Chapter Four

Her hands were getting cold and wet by the second that passed, with each question thrown at her. She felt like she was going to pee on her panties soon.

She lost the appetite to continue the food that was placed before her, but it wasn't like she had an appetite in the first place. She made bad food; such that if she ate it in a restaurant she would have lashed out at the cook for putting her money to waste. 

"What did you study in school and what was your inspiration to study it?" Matthew's mother continued throwing unending questions her way. 

"Uhm...I studied Business Administration at the University of Benin. I wanted to go into fashion and design but it wasn't easy for me. I love fabrics and clothing materials and styles and colors because...well...my mother used to be into that field and she was my source of inspiration." Though Doris never planned to be emotional about it, the thought of who their parents were in their lives, brought back memories with it. 

Dorine was closer to their parents than she was, and Dorine certainly adored and shared in their mother's dream to become an expert fashion designer and own a fashion world of her own. She succeeded in getting that life. Now, she was married to a man that would understand and support her dreams but what of Doris' dreams. Her dreams and her life were about to play out before she became a fool for her sister again and decided to take this incredulous risk. Now she was stuck in a relationship where she does not understand where it was headed, from where it started. 

"That's nice to hear. Although I apologize about your parents" The woman spoke up. 

Doris nodded her head. Her throat was closed up, she felt like any word she said now would sound out wrong. 

No one spoke anymore. The question Matthew's mother asked, created huge tension in the dining room. They were all afraid that they might say something to worsen the already tight situation; they decided to keep silent and tried to enjoy the horrible food before them. 

After a while, Mr. and Mrs. Udochi washed their hands in a bowl of water kept on the table. 

"My children, it was a long day today. My wife and I are tired from the long journey we had, so, we'll retire to bed. You two should as well." Raphael announced as he stood from his seat and wiped his hands with a small towel provided. 

Shortly after, his wife did the same and then linked her right hand to his left before they bade the younger couple goodnight and made their way to their bedroom "Kachifoo! Goodnight!" Ruth called over her shoulder before they disappeared. 

"I apologize for the things my mother brought up, it's just her way of getting close to you." That was the first time Matthew said a word since they started eating. 

"It's... okay," she replied.

The woman may not have intentionally hurt her by bringing up the past, but it doesn't feel bad as much as looking them all in the eye and lying to them feels.

"I understand her. I also want to apologize for the terrible dinner, cooking isn't my strongest point..." 

That came out wrong, she had not meant to say it. Her sister was a great cook, what if Matthew knew that fact. She looked at him in shock but the expression on his smirking face told her that he believed her. 

"That's not a problem, I'm sure we can do something about it. My mother isn't a good cook either." He confessed. 

'Wow! I didn't see that coming.'

Her brows perked up and her eyes grew larger than their normal size at his words. 

"Your dad doesn't mind that she can't cook?" 

"Nope." he replied, popping the 'p' word.

"Not when he's the solution to her flaws. My dad's a chef, a great cook. Growing up, the kitchen was his responsibility and it suits him perfectly, he loves it when he's cooking so we just let him."

"Wow...that probably is the reason why they didn't finish dinner, they're used to something better." Her words were laced with regret.

She should have come clean with Martha and told her that she couldn't cook, than wasting good money. 

Matthew observed the change in her tone and tried to make her feel better.

He placed his large hand over her small one that was on the table. "Don't beat yourself up about it, dinner wasn't that bad. Tomorrow though, Chike would take the leftovers and remnants of the food to the kids that wander the street, I'm guessing they would appreciate it more." He smiled at her. 

She returned the smile with a small embarrassed one. She pulled out her hand from under his and started to wash her hands. She picked up another towel and dried her wet hands, all the while trying to avoid looking at the man seated beside her. 

Martha appeared at that moment and stared forth and back at the quiet couple. She couldn't understand how they could be calm around each other when they should have been clinging to themselves. In her own time, she remembered that it was difficult for her husband to keep his hands off her during the first months of their marriage. She smiled wistfully at the memory of her youth. 

"Matthew, can I clear the table now?" She asked them.

"Mrs. Martha...I've told you that you're not a helper in this house. If you want to go to bed at any time then you're free, you do not owe me any obligation"

"Is that your way of telling me that you do not need me in this house anymore? Am I that old and useless..." The old woman stood with her hands to her waist. 

"Oh come on," Matthew stood from his seat and walked towards Martha, "I never said that, I would never see you as useless to me. Besides, if you want to be here until you see my great-grandchildren then it's okay. If that's possible." He chuckled. 

She playfully shoved his chest.

"I'm concerned about your health. Now just go to bed or I'm taking you to bed myself." He put up his mean face; daring her to challenge him. 

"I'm going, Kachifoo." She looked over his shoulder at his wife who has been busy with the plates. "Goodnight my wife" She called out.

"Good night," Doris replied. 

She left the man and wife and retired to her part of the house. 

Matthew looked back at his slender wife and blinked furiously, trying to get the tiredness he felt in control. His bones and muscles felt numb at the moment.

He yawned and she looked up at him. 

"You should probably take your advice and go get some rest, you're tired as well" She advised. 

“Probably, but I should help you first. You can't handle this yourself”

"I can. Look I know I'm terrible at cooking but I can definitely handle cleaning, so go, I've got this under control,” She told him as she stacked one empty plate on top of another until they piled up. 

"Are you sure?" He asked, still doubting leaving her alone. 

"Yes I am, it's no big deal.”

"If you say so. I'll go to bed now, join me soon. Okay?" He moved closer to where she stood by the edge of the long table. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead and cheeks before turning to the stairs. 

She stood still and rigid after he left. Probably trying to decipher what just happened.

‘Must be a couple thing?’ She shook the thought off her mind and carried the dirty plates to the kitchen to wash. 

She had insisted on staying up alone so she could try Dorine's number one more time and find out what was happening because she could not imagine herself living this life. 

After she was done with the dishes, she glanced at the square blue wall clock in the large sitting room. 

8:45 pm. It read.

What she must do was try calling Dorine again for the third time since she finished eating.

'The number you dialed is currently switched off, please try again later. Thank you,' came the sound of the machine responding, again for the third time. 

She almost threw the Android phone on the wall. She was frustrated.

'What if Dorine has changed her mind and doesn't want this marriage anymore, then I'll be stuck in it.

What if something has happened to her and she can't make it back?

No. I have to be positive, she might just call with another number.'

She decided to sit down on the plush black leather couch that faced the large television.

Dorine could not ditch her like this, she won't take it.