“Ugh, Ademi!” A woman in her early fifties sighed. Tasting the soup on the low-burning gas, she covered the pot and strolled to her husband. “Look at how old we have become. Can we learn from my elder sister, Bosede, and hire a young maid? She’ll be helpful, you know.” she was at the gas ring, preparing breakfast in her kitchen while her husband, Adeshina, who was in a simple T-shirt and trousers, mopped the floor.

He halted a bit and watched his wife with a frown on his face. “Are you insinuating that I take a second wife?”

Hadassah turned to her husband, seeking some reassurance, but to find none. “No, it’s not that. We just need a helping hand.” Her breath caught as the gravity of the situation sank in.

“I just retired and Ore is going for his Ph.D. in Canada. Would we use leaves and stones to sponsor his education? We’re lucky the scholarship board will cover his allowance fee. Yet, we’re still going to swim in an ocean of debt so, forget about having an extra hand, my dear.” Adeshina finalized. “You should save some money, too.”

“They must be here, come in dear..” Ore entered with two big polythene bags at hand. A big smile plastered his face as his voice heightened. “Hello mum, hi dad.”

“What are those?” Hadassah showed concern after receiving a welcome hug from her son, Ore.

“Grace bought you some new sportswear and sneakers.” He placed the luggage on the ground and the other on the breakfast bar.

“How do you know my size?”

“Come on, mum, I’m your son.” Ore reminded his mum, and she gushed at his response.

“Oh... I see.” Hadassah blushed once again, checking out the clothes with excitement.

Watching the one-in-a-million-dollar smile on Grace's face made Shina’s frown tighten.

“Hello, sir.” She greeted him once their eyes met. She briefly knelt and rose back to her heels. “Good morning.”

“I see you’re doing great at robbing off my son’s money. Don’t act like a good wife now, because I know you well enough.” Shina muttered, continuing his mopping.

“Dad!” Ore interfered with a scowl on his face. “Grace willingly paid for everything. Where will I get the money to lavish on such goods? Grace is supportive of us right now. You should thank her for that.”

“Hmmm...” He exhaled noisily through pursed lips, glancing at the outfit she had bought for them. “This must be for me, right?”

Grace pressed a small smile on her face, but he replied to her with another scowl. “Who wears a white jersey on black sneakers? It’s not as if I’m a child, these are not my sense of style,” he said to her face, but Grace pretended not to hear his last words.

“Ma, let me help you do the dishes.” Grace moved closer to Ore’s mum. Hoping to end the awkward stares.

“No, thanks.” Hadassah bowed politely with a wide smile.

“It’s okay. Ore can do the dishes, Grace.” He called to his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, and she gazed up at him.

“Come, let’s have a little father and daughter talk in the dining room.” Shina’s nose wrinkled in his quizzical smile.

Along with Grace, they stepped to the dining table. She served him a cup of water and sat in form for him, reciting silent prayers. Shina had always been tough even to his son, Ore. They would have been a couple if not for his interference now and then. But deep down, Grace knew that he was doing this just to get the best for his only child, Oreloluwa.

“Grace.” Shina broke the silence and Grace bowed her head to his gaze. “I know you’ve been working to be with Ore over the years and I’ve been indeed too harsh on you.” He sounded rather calm, to how intense his words usually were.

Grace's lips pulled into a tight smile, gulping a chunk of spittle like a bitter pill. She just wanted to be the best for Ore.

And his family.

“Since fate has brought us together as a family, let's forget about the past, alright?” Shina's cheek lifted to a smile.

A sudden jolt of surprise left Grace reeling, like a punch to her gut.  Her mind went blank as a shock of electricity shot through her body. Grace shut her eyes briefly and nodded in agreement with Shina’s words. “Yes, sir. I’m honored to be acknowledged by you. Sir, I have fallen short of your expectations in many areas. And I promise I’ll build on myself and make you and your son proud.”

“Good girl.” He took a sip from his cup of water and looked up, returning the cup to the table. A fulfilled smirk sat firmly across his broad face. “I don’t have to worry. I know you’ll do well by Ore’s side.”

“I might be an overprotective father, which is rare but don’t blame me. I have my reasons. It’s no news that my son, Ore, has been doing great even as a child. I’ve seen him take first place in schools, bring home awards, and now, he’s the best-graduating student of PLASU where he studied Design and Business Management.”

Ore, who was helping his mum in the kitchen, turned towards the dining room for concern. He was aware that his dad possessed a cutting tongue and was undoubtedly talking about him. “It’s not as if we’re exactly rich but, if we play well by Ore, he will definitely achieve success.” His Mum and I have sacrificed a lot to see Ore prosper, these might all be a puzzle to you now. If you’re smart enough, I believe that you’ll understand, eventually.”

For the first time, Grace lifted her eye to his, hoping he was telling the truth. But his fake smile turned to a frown the next minute. 

If there was anything Grace ever wanted from Shina, it was to know why he was so protective of his son. She thought he hated her so much for being an orphan. Having no decent parenting like other girls, he would have wanted his son to date or marry.

“Since Ore loves you so much, there’s little I can do to stop him. I’ve always wanted him to at least date a decent Yoruba girl, but he chooses you. I just want to say, after you get married, take care of him the way I would. After all, Canada is far. And I won’t be able to put an eye on him over there.”

Grace's hopeful eyes focused on Shina with seriousness. “What? Canada? Who’s going to Canada?” she gasped in quick pace.

Hearing Canada. Ore rinsed the last plate and hurried out of the kitchen.

“Ore’s university awards him a two-year scholarship for his Ph.D. programme in a design institute in Canada. It would last for 2 years.” Shina explained.

Lost in thought, Grace found it difficult to believe. ‘Was Ore really hiding things from her?’ She doubted his love once more.

