Two Princes and a choice

Chapter Twelve

Tan wasn’t sure whether he wants to go back to Oduduwa. He knows he should but he was holding back. He knows when he goes back he will lose his freedom become a chained man to responsibilities, for example getting engaged to Aisha and in a few years’ time marry her. She wasn’t that bad but he wasn’t sure if he wants to marry her. Being in USA for three years had made him addicted to being free no responsibilities and he doesn’t want that to end.

But still he has to be in Lagos in three days’ time. He wanted to see his mum and dad; he has missed them a lot and his half-brother wherever he was.

Jonathan his friend was ranting on about sexy girls and parties. Parties, sexy girls and drugs are part and parcel of Jonathan’s life. Tan had been to one of those parties and it was nothing to write home about. s*x, drinking to stupor and wild dancing. Tan had become nauseous and called a cab from himself. Jonathan had teased him called him a chicken. It was okay to be a chicken when it comes to that at least then he wouldn’t lose his head and wouldn’t disappoint his father.

James Williams, supreme king of Oduduwa, nicest father on earth. Though he wasn’t so nice when he had chosen a bride for him, even though it was his mum’s idea, he too participated in it. He had vowed not to ever cross him. He heard about Waldorf and was a little bit sad. He doesn’t know Waldorf that much but he knows his father and he were close. The man must be through some mourning period now.

Make up your mind Tan do you want to go or stay? He tapped his pencil on his spiral bound book. Go. His mind decided and he agreed.

Anna was thankful that this loud mouth boor did not come into her place of work to shout on her he had chosen the street instead. The loud mouth boor was Mr Akintunde her landlord and the reason why he was shouting was that they owed three months’ rent. The man had been on her husband’s neck for a while now and had now transferred to her own neck, sometimes he picks on Hayley too.

Of all insufferable pompous….. He is now lecturing her on how he built the house from scratch about honesty. She groaned inwardly. Please leave she thought.

When he was through with his lecture she calmly said. ’Mr Akintunde, I know we are behind in our rent payment – ‘

‘Far behind,’ he pointed out.

‘Far behind in our rent payment but John and I are trying the hardest we can to meet up with it. Please give us more time.’

‘Two weeks that’s all you get and if my money is not ready by then you are going to be thrown out.’ He said and huffed away.

Anna felt relief and sadness mixed together. The bill was twenty thousand Pounds but they do not have up to that amount now. But she had written to her niece who was married to a rich school principal for help and she was positive she will come to their aid. But her landlord was stingy and his rent expensive. A friend of hers told her that her landlord collects 500 Pounds a week that’s 2000 Pounds per month and his was almost 8000 per month.

Sighing she went home.

When Hayley left the palace, her first thought was to go back to the restaurant but she thought about what the king had said and decided to take a day off today she had two more jobs to go to but she wouldn’t today and probably tomorrow. The king being his usual nice self-had asked a driver to take her home in the same limo. She felt sleepy in the car but kept her eyes open. The car stopped in front of the flat block where her home was. She got down bade the man by and entered the place unaware of people staring.

Anna had left the key in the hibiscus plant outside. She had to dig through one feet of dirt to find it. Wiping it one her apron she unlocked the door and entered. Placing the key on the centre table she went into her room, untied the apron balled and threw it into the empty laundry bin. She placed the box on the bedside table, took off her shoes and fell on in bed in a few moments she was asleep.

Anna found her daughter asleep when she returned home. She was curled up on the bed. It was surprising to her to see Hayley asleep when usually she would be up and about. It pleased her too, seeing her finally rest. For months she had watched her working so hard and getting thinner and more fatigued each passing day, becoming frailer. She had tried to stop her from working so hard and so did her father but the girl was as stubborn as two donkeys pulling in the opposite direction.

Anna was angry at herself for failing as a mother, when Hayley had said she wanted to take up a part time job five years ago she should have stopped her but she didn’t she hadn’t agreed completely but had let her. Now her precious daughter was like a rake.

She held the girl’s hand and blinked back tears; she was just flesh and bone. She used to be a slender girl, healthy and well looking. She should have stopped her but arguing with her was hopeless, and to be honest the money she had earned all over those years had been used for their purpose. She hadn’t complained as the girl poured more and more of her earnings into her laps or said a word when she had virtually took up their responsibilities. Her weekly earnings was almost the same as her monthly salary and she had revelled in that happy that money was coming in to pay up debt and buy new things. She had tried to begin a business, selling clothes but was duped and lost 50 thousand Pounds all Hayley’s earnings. Her precious daughter had ten part time jobs. Ten jobs!

