dropped as she winked at me.
"Good morning, mama," I greeted, with the hope that the anger would let her mouth respond to me, at least. "Good morning my mama," I gave a more emphatic tone and she hissed and gave me the cold shoulder.
I winked, cleared my throat and dare to enter, since the haze of early hours sun was beginning to set, but mama came on my way.
"Where do you think, you are going, Melissa?" she queried, as fury curled below her jaw.
"Oh, mama why would you give me such attitude? I have come to see my mother," I said softly and dared to touch her on the shoulder but she shrugged off my hand.
"You can come to see me when you are done divorcing that billionaire's mad son," she let thick furrowed brow devour her face as she added, "What came over you Melissa? Brian Fanny? Of all the men in Rio Hondo you chose Brain Fanny?"
"Stop this mama, that is not my reason for coming," I tossed my head in disapproval as I spoke on, "The billionaire, Fanny Luis has invited you to a dinner bouquet as his in-law. He would be honored to meet you again after you survived the kidney….
Pa!
That was the sound of slap and it landed on my cheeks. Mama had never raised her hand on me before and anything that steered her to do so must be provoking. But what wrong did I do? Did I do evil to go into a contract marriage just to get money for her hospital bills? Was I expected to fold my arms and watch my mother die like a kitten? How much were we even generating from the rotten vegetables we sold that mom believed it could afford her hospital bills?
I broke down in tears, with my hand still on my cheeks. "Mom, what did I do to deserve this?" I cried out, sniffing and sobbing like a toddler.
"Why did you go into such marriage, uh? Oh I see, you have been fascinated over luxurious lifestyle like this, where you will be driven around in expensive cars. Look at you! You barely finished grade six and instead of you to fathom how you would go back to school, you rushed into a contract marriage with the most violent mad man in Rio Hondo! What came over you, Melissa? You have suddenly grown wings because your papa is no more …?
I interrupted her, "You hate me, mama, you do! Why would you think such of me? Do you realize I am in this marriage of no return because of you? Do you realize the hurt and misery I go through on a daily in this marriage just to ensure your half a million dollar hospital bills were paid? Do you know the sleepless night and countless nightmares that dazed me with fear when I looked around me without getting help from anyone?"
"Then you should have allowed me to die?" she snapped, pointing into my face, "Did I tell you I have been clamoring to be called Fanny's in-law? Do you think I care about his dirty wealth or that useless mad son of his?"
"Oh really!" my heart thudded with disappointment. I was so ashamed of myself right now. Mom was saying this to me because she was hale and hearty now.
"Yes, at least it would have been a peaceful death, and I would be happy over there once I realize my daughter is in safe hands and not in a contract marriage with the billionaire's mad son. She sighed and advanced to me with her crimson face, "Why should I be preaching to you? Haven't you witnessed the mayhem that mad boy has caused to the people of Rio Hondo? A year ago he almost stabbed a man to death," she counted on her finger while I cried heavily, "Two years ago he pounced on an aged man and almost strangled him to death, the count goes on," she said and sighed. "Why did you sign your death warrant with your eyes open?"
"May be I am not your daughter. Maybe I should just go and find my real mother." I tossed my head "You have shown me indeed how cruel and ungrateful you could be. I am sacrificing my life for your sake. Every night I stand a chance of being nabbed by that mad man, just because I thought I could save my mother from a kidney disease that was eating her up…"
She interrupted, "If you had left me to die, it would have been better. Was I bothered about anything? When the doctor told us about the cost of treating me did I put any pressure on you as regards the money? I was happily staying at home, waiting for death to snatch me away", she broke down in tears and even made me feel I was the guilty one.
My entire body trembled with shock and heartbreak. Behold the woman that plunged me into this contract marriage sounding as though I did it out of my selfish interest.
"Now I know I have no mother. I won't forgive you mama for breaking my heart with those words…
"Go to hell, Melissa. I wrote you off the moment you signed to that contract marriage. It you must continue being my daughter, then divorce him and return home!"
I stared at mama in tears, while she rolled her eyes at me and banged the door on me once she went inside.