"Now tell me what happened"
We had finished eating for some time and the table was already cleared. Dad had brought out a bottle of red wine and drank half the bottle while I nursed a pack of some coconut juice brought in by Uncle Liam.
We drank in silence and I was feeling relaxed and my eyes were getting heavy when he suddenly popped the question.
Caught off guard, I just stared at him.
"I want every detail. What happened? Better still, what has been happening to you Caitlin? You were never this troublesome." He said worriedly.
"Nothing, Dad. I just don't want to marry Riley anymore is all." I tried to look sad by lowering my head and picking at my nails.
"Hmmm" he heaved then drank some more.
"You know that's not possible right?"
"But why? There are many rich families she could ask me to marry from. Why do I have to marry the son of the man who…" I gasped as I realized what I was about to say. Just imagine what would have happened if Dad should know that Uncle Ron raped me.
"... What is it? Dad got spooked by my shocked face and reaction.
"Nothing. I bit my tongue. " I lied.
"Oh." He said and relaxed back into his chair.
"I don't really see the problem. Just like me and your mum, you don't have to have any relationship with him. Just marry him in name and everything would be fine."
"But I don't want to have this kind of family, Dad. It's wrong and perverted. I don't want it.!" I broke down.
I heard his chair creak and knew he was coming to me so I stood up and let him embrace me. Since Joseph's death, Dad had been so distant and annoying but this morning, I felt like the old him was back and I wanted to keep him around forever.
"I know. I don't like it too but we have invested so much in your marriage to him that if we start undoing them now, the family would be in big trouble. Lots of trouble."
I looked at his face and saw that he was dead serious.
"What kind of trouble Dad ?"
"The kind that can land your Mum and I in prison." He heaved.
I felt a chill run down my spine. I don't mind Mum going to jail but the idea of anything happening to my Dad was horrifying.
"I don't understand, Dad."
He broke our embrace and walked back to the window taking a very familiar pose. If it was any other day, I would have smiled when he placed one hand on the window stile and the other on his waist. That was how I do stand by my window too and I had learned to do it because I saw him doing it. I have always wanted to be like my Dad but Mum had forced female etiquettes down my throat.
"Once you get married, you would take over some things. Until then, you are not qualified to know. " Dad replied.
"All you have to do is marry him. You don't have to be his wife."
"Yes Dad."
"Good. That's my girl." He smiled at me from across the room.
"What about Mum ?" I asked worriedly.
"She wouldn't be a problem as long as you do whatever she says. Stop fighting her okay."
"Yes Dad."
"And if anybody ever bulky you again, all you have to do is tell Liam. He knows what to do."
A shiver ran through me but I nodded anyway. "Yes Dad."
"Now go make yourself presentable. The doctor should be here soon." He dismissed me.
"Yes sir." I nodded and was going to leave but then, there was something I didn't understand and since he was all chatty today, I might as well take my chances.
"Dad?"
"Hmmm" he didn't even look my way. I wondered what he was looking at, out the window.
"Are you angry with me? Did I do something wrong before?"
That got his attention. He turned around looking puzzled.
"What do you mean?" He asked
"Well, since Joseph's death, you … i don't know … it was as if You were angry with me. Were you?" I looked into his eyes with puppy eyes, very close to tears.
He walked over and embraced le again.
"Princess. No I wasn't. It's just that you look so much like her."
That made me cry even more. So all the nagging and stress Dad had put me through all these time was because I looked like Mum.
"I could do plastic surgery if you hate this face that much, Dad." I sniffed into his chest.
"No princess. You wouldn't."
"But you don't like my face Dad. You don't."
"It's all my fault. I am so sorry okay. You are not getting plastic surgery. Promise me you wouldn't."
"Okay Dad. But you can't hate me because of my face too. I am not mummy."
"I know babe. I know. I am so sorry." He held me tight until I stopped crying. He then wiped my face with one of his customized handkerchiefs before planting some kisses on my cheeks.
"What about we go out on a dinner date princess?" He continued.
"Yes! Yes! Daddy. Let's!"
"Okay. Make sure to remind me after the party."
"Okay Dad, I will!"
"Now go. I have work to do." He gently pushed me away.
I jumped and kissed his cheeks, catching him by surprise. He gave me his toothed smile and my heart burst with so much love. I was suddenly close to tears again.
"I love you Dad." I sniffed.
"I love you too princess." He ruffled my hair.
When I retired to my room, all traces of Riley were gone. I took a decent bath and while I was in the bathroom, the doctor arrived. I told him where it hurts, which was my throat, elbow and the little headache. He gave me some mild painkillers and something for a sore throat before heading for the greenhouse. Once he was gone, I took the medication and despite myself, I fell asleep and didn't wake up till late in the evening.
I woke up to the hustle and bustle of the event decorators we always used. They were all over the compound and making noises which I found annoying. Their presence reminded me that my dress was yet to be delivered so I checked my phone and saw that the designer had called me several times while I was asleep. Mum had already gotten me a dress when we went shopping a few weeks ago but I had still gone to get another dress made because I didn't like what she bought for me. I called the lady and I told her I would be in her studio soon for final fittings and all. She was excited and grateful that she wouldn't have to make a trip to my house. Uncle Ron's party was a big deal because of our status. A lot of important people got an invitation so lots of local designers were busy because of it.
I took another bath then called Sylvester. He agreed to meet up with me at the designer's shop so I wore a short dress shirt, not longer than my knee caps, hopped into my personal car and drove off. Despite all the troubles brewing at the back of my mind, the knowledge that Dad would protect me if something goes wrong, had single-handedly brought me so much relief. I decided I wasn't going to think about anything until I had to.