Anna looked about. Drawings were on the walls in wooden frames. Her daughter’s creations, she took pride in her work and sold some for money about two years ago. Books were stacked high on shelves. Hayley was book crazy that’s what she used money to buy books and books. She and her father had made shelves in the living room and all was crammed full with books.

Her eyes fell on the box on the bedside table. It looked like a gift box with its red ribbon. Who had given her that? Could it have been from the palace? John had called her earlier today and told her Hayley was in the palace. She had been shocked. What does his majesty want with her? She picked up the box untied the ribbon and took off the lid. She gasped at what she saw, her eyes rounding in delight and amazement. Salvation! She thought.

Diamonds! Sparkling glittering expensive diamonds! It was a parure, necklace earring bracelet and ring. Beautiful! It would worth a million or more. The first thing that came to her mind was to sell it. They would pay off their landlord, she would quit her job and John also, and Hayley would not need to work ever again. They would buy a house, she would start a business and John too and they’ll be well off. But wait…. Something slipped in. What if Hayley doesn’t want to sell it? If it was the king that gave her she wouldn’t want to sell it. She would want to keep it, treasure it. But if they sell it will be for their own good.

No stop it, it was for Hayley and she will make the decision. She averted her eyes, replaced the lid and tied the ribbon back on it and tentatively placed it back on the table. She looked back at Hayley; a smile curved her lips, a content smile. Okay Hayley, it will be your will. She held her hand. I will prepare a big meal for you, she decided.

Anna sat there for some moments holding her hand in hers before she stood up and prepared a list of things to buy at the market, ingredients for Hayley’s favourite food, roasted plantain with grilled fish and white rice.

The delicious aroma of grilling fish greeted his nose as he entered the house. John sniffed the air appreciatively and his mouth watered. He knew what was cooking; it had been long since he had tasted that particular meal. He shut the door beside him and entered. Anna was behind the stove stirring soup thick with chunks of mutton. His nostrils tingled.

Anna was looking like she had when they had met twenty years ago, she was nineteen then and it was her cooking that drew her to him. He walked up to her and kissed her neck, nuzzling it.

‘Stop it,’ she said giggling.

His hand came up just below her breasts, ‘Why?’ he whispered into her ear.

She giggled. ‘Stop it,’ she chided.

He obliged and leaned against the sink watching her.

‘I encountered our landlord earlier today,’ she told him.

John’s smile dropped.

‘He told us we have two weeks more and I’ve written to Taiwo for help and there is another thing.’ She told him about the diamonds set she had seen.

John was as shocked, surprised and as amazed as Anna had been when she had seen it. Thank God for such a king like him. His own first thought was also to sell it but he banished the thought. Such a gift is supposed to be treasured and kept passed down.

‘I think we should sell it but ask for Hayley opinion first,’ she advised.

John shrugged knowing his daughter well the girl will never agree to sell it and it was pointless arguing with her. She was a lawyer from birth! He thought about it. The thought of having a set of expensive jewellery in the house was overwhelming.

‘Food is almost ready; I’ll set the plate so go and wake Hayley.’ She told him.

John’s head snapped up, ‘Hayley’s home?’

Anna nodded. ‘I found her asleep when I got home, seems like she decided to take a day off to rest. She really needs it and one day we could spend the day together like we used to.’

John remembered those times, Hayley a sweet girl of three dashing about on the sandy beach her dress flapping about her small legs. He went to his daughter’s bedroom; she was in her usual sleeping position curled up like a foetus. He clearly remembered the day she was born. So small she fitted into his both hands joined together, a lovely young healthy baby. She was so pretty that it brought tears to his eyes; from that day it was clear that she would be stubborn by the way her chin lifted up defying things he could not possibly imagine, the way her lips budded into pout and her hand fisted.

She was as pretty as then, even prettier blossoming into a young woman. But she was thin and fatigued. Delicate as if a simple touch would break her, fragile but stubborn nonetheless. She was all grown up now not the baby that once fitted into his hand but still his fierce little girl, ever defiant to the odds of life.

‘Hayley,’ he whispered gently shaking her.