“Grace.” Ore shrieked as he walked up to her from behind. “What are you two talking about for so long?” Grace noticed the anxiousness in his voice but held back her emotions.

“The food is ready. Please, let’s have breakfast.” He swiftly changed the topic.

“Oreloluwa!” Shina scolded his son. “You haven’t told your fiancee about your scholarship?”

“I haven’t got time to tell her, Dad. I wanted to do it today.” He muttered nervously and grabbed her by the arm. “Come on, Grace. I’ll tell you everything as I walk you home.”

She jolted angrily and jumped out of the seat. “You didn’t have time to tell me, or you don’t want to tell me?”

Shina coughed just to distract them. He saw the look on Grace’s face and he hated it. ‘How would she scorn his son in his presence?’ He found that rather disrespectful. ‘Ore will marry Grace soon, and she needs to respect him with her all.’

“Mind your attitude, young lady! You’re still in front of me. And perhaps, what’s wrong with forgetting little things? Anyway, count yourself lucky that his going to take you to Canada. If not, he begged me to prepare your traveling visa. I wonder who in your family could step into an airplane. Oh, I forgot, you don’t have a family.”

“Dad!” Ore screeched, “Please!”

“Don’t dad me when I’m speaking, ore!” Shina fired at his son. “It’s not as if I’m lying. Or do you know any of her relatives? Where would you have found an opportunity to leave Nigeria, Grace?” he pressed, facing her.

“But, sir. I don’t want to leave Nigeria.”

“What?” Her discussion made him gasp.

“How can you decide that in a blink? Who will care for Ore if you’re not by his side?”

“Don’t be offended, Mr. Clifford, but I have my job, too.” She emphasized. “I just got promoted as a full-time schoolteacher. I’m also the new assistant headteacher of Ability Nursery and Primary School.”

“Jesus Christ! This girl won’t kill me, a class teacher?” Shina tapped his forehead and rolled his eyes inward before landing them on her. “Is that even an ambition?”

“I love my job and it’s no joke to me.”

“It's comparable to the work of a maid and not as significant as Ore's scholarship. After his study abroad, my son would get a befitting job from multi-billionaire companies around the world. Think about it for a minute and stop pestering me about how much you love your teaching job. Plus, it’s a private school which they can fire tomorrow. What do you do when you become jobless? Do you have savings to sustain the both of you?”

Grace felt a clutch of fear as her racing heart seized. “Sir, it’s not about who’s job is important, it’s about following one’s passion.” Facing Mr. Clifford was no play, but she had to.

To break the chain of the mentality that she’s foolish and of no good.

Ore, trying to stop the argument, watched Grace disagree with his dad. She sure has a tough side inside her skinny body, and both of them were hot-tempered. Especially his dad.

He knew that.

“If not for Ore’s scholarship to Canada, I wouldn’t have agreed that he marries you.” Icy fingers of outrage brushed against Shina’s neck as he forced his words at her. “You should better consider what you say, young lady. There are fishes in the sea!”

Fear rushes over Grace, a dark suffocating wave engulfs her. Her legs weakened as a sweat line dripped between them from her back. This was getting unbearable. She couldn’t stand it. “Ore...” Her tear-coated eyes met with her fiance, and he glimpsed away with bitter lips. Swallowing down the remaining pride left in him.

“How could you do this to me?” A solemn tear balled down Grace's eyes. She picked up her handbag from the dining table and rushed out without looking at their faces.

“No, my love! I can escape” Ore almost bolted through the door when his dad ordered him with his most authoritative tone.

“Come back here!”

Ore halted for a second and turned back to his father. Pissed.

“Just stay out of my life, Dad! Can you?”

He opened the door and banged it on his father's stunned face, which was exactly that of a statue. Ore never uttered such words, let alone directed them to him. Watching them from the kitchen, Hadassah nodded as her head dropped in disappointment. Even she can’t change her husband’s mind if it’s made up. With a clouded mind, Hadassah walked to the dining table to serve breakfast.

“Well, that small girl has such a bad temper. Any other girl would jump to the idea of traveling out, but it annoyed Grace. Isn’t she a bad influence?” he murmured and gently sank into the dining chair.

Once Grace got out, she bent, healing on her head as her heart raced a hundred times per second. She let out the tangled mass of anxiety in her buckled chest with soft breaths.

‘I can’t believe Ore proposed just to make me his maid and not to love me.’ She doubted him for the first time. With the way Shina spoke, it sounded as if he had someone else for his son. She hated the situation he placed her in.

“Why did you leave like that, Grace?”

Immediately she noticed Ore's presence, Grace wiped out the lingering tears. She hated him to see her weak. “I don’t understand why you still keep secrets from me, at this stage of our relationship, Ore!”

Ore placed his arm around her shoulder. His eyes danced towards hers as if to kiss her, but she pulled away from his clasp.

An okada stopped right behind her and she limped on it, giving Ore no time to stop her.

“I’ll text you later,” Ore said. His voice, shivering, yet promising. He chewed on his lips briefly and watched her jolt away.

“Greet Adanna for me!” He cried until the motorcycle left his view. Ore needed to explain himself better to Grace, but first, he had to speak with his Dad, even though it made little or no change.

Author's Note!

Hello wonderful readers! I was excited to update this chapter and couldn't wait for tomorrow (Friday), so bear with me. What would you do if you were in Grace's shoes? Would you walk out of the relationship? Do you think Shina was fair in making certain rules in his son's life? As Nigerians, these things happen in some families... You won't know until you meet your boyfriend's/ husband's family. In Grace's case, she was willing to accept and endure. Can you do the same for your man? What do you think Ore's reply should be? Bombard me with tons of comments on this chapter, please. Thanks for reading. Hopefully, I'll update tomorrow. 
Till then, bye!