Chapter 13: Chapter 13

The proposal

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Anthony's pov

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The morning I was supposed to go to Elena's house, I developed cold feet and anxiety. I was worried her parents might reject me even though we were expecting a child together, I however willed myself to go and at the same time promised to make them accept me as their son-in-law.

I wasn't a bad or dangerous person, I had a job and loved their daughter so much it sometimes ached. With a positive mindset, I set off for her home.

They lived in one of the most expensive locations in Lagos, the rich, famous, and affluent families lived here. I didn't have a car so I used Uber instead, the road was smooth without a single pothole insight which was quite unusual on most roads in Nigeria.

Elena's house stood magnificent at the hilly part of the town. The ornamental plants that surrounded the building were well-trimmed and colorful, I alighted the Uber, paid him off, and stood at the tall grey gate facing me.

I gave the gate a quick knock and waited, seconds later a middle-aged man opened the gate, from the way he accessed me I saw recognition flash over his face. He didn't make me wait but asked me to follow him towards the house, at first I was surprised at not being scrutinized by him, but I got to know later from Elena that she had shown him my pictures and asked them not to keep me waiting.

I felt glad at her thoughtfulness and took the gesture as a sign of love from her.

Meeting her parents was not as horrific as I had felt earlier, her father was strict but compassionate towards me. He talked to me like an equal. Elena had her father's brown skin tone and oval-shaped head, they looked so much alike except for the few wrinkles at the corner of Mr. Badmus's eyes and his protruding belle, he was also not a tall man.

Elena had gotten her height from her mother who stood at almost 5feet. Mrs. Badmus was fair-skinned which had been enhanced by bleaching creams. The dark patches under her eyes and knuckles were a result of the harsh creams she had used or probably still using.

The interrogation from her father was expected, every parent wanted to know everything about the person their child was dating, some go as far as investigating their child's love interest. But what baffled me was Elena's silence through it all especially when her mother made derogatory statements against me.

I wasn't asking for much but I expected her to throw in some support towards me. Rather she sat at the far end of the couch we were both seated on and fidgeted even when her parents spoke to her she didn't lift her head to face them rather her eyes were fixated on her hands which she kept rubbing against each other.

As I sat there with Mr. Badmus and his family I got to understand that Elena couldn't defend herself against her parents and that her mother held control over her. I instantly knew it wasn't going to be an easy ride from here on.

Her mother stormed off when we announced our pregnancy while her father insisted we get married. Before I left their home, Elena and I were engaged to be married a month later.

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The arrangement for our wedding started in earnest. Everything was moving so fast that I sometimes paused to catch my breath.

My parents were so supportive of me and never made me doubt myself, even though Mrs. Badmus refused to acknowledge or accept help from my mother in planning the wedding; my mother was never bitter about it.

"I'm not angry, Anthony. Let her do the planning, it's no big deal." My mum said. But I saw the pain in her eyes, after all, it was her child's wedding too.

To make up for it I asked her to plan a small pre-wedding party for my friends and immediate family, I had a feeling my soon-to-be in-laws wouldn't grace the party but I don't mind at all.

I watched as my mum's eyes lit up when I suggested the idea, I wouldn't trade her for anything and I hoped Elena would love her the way I did.

As the wedding date approached I became more apprehensive, Mrs. Badmus, Elena's mother, wouldn't let me make any contributions both financially and in other areas. My ideas were rebuffed, every decision from the decorations to the choice of food was made by her. It was as if she was planning for her wedding.

When I got fed up I took it up with Elena.

"Your mother has to stop, I have had enough of her drama." I paced her room as I spoke, it was not the first time that I was coming into her room; but today I didn't feel the calmness I used to feel whenever I entered it rather I felt restless and angry.

"Please be patient with her, she only means well."

"Are you being serious Elena?" I asked, I could feel my face crease from anger.

"She is only trying to help."

"Help you say! your mother wouldn't allow my mum to join her in planning the wedding, she shut my mum down when she offered to help. She doesn't take my decision on anything; everything must be according to her taste and preference. I'm seriously fed up Elena."

"It's just a matter of days and the wedding will be over. Just bear with her."

As I listened to Elena talk, it dawned on me that my troubles with Mrs. Badmus were only just beginning and Elena would never stand up to her mother.

Just thinking of how her mother would interfere in my marital home with Elena made me dizzy. I had never seen nor heard her go against her mother even when she was hurting.

I made up my mind to be firm with Mrs. Badmus or else she would ruin my marriage. I only hoped Elena would support me if it ever got to the point of standing up against her mum for the sake of our marriage