She sighed and moved and came awake. Her eyes were glazed, ‘dad?’ she whispered.

‘Honey, stand up food is ready. Go wash your face and come.’ He instructed.

She sat up nodding in understanding and then threw her arms around his neck. He was moved to tears. ‘I was invited to the palace, the king said thank you to me and gave me a gift though I’ve not checked what it is yet.’ She said against his neck, her voice a little thick.

‘I know honey, now go and wash your face, dinner is almost ready.’

She released him. ‘What is it?’

‘Your favourite,’ he told her and she smiled.

She slid off the bed as he rose to leave, padded to the bathroom and washed her face vigourously with a bar of soap and cold water. Her head cleared and she remembered the box on her bedside table. Wiping her face with a towel she took the box to the dining area, they had set out the dishes. She knelt to greet her mother and father and then placed the box on the linen covered table.

‘The king gave me this,’ she informed them.

‘Oh really? That’s very kind of him’ Anna said. ‘Open it then,’ she urged.

Hayley untied the ribbon and opened the box. Her eyes widened at sight of the diamonds. ‘It’s – it’s – ‘she was lost for words.

‘Diamonds,’ Anna exclaimed.

‘Beautiful!’ Hayley said more than touched at his majesty’s kind gesture. It was simply too much and it brought tears to her eyes. She couldn’t imagine he could ever give her diamonds in her wildest dreams.

‘It’s salvation, we have to sell it don’t you think John we would pay off the house rent and be well off.’ Her mother was saying.

Her head snapped back. Sell? Sell it? She wouldn’t, can’t even. ‘No,’ she said out loud.

‘Hayley - ‘Anna began.

Hayley shook her head vigourously. ‘No mum, I’m not selling it.’

Anna looked at John for support but he looked away. He preferred to be the spectator in this event. Anna looked away when it was clear that there will be no support for her from him.

‘Hayley, think about what we can use the money to do.’ This wasn’t coming out right, she had wanted to go along with what her daughter said but seeing the diamonds again change her thinking. ‘If we sell it we could be well off we won’t have to work again. Think about it.’ she urged.

‘I’ve thought about it mum and I’m not selling it,’ she insisted.

‘Hayley, we are way behind our rent, the landlord is threatening to chase us out if we don’t pay up in two weeks’ time,’ her voice rose an octave.

‘I’ll work extra, take more jobs to clear that but I’m not selling them,’ she firmly insisted.

Anna started to say something but decided to say nothing. It was hopeless to argue with her when she was like this. She sighed.

John decided to intervene at this point. He cleared his throat ‘We should eat.’

Hayley was sure the food was delicious but she couldn’t taste it not with her mum staring at her like she was the worst daughter ever, so she settled for pushing the food around her plate answering her dad’s questions with short replies. She could tell what her mum was thinking. Selfish girl, of all we have done for her she has the guts to tell me no. She wished her mum could see it the way she do. It is priceless and to her view not to be sold but cherished. The king gave her as a gift and she intended to keep it. Can’t her mother see it in her way?

The silence was getting unbearable. She cleared her throat and pushed her chair back. ‘I’ll eat in my room,’ she told them and picked up her plate. No one said anything her mother glared at her plate instead.

‘Come on Anna, stop it’ John said when Hayley’s bedroom closed.

Anna sighed ‘I just want the best for her, she deserves it. You see how she looks, she works so hard and if she keeps it up for long she’ll fall sick.’

‘She’s happy.’

‘Happiness won’t give her rest or make her healthy and plump.’ She pointed out.

‘No, but it gives her peace of mind and rest.’

Anna sighed and shook her head.

‘Look at it her way Anna,’ he reached across the table to hold her hand. ‘She has grown up so well. Let her have what she wants.’

‘What about what she needs?’ Anna argued. ‘And what she needs is to be comfortable.’

‘We have a happy child honest, a child we can be proud off. Why should we compromise that? Isn’t that all that matters.’ He stroked her hand. ‘Please.’ He begged.

‘Okay, but what about the house rents? The debts? We need money, real money to settle those.’

‘Don’t worry, we’ll cross that river and you can go to your niece for help.’

‘Okay,’ she conceded.

The first thing that crept to Hayley’s mind as she closed the door behind her was one of the tales in Chaucer’s Canterbury tales. The tale of the three men in search for death and found golden florins, the greed and killing each other at last, by poisoning and knifing. And thinking of it, they are three in number, the diamonds represents the florins. God knows what will happen next.

