Chapter 39

Rhoda's pov

"Mum, we've agreed that the next step now is the introduction ceremony" I say to her immediately i get home from Fred's house

"Of course, that's the normal routine, what else would it be if not t...." I cut her short seeing that it's like she's already talking too much and right now, I'm very tired and she rolls her eyes at me realizing what i just did, i don't mind her rolling her eyes anyway as far as she saves the story for another day.

""Yeah, that's true ..." I continue "so we've agreed that we are to use color white for the introduction ceremony"

"Oh, Nice choice, you guys think sensibly sometimes though "she says nodding her head and i just roll my eyes at her

"We also agreed that we are all having our introduction ceremony together "i say and the look on her face changes as if i said she should divorce her husband.

"Are you guys out of your mind? I really don't think you guys were sensible in that aspect of choice"

"But mum...it would reduce cost, reduce stress and reduce......"she cuts me short immediately

"Reduce time, yeah, or don't you know that it would make the time intended for the occasion shorter"

"But that's no big deal mum, at least  it's not like introducing themselves is gonna take all that long,"

"Okay then, let's do it that way if that's what you guys want, at least it's not like I'm the one celebrating here , it's your choice to make so anything you say , i agree with you "

"Thanks mum" I say as I stand up to hug her , "but they said that it's the parents that are gonna be choosing the date so i really don't have an idea how that's gonna happen anyway but if feel it's best you guys just  come together"

"Like a pre introduction or what ..you guys are very funny , don't you know that it's the wife's family that chooses the date of the introduction ceremony  she says and starts laughing and i feel my cheeks redden.

"In that case, I think it's better then, you and Kira's mum, thank God she's even your friend before and  you know Bessie's mum quite alright thereby making things easier " i quickly say to stop her from laughing.

"Oh. Okay dear "she says still smiling

"And one last thing." I say with a stern face "dad must be there"

"Sure sweetie, he doesn't have a choice in that matter, he has to come, in fact he has to come a day before the occasion

"Better "i say as the door opens with Richie stepping in, this time around not putting on white, so unusual of him

"I hope i am not intruding anything here "he says after greeting my mum, bowing his head and all those formalities i consider unnecessary

"Oh, nothing at all" my mum says and leaves the living room with a mischievous smile plastered on her face and i can't help but laugh after she left , Richard doesn't bother asking why because it's obvious already.

"So why aren't you putting on white clothes today?" I ask him smiling

"Like I knew that you were gonna ask , anyways i just felt like being unique today , or better still i just felt like dressing differently today , nothing special" he replies smiling as well

"Get dressed , I'm taking you somewhere " he says and i scan my dressing , a black tank top, blue jeans , and a black face cap that i removed and dropped on the couch a while ago , i quickly pick it up and place it on my head

"I don't think i need to dress again .I'm good to go, my hair is brushed already , but let me just get my trainers from my room and a jacket "

"Oh. Okay do that fast then "he says and in less than two minutes we are heading out in the car already.

"So where are we headed " i ask already feeling a little impatient as i am not familiar with the roads at all

"It's meant to be a surprise but i think it's better i tell you "he says and pauses while i continue probing him with my eyes "okay then, you wanna know?"

"Of course, if not i wouldn't have asked "i say rolling my eyes at him

"Okay then, my mum asked me to bring my fiancée home , so we are going to where i lived before i got my apartment" he says and i immediately start freaking out

"Holy fuck, why didn't you tell me that earlier, i would have dressed in a better way than this "i say and mentally thank God that i picked up this blue jacket

"So what would you have worn had it been i told you earlier, a suit or what? "He says and laugh as i hit him on the shoulders "And was that supposed to hurt? "He asks still laughing and i join him only to remember that the way they greet is different .

"How am i gonna greet her when i get there "i ask him panicking again

"Don't worry about the greeting, i already told her that you are a white and that you can neither hear nor speak the native language"

"And who gave you the permission to divulge personal information about me?"

"Sorry ma, madam privacy "he replies sarcastically and I hit him again , this time harder that i myself know that it really did hurt and i had a good laugh.

"Here we are my princess "he says after about 10 minutes' drive and comes down to open the door for me to alight. The house is a 'wow', it's like a palace, even from the exterior and immediately i remember that I'm coming to meet with his mum for the first time, i feel goose pimples all over my body, if not for the fact that Richard is holding me, i would probably have fallen down already as my legs now feel like jelly.

"Don't be scared babe , i promise you she doesn't bite, i can literally hear your heart beat from here " he says and i just smile trying to convince him that I'm not all that scared even though i know that I'm more scared than he's thinking i am.

On getting into his house, it's equally as exquisitely furnished as the exterior part, even a bit more in fact and he leads me to a seat and almost immediately his mum comes in and i stand up to greet her , he prostrates instead, i actually thought of doing the same but i don't think it's the wise thing to do as he already told me not to do anything earlier

'Good afternoon ma'am "i say bowing my head as Richard does whenever he's greeting my mum

"Good evening my daughter, how is everything, how's mum and dad?"

"They are all fine ma'am" I answer her taking my seat as she already did that earlier

"My son always talked about you, you are Rhoda right "

"Yes ma" i answer and for a second i think that maybe I'm part of the numerous others who he talks about, for her to ask me questions like that.

"Ever since I've known this boy, I think he already told you that I'm not his biological mother right?" She asks and i nod in the affirmative. "I've not seen him with a lady before , not even a girlfriend so when he mentioned it to me that he proposed to a lady , i was overjoyed and couldn't wait to see you, his father also wants to see you but because of work , i hope you understand that he himself took the day off work , i also work as well but i don't mind even spending a week without going to work as far as I'm spending it with  my daughter in law " she says and i laughed so hard that the sides of my stomach ached.

"When Richard told me that his wife was white , i never knew you were gonna be a total white like white even up to your accent , i thought that you were just gonna be fair complexioned like you are " she says again and we all continue laughing as their maid brings in some drinks and snacks

"I'm really glad that your mum liked me "i said to Richard when we already got into the car on our way back home

"That's an understatement Rhodie , she loved you immediately she set her eyes on you " he says and i laugh in pure excitement.