Chapter 8

"Do you want to have an illegitimate child?" Do you want your child to grow up not knowing his father? I meant not really knowing you? His aunt asked quietly, knowing she was touching a raw spot.

"But auntie, I'll just end up not having mind of my own. It will be as if they bought me," Richard protested.

"You love Joanne. You want this baby. These are the things you should bear in mind. You should be happy living anywhere with her and your baby," his aunt said.

"You are Ross Chester. Nobody can buy you. Knowing you, I'm sure you won't let anybody rule you," his uncle added after Ross told them about what happened. They advised him to accept the Kings conditions.

After much persuasion, Ross went to the Kings and told them he had no choice but to accept their conditions, and so they could go on with plans for the wedding. Then he went back to Australia conscious that the Kings were taking over the arrangements for the wedding and, if he was not careful, for the rest of his married life. What influence could he have, so far away? Fortunately his primary assignment in a publishing company was so interesting that he could forget his worries for a while. He was meeting interesting people too, particularly Mr Barrett, a frequent visitor from Liberia.

The wedding was fixed for a date three months to that day. Although, Joanne chose to be married in a loosely sewn cream chiffon, despite her mother's preference for the Virginal white, Mrs Kings had no cause to complain. She gave her daughter the wedding she'd wanted with all pomp and colour and pageantry. There were lots of flower girls, page boys and bridesmaids, who were all dressed gorgeously.

Mrs Kings who was dressed in expensive strapless Taffeta dress, walked up and down the aisle before the service began, leading their very important guests to their seats, even though there were ushers around. Her friends were also dressed in Taffeta dress and paraded themselves about during the reception, looking so elegant and haughty.

Ross's guests were fewer and less expensively dressed. They looked at the Kings and their friends attire in awe and wondered how Ross would cope with such affluence. They felt inferior even though they were dressed in good materials themselves, and their stomach churned at the amount of food being wasted. There were all sorts of rich food that they had never tasted in their lives, but as everyone was served by the hostesses, they had a chance to taste almost everything. They were used to Mrs Kings haughty looks and had made up their mind not to be intemidatd by her. During the traditional engagement ceremony most of the Chesters, who had some pride in them had gone home fuming that day, at the superior airs Mrs Kings and her people had shown. So they had all come to the wedding prepared not to take any notice of her today.

Joanne's new role of wife and home maker made her so happy that she naturally assumed that things were going well for Ross too. During her first few months they had talked on the phone, sent text messages. Joanne flew to Australia several times and when her mother felt it was advisable for her to stop travelling so much, she arranged for her regular plane tickets to be delivered at Ross's office so he could snatch frequent weekend visits.

She did not notice that anything was wrong until Ross became withdrawn and irritated. If she so much as mentioned her parents. One night his eyes, dark and brooding, told her that there was something wrong with him.

"What's the matter, darling?" She asked him, cuddling up to him on the sofa in their sitting room.

"Nothing, Joanne. Nothing you can help with anyway," he replied coldly.

"Try me," she coaxed, smoothening away the lines in his brow with her fingers.

"Alright, if you want to know, it's your mother. She's always pestering me to be on suit and to get a haircut. So I'll fit in better with the family's image. That how she puts it." He told her angrily. "I have my own image still!"

Joanne was torn between loyalty to her parents a her love for Ross. She knew her mother's sharply critical tongue.

Another thing that always brought about quarrels between Joanne and Ross was the number of items bought for the unborn baby. Mr and Mrs Kings were always buying things that Ross felt was unnecessary. He felt a baby needed so much and no more. Also he wanted to buy things for his baby with his own money but Joanne's parents would not let him. Whenever he bought anything himself for the baby, Mrs Kings would explain that it was too cheap.

"It's nice, but wasn't there a more expensive one? I mean something of better quality?" She would ask in a condescending tones.

His aunt and uncle had moved with Ferd, so he hardly had anywhere else to go. He couldn't travel and spend all his time with friends like Max Finch. That would upset Joanne and give her mother new cause for criticism. So in an attempt to avoid clashing with Mr and Mrs Kings, he started making excuses to stay in Australia at weekends. Joanne felt a bit resentful, but she could not go there because she was growing heavy now. She was never bored. The Kings family was very large and she was still very much part of it. Friends and relatives were always calling to see her.

One weekend, when Ross had, as usual sent his excuses her father came in, looking very pleased with himself and so very excited.

"Come on, Joanne, and see. I've got something to show you, " he said, beaming from ear to ear.

"What's it, daddy?" Joanne asked.

"You just come out and see. It's a surprise?"

"For heaven's sake, daddy, can't you tell me what it's?" Joanne laughed, getting up.

She had to laugh. His excitement was so infectious. He took her by her hand and led her outside, all smiles and still not explaining. When they got outside, she found a brand new Mercedes. He produced a set of keys from his pocket and dangled them in front of Joanne's eyes for a minute before putting them in her hand. Then, indicating the back seat, he said, "Lots of space for children."

"But daddy, why are you giving me the keys?" Joanne asked in surprise.

"Because it's yours and Ross's of course. I bought it for you both as a present," her father explained.

"Oh daddy, you shouldn't have," Joanne protested faintly, her heart glowing.

"Nonsense," said her father, patting her on the cheek. "You know your mother and I haven't given you a good present since your wedding, so we thought we'd make it up to you. Besides, both your cars are not comfortable for stretching the legs in. My grandchildren will need space to do so. Well, don't you like it?"

Joanne flung her arms around him and hugged him.

"I like it very much, daddy. Thank you very much."

Joanne could not talk about anything else that day. Her mother too was very happy she liked it, and they were all so sure Ross would be pleased. If Joanne had any doubts, she kept them to herself.

As it turned out, he was not pleased. He exploded with anger when she told him about it. "I don't want that car. Your father is going to take it back where he got it from. What's all this, for goodness sake?" He stormed out pacing up and down the room.