Sighing, she dumped the plate on the bedside table, plopped on the bed and picked up her cell. She switched it on. Message flooded in all from Darryl. She read all of them. He just wanted to know where she was. She logged into her SNS account and put in a new status. The Chaucer’s tale of golden florins and death is coming through and funny in my family. I think I have to lock my door and sleep with a knife under my pillow( advice pls. She entered the Muses’ chat room

Responses came in quick all from her other eight friends. Hayley was part of the group which they all call MUSES. Lois had found out the name in one of her fantasy books and since the others are familiar with the name they had agreed to it. Sharon had said since they are nine and all girls it is appropriate Cat had said it stands for M.U.S.E.S Must You Say Everything Silly. Diane had snorted and said it was YOU not U but Cat had said that her you was u.

They had formed that group when they had found another at the age of nine. Nana the oldest, was three years older but that didn’t stop their friendship with her they all look at her like an elder sister. Before they became the muses they were just friends of their friends. Allyson was her friend who was friend with an Arewan Isabella. She got to know her when she came to Ibadan with her friends Lois an Oduduwan and Nana a Biafran. Nana knew Diane and Hibiscus both Oduduwan and had in turn invited them, Hibiscus in turn knew Cat and Diane knew Sharon and they had both invited them.

They had all met then and taken to one another. They had sworn to be friends forever drew a pact anyone who had seen them then would have said it was just child play but they had taken it seriously and had gotten one another’s contact before they separated again.

All of the muses are half caste or quarter caste or have an ounce of foreign blood in them. Diane Cat and Lois are partly Egyptian; Allyson’s father was a Fulani bororo, Isabella’s great grandfather was a Gambian Hibiscus was partly South African, Nana was partly German partly Sierra Leona and partly Biafran traits she had gotten from her grandfather a German, her grandmother who was from Sierra Leone and her mother a Biafran. Hayley’s great great grandfather from her father’s side was Senegalese and her grandfather from her mother’s side was from Togo. Sharon was partly British. And they all had different talents.

Hayley could draw and can act really well; Diane is an accomplished writer, Cat could draw, Allyson could design and make clothes, Nana a craftswoman, Lois a dancer, Hibiscus a potter, Sharon a painter and Isabella could sculpt really well.

GROUP CHAT

* CHAT STARTED. PRESS MENU TO

SEND A MESSAGE OR SEE PROFILE .

Di: do you really mean that?

I-s-a-bell: are your parents fighting because of money? You don’t use Chaucer’s or Shakespeare’s expressions for nothing.

Holly: but your parents hardly argue not to talk of fighting.

Shar: yeah, perfect marriage going bye-bye.

Hibby: Shar don’t be mean

Na-na: if you have something your parents wants give them

Shar: what is it?

Rainy: our king gave me a diamond parure today.

Hibby: diamonds? Wow!

Kat: what’s a parure?

Musketeer: a set of diamonds bird brain.

Kat: I’m not bird brain (

Na-na: that’s really kind of him I doubt our president over here could do such a thing.

Kat: you must have done some noble work, tell us.

Di: she will tell us later.

Holly: yeah go on Hayley what happened?

Rainy: my mum is kinda insistent that I sell it for our sake, and her arguments are quite substantial. The rent is way due and the landlord is threatening us with eviction, we have many debts needed to be paid so in all logical reason we have to sell it.

Hibby: and you being who you are refuse too, figures.

I-s-a-bell: you could close your eyes and do it; it is simpler that way all you could do is mourn for sometimes.

Di: Isabel that’s really refreshing.

Shar: go ahead and keep it I say you’ve suffered enough for them it’s your right. It’s yours keep it.

Musketeer: easy for you to say you’re a rich kid.

Holly: there’s nothing bad in her offering her advice.

Di: Sharon I know you think all parents are jerks but they aren’t.

Shar: really? I did not know that.

Kat: take my parents for an example.

Shar: I rest my case.

I-s-a-bell: what did your dad say about it?

Rainy: nothing he was kinda sitting on the fence in the matter, so what should I do? I hate seeing them arguing with me or each other.

Holly: you are lucky to have good parents if it hurts you to see them angry and you know the only way to restore that is selling the diamonds then do it.

Shar: that’s relinquishing her rights.

