Family beyond Blood XLIII

Read Chapter XLII here.

Years passed and Kukuaa had finished law school and Ewuresi was about completing her MBA. Kukuaa was working at a law firm whiles Ewuresi worked with her father. Fiifi and Bisi surprised Kukuaa on her 26th birthday by giving her keys to a brand new Mercedes. She had just returned home from a date with Aaron.

When she entered the house, Fiifi, Bisi and Esi sang for her with Esi holding the cake.

“Awww…you guys, I know I came home later than expected. Thank you.” She blew air onto the candle on the cake.

Bisi noticed a sparkle on her finger.

“Kuks, is that a…?”

Kukuaa glanced at her ring finger and lifted it for all of them to see.

“Aaron proposed!”

Bisi and Ewuresi gasped.

“Congratulations, honey!” Bisi hugged her daughter.

“Thanks, mum.”

“So Aaron finally did it, huh? Along the line, I thought you two weren’t going to make it considering the many times you broke up. I’ve a new level of respect for him now. You’re a difficult woman to love, Kuks,” Ewuresi said and hugged her sister.

“Whatever.”

“I’m proud of you, sweetie,” Fiifi said as he took his turn to hug her.

“This is good news. And we have our own surprise for you as well.”

“Oh yeah? What is it?”

Fiifi put his arm around her shoulders and led her toward the door.

“Why don’t we show you?” Kukuaa looked at the three of them suspiciously.

“Don’t worry, we’re not selling you to the highest bidder,” Esi said with a wink. They went outside.

“You notice anything new?”

“No…not really. I see your car and mum’s…Is that a…?” Fiifi pressed the electronic unlock button and it beeped. Kukuaa gasped and held her father’s shirt for support.

“You bought me a car?”

“Well, I was getting tired of you hijacking my car and keeping me under house arrest every other day. So we thought that we’d relieve ourselves of that inconvenience,” Bisi said with a smile.

“Oh mum, I can’t believe you did this for me!” She hugged her. Fiifi rubbed her back.

“Thanks, daddy,” she said, overwhelmed with emotion as she hugged her father.

“A ring and a car…this must be your best birthday yet, sis,” Esi remarked.

“No doubt. Care to join me for a test drive?”

“Like now? Dad, can we?” Fiifi shrugged and handed the key to Kuks.

“Let’s go!”

“Be careful, okay? And don’t keep long. We have cake to eat,” Bisi said.

“Yes mum.” Kukuaa started the engine.

“You two are the best!” And she drove out. Husband and wife smiled at each other. They put their arms around each other and entered the house.

“I can’t believe my baby girl is going to get married. We’ll soon be grandparents! We’re getting old, Fii.” Fii chuckled as they sat down.

“Oh really? I feel like I’m 35.”

“Haha.” Fiifi took two wine glasses from the center table and handed one to Bisi.

“We might as well start with the celebration. To love and family.”

“To love and family.” They clinked their glasses and sipped.
Kukuaa’s phone rang. It was a skype call from Nhyira. Ewuresi swiped the screen.

“Hey Nhyira.”

“Hey sisters. Happy birthday, Kuks.”

“Thanks, brother. I thought you’d come down and surprise me as my birthday gift.”

“I wish I could. I’m writing my last set of exams. How did your day go?”

“Oh, it was perfect. I’m getting married!” She said, showing him the ring.

“Oh wow, he proposed on your birthday? That’s sweet. I’m going to be your chauffeur for the day.”

“Of course you are.”

“So you’re coming after your exams?” Ewuresi asked.

“Yeah, hopefully.”

“It better be definitely, homie.” Nhyira laughed.

“So what did mum and dad get for you?”

“Take a wild guess.”

“Hmm…a new phone?”

“Come on, bro. I’m not 18.”

“I can’t think of anything…a car? I’m not sure if dad would get you a car…whoa, did he buy you a car?

“Uh huh, I’m driving it!”

“Wow…Mercedes, huh?”

“Of course.”

“Wow…that’s cool. You deserve it.”

“Thanks, hun. And all the best with your exams.”

“Thanks. Enjoy your ride and be safe on the road.”

“I hear ya. We’re on our way back home. Want to take a turn?” Kuks asked Esi.

“Really? Wow…what has happened to my sister?” Kuks stopped the car.

“I grew up.” She got out of the car and they swapped seats. Ewuresi took off.

“I have to go. Will catch up later. And let me know when you start making the wedding plans.”

“Sure thing. Take care, love.” The call ended.

