Heading home

"I'm not going to go anywhere. I have work to do and I'm going to go back in there. You're all going to leave now and go back to wherever you're staying. You can't just spring something like this on me and expect me to drop everything I'm doing to go shopping with you. I'll take Friday off so that I can be home for the wedding on Saturday, but as for anything other than that, please count me out." Carol said, and walked back into the restaurant, praying inwardly that they would not follow her and leaving them gaping at her in something akin to shock. It wasn't every day that she was bold enough to stand up to them, but she had to admit that it was extremely satisfying to do so.

"You're such an ingrate and a terrible sister!" Belinda shouted after her daughter, before flouncing off in anger, with her other daughter and husband in tow.

***

Carol did not hear much from her parents and sister after they left in a huff that Tuesday. They refused to pick up her calls, but her mother kept reminding her to travel over latest Friday morning so that she could be there before the big day. Carol was still not sure about the whole thing, but it was not in her place to tell her sister what to do with her life, after all, she was an adult and could make her decisions herself. Not that Victoria gave a rat's ass about what her sister thought in any aspect of life, least of all her love life.

Carol took the morning flight and landed in the town in which her parents lived before eleven in the morning. She took a cab to her parent's house and was totally shocked by all the hustle and bustle that met her when she got there. Considering the way this wedding was going to be rushed, she had not expected this much preparation. The whole place was agog with activities and people were milling around, including relatives that Carol had not seen in ages and would have honestly not wanted to see.

"There you are Carol pie." One of her aunties, her father's elder sister crooned and advanced towards her with arms outstretched for a hug and kiss before she could hasten away. Carol groaned inwardly as soon as she saw her. This woman was such a handful and Carol tried her best to avoid her whenever she could.

"Aunt Alice! How are you doing?" Carol exclaimed, feigning excitement and accepting the kiss on both cheeks a little reluctantly. The woman was overbearing and very talkative, so Carol did her best to avoid her any time their paths crossed.

"I'm doing as well as can be, dear. Now, you can imagine my surprise when I heard that your beautiful sister was getting married. It is a taboo, I tell you, for the younger one to get married before the elder one, but well, these things happen now and then. You must not let it get to you, love."

"Aunt Alice, I'm sorry, but I really need to go fin..."

"Ah, yes. I know all about it. After all, I did get married before dear Sarah, my sister, God rest her sweet soul. I guess you can say I'm a nice person because I did not mind that she got real mad at me for getting married before her. No, I didn't. She was a real bitch about it too, but she did come around in the end. Now, I hope you will not put your beautiful sister through what I went through in the hands of my dear departed sister."

Carol rolled her eyes, resisted the overwhelming urge to give the woman a piece of her mind, and nodded humbly. This was exactly why she always tried to avoid this woman. She could not wait for this weekend to be over.

"Yes, aunt. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really need to go find my mother and my sister."

"Oh, wait. I haven't told you about..."

"Yeah, see you later," Carol said and beat a hasty retreat as though she did not hear the woman's last words. Since she did not know the majority of the people who were milling about, it was easy to escape into the house without having to greet too much. As shy as she was, she always found it a herculean task to socialize with many people, especially people whom she did not talk to on a regular basis.

Carol found her mother in the living room, holding court with a bunch of women around her. She looked the part of the proud mother-in-law and was gesticulating wildly as she told her adoring audience about the numerous expensive gifts that her son-in-law to be had bestowed on her.