Hibby: aren’t you a Christian Sharon?

Shar: since when does that have to do with this?

Musketeer: what you’re saying is not right.

Shar: I’m being logical what does that have to do with Christianity?

Hibby: is the bible ever logical, it says respecting your parents is the only way to life and you must do that.

Shar: since when did you become a saint Hibiscus?’

Hibby: I’m not but I still respect Charta.

Na-na: stop it you two, we have to help Hayley.

Rainy: thank you.

Holly: I’m not sure if you should sell it or not, I think you should wait a miracle could occur tomorrow by the end of the week who knows.

I-sa-bell: let’s have a vote, I vote neutral anyone else for neutral.

Hibby: neutral

Musketeer: yes

Di: neutral

Shar: still maintains no

Kat: yes

Holly: neutral

Na-na: Neutral so if we count the votes we have to do some thinking about it. So till then good night.

(Na-na is offline.)

Kat: I’ve got a photo shoot tomorrow so ciao guys.

(Kat is offline)

Di: I too gotta go, think deep on this Hayley good night.

(Di is offline.)

Rainy: thanks guys good night.

(Rainy is offline.)

She ate her food.

***

‘I heard you met with that girl who helped the police,’ Yemisi said getting into her night dress.

James looked up from the tome he was reading at his wife of twenty years. She was still as elegant as she had when then met. ‘Who told you?’ he asked.

‘I hear things,’ she told him climbing unto the bed beside him. ‘And I also heard that you gave her some diamonds.’

‘Ayo told you, didn’t he?’

Instead of replying she asked him another question. ‘Why did you give her such expensive jewels?’

‘Because I think she’s worth it. She is such a good and sweet girl, and is carrying a burden beyond her age. I think the jewels will set that right. And funny, she reminds me of someone.’

‘Who?’ she queried.

‘It’s not possible; the person she reminds me of doesn’t have a child. I must have been imagining.’

‘Okay, if you won’t say who it is.’

‘Did you hear from Tan?’ he changed the subject.

‘Yes, he called today and says he’ll be back soon. Meanwhile Aisha came today, to say hi.’

‘You spoil that girl,’ he pointed out.

‘She’s my daughter in law how could I not spoil her?’ She smiled.

‘Are you hearing from William?’ he asked her.

Her smile dropped. ‘No, why should I that boy bring me nothing but trouble.’

‘You haven’t forgiven him have you?’ James asked rhetorically.

‘Why should I he caused me grief?’

‘You are his mother,’ he pointed out as if she doesn’t know.

This discussion was beginning to anger her of all talks why should he bring up William? William was a past she would like to forget. The boy brings her nothing but trouble constantly reminding her of her past. And now he was no longer part of her life why should he bring her back into her happy life? ‘And you are not his father why are you so obsessed with him?’ she retorted.

‘He is just a boy and your son.’

‘He is a mistake I made,’ she returned and turned her back to him expecting to say he was sorry and cradle her like he does. But he didn’t, she frowned her hatred for William growing deeply. She felt asleep feeling resentful.

***

They had found more evidence. A clot of blood on the dark orange curtain in the study, near impossible to see but they had seen it and that had restored his jolly mood back. Ever since Tuesday he had been angry and in foul mood for many reasons, the girl Hayley, his ever demanding girlfriend and the case. The assassin had been meticulous in what he had done leaving no trace no lead except for what the girl had opened their eyes too. Well, almost. The stain on the curtain had been sent to the lab for analysis and the result should be out anytime soon.

The telephone rang and Bill literally rushed to it. Lifting the cordless receiver, he pressed it on his ears. ‘Hello,’ he said half patient half expectant.

‘As we expected it was human blood and it matches Adam Bantale’s DNA perfectly.’ Ayo Balogun informed without beating about the bush. ‘Adam, remember him?’

Sure Bill remembers him, Adam that psycho who brutally murdered his boss and his wife. He had caught that man two days after that case was brought to him and had the book thrown at him. He was now in prison serving life imprisonment in jail. ‘He is in prison right now, so he couldn’t have done it.’

‘Yeah, it’s a relation of his but I did a research and according to records there is no living relation of his. All died in fire when he was a little boy.’

No wonder he was twisted. ‘Well double check and visit dear Adam for info.’ He hung up. So Adam Balogun, eh? But still they are getting nowhere not until they had a real suspect.