The sisters arrived home and the four of them ate some of the cake and chatted. Before they went to bed, Bisi proposed that they all prayed for Kukuaa. She knelt down whiles the three held hands around her. They all took turns praying and pronouncing God’s blessings on her and her future family.

“These and many more blessings we pray for Kukuaa in Jesus name, Amen.”

“Amen.” Kukuaa stood up and they all shared a bear hug.
“Are you okay, honey? You seem a little distracted,” Constance observed.

“Yeah I’m okay. I just miss home, that’s all. Today is my sister’s birthday and I wasn’t home to celebrate with the family.”

“Which one of them?”

“Kukuaa. She looked very happy. Mum and dad bought her a car as a present.”

“You don’t say. What birthday gift have you received since you left home?”

“Oh my dad has bought me stuff. I would be ungrateful if I said he didn’t.”

“But nothing as substantial as a car, I bet.”

“Come on, Constance. Kukuaa is the oldest. She deserves it. Who knows, he might buy me one when I get to that age too.”

“I think it’s about time you came back home, Nhyira. You’ve been exiled for so long. You need to come down and take back your rightful place in the family.”

“Rightful place, what is that?”

“As the son and heir to your family’s wealth.” Nhyira chuckled.

“I’m not an heir. My father’s wealth belongs to everyone: mum, my sisters and me.”

“Oh I doubt that’s how your dad sees it. If he was content with sharing it with the women in his life, he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to conceive you with me.”

“Well, now that you’ve mentioned it, I am the bastard of the family. I’ve no right to claim anything.”

“That’s where I disagree. You need to come home, Nhyira. Bisi is content with having her own family enjoying her husband’s money; no wonder she hasn’t asked you to come home.”

“Don’t start with that. She has been really respectful of my wishes and supportive of my dreams. Please don’t badmouth her. She does care about me.”

“Well, you’ll find that out when you go back home and demand your place in the family.”

“I’ve nothing to demand. I’m the last born and everyone understands that.”

“Let me know when you plan on touching down so I can come and pick you up.”

“Thanks but I think…”

“Please don’t deny your mother the pleasure of meeting her son after such a long while.”

“I’ll think about it.”
Fiifi woke up in a start. Bisi opened her eyes and looked at her husband.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, sorry I woke you.”

“Did you have a bad dream?”

“Not too sure.” He lay down and exhaled deeply. Bisi drew closer and leaned on his chest, tapping his tummy.

“It’s okay; close your eyes and get some sleep.”

“Yeah, you too.” But he couldn’t sleep. He had business to take care of in the morning.
“Aren’t you getting ready for work?” Bisi asked when she came out of the bathroom.

“I’m not going to work today.”

“Why, are you not feeling well?”

“I’m okay; I’m meeting with my lawyer today. I’ve to sort out some things.”

“Is something wrong at work?”

“No; everything is fine. It just occurred to me that I haven’t updated my will since we got married.”

Bisi scowled.

“Will? What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I’m just taking precaution.”

“Precaution against what? You’re not hiding some terminal disease from me, are you?”

“Oh no; I’m as fit as a fiddle, my love.”

“Are you leaving me?” Fiiifi chuckled.

“Leave you? Where would I go without you? You’re my home, Bisi. Why would I want to go anywhere else?”

“So what’s with the out of the blue thingy about updating your will?”

“Why are you so uncomfortable with this?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Is this about the bad dream you had last night?”

“Come here.” She walked toward him. He pulled her into his lap.

“I know it’s a difficult issue to discuss but we have to make sure that everything is sorted if anything is to happen to me or us both.”

“You’re scaring me, Fii.”

“Don’t be scared. I’m just looking out for you and the grown kids.  I don’t know if you’d really be needed at the office but I’d love for you to join me at the meeting with my lawyer. If you don’t mind, that is.”

“When is he coming over?”

“Around nine.”

“Okay; I can join you. I’d leave for the office at noon.”

“Great.” He touched her cheek and kissed her.

“Please don’t leave me, Fii. I can’t…I wouldn’t know how to live without you. As long as I remember, I’ve always known you. Please…”

“Of course I won’t leave you, B. Till death do us part, remember?” Bisi swallowed. She didn’t like the tone Fiifi was using this morning. She smiled and nodded.

“Yeah.” He kissed her forehead.
Bisi was going over her notes for her live show which was about in 45 minutes when her phone rang. It was an unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Hi…am I speaking with Mrs. Pratt?”

“Yes, this is she.”

“Mrs. Pratt, this is about your husband.” Bisi’s heart missed a beat.

“Is he okay?” She stood.

What she heard on the phone made the color disappear from her face.

(c) Josephine Amoako 2016

Read Chapter XLIV here.