CHAPTER NINE

It was already late in the evening when they drove into the estate looking relaxed and tired. As soon as he parked the car in the garage, Dawson went in, greeted his mother, handed the meat pie he had bought for the children to them and retired quietly to his room, unaware of what has happened in their absence. Justina carried the fish they caught to the kitchen.

‘Hmm, do you go on a fishing expedition?’ asked Mrs. Corridon when she saw the lot.

‘Well, it was part of the recreation’ replied Justina.

In his room, Dawson lay brooding over the day's activities, their meeting with Edward Ajagha, and his state of unemployment as this would affect his marriage prospects. He will have more to think when he learns about what was said between his mother and Candida while they were away.

It was around four pm, and with nothing important to do, Candida changed into swimming suits and went with her junior brother to the sea. As they were going, she ran into Mrs. Corridon who was in the garden gathering some vegetables. Mrs. Corridon had used the opportunity to tell Candida that her presence would not be welcomed as Justina is around in their cottage.

‘How’s your mother and father’, She asked

‘They are fine’ Candida returned

‘I’m sure you must have seen Justina, haven’t you? she is currently spending her leave here. At any rate, by the end of November, they plan to marry.

‘I see, yes, I have met Justina'

‘Because of this they would need to be by each other for sometime without any disturbance. Every betrothed couple would need such an atmosphere, don’t you think so, Candida?

‘But Mrs. Corridon, I don’t quite understand what you mean and why you are telling me all this’.

‘Very well, Candida, you know that you usually come here for lectures and that may put a barrier towards their privacy and create an atmosphere of jealousy. So it would be better if you keep off coming to this cottage as your presence is becoming unwanted. I am sure you wouldn’t want some naughty girl to snatch your man from you.'

‘Mrs. Corridon, Dawson had told me before he would be very busy now that Justina is here, and since she came, I have not interferred or come to the cottage’

‘So you keep off for good’, Mrs. Corridon spat the words rather than spoke them.

Candida turned white as she absorbed the true meaning of what she had said. She has said in a cunning and indirect way that she was no longer wanted in the cottage as she Candida intentionally want to snatch Dawson for herself. But Candida had not the slightest intention of snatching Dawson for herself. All she had been going there for was to receive lessons, and they had only got friendly because of that. And apart from the stories they had told each other in the library or on the beach, as well as swimming together in the river, nothing more had passed between them. Candida went to the river, but couldn’t bring herself to bathe, because her mind was too heavy with the words of Mrs. Corridon. She went back home with her brother. Her mother, Mrs. Oyibo, was the first to notice the change in her daughter.

Candy, what’s the matter? You didn’t bathe again?' She asked.

‘No’ she replied

‘Why, anything wrong. Why are you looking like that?', she probed further. Mrs. Oyibo never take anything concerning Candida lightly, because Candida is her first daughter and she loves her so much.

‘Its nothing serious, its just that Mrs. Corridon said I shouldn’t go to the Corridon’s cottage again’, that my presence is no longer welcome especially now that Miss Justina Edeamrigho is there’.

‘Is that it? Her mother asked

‘Yes, but the way she said it, that I want to snatch Dawson away for myself’.

‘I see, she is afraid for Dawson. It may be that he has fallen for you and your continuous presence in their house might upset his plans of marrying that girl'.

Candida gave a short laugh.

‘Mom, you are wrong for the first time. How can Dawson be in love with me and at the same time wants to marry Justina. It’s not true’.

‘Okay, if it’s not true, why do you think Mrs. Corridon should tell you to stop going to the cottage except that she is sure Dawson is in love with you?’

‘But, I don’t believe it’.

‘You may be right Candy. But as it seems, there is no other reason why Mrs. Candida should stop you going there. It's either you are in love with Dawson or he is in love with you'.

Candida thought about this for some time and left it at that. But throughout that day she was constantly remembering her mother’s words, that Dawson could be in love with her.