Date of happiness

Chapter 2

Terence Delors arrived in Yamoussoukro with a feeling of latent joy and gaiety. He told himself that in a month, he was going to conquer this city that he did not really know. Before leaving for France, he had certainly visited the Notre Dame de la Paix basilica, but he had not had the opportunity to familiarize himself with the place.

Ourdraogo, the family driver, had come to pick him up at the bus station of his uncle's Peugeot 607 and went to the superb Triplex villa. The Ibitowas were consus of gold. Celestin was an eminent businessman and his wife Cecilia was founded in power in a bank in yamoussoukro.

Their house, in a very modern style, had all its facades tiled and the floor inside all in marble. The living room was large and consisted of several lounges. The high, stuccoed ceiling had chandeliers with glowing reflections. The walls were decorated with tapestries and canvases by great Ivorian painters.

Terence Delors loved this very traditional side of his uncle. The latter, although before long lived in Europe, was very close to African customs and values. Whenever he had the opportunity, his actions tended to perpetuate the culture of his origins. And it was also felt in the decor of his house. One of the living rooms was entirely furnished in rattan with cousins covered with baoule(ivorian tribe) loincloths.

Celestin, his wife and their children were lounging on the back terrace overlooking the swimming pool. The Ibitowa children were four in number: Cesaria the eldest thirteen years old, celestial who was entering her tenth year, Celine, seven years old and finally Cedric, the youngest child who would be celebrating his first spring.

It was following the birth of his son that Celestin, who despaired of having only daughters, legally married Cecilia. The birth of the heir he so desired had filled the wealthy businessman with joy.

Celestin was very fond of his nephew and showed obvious pleasure when he saw him.

- Here, son, you've arrived! He cried with a hint of joy in his voice.

- How could it be otherwise, uncle? For once you need me, I won't miss you! Fit d

Terence Delors.

He warmly squeezed the hand his uncle held out to him and kissed his aunt and her cousins Cecilia also felt sympathy for him. She liked his slightly precious manners and said he had good interpersonal skills.

The traveler settled in and was served refreshment while his uncle asked for news and got into the nitty-gritty.

- We take the plane tomorrow at 8 pm and we will therefore have to be in Abidjan already at the beginning of the afternoon. As I told you over the phone, Ouédraogo, who is my trusted man, also goes on vacation to his home in Burkina Faso. You will therefore be the master of the house and you will have an eye on everything ... Find opportunities to take the children out; I had planned to take them with us as usual, but this time, I want to be alone with my wife, I'm a newly married son! ... You will be accompanied by Affouet, their new nanny. She's a cousin of Akissi, the one we've had for almost ten years ... And who's on maternity leave ... Hey, here is Affouet!

"When we speak of the wolf, we see its tail", thought Terence Delors, raising her eyes to the so-called Affouet. He was shocked when his gaze fell on the young woman and he was speechless. She was a young woman of about twenty-five with a face fashioned from the purest oval. She had large almond-shaped eyes and a small heart-shaped mouth. Tall with a slim waist and a goddess drop that her nanny smock couldn't hide, there emanated from her an impression of indefinable charm, something refined, elevated and pure at the same time. ..

Affouet took Cedric out of the stroller and began to give him his bottle, which she went to get when Terence Delors arrived. On observing him more closely, the latter experienced a singular disturbance and felt his pulse accelerate. It was then that his uncle's voice pulled him out of his contemplation.

- Affouet, this is Terence, my nephew; it is he who will keep the house in our absence! He will accompany you, the children and you, in all your travels; its impressive shoulders will guarantee your safety!

When the young woman looked up at the man her boss introduced her to, she was struck by his great beauty and manly charm. He looked exactly like Prince Charming, who in his teenage dreams visited him ... He took her by the hand, they went out arm in arm for a long walk in the woods ... Then they danced to the sound of soft music, a hymn to the love that the birds sang in the trees ... Then he brought her back to his room by the window and put his lips on his ... She would wake up always at this moment, the beating heart. Although less often, she still had this dream and was still waiting for her prince ... Great God, would her wait finally be crowned with glory?

Her boss' voice brought her back to reality as well.

- There, son, I think everything is said! I give you carte blanche to manage everything as you see fit! But I don't want you to go out, or bring any girls home! Consider your stay here as a green trip because you have to be fresh and fit when you start working! His uncle said in his reply.

Cesaria chuckled. Both mischievous and endowed with a very precose mind, she had perfectly understood the meaning of her father's words.

- We must give good examples to this young lady! Celestin Ibitowa said, pointing to his eldest daughter.

- Which provoked the laughter of his wife and that of Cesaria.

- I'm not very keen on these things, uncle, Terence Delors lied, bursting out laughing himself.

- I hope you're telling the truth! Either way, the walls have ears here and I travel leaving my ears behind!