Chapter Six

They left the house early so they could buy all they needed from the market, and also return in time for the post wedding ceremony. Raphael had mentioned after breakfast; that they were expecting some friends and well-wishers who could not make it to the wedding. They had arranged to come to the mansion to celebrate it and he had no say in it.

Martha decided to stay home and get the house ready for the incoming guests. Matthew and his father left to pick up the ones who do not know their way to the location of the house, while Doris and her mother in-law had to rush off to the market to buy some things.

As expected, Doris wasn't happy with the turn of events. She only planned to get some underwear, which included some panties and bra, but now they have been shopping for almost an hour and a half for things that are irrelevant as far as she was concerned.

"So tell me dear, what did you say you wanted to buy in the market?" Ruth wrapped her expensive yellow lace-like material tightly around her waist, while she carried her broad blue purse in her left hand.

Doris bit her lower lip, rubbed them together and replied, "I wanted to buy um... some... lingerie from a friend of mine who stays at Ikoro lane."

The older woman raised her brows, her small lips formed a knowing smirk in acknowledgement to the younger woman's words. "You should have said so then, maybe I wouldn't have kept you waiting. There's no harm done anyway, I'll just call the driver to come take the bags we have here and then we'll head over to her place. Okay?"

Doris nodded like a zombie. She suddenly regretted telling the woman that, how was she to get out of this one now?

The woman was a hyperactive one, even at her age she has never failed to behave like a younger version of herself.

.

"Wow baby girl! You're looking sweet!" An ebony skin lady gushed loudly from the counter, when she saw Doris walk into the shop. It has been a long time she saw the twins together but she knew about Dorine's wedding, and sadly, could not make it.

Doris' heartbeat changed it's rhythm as she walked closer towards the slim dark lady. If a doctor placed a stethoscope on her chest right now, he would become deaf. She forced a smile on her face in order to erase any suspicions, as Sarah might easily detect that something was amiss.

"How far naa? You didn't even bother to call and ask after me ehh, Sarah? You're not a good friend." She referred to the woman who has already stepped out from the counter in order to hug her.

They embraced for a while and asked questions forth and back, Doris answered every question slowly and after thinking about it carefully. If there was one person in this shop who could distinguish between her and her sister, then that person was currently before her. Sarah has known the twins for a very long time; since they were still in the university to be precise, as they always hung out together during holidays or strike. It was going to be difficult to impersonate her twin now, but thankfully, her mother in-law was nowhere near and would not hear their conversation.

Sarah led her to one of the sections of the most sexy lingerie on display and they exchanged stories while she selected those which caught her interest. It was a good thing she knew her bra size, so fitting them on wasn't time-consuming. She separated the designs she liked from the ones she didn't and left the changing room. There, her mother in-law was chatting and laughing so hard at whatever Sarah was telling her.

Doris shrugged nonchalantly. At least, it did not seem like they knew about her secret yet. She walked to the counter and dropped her choices on the desk for costing, then she started fumbling with her black handbag, for her ATM card.

When she brought it out, she offered the card to the saleslady but her mother in-law stopped her.

"You don't have to do that, not when I'm here," She turned back to the girl punching on the calculator tabs, "How much are these? Please add them to my own bill, I'll pay for them"

She gave her own ATM card and winked at her daughter in-law.

Doris marvelled. This woman is being so sweet and nice to her that she can't stomach the courage to keep lying to her.

"Um...are you Sarah?" Ruth asked Sarah who was on the phone at the moment.

Sarah acknowledged her question with a nod of the head while her lips continued to move with the words she was saying. After a short while, she ended the call and walked towards Ruth and Doris.

"Ma, you called me?"

"Yes. I wanted to let you know that we're celebrating the post-wedding ceremony of your friend's marriage, by three-thirty pm today. Will you be there?"

"By 3:30pm ha! Well," she glanced at her wristwatch "the time is ten minutes to one pm right now, if I can make it I'll let you know."

"Ngwanu, call your friend to inform her of your decision. We will send a driver to pick you up from here."

At the sound of that, Sarah made up her mind to be at the celebration. It was not everyday one got a free ride to a party. She bade the women goodbye and started to attend to other buyers in the shop.

..

The house was rowdy with movement, and decorations round the corner of the house gave it a very vibrant and colourful outlook. The living room was decorated in gold and navy-blue colours, using ribbons, flowers and balloons. The large chandelier sparkled with very bright light that radiated and illuminated the entire room.

Ruth and Doris carried their own bags from all that they shopped, and left the other bags for Tony and Chike to bring into the house. Ruth instructed her daughter in-law to get ready for the party, and also ensure that her husband got dressed as well before she left for her room, to her own husband.

Doris never imagined that getting dolled up for a party could be exhausting and tiring. Her makeup artist was already gushing about how perfect she would look at the party. Her makeup was definitely made to blend in with her outfit. She was going to wear a navy-blue ballgown that had a gold ribbon attached to the stomach, it was to make her stomach more tiny than her hips. The makeup session has been going on for over an hour, yet they were adding more touch to her look. If asked, she'd say she looked flawless; every black spot, freckles and pimples has been thoroughly covered under the layers of foundation and powder.

They made her hair too, then left after taking a couple of selfies with her. She only had to gather morale for the crowd she was going out to meet, other than that, she was set to leave.

A rapt knock on the door had her sitting up straight and glancing again at her reflection in the mirror.

"Come in," She rasped.

At the sound of the door click, a plump, average height, brown-skin woman walked in. She was putting on a black overall gown with nude heels and holding a black pamphlet in her left hand. Ruth had introduced them earlier; she was the event planner for the occasion, Theresa by name.

Theresa stood just a few metres away from her before the door clicked again, indicating that someone else was making an entrance.

Matthew gently closed the door after he came in, then he stood behind Doris and placed his hands on both her shoulders.

"Good thing you're here too Matt, I want to address the both of you." Theresa started.

She gave instructions and briefed them on how to make an entrance to the living room, before all the guests. Afterwards, she congratulated and wished them well before she made her way out of the room.

"You ready?" Matthew asked. He was looking down at Doris who was still seated on the white vanity chair.

She nodded, “I think... yes”

She stood up and was about to leave before he held her wrist, keeping her in same position.

"Wait, I have something for you." He put his right hand into the pocket of his navy-blue senator-shirt and brought out a small black box.

He opened the box to reveal a fable silver diamond pendant.

Doris gasped and widened her eyes in shock. 'How could it be?' she asked inwardly.

"Remember this necklace and what happened on that day?" Matthew studied her reaction very carefully. She did remember what happened on that day and it gave him so much joy.

The pendant he was showing her was similar if not the same pendant they fought over, in a jewellery store, five months ago. She couldn't decipher why he was showing her the pendant, could he have found out the secret and lies she's been telling.

She looked into his brown orbs and got lost in them. His eyes glistened with happiness and pleasure, and she had no idea why.

'Is he not mad at me?'

"I couldn't forget that day, that's why I bought this pendant two months after. I was going to give it to you before our wedding but I guess I couldn't find the courage to. I hope you still like it as much?" He looked as innocent as a young deer. Perhaps it was the fear that she would not like the gift.

She smiled.

He was a very thoughtful person, added to the fact that he was also very handsome. Matthew was a show stopper. His body stature, dimples and drop dead gorgeous smile have always been a feature that greatly distinguished him from the crowd but it seemed that the fact had not occurred to him.

She has not forgotten that day either, what she could not remember was that Matthew was the same guy who had confronted her at the store.

Damn!

She should have made out time to visit her sister and maybe she could have come across Matthew then. Now, her one negligence and mistake was costing her a lot.